355. Chapter 355

After Kick the Ballistics

Episode 4.04

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: Perhaps someone stole my computer and used it to say I own Castle? I don't. Rating: K Time: See above.

Jeanie smiled when she saw who her customer was. "Hi, Mr. Castle. How are you? The usual?"

The handsome, stocky man smiled at the young brunette. "Jeanie, how many times do I have to tell you? Call me by my first name."

Jeanie blushed. "The owner, Mr. Mardikian, tells us not to get too familiar with our customers." She smiled and said under her breath, "Jerry."

The man laughed. "Do you have my order?"

She nodded. "The week's editions of five New York papers. Just like you get every week." She was a bit curious and asked a question. "Why do you get five newspapers? I'd think one would be enough."

The man known locally as Jerry Castle nodded. "I've been away from New York for a long time. And I confess I miss it. And I miss the little things, neighborhood news, gossip, pictures of local celebrities. Sometimes one paper will have an article about a restaurant I used to go to, but the others don't. It's just my way of keeping up with my old home town."

"Will you ever go back there?" She asked.

"I'm sure I will, one day. But not soon."

He paid for the newspapers and left. Jeanie watched him leave. Jeanie wondered if Mr. Castle, Jerry, might ever be interested in her. Then she shook her head. She was cute at best and she had seen Mr. Castle's lovely wife. Yes, Kathy Castle was a lucky woman. Jeanie looked over at the other clerk. Brandi may have had long, slim legs, big boobs and a mane of blonde hair, but Mr. Castle just ignored her. That made Jeanie feel better.

He got into his car and drove the short distance to his home. His partner was waiting for him. "Why do you have to buy newspapers? We can get all of the New York and New Jersey papers on line. And buying the same five papers every week establishes a pattern. People notice patterns."

Jerry Tyson shrugged. "Ordering the same newspapers on line establishes a pattern as well. And it's a pattern anyone with a computer can track down. Do you have any idea how hard it would be to track down everyone who might order the New York papers in this one horse town?"

"You've been thinking about the blonde who works there, haven't you?" Kelly Neiman asked, point blank.

Jerry shrugged. "I think a lot about all blondes. You know that." He smiled at her. "And that excites you, doesn't it?"

She smiled back. "It's one of the many things about you that excites me. But, I worry sometimes."

"I'm not going to do anything about young Brandi. Oh, she's my type, but I'd really prefer two more of my type, although changing up my MO is something I really need to do. I'd think about the brunette, but I really prefer women who are more attractive, more sophisticated, worldly, even. Poor Jeanie hardly qualifies. Besides, we may have to leave this town in a hurry. If we were to have to leave just after one of my little demonstrations, it would be noticed. And that could upset our other plans. Important plans." He sighed sadly. "I'm afraid that both Brandi and Jeanie will have to live out their lives in this miserable little hole."

She laughed. "So what do the papers say?"

He had briefly checked the papers in the car, so he was able to pull out the relevant sections and place them on the table where they could read them and compare them with the previous editions.

"The good news is that Philip Lee is being charged with first degree murder. The DA is asking for life in prison with no parole."

Kelly Neiman frowned. "I would have thought that the cops would have let him cut a deal in return for his information about you."

Tyson laughed. "And that's the other good news. A win-win situation for us, actually. Philip Lee, in spite of his father's wealth and connections, will go to prison and stay there. No one breaks my jaw and gets away with it."

"That's one win. What's the other?" She was curious. This was what fascinated her. The workings of his mind. The sheer brilliance of it.

"I'm positive that Castle and Beckett saw through my little game with Philip and knew that I was nowhere near where I told Philip I was going and not using the identity I told him about."

"So?"

He laughed. "Don't you see? I have one thing now that I never had before. An opponent worthy of me. It's so boring when the only people who see my work are policemen who are too stupid to see anything. Anything at all. Castle is Sherlock Holmes to my Professor Moriarty. Except of course, this is not a fable written by some doctor from the Victorian Era. In the real world, the Moriartys win far more often than the Holmeses."

"Beckett is the Detective and Castle is the writer. Shouldn't she be Sherlock and Castle be Dr. Watson?"

"Oh, no." Tyson laughed. "The subtle mind belongs to Richard Castle. Beckett's the plodder who does all the grunt work. Castle is the one who matches wits with me. And there's more." Tyson grabbed a section from the New York Ledger. "That well know denizen of Page Six, Richard Castle, has not been reported with a starlet on his arm for almost a year. While Detective Beckett rarely makes the news, when she does, it's almost always in company with Castle. I don't believe that they've taken up rooms at 222B Baker Street yet, but I think my opponents are together. And that can be very useful."

Kelly smiled. He was brilliant, so much more brilliant than Castle and that bitch. She dreamed of getting Beckett on an operating table.

"We need to do some planning for the Florida operation." Tyson announced. "I've found a woman there that I think you'll be fascinated with." Tyson passed a photo of a woman to her.

The NYPD had gotten the information on Jerry Tyson that Philip Lee had offered in return for a lighter sentence. Once Clifford Lee discovered that 3XK had targeted his son as a means for revenge, he arranged for his attorney to provide the information to the police.

"What good will this do us?" Kate asked, looking at her partner.

Castle looked over the deposition that Philip had provided. "Maybe none at all. But if we read this, we'll know where Jerry Tyson isn't and who his new identity isn't. Maybe there's a reason he used this town and this fake identity. Maybe, just maybe, it'll tell us something about where and who he really is."

"Sounds like a long shot to me."

"It is. Don't worry. I'll be happy to go over this along with all of our other information on Tyson."

Kate smiled and pulled the deposition away from him. "You're my partner, remember? Why don't you get us some coffee while I get the reports on Tyson out?"

"Coffee it is." He said, smiling.

There you go again, Castle, thinking like a cop. She thought.