CH38
Rick went over to both of them and got down to their level and looked Kate in the eye. "We both do love you Kate. We are only trying to help you. You really do have no idea what or who you are up against. He will kill you!"
Still crying Kate looks into his trusting, loving eyes. "I'm sorry Castle, so sorry, so very sorry. I was just afraid. Afraid to let anyone in. I couldn't afford to lose someone I love again. I thought I had to keep everyone out to protect myself."
"Doing this alone is what will really break your heart in the long run. Friends and family are important Kate. They make the difference between being alive and living your life and just existing. Or just wandering aimlessly.
"Getting this guy may be a good short term goal, but what happens to your life after you get him. Do you really think you can just turn your life around and do something you have not done all your life? Then it will happen this way: you make the kill, but your pain doesn't die with Him, it grows. So you run out into the night to find another face, and another, and another, until one terrible morning you wake up and realize that revenge has become your whole life. And you won't know why."
"Come back upstairs and sit down. Please?"
Kate relents and gets up with Rick help while still holding onto Alexis and carries her over to the sofa space she had just left moments ago.
"We all want to help you Chica. You are like family to all of us. And I'm sure your dad doesn't want to lose you too." Javi comments.
Jim comes up behind his daughter and places his hands on each of her shoulders and bends in. "I love you Katie. Your mother would want you to live your life. Not spend it on some crusade that would cause you not to love living it. Having their children happy and successful is all any parent can hope for their child."
"Thanks guys. But I can't help but wonder what helping me is going to cost you. You have already paid a steep price. I mean, look where we are now. And it's all because of me." says Kate.
"You're wrong detective. No one here has paid a price because of anything you have done or chosen to do. The person who caused all of this is the one to blame. What he chose to do years ago is to blame for all of this." Lucile corrects her.
"Lucile?"
"Yes, detective?"
"You know who is behind my mother's death. Don't you? You know why and when all this started. Don't you?"
"Yes, detective."
"How much trouble are we in?" asks Lanie.
"It started in 1992. Several years before Kate's mother was killed in that alley. An event took place that day that started all of this. Detectives Raglan and McAlister had decided that they couldn't beat the Mob. With all the bosses and all the men that worked for them. All of the judges and prosecutors that they had paid off to help them either sweep it under the rug or have it dismissed in court."
"They had decided that they would kidnap various mob bosses or other high level mob members and ransom them back to the mob they belonged to. Or ransom them to a rival mob, depending on who they had decided to target."
"Damn dirty cops. I might of known someone like this was involved." states Javi who then decides to start cursing in Spanish. He only stops after Lanie who understood most of what he was saying had had enough.
"I can understand your complaint, detective." Lucile agrees. "They had decided that their next target was a man named 'Joe Pulgotti'."
"I know that name. My mom was looking into why he was in prison. he had written her a letter expressing his innocence. And Raglan mentioned him just before he was shot," Kate interrupted.
"Yes, detective. In the very same alley that your mother was killed in. Raglan, McAlister and one other man were in the process of trying to take him hostage. However unknown to them, there was a man with him. A man named Bob Armen. He was an undercover FBI agent who was trying to infiltrate the Pulgotti family. During the kidnap attempt Armen was killed by Raglan. After they found out who he really was, they worked to frame Pulgotti for his murder."
"Unfortunately for them someone found out about their kidnap for ransom scheme and wanted most of the money or he would rat them out. At the time this person was the assistant district attorney for New York.
They agreed and he used this money to win his first election campaign. Though it is possible that there is someone helping or using him to accomplish a goal."
"Wait, the guy behind all this trouble is in politics?" Jim questions.
"Correct Mr. Beckett." Lucile reply's.
"No wonder I hate politicians!" Jim confirms.
"Ok, I can't take this anymore. If you know who this dirt bag is, just tell us." says Kate in an impatient voice.
"As you wish. His name is William H. Bracken."
"William Bracken? As in Senator William Bracken? Presidential hopeful Senator William Bracken?" Kate questions not believing the answer.
"Yes, detective." Lucile confirms
Javi only starts cussing in Spanish again. And gets up and starts walking around the room while doing so.
Jenny asks, "The next President of the United States wants us all dead? I don't believe this. A man with that much power would be unstoppable. How are we supposed to fight back against someone like him?" She turns to her husband and looks scared for the first time since she got here.
"Lucile?"
"Yes, detective?"
"Just how much power and money are we talking about here?" Ryan asks
"Bracken has immediate access to a General Michael Reed, who has direct command of a platoon of Special Forces in Afghanistan, and access to the entire Brigade that they are a part of. And is believed to be next in line for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In Afghanistan he has access to a large poppy field that he turns into opium and heroin, and then ships it to places all over the planet using military transport planes. Last year alone he earned just over 1.1 Billion US dollars. It is possible that there are others besides General Reed. However I can only monitor anything that involves any form of telecommunications. Anything that is done face to face that does not allow for security cameras to monitor lip movements or takes place where glass panels are near by, will remain unknown.
From this platoon Bracken obtains his hired men that are paid to do various projects for him, through General Reed." Lucile finishes.
"Like kill people." Kate states.
"Yes, detective."
"Bracken also had immediate access to a new crime family and everything that they do, including using them for local muscle, as well as access to the money that they generate."
"James Rook." Kate whispers.
"Yes, detective. His present situation as Senator allows him to have a say in who the United States sells the weapons it makes to other countries or various people or organizations. With this and General Reed he is 'skimming' weapons to himself and selling them to people who will then owe him favors." Lucile finishes.
Ryan finally summarizes. "He has access to hundreds of millions of dollars. Access to an entire platoon of highly trained killers/assassins. Access to military heavy weapons. Access to local mob muscle. And if he becomes President, access to things like NSA or CIA. Maybe even control of the FBI."
Javi just stands there and mumbles new curse words.
"Oh, Castle. What are we going to do?" Kate asks with fear in her voice.
"I'm sorry Castle, so sorry!" as she tightens her hold around Alexis, as her fear increases.
"I had no idea. No idea. I'm so sorry what I got you into guys."
Rick approaches Kate and kneels down in front of her and his daughter. "It's going to be ok Kate. Honest."
"How Castle? He has so much money and power! And is trying to get even more." Tears are starting to form.
"Because we have one thing that he doesn't!" Rick tells her.
"And what would that be Castle?" Kate questions. Knowing that they had nothing compared to what Bracken could send after them.
"We have Lucile!" giving her a smile and a wink.
She gives him her best, ' I don't believe a word you just said. What the hell are you talking about?' look.
"Lucile care to inform her and the rest of us?"
"Yes Richard.
"I have access to every overseas bank account that he has access to. I know exactly where each and every person that he has access to do his dirty work is presently located. Also how many and what type of weapons they have on them. I also have all of their real and fake names they are presently using. As well as the names and locations of any people they are related to.
I also have control over all the money they made when selling those women to overseas buyers."
"What!? How, …. how can you do that?" Kate questions.
"Wait that was you?"
Lucile continues, "Yes detective. I've already distributed the money that was paid to buy each of the 21 women that have been recovered out the 62 total so far. The rest of it is spread out over countless accounts set up all over the planet. Your sense of poetic justice is admirable and your idea was sound. I just expanded on it a little.
At present there are 9 men out in the poppy fields over seeing harvesting and care of the plants in Afghanistan. There are 6 men guarding the processing plant used to make the opium and heroin. There are 6 men presently on a military C130 carrying several thousand kilos of opium with a destination of a small landing strip in Turkey."
"There are 10 men presently located in NY, where there are 3 teams of 3 with access to large black SUV's. The windows are tinted out, they have run flat tires, are heavily armored, and have a single RPG in the back with 4 rockets for re-load. Each SUV also has a single 'Stinger" missile system. There are also 40 pounds of 'Semtex' in each SUV."
"Each of these men is armed with a 9mm side arm, of various manufacturer's. Two are also armed with a Heckler & Koch G36C. The third is armed with a Heckler & Koch HK417.
The 10th person is armed with a Barrett M82A1 Semi-automatic long range sniper rifle with a Leupold 4.5-14x50 Mark 4 scope.
And General Reed himself is presently in transit in a Citation X with 3 of his men, who are similarly armed as the three already mentioned, to attend a meeting that Senator Bracken has called him in for. He left Heathrow airport just under an hour ago and is presently out over the Atlantic Ocean.
Senator Bracken himself has just entered his apartment in DC and is inserting his security code for the alarm system. 451297-1. He is now walking toward the kitchen area, ….. and pouring himself a drink. It is Macallan 1926 Scotch Whiskey, last auctioned off in 2007 at Christie's of NY for $54,000."
"How, …. How do you , … know all this?" Kate barely stutters out.
"Would you like to know what each person is wearing, detective?"
"NO, no, that's all right, Lucile. I believe you." Kate reply's and then very softly, adds "I think?"
"I have no reason to deceive you detective. I'm only trying to help, as much as Richard and Alexis are willing to help. We all only want what is best for you. Having a Family is a strong motivator Detective, and whether you think you deserve one or need one, you have one none the less."
