Poison Pen

Chapter 53

"You can't do this!" Winston protests.

Kate holds up her warrant. "This says we can. You've already lied to me, Mr. Seward. An innocent man would have no reason to do that. Obstructing an investigation by lying to a cop is a crime in itself. Don't make things worse for yourself." Kate yanks on a file drawer that won't budge. "I'll need a key for this."

Winston grudgingly reaches into his pocket. "Here."

Metal groans as Kate slides the heavy drawer open, revealing a file marked "Gamal." She snaps a picture before removing the file and opening it. "You exported more than scrap metal, Mr. Seward. Where did you get a mummy?"

Seward crosses his arms in front of his chest. "I want a lawyer."

Kate nods. "You'd better get a good one."

"I ordered Thai, Dad," Alexis announces as Castle lets himself into the loft. "Gram's at the theater, and Kate called to say she'd be late. She said she texted you."

"She did," Castle acknowledges. "She was finishing up a couple of searches. I wish I could have gone with her."

"She said she was taking a bunch of pictures, and she can give you a list of what she found when she gets home."

"Gets home, I like the sound of that." Castle smiles as he sheds his suit jacket. "When is our delivery due to arrive?"

"They said 45 minutes 15 minutes ago."

"Sounds good. It gives me time to get some notes onto my computer. I may be adding a new section to my special project."

"You want me to pull out my red pencil?" Alexis offers.

"Not yet. What I'm doing is still in the formative stages, but I'll welcome your editorial input when the time comes."

Castle sinks into his desk chair, puts his feet up, and balances his laptop across his thighs. Examining his latest additions to the notebook he pulls from his shirt pocket, he considers his possibilities. He'd intended the book to be a double story of the defeat of killers through their own written words. The tale of the ledger listing Lockwood's and Coonan's kills will still be the jumping-off point for the first part. Badcock's obsession and manifesto will bookend it. But if Abdamalek is nailed for Will Medina's murder by his own records, that story could become an interesting vignette for the middle. Alternatively, he could stick some version of it in a Nikki Heat novel. He'll have to see what comes of Kate's efforts. In the meantime, he can create some interesting prose based on the day's courtroom proceedings.

After typing for a few minutes, Rick hears the front door opening and snaps his computer shut. That has to be Kate. As much as he loves Thai food, he didn't give the restaurant a key."

Rick can see an emerald glint in his fiancée's eyes from across the room and opens his arms. "You scored!"

Kate plunges into his enthusiastic grasp before stretching up for a kiss. "More than I thought. More than either one of us thought. We found orders and manifests of buys from Medina and Rachel and shipments to Egypt. Winston just threw the artifacts in with his scrap metal, and Adom Gamal bought whole container loads. They were transported to a foundry he owns. But we already suspected the stolen relics would be going to Gamal."

"You sound like a TV pitchman holding back to give me a 'But wait; there's more!'" Castle complains.

Kate wraps her arms around him, happily digging her fingers into the firm muscle above his thighs. "There is more. Winston wasn't in charge of the smuggling operation. I found notes all over Winston's documents with comments and instructions, all signed, 'Merri.' It won't take long for a handwriting expert to confirm that Merriweather Seward wrote them. I had unis bring her in, and I processed her before I came home. She can cool her heels in a holding cell overnight."

"Alexis has food coming, but I believe your victory calls for Champagne," Castle declares.

"It's your victory too, Babe, but I could do with some bubbly. Is there anything to celebrate with Badcock's case? How did Toni do this afternoon?"

"Not too bad, as far as I could tell. She brought in the evidence of Badcock buying toxin and delivering the poisoned pastries and made it all sound as deliberate and uncrazy as she could, but I could see the jury losing focus. Some of the members looked pretty sleepy by the time Mencas adjourned. I'm willing to bet that Gonzales noticed that too, and will try to finish up as quickly as possible. Then Kirby can bring on his shrink. It will probably be Welborn again. I'm going to try to see how the jury reacts to whatever he says."

"Juries can be hard to read. Some people make a career of it."

"I know. A while back, I researched some of the consultants specializing in jury analysis. I was thinking of creating a character in that line of work, but I couldn't fit one into the Storm universe. So far, I don't see a place for one in the Heat world either, except as a murderer, or better still a murder victim. There's a TV psychologist who used to sell his skills at reading trial tea leaves. He's obnoxious enough for my readers to enjoy his fictional demise. But that's for another book. Writing two at once is enough for now, especially while joining my partner in crime-busting. What's your strategy for leaning on the Sewards?"

"Divide and conquer, but I'm willing to bet that Winston is the weak link."

"That's my impression too. So when are you putting him in the box?"

"When is Mencas gaveling in tomorrow?"

"Ten again."

"That should work. I'll drop Winston's lawyer a line that we'll be starting at eight. That will give you some time to be in on the fun before you leave for court."

"Another reason for celebration. Shall I pop the cork now, or do you want to wait until the food arrives?"

"We can wait for the food to show up," Kate decides, "And do a little more intimate celebrating until it comes."

Rick's eyes dance beneath his rippling eyebrows. "I love the way you think."

"Given the appropriate conditions, my client has decided to cooperate," Vincent Shelby, attorney-at-law, announces as Kate and Castle enter the interrogation room.

"Counselor, if you've been practicing law for more than five minutes, you know that police don't dictate the conditions of a deal," Kate returns. "What you get depends on how much the D.A. likes what your client has to trade. But I can make recommendations based on how helpful Mr. Seward is to me."

"He can tell you who stole and received the merchandise," Shelby offers.

"We already know that. Try again," Kate advises.

"He can tell you who killed Will Medina."

"Does your client plan to confess?" Kate questions.

"I didn't kill Medina," Winston blurts out.

"You had a motive, Mr. Seward," Kate asserts. "Medina cheated you, or worse, cheated your buyer. That wouldn't do much for your business relationship."

"I wasn't the one who arranged the sales." Winston insists. "That was — someone else."

"Who?" Kate demands.

Winston's chair screams against the floor as he shoves himself back from the table. "Never mind. I can't do this. I shouldn't have said anything."

"Mr. Shelby, you might want to remind your client that if he's convicted of Will Medina's murder, he can go to prison for life," Kate suggests.

"Or, I'm guessing, the only real evidence you have on him is for smuggling artifacts, something the museum might like very much to keep quiet," Shelby responds.

"Or I have more than you assume," Kate bluffs. "I'll give Mr. Seward some time to think about just how willing he is to roll the dice."

"Kate, what just happened in there?" Rick asks as soon as they're clear of Interrogation. "Winston looked like he was going to cry or puke."

"He did," Kate agrees. "But the only reason I can see that he'd react that way is if the murderer is someone he cares about."

"His sister," Rick concludes.

Kate nods. "That's what I'm guessing. And I'll have to get it out of her."