Shared Obsession Chapter 69
After finally finishing her report on Cynthia Dern's murder, Kate hits send and leans back in her desk chair. "That's done."
"Which gives us time to get back to our other matter," Castle points out. "What do we do with the records of the bank transactions we, um, obtained at Daily Manna?"
"That's a good question, Castle. With the way we, um, obtained them, I can't just submit them as evidence."
"How about claiming they came from an anonymous tipster?" Castle proposes.
"But I know they're not anonymous, Castle. I can't swear to that in court."
"Right. But suppose, just suppose, someone made copies of all those documents with an explanatory note and sent them to Montgomery. He could truthfully testify that he received them anonymously and he'd pass them on to you for investigation."
Kate's fingertips tap against the edge of her desk. "More likely he'd pass them on to the department's forensic accountants. They'd know what to do with them, and it wouldn't come directly out of the 12th's budget."
"That would be even better, as long as he tells you about them."
"He has to. They're connected to the case against Lochlan Jackson. That's mine. And I'd receive updates on whatever the accountants find."
"Perfect, then. Some unknown person will put it in motion."
As the sun climbs in the mid-morning sky outside an apartment building, Castle offers Kate one of two containers of coffee. "Did you take care of what we talked about?" she asks.
"Unsigned, sealed, and in the process of being delivered. So, is there a body in there?"
"I don't know. Montgomery just said to meet him here." Montgomery pulls his vehicle up at the curb and trots toward them. "Sir, what's going on here?"
The captain grimaces. "Two-year-old girl, Angela Candela. She was reported missing by her parents about eight o'clock this morning."
"Where did they find the body?" Kate asks.
"They haven't found a body. She was abducted. Her father was in the other room painting."
"She was kidnapped from her home with her father there?" Castle asks. "What kind of negligent idiot leaves a two-year-old unwatched? Toddlers can get into anything faster than a parent can get out a 'no.'"
"Don't I know it," Montgomery agrees. "When mine were that age, it always took me forever to find anything in the kitchen. Evelyn demanded child guard locks on every cabinet and drawer."
Castle nods his understanding. "And you have to pad every sharp corner and cover all the outlets. And you never know what they'll put in their mouths. You have to keep an eye on them every minute. So, what the hell was Candela thinking?"
Montgomery throws his hands up. "From the sound of it, he wasn't. But that's not our first concern. Right now we have to find that little girl."
"I don't understand, Sir. If this isn't a murder, why am I here?" Kate asks.
"The Feds requested you be on the task force."
"Feds?" Castle queries.
"The FBI has jurisdiction over child abduction cases," Kate explains.
"Then why did you want me here with Beckett?" Castle inquires.
"Because I like pissing off the FBI. And because you think out of the box. That's something the Feebs rarely do."
Kate's eyes narrow. "Sir, who's the special agent in charge?"
Montgomery fidgets with a button on his jacket. "Beckett, it doesn't matter who…."
Beckett grits her teeth. "Sir, who?"
Montgomery expels a breath. "Sorenson."
"Who's Sorenson?" Castle questions.
Kate ignores Rick's query. "I thought he was in Boston."
"He's here now," Montgomery declares.
"Who's Sorenson?" Castle repeats.
"This isn't going to be a problem is it, Beckett?" Montgomery interjects. "I mean we're all professionals here, right?"
"Actually, I'm not," Castle sticks in. "Who's Sorenson?"
Kate keeps ignoring Rick's question. "No, Sir. It's not going to be a problem."
"Good," Montgomery returns, "because that little girl doesn't care about your history. Neither do her terrified parents. They just want her back alive."
"Where is he, Sir?"
"He should be inside talking to the Candelas." Montgomery's cell dings a text. "The Deputy Chief wants an update. I have to go. You can do this, Beckett. And back her up, Castle."
Castle lets the outside entry door close behind them before turning to Kate. "Beckett, what's the deal with this Agent Sorenson?"
"Like Montgomery said, we have a history."
"What kind of a history?"
"Look, Rick, you know that in a kidnapping every minute counts. So I don't have time to give you the story now."
"Fine. But I'm going to ask again later."
"I wouldn't doubt that for a minute."
Castle has no trouble discerning who in the Candelas's living room is Agent Sorenson. For one thing, he's wearing the suit and tie that's almost a uniform for FBI agents. He's also exuding the square-jawed confidence the bureau so likes to portray. A tall, thin, desperate-looking man is obviously Angela's father, and the dark woman with fire shooting from her eyes, Angela's mother.
Sorenson's eyes brighten when he sees Kate. A niggling sets into Castle's stomach as he suspects who requested her for the task force – and that their history isn't entirely professional. But she was right that it's not the time to deal with that.
Tears well in Alfred Candela's eyes as he speaks to Sorenson. "Yes, please, whatever you need."
Sorenson nods. "Excuse me for a moment." He crosses the room to Beckett and Castle. "Hello, Kate."
"Hello, Will," she responds. "How long have you been back in New York?"
"A couple of months."
"When you went to Boston, you said it would be a great career move. What happened?"
"Fresh lobster gets old fast. You look good. Who's your friend?"
"This is Richard Castle."
"Oh, the famous novelist."
"Writer of wrongs," Castle interjects.
"Yes, Captain Montgomery filled me in on your little arrangement," Sorenson informs them. "I have no trouble with it as long as it doesn't interfere with the investigation."
"Castle's actually been instrumental in solving cases," Kate replies. "I can count on him for insights."
"Well, federal cases are different, Kate. You know that. Just keep him out of the way."
"The way of what?" Castle asks.
Sorenson just shakes his head and shows Kate a picture of a little girl clutching a stuffed bunny. "Angela Candela, two years old, abducted this morning between seven-thirty and eight am. Parents were home at the time."
"They were both here, and there's a half-hour gap in knowing when she was taken! How does that happen?" Castle demands.
Sorenson shoots Kate a look. "Castle, right now what's important is who took her and how do we get her back," she reminds him.
"Nothing happens in a vacuum," Rick insists, "but what else do we know?"
"Dad got up with the kid about seven, let Mom sleep in," Sorenson continues. "He planted Angela in front of the TV with a juice box and some cereal, then headed into his art studio." He gestures toward a door. "That's this way." Kate and Castle trail him into a paint-splattered room. "Obviously, he's a painter."
Castle regards a large canvas. "I imagine opinions vary. He just left his kid sitting there for this?"
"Did he hear anything, at least?" Kate asks.
"Not from Angela. He was listening to his iPod," Sorenson explains.
Castle looks around in disgust. "Nothing like a little quality time with Daddy."
Kate catches Rick's eye and urges him into a corner. "Look, I know that as a father, this has to claw at you. I can understand that. But right now, getting angry at Mr. Candela isn't going to help. If we're going to get Angela back safely, we need everything the Candelas can tell us. If you can't handle that, maybe you should leave."
"And trust that Feeb to solve this? I don't know whether he's more interested in that or hitting on you. His tongue started hanging out the minute you walked in."
"Castle, I know you want to help Angela. So can you rein yourself in or not?"
"I can."
"All right. Then let's get back to work."