Shared Obsession Chapter 25

"Did you find her?" Castle asks, joining Kate at her desk the next day.

Slumping in her chair, Kate shakes her head. "The 800 number was registered to an out-of-state P.O. box. Ryan's trying to trace down the IP to find out who's hosting her site."

"What if the IP is out of state too?" Castle queries.

"We coordinate with the local PDs."

"Are local PDs usually cooperative?"

"Depends on the local PD. Some departments can get pretty territorial. But we'll just have to see what happens."

"Isn't there an easier way?"

"Castle, this isn't one of your books. Storm may not have had to play by the rules. But we do. What way?"

"Call the 800 number and set up a meet."

"That's called entrapment, Castle. Even a public defender right out of law school could get that kicked."

"Only if you're going after the lady in question. But you're just looking for info on Horn, aren't you? Even if you navigated the obstacle course to find Horn's playmate, you'd still be asking the same questions. Why not speed up the process?"

"Castle, have you ever heard of caller ID? Pros are smart. If the call comes from what looks like an official number or even a suspicious one, she's not going to bite."

"Look, Beckett, I have a regular poker game with fellow writers. Some are by nature, solitary creatures. But when they want a little, um, company, they don't want romantic entanglements. A pro may cost more upfront, but on the back end, the transaction is downright economical. Could be that our target would jump at a rendezvous with a lonely but well-fixed client. And if she doesn't, you haven't lost anything. You can slog through the whole track and trace."

"I don't like it, Castle. Those ladies know how to protect themselves. Assuming your plan did work, she could pull a taser or even a gun on you when she realizes she's been conned."

"At which point, you and your faithful band would be ready to spring into action. Surely between you, Ryan, and Esposito, you can protect me from a prostitute. Look, I can set up the meeting at a restaurant. If you want, you and the boys can be at the next table."

"I don't know, Castle."

"I can wear one of those white vests the uniformed cops wear under their blues. I have a shirt that will cover it perfectly, and it might make me look more buff."

"Castle, if you can make this work, you'll need to be where we can see you at all times. You can't wander off. You'll have to stick to the plan. "

"Yes, Detective Beckett. Anything else?"

"Did you hear from Dr. Murray?"

"He finished his analysis and his modeling. He wants to meet with us so he can explain what he did. I'm supposed to let him know when we'll be available."

"You could have led with that, Castle."

"I thought you might want to discuss Murray in a more private venue."

"All right, Castle. I want to get you set up to record your call to the 800 number. When we see what happens, we'll see when we can fit in a meeting."

"I put myself in your hands."

"Actually, it will be Wong's hands."

Castle's eyes twinkle. "Dr. Strange's faithful retainer?"

"No, the 12th Precinct's lead tech. But he's occasionally been known to work magic of a sort."

"OK. Let's go see Wong."


Ryan and Esposito watch expectantly as Kate cues Castle to make his call. "Hi, my name is Richard. I'm a very generous man looking to arrange a special date with Tiffany. My callback number is 347-555-0179."

Esposito snorts as the call's termination beeps from Castle's cell phone. "So after all of that, that's it?"

A man pushing a dolly with a large, heavyweight carton exits the elevator. "Is there a Richard Castle here?"

Castle waves. "That's me."

The man points to his load. "Where do you want it, boss?"

Castle points toward the doorway of the breakroom. "Straight through there. White glove delivery, right? You'll set that up?"

"Yes, Sir."

Kate stares questioningly at the writer. "Castle, what's going on? What is that thing?"

"That thing is going to put an end to monkey pee," Castle announces. "It's a professional machine that will put out coffee to rival Java Hut's best. From now on, Homicide cops – and I – can enjoy their caffeinated beverages without burning out their stomach linings."

Castle's ringtone sounds from his cell phone. He grins as he views the screen. He presses his finger to his lips and puts the phone on speaker. "Is this Richard?" a woman's voice inquires.

"Yes, it is. Who is this?" Castle asks, winking at Ryan and Esposito.

"It's Tiffany. You called me for a date."

"Yes I did, Tiffany, and I'm so glad you called me back. And I want to take you somewhere very expensive. So, what are you wearing?"


A well-endowed woman in a snugly fitting dress approaches Castle's table at the Baccarat. "Richard, I'm Tiffany."

Castle rises from the table. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Tiffany." He pulls out a chair for his guest. "Please."

Tiffany smiles as she slides into her seat. "Wow, a gentleman."

"We're a dying breed," Castle responds. "And I wouldn't be minding my manners if I didn't introduce you to my friends." Kate and the boys also take seats at the table. "This is Detective Beckett, Detective Ryan, and Detective Esposito. They'll be joining us for lunch – and a little table talk."

Tiffany pushes out of her chair. "What is this, some kind of sting?"

"Relax," Kate urges. " Sit. We're Homicide, not Vice. I just want to ask you some questions about your relationship with Councilman Horn."

"I don't know who that is," Tiffany claims, dropping back into her chair.

Kate holds up a copy of one of Kirby's 8 X 10s "Nice tattoo. Care to try again?"

"All right, Horn was one of my regulars," Tiffany concedes. "But I swear I had nothing to do with his death."

"How often did you see him?" Kate asks.

"Once, maybe twice a week. At first, all he wanted to do was talk."

"Talk?" Esposito repeats skeptically.

"Talk," Tiffany insists. "Most men come to me because they're lonely because the people in their lives don't listen anymore. The sex is just a way to feel connected again."

"Horn connected all right," Ryan notes.

"So when was the last time you and Councilman Horn 'connected?'" Kate questions.

"A couple of weeks ago. He came to me hysterical. Said he couldn't see me anymore."

"What happened?" Castle asks. "Did his wife find out?"

"No, someone else, who had photos like the one you showed me. He was being blackmailed."

"By whom? Kate presses.

"He didn't know. At first, he thought it was me. He got upset, and then he panicked. He thought I'd told my friends."

"And did you?" Kate asks.

"It may surprise you, Detective, but I have dreams of my own. I'm just doing this to pay the bills and save for my future. My clients already tell me their troubles, and I'm a good listener. I want to be a psychologist. If someone found out about my relationship with Horn, we'd both be ruined."

"You said he panicked?" Castle queries.

"He was desperate to find out who was behind the scam. He said he couldn't keep making payments without the campaign finding out. He wanted to cut a deal. And when he realized I wasn't the one bleeding him, he was terrified. That was the last time I saw him."

"Do you have any idea who might have been behind the blackmail?" Kate asks.

"I don't know anything for sure. But some of the others who do their business at the same hotel I did when I was with Horn, told me they saw a guy lurking around."

"Did they say what he looked like?" Kate inquires.

"Old, bald, slimy."

Castle grins. "I think we know who that is. But listen, to get this reservation I promised the maître 'd I'd be ordering the chef's special sampling menu for everyone. We shouldn't let it go to waste."

"I think," Kate responds, "you'd better get it to go."