Chapter 187: Taken Back

Castle abruptly interrupted Winston Weasley's narration. Turning to Beckett, he said, "Alright, it seems we don't need to discuss this any further in Senator Blake Weasley's office. Don't you think that the rest of Mr. Winston Weasley's statements should be made elsewhere?"

Beckett quickly grasped Castle's intention. He was subtly suggesting that continuing this conversation here might not be ideal if they needed Winston's testimony in court to indict the real murderer.

Blake Weasley also realized that Castle wasn't a political adversary but genuinely concerned about solving his long-lost daughter Olivia's murder. The revelation from his foolish brother made it clear that although Winston and their mother might not have directly killed his daughter, they played a significantly shameful role in the events leading to her death. Castle's suggestion to move Winston to the police station for further questioning was clearly a considerate gesture to spare Blake further embarrassment.

Blake's mind raced. His mother and brother had conspired to drive away his lover and ignored his daughter's tragic death. Castle's timely interruption helped preserve Blake's dignity. Castle's approach wasn't about ridiculing Blake but rather maintaining professionalism and possibly forging a connection.

Blake's expression remained diplomatically controlled, but it was clear to Castle that once he and Beckett left with Winston, Blake's composure would likely crumble. Castle's goal was to win Blake's favor, not to watch him suffer. By interrupting Winston before he could reveal any more damning details about their mother, Castle was also sparing Blake the discomfort of hearing about his mother's shameful role in Olivia's demise.

Blake deeply appreciated Castle's discretion. Knowing his brother would likely reveal more about their mother's unseemly actions, Blake found relief in Castle's suggestion to halt the discussion. This small act of consideration had earned Castle some goodwill, making it more likely Blake would heed Castle's subtle request to look out for Beckett in the future.

Beckett didn't dwell on the silent exchange between Castle and Blake. She simply stood up, nodded courteously to Blake, and turned to Winston. "Come with us, Mr. Winston Weasley. We need you to accompany us to the police station to provide a detailed statement regarding Olivia's case."

Winston Weasley, now clearly anxious and uncertain, rose from the sofa, casting a pleading glance at his older brother. Beckett's earlier warning about being prosecuted as an accomplice to murder weighed heavily on him, and he instinctively sought his brother's support.

Blake, feeling a headache forming, looked at his foolish, pleasure-seeking brother. He hesitated. Part of him wanted to leave Winston to face the consequences of his actions, but Winston was his only sibling. With their mother now showing early symptoms of Alzheimer's, Blake couldn't bring himself to abandon them completely, despite their roles in Olivia's tragic fate.

Blake made a swift decision, revealing his political acumen for the first time. Standing up, he shook hands with Castle while addressing his desperate brother: "Go with Mr. Castle and Detective Beckett to the police station. I'll have our lawyers meet you there immediately. But Winston, you need to understand that your only chance now is to tell the police everything that happened back then and help them catch the real killer. Do you understand?"

Blake emphasized the phrase "real killer" heavily. He had decided that the best way to mitigate their guilt was to assist in capturing the true murderer. Thus, he urged his indulgent brother to cooperate fully with the police.

Castle and Beckett observed Blake's firm yet strategic advice to Winston. They understood Blake's intent and saw no reason to interfere. As long as the police could apprehend the murderer, their task was done. The legal system would determine the culpability of others involved. For now, a gesture of goodwill towards a prominent New York senator like Blake was beneficial and cost them nothing.

Winston, despite his reputation, was not entirely oblivious. He grasped the importance of his brother's advice. With no further protests, he quietly followed Beckett and Castle out of the Weasley family office building to head to the police station.

Back at the station, Beckett and Castle were greeted by Esposito and Ryan escorting a man in a prison guard uniform out of the interrogation room. Esposito, seeing Beckett and Castle return, eagerly shared their findings: "This guard here is our inside man. After reviewing the prison guards' recent financial activities, we identified him. He just confessed to receiving $5,000 to monitor Brady's communications in prison. He also admitted that for another $10,000, he arranged for a convict to stab Brady during the morning rush. Unfortunately, he doesn't know who hired him, as the contact was made through phone calls, and the money was left in a password-protected locker at Grand Central Station. So, we still can't directly identify the real culprit."

Beckett was pleased with the progress. Thanks to Esposito and the team's hard work, they were close to solving the case. All she needed now was the real killer's name from Winston Weasley. This case, involving three deaths, was on the verge of being resolved. The prison guard's involvement might even pressure the killer into confessing.

Captain Montgomery emerged from his office, his eyes widening in disbelief as he saw Winston Weasley being led into the interrogation room. "You actually brought someone from the Weasley family here? Is that Winston Weasley, the second son? How did you manage to get him here under Senator Blake Weasley's watch?"

Beckett smiled brightly. "Captain, it's all thanks to Castle. I suspect he might have used his mysterious network of informants last night. Today, in Senator Blake's office, Castle used flawless reasoning and persuasion to convince the senator to cooperate with our investigation. As you can see, it worked. Blake allowed his brother Winston to accompany us to the station. And Captain, there's a significant connection between Olivia's death and Mr. Winston Weasley."

Montgomery was impressed but skeptical. "Really? Castle, huh? Well, let's see what Winston has to say."

As Beckett prepared to question Winston, the atmosphere in the precinct was charged with anticipation. With the Weasley family secrets unraveling and the investigation closing in on the true murderer, justice for Olivia seemed within reach.

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