900. Chapter 900

After Kill Switch

Episode 7.08

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: Castle is the bomb, but I don't own it. Rating: K Time: See above.

"What the hell happened here?" Castle asked.

The apartment was in shambles with furniture smashed, windows blown out and gaping holes in the walls.

"That's what were here to find out." Kate said, walking over to the bomb squad officer.

"Detective Beckett, how are you? Sergeant Sloane. I was working on the bomb you were standing on a while back. Glad to see you."

Kate smiled at the sergeant. "Glad for your help. Was this a bomb?"

"No doubt about it. It was hidden behind some garbage cans in the landing outside the kitchen. The next door neighbor, a Mrs. Woods, was just emptying her trash. She never had a chance."

"So she was the target?" Castle asked.

"Maybe, but more likely the bomber was hiding the bomb there from the parents. The parents are in week three of a five week cruise through Latin America. According to the neighbors, they're in Tierra del Fuego in Argentina and out of touch with the ship. It could be days before we find them."

"So the suspect is…."

Ryan and Esposito came into the apartment. Ryan spoke. "Their daughter, Jennifer Malloy, age sixteen. According to the neighbors she was an anarchist convinced the establishment needed to be blown sky high. "

Espo took over. "But according to the same neighbors, three months ago she was going around with a Confederate flag tee shirt. And before that she was writing love poems and reciting them to everyone she came near. Before that, she was dipping into her parents' liquor cabinet regularly and before that…."

"We have a problem." That was another bomb tech. "We found her computer. Her bedroom wasn't too badly damaged. She had downloaded the Anarchist's Cookbook, a how to do it book on how to make bombs and other counter-culture stuff. And she left behind a notebook. She said she was going to take another bomb to school today."

"Ryan, find out what school she goes to, warn them and get the bomb squad there now!"

"There's more." Said the tech. "She apparently got the cookbook on line and the text has been corrupted. If she follows the directions for the detonator, it'll be faulty. It could go off at any time. We think that's what happened with the first bomb."

"So she's a walking bomb that could go at any time?" Kate asked.

The tech just nodded.

Fifteen minutes later, Kate and her team pulled up in front of William M. Tweed High School. The school was already almost completely surrounded by police and fire vehicles of one sort or another. Attracted by the commotion news media vehicles were also arriving.

Two uniforms were waiting for Kate. "Detective Beckett?" One asked.

Kate nodded.

"Officers Dane and Hidalgo." Dane was a bulky Caucasian man and Hidalgo was a tall, slender Hispanic woman. "As far as we can tell, she's not at school. She didn't show up for her home room and according to the teacher, her attendance has been spotty for the last year or so."

"She could be anyplace?"

"Hey, Beckett. Esposito called out. "We have her boyfriend here. He wants to help."

Carl Weems was dressed all in black and had several piercings and tattoos, all of which seemed to relate to anarchism.

"I never thought she'd do it. I just thought she was making stuff up." He blurted out.

Kate smiled at the young man. "Carl, you've done nothing wrong. But we think Jenny's bomb is defective. It could go off at any time. Do you know where she is?"

Carl shook his head. "I haven't seen her since day before yesterday. She didn't say anything. I swear."

"Can you tell us where she might hang out when she's not in school?" Castle asked.

"Um…" Carl began, then stopped.

"Carl, you said you wanted to help. This is your chance." Kate said softly.

Carl looked around. "There's a guy named Morrie who hangs around by the park two blocks from here. Um….Sometimes we score some dope from him if we need to relax."

Kate turned to the two uniforms. "Do you know this Morrie? By sight?"

Both nodded.

"Okay, you're with me."

Morrie saw the police coming and ran to a large pond and threw something in. Then he turned and smiled. "Good morning, officers. How are you this fine day?"

"Cut the bullshit, Morrie." Growled Dane.

"Were looking for a high school girl named Jenny Malloy, five seven, redheaded and probably carrying a backpack." Kate said, getting right up in Morrie's face.

"I don't do girls. Ask your friend there." He turned to leave, but found Ryan and Esposito blocking his path.

"She's making bombs and one already killed someone. She was going to school with the other, but never showed." Kate said." If anyone dies because you wouldn't talk, I will make sure that narcotics cops are on you 24/7 for the rest of your life. Understand?"

"That crazy bitch had a bomb?" Morrie said. "Yeah, she was here about a half an hour ago. I sold her some smoking materials that are completely legal in more enlightened states."

"Do you know where she went?"

Morrie shrugged. "She didn't say."

Castle spoke up. "She wouldn't just light up in public. Where would kids go around here?"

"I've heard that there's an abandoned building by the 15th Ave. subway stop that might be used like that." He smiled." Not that I'd know personally, officers." But he was already speaking to their backs.

Espo and Dane kicked in the door and the rest of the team followed Kate inside. They found four people inside, but not Jenny.

Hidalgo brought one of them to Kate." This is the only one who isn't so wasted that he's unintelligible."

The witness was in withdrawal, sweating and shaking, which made it easier for Kate. "We'll take you to a hospital and get you some help. Get you down. Do you know Jenny Malloy?"

The man nodded.

"Where is she?"

"The movies." He stopped for a second. "Spaceships." Another stop. "The old one. The funny cop."

"Forbidden Planet! Leslie Nielsen!" Castle screamed. "It's playing again at the Angelica. It's maybe a dozen blocks from here."

When they go to the Angelica, there were already two uniforms there, talking to a civilian who had a bloody lip.

"What happened here?" Kate asked, showing her badge.

"Some kid tried to sneak into the show. When Ms. Flournoy tried to stop her, the kid whacked her one."

"Was the kid tall, slender, redheaded and carrying a backpack. Dressed in black?"

Ms. Flournoy nodded. "Yeah, and she had one of those A in a circle tee shirts. Anarchists? Something."

"Where did she go?"

Ms. Flournoy pointed across the street. "The subway."

With the lead she had, Malloy could have been anywhere. Kate called for backup and asked that the subway's security footage be scrubbed for any sign of the girl. Then she took her team to the subway to see if they could find any trace of her.

"We'll split up. Ryan and Espo, go towards uptown, Castle and I'll go the other way. And be very careful if you see her."

They hadn't gone very far when they saw her coming out of the restroom. Jenny and Kate locked eyes at once. Then Jenny began to run.

"Jenny! Stop. The bomb you have is defective!" Kate screamed.

Jenny made it to the end of the platform and jumped onto the tracks at a dead run.

When Kate got to the end of the platform there was a flash of light and Kate was knocked backwards by the blast. When she looked around the end of the platform, she knew what she'd see.

Back at the precinct, Kate sat with Castle at her desk.

"A five week cruise and they left their daughter all alone." Castle said. "They're not getting my vote for parents of the year."

"Apparently that was pretty common, at least according to the neighbors." Espo added.

"Hey, Beckett." Ryan called. "I have Mr. Malloy on the phone. He wants to know what's so damned important that we interrupted his vacation. You want to tell him."

Kate nodded grimly. "Do I ever."