Papa Jack Chapter 117

U Fix It is the kind of hardware store that is rapidly being pushed out by do-it-yourself megastores. Still, in a neighborhood with dense housing coupled with low homeownership, the big-box emporiums have yet to invade. In many ways, that's a relief to the neighborhood residents who might just need a screw or two instead of buying a whole bag or can use some expert advice in repairing vintage plaster.

The establishment's owner, Kurt Jones, has always had a steady stream of customers and made a decent living – until the man with the leather satchel walked through his door. The newcomer's threats weren't even subtle. He talked about the "unfortunate accidents" suffered by Jake from the laundromat and Lenny the dry cleaner. Satchel Man expressed smirking sympathy for the neighborhood's loss of the bargains and traditional meals at Save-O-Rama and Savory Soul. Then, gesturing at the well-ordered shelves and bins in U Fix It, remarked on how the customers would suffer if an accident were to happen to such a helpful resource. It tore Kurt up inside to kowtow to the extortionist's demands, but as useless as the NYPD had been so far, he didn't expect any help from that corner. His blood pressure rose as his anger simmered, but he paid the money.

The tall, willowy, white woman entering as the bell over U Fix It's door rings doesn't match the profile of Kurt's usual customers. Rather than surveying the merchandise, as most shoppers would, she comes straight to the register. "Mr. Jones?" Kate inquires.

Suspicion narrows Kurt's eyes. "I'm Kurt Jones. Who's asking?"

Quickly grabbing her SUSI ID from her purse, Kate holds it up for Kurt to see. "I'm Kate Beckett, Mr. Jones. Hattie Johnson suggested that I should talk to you."

"Hattie, huh? She's a good woman. I'm listening."

"You, Hattie, and a lot of business owners around here are being extorted. A man calling himself S.C. Linton is picking up your payoffs for his boss. I want Linton. His lies put an innocent man in prison. I and others at Step Up Step In are trying to get him out. But to do that, I need to squeeze the truth out of Linton and get the protection racket out of your lives once and for all. But I'm going to need help."

"Lady, if you're planning on going after those bastards, you're going to need a lot of it," Jones warns.

"I know that," Kate agrees. "Hattie already told me she would do what she can. But I also need help from you and any of the racket's other victims who are willing to fight back against Linton and his boss."

"And what if I lose my business?" Jones argues.

Sympathy softens Kate's features. "Haven't you already lost it?"

Jones' shoulders slump. "I guess I have."

"Then," Kate says, "fight to get it back."

"So, how goes the battle?" Richard asks when Kate returns to the loft.

"I've got two of the business owners Linton's been draining to agree to cooperate. A few more are thinking it over, but I believe they'll come on board. Even two is a lot more than I had to work with before. Still, I'll get final answers from the ones teetering on the edge before I go after Linton."

"You're not planning on going after him alone, are you?" Richard asks.

"No, but much as I'd love to call Ryan and Esposito, I can't bring in the NYPD yet. None of my witnesses trust cops – for good reason. But I can bring Lily and another one of SUSI's investigators with me. We're all licensed to carry, but I doubt we'll need weapons. Linton is essentially a weakling, or Bracken wouldn't have been able to manipulate him the way he did. When he's faced with the very real prospect of taking the wrap for the whole extortion operation, he'll cave. But I need to get the DA's office to play ball, too. That would be a lot easier as a cop."

"But the DA respects Kate Beckett," Richard asserts. "He was at your award ceremony."

Kate shakes her head. "I don't know, Castle. I found out the mayor pressured all the top law enforcement officials to be there."

"Still, you have a reputation in this city for bringing down big game – the most dangerous big game. And if you and SUSI have to go up against the DA instead of cooperating with him, he'll be publically embarrassed. No elected official needs that."

"You have a point," Kate acknowledges. "I'll make the rounds in Harlem for the next couple of days. Then, I'll have my talks with Linton and whoever I can get to at the DA's office."

"You should talk to Waterhouse himself," Richard advises. "According to a member of my writer's crew, Waterhouse has been known to play a hand or two of poker from time to time. They've been in games together. While you're working on the final round-up of your witnesses, let me see if I can get Kate Beckett, civilian investigator extraordinaire, an in."

"All right, Castle. Just be careful. Waterhouse regards himself as a straight arrow, the anti-Bracken. Don't let your pal offer Waterhouse anything that might even vaguely be construed as a bribe."

Richard sweeps his hand across his forehead. "Perish the thought! I know you'll get the job done, Kate. A humble writer will just try to put a little grease on the wheels."

Jack looks on as a thoughtful Martha studies stapled pages. "New script?'

"Yes, for a possible role. Zenith Studios is putting out a spy movie. They want me to play the spy's boss."

"She isn't even close to as beautiful as you are, but the current head of the CIA is a woman. She had to be confirmed by the Senate, so that's a matter of public record. I think you could play the part."

"You know her?" Martha asks.

"Without getting into classified matters, we were acquainted."

"What is she like?"

"As you would expect, tough as nails."

"Well, yes, she'd have to be to face a Senate committee," the actress considers.

"That's possibly the easiest thing she's had to do, Martha. Running the agency requires life and death decisions, a lot of them. And she has to be the final authority on what goes into the briefing for the president. One wrong choice could result in a slaughter."

Martha sinks back in her chair. "When I've watched a Bond movie, I've never thought about it that way."

"Ian Fleming was a Navy Intelligence liaison with MI-6 and other agencies, but he wasn't a Bond-type field agent, Martha. Actually, I never met a Bond-type field agent. Maybe at some time, there was one, but a lot has changed since Fleming wrote the books. Is your script supposed to be about present-day espionage?"

"Yes, it is. You should read it, Jack. Tell me what you think."

"Tell you what I think about its accuracy or what I think about your character?"

"Both."

"You know I can't reveal anything classified, but I can tell you if the script has any relationship to reality. About your character, I believe you can play anyone you want to play. Whether you want to or not is up to you. But the kids are getting married on March 30. We'll both want to be around for that."

Martha takes Jack's hand. "Indeed, we will."