Slaying the Beast
Chapter 31
Kate, immersed in her paperwork, hears the ding of the elevator but doesn't see Castle bounce into the bullpen. "Kate, I found it, corroboration of Susan Collinwood's fatal trip to Maine." He hands her the printout of an article from a local Maine newspaper. "See, it's an account from a lobsterman who took her out to show her how his living was being destroyed by the high levels of Vibrio bacteria in the ocean where he had been putting his pots. He says she even wanted a couple of lobsters to submit to a lab for testing so she could publicize the problem.
"That was days before the date on the receipt showing Susan sent lobsters to Callie Freedwell. She would have had just enough time to kill them, let the bacteria grow and produce the toxin, then freeze them again. There's also no sign that Susan ever publicized a thing. Her name doesn't appear once in any story written at the time about Vibrio contamination. She wanted those lobsters as a murder weapon, impure and simple."
Kate reaches up to touch his face. "That's great work, Babe. Now we have to put together a narrative to take to Briggs that will cover every angle, including what Lanie told us. She emailed a report to me, and I forwarded it to you."
"I saw it," Castle confirmed. "I can work on the tale of the lethal lobsters while you finish up whatever drudgery you're doing, then you can go over it with a merciless red pencil."
"All right," Kate agrees. "You can use the conference room, but this isn't drudgery. I'm typing up a report on Chelsea Meadows' murder. The lab matched Koonz's DNA to the shirt with her blood on it, so I'm putting together everything the A.D.A. should need to offer the least generous plea deal. I should be able to join you in an hour or so."
"Ah, Dick will get his worst possible comeuppance. Excellent! I will anxiously await your presence."
Briggs looks up after scanning the file Kate handed him. "Coming after the Bracken affair, this could set Washington on its ear. I'm going to have to proceed carefully and put my own investigators on this. I trust you, Detective, and Mr. Castle, too. It's just that under the circumstances, I'll have to make sure every 'I' is dotted and every 'T' is crossed. When I'm sure we have everything nailed down, this is going to be one hell of a case."
Kate nods. "Yes, sir. But there is also the drug angle. The operation Collinwood took over from Bracken is claiming more victims every day. You don't want to drag your feet on this."
"One thing at a time, Detective," Briggs declares. "If we get the homicide case against Collinwood knocked, the collapse of her narcotics network may take care of itself."
Castle shakes his head as he and Kate leave Briggs' office. I don't like this, Kate. While Briggs proceeds cautiously, fentanyl is killing more people every day, and from what Colby told us, it stands to get worse before it gets better."
"Maybe not, Castle. Narcotics is rounding up as many dealers as it can, in part based on what Colby told us, and we passed on to Ryan. That's getting a lot of drugs off the street. When Briggs is ready, he'll get his blockbuster indictment, and Colby will get his blockbuster scoop."
"So Detective Beckett, the Chelsea Meadows case is closed, and the campaign to take down Susan Collinwood is in process. What are you going to do with your new found freedom?"
"Not that much freedom, Castle. I still have to be at the precinct during working hours. Another body could drop at any time. But with any luck, I should be able to make it home by a decent hour."
"And by home you mean?"
"The loft, Castle."
Castle pulls Kate into a nearby elevator. As the doors close, he wraps her in his arms for a kiss that lasts until the doors open on the lobby of the building.
It would have been great to have an evening alone with Kate. Unfortunately, Alexis has Paige over so the two of them can study for a history test and it's a dark night for Mother's play. Castle gives some thought to suggesting that he and Kate go to her apartment, but he doesn't want to sabotage the definition she gave him earlier in the day. He'll just have to do the best he can.
The roast in the oven is filling the air with a savory aroma. A dinner of red meat often adds to both Kate's enthusiasm, and Castle's stamina. Alexis usually turns in by ten before an exam, and if Mother doesn't have a liaison on her nights off, she usually spends them either meditating or going through the reviews of the competition. Her archrival Madge just opened in a new play. That should give Martha Rodgers plenty of theatrical commentaries to peruse - at least enough to keep her out of his hair.
Coming in the door, Kate looks too beautiful for someone who's just braved the subway after a day at work. Her hair is askew just enough to be sexy and her cheeks slightly reddened from the cold air outside. The tint of her hazel eyes is more green than brown, a promising sign.
With two hungry teenage girls at the table, large portions of tender beef, along with mashed potatoes and salad disappear in record time, followed by a substantial part of a half-gallon of chocolate ice cream.
After the dishwasher is loaded, Kate and Castle settle together on the couch in front of the TV. "We're past sweeps," Castle notes. "There isn't going to be much good on tonight, at least not first run. Do you want to watch a movie? Some recent ones are streaming."
Kate pushes her hair behind her ear and presses her index finger to her lips. "Actually, Castle, I hope you don't mind, but I set the DVR to record some stuff."
Castle pulls back to look at her. "Why would I mind? And what did the brilliant Kate Beckett feel was worthy of preserving for later viewing?"
Kate's eyes dart away from Castle's expectant gaze. "Temptation Lane."
"Temptation Lane the soap opera?"
Kate nods sheepishly.
Castle cradles her cheek in his palm. "I'm not throwing any stones. I've been known to follow daytime television on occasion myself. I borrowed a plot for one of my novels from General Hospital. It was terrible, and I threw the damn thing out, but I did it. And I've always had a soft spot for One Life to Live."
"Yeah, one of the guys who played Joey Buchanan on there was pretty cute," Kate recalls. "But Mom and I used to watch Temptation Lane together whenever I was home sick. She'd switch off with Dad. I'd watch baseball with him. So now I get the warm fuzzies when I watch either one."
Castle pulls her against his shoulder and presses his lips to her hair. "I understand. Temptation Lane it is. I may even take some notes. Then later we can have some temptations of our own.
Kate snuggles into the warmth of his body. "Best part of the night."