Ryan walking in the Dr. office of Joshua Leeds and looks discouraged.
"Staff has just gone through all the files and there is nothing there",.Ryan laments.
"Dr. Leeds had a weakness ...Energy bars", replied Esposito as he was looking through Dr. Leeds desk drawers.
The Doctor volunteered for Doctors Without Borders, did Pro Bono work and he did not even have Porn on his computer... This guy was a boy scout", Esposito added.
"The only thing he had locked in his drawer was his checkbook...a checkbook"
"Wait a minute what are these files?"
"Those are for his wedding receipts and planning.."
"They are not all wedding stuff... look here"
Ryan pointed at patient files pages describing a surgery recently done.
"That is odd all the patient information is blacked out"
"Maybe Dr. Leeds has a secret after all"
Ryan took the pages to the head nurse to verify what these pages were.
"It is his handwriting but I assist on all Dr. Leeds surgeries and I do not remember this one." The head nurse said as she looked over the pages.
"Can you identify the patient?",Ryan asked.
"Only that it was a male 55 years old who had facial reconstructive surgery."
Ryan and Esposito rushed back to the precinct with this new lead. Doing some investigating they found much new information to the identity of the patient.
Esposito started bringing Kate and the team up to date with the new evidence.
It was a nine hour operation which Dr. Leeds performed with a team not familiar to the hospital or his staff."
"Nine hour mystery operation for facial reconstruction which he did not want his own people know about", said the Captain shaking his head.
"The hospital must have some record of the patient", Kate added
"Get this the hospital has no record of this procedure", Ryan chimed in.
Alex in thought said, " Who did you contact at the hospital?"
Ryan thinking it was a stupid question replied,"Hospital Records."
Alex chortled and said,"Well that is the reason you did not get anywhere!"
Ryan visibly disturbed said," Why is that?"
Alex with a big smile on his face said, " Billing"
Kate dialed the number to the hospital billing office impressed with Castle's insight to hospital administrations.
Alex thought Yeah, I remember removing the hospital records for that Spanish diplomat with AIDS.
I had to sweet talk the billing clerk to allow me to handle the case in cash and removed all traces in the billing records from the computer as her back was turned.
Kate after her conversation with the billing said," The patient was paid for by wire transfer number. Handed the number off to Esposito.
Kate asked," Did Alexis find a dress yet?"
Yeah, Alexis said while thinking of his little girl in her new prom dress, "A cute one too."
"My only comfort now is the long standing tradition of torturing the boyfriend", Alex added.
"What do you mean?" Kate inquired since she had no idea this was even a tradition among fathers to daughter's boyfriends.
"You know that time honored point where the father meet the boyfriend then spends a few moments before the daughter descends the stairs?"
"I remember my Prom date's Old Man", Ryan quipped.
"What did he do?", asked Alex.
"He checked my wallet for condoms then he showed me his gun collection. My hands were shaking so bad I could barely put on the corsage.", Ryan lost in memory said.
"What did your dad do?" Alex asked Kate.
Kate visibly shakened by this newest revelation of her father's time with her date said," I don't know I was upstairs."
"How was your date when you finally appeared?"
"Matter of fact now that you mentioned it he looked terrified... and all this time I thought he was afraid for me."
"Nope... and now it my turn", Alex said with an evil glint to his eye.
"What are you going to do?", inquired Ryan.
"Something that befits the name of Castle", Alex replied.
Esposito now hanging up the phone said, "Get This he account number is paid for by Uncle Sam in the US Justice Dept.
Kate said,"The only reason for facial reconstruction is to change the face of the witness."
"If Dr. Leeds was tortured the killer was trying to find this guy", Alex added.
Alex thought Mob ties I knew I was right on this one!
Kate said," we need to find him first."
Alex asked, "How do you find somebody in WITSEC?" Alex already knew that answer but was playing along to see what Kate would say.
Kate answered," You need to ask the people who are protecting the witness."
"Ask Hard Candy good luck" Ryan said while shrugging his shoulders.
"Har Hard Candy? Alex looking at the boys as Kate walked off.
"Asst District Attorney Candice Robinson... she makes mobsters cry!" , said Esposito with admiration in his voice.
Alex and Kate went the the federal building to contact the asst Attorney general.
Catching the asst DA in this hallways Kate asked for permission to interview the witness.
"I am so sorry Detective but you must know that information about a witness is strictly need to know basis." Candice said while walking down the stairs.
"Whether you have proof or not about having us employ Dr. Leeds or whether or not you have proof that an operation took place is irrelevant."
"It is not irrelevant to the victim's family or his fiancee. It is not!", Kate stood purposely down the stairs where Candice had stopped to look at her.
"Detective you are asking me to expose a witness in an on going investigation and that is not going to happen", Candice said with an air of finality.
Kate and Alex walked off.
"What happens now?" Alex asked goading Kate to answer.
Alex knew he could make inquiries of his own and find out fairly quick who the person was being held in protective custody.
We need to find out who that witness is or Our case is dead in the water", Kate lamented.
"I know how we could find out..We could ask the other side"
"What do we go down to ba da bing and ask them?" Kate said looking incredulous at Alex.
"I know a guy..."
"What you know a guy... What is this a play of Mamet?
Wait, I need to give a good cover why I know Mobsters.. I got it Alex thought.
"Research from my earliest days with Derek Storm", Alex said triumphantly and obviously please with himself.
"I am going to go and contact him"
Kate watch as Alex left her to go contact his asset. Alex has had many dealing with this person. He was known to make practical jokes at my expense. Alex thought with a groan thinking of the last one he pulled when he needed information on a drug shipment from the Chinese. Longshoremen were a great source on that. Hanging upside down for 20 mins was not funny but he thought it was!
So entering the bar which his source occupied his time. He approached the mobster.
Alex was aware of the mobster's body guard and walked as if he was going to be blind sided.
Alex acting visibly frightened said, "Sal It is me I am a friend!" as the bodyguard was looking at Sal for instructions.
Sal looked up at the bodyguard and said," Take him outside and kill him!
Alex knew this was the Joke so playing along Alex said "Wait wait I a..." with such and urgency to his voice.
Sal smiling said ,"Stop, I know this guy. Richard Freaking Castle! How are you!" Alex looked a bit shakened but it was not such a bad hazing coming from him. Alex sat down and asked Sal how has he been and what is new then finally got down to business once the pleasantries of the meeting were over.
"The guy you are talking about worked for the Splano family as an enforcer. Jimmy the Rat Morin"
He was an underboss favored by the Old Man but was squeezed out by Junior when the Old Man bit it"
Alex was thinking who would be taking over when the Old Man of US espionage is gone? It was something he needed to ponder later so he put that idea into a box to be opened later.
"Rumor has it that he turn states a while ago and the Splanos are running scared. Apparently he has all the evidence they need to roll up Junior's whole operation!"
"When I wrote Storm Warning you said that mobster hitmen has signature styles or MO is that correct? If so the surgeon was killed by a plastic bag over his head and sealed with duct tape. Does that remind you of anything?"
"No, you would need to ask the Splanos about that one. However, there is one other person you could ask that is Jimmy the Rat!"