CH30
Kate walked into the bullpen with a smile a mile wide that she did not notice she had. The smile however had not gone nu-noticed by Ryan and Espo, who now had a knowing smile on their faces.
"Anything on Maddox yet?" Kate asked them as she turned on her computer.
"He's still a ghost Beckett. We've got nothing."
Sighing, "Keep looking. It's out there somewhere.
How about the guy the FBI let loose?"
"Got a little more on him. Seems no everyone in the FBI even knew they had him, let alone release him." Ryan tells her.
"How is that possible? There is only one FBI, isn't there?"
"Well seems the FBI is broken up into sub groups kind of like the 12th has Robbery, Gangs, Homicide, etc.. One didn't know they had him while some other group released him. It was strange."
"We at least got a name?" Ryan could just shake his head.
"How about gangs. They find Rooks crib yet?"
"They still got nothing. Even the other street gangs are not talking. Seems they are afraid there are still members of them out there. Gang squad says it is possible they are out there. But without Rook, they are on their own."
"Keep pushing them. We need that mess cleaned up. And finding their crib may get us some information on our 2 ghosts." Ryan just nods.
Espo speaks up after getting off the phone. "We got a fresh one." Holding up up a post it note.
"Where?" Kate asks him.
"Statue of Liberty." Espo replys, grinning.
"It's not our jurisdiction." Kate tells him.
"I know. Seems those guys are over loaded and have no one to send. And we aren't, so we were next in line."
"Let's go then. Grab Ryan and I'll follow you there."
After they both arrive, they ID themselves to the uniforms and take a waiting launch out to the island the Statue is located on. Getting directions from uniforms after getting off the boat.
Reaching the site they spot someone looking over the body that has been covered, partially.
"Beckett, Ryan and Esposito of the 12th." Kate gives intoductions.
"McCarthy, I'm the ME. Good to see you. We are swamped and could use the help."
"Why so swamped?" Kate asks.
"There was a Theater fire last night. It looks like arson. Most of our unit is working it. Last I heard there were 26 people dead. Most probably due to smoke inhalation. Not surprised if your ME is brought in on it to clear the number of people involved."
"Lanie will probably volunteer if I know her." Kate confirms.
"Lanie Parrish?" McCarthy says surprised.
"Yea. You know here?"
"She was in some of my classes when I was studying. She was smart. Crazy smart. I didn't know she ended up at the 12th. I'm happy for her. She seemed nice. Very dedicated." Noticing that Espo was giving him a nasty glare. If he was guessing, now he was really happy for her.
He decided to let him out of his misery by sharing something that he did not hide. "Yea, it was the same place I meet my boyfriend. The three of us would do study groups together some times."
He notices the glare quickly disappear. Seems that comment worked.
"What have you got for us?" Kate switches to the job at hand.
"Male, early 30's, death would appear to be by exposure to the elements and possibly blood loss."
"Blood loss? Was he shot or stabbed?" Kate asks.
"Neither actually no. Best we can determine he fell from up there." He points up to the top of the Statue.
"Jump or fell?" Kate asks.
"Neither actually. It seems he may have been hanging from the the top of the statue somewhere."
This got the attention of all 3 of them.
"Funny thing is. Though not really that funny. Best I can figure he had been hung from up there somewhere by his, …. uhm, …. manhood. Buck naked."
Amused to see the 3 of them bug out their eyes and drop their mouths open.
"You're shitting me?" Ryan tells him.
"OH NO. Trust me, it's not a topic I particularly find amusing. If you catch my drift."
"When did he die?" Kate breaks the looks they all had.
"Somewhere around 3:00 and 6:00 am this morning. I'll know more once I get him back on the table. But I don't think that's the most important question."
"When and who put him up there? And why." Kate responds.
"Any ID on him?"
"No, like I said he was naked. And there are no clothes up there or anywhere here on the ground."
"So they carried him up there naked or took his clothes off him them strung him up and took his clothes with them."
"Looks like." Kate walks over to take a look at his face.
With a sudden inhale of breath, Ryan and Espo see Kate turn white suddenly.
"Beckett! What is it?" They both step up to look. But it's just a guy to them.
"It's the guy we caught in the Rook raid." Kate tells them, not believing it.
"You mean the guy the FBI let loose on purpose?" Also shocked.
"Yea, it sure looks like him."
"What the hell is he doing here?" Ryan asks, not expecting an answer.
"I don't know." Turning to look atMcCathy. "I want his finger prints and DNA as fast as you get it. And be careful. You may find yourself threatened or have the body taken from you before you finish. So do it fast, get it to me fast, and be careful. This is big, really big." She tries warning him.
McCarthy opens his eyes wide. "I'll take the first samples and get them sent to Lanie as fast as I can. It'll be coded. Lanie will understand."
"Thanks doc. We'll be in touch."
"I'll expect you. Say hi to Lanie for me. If she wants to talk tell her where I am. It would be nice to catch up with her."
"I will, thanks. Come on boys. We've got some stairs ahead of us."
WHILE KATE AND THE GUYS ARE CLIMBING:
A courier was arriving at the offices of Black Pawn. "I have a package for a Gina Cowell."
The receptionist said she would sign, but he refused. "She is required to sign personally."
"I have authority to sign for her." Not liking this guy much.
"I'm sorry, but that will not do. She has to sign and no one else."
Now mad, she picks up the phone to get Gina up front to sign for it.
Gina arrives, mad. "What the hell is this about?"
"You are Gina Cowell?" He asks in a monotone voice.
"Of course you idiot." Boiling now.
"Sign her that you say you are who you say you are."
"Why the hell should I?"
"You are required to sign to confirm identification before I can give you the package." Still in a monotone voice. He had done this numerous times and Gina did not frighten him.
"FINE, FINE." And yanks the electronic tablet out of his hand, and signs.
"There now hand it over and get out!"
"You are also required to sign to show that you have received the package." Handing the tablet back over after changing the screen she was to sign.
Yanking it back out of his hand. Gina signed and practically threw it back at him and held out her hand.
He handed her the package "Have a good day miss."
"Yea, yea, now get out!" Gina was glad that was over with. Giving the receptionist an icy glare for this mess as if it was her fault. She stomped off to her office.
Opening the package she found another package inside. This one was sealed with a wax seal. To open it without cutting it open somewhere else she was going to have to break the seal.
Not intimidated by the seal, she broke it and opened to reveal a number of papers inside.
She started reading, and the more she read the madder she got. By the end she was beyond furious, and she took it out on everything that was located on her desk. Some of which ended up on the other side of the room, broken and breaking things located there.
Documents were being filed in court in the name of Richard Castle. Gina and Black Pawn in general were being sued by Richard Castle for violating the terms of his contract with Black Pawn as signed by Gina. The advance Black Pawn had given Richard Castle before the completion of his next manuscript was being kept by Richard Castle as written into the contract.
Since the terms of the contract had been violated by Gina in representation of Black Pawn, the present contract between them had been abrogated and said contract was now voided.
A preliminary court date had already been set up in 6 months time to determine the final result of the lawsuit.
The sections of the contract between Richard Castle and Black Pawn had been highlighted and documentation of these actions had been attached to the document. It included pictures and written statements of 3 reporters.
Gina had noted that they were the same reporters that she had used for that dinner date she had set up with Richard that had not gone how she had hoped it would.
Further there was a new contract for her to read between Richard Castle and Black Pawn for her to read. There were also two stipulations as part of the new contract.
ONE- Gina could have no personal contact with Richard Castle or any member of his family in the future concerning any personal or business matters. She was not to use the name Richard Castle or any member of his family names in public or private at any time for any reason. All contact between Gina and by extension Black Pawn and Richard Castle or any member of his family was only to be made thru their respective attorneys.
TWO- Gina was to provide a written apology for her actions and to provide a copy to Richard Castle and every member of his family at that time before the first court date 6 months from now. Through their respective attorneys only.
WHILE GINA IS READING HER PACKAGE FROM CASTLE:
The sound of FOOOOG HOOORN sounded inside Castle's house.
Opening the door Castle found Vince and Arnold waiting outside.
"Vince, what a pleasant surprise. Come on in. How have you been?" Rick allows both of them to enter.
Rick escorts both of them upstairs. "Can I get you something? I still have some of my breakfast fixings out. I can make you an omelet or something."
"That would be great Castle, thanks." Vince had expected to just give his news and go. But Castle was willing to sit and talk at his place. Seemed only fair he should do the same.
"So how is business at the restaurant?" Decided small talk while cooking was the thing to do.
"Everything is going great. I'm searching for a new girl to replace Jessica."
Suddenly Rick got sad, and stopped cooking for moment. Then started up again. This did not go unnoticed by Vince.
"I'm sure she is in a better place now. Free from all the pain life brought her."
"Yea, she was a good kid. Really wish I had found a way to get her to talk. Maybe this would never have happened."
"She is who she is Vince. I think that her being so softly spoken is one of the qualities that made so likeable. Just a shame it was also one of her faults."
"I wanted to thank you for what you did for her. I means a lot."
"No thanks are needed Vince. I'd do the same for Lisa or Marsha too. Anytime. Remind them of that next time you see them." Rick puts on two omelets. One for Vince and one for Arnold.
"Yea, I'll do that. You have a good heart Castle. Maybe a little too goodie two shoes. But a good heart."
Rick just grins. "Oh, I've got something for you. I'll be right back. Eat up." And Rick heads down the stairs to his study.
What he doesn't see is Arnold reach for his weapon, only to be stopped by Vince. Vince is not mad, he's doing his job. Just like he is supposed to do.
Rick walks back in carrying a book and hands it to Vince. "It's an advance copy of the latest Derek Storm book. It's not even in stores yet, and won't be for another 3 weeks. Thought your wife would like to have one.
Help keep you out of the dog house." Rick says with a knowing grin on his face.
This has got Vince laughing. Not easy considering what he came over here to tell Castle about.
"Actually I'm not in one at the moment, but it might come in handy at a later date when I remind her of it. Thanks Castle." Castle is growing on him.
Having finished their omelets, "You're a good cook Castle. If you ever stop writing and need a job, let me know. I could use your skills."
Rick just chuckles, "I'll get you to tell Alexis that some day. She doesn't like some of the things I dream up to cook for her."
Now Vince is chuckling, "You got lucky with that one Castle. She is one smart potato. She ever gets into trouble, you let me know. I'll only be too happy to take care of it for you."
"Actually she may not need any of our help, if she stays with it." This gets a quizzical look from Vince.
And Rick explains. "She's decided she wants to start taking Taekwondo classes after schools ends. If we're not careful she'll kick both out buts."
This sets off Vince into a howl of laughter. Even Arnold is starting to giggle a little.
"If she can do that, I'll teach her some of my more dirty tricks to handle unwanted advances from boys."
"NOW THAT, I just might take you up on. If I can't scare the shit out of them, maybe Alexis can by herself. Thanks Vince!" Rick was actually thinking about what he was going to do when his little girl was suddenly a teenager.
Getting down to business. "What got you over here so early in the morning. I know it wasn't my cooking."
Vince suddenly gets a little more somber. "I told you I would find the guy who did that to Jessica. Well I did. The police are at the Statue right now investigating how he got there."
Shocked, "Are you sure it was him?" Not really wanting to insult his friend.
"Yea, I'm sure. Had a little fun with him before we left him there. Made sure he understood what he had done wrong."
"Not sure I want to know the details. I'm a goodie two shoes after all." Rick laughs a little at his own expense.
'I left a little message in his room he was staying in too. If they know what's good for them, we won't have any more trouble with them."
"Them Vince? There is more than one behind what they did to Jessica?"
"Yea, but we got our eyes open. They do anything stupid, we'll be there to remind them."
"You be careful Vince. People who can do things like that are not to be underestimated." Rick is trying his best to warn his friend, since he already knows who is ultimately behind it all. And that person has no morals about what to do if you interfere with him.
"We're just watching. Nothing more. I'm not bringing trouble down on my head if I can prevent it. But I need to know if something is coming my way. Just to be safe."
Thinking the conversation was at an end. "You just be careful Vince."
"Thanks Castle. We'll see you and your little girl soon." Shakes Castle's hand and Castle escorts them out.
Did Castle just get someone killed? That was really bugging him. Still he knew this might happen when he went to Vince in the first place. He just had to find a way to live with it.
