Chapter 6: Old enemy new faces
"Alexis when you get this please call…." Castle said into his cell phone as he tried to reach Alexis on her phone.
"Martha, its Kate please call me….." Beckett said into her phone as she tried to reach Martha who was either at her acting school or rehearsal for her play.
"Dispatch this is Detective Ryan, send a patrol unit to Mr. Castle and Detective Beckett's residence….." Ryan said into his phone as he was trying to check on the home of Kate and Rick.
"Send one of your campus patrol unit to Ms. Alexis Castle location…" Esposito said into his phone as he tried to coordinate with Columbia Campus police to secure Alexis.
Captain Gates saw all the action around in the bullpen and was intrigued by it. She walked out of her office to try and find out what was going on. "Detective Beckett, what is going on?"
"Sir, Mr. Davidson gave us a name that is link to Alexis's case." Beckett told Captain Gates who walked on over. She explained what she learned in interrogation.
"Good god. Any word on Alexis or Ms. Rodgers?" Captain Gates asked as she walked over to the murder board.
"Alexis is either making up a exam or in the library studying." Castle answered walking over too the murder board as well. He pulled out his cell phone. "I'm waiting on a call back."
"I sent campus police to secure her as well." Esposito also added in.
"We are also waiting on Martha to call us back as well, but she may be at rehearsal." Kate add as well.
"There is a patrol unit on the way to your residence to check out as well." Ryan came over and added to the conversation with the group.
"Find out who this man's cousin is and arrest him." Captain Gates ordered to the group who all nodded and started back towards the office. "I'm going to call 1PP to see if we can't get a protection detail as well for you and your family Mr. Castle."
"Thank you Captain." Castle replied as he turned his attention back to the murder board. He looked it over. He felt Kate come slide up next to him. "Do you think OCCB may have anything on Gregory Volkov?"
"Maybe, maybe Interpol or the feds." Beckett replied as she also looked at the board. She turned to her head to look at Castle. "I can't ask anyone I know in the FBI. I burned all those bridges."
"How about Will Sorenson?" Castle asked as his phone vibrated. He picked it up and saw it was Gina sending him a text reminding him about his chapters. "Gina."
"He's in the Middle East somewhere on assignment." Beckett replied. She saw Castle's look on her face. "I'll call the FBI office here in city."
Castle smiled at his wife as his phone rang again. He looked at the screen and quickly answered it. "Alexis where are you?"
The team watched intently for a second as Castle listen to his daughter. He gave them a thumbs up. Esposito phone also rang and he answered it.
"Alexis is ok, the campus police are with her now." Castle report as Esposito also got the same report from the campus police. "She was taking an exam."
"Good, now we have to hear from Martha." Ryan said Beckett relieved that her step daughter was ok, moved to her phone and dialed a number. "Where do we stand?"
"Trying to find this relative of Gregory Volkov." Castle responded with a smirk. Though the team knew what happen, he would worry about what this may do to Alexis. He felt his wife's hands on his.
"Worried about Alexis?" Beckett asked. She saw Castle nod and she came about to face Castle. "Listen, talked to the FBI office here. They are going to send us everything they can on Russians here."
"Richard, Kate." A familiar voiced called out across the bullpen towards them. The group turned around and saw Martha strolling on into the bullpen escorted by a uniform. "Thank you Michael."
The uniform smiled and nodded leaving Martha with her family and friends within the bullpen. "I received your message, is there something wrong?"
"You could have called Martha." Beckett said with a smile on her face, seeing that her mother in law was alive and well. "I'm pretty sure I said that."
"Oh don't be frank, Kate, it's on my way." Martha replied flashing her million dollar smile at her daughter in law. She saw the face of her son, and that told her a different story. "I am assuming there is something wrong?"
"Yes mother. You remember Josh?" Castle asked getting a nod from his mother, who remembers. Castle shifted on his feet and quickly explained what they learned. "The man that Josh dealt with is a cousin to Gregory Volkov."
"Oh dear, how is Alexis taking the news?" Martha asked now extremely worried about her granddaughter.
"I didn't tell her yet, all I told her the police presence was because of the case." Castle explained. Castle again shifted on his feet thinking about his wording next. "I'm worried about what this do to her."
"Oh Richard, the girl is a level headed. Tell her, and we'll all help her." Martha countered her son's statement getting nods from everyone in the bullpen. She walked over and took Castle and Kate's hands. "You want to protect her I know, but sometimes to protect them you have to bring their fears to the front."
Castle and Beckett looked at each other and their eyes agreed. Weathered it be with Alexis or any future children they had. The desire to protect them at all cost from the monster of the world, took priority. But child has to leave and face those monsters on their own.
"Your right Martha, we'll tell her tonight." Beckett said to Martha. Martha nodded, and gave them a kiss on the cheek before leaving. Beckett heard her computer beep. She opened up her email and saw a messege from the FBI office in New York. "FBI emailed me their file on the Russian mob."
She scanned across the brief that the FBI provided and opened up the pictures that were in the email as well. She sent them to the picture printer so that the team could go through them together.
"Here, here. I found Gregory Volkov." Castle said handing over a picture a half an hour later after receiving the pictures. "That is him with someone else who had their back to the camera."
"I have the matching set right here." Ryan replied who walked over and handed a picture to the Beckett. "Name is Vladimir Aminev. Was the head of the Russian mob until 6 months ago."
"Was?" Espositio asked coming over by the desk.
"Found pieces of him scattered all over the Brooklyn." Ryan replied. Esposito nodded his understanding. "He wasn't related to Gregory, but from what I gathered the Russian mob in Paris and here often had discussions to determine course of actions."
"Well maybe the FBI should figure out who this is?" Beckett asked handing over a photograph of Gregory, Vladimir and another gentlemen having a drink. "There are no other photos of him anywhere."
"Well I think I found our family member and he's not looking too bad if you like those mail order types." Esposito handed over a photograph to Kate. She studied it for a moment with confusion. "Josh said he met with a man, I don't think the man he met with was the headman or women."
"What?" Castle said astonished by the dialogue going on. He walked over and looked over his wife shoulders. "Ravishing Russian, if you go for those types."
"Good save Castle." Beckett said with a smile on her face. She looked at the photo and studied it for a moment. "FBI has not identified her yet. All they have by her is Lady X."
Castle skimmed the brief that the FBI sent over with the case file. "Apparently she showed up in the area around the time Vladimir went to pieces so to speak."
There was a collective groan from the group at the comment. With it late in the day, and no other leads to go on, Ryan and Esposito went home. Castle stuck around watching his wife stare at the photos.
"You stare at them any hard, they are going to start moving." Castle told his wife with a chuckle. He stood up and move to her desk. "Kate, you sent the pictures to Interpol to see if they could identify her. Let's go home."
"Someone is threating my family and friends Rick, and that person is right here." Beckett replied to the statement. She looked up at her husband who held out his hand for her. There it was, the compassion, the caring man who always looked after her well-being. "You're right Castle. I won't get any answers sitting here. Give me a minute."
As soon as Kate had gathered her belongings the coupled walked out of the precinct and headed home. As the cab dropped them off in front of the loft, Beckett noticed a undercover patrol vehicle parked across the street, and two detectives from the local precinct sitting in the front seat.
"Guess Captain Gates got us that protection detail." Kate remarked as she nodded to Eduardo who opened the door.
"Or they are assigned by internal affairs to surveil us." Rick remarked as he nodded to Eduardo as well handing him a ten spot. The elevator ride to the loft took the normal time. They spotted a uniform officer posted outside their home. "Ok. Protection detail. Officer."
The uniform nodded to them as they walked into the loft. Sitting on the couch was Alexis who was looking over a textbook, while Martha was sitting at the counter with a big glass of wine in her hand. Alexis looked up and came running over giving her dad and Kate a hug.
"Who told you?" Castle asked after Alexis released her hug.
"Grams." Alexis responded to the question. Both Kate and Rick shot looks over to Martha. "Don't blame her, I beg her to tell me."
"Alexis we were going to tell you, but were trying to figure out the best way." Castle replied to his daughter comment.
"Alexis, we didn't want to bring up anything that maybe would trigger bad memories." Kate also remarked as she took Alexis's hands and together they walked towards the couch. "Honey, we don't know who we are up against, so until we solve this, whenever you are not home, you will have security."
"I'm not worried about me, but you and dad." Alexis stated with some tears welling up in her eyes. Kate and Castle saw this, along with Martha all hugged Alexis.
"Don't worry about us, I am with some of the best detectives in the NYPD." Rick remarked to his daughter's statement. "We'll solve this."
The next morning, Kate and Rick arrived at the precinct a littler earlier than usual. The hope being that the Interpol liaison would have a name to go with the face that they suspected was now running the Russian Mafia in the city. Kate sat down on at her computer while Rick went to go make them some coffee from the breakroom. He came back carrying two cups.
"Thanks." Beckett told him as he set the cup down on the desk. She leaned back and the chair and looked at Castle. "Nothing yet from the Interpol liaison."
"Not surprising. They only got it last night." Castle replied taking a sip of his coffee. He looked at Kate who was stirring her coffee a little bit. "You didn't sleep well last night."
"Neither did you." Beckett remarked. They both smiled at each other. She went back to her coffee. "I was thinking about Alexis, her and you in Paris, the situation we are in now."
"I was thinking the same thing too." Castle replied to his wife's statement. He looked down at his coffee. Then he heard, Ryan and Esposito coming off the elevator.
"Ryan, I am telling you. IA intentionally dropped the ball on this one." Esposito stated coming over towards his desk. He set his stuff down and looked at Beckett and Castle. "Morning."
"Javi, I agree with you, but remember the order came down from within 1PP." Ryan replied setting his stuff down on the desk. He looked at his partner. "To look at us, Russians have somebody on the in up there. Morning Castles."
"Morning. If we are done with the debate." Beckett remarked to her team with a smile. She taped the picture of the lady they decided was not the head of the Russian Mafia in New York. "Top priority today, find out who she is, and find a way to bring her in."
"Detective Beckett, One PP wants a update on where….." Captain Gates said walking towards the group when she stopped to look at a picture on the murder board. "What is Ilana Volkov doing up there?"
"Captain?" Castle asked looking at Captain Gates.
"Illana Volkov is the daughter of Vladimir Aminev top lieutenant before he ended up face down in the East River." Captain Gates said walking over to the board and taking the picture off. She studied it for a moment. "Her dad kept the kids away from the family business. She went to Colombia with my sister but for the business program."
"How do you know her sir?" Beckett asked now wondering how her precinct commander knew this.
"Her father stopped by campus plenty of times to check on her." Captain Gates replied. She set the picture back up on the board. "I was young cop back in the day and it wasn't hard to know Yuri Volkov."
"How come she's not in the system or intel reports?" Ryan asked now coming over by the murder board.
"Except for a marijuana bust, she stayed out of trouble and her dad kept her away from the exposure." Captain Gates answered Ryan's question. She turned back to Beckett. "I need an update by 1000 hours."
"Let's do a family background check on her." Beckett said out of earshot of the captain. She looked around at her team.
"Yeah before she decides to go all Soviet on us." Castle remarked looking at Beckett.