Rick leaving the precinct called his Dad. Jackson picked up.
"Hello son what do you need?" Jackson said.
"Hi Dad are you at the loft?" Rick asked.
"No I'm in Chinatown at General Tao's famous restaurant." Jackson said.
"Would you like some company?" Rick asked.
"Hmm not right now… but later sure..." Jackson said.
"Dad this is important. I think you can help us on this investigation." Rick said.
"OK Rick, meet me at your tavern" Jackson said.
"The Old Haunt…?" Rick asked.
"Yeah that place in an hour. That is as much time as I can spare." Jackson said.
"Oh are you on a case of something?" Rick asked all excited.
"Or something look I have to go see you in an hour." Jackson said.
Jackson watched Mr. Chin the head of the Tangs going to a meeting. A limo drove up and Jackson snapped some pictures it was David Bracken's ex-chief of staff.
Jackson figured the king is dead long live the king. David will never be able to wield the power of Bracken.
"Shoot he does not have any job anymore. Who is going to listen to him?" Jackson thought.
He tailed the limo and all of a sudden the limo exploded and fell into the east River.
Jackson thought someone is cleaning house. He looked at his watch and left.
\\\\\
Rick walked into the Old haunt there were still decorations up for Kate's birthday. Rick internally groaned.
"H…Hey Mr. Castle I did not expect you here." Brian stuttered.
"Yeah Brian I was expecting my Dad. When he shows alert me then send him down to my office?" Rick said.
"Sure what does he look like?" Brian asked being very confused.
"He has Grey hair and …You would recognize him when you see him." Rick said. "There is a striking family resemblance."
"Ok Mr. Castle I will do" Brian said as Rick went into his office.
Rick being bored switched on the big screen to the news. It was reporting a car plunging into the river while on fire.
Jackson slipped in without Rick noticing then switched off the set.
"Hey…Dad?" Rick got up and hugged him.
"Ok Rick That is old news… I am here so let's talk?" Jackson said.
"Dad as I said it is case related we need access to the CIA database. Since you are liaison with the task force I came to you." Rick said.
"I don't have that kind of power Rick." Jackson said.
"I know but you know who could right?" Rick asked.
"There would have to be a meeting. Both you and Kate will have to attend." Jackson said.
"Ok when?" Rick asked.
"Soon wait for my call. Go back to the precinct. You will be contacted there." Jackson said as he slipped away.
Rick was amazed how cool his Dad really was.
/
Kate was sitting in her office sifting through the reports from CSU. She looked up and there was Rick standing with her hot chocolate and bearclaws that he handed to her.
Kate took a sip of the beverage and looked lovingly at her husband he really was her rescuer.
"Hi there can you take a break?" Rick asked.
"No I am expecting the NTSB agents why Rick?" Kate said in between bites of the bearclaw.
"Oh Not much just that Dad is arranging a meeting with someone in the CIA to get access to their database on the shooter." Rick said.
"Rick that is good news..." Kate said.
"So, what's about the NTSB guys? You do one of them really does not like me." Rick said. "Though I really do not know why that is?"
Kate had to laugh at her clueless husband.
There was a knock at the door. The NTSB Agents had arrived. It was Agents Schift and someone new.
"Thank you for meeting with us. My partner James has business to attend to in Washington this is agent Terry Foller he will be taking notes." Ed said.
"Ok let's go to the interview room." Kate said as she texted Kevin to get into the observation room and record them.
Rick followed along. He was there to support Kate.
The all entered the room and the interview began.
Please tell us from the best of your recollections what do you recall and your actions on May 13th 2013? Ed asked.
"Ok I had just settled into my seat after the plane left Newark. It was quite a bumpy ride there were kids screaming and general unease. I was going to Pittsburgh for training. I feel asleep during the flight but a jarring of the plane awoke me I could see fire on the out side of the plane next I head a popping sound of Hydraulic lines bursting." Kate stated.
"Then the plane shuddered and then I awoke there were many people dead and dying. I rushed over and did triage on the wounded and covered other with blankets. Then I walked out of the plane not knowing my left leg was broken. I fell on the ground and found the remnants of an electronic device and smelled c4 on them. I gathered them up in a plastic garbage bag and once wrapped I moved to a tree about 150 yards away and stuffed them in there. Then I left into the rain. Kate said.
Mrs. Castle have you ever done any reconstruction work before? How did you know the hydraulic lines burst? Ed asked.
"I have been in many situations in where cars were involved. One particular had that sound when we were plunging to certain doom. Later as CSU was showing me as lead detective there were the bursting of hydraulic lines. Some one wanted me dead." Kate said.
"Kate you never told me about that!" Rick interrupted.
"It was before you and I met. Rick I did not think about it until now." Kate said.
"Ok but I'm letting it go now we will revisit this in the future" Rick said.
"Ok you said you hid the evidence. Can you direct us to where it is?" Ed asked.
"Yes" Kate said categorically. "But it is going to have to wait. I have a taskforce to run. So this is my statement. I have other appt waiting. Good day to you all Agents."
"Thank you for your time Lt. Castle." Terry said.
Kate got up then caught Kevin coming out of observation.
"Ryan, run that Terry guy through our taskforce database there is something not right about him." Kate said.
"Right away Lt." Kevin said.
/
"What was wrong Kate you can tell me?" Rick asked holding his wife back in her office.
"That agent called me Lt. Castle not Mrs. Castle. He has military connections." Kate said.
"Yeah I noticed that too. How he sat back and observed you too. It was definite Military bearing too." Rick said.
"I do not trust him." Kate said.
"Neither do I" Rick agreed.
Soon Jackson appeared.
"We have to go for a little ride." Jackson said as they rose and followed him.
"So sorry standard ops you know" Jackson said as they went outside. A black SUV drove up then they got in and black bags were placed over each of their heads.
"Oh Man not again!" Rick lamented.
Kate just waited. It was obvious they were going to meet someone high up the food chain. At least they did not cuff them this time.
A few minutes later as they were descending in an elevator Kate knew this place. They had been here before with Agent Danberg.
"Rick I know…" Kate started to whisper.
"Shhh Kate, just be silent." Jackson warned.
They were marched into a windowless conference room and at the table were Agent Danberg who Kate quickly recognized and some one new.
Jackson introduced the new person as Deputy Director Thomas Gillian.
"Thank you for setting up this meeting Jackson you can go." The Deputy Director said.
Jackson gave Rick a wink then left.
"Ok Lt. Castle and Mr. Castle your father has briefed me on the particulars of your search we at the CIA are willing to assist. I have instructed Agent Danberg to assist you." The Deputy Director said.
"Thank you Sir." Kate said. However, we have more to discuss than just this one search.
"Oh please enlighten me." The Deputy Director said.
"We know who the Dragon was and we have been keeping tract of his various enterprises." Kate said.
"I was not aware of an independent investigation." The Deputy Director said.
"Look we have much more information than you do but it comes with a price I want access to this database indefinitely." Kate said starting with this man. Kate produced the picture of Agent Terry Foller of the NTSB. "We believe he is not who he is and is part of the clean up on Bracken's more embarrassing escapades."
"Ah Yes Agent Danberg please take this picture to our analysts." The Deputy Director said.
Agent Danberg took the photo and left.
"Ok we are alone. Now there is obviously more on your brilliant mind Lt. Castle." The Deputy Director said.
"Turn off your microphones and cameras we know they are there. We have been here before." Kate said.
Deputy Director Gillian blacked out the room.
"Ok we are alone and no one is recording us." The Deputy Director assured.
Kate got out the sweeper and did a quick sweep she was glad Javi had hidden it in her belongings.
OK it read it meant no surveillance was active.
"Are you satisfied Lt.?" The Deputy Director asked.
"One can not be too careful. Now Director tell me what is going on? Why the purges…?" Kate asked.
"Ok you were right there is a sweeper team mopping up Bracken's mistakes but it is not us. The DOD is in charge of this one." The Deputy Director said.
"DOD I knew it!" Rick said.
"They are trying to deny people justice!" Kate said.
"Yes I know but I can not do anything about it but perhaps your taskforce can." The Deputy Director said.
"Ok here is the deal I need to know who is legit and who is not in my taskforce. I can not let these thugs ruin my investigation. Corruption has to be rooted out." Kate said.
"I agree." The Deputy Director said.
They discussed and then Kate handed over Rick's database. They were escorted to the main room where the analysts were busy with Kate's requests.
After they left the room Jackson came back in.
"Jackson, I do not need an I told you so from you!" The deputy director said.
Jackson smirked. "I told you my Son is smart probably smarter than most of the CIA. And his wife well she is in a class by herself."
"Yes I can see why Donally wanted her." The Deputy said. "She is quite determined."
"Yes she is and just rememberThomas, she is my daughter!" Jackson warned then left.
The Deputy Director just shuddered to think of Jackson Hunt as an enemy.