642. Chapter 642

After Knockdown

Episode 3. 13

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: I'm really here because I don't own Castle. Rating: K Time: See above.

The two bored looking cops approached the guard cage at the prison. One of them hauled out a sheaf of papers, selected one of them and handed it to the duty guard. "Were here for Doe, John, AKA Lockwood, Hal."

His partner laughed. "John Doe. Where did they come up with that one? They're not deer."

The guard just shrugged as he checked the paperwork. "He'll be down in a couple of minutes. You two want to grab some coffee? There's a pot behind you."

"Thanks." One of them said as they headed for the coffee pot.

In a few minutes Lockwood, in handcuffs, was brought down. "Sign here." One cop scrawled his signature.

Once back at their vehicle, one cop opened the rear door. "You want some coffee, Lockwood? It isn't bad."

Lockwood glared at them. "Sure. You going to take off the cuffs so I can drink it?"

"Sure. Why not." He undid the cuffs and handed Lockwood a cup.

Lockwood stared at both of them. The two cops laughed. "Did you think they were going to leave you in there forever?"

"You're getting me out?"

The two cops laughed. "Unless you'd rather we took you into New York to be interrogated. Now get in back. We don't want anyone to see us like this."

Once in back Lockwood took a sip of coffee. "Who hired you two."

"You know we don't answer questions like that."

Lockwood nodded. They were professionals like he was. It wasn't until he started to fall asleep that he started wondering who they really were.

Hal Lockwood woke up in a room with four bare concrete walls and a tile floor. Several flickering fluorescent panels provided the only light. He could make out four men at the end of the room. "What the hell is this?"

"This is an interrogation. But you aren't in the US anymore, sport, so we play by local rules."

Lockwood found that he was strapped to a metal table. One of the men lifted the bottom of the table so that Lockwood's head was down. Then a towel was draped over his face.

"I imagine you've seen waterboarding before. But don't worry. We have lots of other options. But, maybe you'd just like to tell us everything now and avoid the suffering?"

"Fuck you."

Three days later, Lockwood was released from the table. A doctor examined him. "Dead all right."

One of the men shrugged. "We'll take him out to sea and dump him in a mile of water." He turned to another man." Okay, courier what we have on Orantis Solutions and see what we do next."

"Beckett, Castle! My office now!" Captain Montgomery barked.

The two entered. Montgomery closed the door behind them and even closed the blinds on the windows.

"You expecting an attack by lip readers?" Castle joked.

"This isn't a damned joke, Castle. Hal Lockwood escaped from prison this morning. Two phony cops showed up with paperwork to take him to an interrogation here. By Detective Kate Beckett."

"Sir, I never…." Kate began.

"I know." Montgomery cut her off. "The whole thing was phony. And damned expensive. And now Lockwood is in the wind. I need to keep you safe. Lockwood, or someone else, is bound to be after you."

"Roy, I can look after myself."

"No you can't. No one can. You need as much protection as you can get and I'll see to it that you get it." Castle said softly.

Kate shook her head. "Castle, I won't…"

"Yes, you will, Beckett. That's an order. You'll stay with Castle like you did after that bombing. And I'm putting a team on Castle's place."

Castle raised his hand. "I know Ray Caldwell of RC Protection. I'd like to hire some of his people to back up yours."

Kate shook her head. "Castle, you don't need to spend that kind of money on me."

"If Mr. Castle wishes to hire private security for his own home, there's nothing the NYPD can do to stop him, Beckett."

Kate looked at both men, then smiled. "At least I'll get some more of Castle's pasta carbonara." Things with Josh aren't ever going to work. Maybe I should try Castle. Although it scares the hell out of me.

William Bryce was a happy man. He had gotten a large bonus and had successfully kept that fact from his wife. Not that he didn't love his wife, he did. But a man sometimes needed certain secrets. Especially a person in his line of work.

"Mr. Bryce?" Asked a polite voice at his side.

Bryce turned. There were two men in the dark suits white shirts and conservative striped ties favored by most Federal agents. "Yes, I am. I'm also very busy."

The nearest agent grinned. "I'm sure you are, sir." He held up a badge and a piece of paper. An arrest warrant? "We're from the IRS. If you'll get in the car with no arguments we'll spare you the indignity of putting the cuffs on you."

"I need to call my lawyer."

"Certainly, sir. He can meet us at the IRS office in Arlington."

The lawyer promised that he'd be right down, but when he got to the IRS office, no one knew of any case involving William Bryce. The longer Bryce was missing, the more upset his colleagues at Orantis Solutions became. After all, Bryce was the operations officer of the firm. He knew everything about the firm. However, no one ever found William Bryce.

Senator William Bracken was not a happy man. "How the hell could Bryce have been taken right off the street? Damnit, the man knows about everything. How could you have let this happen? Especially now?"

"Senator, we operate all over the world. South America, the Middle East, Asia. There are literally hundreds of groups that might have grabbed him. And since there hasn't been a ransom demand, we assume he was grabbed to be interrogated."

Bracken exploded. "Of course he was grabbed to be interrogated, you moron. He just had not better have been grabbed because of the New York operation."

The man tried to soothe Bracken. "I can't imagine that anyone in New York would have the resources to do this."

"And why would anyone but the New York people grab Lockwood? Dammit, you find out who's behind this and you shut them down. Or I'll find someone who is capable of handling my business."

Hamid Mir sat in the back of a mosque in Jersey City, New Jersey. "Teacher, how can I possibly join the jihad and strike against the enemies of God? God has twisted my leg and made it useless." He pointed to the bent and twisted left leg against which his crutches were leaning. Tears ran down his cheeks. "I am not a man. I am useless to God."

The old imam smiled at him. "God has a place for every one of his children, Hamid. You will strike down a great enemy of Islam. You will become a martyr. God is great."

"God is great." Hamid intoned.

God was indeed great. Hamid the Cripple was about to strike a blow against the most dangerous crusader in America. A man who wished to destroy the holy cities and unleash a plague that would make Muslims forget God. The imam had assured him of this. Hamid looked back at the bomb nested in the back seat of his car. One did not need two legs to fight for God.

He was in luck. The limousine stopped for a stoplight and Hamid pulled up right next to his target. Hamid looked at the triggering device, pushed a button and was no more.

"Hi, Roy. Can I join you? Buy you a drink?"

"Sure, Castle, a beer will be fine."

Castle smiled. "How about a Scotch? Remy's doesn't have the brands I prefer, but they're not bad."

The two men sat and sipped their drinks. Castle spoke. "I know about you, Raglan and McAllister. How you kidnapped mobsters and killed Bob Arman."

Roy stared at Castle, his heart pounding. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure you do. I know everything. Don't worry, Roy. I wouldn't dream of telling anyone. I just want you to know what I've been doing so you'll know where not to look in case anything ever comes out."

"What do you mean?"

"I know Bracken was behind everything."

Roy shook his head. "You have no idea who you're dealing with. The man is untouchable."

Castle shook his head. "He's very easily touchable. Check the news on your phone."

Roy pulled out his phone. There was only one thing on the news. Bracken had been killed by a suicide bomber. "How do you fit into this?" He asked Castle.

"I'm a very wealthy man with lots of connections. The less you know about the connections, the better. I had Lockwood grabbed and interrogated. That led me to Orantis Solutions. Orantis led me to Bracken. Deluded fanatics are surprisingly easy to find in this day and age, and very easy to point in the right direction, if you know how. And now Bracken is no more. So just remember, Roy, the lengths I'll go to protect the ones I love."

"Beckett." Roy said.

Castle just smiled, finished his drink and left.

Kate Beckett's head was in Castle's lap. He gently stroked her face. "Babe, I'm sorry it took so long for us to get together, but you need to know this isn't over. Lockwood's out there and whoever he works for, too. I can't really be with you totally until I finish this. I'm sorry, but that's the way I am."

Castle smiled down at her. "Don't worry. We'll get them. It'll take a year or so, otherwise Beckett would get suspicious, but she'll find evidence leading her to Bracken, who is now conveniently dead.

She smiled back. "I know we will. You've done so much for me, Castle."

He just nodded.