Unexpected Appearance Chapter 30

With her nude-toned, form-enhancing bathing suit, Kate rises from the pool like a Venus – minus the shell. As Rick chokes on his umbrella drink, she immediately draws Russell Ganz's lustful attention. After wrapping a filmy cover-up that covers almost nothing around her hips, she takes a seat on a chaise longue, locking eyes with Ganz. He strolls over as she continues to meet his gaze. "I appreciate a woman who knows how to make an entrance. Staying at the hotel?"

"No, I'm meeting someone," Kate responds.

"Business or pleasure?" Ganz inquires.

Kate allows a slight smile to come to her lips. "Hopefully, a bit of both, Mr. Ganz. I'm Lola Black." Kate gestures to the empty chaise next to her. "Please sit."

Ganz accepts the proffered seat. "What can I do for you, Ms. Black?"

Partly to distract himself and partly out of curiosity, Rick checks out Ganz's cabana. He spots Ganz's cell phone lying on a small table.

Kate begins the story she rehearsed in her head on the way to the East Way Hotel. "I represent a small but powerful group of Columbian interests, and they understand you're in possession of some unique merchandise."

"I'm afraid you've got me confused with someone else," Ganz claims.

"Oh, I don't think so," Kate counters. "That business in New York with that ex-cop. It was a very effective product demonstration."

Ganz studies Kate's face. "Hmm."

"My offer is serious," Kate insists, "and my clients are not accustomed to hearing the word 'no.'"

Kate spies Rick leaving Ganz's cabana and leans over Ganz's chair to block his view.

"I'm sorry, bidding on that particular item closed 20 minutes ago," Ganz announces.

Kate grabs his arm to keep him from spotting Rick. "Two million. I can have it here within an hour."

"Sorry, Lola, or whatever your name is. But I'm impressed, actually," Ganz admits. "For a moment, you had me guessing."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kate demands.

"It means you're a cop. You're the hottest thing I've seen come out of Major Crimes in some time. But you're a little too eager. A little green. But I've enjoyed meeting you."

Ganz returns to his cabana.

Screened by a carefully tended line of shrubbery, Rick meets up with Kate. "What happened?" She pokes a furious finger into his chest. "Ow! What did I do to deserve that?"

"I was trying to keep him from seeing you come out of his cabana and I pushed too hard. He made me, Castle! He called me green!"

"He obviously has a problem with his color perception. But I found his cell phone in the cabana."

"You didn't grab it, did you? He'd know for sure someone was on to him."

"No, I didn't grab it. I took a picture of his call list. Are you going to poke me again?"

"No poke." Kate rises on her bare toes to deliver a quick kiss on Rick's tropically flavored lips.

"A definite improvement, although it does shift the focus of the pain somewhat."

"Sorry, Castle. Where's the picture?"

He hands her his phone. "OK, we need to run down these numbers," she says regarding the photo. "One of them may trace to Ganz's buyer."

"But you don't have access to the NYPD's handy dandy reverse lookup. So now, can we call Seegar?"

Montgomery strides across the bullpen to Ryan and Esposito's desks. "Gentlemen, where are we on Violet Young?"

"I just got off the phone with her mother," Esposito reports. "She remembers Violet having a roommate who lives near Canal Street."

"Yeah, and we're gonna head over there and see if Violet reached out to her," Ryan adds.

"Well, let me know," Montgomery instructs. And hey, has either of you heard from Beckett?"

"No, Sir," Esposito claims.

"Yeah, me neither," Ryan says.

Montgomery shakes his head. I can't figure out which of you is the worst liar. Go find Violet. Help Beckett put this thing to bed, all right?"

Rick grins as he opens the suite door. "Hey, Detective See…!"

Seegar raises a hand, cutting him off. "You run wild in my city then you call me for a favor? You've got a lot of nerve, Detective Beckett."

"We're just trying to get a vicious criminal off your streets," Kate retorts.

"If anything, we're the ones doing the favor," Rick adds.

"Look, we're all on the same team now," Kate says. "Why don't we just get this done?"

"As long as we get it done my way," Seegar insists.

"Fine, Kate agrees. "Did you get anything off the call list I sent you?"

"Ganz's phone is a burner and so are most of the numbers he called."

"Which means you didn't get the buyer's ID," Kate asserts grimly.

"We did manage to trace one of the numbers he called to New York City," Seegar offers.

"That could be Mannis, his partner in New York," Rick says. "I bet Ganz was calling to ask why the hell Violet Young is still alive."

"Did you get a location on the call?" Kate asks.

"Just that it was in Manhattan," Seegar admits.

Rick's eyebrows dance. "We don't need to know exactly where Mannis is to poke him a little."

"Right," Kate agrees. "Let's call him and rile him up a bit."

Seegar stares at the pair in confusion. "What are you two talking about?"

"I'll tell Mannis I met Ganz," Kate replies.

"That part is even true," Rick notes.

"Then I tell him Ganz was going to cut him out of the deal," Kate goes on, "that Ganz said he wasn't pulling his weight."

"Mannis gets pissed," Rick continues. "He calls Ganz. Maybe one of them lets something slip about the location of the exchange."

"Are you two always like this?" Seegar inquires.

"You mean our mind meld thing?" Castle asks.

"No, like you're doing dialogue for a cop show. But your little maneuver could work. I'll try and get a warrant."

"I wonder how long it will take him to schmooze a judge?" Rick muses after Seegar leaves the suite.

"I don't know," Kate admits. "It could depend on how much the judge likes him."

"Then we could be in trouble. But while we're waiting, there's something I want you to think about."

"Castle, not about Josh."

"No. I know you've made up your mind about how you want to handle that, and I respect you for not taking the easy way out. I want to talk about Royce."

"He's dead, Castle. What's to talk about?"

"He did his job, Kate. By taking Violet to New York, he protected her. New York wasn't just his home turf. It was hers. You know from the boys that she has friends there, connections, places she could run to hide. She's still alive. Mike screwed up before, but he died as one of the good guys. You should remember him that way."

"You're right, Castle. I should. I will. Thanks."

"All part of our friendly service. Speaking of which, we should call room service. I'm starved."

"You think they could come up with a strawberry shake?"

"It may not be up to Remy's standards, but to please a VIP guest, I'm sure they'll do their best. You want a burger and fries to go with it? Although here, they could just as easily send up a filet mignon."

"A burger would be great, but with double fries."

"Kate Beckett, you are a woman after my own heart."

"Just tell them not to forget the ketchup."

"Absolutely."