Shattered Lies

Chapter 44

Rita hands Jackson Hunt a beer and sets bowls of tortilla chips and salsa between them. "So, the kids managed to take care of themselves."

Jackson takes a swig from his bottle. "They had some help from the dog. He took that guy down like a champ."

"But Richard was smart enough to get the dog and have him trained, wasn't he? In his own way, he's taking care of himself and his family. I'm sure if he knew you were keeping watch, he'd appreciate it, but you can't always be there."

Jackson's fingers tighten around the chilled glass. "I can't always be anywhere. I've already beaten the odds more times than I care to remember. Sooner or later my luck will run out. But right now, I have a chance to be some kind of a father. I'm not about to step back from that unless I'm forced to."

"And that could happen at any time." Rita points out. "You could get a call any minute. And you can always be sent on a mission from which you'd never return. So could I. We both had to make peace with that a long time ago."

Jackson slams down his bottle, salsa sloshing over the rim of its container. "All the more reason to be around for my family and do what I can for as long as I can."

Rita reaches for his hand. "I wouldn't expect anything else."

Kate regards the young attorney sitting next to Cyrus Gooch. His hair is freshly combed, and his tie is straight - a little too straight. He is a classic example of dressing for success - outfitted for where he wants to be not where he is - on the bottom rung of private practice. If the jewel theft syndicate had any hope of rescuing Gooch, they would have sent the first team. It's pretty clear the hitman is being thrown under the bus. From the squirrely way he's glancing at the man beside him, it's evident that he knows it. Excellent. Game on.

Kate takes a sip of the rich brew Rick crafted for her and fiddles with her black leather-bound folder, pretending to review facts she knows by heart. "Mr. Gooch, you must be aware that we have you cold for assaulting me."

"My client could sue you for your dog's attack." Bert Kingston, the young lawyer, suggests.

"It was my dog," Castle interjects, "and Mr. Gooch can feel free. Considering that my faithful canine acted in defense of Detective Beckett, I imagine a jury would be more likely to award a ribbon for first in class than assess any penalty."

"Furry friend aside," Kate continues, "Mr. Gooch has a much bigger problem than attempted homicide. We have connected him to the murder of Cassie Lowell, a young woman trying to solve the killings of her parents. Mr. Kingston, how do you suppose a judge or jury would view that? We are fully aware that there are others behind Mr. Gooch's activities, bad actors that the Southern District of New York has a great interest in, as does the N.Y.P.D. Unless Mr. Gooch would like to be a prison sex toy for the rest of his life, I would advise he give some thought to cooperation."

Kingston eyes the rivulets of sweat dripping down Gooch's face. Inexperienced as he is, he knows a guilty man when he sees one. "I need to consult with my client."

Kate closes her folder, rising from the table. "I'm not surprised."

"So," a naked Rick says, plumping his pillow before climbing into bed next to Kate, "you've successfully tied up hot and cold running homicides. You have Callie's killer and the man behind both her death and her parents' murders. I would never have guessed that MGS stood for Manchester Gregor Salmon, but I can understand why he would have used his initials."

Kate grins. "His name does have a fishy sound to it."

Castle palms his face. "Ouch! How long have you been saving that one up?"

"Ever since Gooch spilled his guts. The Southern District and the FBI are still going to be working on taking apart the web of Salmon's organization for a while. Interpol will be involved too. They might be rounding up some of Powell's old friends."

"I doubt it. Ghosts of Powell's caliber are too skilled to get caught. Besides, from what I gather, most of them are retired now. They are of a less electronic age. They're not interested in hacking computerized security systems or somersaulting through laser arrays. Now all the stories are of 14 year-olds ripping people off from their keyboards while their parents are oblivious."

"Are you going to incorporate that plotline into a Nikki Heat?"

"Hell no! Young genius hackers have found their way into almost every TV show and a large proportion of movies. I don't need to jump on that bandwagon. One of the advantages of you deciding to pursue cold cases is that they're a throwback to days of more thoughtful and creative crime solving. The brains involved are human - not electronic. By the way, I've received quite a lot of input on Out of the Dark and a couple of big bucks backers have also expressed interest."

"Big bucks backers. Can you say that three times fast?" Kate teases.

"After the excellent red wine we had at dinner, I would not even make an attempt. But seriously, Kate, when you give the word, I believe we could get your cold case solving machine up and running in very short order."

Kate snuggles into his bare shoulder. "Dad and I only have a few more names left on the list of loved ones of Bracken's victims. Consider the word given."

Rick traces the curve of her hip with his palm. "And what else would you like to discuss?"

Kate presses two fingers to his lips. "Right now, a conversation is the last thing on my mind."

Straddling him, she circles two unnecessary features of the male anatomy with her tongue before caressing to attention a member that she finds absolutely essential. Castle reaches up to ease her filmy teddy over her head, exposing the eager tips of the creamy globes beneath. He toys with them, sending jolts of arousal where Kate is already open and slick.

She takes him in almost too easily, tightening around his firm heat to heighten the sensation. As his fingers find the epicenter of her need, she gasps, her head falling back, the tips of her hair brushing his thighs.

Their world contracts, with only the motion of their bodies and the pressure building within them remaining. Castle rolls Kate beneath him, thrusting more deeply. Her hips rise, grinding against him. She needs more. Her lips find his; her tongue seeking the embrace of its mate. The bed creakily protests their desperation to complete their joining. The explosive release rocks them both, presaging the aftershocks that sweep through them, robbing them of air and strength.

Lying flat on his back, Rick draws a shaky breath. "That was amazing! Is this going to happen every time you get good news about your future detecting endeavors?"

Kate saucily traces a fingertip over the cooling skin of his midsection. "I guess we'll just have to find out."