Finding the Fit Chapter 44
Miranda Beller drops into the chair the maître D' pulls out for her opposite Richard Castle. Rick smiles a welcome. "Thanks for coming, Randy."
"After the hints you dropped, I couldn't help it, Rick. Play Luke Skywalker on a secret mission to get the goods on an evil mastermind? You know I'm always looking for new challenges, and that's more out there than any of the scenarios we discussed for your books."
"It is out there," Rick agrees. "But it could end up saving a bunch of lives. For one thing, it might help keep a lot of drugs off the street. But there's more to the story for the operation I have in mind. The NYPD would have to involve the local cops, the FBI, and maybe even the DEA. There is no way Detective Beckett and I want to chance another Ruby Ridge or Waco. We just need the evidence. We want to get everyone out alive."
"With that many people involved, your plan could leak like a cut fuel line," Randy points out.
"I know. So does Detective Beckett. That's why she'll be providing as few details as possible until the last moment. Most of the participants will think it's a classic raid."
"Detective Beckett. Your new muse, Rick? Is she hot?"
"Yes to hot, but sorry, she's straight. There's another female detective who works the night shift that I could introduce you to, though, if you're interested in making a run at a cop."
"Just sticking a few pins in you, Rick. I've had a steady partner for some time now. The only runs I'm interested in making are aerial. And if you want my help, you'd better come across with some details."
"Mmm, delivering smoke bombs by glider," Miranda muses. "That's a new one, even for me. The glider would have to be moving at minimum speed, which could also mean limited range. I'd need to study the terrain to determine if I could launch from somewhere nearby and also land pretty close in. And since you're talking about doing this at night, I'd also have to make sure I can spot my target and where I'll be putting down."
"I'll have to clear that with Beckett. She'll want to make sure you're not about to spill any secrets."
"Didn't I keep mum about the details of two of your Storm books until they were on bookstore shelves – not to mention Amazon?"
"Of course, you did, Randy, but this is a lot more important than a book – even one of mine. Beckett is absolutely determined that we get the goods on the bastard she's after, and I totally understand why. If you agree to be in, she'll check you out, back to the color of the mat you slept on in kindergarten."
"I didn't go to kindergarten. I went straight from preschool to first grade. But I get what you're saying, Rick, and these days I have nothing to hide. But before she gets started, I will need a retainer to keep my immediate availability open. My courier services are still in very high demand."
"Of course," Rick agrees.
Two of Kate's fingers press against her bottom lip. "Miranda Beller, yeah, I think I saw her in the acknowledgments of one of your books."
"Two, actually. In some circles, she's pretty well known for getting almost anything - but not drugs, Beckett – from here to there, intact and on time. Pre-internet, some publishers used her to get hot manuscripts across the country and sometimes around the world. Even now, she ferries hard copies, which may be the last guaranteed non-hackable documents left. Dig all you want. She'll be ready when you are. But how about the other participants in the plan? How buttoned up will they be? That goes double for the feds. Whatever they know could be accessible to you-know-who."
"I've decided not to bring them in, Castle, for just that reason. I can legally go after fugitives from our jurisdiction, and I can bring in the State Troopers to help. If we can follow the plan, then we'll just round up the suspects they want when they are forced to exit the mansion, and then we can do a thorough search when the smoke clears."
"When the feds discover that you shut them out of a case with national and international implications, they'll be pissed as hell, Beckett," Rick asserts.
"I can turn over whatever doesn't lead me to Bracken, especially details about a new designer drug. That should keep them off our backs. But if I can get Bracken, I don't care who I piss off."
"What about Montgomery? Can you get him to sign off on all of this?'
"I'm painting it as an operation to stop the flow of drugs into the city, that's coincidentally connected to some cold murder investigations. The drug thing will be a feather in his cap with 1PP and City Hall, especially if it's splashed all over the front page of The Ledger. 1PP's been pushing for better press for the department. He'll buy it."
Hunt scrolls through the latest local intelligence. So the Russian-linked drugs and gambling operation moved from the city out to the suburban woods. That will make it a little tougher to keep an eye on them. They're no longer under the direct path of a satellite. Still, with the amount of traffic in and out, they'll hardly be invisible. As a domestic operation, it's not Company business, not officially. But anything linked to the Russians bears watching, especially with the upsurge in activity of Re-emergence. He wonders if the move has anything to do with Richard's inquiry about a designer drug. He can't see any obvious connection, but the Russians are always working to match any Company developments. It could all be part of the same plan to worsen the drug problem in the U.S. Aside from the actual death and destruction, media tales of American drug use make very effective anti-U.S. propaganda. At least one of the attachés he's assigned to keep tabs on may be involved as well. They're always sticking their thumbs into one pie or another. He'll make sure they don't pull out any plums.
"I need to meet with Miranda Beller," Kate announces to Rick.
"Questions about her that your dive into her background can't answer?" he inquires.
"Not exactly. Online and on paper, she looks fine. She was picked up for trespassing on airfields when she was a teenager. But for a budding pilot, that could be a point in her favor. As far as I can tell, she doesn't have any other offenses. She came out as gay around the time 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' was repealed. But that didn't surprise anyone. And she hadn't flown for the military anyway, so her sexual orientation was no disqualification for her career as a pilot. She's set a whole bunch of records with various aircraft, including gliders."
"You're not telling me anything I don't know about Randy, Beckett. So, is the meeting so you can assess her fitness to participate in the plan?"
"I have to know that I can depend on her not only to get the job done but to keep her mouth shut, Castle. That means talking to her face to face."
"Fine. When and where?"
"Not here. Too many possible eyes and ears. Can we use your loft?"
"Mi casa es tu casa, Beckett. I'll give Randy a call."