Shared Obsession Chapter 138
Kate unclips things from the murderboard and loads them into a banker's box. "In the end, Castle was right, the murder was a crime of passion. The cuffs, the caramel, were all theater to throw us off."
"I can't help thinking that if Matt hadn't copied Jessica's research, Danielle never would have read it and this whole thing would have never happened," Castle says.
"And if it would have changed the direction of the investigation if the uniforms canvassing the park had paid more attention when that homeless guy told them a woman gave him a bunch of papers for the steel barrel where he had his fire to keep warm," Kate adds. "That might have put us in the right direction sooner, but they didn't think he was all there."
"You can't always know who's all there and who isn't," Castle muses. "Or if it matters. By most descriptions, Tesla was crazy as a loon, or at least autistic, but he made some amazing discoveries. And I think we prejudged Lady Irena because of her current business model. She had no intention of hurting Jessica. She'd just heard the whispers that Jessica was working on the side and wanted to get her cut. Purely business. But she did stay in character and I think she enjoyed giving us a hard time. Hmm, maybe a poor choice of words."
Ryan lights up as a pretty blonde woman steps off the elevator and walks over to the group. "Hey, you made it!" He leans in for a kiss. "Guys, I want you all to meet Jenny."
The new arrival flashes a winning smile. "Hi."
"Welcome," Kate says. "We've heard wonderful things about you."
"The same goes for all of you," Jenny responds. "I feel like I know you guys already." She focuses her attention on Kate. "You are so much prettier than your picture in Cosmo. And Kevin gave me a copy of 'Heat Wave,'" she adds to Castle. "I could barely put it down. And Javi, thanks for being such a great partner. Make sure you keep him safe out there."
"You got it," Esposito responds.
Ryan offers Jenny his arm. "Well, we've got a movie to catch. See you guys tomorrow."
"You have a great time," Beckett says.
Esposito stares after the departing couple. "Now we know why he can't get off the phone with her. If I had a girl like that, I'd want to hold tight too."
"Now we know why he didn't bring her around sooner," Castle says.
"So half the bullpen wouldn't be drooling over her," Kate assumes.
"So we wouldn't try to steal her from him," Esposito asserts.
"Like Danielle didn't want Tyler to steal Jessica?" Castle wonders.
"We're not that sick, Bro," Esposito insists, "But," he puffs out his chest, "she would get a look at a real man."
Kate rolls her eyes. "Right."
"Are you ready to go, Beckett?" Castle asks. "Alexis is at her study group tonight and Mother's at the theater. We could catch a movie too, or whatever."
The tip of Kate's tongue circles her lips. "I'll take whatever."
Esposito gazes after them as the elevator doors close. "Damn!"
As Kate's alarm goes off, Castle awakens, a grin still on his face. "You could hit snooze and we could do a little more whatever."
"Love to, but I promised Montgomery the closeout report on the Jessica Margolis case this morning. I have to get going."
"Are you going to include all the juicy, or shall I say sticky, details?" Castle asks. "I could help."
Kate swings her legs over the side of the bed. "I think we'll have to keep this one more Joe Friday than Richard Castle."
"Just the facts, Ma'am – or in Montgomery's case, Sir."
"Right. They'll probably review it up at 1PP and he won't want to give them any extra joy."
"After the way that they savaged his budget, I get it. Well, I can get breakfast started while you take the first shower – unless you want to take it together."
"Then I'd never get out of here. Have we got any leftovers from that Chateaubriand you ordered in last night?"
"Still in the mood to get your mouth around some meat?"
"Babe!"
"Sorry, couldn't resist. If I dice it correctly, there's enough for a magnificent scramble. I shall proceed posthaste."
The towel on Kate's wet hair almost slides off as she rushes to reach her cell phone. In the kitchen, Castle grabs his cell moments later. Not bothering to blow dry her locks, Kate hastily pulls on her clothes and joins Castle in the kitchen. Did you get a call from …?
"The special prosecutor himself?" Castle interjects. "He wants me in front of a grand jury, tomorrow. You?"
"The same. I didn't know he'd even convened one. I thought he was still in the deposition stage. That's what I thought our bogus call was about."
"Well, someone lit a fire under him," Castle figures. "But nothing about a car this time, which is reassuring, I guess. We're supposed to make our own way to DC."
"We can always pick up a shuttle," Kate says. "I think they fly out of JFK a few times a day."
"Or I can get us a charter out of Teterboro. Shorter faster drive and much more comfortable flight – also less predictable. There's no secret about airport schedules – except for cancelations or delays. And for something like this, we don't want to cope with those."
"No we don't," Kate agrees. "All right Babe. You can work on lining us up a plane while I go give Montgomery his pound of flesh."
Castle grins. "Pound of flesh. Good one, Beckett. But have your scramble before you go."
"Wouldn't miss it."
His lair stinks of formaldehyde, but the man doesn't care. His precise extraction process is going well. It won't be long, a few days at most, before he has what he needs. And in the meantime, he has other work to do. Lining up a patsy won't be difficult. He's already put the wheels in motion. He's laid everything out to the last detail. He's even proofread the grammar. One can't be an artist without critically evaluating one's own work. And his is superior to any best seller. Of course, it is. He knows his characters' every thought and moves. So he is always steps ahead. And now he'll be making it all come to life – or death.
Kate climbs the narrow steps into the small plane that was waiting as the limo Castle hired pulled up on the tarmac. The pilot had greeted them as they approached, assuring them that as soon as he and the copilot completed their final check, they'd be off the ground.
Castle had checked the weather, actually slightly warmer in New York than in DC, despite the latter's more southerly location. Still, he imagines things could get plenty hot when the grand jury hears the details of Bracken's crimes. Johanna and Celia were only a small part of the bigger picture. Still, his and Kate's testimony about their losses and longstanding investigations to uncover the true culprit should carry both emotional and factual weight. He's lined up accommodations in a hotel, one of the VIP suites where in the absence of a court order, the occupants' names are completely confidential. In fact, he and Kate don't even have to let the special prosecutor's office know where they are, as long as they show up on time to testify. Alexis, Martha, and Kate's father can reach them in an emergency. Other than that, they'll be on their own.
The flight is short, not close to long enough to watch a movie. The couple uses one of the tables that fold down from the bulkhead to play poker. Castle can't help thinking that strip would be more fun but would distract the crew. However, playing for gummy bears works, and Kate will look blissful devouring her winnings, especially the strawberry ones.
The wheels touch down with barely a bump and the plane comes to a stop near a small terminal. Castle offers Kate his hand. "Ready?"
"Never more ready in my life."