Chapter 119: Captured

After considering Castle's plan for a while, Beckett didn't outright reject it, but she pointed out the most crucial aspect: where would they find someone with a physique similar to Jimmy the Rat to wear a mask and pretend to be him?

Seeing Beckett didn't reject his proposal, Castle was elated and pushed his luck, "How about me? Look, Jimmy the Rat's physique in the records is very similar to mine, right? Since he had plastic surgery and needs to wear a mask, I can just put on the mask and pretend to be him."

"What? You? No way! We can't use you to impersonate Jimmy the Rat to lure out the assassin. Are you kidding me?"

Beckett was stunned by Castle's idea. Was this guy crazy? Using himself as bait? If anything happened to him, Captain Montgomery might cover for her, but the Chief and Castle's friend, the Mayor, would tear her apart!

Esposito and Ryan, on the other hand, looked at Castle with admiration. Although they knew Castle had a penchant for risk, seeing him willing to face a cold-blooded killer head-on earned him their respect.

Castle wasn't upset by Beckett's immediate rejection. He smiled and calmly reasoned with her, "Beckett, look, we can only prove that the nurse who calls herself Maggie Daudet stole someone else's identity to get hired at Dr. Joshua's clinic. But what else do we have to connect her to Dr. Joshua's murder? Nothing, right?

While we all believe she's a hitwoman sent by the Soprano family, we have no proof. But we can't just let her roam free, can we? Setting a trap to make her reveal herself is the simplest way."

Beckett wasn't swayed by Castle's persuasive words, holding her ground, "No, you're not a cop, and you're not trained. Using you as bait is too dangerous. If something goes wrong, who will be responsible?"

Castle heard the determination in her voice but didn't give up. "You always think I'm not skilled, but I'm actually quite capable. And while I may not be a cop, I'm working with you on this case. Besides, I trust your protection will prevent the assassin from harming me. Plus, everything we're discussing is based on the assumption that the nurse is the assassin. She might not be.

Beckett, I still think I'm the best candidate for the bait!"

Castle's resolve left Esposito and Ryan stunned. This guy was going all out to impress their boss. But despite Castle's impassioned plea, Beckett remained firm, staring him down until he grew uneasy. Finally, she spoke, "Are you sure you want to do this? You know, even with our protection, there's still a risk."

Seeing Beckett's slight hesitation, Castle seized the moment, assuring her he would be safe and capable of handling any unexpected situations.

Recognizing Castle's determination and the logic behind his plan, Beckett, a decisive person, made up her mind. Castle's argument that they couldn't let a dangerous assassin roam free struck a chord with her. Knowing Castle wouldn't make baseless claims on serious matters, she decided to agree to his risky plan.

Beckett's decision to go along with Castle's unconventional plan surprised Esposito and Ryan, but as subordinates, they were used to following orders. Once Beckett made up her mind, she quickly instructed them to prepare for the operation, aiming to minimize the risks to Castle.

As Castle predicted, when Beckett called Dr. Joshua's clinic under police pretenses, informing them they would escort a federal witness who had undergone plastic surgery with Dr. Joshua for a follow-up, the fake nurse Maggie Daudet, thinking her cover was still intact, hurried back to the clinic to see if this federal witness was her target, Jimmy the Rat.

At 5 PM, Beckett and three officers brought a tall man with his head fully bandaged, leaving only his eyes, nose, and mouth exposed, into the clinic. After escorting him into the examination room, Beckett pretended to discuss the follow-up with the head nurse and the new plastic surgeon, while the other two officers stood guard outside.

From the moment Castle entered the clinic, the nurse posing as Maggie Daudet kept a close eye on him. She initially tried to engage Beckett and Castle in conversation to confirm if the supposed federal witness was her target, but Castle's silence and Beckett's presence gave her nothing to work with.

Determined, the assassin eavesdropped on Beckett's conversation with the head nurse and doctor, learning from their discussion that the man in the examination room was indeed Jimmy the Rat.

Overjoyed at her fortune, the assassin, eager to complete her mission, failed to notice that one of the officers was watching her closely. This officer, who seemed idle, was actually highly alert, and reported her movements to Beckett and the others via a hidden earpiece.

Knowing they had her attention, Beckett felt relieved, as the nurse's behavior confirmed their suspicions. She instructed the officers to stay vigilant but not to alarm the nurse, allowing her to proceed with her plan. She also warned Castle to be cautious and not give himself away.

Unaware of the police's plans, the assassin reveled in her imminent success. Seizing the opportunity while Beckett was discussing with the doctor, she boldly walked past the guards into the examination room, intent on completing her mission.

The two guards, not suspecting her, let her pass. Inside, she found Castle lying on the examination table, eyes closed. Smiling wickedly, she pulled out a sharp scalpel, planning to slit his throat to prevent him from calling for help and to quickly finish the job.

Just as she raised the knife, Castle, who had been pretending to rest, sprang up, grabbing her hand and shouting for help as he pinned her down.

Beckett and the officers burst in, catching the disheveled nurse red-handed. Beckett coldly declared, "Maggie Daudet, you're under arrest for the murder of Dr. Joshua Liz and the attempted murder of a federal witness!"

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