Another Chance

Chapter 35

Coffee sloshes over the edge of Castle's mug. "Haverstrom had the ring in his sock drawer? I would have thought he'd be more original than that."

"You would think," Kate agrees, "but he's so damn arrogant he probably assumed no one would ever look. And finding it not only nails him for Sharri's murder, but it also goes a long way to confirming what Midge said. And she had gone to her doctor because she bled after he raped her. Turns out there was some vaginal tearing. That's enough evidence to add the rape charge on to the murder. In the end, it won't make a real difference in the outcome. He'll be in the penitentiary until he dies, just for killing Sharri, but Midge will know that both she and Sharri will get some justice. That's something."

"Justice is more than something, Kate, it's a lot. But you don't look that happy about it."

"I was just thinking about my mom, Castle. Bracken is still out there, and it looks like the sonofabitch might even run for the presidency. The idea that scum like him could end up controlling this country would have torn my mother's heart out."

Like it's still tearing yours out. But Kate, you made a deal with the man, and you did it on a bluff. We don't have Montgomery's file - unless."

"Unless what, Castle?"

"Kate, you know the CIA has way better toys than the N.Y.P.D. Hell, even the FBI does. You, Espo, Ryan and I were trying to put together the pieces that Ryan retrieved from the explosion that killed Maddox, by hand. That's why all we have is the account number. But we still have all the shreds that are left. Suppose we bring them to the CIA and see what they can come up with?"

"Castle, how are we going to do that? We were hooded when they brought us to their headquarters. We don't even know where it is. And we can't reach Danberg. All the contact numbers were changed. Can you still call that strange little agent Grey?"

Castle shakes his head. "No, that contact went away after our adventure with Sophia Turner. I knew him from the days I worked with her. I don't know if he wanted some distance from that whole affair or what, but he's gone. There is someone else, though - a blood connection you might say."

"You mean your father?"

"Yeah, I do. He told me that he's always keeping an eye on my whole family and me. He's got to know we're engaged. He might even know that you're pregnant and after what happened with Alexis in Paris, we know he is protective of his grandchildren. And I think I can send him a message the same way he sent one to me." Castle pulls his phone from his pocket and types a two-word tweet: "Casino Royale."

If Hunt set an alarm to look at Richard's tweets, he'd never get anything else done, but he scans through them in the evenings, provided nothing is about to go down or blow up. He ran a check on Alexis' fiancé, Micah. He seems like a nice enough kid. As far as he can see, his granddaughter's taste has improved, but he'll be keeping an eye on the situation.

His swiping stops in midstroke. "Casino Royale." That has to be meant for him. Richard obviously wants to make contact for some reason. His son knows the danger involved if anyone associates the two of them. He's seen it up close and way too personal. Even so, as off the wall as his son may sometimes be, he has a good head on his shoulders and delivers when it counts. Hunt can't answer by calling. Any phone is subject to eavesdropping one way or another. He'll have to do it in person.

He can't just walk into the 12th Precinct or the loft, but Richard is somewhat of a creature of habit. He often drops into a neighborhood market on Wednesdays when the fresh produce shipments arrive. He's been doing it even more lately, no doubt due to Kate's pregnancy. A meeting there is unlikely to attract undue attention. There are a few tables where customers try out cups of new blends of coffee. He can plant himself at one of them to sip a brew or two. Whatever Richard has to tell him, he can do it there without raising any red flags. Hunt can use some decent joe, anyway.

Castle was hoping for some succulent strawberries. It looks like fresh ones were just shipped in from California, the first of the season, but the size and color tell him that the flavor will be sadly lacking and he's not about to bring Kate anything mediocre, especially not now.

On the other hand, the blueberries and plums from Chile, look excellent, and blue and purple are their wedding colors. Somehow his concern about their future wedded bliss has taken a back seat to the birth of their daughter, but it's all part of the love he and Kate have for each other. Now if he'd only received some kind of sign from… He'd know that head of white hair, anywhere.

For one thing, he hopes that keeping that much hair is hereditary. But the rest of the appearance of the figure with his palms around a large cup fits too. The height, the dark brows, the width of the shoulders all say Jackson Hunt, or whatever his name really is. His father received his message.

Castle puts his fruit in his shopping basket and takes it to the alcove where customers are caffeinated. Hunt looks up at him, shaking his head, before inclining it toward a table behind him. Castle gives an almost imperceptible nod in response before setting his bounty down at the indicated spot and ordering a wake-up of the day, for himself.

Hunt hides his face in a newspaper as Castle returns to take a seat. "This better be important."

Castle bristles. He'd expected at least a hello, but his old man doesn't seem in the mood for family pleasantries. "Glad to see you too, Dad, and it is important - very important. That senator, Bracken, who looks like he might be our next president, is responsible for the death of Kate's mother and having Kate almost killed."

"I'm aware of that son, but the election won't be for almost two years. Assholes in government come and go. What's the emergency?"

"The emergency is that Bracken could decide to send someone else after Kate at any time, and in case you didn't know this too, she is carrying one of your future descendants. I would think you would consider that worthy of your attention."

"Why do you think Bracken will go after Kate now? If he does run for the presidency, he'll be under greater scrutiny than as a senator. Why would he risk having Kate taken out?"

"Because he thinks she has evidence that could expose him for the piece of garbage he is. So far, they've been at a standoff, but as he gets closer to launching his campaign in earnest, that bastard may decide that he can lose it all if she releases what he thinks she has."

"Thinks she has," Hunt repeats. "You mean she doesn't have anything?"

"We have the evidence. Unfortunately, it was blown into million little pieces, and we need the resources of the company to put them together so that Bracken can be unmasked for the monster that he is."

"Son, there is an easier way - with extreme prejudice."

"Dad, it wouldn't bother me a bit to see that bastard buy it, except that it would make him a martyr, and none of his victims, including Kate, would get any real justice. And she needs to shine the light on him. Otherwise, I don't think she can ever put what he did behind her. So we need that file reassembled, and I need you to help me protect Kate until she brings Bracken before a judge. Will you do it?"

Hunt folds his newspaper and gets up to walk away. "I'll be in touch."