Papa Jack Chapter 110

"Why not talk to Bert Josephson?" Richard inquires. "He should know who Bracken used to hang him."

"Not if the witness was only referred to as a CI," Kate figures. "But he would know which dealers Bracken let walk. That dealer should be among them. My problem is that it's a lot easier to get in to see a prisoner as a cop than it is as a civilian. If I could claim to be his lawyer, the way my mother could have, I could get in that way. Unfortunately, I'll have to work within the limits of general visitation regulations, which are pretty strict. According to his file, he is at Fishkill, which is a medium-security facility. So visits would probably be limited to weekends and holidays, early in the day."

"Fishkill is in Duchess County, isn't it?" Richard asks.

"Uh-huh."

"Which would make it close to a two-hour drive each way."

"Plus the time I'd spend filling out paperwork and getting searched. And Corrections has regulations about what types of clothing visitors can wear, too. It's not as big a deal for me since it's a male facility. Still, visitors can't wear anything that remotely resembles what prisoners wear. I'm aiming for this Saturday, but I'll need to carefully plan my visit. I don't want any security glitches."

"And you'll also spend your time until then on a paper chase to track down whatever witness or witnesses Bracken had against Josephson?"

"Yes," Kate confirms. "I'll go through Mom's papers in Dad's storage unit, but I doubt she had time after she made this notation to get anything else on Josephson. Then, I'll tackle the publicly available documents again. Even if Bracken let Simmons' dealers walk, there should be records of initial charges or at least arrests."

"Or something on newspaper crime blotters," Richard suggests. "You're welcome to use my service for any little nuggets of press info."

"Thanks," Kate says. "I may just take you up on that. Hey, what time are you getting together with Lucerne?'

Richard checks his watch. "Not for a few hours yet. I can help you finish going through all this stuff and maybe some of what's in the storage unit – that is, if you want me to."

Kate nods. "Considering what Josephson's suffering through at Fishkill, I'll take all the help I can get."

A ding sounds from Richard's pocket. "I've got a text. Hmm, it's from Dad. He doesn't usually text, but then, there's not much information here. He says he wants to sit down with the both of us to talk about family history ASAP."

"Family history," Kate repeats, "meaning his history?"

"I don't know," Castle admits. "I read you what he says. Can you spare enough time from your research to talk with him tonight?"

Kate shakes her head. "Not unless I hit some kind of a motherlode or premature stopping point. But I am curious. Tell him we'll get back to him with a time as soon as we can."

Richard's thumbs dance over his cell. "I'm telling him."

Daniel Lucerne opens his case and withdraws a large three-ring binder with documents and notes safely ensconced in sheet protectors. "This is everything I've put together for your wedding so far." He opens the binder at a tab marked venues and hands it to Richard. "As you can see, I have information on three churches and three reception venues that I believe best meet your fiancée's criteria. The churches are all non-denominational, which should avoid any religious conflicts. They also host many wedding ceremonies, so they are flexible about preparations, such as the erection of flower arches in the sanctuary. I thought we could coordinate the flowers in the church with the ones Ms. Beckett specified she wants at the reception. The churches have different openings in early Spring, so she can pick the one she prefers – as long as she does it quickly. For the reception, transportation will be less complicated if you choose a venue close to the church you've selected. All three will accommodate the number of guests you expect, plus a safety margin for unanticipated additions. They are all capable of providing a sumptuous buffet, a dancefloor, and enough space for a band. The electrical systems are also sufficient to support whatever equipment the band requires."

"You really do check the details, don't you?" Castle marvels.

"As they say, that's where the devil is," Daniel remarks. "Appropriate amperage can be the difference between triumph and disaster. And as far as the band goes, you'll need to book it the moment you have a date, and the sooner, the better. Pop bands, rock and roll, and R&B are all in higher demand than jazz, but the top tier, even of jazz groups, books up fast. I'll leave the listings of the churches and available dates with you and that should settle the matter with all deliberate speed. And as for the music for the ceremony, does the bride want jazz, or will she be opting for something more traditional? All the churches have fine organs and skilled organists to play them. If she wants anything else, we'll need to get on top of that as well, as soon as you have the date."

"I'll present Kate with the churches and the dates tonight," Richard says, and give you a call with her decision."

Daniel starts repacking his case. "Excellent! Then I can start making the bookings first thing tomorrow."

Richard looks up with surprise as Kate drags into the loft at 3:30 pm. "Wow! I expected you to make a late night of it."

"So did I," Kate admits. "But the court clerk's office closed at three – budget cuts. So, I couldn't access any hard-copy records after that. Next time, I'll be there when the office opens, which still isn't until nine in the morning."

"Nice work if you can get it," Richard comments. "But the early hour does open up another possibility. I could tell Dad we're free for the evening. I could even invite him to dinner, unless you'd prefer to go out. Martha will be at the theater, so it will just be the three of us."

Kate plops on the couch. "Going out is the last thing I want to do right now. Yeah, invite your dad to dinner, but I don't feel like cooking. If you don't want to either, we can order Thai or something."

"I'll cook," Richard decides. "For some reason, my father has a taste for sloppy joes. We had them a lot when I was growing up, and I have all the makings here. I can throw together a salad for some smidgen of nutrition, and I have time to bake brownies."

"Sounds wonderful," Kate says. "Mind if I go sign onto your subscription search engine while you're sneaking samples of the batter?"

Richard chuckles. "You know me too well but feel free. My subscription is your subscription. You also need to take a look at the materials Daniel left. He plans to implement your decisions first thing tomorrow. For energy for all of that, do you want me to call you to lick the bowl?"

Kate winks. "Yum! Yes! But don't forget to call your father before you get started."

"Forgetting to do so would be intensely embarrassing," Richard admits. "I'll call him right now. Then, let the ceremonial melding of the deep, dark, and high calorie commence."

Still smiling, Kate drops into her work chair and signs onto Richard's private network.