12th Precinct, Present Time

To Serve and Protect

Chapter 10 - FBI Augment

Dropping Off The Radar

Gregg Fletcher was getting frustrated. If not for the continued surveillance by the 12th Precinct he would already have had his latest victim. The fact he did not, in his mind, confirmed to the 12th that he was their man. He had stayed low profile and the weeks had gone by. The now established timeframe between his victims had already been passed and Fletcher needed another victim. He had decided to fall completely off the radar screen and continue hunting for more victims. He knew when he did so, he could not access his bank account or use his credit cards, the police would be monitoring his finances to figure out where he was.

No, if he fell off the NYPD radar, it had to be complete. Gregg Fletcher could not show up anywhere the 12th might look for him. He would just leave for work one day and not return to his apartment. The apartment was owned by him, an inheritance from his dead wife. It had been in her family three generations, having been originally purchased by her maternal grandmother. So he had no rent to pay and he had established years ago for automatic deductions from his bank account to pay for his utility bills and for an accrual account for his property taxes. His bank account is a substantial sum. So abandoning his apartment would not put a lien on his home or bank account for debts owed for a while till those funds ran out.

Gregg could fall off the radar and not hurt himself financially. His assets would remain in tact until such time he is declared legally dead by a court of law, years later. But in the future, Fletcher would arrange to transfer the house and his account to a long lost cousin, his only living heir. That is once he had a face lift to change his appearance to that of this made up cousin. This cousin would appear with a Will from him to inherit his estate after Gregg is declared legally dead. The face lift was meant to change his appearance somewhat but maintain a family resemble to his dead self thus establishing in appearance credibility for his supposed cousin as his heir.

It is an ingenious plan, but one Fletcher knew would work. He had come up with it, so sure it would work. Under his new identity he would use his inherited assets to move to another city if he so chose and continue seeking victims. Staying always a step ahead of police was his play with this scheme.

Gregg knew he could operate out of his secret lair in the NYC subway. He knew how to live underground and did not need cash for his needs. He would strike a couple more times and then the killings would cease. This as a gesture on his part to the NYPD that they could not catch him as he gave them the symbolic finger to their attempts to find him. Then he would lay low for some years, living and enjoying a life style most people in NYC had to work for to obtain and maintain.

Once no more victims appeared, he would bide his time until reappearing as his long lost cousin claiming heir to his estate. By then the serial killings would go down as a cold case, filed away with other unsolved murders. Fletcher would make sure his serial killings would remain cold. Thus it would go down in infamy as one of the unsolved serial crimes of the NYPD.

The Appearance of the FBI

After considerable time of no progress on the Covid Killer case, Capt Kate Castle received a courtesy call from Jordan Shaw, informing her of the FBI's intent to take over the case. In one way, Kate was a happy about the takeover. She had worked with Jordan in the past and knew of her and her team's capabilities. It was not like Jordan wasn't already involved, they had used her profiles to help find their killer. Jordan's team added power to solving the case as they had the latest tools and better funding. They also provided increased manpower. The current case had taxed the 12th and Alpha. The continuing 24/7 surveillance of Fletcher had their capabilities stretched, both for Alpha and the uniforms who supplemented them.

Also, both the PC and Mayor were under pressure from the case. With the coming of the FBI the Mayor could at least point to his call for assistance as a step forward. Even though PC Reagan was no fan of having the feds come in, the reality was they had more resources and politically, pressure was now on the FBI. This gave the mayor and PC a 'get out of jail free' card from the media and political frenzy the case had generated. Although PC Reagan was often not into playing politics, the coming of the FBI showed increased effort to get the case solved and that in the end is what was needed. They were calling in the cavalry and that was the perception from the voting public. It was a good perception, so the major, and reluctantly the PC, saw this as a plus. Additionally the FBI promised to use NYPD assets on the case.

"Kate, we work together once again on a case", says Jordan Shaw as she enters the Captain's office.

"Well, it's not like you haven't already helped us with our case by providing a profile on our perp", Kate responds.

"So where are we at on this case?"

"Let's brief in the large conference room, that should be big enough to accommodate my Alpha Team and your FBI team", Kate suggests.

Once they were all convened, introductions are made, Witaker and Ellis thrilled to be in the company of the legendary Jordan Shaw. She, like Kate, is a female of authority in a man's world. To say the two were in awe of Shaw's presence was to be understated.

Ukraine, Anonymous Border Locations

The Russian troop movement was getting larger in numbers as days had flown by. Jackson Hunt's estimate was now about 80,000 troops with mobile gear now amassed at the Border. Alexis launches a drone to take a high altitude view of the buildup. Given the situation and possibility for detection Alexis limited her drone shots to 10 minutes this included time to and from the required height for the shot which meant they had a window of only a couple minutes to take the shot. Once the drone was recalled, they moved to another secret location and took another drone shot following the same process..

When the videos were analyzed, it was clearly evident the buildup was now larger than previously known. Alexis' internet posts had been seen by millions of views, including politicos from different countries. This had led to a diplomatic message going to Russia from various countries questioning the presence of Russian Troops on the Ukraine - Russian border. Russia's only response had been to categorize the troop presence as a 'training ops'. The response by Russia had NATO put their Eastern European Troops on alert. Russia was aware of this alert but chose not to respond about it.

The Castle Loft

The kids had a special guest that night for dinner, their Auntie Jordan was in town. As they had dinner Jordan was thrilled to listen to the kid's discussions. Last she had been at the Loft was two years ago when Jordan had accompanied her daughter before her frosh year at Fordham University. The kids were younger then, the twins only one year old.

"Mommy, when will Lexy come home?", asked the twins in unison.

"Oh sweeties, big sis is overseas doing her job."

"I don't like her job mommy, it takes Lexy away from us", replies Lily to her mom's remark.

"She will be home soon Lily."

Lily does not like the response and puts on a frown.

Jordan could not help but comment seeing the sadness in the kids by the absence of their elder sister, "I bet Lily that Lexy is collecting gifts for all of you for her return."

"You thinks so Auntie", the kids respond altogether.

"Oh, I know so!"

"Yeah", they all say to Jordan's response, getting excited. Lily moving her arms up and down and the twins bouncing.

"Okay Kids, time to take a bath and get to sleep", Rick tells them.

"But daddy, we want to talk to Auntie some more", says Reece.

"Yeah Daddy", Jack says backing up his brother.

"Auntie will be in town for awhile and you will see her again."

"Really? Promise Auntie Jay!", Lily says to Jordan.

"I promise, now you kids go with your dad and get ready for sleep."

"I got this", says Rick, "you two have some more wine and get caught up."

Once the kids are gone, Jordan starts up the conversation.

"My how your kids have grown!"

"Yes, they are growing up so fast. If we could only freeze frame them and keep them this age for a little longer."

"Enjoy them while you can Kate. Before you know it, they will be grown and leaving home for college."

"Like your daughter?"

"Yes, now a sophomore at Fordham?"

"Has it been that long. Seems like only last month you were here escorting her to her freshman dorm."

"Like I said, enjoy them while you can Kate."

Kate gives Jordan that look. A look exchanged knowingly by two mothers talking about their children.

"This may be our last case together, I have my retirement papers in", Jordan tells Kate.

"Really, it's been 20 years for you. So what do you have planned for retirement?"

"To have more time for my husband and daughter. To make up for all the times lost to the job. For all the missed birthdays and school events. What about you Kate?"

"Like you, when I get my twenty I will pull the plug."

"You still have a lot of good years in you Kate. I can't see you as fully retired. You have a good thing here, at least you're in one state, not having to travel to a state where your case is at. Kate, you see your kids every night after work with the exceptions of late nights. You will never miss a birthday, school event, or any other event of importance for your kids. You could stay for more than twenty and continue to do good. "

"Well I have been approached to run for State Senate, but I don't know if I could stand the politics. It's hands on at the 12th and I can do more good there. State Senate? I don't know about that!" Kate thinks back to the Simon Doyle case. He supposedly was a time traveler from the future hunting for a criminal who wanted to change the past. He revealed back then, when Rick and Her were not yet together, that they would marry, have three kids, and she would become a State Senator. Was his hoax a prophecy or had he really known the future? Doyle had disappeared after that case, never to be seen again. Would Kate get to see him in this time looking the same as he did years back?

Kate is brought out of that thought when Jordan speaks, "Look at it this way Kate, as a state senator you can influence the state budget and get more funding for police matters. What with all this defund hysteria, heaven knows they need an advocate for them in the state legislature."

"I never thought of it that way, thanks for that Jordan."

"Oh my God, it's getting late. I hadn't noticed the time. I need to get to my hotel, we have an early start tomorrow".

"Let me call Rick's car service to take you back."

"That's not necessary Kate, I can call a cab."

"No you will not Jordan Shaw. Rick's car service has several customers tonight, I will ask the one available from his current passenger to pick you up here and take you back."

"Kate, I do not want to be a bother."

"It is not a bother and Rick is part owner of the service company. They are used to us calling if a car is available. They usually will send a car who just completed it's assignment."

"OK, but if one of the cars is not available, I will call for an Uber ride? I guess I should get used to the frills of being a friend to wealthy author and part time Consulting Investigator Richard Castle."

"Just live with it Jordan", is Kate's joking response.

It turns out there was a car available having just completed an assignment and was free and only 10 minutes away. In record time Jordan was taking a ride back to her hotel. As she rides back, there is a smile on her face. She loved that she could have a family dinner with the Castles. She loved that she could get caught up with them. It was such an experience to see their kids growing. Jordan checks her watch. It is still not too late.

She takes out her cell and speed dials, "Hi Lizzy...Yeah... Just finished dinner with your Uncle Rick and Auntie Kate and heading to my hotel. How are you? ... Studying late! Okay I will leave you to it. Bye hon, talk again soon."

Seeing the Castle kids had made her long for her daughter, who had met her at the airport when Jordan arrived. It seems Jordan could never get enough of her daughter having missed so many of her Birthdays and other significant events in her daughter's life due to the job. Jordan wished for Kate a better situation with her kids than Jordan had with her daughter.