Finding the Fit Chapter 61

With Beckett on his right and Montgomery on his left behind his desk, Rick could use more shoulder room, but he keeps his arms in tight over his keyboard. "So, you think we have the shape of the face right?" he asks Montgomery.

Roy's eyes scrunch slightly as he stares at the big screen. "I think so, but I'll have to see how everything else fits. We need to work on the eyes. That's what I remember the most."

"OK," Rick agrees, "but it helps to put some hair in first. What color is it?"

"Light brown, maybe a little reddish."

"Straight or curly?"

"Straight but not as straight as yours or Beckett's, Castle."

"All right, so maybe a little bit of a wave. Long or short? Military cut?"

"Short but not military short, and way above those eyes."

"Sounds like a $12 trim," Rick comments. "Like this?"

"Yeah, kinda like that. Can we do the eyes now? They're blue."

"Going to them now. Wide-spaced or closer to the nose?"

"Somewhere in between, and the nose is narrow, so are the lips. Maybe kind of Italian-looking."

"Italian-looking, OK." Rick hits a few keys. "Like this?"

"The eyes are narrow like that but they, I don't know, glitter or something, but mean, like they're going to burn you, only a freezing burn."

Rick scowls at his computer. "I don't think the app has an option like that, but I can make them a brighter blue. Are they more like this?"

"That's closer."

"Good, all right. Is the chin square, round, pointed, or angular? Does it have a cleft?"

Montgomery closes his eyes for a moment. "Angular. No cleft."

"OK. Like this?"

"That's it," Montgomery agrees.

"How about the ears? Lobes attached or detached?"

Montgomery closes his eyes again. "Attached, and they stick out from his hair a little."

"Good detail," Rick remarks.

"I am a cop," Montgomery reminds him. "We're supposed to note details like that. And the way that face sneered at me, I couldn't forget it anyway."

Rick cracks his knuckles and hits a few more keys. "Is that him?"

Hands fisting as he stares at the screen, Montgomery nods. "That's the bastard."

Pushing out of her chair, Kate takes slow steps toward the projected image. "Now we just have to find out who the sonofabitch is."

"I can use the option to convert this into a photo format and try putting it through image matching," Rick suggests. "I don't generally use that for my stories, but sometimes it helps me figure out who someone who looks familiar to me is."

"Do it, Castle," Montgomery commands.

Rick slides his finger around on his touchpad. "This could take a minute."

Kate and Montgomery stand, eyes riveted on the screen while Rick performs his machinations. Barely staying in his shoes, Roy jabs his finger toward an image. That's him! That's the motherf***er."

"That picture was taken at one of Bracken's phony environmental action rallies," Rick reports. "This guy is tagged as Harold Lockwood, a member of the security detail."

"That matches with the "Hal" in Bracken's journal!" Kate exclaims. "We've got him! Castle…."

"Deep background dive, I know," Rick interjects. "Harold Lockwood. It's not an uncommon name. That's probably why the bastard is using it. But there's one here who has addresses listed in both New York City and DC. That would put him around Bracken in both places. Running the detailed check on him now. This begins around the time Bracken was DA, that's probably when he assumed the 'Hal' identity. No felony charges. Bracken would have made sure of that. Several jobs all listed as private security with a top rating in weapons expertise. Looks like he could have easily been the one to put a bullet between Dulaney's eyes."

Montgomery feels his skin chill. "And he could take out me or any member of my family before we even knew he was there."

"He could do the same to Beckett," Rick points out.

"Or you, Castle," Kate adds.

"That's it. I'm going to put security details on both of you!" Montgomery declares.

"How about you and your family, Sir?" Kate queries.

"On Lockwood's last visit, I made it clear that if anything happens to me or my family, my deal with Bracken is off, and the tape and my evidence will go where it will expose Bracken. I left instructions with a very old friend I know I can trust to make sure that's true. He has copies of everything, including the tape. And if I go down, it will all go to The Ledger and the Washington Post. As long as I still seem to be keeping quiet, we should be all right. Putting on extra security would be a red flag. Still, the kids will be out of school in a couple of days. It could be a good time for Evelyn to take them to visit their grandparents – in Alaska. Access is only by plane, and everyone knows when someone is coming."

"You might want to go too, Sir," Kate offers.

Montgomery turns away from the screen, his gaze hardening as his shoulders square. "No way! I had a part in making this mess. I'm going to stay here to make sure it's cleaned up. But now, Castle, how about that scotch?"

Rick grabs a bottle and glasses from a shelf of his bookcase. "I think we've all earned it."

After they put Montgomery into a cab, Rick lets himself and Kate back into the loft. "We have what's left of the night to ourselves."

Kate wraps her arms around his waist. "Yes, we do, and it would be silly for me to waste any of it by going home."

Rick pulls her tightly against the instant pressure below his belt. "It would indeed. So, a snack? Watch a few infomercials?"

Kate's palm smacks against his behind. "Castle!"

He quirks an eyebrow. "Oh, did you have something else in mind? Maybe we should give the infomercials a pass."

Kate presses her growing heat against his. "Yes, we definitely should."

As the alarm on Kate's phone jolts them awake, Rick reluctantly props himself up on one elbow. "It seems like we just got to sleep."

Kate stretches, rubbing her eyes. "That's probably because we did. But I need to get going. Montgomery will be sending security teams to both our apartments to accompany us to the 12th. It will look strange if I'm not there."

"Is the fact that we're sleeping together supposed to be some kind of secret?" Castle asks. "What? Are you ashamed of dating your writer shadow?"

"Of course not, Castle. But partners aren't supposed to fraternize. It's considered distracting."

"It can be that," Rick agrees. "But that rule applies to cops who are partners, doesn't it?"

"That, and sometimes civilians who work for the NYPD."

"I may be a civilian, but I don't work for the NYPD. No salary, no pension, I pay my own health insurance. Our relationship doesn't fall under the rule."

"Still, it might be best to keep it to ourselves, at least until Bracken is behind bars. He could send someone to grab one of us to use against the other."

"That could happen," Castle considers. "Fine, until Bracken's cell door slams shut, we'll keep it on the down low. Mm, that raises all sorts of possibilities."

"Later, Castle. But hold that thought."

Hunt watches from his nest as, despite the lack of markings on the vehicle, what is obviously an NYPD security detail arrives at the Broome Street building. While thankful that the NYPD is finally doing something to protect his son, the presence of the cops will complicate his life. If they're any good at all, they'll spot his position. He'll have to move somewhere with a less advantageous angle. Still, he can make it work.