Shared Obsession Chapter 80

"I'm sorry Detective," Candace Robinson tells Beckett, her face devoid of expression. "You must know that information on a protected witness is confidential. Whether or not you have proof that we employed Dr. Leeds or whether or not you have proof that an operation took place is irrelevant."

"Not to my victim it's not," Kate argues. "Not to his family and certainly not to his fiancée. They were planning a life together that they will never have."

"Look, I am not unsympathetic to your situation," Robinson insists, "but we all have our jobs to do."

"Ms. Robinson, doesn't it matter to you that the man you employed was killed, and whoever murdered him might be looking for your witness?" Kate demands.

"Detective," Robinson retorts, "you are asking me to expose a witness during an ongoing federal investigation, and I am telling you that's not going to happen. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do as I'm sure you do as well." Robinson strides away down a hallway.

Kate heads for the main exit of the U.S. Attorney's office, with Castle trailing behind. "You were very quiet in there," she notes as they head toward her unit.

"I figured the last person Hard Candy – a very apt nickname by the way – would respond to would be a civilian, especially a writer. But I was watching and listening."

"So what did you think?"

"I think that hard candy melts if you put it in hot enough water. She never denied anything you said, she just refused to confirm it. And, firm as she was, she might have had a slight twinge of sympathy for Courtney Morantz. Her eye twitched at the word fiancée. She could give a little to the right kind of pressure."

"That witness of hers is the key," Kate declares. "Without knowing who he is or who's after him, there's no way of getting to the next step."

"There's another way of figuring out who the witness might be," Castle offers.

"What?"

"Candace Robinson's office deals almost exclusively with organized crime, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, so? Our Organized Crime Unit had no clue when I asked about the MO of the killer. And they didn't know anything about Leeds. They won't be any help on this case."

"So there are people who know organized crime better than Ms. Robinson or the OCU."

"Who?"

"You remember the capo I told you about? Who knows more about crime than someone who's in it?"

"You want to ask the mob who the witness is?"

"Clearly, they already know or they wouldn't be trying to kill him. And from Hard Candy's attitude, he's got to be a pretty significant witness in a pretty significant case."

"So, what do you want us to do, drop into the Bada Bing?"

"Actually, a very nice trattoria in Little Italy. But I'll have to go by myself. My agreement's always been no cops. If I bring you with me we could both end up in The Meadowlands."

"Castle, I don't like it."

"Beckett, it's a public place. And it also has some of the best linguine in town. I can bring you a doggie bag."

"Forget the doggie bag, Castle. I need information, not linguine. But watch that great ass of yours, OK? I'd hate it if Alexis's next dress was funeral black."

"I wouldn't be too happy about it either. But I'll be fine."

The lighting is dim and the scent of oregano is in the air as Castle walks into a traditional Italian café. He spots his contact but is grabbed by the mob's version of The Hulk, and pushed face down against a table.

"Hey! I'm a friend!" Castle protests.

The muscle man glances questioningly at his boss. "Sal?"

"Take him out back and kill him," the capo replies.

Castle struggles uselessly against a meaty grip. "Oh Whoa! Whoa! Sal, it's me, Buddy."

Exploding into raucous laughter, Sal throws up his hand. "Vito! Vito! Wait! Hold up! I was just messing with him. "Sorry, Man, " Sal apologizes between fresh whoops as Vito releases Castle.

Castle massages his neck. "Not funny, Sal."

"You're right," the capo responds. "It was f***ing hilarious. Richard f***ing Castle, master of the macabre, what brings you down off your cloud of money?"

Sal signals to the waiter who brings Castle a glass of house wine. He takes a hasty gulp. "Better. OK. Sal, there was a murder."

"You always wanted to talk about murder. First, we eat," Sal declares, "then you can tell me your story."

"Thank you," Castle says as a waiter brings an after-dinner espresso.

Sal wipes his generous chin with a cloth napkin. "So, the guy you're talking about, Jimmy 'The Rat' Moran, he worked for the Spolano family. He was an underboss, a favorite of the old man. But he got squeezed out by junior when the old man bit it. Rumor has it that he turned state's a few months ago, and the Spolanos are running scared. Apparently, Moran's got it all, bills of lading, calendars, ledgers, the whole shooting match. Enough to take down all the top guys."

Castle nods. "No wonder he wanted to change his face."

"Well, if they got to the surgeon, it's only a matter of time before they get to him," Sal says.

When I wrote Storm Warning…." Castle recalls.

"Oh, I love that book," Sal interrupts.

"Thank you," Castle responds.

Sal forks up a generous bite of tiramisu. "Mm-hmm."

"You told me that certain hit men have signature styles or weapons," Castle continues.

Sal swallows blissfully. "That's right."

"OK, well, this killer used a plastic bag with duct tape to suffocate his victims. Does that sound like anyone you know?"

Sal shakes his head. "You'd have to ask the Spolanos about that one."

Castle toys with his espresso cup. "I don't think they'd like that."

"Huh, probably not," Sal agrees. "But I know who'd know."

"Who?" Castle asks.

"Jimmy the Rat."

"So your capo thinks Jimmy the Rat was the mystery patient but didn't recognize the killer's MO?" Kate asks, appreciatively sniffing the contents of a food container Castle brought her. "Why wouldn't he?"

"Jimmy worked for the Spolanos. Sal's a Cardano."

"One of Vinny 'The Scar' Cardano's people?"

"His cousin, actually. The Spolanos and Cardanos have truces from time to time when they have a common enemy. But this isn't one of those times. I got the feeling from Sal that the Cardanos are salivating at the idea that the Spolanos will lose their leadership. It would make their territory ripe for a takeover. So in a way, that puts us and the Cardanos on the same side."

"The only side I'm interested in is finding Leeds' murderer," Kate says. "It looks like somehow we're going to have to talk to Jimmy Moran."

"You couldn't even get his name out of Hard Candy. How do you propose to get a meeting with him?"

"The U.S. attorney uses the FBI to do its legwork. I can try to hook up with a source there."

"Beckett, Kate, you're not talking about Sorenson are you?"

"We helped him put a notch on his belt, he owes us."

"Never mind the belt. He still wants to get into your pants."

"Whatever you may think of him, he still wants to catch the bad guys. I'm going to reach out."

"I don't like it, Beckett."

"You don't have to, Castle. I wasn't crazy about you walking into a Cardano hangout either. We do what we have to do. Besides, I still remember how to bribe him. You know bakeries. Who makes the best doughnuts with sprinkles?"

"Catalano's on Houston. They start selling fresh ones at five am. But you have to get in fast. They're sold out by five-fifteen."

"I'll be waiting at the door. But while I'm at it, what's your favorite doughnut, Castle – aside from the obvious?"

Castle chokes. "Uh, crullers. As a mystery writer, I enjoy the twists and turns."

"I should have known."