Shattered Lies

Chapter 29

Leaning on the fence surrounding his dog runs, Percy Doof proudly shows off his purebred puppies to Rick and Kate. He no longer has a Tibetan mastiff, but he extols the virtues of Akitas, Bullmastiffs, and Central Asian Shepherd dogs. Castle surveys the canines.

Alexis begged for a dog for years, but he'd put her off. With his tour schedules, the pooch would have been consigned to a kennel several times a year, and Castle didn't have the heart to think about doing that. Now that Alexis is a teen, she could be responsible for the pet's care, and Rick would feel more secure for both his daughter and Kate if the loft had a faithful sentinel. He also finds the look on the Central Asian Shepherd puppy's face goofily irresistible.

Kate winces when Doof quotes the $2000 price tag for the shepherd pup, but she can see that it doesn't disturb Castle. He joyfully writes a check for a deposit and arranges for delivery of the new furry Castle and a reference to a trainer.

"Rick," Kate points out as he drives them to the precinct, "you just bought a puppy from a suspected murderer."

"That's not the dog's fault. Anyway, now that I'm making a major purchase from the man it gives me an excuse to run his credit and a deep background check."

"So you bought a dog as a back door into Doof's financials?"

"I bought a dog to provide extra security to my loved ones - and because it's adorable. I can't wait to show pictures of him to Alexis. But getting us one step further to nailing Bracken will be terrific too. We'll have a list of all Doof's accounts. Something should connect him to the senator, and maybe give us more proof that he murdered Bob Armen. Step by step, isn't that what you're always telling me?"

"I suppose I have said that from time to time," Kate concedes.

"So, I get the info on Doof, we see if it takes us anywhere. By that time Krepkin should release Bowdry's memoir, and we'll have a more solid excuse to look into Bracken as a suspect in his murder. Unless you have a better idea?"

Kate sighs, settling back in the passenger seat. "Not a one."

"Senator Bracken, your 'speech by the beach,' as the press is calling it, generated a lot of buzz," WNBC reporter Ilana Solomon notes. "Environmental groups are hailing you as their new hero."

"Hardly that," Bracken replies, his lips curling upward in his best ingratiating smile. "I'm just trying to make a cleaner planet for my family and all the families around the world."

"Your proposal for a greener tomorrow was sweeping in scope, but you offered very few details. Would you like to fill in some of them now? How do you propose to control releases to the air, ground, and water, and how do you feel about a carbon tax?"

Bracken fights to retain his glowing demeanor as he can feel upstate votes threatening to slip away. "Well Ilana, I'm putting together a highly qualified team to look into those issues. After all, we can't place undue burdens on small businesses or farmers. They are already facing huge headwinds trying to compete with massive conglomerates. As our plan emerges, I'll be posting my proposals on my website, William Bracken dot com."

"I'm sure we're all looking forward to seeing them, Senator. Thank you for joining me on Late Morning News."

"That sonofabitch isn't going to do anything but mouth off," Ilana whispers to her co-anchor as Bracken departs and commercials roll.

Emerson Naismith shrugs, maintaining his camera-ready smile. "Do any of them?"

Castle hands Kate copies of his credit and background reports on Doof. "Our puppy lover has a great FICO score, and I don't see any financial connections to Bracken - except that he contributed to his campaign. But look at his educational history."

Kate flips pages. "He went to the same college as Bracken."

"And at the same time," Rick points out. "What do you want to bet that they're old friends, maybe frat brothers?"

"I wouldn't take that bet, Castle, but if we get their yearbook, we just might be able to establish the connection. If it isn't available online, I'll call the school and request one."

Castle checks his watch. "Ooh, time to head home. Alexis and I are going shopping for puppy things - you know, a bed, food and water dispensers, toys, the essentials."

"Right. Castle if I know you, you'll buy out Pet's Palace."

"Only the dog stuff, besides, I'll have Alexis with me to control my enthusiasm - unless she'll need me to control hers."

"OK, Castle, I'll see you later. Leave some room in the loft for humans."

Castle presses a quick kiss to the tip of her nose. "For at least the human I'm looking at, I can guarantee it."

"Muthaf****r!" Vulcan exclaims as he throws his phone on a weighing table. "That politician's telling us to up our sales so he can buy more publicity for his campaign. Our people are putting out hard everywhere in the city except for Family and Westie territory."

"We could expand our operations into the areas where the cops took down the Spinellis and the Russians", Curtis Green suggests, looking up from the bagging supplies he's unpacking.

"The Cardanos are already moving into the Spinelli neighborhoods, and I don't need a war with Vinny. We could send Jamal and Butch down to Brighton - see what they can do. After the way the cops swept the place, it could be a clean slate. How are we doing for product?"

"We have a sufficient inventory. Bracken has been keeping interdiction away from our supply chain. If we develop a new market, we can fill the orders within a reasonable time span."

"Good. When Jamal and Butch check in, send them to me. I'll field them to Brooklyn." Vulcan pulls a Cuban cigar out of his pocket and heads outside to light it, muttering, "Brother sounds like a f*ckin MBA."

When she returns from the precinct, Kate surveys the transformation of the loft into puppy world. The furniture has been pushed out of the way to allow space for a vast play enclosure, lined with an absorbent surface that mimics grass. If she were smaller; she'd be happy to sleep in the cushy dog bed, and there are more toys than she remembers having as a child.

"Cool, isn't it?" Castle greets her, emerging from his office. "I can monitor the water supply from my phone, so Custos will never run dry."

"Custos?"

"Latin for guardian. Appropriate, don't you think? I haven't settled on food yet. I want to ask the trainer. Pet's Palace said sometimes puppies have sensitive tummies." Kate's stomach growls. "I guess puppies aren't the only ones. Alexis helped me throw together a casserole. It should be out of the oven in another ten minutes, but I got some of those grapes you like to nibble on. They're in the fridge."

"That's all right. I can wait for dinner to be ready. You really have been nesting, haven't you Castle?"

"Isn't that what people do when expecting an addition to the family? You should have seen the shopping spree I went on before Alexis was born. I earned concierge privileges at Baby Haven."

"I bet. When will Custos be arriving?"

"Day after tomorrow."

"So we'll have two nights without puppy whimpers?'

"I wouldn't have put it that way, but yes."

Then we really should try to enjoy them," Kate purrs, wrapping her arms around Rick's waist.

"Yes. Yes, we certainly should do that."