Shared Obsession Chapter 141
I guess it's official. Our guy is a serial killer," Castle says.
Kate looks out across a stretch of greening grass to a caravan of black SUVs coming up the road toward them. "What the hell? Feebies!"
"As ineffective as it has often been, they do have jurisdiction over serial killers," Castle reminds her. "And they do have a bright light or two. Maybe we'll get lucky."
"But why would they be here already?" Kate wonders. "It takes at least two kills to make a serial killer, and we just confirmed this one."
"That could be my fault," Lanie confesses. "After the first message, I gave a heads-up to the Chief ME. And I notified him before I came out for this body. But the FBI might have been ready to roll after the first one."
"If Montgomery reported to 1PP, they could have talked to the feds too," Kate considers.
Castle's jaw tightens. "It better not be your pal Sorenson."
"I'd doubt it," Kate says. "After the FBI's almost fatal run-in with the Spolanos' pet killer, I think the bureau's having him stick with kidnappings for a while."
"You've talked to him?" Castle inquires, sudden jealousy flashing in his gaze.
"Just a couple of texts. I was checking on how his rehab from getting shot was going. He said something about returning to less hazardous duty."
The SUVs get as close as they can to the carousel before pulling to a halt. An attractive red-haired woman in a well-cut business suit and sensible heels is the first one to exit a vehicle. Castle's jaw drops. "I think that's Jordan Shaw. The Feebies sent their big guns."
Kate's eyes sweep over Agent Shaw's breasts. "I can see that."
"No, Kate, Jordan Shaw. She's the one who broke the Hudson Valley Strangler case in 1991."
Shaw immediately begins giving orders to her people. "Rope off a 10-foot circumference around the carousel. Sweep for prints and trace evidence. Close off the park entrance at 6th. Work up the entire footpath."
"Mmm," a tall, muscular, African American agent confirms and directs the response to Shaw's orders.
Kate moves toward Shaw. "Nikki Heat, I presume," the agent greets her.
"It's Beckett, Kate Beckett," Kate corrects.
Shaw shakes Kate's hand and moves on to shake Castle's. "I've read about you in Cosmo, Beckett." She looks up at Castle. "And you must be the celebrity writer tag along, Richard Castle. Agent Jordan Shaw."
"I followed your work on the Hudson Valley Strangler Case," Castle says. "It was brilliant."
"I also play a mean game of Scrabble," Shaw responds. "Now that we all know each other, I'd like to see the body."
"Agent Shaw, my people have already secured the area," Kate explains. "CSU is on the scene, and we are canvassing the park. So, as much as I appreciate the backup, there is not really much left here for you to do."
"Detective," Shaw replies, "the gods in marble halls have sent me here to catch a killer, which I will do with or without your help. OK? Now can I see the body?"
Kate sighs, gesturing toward the footpath to the amusement ride. Shaw strides toward the carousel as Castle observes with a mix of admiration and curiosity.
Ryan and Esposito walk up to Kate. Ryan holds out an evidence bag with a wallet inside. "Unis pulled this from a trash bin. The vic's name is Michelle Lewis."
"According to her business card, she's a dog walker," Esposito adds.
Kate examines the wallet through the plastic. "There's a print here, too large to be our victim's. Let's get it to the lab for…."
A returning Jordan Shaw uses a gloved hand to pull the wallet from the bag and clicks her cell phone over the print. "What are you doing?" Kate demands.
"The print's already in the lab," Jordan declares. "No muss, no fuss, no black powder on your clothes."
Castle looks on wide-eyed. "Wow, there's an app for that?"
Shaw smiles her satisfaction. "That's why I joined the FBI, Mr. Castle, for the toys. But I need to get back to the body."
"You need that app," Castle tells Kate, as Jordan moves away.
Irritation roughens Kate's voice. "You know the department's budget, Castle. It'll probably be a year or more before the NYPD gets anything like that."
"Then, I'll spring for it for you," Castle decides. "Where there's a bill, there's a way."
Castle gawks at the array of equipment being hauled across the bullpen. "What's going on, Beckett?"
"They're setting up a war room," Kate replies, tension evident in her tone.
"War room?" Castle echoes.
"Tell me everything you know about Jordan Shaw," Kate whispers in his ear.
"Whew! Blow in my ear and I'll… never mind, I can follow up on that thought later. Jordan Shaw is like the federal you. She cracked that Hudson Valley Strangler case when she was only 25."
"I thought they caught him off a speeding ticket."
Castle shakes his head. "Don't ask me how, but Shaw profiled that he drove a Yugo."
"And they found the girl tied up in the back?"
"Uh-huh, but more importantly, they found her still breathing. Jordan Shaw saved that girl's life."
"Even with the galas and celebrity hot spots I've been to with you, I don't think I've ever seen you so excited to meet anyone."
"Beckett, I've been around celebrities all my life. I'm excessively familiar with the façades. The beautiful people may be heroic on the screen, but in most cases, once the makeup comes off, they're pretty ordinary – even if they're not always aware of it. But Jordan – and you – are the real deal. So of course, I'm excited to meet her. But she could never be as exciting as you."
"Good save, Babe."
"But I do love the toys. Can we go see the war room now?"
"You're running partials too?" Shaw asks the muscular black man Castle now knows is her partner, Agent Avery.
"Through all the databases," Avery replies. "The lab's getting us information as fast as we can follow up."
"I thought there was a backlog at the lab," Beckett says.
"I have a federal fast pass. So I get to jump the line," Shaw explains.
As Jordan continues to update Kate, Castle studies a large touch screen, using his fingers to manipulate a couple of entries.
"Currently, we are pursuing 35 solid leads based on DNA, prints, and trace evidence found at both scenes, and we're running the FBI data matrix," Jordan goes on. "The matrix also looks for a connection between the victims in case the killer has a type or favorite hunting ground or isn't killing randomly."
"Both Alex Peterman and Michelle Lewis belonged to the same Wessex gym, but they went to different locations," Castle notes from the display. "They were both members of MOMA – hmm that's familiar – and they both adopted their dogs from the same A.S.P.C.A."
"Wow, sounds like it does your job for you," Beckett observes.
"A machine can collate. It can't think," Jordan declares. "It takes a mind to hunt a mind." She steps up to the smart board. "Take this guy. He calls the police, or what he perceives as the police, Nikki Heat, to report his crime. He likes to kill in heavily populated areas like a busy commuter hub or a popular public park but manages to get away. He uses bullets as messages. Most of these stalker types can barely tie their own shoes. This one's different, smarter."
Kate stares at Shaw. "You almost sound like you admire him."
"I admire him the way Robert Shaw – no relation – admired the shark in 'Jaws.' The better I know him, the easier it will be to catch him."
Castle nods. "That's like when I'm writing. The killer's voice doesn't sound authentic unless I understand his motivation."
"Well, this guy likes to make a scene," Shaw asserts. "I wouldn't be surprised if he is also an arsonist. That could be what drew him to Nikki Heat in the first place, her name, Heat."
"You mean if I had named my detective something else this wacko wouldn't be homing in on Beckett?" Castle asks.
"It's possible," Shaw allows. "But he'd probably just find another target."
Castle pulls Kate aside. "I hate you being this crazy's focus. Are you sure you want to stay at your apartment? Alexis decided to sleep over with Paige for a couple of nights. Her family lives in one of those high-security skyscrapers and the girls have a school science assignment taking care of an egg together. She won't be in the killer's sites."
"But you will, Babe. Montgomery assigned a security detail to me. And it will look better on their reports if they're watching me at my residence of record. I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?"
"I'll sleep with my gun under my pillow. If this guy tries to make a move on me, it will be the last move he makes."
"I don't know whether to be relieved or more nervous. But be careful, Kate."
"Yeah, Babe. You too."
