Finding the Fit Chapter 51
Kate carefully seals the letter she puts in her safety deposit box and shoves the metal receptacle back into its spot. She'd made the letter as cryptic as she could while still allowing it to be understood if Castle put his head together with her father. Jim Beckett knows about Sparks. He didn't thoroughly approve of his daughter's obsession with a motorcycle, but it was a lot less destructive than what many other young people got into. Besides, like her mother, once Katie got something into her head, there was no dissuading her. So he was as sanguine about her interest as he could be. Castle would know to which history Kate was referring. One way or another, even if Bracken finds a way to take her out, he'll still spend the rest of his evil life in prison.
Still, Kate has no intention of letting Bracken take her out of the picture. Ever since Johanna Beckett was murdered, Kate has devoted her efforts to finding justice for her mother. Regardless of how Bracken may attempt to stop her, she's determined to finish the job.
When Kate arrives at the 12th Precinct, Dick Coonan, with his lawyer beside him, is already in Interrogation One – and not happy about it. No doubt he's even less happy that he's chained to the table by way of regulation handcuffs. According to Ryan and Esposito, the first thing he did was ask for a lawyer. Following Kate's instructions, they allowed him to call one after they made sure he was processed to the exact letter of the law. There was no way they were going to take a chance at having him walk on a technicality.
Before entering the box, Kate joins Rick, who couldn't say away, in Observation. As she stares through the glass, her fingernails dig in to her palms. "You all right?" he asks.
"I know I have to get him to throw Bracken under the bus, but what I want to do is…."
"Shoot him in the most painful spot possible?"
"Something like that."
"Maybe you should let the boys handle the interview," Rick suggests.
"No way! I started this. I've been working on it for over ten years. I'm not about to let up now."
"You want me in there to grab you if you slip and try to scratch his face off?"
"I'm not going to slip, but I could use those people-watching skills of yours. I doubt his lawyer is going to let him say anything, but we can compare notes on what we see."
"OK, Beckett. I can do that. But if he does try to deny anything, you might have to stop me from trying to scratch his face off."
A giggle leaks through Kate's tightly set lips. "Sure, Castle."
Kate slaps her leather folder on the table in front of her as she takes her seat opposite Dick Coonan. He is tall enough to stare down at her from a slightly overfed face with surprisingly guileless-looking eyes. His lawyer, slim and well-dressed, sits beside him, opposite Rick. "Mr. Coonan, I have solid evidence that implicates you in the stabbing murders of Johanna Beckett, Diane Cavenaugh, Jennifer Stewart, and Scott Murray."
Coonan smirks. "Johanna Beckett, was that your mommy, Detective Beckett?"
Castle can feel the heat radiating from Kate and silently prays she can keep it together. Her shoulders square and her voice remains low and even. "We're not here to talk about me, Mr. Coonan, we're here to talk about you going to prison for the rest of your life. But there is one way you can help yourself. Confirm who hired you to kill those four people."
Coonan's lawyer whispers in his ear. "I am asserting my Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination," Coonan announces.
"By which I can infer that you have something to incriminate yourself about," Kate says.
"You can infer whatever you like, Detective," Coonan's lawyer responds. "However, the law prevents a jury from doing so. A man cannot be convicted by his silence."
"I agree, Counselor," Kate replies, "but he can be convicted by the words of others, particularly if those words are documented. There is also a matter of forensic evidence. The four people I mentioned were all killed with a very specific technique, one used by forces in Afghanistan, where your client served. It only took me about a minute on his website to read his boasts about his time there. That's the sort of corroboration a jury can easily understand. Put those together with photographs of a woman who spent her time championing the underserved and getting drugs off the street, bleeding out in an alley, and it wouldn't have to deliberate long." She stares straight at the contract killer. "Think about it, Mr. Coonan. Right now, cooperation is the only chance you have for any kind of mercy – not that you deserve it – from a court of law."
"I'll need some time to confer with my client," Coonan's attorney announces.
Kate shrugs. "Take all the time you need. I can use a fresh cup of coffee. Castle, do you think there are any doughnuts left in the break room?"
Rick smiles. "I believe there are. Shall we have a look?"
Kate pushes out of her chair and starts for the door before glancing back at Coonan. "Your lawyer can tell the officer at the door when you've decided whether or not you want to spend the rest of your life making sure that your back is to the wall."
Rick prepares two coffees as Kate sits stiffly at a high table. "You don't really think Coonan can make a deal to stay out of prison, do you?" he asks.
"Not with the evidence from Bracken's journals. Bracken will probably try to blame all the murders on Coonan somehow. And his lawyer is probably smart enough to know that. But he'll also know he should advise Coonan to go for whatever he can get."
"I hope that won't turn out to be much," Rick offers.
Kate's teeth dig into her lip. "Not as much as I do."
Rick surveys what remains of the morning's doughnut delivery. "Hey Beckett, there's still one of your favorite kinds, the French ones with the chocolate drizzle, left. You want it?"
"I don't think my stomach could handle it right now, Castle."
"If you don't grab it now, it will disappear into the gaping maw of one of the bullpen's hungry hordes. You could hide it in your desk to celebrate after Coonan comes across."
"I don't want to get crumbs on my files. And we'll still have to bring in Bracken. The doughnut could be hard as a rock by then."
"If it is, I'll get you a fresh dozen."
"Is that a promise, Castle?"
"Absolutely."
LT sticks his head in the doorway of the break room. "Detective Beckett, Coonan's lawyer says he wants to talk."
Kate swallows. "Here we go!"
"What the hell!" Bracken exclaims. "The Coast Guard got Petrovich? How the hell did that happen?"
"Apparently, they were tipped off by one of our intelligence agencies that had Petrovich under surveillance as part of keeping an eye on the Russians," Bracken's top aide replies. "He had been under Speelman's protection, but the NYPD has solid evidence that he was involved with drugs and gambling. So the minute Speelman sent him off back to Russia, the Coast Guard stepped in. They're still working on the paperwork, but they intend to turn him over to the New York cops."
Pens jump as Bracken's fist comes down on his desk. "F***!"