Papa Jack Chapter 33
The warmth from Richard's comforting gesture quickly travels through Kate's veins and throughout her body. With her prominent cheekbones and intriguing eyes, Kate has had her share of boyfriends. She even let Mike fix her up a couple of times. But she'd never experienced the connection she felt from the simple touch of Castle's hand. It was strange and a little frightening. Before she can respond, her radio crackles. Pulling her hand away, she grabs the device from her waist. "Beckett."
"Detective, this is Dispatch. Captain Montgomery instructed me to tell you that your lab results are in."
"Copy that," Kate returns.
"Sounds like the strands are coming together," Richard comments.
Kate shoves her radio back in place. "Depending on what the lab got. I need to go back to the 12th. You coming?"
Richard pushes away from his desk. "Wouldn't miss it."
Forehead furrowing, Kate studies the report on William Buttridge's ring. "It says here that there were barely detectable traces of wax. The analysis showed that he used a cleaner with D-limonene…."
"That's orange oil," Richard interrupts. "It's almost a universal cleaner. It also smells terrific. In one of my stories, I had a killer try to use it to clean up after himself. But he missed a component that was soluble only in hot water or acids, not in organic solvents."
A grinning Kate winks. "Buttridge should have read your story. Cypriot sienna is one of those components. When the wax dissolved, there was enough pigment left behind for the lab to detect. We've got it, Castle: the solid link between Buttridge and WH Enterprises. Now Tina Gonzalez can go after him."
"And tie Bracken and his cronies to the robbery-homicides," Richard realizes.
Kate's smile suddenly fades. "But it doesn't nail him for my mother's murder."
"Lionel Marcus' visit to Vulcan Simmons put Simmons at the hub of the drug trade and the murder homicides, all pointing to Bracken. Just how much do you think Vulcan Simmons will spill to try to save his ass?" Richard wonders.
"I don't know," Kate says. "When we were at the repair shop, I never saw him, and I never heard anyone mention him either. He's been operating untouched for a long time. He may believe he's untouchable."
"Then you'll just have to convince him otherwise," Richard declares.
Kate presses her fingertips against her bottom lip. "We have to get to him first. Lionel Marcus showed up at the shop in Washington Heights. Simmons must have been there somewhere to meet with him."
"I almost missed seeing Marcus because he went in a side door," Richard recalls. "I didn't see any windows or anything on that end of the building. "Maybe Simmons has personal quarters there, separate from the shop."
"That's very possible," Kate acknowledges. "And if we can get Marcus to admit to doing business with Simmons there, we'll have enough for a warrant. But Gonzalez will have to come up with a good enough offer."
"You should lay the whole thing out for her," Richard suggests. "For an ADA, being instrumental in nailing a criminal organization like Bracken's would be a huge feather in her cap. She could even run for DA. Hell, if she can pull off nailing Bracken, I'd vote for her for DA, governor, and president."
"Don't get too excited, Castle," Kate urges. "We have to get what we need out of Marcus to bring in Simmons first. I'll ask Montgomery to get Tina Gonzalez in here."
"Hmm, Montgomery said something to me about coveting Woodford Reserve bourbon. It wouldn't hurt to hint that we might share a drink or two."
"From what I saw at your loft, I thought you liked scotch."
"I do enjoy a good single malt on occasion, but to nail Bracken, I'm willing to make sacrifices."
"Good to know, Castle."
Richard is on his way out the door to go to the 12th Precinct when his phone rings. He would ignore it, but the caller ID says, M. Rodgers. Even if they weren't working on a joint fundraiser, he isn't about to ignore a call from his mother. He sighs and picks up the receiver.
Tina Gonzales' eyes harden to onyx as she stares across the table at Lionel Marcus. "Mr. Marcus, I can connect you to murder-robbery conspiracies as well as drug dealing. With your record, unless you do everything possible to help yourself, you could find yourself in Ossining for the rest of your life. You've had a chance to confer with counsel. He's here to protect your interests now. I have an offer on the table. The only question now is whether you have even the minimal intelligence to take it."
"You're still going to send me to prison," Marcus protests.
Tina points to her copy of the agreement. "A medium-security prison with the opportunity for parole after ten years. It's much better than you deserve. You'll still have an opportunity for a life, which is more than can be said for your victims. People are dead, Mr. Marcus, not just from the robbery homicides but from the poison your pal Vulcan Simmons puts out on the streets. Maybe you don't care about those victims' lives, but we're also talking about yours. Be smart, Mr. Marcus. Take the deal."
Marcus looks questioningly at his lawyer.
"I need some time to confer with my client," the attorney responds, gripping the handle of his attaché case.
The edge in Tina's voice cuts through the room as she responds. "Fine. You can inform the officer at the door when you're ready to talk."
"What do you think?" Kate asks, meeting Tina in Observation.
"I think he wanted to get off with no time or get sent to some country club," Tina opines. "But given everything you've presented so far about the organization he's tied up with, it turns my stomach not to see him and everyone else involved thrown into the system's worst hole until they rot. But just getting to Simmons will save a lot of lives. So, I'm hoping Marcus will take the deal. And I did get the feeling that his lawyer's going to try hard to talk him into it. Now, can I get some of that coffee I had the last time I was here? It's better than the private stock the DA keeps in his office."
"Of course," Kate agrees, " and Castle, my shadow, brought in some great pastries. We hid some of them away from the vultures in the bullpen."
Tina's expression softens. "Hiding food from a room full of detectives. That's some trick."
Kate's mouth twitches upward. "Yeah, well, Castle's a writer. He can get very creative."
"Sounds like it," Tina says. "So where is he?"
"I don't know," Kate says. "But I know he wanted to see Marcus cave. Hopefully, he'll get the chance."
"Ms. Gonzalez," a uniformed officer calls from the doorway, "Marcus's attorney says his client is ready to talk."
"Looks like coffee and pastries will have to wait," Tina says. "And if Marcus decided this fast, he must be feeling pretty desperate."
"You think desperate is good?" Kate queries.
"I think desperate is great!" Tina declares, heading back toward the door to Interrogation.
Puffing, Richard trots to Kate's side just as Tina retakes her seat. "Did I miss much?"
Kate leans toward the glass. "I think the good part is starting now."