Slaying the Beast
Chapter 9
The upscale boutique reminds Kate of a scene from Pretty Woman where Richard Gere has the sycophantic store manager instruct his salespeople to bring Julia Roberts all manner of beautiful clothes - except that unlike Richard Gere, Castle isn't gluing himself to his phone. His expression grows more appreciative with every dress she tries on. None of them have price tags. Probably, if you have to ask, you can't afford them. She hasn't been in a situation even close to this since her brief stint as a model, and then she couldn't keep the clothes.
Tovah brings her a dress in emerald green. It's not a color she would usually wear, except perhaps for a hat on St. Patrick's Day, but Mary-Kate exclaims that Kate's eyes are changing color to match her gown.
"Just like when Dorothy gets spruced up in the merry old land of Oz," Castle quips. "Hopefully without the wicked witch showing up - at least until we're ready for her. So, Detective Beckett, what do you think?"
Kate smooths her hands down the luxurious fabric. "It's incredible, Castle."
"But do you like it?" He persists.
Tovah leads Kate to the triple mirror. The image staring back at her is startling, and Tovah was right about her eyes. Even without a professional makeup job, she looks at least as good as she had when she'd been paid to look fabulous. She glances back at Castle. He seems hopeful. She is not going to do any better. She may never do better - she means the dress, she tells herself. She nods at Tovah and turns around. "Ok, Castle. This one should work."
The Seaport Museum has been transformed. "Lights blaze everywhere and the ships in the harbor are lit up as well. Guests mill around carrying drinks and sampling hors-d'oeuvres. Kate entered the fest on Castle's arm and has stuck close to him as he's worked the room where she knows absolutely no one. She recognizes a few faces from the newspaper and stories on social media, but that's the extent of her familiarity with the crowd - until Susan Collinwood comes in with what is either an aide or a bodyguard, maybe both.
A podium has been set up at one end of the exhibition hall. A gray-haired man in a yachting cap takes a place behind it and taps on the microphone to gain attention. "Good evening. For those of you who don't know me, I am Samson Frid, director of the Museum and I am pleased to welcome you all to this extraordinary night. As many of you may know, the history of this country was built on seafaring. Many of our ancestors arrived in ships. Early colonists supported themselves both by trade and by fishing. Along our coasts, fresh seafood is still a treasured part of our menus. Unfortunately, with every passing year, our fisheries grow more depleted. Our ships must quest further and stay out longer to bring in the same catch. That is a situation that should not and must not stand. Helping us lead the battle to save the vital resources of the sea, is our special guest, Senator Susan Collinwood of Maine. I am pleased to invite her up here now, to tell you just how much our oceans mean to her and why it is imperative that we do all we can to maintain their health. Senator Collinwood."
For all her political success, Susan Collinwood doesn't look particularly impressive. Her unflattering bob is a dull brown streaked with gray. Her suit is wrinkled, her hands flutter, and her voice has a slight tremor, yet she begins speaking with the confidence borne of long experience. "It is truly my pleasure to be here for such an outstanding event. My father was a lobsterman, and I grew up in a community given life by the sea. Our oceans are our most essential resource. Not only do they feed us, transport us and entertain us, but they are also indispensable in maintaining the climate we need to survive. So, I'm asking you all tonight to do two things. Dig deep to support the preservation of our fisheries and call your representatives and my honored colleagues of the Senate and urge them to support my coastal resources preservation bill. For if our oceans die, we will surely follow them into oblivion."
The applause from the audience seems heartfelt to Kate, and her own hands came together enthusiastically as well. She's beginning to wonder if Collinwood is the real deal who had the misfortune to get tied up with Bracken. She'll do the best she can to find out one way or another. "Castle, we need to go talk to her."
"Wait just a bit, Beckett," Castle cautions. "She'll have a whole congratulatory crowd around her, probably for the next 20 minutes or so, before they want another drink. Then I'll get Samson to make introductions, and you can sit at a table with her and use your mojo. Do you want something from the bar in the meantime? They have an offering called 'The Captain's Beer.' I'm not sure what it is, but I see some suspiciously bright smiles on the people drinking it."
"Castle I'm going to stick with sparkling water. I need to be on my game."
"One sparkling water coming up, but I think I'm going to try that beer, as an adventure."
Castle discovers that the captain's choice for beer looks and tastes remarkably like rum - and good rum at that. The liquor is not usually his drink unless it's an ingredient in some tropical concoction, but it fits the nautical theme well enough, and he's not planning on driving. Kate is fidgeting by the time he hands her the water she requested and seeks out Samson Frid.
Samson claps him on the shoulder. "Rick, asking Senator Collinwood to come was a great idea. I think she's limbered up a lot of check-writing fingers. Of course, yours was limber enough. Your donation was very generous."
"Well in that case, perhaps you'll do me the favor of introducing my lovely companion and me to the senator. Kate is fascinated by the work Collinwood is doing."
"And who wouldn't be fascinated by Kate? If Naked Heat is anything to go by, you're a lucky man, Rick."
Castle blanches. "Oh God! Don't say that to her! We're just… We haven't… I mean she's my muse."
"Then I don't know what the hell you're waiting for. If Kate wants a powwow with the senator, maybe that will move things along for you. Let's get things going!"
As Samson Frid gets them settled at his table, Susan Collinwood nods at Rick. "Mr. Castle, you did some interesting work researching Derrick Storm. Maybe a little too interesting on occasion. I am on the Intelligence Committee. I'm aware of your activities."
Kate sends a puzzled gaze to Castle. "I'll explain later," he whispers.
"And Detective Beckett, his new inspiration. What was it you wanted to know about my work on the preservation of coastal resources?"
"I was wondering if you'd written anything into your bill about getting rid of all the plastic in the ocean," Kate replies, "but to be honest, Senator Collinwood, as a homicide cop, there's something else I need to talk to you about."
Susan's eyes narrow, "About the plastic, we have written some limited measures into the bill, but we are fighting tooth and nail against the soft drink industry among others. It's a work in progress. To the other matter, I assume you're talking about the unfortunate death of George Mercer. He was a fine man and a valued member of my staff. I understand that you caught his murderer. What do you need from me?"
"Senator, I believe that Vulcan Simmons was not acting on his own. Someone ordered him to kill Mr. Mercer; someone with a lot of power. Any idea who that might be?"
Susan scans the room nervously. "I can't talk to you about that now." She passes Kate a card. "That's my private number. Call me. I really need to leave. There's a floor vote first thing in the morning." She signals to her burly escort and hurriedly departs the gathering.