Confession Chapter 23
With her father on one side and Castle on the other, Kate can feel her stomach flip as she passes the bike racks and mounts the stairs to the offices of The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. It should have been Roy Montgomery making this trip, with the tapes he could authenticate and the documentation he could verify. But now it has fallen to her.
The SDNY wasn't surprised to receive her father's call. The articles Castle had put out had more than piqued its interest. And rumors about Senator Bracken had always been in the air, or at least, whispered in corners. The FBI had also – unofficially – been keeping an eye on Carmack. The violent recruits he loves scare the hell out of the bureau.
So when James Beckett, attorney-at-law, sought the appointment for his daughter to offer evidence, the word came down to grant it quickly. They won't be seeing U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Weston herself, at least not for a first meeting. But her right hand, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Waters, welcomes them into a comfortable conference room, already set up with audio and video equipment that can accommodate microcassettes and anything else containing pertinent information.
Before Kate submits the tape which had shown up in the mysterious envelope and been replayed for Raglan, Jim Beckett passes documents across the table. "That's a sworn statement by Detective John Raglan, retired, testifying to the authenticity of what Detective Beckett is giving to you. I've attached statements by Ms. Beckett and Mr. Castle that they previously heard it played by Roy Montgomery in his office at the 12th Precinct and that it has not been altered."
Mary Walters listens to the tape in silence except for Kate's identification of the voices. "And you have more?" she asks.
"Five more," Kate confirms, "containing conversations regarding Bracken's criminal enterprise in New York."
"And specifically discussing the solicitation of murders." Jim Beckett pauses as his voice catches.
"Including the murder of Johanna Beckett, Mr. Beckett's late wife and Detective Beckett's mother," Castle picks up. "The tapes, as well as the accompanying documents, also implicate members of the NYPD, including John Raglan, Gary McCallister, Roy Montgomery, and Jimmy Carmack."
"Montgomery played the tape you just heard for Detective Beckett and Mr. Castle, against his own interests. John Raglan gave his statement against his own interests as well," Jim Beckett explains. "The defense should find any hearsay objections unsustainable."
"So, what you are telling me is that a senator who is giving every indication that he's making a run for the presidency is in essence a murderer," Waters concludes.
"Yes," Kate responds. "But that isn't all. Bracken has a longstanding relationship with a drug dealer named Vulcan Simmons. While he was a district attorney in New York, he gave Simmons and his people a pass."
"We believe that was in return for financial considerations," Jim Beckett continues. "But some of the materials we are submitting indicate that relationship is current and that Bracken is using funds originating from drug-related activities to fund his political and campaign dealings."
"So you believe Bracken will be funding his presidential campaign with drug money?" Waters queries.
"We believe it is a very strong possibility," Jim Beckett replies.
Out of habit, Waters jams a pen into the large bun at the nape of her neck. "If that proves to be true and the rest of what you've given me checks out, this case could send a shockwave through our entire political system. Of course, the SDNY will have to make a thorough investigation of everything you allege. However, on the strength of what you've presented to me, I'm going to see if Ms. Weston has a few minutes to join us." She rises and starts for the door before turning back. "There's coffee and water on the credenza. Please help yourselves."
After a perfunctory knock, Mary enters Weston's office. "Did you hear all that?"
"I had to take a couple of calls, but most of it," Weston replies. "Still, you were sitting face to face with the Becketts and Castle. Do you buy it?"
"I do. Detective Beckett getting shot in Chicago, the attempted shooting at a theater where she and Castle were supposed to show up, the Montgomery's boat blowing up, are all too much to chalk up to coincidence. It has conspiracy written all over it and the evidence points solidly at Bracken. So are you coming in?"
"For a minute or two, to assure them that they're being taken seriously. But putting together a strong enough case to go up against Bracken's machine is going to take a hell of a lot of doing – even more, if Bracken's actually being funded by drug money. I need you to start putting together a list of staff we can use and anyone you think we should pull in from the outside."
"I'll get on it the minute our meeting is over," Mary agrees.
In the 60s throwback diner, Kate slides across a booth's red vinyl upholstery to sit opposite her father. Castle takes a seat next to her. A waitress directs her smile at Jim Beckett. "Your usual?"
He nods. "Maisie, this is my daughter, Detective Beckett, and her friend Richard Castle."
Maisie's eyes widen. "Mr. Castle! Oh, I thought I recognized you. I bought your book for my mother. She just loves mysteries."
"Always nice to know I have a fan," Castle replies. "So, what would we be a fan of for lunch?"
"Oh yes, of course." Maisie shifts her gaze to Kate. "I know about your dad here, of course. Stick-to-the-ribs chili and keep the black coffee coming. But what's your pleasure?"
"The chili sounds good, but you wouldn't have strawberry milkshakes would you?"
Maisie shakes her head. "Sorry. But we do make a great root beer float."
"All right," Kate agrees, "sounds good."
"Mr. Castle?" Maisie asks.
"Cheeseburger, fries, and the root beer float sounds excellent."
Maisie jots down the order with a flourish. "Coming right up!"
"When did you develop a taste for root beer?" Castle asks Kate as Maisie hurries away.
"Actually, while I was staying in the sublet, Alexis brought some down, along with vanilla ice cream. She made floats too. They were wonderful."
"Hmm," Castle considers, "if her ivy league dreams fall through, maybe she'll decide to open a soda fountain. She could bring egg creams into the neighborhood."
"I could go for that. Johanna and I used to go to Brooklyn to get them," Jim confides.
"I never knew that, Dad," Kate admits.
"She loved them. But it always bothered her that they had neither cream nor eggs in them, " Jim adds. "She said the name is a misrepresentation."
"It is," Kate agrees. "Especially since it doesn't even mention the chocolate syrup."
Castle raises an eyebrow. "Like mother, like daughter?"
"Absolutely," Jim responds, his gaze turning upward. "And I'm sure she's very proud of you today, Katie. You're going to slay the dragon."
"I haven't even made it to his cave yet," Kate says. "You heard what Elizabeth Weston told us. Assuming her preliminary investigation pans out, it's going to take a long time before she has something she can present to a grand jury."
"She came into the room herself, for the first meeting, Katie. That means she thinks we have a case, and a great one," Jim asserts.
Kate's teeth find her bottom lip. "I hope you're right, Dad. I really hope you're right."
Victoria Gates surveys her office at IA trying to decide what she'll take to the 12th Precinct if she gets the assignment. No announcement will be made until after Roy Montgomery's memorial service. And the Chief is holding off on having one until the Coast Guard officially declares that any further efforts to recover a body would be hopeless. Unofficially, that opinion's been floating around for days, and the searchers are expected to confirm it soon."
It's a terrible tragedy, losing a captain and indeed his whole family like that. Victoria would never choose it as a way to get her own precinct. Still, she's worked hard for one and feels she deserves the step up. She's more than aware that after serving in IA it will take some doing to garner trust from the rank and file. No one loves a cop who goes after other cops. But she believes the dirty ones disgrace the noblest of professions – her profession. She's never regretted cleaning up the rot. The department is better for it – including the 12th Precinct.