414. Chapter 414

After Deep Cover

Episode 6.12

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: I could tell you if I owned Castle or not, but then I'd have to kill you. Rating: K Time: See above.

"Keep walking and don't turn around." The gruff voice said.

Castle at once stopped and began to turn around. He found himself pushed forward.

"What did I tell you?"

He kept walking. "Dad?"

"Of course. From now on you communicate with me only through this phone." Castle felt the older man put something in his coat pocket. "Don't use it to communicate with anyone else. And don't tell anyone about this, not even Beckett."

"But she's my wife."

"Which is why I decided that you're not too terminally stupid to handle this. Now keep walking to the taxi stand up ahead and go back to your loft."

When Castle got to the cabs, he turned around. His father wasn't there.

Once back at the loft, he thought about what he should do. He decided it was a no brainer. As soon as Kate got back from the precinct, he told her everything.

"So Anderson Cross is back in our lives?"

"I think of him as Jackson Hunt." Castle said, accurately but unhelpfully.

"Po-tay-to, po-tah-to." Kate replied. "He's still a danger to you. I'll be with you when whatever this is goes down."

Kate made a phone call and a couple of hours later a policewoman dropped off a package for her.

"What is it?" Castle asked.

"An old lady costume. The muggings squad uses them. A pair of thick, baggy cotton stockings, an oversized, faded print dress with some padding sewn in, and a grey wig. And before you know it, your undercover policewoman wife is an old lady."

"Cool."

"And, no. We aren't going to try it out tonight."

"I could play the old lady and you could mug me." Castle offered.

"That is so wrong on so many levels." Kate said, shaking her head.

Shortly after dawn. Castle's new phone rang. Castle had a text message. Go to the Mailbox Store at 43rd and Lex in one hour. Box 255. Combination L 23, R 40, L 6.

"It's got to be some kind of a dead drop." Kate said.

"We'd better get going."

And hour later Castle walked into the store and opened the mailbox. Inside was a letter addressed to a Mr. Archibald Henderson. There was no return address.

Castle got another message. What did I tell you about telling Beckett?

He replied. Sue me.

Tell her to hang back then. If I can spot her, others can. Go to Wen's Flowers. Corner of Lex and 12th. Leave the envelope. Came the reply.

Castle took out his own phone and called his wife. "He made you, but all he wants is for you to stay back. I'm to go to Wen's Flowers on 12th and Lex."

"Dammit. How did he figure out it was me." Kate said. "Okay, I'll stay back, but be careful. Be very careful."

"Right."

Castle walked into Wen's Flowers. There was an old Asian man behind the counter. The man looked at Castle coldly. The lid of one eye was almost closed and Castle could see that that eye was very bloodshot. When the man smiled, Rick saw he had very bad teeth. He put the envelope down. The man picked up the envelope and opened it. He nodded to Rick. "Shay, shay." The man said. Since the man just stood there, Rick left.

He at once called Kate. "Oh my god! I'm sure that guy is some sort of a Chinese Triad killer. I just ordered a hit on someone."

"Castle, just stay calm. We'll have to…"

Just then Castle got another text. Go to the Hudson University Engineering library. Back in the stacks you'll find a book called A History of Early Computers by an Earl Wells, Ph.D. Look inside.

Once at the library, Castle found the book. Inside was an envelope which seemed to be unmarked. He called Kate again. "It's just a blank envelope." He got another text. Go to the corner of 12th and Houston. Await further instructions.

He told Kate what his instructions were and left the library. Once at the corner, he got another text. Open the envelope with the front side facing away from you. Inside is another envelope. Do NOT look at the address. You are being watched. Put it in the mail box for local mail.

Castle did as he was told, then called Kate. "I probably just sent our nuclear launch codes to the North Koreans. Or maybe to the Islamic State. Or both."

"Castle, just relax." Kate said soothingly. "This is your dad. He wouldn't…"

They were interrupted by another message. Go to the 24 Hour Fitness Center. You can see it to your left.

Castle turned, but couldn't see it.

Your other left.

"Sorry." Castle mumbled.

Once at the center he got another text. Go inside to locker 213 Combination is 007.

"Really? 007? Who thought this one up?"

Inside the locker he found a key.

Take the key to the New Amsterdam bank where you and Martha were held hostage. The key is for safety deposit box 906.

Castle walked quickly to the bank and went to a teller. He was not too surprised to find that he had a safety deposit box there. He assumed his father or one of his CIA buddies had set it up somehow. Inside the box was a cashier's check for $75,000.

Take the check to von Armin's in the diamond district. Any cab driver can take you there.

When Castle's cab pulled up at von Armin's he got another text. Ask for Herr von Armin. Hand him the check and say it's for Herr Sapt's order. Then leave.

Behind the counter was a man who looked like what Central Casting would have provided for a Nazi for a World War Two movie. He had a shaven head, a bull neck and what looked like a dueling scar on one cheek.

"Her von Armin?" Castle asked.

"Ja."

"This is for Herr Sapt's order." Castle waited for a beat and then left. Once outside, he got another text. You're done.

He breathed a sigh of relief and called Kate. She pulled up seconds later in her Crown Vic.

"You okay?"

"Sure, except I'm now involved in international espionage. There are already probably shadowy figures following me from some vast, world wide, insidious conspiracy. Anonymous men in Arlington, Virginia, Moscow, Beijing, London, Paris and Tel Aviv are probably deciding my fate right now."

"Don't forget Riyadh and wherever the Islamic State hangs out." Kate said with a smile. "Castle, this is your dad. He's a good guy, of sorts. He wouldn't get you in that kind of trouble."

"I hope you can still say that when 60 Minutes is talking to you about your missing husband. And what are we going to do now? Raid those places? Put them under surveillance? Tap their phones?"

"Nothing. Nothing you did or that they did is illegal. We have no probable cause to do anything?"

"I'm so dead."

Castle slept poorly that night and was jumpy all the next day at the precinct. When he and Kate got home, they found Martha and Alexis there.

"Richard! Did you do this?"

"I was forced to. He made me. Beckett couldn't stop him!" Castle whined.

"What are you talking about? I mean my birthday gifts. The flowers from Wen's, the expensive, imported Dutch chocolate and mostly the gorgeous diamond bracelet from von Armin's." Martha held out her hand to show the bracelet.

"Martha! It's exquisite." Kate said.

"What I don't understand is the card. All it said was "Sorry."

Kate turned to her husband. "I think Rick can explain."