Papa Jack Chapter 85
When Fisk disembarks from a small boat in a private inlet on the New Jersey Coast, no immigration and customs agents are around to vette his arrival. At this spot, there never are. He's spent most of his time since he killed Persky on a very friendly island in the Caribbean and had very little trouble arranging transportation back to the States. It's time to meet up with Anatoly and execute the plan so long in the works. More bombs than they need are ready to go at Gerkov's warehouse. Anatoly's careful mapping of Loftview's ventilation system will greatly expedite their placement. Nekras will make sure no one is around while they accomplish their task. On Saturday night, the whole country and much of the world will witness the helplessness of American intelligence to prevent Anatoly's revenge. Just as with the destruction of the World Trade Center, Anatoly's man-made disaster will play out countless times on American media, reminding the Americans just how incompetent their agencies are. While the whole world is watching, the Americans will be thrown into a panic impossible to quell.
Jack studies the satellite feed of Fisk's boat arriving at the small inlet just south of Beach Haven. Company analysts deduced his presence in the Caribbean. It hadn't been difficult to track his return to the US to execute the final stage of Anatoly's plan. Jack knows that Fisk and Anatoly will converge on Gerkov's warehouse to collect their bombs. He could take them out there, but that would leave Nekras in place to serve another day. He needs to take down all three. More than that, he needs the NYPD, and specifically Kate Beckett, to be responsible for bringing in Fisk. Nailing him as the murderer will solve their case and leave the agency free to handle Anatoly as well as Nekras, and any other sleepers that pop their heads up. Making sure Fisk ends up with the NYPD will be Jack's biggest problem. However, if he keeps a watch on the sleeper's movements, an opportunity should present itself. At least, he hopes so. Or maybe it already has. From what Richard told him, Kate Beckett has a BOLO out specifically for Fisk, and she knows he's involved with Loftview. If a bomb threat comes in for Loftview, the NYPD will be even more intensely on the lookout for Fisk. If he and Anatoly are together, that will be another problem. But it's one he knows how to address."
At Gerkov's warehouse, Anatoly smiles his satisfaction. He'll have more than enough bombs to accomplish his purpose. He and Fisk, as Feodor calls himself, will have to transport them, but that will be no problem. He purchased a Ford F-150, one of the most common trucks on the road, to carry the load. No one will pay it any attention. Fisk will follow in a Taurus, another ubiquitous vehicle, to make sure no one gets too close. Nekras will ensure that Loftview is closed to everyone but them, and they can take all the time they need to plant their explosives precisely as he planned.
From a blind on the roof of a nearby building, Jack looks on through his scope. He grins as Anatoly and Fisk separate into their two vehicles. The situation couldn't be more perfect. Jack can fake a response to Detective Beckett's BOLO, sending in the NYPD to descend on Fisk. She will have her murderer. Jack will travel to Loftview ahead of Anatoly. Without Fisk, the rogue Russian will need help from Nekras to quickly move all the bombs into the building. That's when Jack will take care of them. He doesn't plan on a hit, just rendering them senseless and turning them over to the agency for debriefing. Whatever the pair reveals will keep the analysts busy for a long time.
Jack can see that the loading of the bombs is almost finished. He calls in his response to the BOLO complete with the license plate of the Taurus. He's already plotted his fastest route to Loftview. He'll be there in plenty of time to take care of Anatoly and Nekras.
Kate draws in a deep breath as she drops her landline's receiver back in place. "Guys!" she calls to Ryan and Esposito. "A patrol officer spotted Fisk. Let's go!"
"Beckett, you're not cleared for the field yet," Ryan reminds her.
"Fine. I can play civilian and watch from the back seat with Castle, but we need to go now!"
As a street light turns green and Anatoly's F-150 enters an intersection, a marked unit blocks Fisk's Taurus from following it. Two more pull up on either side of him, and Esposito drives in behind. "Sauley Fisk, exit your car and put your hands on the hood," Ryan orders through the unit's PA system.
Fisk looks desperately around for some escape route. "Exit your car and put your hands on the hood," Ryan repeats. "Do it now, or you will be fired upon."
Acting as he had been instructed since early childhood, Fisk bites down hard on a back molar. It won't matter now if the police take him in. He won't live to be questioned. Slowly, he gets out of the car with his hands up and does as ordered. It won't be long now. It won't be long at all.
Richard offers his arm to Kate as they make the short walk from their limousine to the entrance of Loftview. He shakes his head. "I still can't believe that Fisk did the old cyanide in the tooth thing."
"According to Lanie, it wasn't cyanide," Kate says. "It was a nerve toxin, quickly absorbed through mucus membranes. One hundred percent fatal and totally irreversible. But at least Fisk didn't live to take anyone else out."
"But he won't be able to give up his secrets, either," Richard points out. "And Ms. Nekras disappeared. Good thing her assistant was able to pick up on the details of the fundraiser."
"Even better that the bomb squad swept the place and didn't find any nasty surprises," Kate says. "But I wish we knew what happened to Nekras and the HVAC guy."
Richard's jaw tightens. His father didn't tell him the co-conspirators' fate. Still, he has an excellent idea of what happened to the rogue and the sleeper. It was probably for the best. "But we got the murderer," he hastens to remind Kate. "Job done. Case closed. Time for Cinderella to go to the ball – metaphorically, of course. And we won't have to worry about the clock striking midnight."
"No, we won't. But," Kate considers, "I can't get too wrung out this weekend. I have my final medical check on Monday, as well as my re-qualification at the range. If I get signed off on everything, I should be back in the field on Tuesday."
"Are fieldwork and toting your pistol all you'll be free to do?" Richard asks.
Kate squeezes his arm. "Everything means everything, Castle."
"Well, in that case, assuming you are found hale and hearty, how would you like to celebrate on Monday night?"
Kate's hip bumps against Richard's. "I'm sure we can figure something out."
Jack takes his seat inside Loftview. He wasn't about to sit in the front row. Too much chance of being captured on camera, and that's the last thing he needs. He couldn't be next to Martha anyway. She'll be onstage with Richard. Well, two out of three of their little family circle isn't bad, even if the audience has no idea. And this way, he can look straight at mother and son happily together. That view's been one hell of a long time coming, and Jack's determined to enjoy it.