Finding the Fit Chapter 46
In the dark and more than a little buggy woods, Rick can't help thinking about his training hikes with Agent Turner. The terrain was a little different, meant to simulate various environments he might encounter on side trips from his "book tours." Yet, the purpose was much the same, so that any mission in which he participates wouldn't end badly. In this case, badly could be a crashed glider and botching Beckett's best chance at connecting her mother's murder to William Bracken. Rick isn't about to let either of those disasters happen if he can possibly help it.
He can't tell if Beckett is comfortable. She is a city girl, but she's mentioned spending time at her father's cabin, so she should have some familiarity with the outdoors. Randy is as he expected, concentrating on ensuring a successful flight and especially a safe landing. When they locate a hill that will work for takeoff and a space where she can safely land, she'll use GPS to double and triple-check the coordinates. If anyone can actually pull off the plan, it's Miranda Beller.
Miranda points up and to her left. "The hill I should take off from is that way." Even with his tech flashlight to cut through the gloom, Rick still has to take her word for it. Beckett follows in the direction Randy leads, and Rick follows Beckett. Fortunately, the slope of the hill is fairly gentle, and a rough path leads upwards. The faintest light of dawn is beginning to appear on the eastern horizon as they reach the top. Randy consults an altimeter and uses her own tech flashlight to examine the summit. "This should work, provided it's not too far from my landing zone." She immediately starts down the path again.
As the tallest of the group, Rick has the highest center of gravity and the toughest job staying upright during their descent, but he makes it – barely – without falling on his ass. Randy is already trotting away with Beckett close behind. "Rick, we need to hurry if we're going to make that clearing before the sun is up," she yells over her shoulder. He urges his longer legs to close the space between him and the women.
The break in the trees that Randy scoped out to land is almost two miles away. The light is still dim, but streaks of lavender are just beginning to appear in the sky when the three reach their goal. Randy jogs along the perimeter before walking back and forth across the area. "I can make this work."
"Outstanding!" Rick exclaims.
"Good," Kate says. "Now, let's get out of here before someone spots us."
Without hesitation, Randy points. "The road where you left your vehicle is this way."
The sun is fully in the sky by the time Kate heads her unit back toward the city. "Anyone in the mood for breakfast?" Rick inquires. "I saw a Sally Sunshine not far down the road. The griddle should just be warmed up and ready to go to feed the morning's road warriors."
"I could do with some eggs and hashbrowns around now," Randy considers.
"I've never sampled the menu of this particular franchise, but the sunshine special is usually excellent," Rick offers.
"I'll probably be sorry I asked, but what's the sunshine special?" Kate queries.
"Cinnamon French toast, two eggs, your choice of style, and your choice of bacon or sausage, plus juice and coffee or tea," Rick replies gleefully.
Kate rolls her eyes. "Good thing we got in a hike."
"So, when is our little outing supposed to be a go?" Randy asks, finishing the last of her potatoes.
"We can't afford to wait too long," Kate responds. "I should be able to get the team together in 48 hours."
"Fine," Randy agrees. "Rick's got my number. I'll be waiting for your call."
Rick watches Randy drive off in her own car after being dropped off by Kate. "So exactly who are you going to trust to be in on this?" he asks, as Kate starts her vehicle.
"Esposito. I think he already has an idea of what's up. He worked with ESU. He can pick the guys he trusts from there. And where Esposito goes, Ryan goes. The State Troopers are going to be more of a question. I've worked with some of their officers before, and it went well. I think I can trust them again. But I want the fewest number of people possible to know exactly where we're going. We can't have it getting to Speelman. No one except for you, me, Miranda Beller and Esposito are going to know about the glider and the smoke bombs until the last possible minute. And once we get our chance to search the mansion, I don't want anyone involved except for you, me, Esposito and Ryan. If we do find a connection to Bracken, I'm not taking any chances of it getting back to him until we're ready to bring charges."
"That's going to be one hell of a secret, Beckett."
"Exactly why the fewest people that are in on it, the better."
"I'm with you there."
"I'm going to change out of my hiking gear before I go to the precinct. Want me to drop you at your loft?"
"Indeed. No point in giving sartorial hints. I'll show up sporting my usual style of togs."
"Yeah. Meet me in the conference room. I'll pull Ryan and Esposito in too. We have a lot of work to do and contacts to make. I don't want the whole bullpen listening in."
"Definitely copy that. I think things are finally starting to come together to get that bastard, Beckett."
"I hope you're right, Castle."
"I've got the best guys I know from ESU onboard," Esposito announces.
"Great, " Kate says. "The state troopers will be backing us up, but they think it's just a raid on a very well-protected drug and pleasure palace. We're going to have to get our timing down to the minute to pull this off."
"Randy just sent me some calculations about how long after launch the glider will get there," Castle says, "but she's basing them on predicted conditions, which can never be 100% accurate. She'll have to adjust them at the very last minute."
"Which means that we'll also have to adjust our go at the last minute," Kate realizes.
"Hey, Beckett, that's happened to me with operations all the time, in and out of the military," Esposito declares. "As a sniper I always had to wait for my target to be in position and the wind speed and direction to be right. But once we're go, it has to come off like clockwork – and with the guys I know, it will."
Kate takes a swig from a water bottle. "It better, Espo."
"Hey, it sounds like we've done everything we can do for now, anyway," Castle says. "How about a little distraction? Have you guys ever been to the Old Haunt?"
"That old bar down by the East River?" Ryan asks. "I heard that place was going under, too much competition from TJ McChucklenuts. The corporation was going to buy the owner out."
"TJ McChucklenuts couldn't touch the ambiance or the history of the place," Castle insists. "It dates back to prohibition. Until repeal, it was a speakeasy. After that, it went through a series of gangster owners. But when I got out of college, it was a writer's hangout. I even had my own booth. Still, the atmosphere was mostly intact. A guy played on a slightly out-of-tune upright piano. Peanut shells were on the floor, and the beer on tap went into heavy glass mugs. It's under new ownership now – and not TJ McChucklenuts. The piano's been tuned and Juilliard students are picking up some extra cash playing it. The selection of spirits is more extensive, and there's a championship-level dart board." He looks at Ryan and Esposito. "You guys play, don't you?"
"Damn right," Esposito says. "Still got the eye."
"I beat you last time," Ryan reminds him.
"I was coming down with the flu," Esposito protests.
"Well, if you guys want a rematch, the drinks are on me," Castle says. "Beckett, you want to come watch the competition?"
Kate gazes at the stack of paper and photos on the table. For the moment, she can't think of anything left to do. "OK. Yeah, I'm in."