The Guild, Secretive U.S. Intel Operatives
Chapter 13 - Surveillance
They had put a 24/7 stakeout on Vaughan's yacht. Castle and Kwan had managed to get berths at the marina used by Vaughan's yacht to observe people coming and going his way. Castle's boat was down berth from the yacht and Kwan's was up berth. They had the yacht sandwiched such that they could surveil it continually. Castle's crew took the daylight hours and Kwan's the night hours, and then they switched hours every other day. During the day stakeout, Espo would use the bow area of their boat which had a sunbathing pad and do his watch from there. The others followed his lead. They did two hour shifts. When the night watch fell upon them, they used infrared spy gear to observe the arrivals and departures from Vaughan's yacht.
Stakeouts could be very boring, but they all toughed it out. Each had their own way of making time pass by quicker. Espo would listen to music from his iPhone, Kate would read on her cell the latest Castle novel at the same time keeping an eye on Vaughan's yacht, Ryan would text his wife Jenny, Castle would watch Star Wars video's he had loaded on his iPad while also keeping a watchful eye on the yacht. A week and a half passed and nothing popped. Then on daylight hours surveillance, Ryan caught a break. Grant Pierce had boarded the yacht just about noon time, then minutes later came Carter along with Beng.
Ryan quickly alerted his other team mates and Espo and Kate set up the listening equipment to eavesdrop in on any discussion from the yacht. They made sure what was heard was also downloaded to the boat's laptop.
Listening in:
"JJ, been a while, how's our latest project progressing?"
"Not so well Eric, we are being investigated."
"CIA, FBI, Interpol, who pray tell is doing this?"
"Haven't found out yet. We interrogated a possible operative on it, but she would not give it up."
"Yeah, but I bet she gave up something else!"
Loud sinister laughs from the group.
"Let's just say Beng and I did a pretty rough interrogation."
"Beng, you dirty Asian dog…you…!"
"I am man, like any other man. So when opportunity arises I partake." (Beng)
"Good word 'partake', your English is improving, Beng."
"Is that not a good word to use?"
"You should be more succinct?"
"What is this word 'succinct'?"
"Means you need to be a bit more descriptive." (Carter)
"Oh, yes, understand, of course, so I got sticky with her."
"Sticky?" (Vaughan)
"He is translating direct from Chinese. It means he knocked boots with her, Eric?"
"You Americans and your slang, so Beng shagged her! As we Brits would say."
"That he did and throughly enjoyed."
"Of course he did, where'd you dispose of the …umh, ... item?
"Alley, too bad though, it was a pretty hot item." (Carter)
"You lecherous dog, you did not even have the courtesy to invite me in on the festivities."
"Eric, you were on your yacht at the time and unavailable, but I've heard you were doing your own action with that Beckett lady."
"Yeah but nothing came of it. She let me know she does not 'play house'(Vaughan gesturing with finger quotation marks} with men she chooses to interview."
"You let her get away! You're gonna lose your 'man-card' for that one. Anyway, not to rain on your parade, but I interviewed with her before you. If I had not gotten called away, I would have made a move on her."
"Really! You let that one also get away, shame. So who loses his 'man-card' now?"
"You know me Eric, one step back, two forward. Anyway I call rights on first discovery."
"Are we back at Cambridge? You have not claimed that right since we were at Uni."
"Well, I evoke it now."
"So, as you Americans are apt to say, you have your eyes on her."
"I want more than my eyes on her."
More lewd laughs from the group.
"So JJ, I trust you got rid of said item in a manner that cannot be connected to us?"
"Eric, you cut me deep, have I ever failed to clean things up in such a manner so it did not lead directly to us."
"I apologize JJ, you have never disappointed me. So what is next on the agenda?"
"We are looking into whether this Beckett gal is connected to whoever is interested in us."
"So shall we bring in Ms. Beckett for interrogation?" (Beng)
"You will do me the pleasure of letting me in on it, this time around JJ."
At this point, Ryan speaks up.
"They just admitted to Turner's murder so do we have enough to take him to court?"
"It needs to be air tight, Ryan. We need more corroboration", Castle replies.
"We got him on audio Castle, is that not enough?"
"A good lawyer could argue this conversation was just of men exaggerating about their sexual exploits. That there is more bravado spoken in this conversation than actual fact. There is an admission on dumping of an item, euphemism, but there is no explicit admission to the murder of Turner. They used euphemisms and one could make a legal argument that they alluded to seduction but not to murder… they never mention murder outright….or anything to that effect. As such, this talk becomes somewhat unclear…open to interpretation… and thus creates doubt as to what is being said. Makes for a good premise for a valid legal defense casting doubt. Remember, proof above and beyond a doubt for murder. Any doubt on this homicide charge risks losing in court. Consider too that these men have the means to hire the best lawyers and they could drag out court proceedings for years. No, we need something air tight for murder. Getting them for terrorism might even be easier. But why go for one charge of murder, let's get them for both murder and terrorism!"
"So what now Lead Agent Castle?", asks Kwan.
"As much as I had concerns about it, seems like our original Honey Trap ploy might be the way ahead. It could gain for us more solid evidence and corroboration."
A News Conference
An opportunity comes some days later. Carter Media announces a news conference on Vaughan's behalf for his yacht product line….to promote it. Kate's interview with him will be used at the news conference, as a video of the interview had also been recorded. Kate gives her approval to use the interview and so Kate gets a special invitation to the event. Johanna Tan, Kwan's alias, gets a similar invite as the CCP news rep. The conference is to show-case the hybrid yacht as a forward looking line that promotes environmentally friendly yachting. Espo and Ryan are going as part of Beckett's news crew. Kwan likewise had two of her CCP team posing as her news crew.
The precautions Beckett asked for are put in place, both women being so prepared. Kate decides that although she now has her hidden embedded tracker, she will also use the necklace Castle gave her. This because it accented her neckline and drew attention to the low cut dress she would wear that showed some cleavage, both women would dress seductively for Carter.
They again luck out. Venue for the Carter Media News Event was the very hotel that Beckett and Kwan were staying at while posing in their cover roles. A specially equipped van was to be parked at the hotel. It would serve as command center for the op. As the event commences, from the van, Castle does a comm check of the Guild Team.
"Beckett, acknowledge."
"Affirmative."
"Your tracker is functioning clearly."
"LtCol Kwan, acknowledge."
"Affirmative,"
"Your tracker is operative."
Castle then releases a order on their COMM link, "Execute Honey Trap."
The team players respond with an 'affirmative' from all.
Grant Pierce was serving as moderator for the event that day and giving the introduction:
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to this News Conference to feature Eric Vaughan's latest product. A first of it's kind, an electric hybrid yacht, that runs on both diesel and electricity thus reducing the carbon footprint for yachting enthusiasts around the world. Mr. Vaughan is available for Q and we have an on-screen interview by Ms. Katherine Beckett of the NY Review that you can watch and download to your cell phones. Ms. Beckett is also present and available to talk about the interview. The first ten production yachts are due to come out of the shipyards in early spring to kick off the boating season. So please enjoy this unveiling of the hybrid yacht line."
Guided tours of Vaughan's yacht were being given as the hotel also operated the Marina at which the yacht was moored and was just a small walk from the venue. The event was well attended and a large audience of press people and interested parties were there. Kate was busy taking questions from people who viewed her interview playing on monitors in repeat mode. A lot of the people asking the questions were females who could have been Vaughan Groupies as all were primarily asking questions about him. Questions like, how did it feel interviewing Vaughan, is he as charming in person as on the interview tape, and similar such inquiries.
Then as the people questioning Kate diminished, who should come up to her but none other than Jonathan Carter himself.
"Kate, we met again. I am so sorry our last meeting got cut short, but please allow me to make up for it."
"Mr. Carter, what a surprise."
"Come on Kate, we had dinner together and I thought we became friends. Why so formal?"
"Well, this is a pleasant surprise Jon."
"Now that is better."
Kate could not help but think about how smooth and confident Carter is as she recalled how that dinner with him had ended. Still, Kate is aware of his predatory nature with the females so her defenses come up, but, agent that she is, Kate role plays.
"Yes it is a shame we could not continue that dinner a little longer." (Of course this is a feign as Kate had dreaded the outcome if that dinner had gone on longer).
"So let me make up for it. There is an 'after event' party on the yacht. We are to go for a brief ride around the harbor to get a feel for the boat. I want to invite you as my date for the harbor excursion, please accept."
Carter had stunned her that last time, but now she is more prepared. His invite gives her a opportunity to honey trap. Over her hidden ear piece she hears Castle.
"Kwan got a similar invite from Vaughan, the two of you are in on the hunt, so accept the invite as seductively as you can."
"I accept your gracious invite and look forward to finishing what we started last time", she replies to Carter as coyly and suggestively as she could.
"Thank you Kate."
Carter offers his arm which Kate takes and he leads her to Vaughan's yacht.
The Habor Tour
The harbor excursion tour turns out to be a select and limited crowd. Vaughan is graciously allowing people at the helm to navigate the craft while he gives instructions. Johanna Tan is now at the helm with Vaughan standing behind her at the wheel, hands around her and guiding her arms, as he demonstrates how to steer the boat. Tan née Kwan is faking that she has not steered a yacht ever before despite Beckett knowing that Kwan is a skilled helmsman. Kate marvels at how Kwan is so good at her cover role, convincing people she is a neophyte when it comes to boat handling.
She had been accompanied by Carter, but other men in the excursion crowd came up to her and started a conversation. Kate is wearing an outfit that attracted attention and men were coming on to her. Carter seeing this left her alone for a while on the excuse he was going to get them a drink, but he was scoping out other possible targets of opportunity. Kate is flirting with the men who had come on to her. This to show Carter he had competition for her company and secondly to get a rise from him. Nothing like making a man jealous to heighten his attraction and make him want her even more. All of this so she could set the path for their Honey Trap scheme and goad Carter to try and monopolize her company and get her alone with him.
As this was happening, Tan née Kwan, was done with her navigating lesson from Vaughan and was working the small select crowd. Kwan was also dressed seductively and like Kate had drawn a crowd of men trying to make time with her. Kwan flirted with these men as she noticed Carter at the yacht's bar getting a drink. She wanted to gain his attention, all part of working their current ploy. Carter does notice Kwan and immediately come on to her, despite having left Kate on her own.
"Ms. Tan, is it? You where at the Castle initial book opening in Hong Kong, a pleasure to see you again!"
"Mr. Carter, I bet you say that to all the attractive journalists you meet?"
"Quite the opposite, I should say. I have only now said it to you."
"But not in the past to other women, you would have me to assume?" Kwan is playing hard to get and knows that a little resistance to a come-on only serves to encourage men like Carter. Her approach clearly showed she knew Carter's psyche profile and was using it to gain advantage and control of the situation.
Carter bites on her bait and continues to engage Kwan.
In the meantime, Kate had managed to escape her admiring group of come-on's and was doing a solo tour of the yacht. She sees a small two man deck crew and starts a talk with them, asking questions about the yacht and about Vaughan. She is doing this on the guise that she is a reporter writing a news piece on Vaughan. This deck crew is anxious to help her, impressed with her attention to them. Kate learns of Vaughan's special 'cabin', jokingly called the 'play room' by the crew. It is a room that Eric Vaughan has used to 'entertain' attractive female guest to the yacht.
Kate plays her intuition. A man like Vaughan surely collected 'trophies' of his past conquests which might incriminate him. She finds out the location of this 'playroom' and decides to check it out. She asks over the comm link if they caught the discussion with the deck crew and then tells the team that she is checking it out for possible leads that might be used for their mission to take down Carter.
"Be careful Kate, don't get caught", she hears Castle tell her in her hidden ear piece.
"I'll keep Carter and Vaughan distracted while you check it out Kate", she hears Kwan tell her.
Beckett immediately and deliberately heads to the location of this 'playroom'.