Kate and Rick awoke and came into the precinct. Today after work was another session with Dr. Burke. Kate was actually looking forward to these sessions. Her attention was broken by Espo.
"Hey Becks we got the report from CSU back what little of it they got to do but you should find it interesting." Espo said.
"Let me see it says the person in the car was blew up from a rogue Drone attack?" Kate said.
"Yeah how did you know?" Ryan asked.
"Well remember the auction?" Kate asked.
"Yeah" Ryan responded.
"Rick bought it." Kate said.
"For a Song I may add it is filled with at least 40,000 dollar worth of high tech equipment." Rick added.
"Wow it is a better deal than your last haul eh Castle?" Espo said.
"Yeah it is anyway I'll let Kate tell you." Rick said.
"Ok Rick had the great idea to wire the unit to see if the accomplice would return. He did and he is charged with Criminal Trespass. He should be in a more talkative mood after spending the night in holding." Kate said.
"Kate you still had not said the good part." Rick complained.
"Just you wait I'll get to it. Ok once the accomplice was removed. Rick was able to find video evidence of a rogue Drone flying over Central Park coming from the direction of the blast 2 mins after its detonation." Kate said.
"Wow that is cool" Ryan said.
"What is more cool is the tail number was visible. NYZ 4509. It must be part of the NY Army reserves in Ft. Drummond." Rick said.
"No Castle that is impossible. A drone from there being hijacked impossible Bro." Espo said.
"Then explain the tail number and markings. It is one of ours and Ft. Drummond has all the answers." Rick said.
"Wait you and Castle are going to Ft. Drummond? Without me?" Espo asked.
"Yeah Espo so sorry I know your Military experience would come in handy but I don't think they would open up to you either. I know Castle will snoop around." Kate said.
"Wait I can snoop around so well that they will not know I'm there." Espo said.
"That is not what we want. I want Castle to be caught!" Kate said.
"What that is news to me?" Rick said.
"Right and who else would you get to get him out?" Ryan said. "Your trusty partner Espo."
"You could ask discreetly while you are bailing him out. It should force the hand of the Fed's." Kate said.
"Great plan except the part I disappear to GTMO?" Rick said.
"Rick for once your celebrity status will serve you well." Kate said.
"What I always maintained my status has served me well." Rick said.
Kate rolled her eyes on that statement.
"I'll be waiting for the hysterical phone call Becks!" Espo said.
As they entered the Elevator Rick turned to Kate.
"Is Shawn right?" Rick asked.
"What do you mean?" Kate replied.
"Did our gov't order a hit on a civilian here in New York City?" Rick asked.
"I do not see how they could" Kate said.
"Why is it just too hard to believe?" Rick asked.
"No in my experiences Large Bureaucracies do not move that quickly." Kate explained.
"So it has to be terrorists? I shudder to think terrorists have access to these sorts of weapons." Rick said.
/
Rick and Kate are seated at the Military installation at Ft. Drummond. Two Army personnel entered and sat down.
"I'm Col Fortis and this is Major Hooper the head of our Drone program here. I want to welcome you to Ft. Drummond." He said. "Did you find the base ok? It is a bit off the beaten track."
"Oh we found it with no trouble but we need to know from you why a NY Army Reserve Drone was seen in New York City flying at 100 ft Across Central Park on Tuesday at 8:15 AM?" Kate asked.
"That is classified." The Army Major said who is in charge of the program.
"Is it also classified that remains of a Hellfire missile which was fired from that same Drone was targeting a civilian 2 minutes earlier?" Kate asked. "Sir's you can sit there and claim National Security but that does not cover up that man was just sitting in his car when he was killed on US soil by a Drone strike!"
"This meeting is over. And I must remind you nothing we discussed will or can be repeated." The Col. said.
"What is there to discuss? You did not say anything." Kate said. "Come on Castle let's go."
"Exactly" the Major said with a smile.
Kate got in the hallway and saw again the man who had been shadowing them. Kate got up into his face.
"What about you? What part of this Kabuki dance do you play? No don't answer that it is Classified." Kate said snarling in the Fed's face.
Kate was a perfect diversion as Rick wandered around unescorted. Rick found a few GI's who knew him.
"Hey Guys look who is here It is Rick Castle! So tell me Rick what brought you up here?" asked the soldier who found him wandering.
"Well Guys I have revived my Derrick Storm character and I needed to do some research can you guys help me?" Rick said to the assembled group. "I'm willing to sign auto graphs and pictures."
The GI's all jumped up getting their favorite Derrick Storm Novels and a few Nikki Heat came out too. Once Rick had signed and took pictures he got down to what he wanted to know.
"Ok Guys you work on these drones how easy would it be to let's say hijack one? I am writing that the terrorist have commandeered a drone." Rick said.
They all looked at each other then one brave soldier said.
"If ground control is lost like turning too quickly another system could theoretically take control." He said.
"Yes but can a signal override?" Rick asked.
"No they could not there are safeguards. But losing the link is quite common." He said.
"So the terrorist would have to buy off the operator to lose control at the right time?" Rick said.
"Yeah that would have to be the only way." The soldier said.
"Well Guys you have been a great help which way it is to the main exit?" Rick asked.
"I'll take you Mr. Castle I must say it has been a please to meet you." He said as he brought Rick back to the main gate where Kate had been waiting for him. Rick left the base and got into the car.
"Well?" Kate asked.
"Just drive Kate drive as fast as you can!" Rick said hunching over so he could not be seen.
Kate was not at all perplexed by Rick's sudden aversion to be seen. They were at least 20 miles away when Rick finally popped his head up. Kate could not help but roll her eyes.
"Kate it was a gov't job but it was not the way you think. Thanks to the guys on the base I know what has happened and that is why we might be targeted." Rick said looking in the air.
"What are you talking about?" Kate asked.
"The drone attack was an inside job. The operator had to lose control so that another system could take over and lock them out. The operator of that drone is in on it." Rick said.
"So it was a conspiracy?" Kate asked. "Why target him?"
"Who do you think would hate him so much to orchestrate a terror attack to kill him?" Rick asked. "Wait I think I know who but I do not know how or who else is involved but I can name the players. Sgt Head in the operations is the one I figure was involved on the Army Base, Monica Kale was another possibly his Partner and last the mastermind. Shawn Tanner." Rick said.
"His Son, why would he do that?" Kate asked.
"That inheritance did you get back with your Father yet on Dale's probate?" Rick asked.
"No he said he would call." Kate said as they pulled into the parking structure.
"Maybe you should call him to remind him he is getting a bit long in the tooth!" Rick said.
"Speak for yourself Methuselah" Kate quipped.
"I have you know I am still quite virile!" Rick proclaimed.
Kate rolled her eyes and got back to the 4th floor.
"So sorry Espo I was not caught but the next time I would be you would be the one I would call!" Rick said patting his friend on the back.
"So is our friend from last night in a talkative mood?" Kate asked.
"Yeah he and his lawyer are waiting for you in interrogation 1." Ryan said.
"Thanks Ryan let's go Castle." Kate said.
"Hey Becks CSU just called the Fed's have seized our evidence!" Espo said.
"Is that not just great." Kate said entering the room.
"Hello Omar Dixon you are charged with Criminal Trespass against the property of One Richard Castle who is here to press charges." Kate said.
"Of course Dixon you do not have to get a criminal record at all only if you talk to us." Kate said.
The two discussed the matter the Lawyer said.
"My client is interested in what you have to say." He stated.
"Ok Councilor you ask your client was he the one to take of picture of the pretty object in the sky on Tuesday at 8:15 AM?" Kate asked.
They conferred then the lawyer said "Omar could answer that question."
"Yes I took it on my way to meet up with Dale. It was just lucky I was late to the meeting." Omar said.
"Wait he was waiting to meet you when he was killed?" Kate asked.
"Yeah I mean I know why he was killed and I want police protection." Omar said.
"Ok gives us everything and you can go into WITSEC." Kate said.
"It is because of Simon Warburg!" Omar said. "He broke the encryption on the Drone software and he sent it to Dale it was going to be published as soon as the meeting in his car was over. But someone did not want that meeting to happen."
"So you are being targeted too?" Rick asked.
"I'm being tracked too. There was a guy in a black suit chasing me last night. I lost him in the storage facility. I need protection from him." Omar said.
"So Omar do you still have that software?" Kate asked.
"Actually Mr. Castle has it I slipped it to him as I bumped him last night." Omar said.
"I felt something last night" Rick said.
"Rick, empty your pockets." Kate ordered.
There a midst all the other junk Rick carried was a thumbdrive. Kate picked it up left the room then gave it to Espo. She left Rick to continue the interview.
"So why did you give that to me?" Rick asked.
"Well it is part of the stuff in the storage unit so I figured it belonged to you now." Omar said.
"Omar this is important did anyone else have access to this software?" Rick asked.
"No wait I did see Shawn in the unit a couple of days ago." Omar said.
"Shawn…As in Dale's son…? He told us he never sees his old man." Rick said.
"That is a bold face lie! He is in the unit all the time printing off some manifesto or another." Omar said.
"Omar did he ever bring anyone with him while he was doing this?" Rick asked.
"Yeah a Army guy and Shawn's girlfriend! Monic…" Omar said.
"Monica Kale?" Rick asked getting excited.
"Yeah that is her name!" Omar said.
"Great Omar you are doing great!" Rick said getting up and leaving the room.