Slaying the Beast
Chapter 8
It's cold in Kate's unit. There was a January thaw, but it disappeared overnight. The temperature outside is low enough for snow to stick. Kate turns on the engine to run the heater intermittently but is keeping it to a minimum to avoid attracting attention. She's dressed in layers, but nothing bulky enough to restrict her movement. Castle is wearing a heavy topcoat, and she wishes she could crawl inside it with him - and not just because she's chilly. In the close quarters, he smells even better this morning than he did at night at the loft. And he's been patiently listening to her spout off about investigations, even though he's written about almost every detail she's discussed, in one or another of his books.
The employees arrived at six a.m. So far, there's been no sign of Vulcan Simmons. It is only 10 a.m. now, but it could be a very long day. Or not. A Lincoln Town Car drives up and pulls into the Forge. Kate can't be certain, but she's pretty sure that the man at the wheel was Vulcan Simmons. A check of the plate shows it registered to Hephaestus corporation. No way can that be a coincidence. She calls in the troops, with an advisory to keep their distance. If they wait for Simmons to leave the building, there will be much less chance of innocents being injured if Simmons resists.
"How long do you think he'll be in there?" Castle wonders.
Kate drums her fingers against the steering wheel. "I have no idea, Castle. I'm hoping that he has multiple operations to look in on, like the store where he stashed George Mercer's body, and he won't be staying long."
"You really want to get him in the box, don't you?"
"Castle, I'd like to do a lot more than get him in the box. I wish I could send him straight to Hell. But we need him alive and well to establish his connection to Bracken, so, for now, I'll have to settle for seeing him shackled to a table and praying that he and his lawyer are smarter than we are."
"I think that would have to be a pretty great prayer for him to outthink the remarkable Kate Beckett."
Kate ignores the warmth flooding through her at his words. "Castle, I hope you're right. Looks like his car pulling out." She picks up her radio. "Suspect in Lincoln exiting the building. Castle, stay in the car," she commands.
Marked units barricade either end of the street to block Simmons escape. Kate approaches the halted Lincoln, weapon drawn and with several uniformed officers behind her. Vulcan Simmons emerges from the car with his hands behind his head and a smirk. "You cops never stop trying, do you? Go ahead. You won't find anything on me or in the car. I'll be back about my business by lunch."
Kate snaps her cuffs on him as tightly as she can. Vulcan Simmons, you are under arrest for the murder of George Mercer. You have the right to remain silent. If you give up that right, anything you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights as I have explained them to you?"
Simmons' smirk has morphed into shock. "I want my lawyer."
"You can call him as soon as I get you processed. And Simmons," Kate adds, "I don't need to find anything on you or in the car. Right now you should be wishing that you were only being busted for drugs."
To Castle, Simmons' lawyer, Carlton Frasier, is a classic. The three-piece suit he's wearing is hand-tailored. His shoes are Italian and most likely too pointy for his feet. His briefcase had to cost several hundred dollars and his pen a fair chunk of change as well. But Frasier doesn't look happy as Kate explains the charge that she will be recommending to the A.D.A. First degree homicide may be a little above his pay grade.
As serious as the expression on Kate's face is, Castle can tell that she's pleased with herself. She hasn't been twisting the jade ring she plays with when she's upset, and her shoulders, usually tight with tension, are relaxed. A smile tugs at her lips as Frasier suggests a deal. "What does your client have to trade?'
"So, Vulcan Simmons is willing to throw Bracken under the bus. Why isn't the A. D.A. turning handsprings?" Castle asks.
"Because at this point it's a he said, he said, Castle and one of them is a respected Senator and the other is a scumbag drug dealer. She doesn't think a case against Bracken will ever fly in court. We got a warrant to search The Forge, but there weren't any records of correspondence with Bracken there. There wasn't anything on Simmons' phone either. Bracken is keeping himself well protected. We need more, a lot more, to go after him."
"How about the connection to Susan Collinwood?"
"Castle, her offices are in DC and Maine. I have no jurisdiction in either place. If she was in New York for some reason, we might be able to ask her some questions politely, but why would she be?"
"Her father was a seaman. The Seaport Museum is going to have a celebration of U.S. seafaring next week coupled with a drive to protect our fisheries. I have a friend on the board. I could try to get Collinwood a VIP invitation. It's just the sort of photo-op politicians love. She could play up her humble beginnings and her support for good works all at the same time. I could get us a couple of tickets too. You could size up your opportunities, take your opening. You can do it, Kate. I've seen you maneuver people into spilling their secrets. You're a master at it."
Kate presses her lips together and shoves her hair behind her ear. "In the interrogation room, Castle, but not at gala events."
"Hey, we did a pretty good job of tracking down a crook at one before, even with my mother pulling a number on me with the auction."
"Castle the look on your face when that barracuda bid on you was worth going to the event, even if we hadn't broken the case."
"See, you could have more fun at my expense."
"Castle, right now I'm not interested in having fun. I just want to get Bracken. But if you can get Senator Collinwood to New York, fine. We can go to the event. I still have the dress you bought me. It's gorgeous."
"And totally wrong for this time of year. I'll get things set up, and we can go shopping. How do you feel about cashmere?"
"Castle. Please. You've blown enough money on trying to catch my mother's killer. We still haven't retrieved the hundred thousand you wired to Coonan's phony Rathborne account."
"Montgomery told me the financial people are going through the process. They may get it back any day. Look, Kate, it's only a dress. Gina practically wore holes in my credit card, and she never looked half as beautiful as you did on my arm, work-related as it may have been. I want to do this. Let me enjoy the view."
Kate chews on her lip and twists her ring. "All right, Castle. If we'll really be meeting Senator Collinwood, we can go shopping." Castle closes his eyes and shakes his head. "What's the matter?" Kate asks.
"I just never knew a woman before who made it so hard for me to spend money. Kate Beckett, you are one of a kind."