Papa Jack Chapter 47
Kate takes a sip from her wineglass and quickly follows it with another one.
Rick's eyebrows rise. "You saw something in the images in my office that you found disturbing?"
"Disturbing but enlightening. Coonan is obviously planning a major hit, maybe more than one. You're the one with the scenarios. Who do you think is the target?"
"You mean the one at the top of the list, Beckett?"
"To start with Castle, yeah. Who?"
"The person who is kicking up the most dust and wreaked the most destruction on Bracken's operation." Richard takes a draught of scarlet fluid from his own glass before reaching for Kate's hand. "I could be wrong, and I hope I am. But the way I figure it, like mother, like daughter. It's you, Beckett. Coonan's primary target is you."
Kate's fingers are cold against Richard's palm. "Yeah, that's what I figure too. And I can't just sit around waiting for Coonan to take his shot or whatever he's planning to do. I need to bring him out into the open."
"And how do you plan to do that?"
Shaking her head, Kate slumps in her chair. "I don't know. Anything percolating in your writer's imagination?"
"Other than abject fear and dread? Not yet. And I have a complication with thinking of something. The tour for my latest book is scheduled to start next week. I was hoping we'd have Vulcan Simmons wrapped up by then – and we do. But I didn't see this coming. For the next three weeks, I'll be traveling across the country doing TV and radio interviews and reading to crowds of my fans - or at least to potential purchasers of my work. Wait! That could work for us."
"Castle, what do you mean? How?"
"Beckett, crowds mean confusion – which a killer like Coonan would love. He could do his dirty deed and then, when people are milling around trying to figure out what to do, make good his escape. All we have to do is be waiting for him."
"Waiting for him where?"
"The Strand. That's where my kickoff is. There will be people lined up through the aisles, and if my last time is anything to go by, outside. We've had enough publicity together so that they'll not only want to see me, they'll want to see you. The Strand has multiple floors and miles of books."
"I know, I've been there," Kate interjects.
"Sorry Beckett. Of course, you have. So you know Coonan could shoot from a floor above or even from a staircase and then disappear into the stacks."
Kate presses her fingers to her lips. "Or he could plan to drag me into the stacks and stab me like he did my mother. With all the attention on you, he could leave me to bleed to death and just walk out an exit. No one would know what happened until it was too late."
"Your scenario might make more sense than mine, Beckett," Rick acknowledges. "A special ops guy wouldn't want to attract attention with a kill when he could strike silently and get the hell out. Unless he wants the attention – wants Bracken to know what he did. Either way, we need to be prepared."
"I'm going to pull Esposito in on this," Kate says. "He'll understand the way Coonan would think and the best way to get him without endangering all the Castle fans."
"Are you going to tell him how you got the pictures?"
"I can tell him they came from an anonymous informant. That's true. I don't know who your friend is. I don't want to know. Once Esposito sees what's in Coonan's duffel bag, he can run with it."
"How about Ryan? Those two are partners now."
"Ryan knows undercover work – how people hide. He can help."
"Ah, three cops and a civilian, like the three musketeers and D'Artagnan."
"Really? How are you with a sword, Castle?"
"Beckett, you'd be surprised."
On the most advanced laptop the agency could provide, Jack studies satellite photos of the coast of Venezuela. Trying to find the island harbor of Bracken's yacht is like trying to find a Cheerio in a box of Fruit Loops. It will look a little different and taste a little different, but still be the same approximate size and shape. He uses the magnifying app to enlarge the views of promising ports. It's slow going, but Jack has one advantage: he knows the name of the boat, the Eliza, and that it's painted on the stern transom in flowery script. Sooner or later, he'll spot it. Still, if he wants to have some fresh news for Richard, it should be sooner. Jack identifies several boats in the Venezuelan Coast Guard. Intelligence has it that they've recently been making a heavy push against pirates. So far, the Venezuelans have been concentrating on Margarita, which attracts a lot of rich tourist traffic. Jack strokes the dark stubble along his jawline as he begins to formulate a plan. Perhaps the Venezuelans might like a tip as to where they can locate contraband. Perhaps they might like one a lot.
Gina Cowell has no objection to Richard using a security expert from the NYPD – as long as Black Pawn doesn't have to pay for it. The day before Richard's book signing, Esposito carefully scopes out The Strand, identifying the most likely places from which Coonan could strike. Fortunately, he's able to narrow it down to three: two if Coonan's going to use a rifle and another if he plans to use a knife.
Coonan will know that Detective Beckett will be present. It's been in The Ledger and on social media sites. If she and Castle are right about Coonan planning to come after her, he would have the perfect set-up – the almost perfect set-up. Coonan will have no idea that Esposito, as well as Ryan will be on the job. Roy Montgomery also allocated uniformed officers to act as security, but they will be unlikely to spot Coonan. With his special ops training, he could easily evade their general precautions. It will be special ops skills versus special ops skills, and unlike Coonan, Esposito hasn't allowed himself to lapse into anything but perfect physical and mental shape. If Coonan shows up, he'll be leaving in cuffs. Esposito would be fine with a traitor to his country like Coonan leaving in a body bag, but Beckett wants to be able to grill the asshole. Esposito will make sure she has the chance.
A line formed early at The Strand, with Castle fans showing up at six am. Coonan has no wish to join what he sees as a bunch of idiots. He picks the lock on a side door and slips inside. A newly installed motion detector records his presence but only sends out a silent alert. It's enough. Esposito knows the hitman is inside the building and will track his movements. Beckett isn't due to arrive for three hours yet. By then, Coonan's plan should be crystal clear. Too bad for him that he'll never get the chance to carry it out.
"Are you ready for this, Castle?" Kate asks as they leave the precinct for The Strand.
"Beckett, I've probably done a hundred readings and book signings. What's to be ready for?"
Kate rolls her eyes. "You know what I mean. The whole Coonan thing."
"As ready as I can be to walk into the sights of a stone-cold killer. But you're the one who needs to be ready. Are you?"
Kate draws herself up to her full high-heeled height. "I don't think I've ever been more ready – for anything."