McHale entered the box, stepping to the middle of the table, opposite 3XK, who was flanked by a public defender.
"I've instructed my client not to answer any of your questions." McHale smiled and took a seat.
"That's perfect actually; He can just sit and listen. Now while you were content playing checkers with the NYPD, you and I both know we're playing chess; and you're the king backed into a corner. You can't move laterally, because you admitted that you are indeed 3XK and did indeed commit these murders to Richard Castle." McHale motioned over his shoulder to the mirrored pane of glass behind him. Kate walked to the wall switch and flicked the lights in the observation room on, making them visible to Tyson; and then depressed the button on the intercom, disabling it.
"Kate, what are you doing?"
"Rick, McHale and I agree; you don't need to hear this. The recording equipment is still active" Kate returned to Castle's side and they began to watch the interrogation unfold like a silent film.
"And you can't move vertically, my queen has you blocked." McHale produced the head shot of Alison Barber and slid it in front of Tyson, who strained against his shackles attempting to grab the photo; McHale had placed it just outside his reach. Tyson's cold eyes traced the curves of Alison's features, and then darted up to Castle; he was immediately struck by Rick's posture. He appeared as though a cloud of anger and sadness was raining on him alone; brooding, with slouched shoulders and clenched teeth. Tyson began to smile.
"So he finally knows, I thought I dropped enough hints."
"You were dropping bodies, not hints. Look, we have you dead to rights; we matched your DNA to a sample from Alison's crime scene. You are going to get the needle for this, and the only move you have left, the one move that can save your worthless life, is to confess. Now I know that they're going to stick you in a hole so dark and deep that Magellan couldn't even find you, but it would stay your execution. "Tyson stirred about in his chair.
"What reason would I have to kill her?" McHale reached into the file and produced the newspaper clipping of the real Jerry Tyson and placed it next to Alison's photo.
"See how everyone in this photo is smiling, notice these three are all looking forward at the camera, but this man, is looking at Alison. He looks a lot like you. In fact, I think that is you. I think she probably treated you like a human being; she was nice to you; cared about how you were doing. Being homeless was like being invisible, hundreds of people walked past you every day without a seconds notice; but she, she saw you. And you fell in love with her because of it." McHale retrieved Alison's headshot and held it in both hands. After looking over the photo for a moment, in quiet almost honest earnestness he continued," I mean, I can't blame you either, I mean look at her. I think I love her too." Tyson's smile melted to a teeth gritting sneer, hate began to boil inside him, and McHale could see it in his eyes. "I bet she had a hell of an ass on her." 3XK lunged as far as his restraints would allow.
"Shut the fuck up, another word and you're next"
"Awfully defensive for a guy who pretended not to know her. That's going to cost you, now the way I see it you have to sign the deal I put in front of you the first time I came in here. With that little outburst, the DNA, and Castle's testimony, you're almost guaranteed to be convicted. So what's it going to be? " 3XK and McHale locked eyes, like men playing chicken, seeing who would blink first. In observation, Castle had noticed McHale slide a piece of paper from in front of the public defender to Tyson, turning to Kate he asked,
"What's that?" Beckett begrudgingly responded.
"Look Castle, I know today has been terrible, but they offered him a deal. He'll end up with life in prison without parole if he gives a full allocution." Though Castle had lost himself for a while after finding out about Alison and the boy, his judgment began to creep back in. "I know what he did to you, but this would be the best outcome for all the families involved, not just yours."