Chapter 108
As dawn broke on Monday the team began to stir. They all knew from a call from Agent Wilson the night before that the FBI would be handed the investigation this morning. They were also informed that the Director of the FBI had ordered the Special Agent in Charge to work closely with the Twelfth. They were going to set up shop in the precinct later today.
Their plan was to return this morning, business as usual until the Feds showed up. As they said their goodbyes Castle could see the conflict in Ryan's eyes. He didn't want to leave Jenny alone. He wanted to stay by her side and Castle could relate to that feeling. There was no way he would ever leave Beckett in a situation like this one. As they loaded up in SUVs provided by Porter Securities, the seating was the same as the trip to the Hampton's with the exception of Montgomery taking the place of Jenny in Esposito's SUV.
As they neared the city Castle pulled out his older flip phone and placed a call to Gray. He informed them that they were close and wanted an update. Gray had little knowledge of the FBI's case as it stood. He was waiting for the call to go to Homeland. The plan was for him to take the role in the investigation that Agent Fallon had a few months ago with the dirty bomb. He was to observe until a time when he felt he needed to take over.
The only people who had this information were Rick and Kate. They didn't want the entire team to know; this was to avoid people acting out of character. None of the team had acting ability and Castle was worried they would blow the plan.
Kate had been traveling in the same position as she had going to the Hampton's, leaning against Rick with his arm around her. She had never felt the need to have someone provide that level of security. She had always been an independent, self-sufficient woman but damn if this didn't feel good.
When Castle finished his call Kate asked, "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, it looks like the plan is intact. I don't want to say too much because you need to hear some of this for the first time when the Feds tell us. I'm not sure how good of an actor you are, and we don't want to give away anything."
Kate thought she should be offended but she knew he was right. He could always tell when she was lying when no one else could. "Okay but we need to make a stop when we get to the city."
Castle looked down at her in disbelief. "You want to stop before we get to the precinct? Are you sure?"
The corners of Kate's mouth turned up slightly betraying a small smile. "Yep I sure do. I need to pack a bag."
Castle paused a moment and let her words sink in before displaying the lopsided grin that she had grown to love. "I think we can manage that. Mike has had a team watching your place since the beginning, it's safe."
Xx
Beckett and Castle made it to the precinct about an hour and a half after the rest of the team. When they arrived they were greeted by a chorus of 'just get here when you can' among other things. As they made it to her desk they could see a worried look in Ryan's eyes. Before Beckett could ask, he nodded his head toward Montgomery's office. Who she saw in there put an end to her good mood immediately.
Xx
Alexis was sitting at the bar with Martha and Jim eating a piece of cantaloupe. She was listening to the two adults talk about their kids when she decided to speak up. "Grams, Kate told me she loves dad. The way she said it so forcefully, I am sure they are in it forever."
Jim Beckett could not believe what he was hearing. Kate was in a relationship with a doctor just last week and now she is in love with Castle? This was not his Katie! She was always one who guarded her heart. She definitely didn't go around telling men she loved them. "Alexis I don't know what to say, this all seems so sudden for Katie."
"I know Mr. Beckett. I found her Saturday in dad's office just staring at him as he slept. She told me she loved him and later that day she told Lanie that she was tired of pretending that she didn't love dad."
Martha was smiling at her granddaughter. "It seems that someone has been conspiring with Lanie."
"No Grams, not conspiring - just comparing notes. It seems that we both had information that the other one needed."
With that Alexis picked up the last piece of cantaloupe and rejoined the Montgomery girls in the pool.
Xx
"Detective Beckett can you and your team come in here?" Montgomery said hesitantly.
All three detectives and a writer entered the office. Montgomery closed the door and moved behind his desk. I think you all know Special Agent Sorenson. Everyone acknowledged the Fed in the room as he began to speak.
"Hal Lockwood, or the person going by Hal Lockwood, was found dead this morning. It appears that there was a shootout in a hangar Friday night. The hangar is owned by a small helicopter tour company The owner has been on vacation for the past week in Hawaii."
Beckett knew that Wilson would come up with a plausible reason as to why the bodies were just discovered but this has all of the hallmarks of a Castle novel. Her train of thought was broken when Sorenson began to speak again.
"We are checking on his alibi but it looks sound at the moment. But we found information on one of the dead bodies that indicate a plot to attack tourist spots. We are worried that this is not an isolated cell but a larger plot."
Esposito couldn't help but notice that Sorenson has not told them how many bodies or any other details. So he decided to push for answers. "Sorenson, just how many bodies did you find?"
"Six."
"Six!" Ryan said exasperatedly. "If you found six why would you think there are more? I would think that the whole cell is dead."
Sorenson decided that it was time to show his cards. "Okay, the FBI has jurisdiction over this investigation and the higher ups have decided that since the NYPD has previous experience with this Lockwood person that you are to be brought in. Under my supervision of course, and the police commissioner has agreed. But since you are effectively working for me - it's my way."
Montgomery spoke up and confirmed everything that the Fed just said.
Sorenson smugly looked at Castle and said. "The first order of business is you're out, writer monkey. I will not have you screwing up my investigation."
Kate had been slightly annoyed when she saw Will standing there as she entered Montgomery's office but now she was livid. There was no way she was letting this happen. "No way in hell are you doing this Will. He is a part of our team, hell he is the one who subdued Lockwood when we arrested him. He stays!"
Sorenson decided to try a different approach. "Kate, I can't be responsible for a dilettante writer playing cop. This is big, boys, and there could be a lot of lives at stake. I'm sure you understand. He thought using her given name would ease the tension in the room, but he was sadly mistaken.
Before he could continue Kate spoke up. "If he is out so am I."
Castle had been quiet for the entire exchange. He was oddly proud of the way Kate and by extension her team. They had stood up for him. So he decided to speak up. "Kate, maybe he is right. You can't have me getting in the way on something so important. I think it is best if I sit this one out."
Sorenson was mildly surprised to see that the writer seeing his logic. He was hoping that Kate would come to her senses and see that this was really the best way. He didn't like Castle and didn't want him anywhere near one of his investigations.
Kate turned to look Castle in the eyes. It was the first time since they had entered the office and what she saw surprised her. It was not anger or irritation but a calmness. Like he was a step ahead of her, like he knew this was going to happen. "Castle can I see you in private for a moment."
Xx
As Castle and Beckett entered the breakroom, Kate uttered, "Make me a coffee while you explain why you seemed to know that this was going to happen."
"Well this morning when I spoke Gray, he mentioned that there was a new Special Agent in Charge of New York." Castle paused for effect before continuing, "His name is William Sorenson."
Kate turned to look out the breakroom window gazing straight into Roy's office. "Damn that's a pretty big job. I wonder when he got the promotion?"
"I don't know but when Gray gets here I can find out," Castle added with a hint of mischief.
"Well that's all fine and good but why are you agreeing to this. Why are you letting him kick you out?"
Castle reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out what looked like a phone charger. "You know I can't do the things I do if I'm following you around. And before you start to object, you know I will do anything I have to do to protect you and Alexis. Anything. Now I want you to use this charger on your phone. Let it charge for about fifteen minutes the have the boys and Roy do the same thing. This will set your phone's GPS to where ever it was plugged in. Anyone trying to track your phone will think you are at the precinct."
Castle handed Kate her coffee, kissed her cheek, and handed her a key. "This is the key to the loft. I may not be there when you get home, but I should be there by eight."
Kate thought 'key to the loft, home,' she liked the sound of that. "What are you going to do today then?"
With a glint in his eye he smiled and replied. "I think I'm going to have a drink with an old friend." And with that he headed for the elevator.
Xx
Esposito was the first to speak when Castle and Beckett left the room. "You know, that's pretty crappy to kick Castle out like that. He is one of us; he may not have a badge but he is a cop."
Sorenson was astounded by Esposito's comments. He had expected this type of response from the young Irish detective but not from the Latino. He remembered from the case he worked with the Twelfth that Ryan seemed to idolize Castle but Esposito seemed indifferent. "These aren't your run of the mill homicides, guys. We are dealing with potential terrorists; I can't risk that writer monkey won't screw things up."
Will turned to Montgomery and continued his statement. "Maybe you could live with it if he screws up an investigation but I can't."
As he finished Roy interjected. "You might want to call Agent Fallon from Homeland. "Writer Monkey" as you call him, saved all of Manhattan from a dirty bomb just a few months ago. So yes, I have no problem with him on this case, or any other for that matter."
Kate reentered the office just as Sorenson countered Roy, hearing Will's rebuttal. "Yes I know about that, I read the report. Sure he pulled all of the wires, one of the luckiest things I have ever heard of. But if Kate had proper partner, one who carried a gun, when they found the warehouse it would have never reached that point. They would not have been forced to take refuge in a freezer."
Kate was seething at his remark but before she could say anything he added, "This discussion is over. If you wish to participate in this investigation you will drop it."
Kate replied with a sparkle in her eyes. "He's right, if we want to stay on this it's his way. Castle agreed with Will and called it a day."
Sorenson flashed a smile at Kate and when she returned one, it never reached her eyes. He thought that maybe working with the NYPD could be a good thing after all.
Xx
Standing outside a pub in Hell's Kitchen, Castle schooled his features. It had been over a year since he had entered this place, the last time he was here was with Beckett. He had stood outside long enough; it was time to do what he came here for. He smoothed out the jacket he wore on Friday night, making sure that his Sig wasn't noticeable, and entered the bar.
Castle walked right up to the bar and ordered a Bushmill, neat. The other patrons in the establishment realized he wasn't Irish it; that fact drew interest of one person in particular. "Well you do know your whiskey, I'll give you that, but you are in the wrong place boy," came the call from the booth in the corner of the bar. "If I was you, I would finish my drink and get out of here before my associates have to remove you."
"Now why would I want to do that? I finally found a place with twenty-one year old Bushmill, I think I'll stay a while."
With that, the man in the corner nodded and two of the biggest men Castle had ever encountered rose from an adjacent table and began making their way towards him. Castle looked past the two behemoths to the old man in the booth. "Rourke do you really want to lose these two?"
A snicker came from the booth as Rourke cried out, "Boys take out the trash."
What happened next was a complete shock to everyone in the pub, especially to the two enforcers sent to remove Castle. The first to reach Rick took a swing which Castle easily ducked. He stepped to his left and placed a well-timed kick to the outside of his assailant's right knee, destroying his kneecap. As the large man grabbed for his knee, Rick grasped him by the back of the head and slammed it into the rail on the edge of the bar breaking his nose. The Irishman cried out as he went down in a heap of blood and tears.
As Castle turned to deal with the second enforcer, he was caught with a punch that staggered him. He took a step back and wiped the blood from the corner of his lip and chuckled. "Is that all you got?" He turned to Rourke and asked, "How much are you paying these two? Whatever it is, it's way too much."
Rick turned back to the remaining Irishman and blocked the second punch that was thrown his way. This time instead of kicking out a knee, he sidestepped the larger man and caught him with a right hook as he did. As the big man staggered, Castle continue to move behind him. Now he kicked the back of his knee causing the gangster to fall to his knees. Castle drew his Sig and placed it at the back of the thug's head.
"Hands on the bar." When he refused, Castle chambered a round and again said, "Hands on the bar!" This time his request was met with a reluctant sneer but the assailant complied. Castle walked around to stand at the side of his foe and brought the grip of the gun down onto the fingers of his right hand breaking three of his digits. As the man grabbed his hand, Castle pulled out a zip tie and cuffed the thug. He then moved to the original attacker who still laid on the floor and did the same.
Castle turned to the bartender and said, "Lock this place up." When the bartender complied, Castle sat at the booth with Finn Rourke. "Finn, I just came here to talk. It didn't have to go this way, this is on you."
Finn was not one to be intimidated; he had been through the turf wars when he instigated a hostile takeover of the WESTIES, but he was nervous. Then it hit him. "I know you. You were in here last year with that cop. Now she is one hot piece of tail if I ever saw one."
Castle knew this was bravado. Rourke was trying to get under his skin. "I need to know who took over for Coonan. Who is running his drug operation, but more importantly who is doing the contract work now?"
Rourke just looked at him not intending to answer. Then Castle pulled up his Sig and placed it right between Finn's eyes. "I have no problem pulling this trigger. Wouldn't affect the way I sleep tonight one bit. Now I am gonna ask you again. Who?"
"Son, I don't know. Don't much care to run dope and I have guys to take care of my problems. I like to handle it in house."
Castle looked over at the guys he had left in a whimpering heap at the bar. "I hope for your sake you find better ones than those two. Once again - if you don't know, who should I see?"
All Rourke did was shake his head. "Word on the street is that there is a Russian who's been bringing in heroin from Afghanistan. He's also running little hit team with ex Russian military."
"Do you know his name? Where I can find him?"
Rourke shook his head again. "He keeps it low key. He doesn't sell on the street. He's more of a distributer. Only thing I have ever heard is he like to play poker in Chinatown from time to time."
"Now Finn, I'm glad we could have a friendly conversation. Bartender bring us a round on me." Castle pulled out ten one hundred dollar bills and placed them on the table.
As the bartender poured their drinks Castle said, "I was willing to pay for the information. Please take this as payment for disrupting your business Finn. I want you to know I have no hard feelings, but if anyone was to find out that I was here, or if anyone I know were to be harmed, well I might not friendly."
