The Guild, Secretive U.S. Intel Operatives
Chapter 6 - Singapore
Beckett and Kwan attend the Carter News Media affair in Singapore while the remainder of their teams continued the surveillance on Lei Beng's newly discovered home base. The two had been helo'd out via Chinese aircraft from the search area in the South China Sea to a base just outside Singapore. From there they take ground transportation to the affair. They are billeted in one of the hotels that catered to the international press.
Jonathan Carter is himself a handsome man, in his late forties, and had acquired his wealth and prestige in a meteoric fashion. Like Castle, he had the reputation of being a high profile ladies man, having dated many socialites and celebrities from his group of 'fans'. Kate however knew that much of Castle's public persona was done to enhance his cover identity.
The Castle she had observed as her team leader was altogether different. Castle's real self is that of a man who is efficient and can make hard decisions, but still kept close to his people. He made it his duty to learn their strengths and weaknesses and provided them the means to overcome their short falls. He is an inspirational leader.
Kate attends a Q at the Carter event. Col. Kwan is there also in her cover persona of Johanna Tan, Reporter for the Chinese National Newspaper.
Kate is acknowledged for a question to Carter.
"Mr. Carter, your exclusive contract to broadcast in Mainland China is expiring in a year, may we expect that to be renewed?", she questions when recognized for an inquiry.
"May I asked who is posing the question?"
"Oh, excuse me for my faux pas, Katherine Beckett, New York Review for the U.S. press."
"I have not seen you in past events like these, is this your first?", Carter asks, giving Kate an appreciative look taking in her attractive appearance. His look a little too aggressive. Kate notices it and gets a creepy reaction, then answers the question.
"Yes this is my first Carter News Media gathering".
"Well then, Ms. Beckett, to answer your question, we are pursuing negotiations with the CCP for a renewal, but if you want more details for the American public, see Mr. Grant Pierce my executive assistant for a one on one interview."
Grant Pierce acknowledges himself by raising his hand.
"Thank you Mr. Carter. I will take you up on that."
She was making a move to get to know Carter more as a person, trying to get in his mind, so she might gauge how he reacts to situations. Aware of Carter's dubious reputation with women, Kate realizes she is putting herself out there. So her natural sense of self preservation comes out.
Kwan is listening in on this interaction and when Beckett looks her way, Kwan gives a subtle nod, conveying to Kate she had made a good move. Kwan knows that Kate is also sizing up Carter and knows Kate's ability to do so. As an analyst, Kate had often provided a psych profile on a valuable target.
So a chance for an up close and personal kind of evaluation of Carter was good intel. Knowing Carter's reputation with women, Kate needed a plan to go abou getting the intel without herself being compromised or exploited by Carter. There had been stories of Carter seducing young attractive female reporters on the guise of a news interview. Kate was aware of this. If it came to it, Kate wondered how she would react if Carter came on to her.
The Interview
Kate arranged for an interview later that evening. When she was led to a private room for the Carter one on one, to her surprise, she was directed to a dining table all set for the evening meal. Fortunately Kate had not had dinner, thinking she would do so after the interview which had been set at 7 PM.
As she is seated at the dining table, Jonathan Carter appears.
"Ms. Beckett, I hope you don't mind, but since this interview was scheduled around what normally is dinner time for most people, I decided to make it a pleasant first interview for you with a meal. So I took the liberty of ordering us dinner as this was the only time slot available for you on my schedule."
"No…no, not at all, it comes as a pleasant surprise, Mr. Carter, and please call me Kate." But Kate's defenses are up realizing how the situation had been set to provide an atmosphere similar to a date situation. The situation ripe for a seduction, and Kate is on to it.
"Well, in that case, Kate, address me as Jon."
"Thank you, Jon!"
"Not at all, an attractive woman such as yourself should be treated right!"
Kate's instincts kick in realizing that Jonathan Carter Is confirming to her his known playboy reputation. This was the situation Kate dreaded and one she had not been in before. She knew where it could lead, and if it happened what would she do? Fight or flight? She decided on flight.
The meal is set before them by the serving staff. It was fillet mignon, wrapped with bacon, grilled mixed vegetables, and garlic mashed potatoes with a rich gravy sauce. They had started with the wine and caviar appetizer. A nice port wine was served, and Kate saw the brand of a $600/bottle wine. One she had sampled once before at the get together dinner for the wedding party of a wealthy relative when she had been a bride's maid.
"So tell me Kate, have you done your homework? What do you know of Carter Media?"
"Like all good journalists, Jon, I did my research", her tone a bit cautious, "A $350 billion media company, home based in London, with offices around the world. Exclusive broadcasting rights in parts of South America, most of Europe, parts of Russia, and now mainland China. Number 4 cable media outlet in the U.S. and seeking to climb to no.1. Known for having launched it's own satellites increasing it's global reach, with more control over these delivery platforms than most of its competitors."
"Bravo, Kate. You done your homework. By the way, how are you finding the meal so far and more importantly, your present dining company?"
"Excellent", she mimics interest, but her insides are tense with dread as to where Carter was going.
They finished the meal doing small talk as they ate. Kate found Carter to be quite the charming and confident man of his reputation. Another bit of intel she had confirmed from a up close and personal viewpoint. She could see how he managed to bed many of his 'fans'. His approach was smooth but mildly aggressive. When Carter spoke to her he did so with a look that seemed to see right thru her. It is a predatory look. He was sizing her up, probably thinking how he could seduce her. Kate was getting a tingly feeling up her spine. She sensed she was in his grasp as he was about to pounce. Still, Kate showed a neutral look not betraying her angst on the current situation.
When dinner was done they retreated to a small sitting room for the interview, again a bottle of expensive wine and stemware there for the enjoyment. He sat in a single chair, at first. She on a small two person sofa, with a circular table between them upon which rest the wine. After a while, Carter got up from his single chair and joined her on the sofa. Kate's senses comes up. She goes into a defense posture. Will it be flight? But she knows it would not be one of submission.
"Kate, this has been a great interview and I hoped you enjoyed it. An attractive woman such as yourself deserves special, and you are a rare example of an independent and intelligent woman."
"You know that after just one dinner and talk with me?"
"It is not difficult to know what a woman like you wants", there it is, that disarming charm that could easily seduce a woman.
'Wow straight to the point', Kate thinks, but is this situation what Kate wants?
He enters her personal space, intent on giving her a kiss. She is ready to push him away and tell him that this behavior is uncalled for and unwanted. However, it is then when his assistant enters the sitting room. Grant Pierce sees what is going on so gives a little subtle 'ahem!' to announce his presence. Kate once again is in luck.
"Umm…Mr. Carter, please excuse the interruption, there is an expedient satellite call for you."
His Executive Assistant is standing there, sat phone in hand.
They had been disrupted before Carter could begin his move on Kate, a fortunate event for her. It is unexpected luck, but she would take it. Her prepared reaction to his advances could have ruined it for her. She had been prepared to object of his smooth aggression, and then excuse herself from his presence, but it had not been necessary. Kate will be better prepared if there is a next time.
"Excuse me Kate, let me take this", he heads to the corner of the sitting room.
Kate is wearing her sound enhancing ear rings that she controls from her cell phone. So she turns up the sensitivity of it pretending she is checking her cell. She overhears this portion of Jon's sat call.
"So they discovered our base! No, do nothing for now. I will head out immediately."
Turning to Kate as he finished the sat call, he tells her, "Kate, I am so sorry. I hope you don't mind. A matter has come up that needs my immediate attention. I will have to cut short this most enjoyable of interviews."
"Not at all Jon, you are a busy man. I am lucky to even have had this private interview with you, hopefully we can continue this at some other later time", she replies, letting out a breath she had not noticed that she had been holding.
Carter gives her a look that tells Kate he will try for another chance at her and then he leaves quickly. Fate had stepped in to help Kate. Had it continued, Kate may have found herself in a precarious situation. After the interview, Kate gets with Kwan for a debrief.
"So they know we found Lei Beng's base. This confirms Carter's involvement here. I will radio our teams and tell them to pull out. Fortunately the surveillance monitors are in place to record activity even without our presence", Kwan tells Beckett.
So the interview with Carter was a significant event for their mission. Kate had confirmed the psych profile on Carter, but also learned they knew about Lei Beng's base being discovered. That fact totally made a Kate's choice to do the interview, despite the risk to herself. The search teams cease their efforts and depart the area.
When Carter gets to the underwater base, the two teams are gone.
After the interview, Kate stays in Singapore as the next Book Tour Destination was to start the following day. So Kate had a day to herself awaiting the arrival of her team.
When the team arrived they had a joint briefing with Kwan's group.
"So he came on to you?", Castle exclaims and his voice sounded irritated, "we did not prepare you well for meeting up with Carter. I failed you there, Kate."
He had used her first name, and everyone caught that. He was using a familiar more personal name for her. It showed his concern as to just how much Castle wanted to protect her as a member of his team.
"I knew of his rep, Castle, but knowing now that they detected our surveillance of Beng's base made it worth the risk I took."
"I wish you had just consulted us first so we could have set up something. Turner's been in a similar situation before and could have helped you to handle it better."
"There was no time to do that and LtCol Kwan knew of the interview so you would know of my location if it came to it. Fortunately luck was on my side and sometimes it is better to be lucky than prepared."
Sophia relates to Kate's situation. She too had not handled it well her first time in such a predicament. Turner had used intimidation and the threat of a harassment charge to back off her predator. But she had seen that adversary could be intimidated and went with it. Turner wondered if Beckett had been schooled by her if she could have taught that instinct, that intuition, on how to handle such a scenario.
"Still, we should have better prepared you."
"Water over the bridge Castle, but Carter is definitely a ladies' man as validated Freon Kate's encounter with him. A character flaw we can exploit. Opportunity now arise, can we honey trap this man? And from Beckett's encounter, he is a prime candidate", Ryan remarks.
"How far do we go with this guy?", Espo adds.
"Let me make it easier, here is a psych evaluation just now obtained on Carter as done by a Russian Red Sparrow operative. I share this with the group, but certainly Kate's interview gives credibility to much of this evaluation", volunteers Kwan.
"Red Sparrow agent?! I thought the Russians no longer used them?", Castle is surprised. Red sparrows were known to seduce their targets to gain what was needed on a mission.
"Very seldom now, but Carter apparently was a person of interest with the Russian government when he entered their Media Market. This analysis resulted in keeping Carter's Media Presence in Russia limited only to the outlying former satellite states of Mother Russia. Read thru it. The report is enlightening as to Carter the man and predator."
"Thank you LtCol. Kwan"
"Not at all."
When the briefing is done, Castle has a private discussion with Beckett.
"You all right Beckett? You put yourself in jeopardy with that interview."
"I'm coping."
"Get with Turner, she'll give you some tips on how to conduct yourself in the future should the need arise."
"Let's hope that doesn't happen, but I will get with her on the matter."
"Kate…..," again using her familiar name.
"No Rick, not your fault. I will learn from this, so we are good."
Both end the brief discussion, each exit the talk knowing how the other felt about this whole incident. For Kate, she was sensing Castle was more interested her than he showed.
Surprisingly, despite her intent not to get too close with Castle, she found herself getting drawn more to the man. Castle on the other hand was self evaluating his reaction to Kate being in such a situation. He found that he had been more emotional about it than he should have been. What did that mean about his growing interest in Beckett? Was his emotional response to this event more personal than professional? He was now pondering this very question to himself.