What initially seemed like a straightforward "dog-eat-dog" case between foreign intelligence agencies quickly escalated into something far more complicated after Castle's name unexpectedly became involved. Joe Martinez, who had originally intended to take the case from the NYPD and simply file it away, now found herself dealing with new layers of complexity due to recently updated intelligence.
Making matters worse, Joe's close ties to two NYPD detectives—Esposito and Ryan—meant that even if she wanted to keep things quiet for now and inform Beckett or Castle later, it was no longer feasible. Esposito and Ryan were already in the know, which made delaying or concealing information pointless.
Being a decisive leader, Joe immediately turned to Esposito.
"Maybe we should call Beckett and inform her. Or have her come here personally. She's about five or six months pregnant now, right? Is she still able to get around okay?"
Esposito nodded.
"She's fine. Beckett was giving orders at the precinct this morning like she was full of energy. You're right; we should update her on this new development. But what about Rick? Should we tell him as well?"
Jabot, the other commanding officer in the joint command center, was also familiar with Castle. Hearing the conversation, he offered his input.
"I think we should inform Mr. Castle. If we keep this from him and something goes wrong, we'll end up in a worse position."
Jabot's suggestion wasn't merely procedural; he was aware that with Esposito and Ryan present, any attempt to hide the truth would be futile. They had a strong personal relationship with Castle and wouldn't withhold information from him. It was better to handle things openly rather than risk being seen as dishonest.
What Jabot didn't know, however, was that Joe herself had a deep connection to Castle through her relationship with Henry. Their rapport was far from superficial.
The surrounding agents from various law enforcement agencies—essentially "extras" in this situation—remained silent. They understood that the conversations between their commanding officers were far above their pay grade. Their job was simple: follow orders. They had no interest in acting like they owned the place.
Joe wasted no time. She led Esposito and Ryan into her office and called Beckett, who was still at the precinct with Castle.
"…Wait, what? The victim's identity is tied to… him? Are you sure? Oh… oh, I see. Well, guess what? He's sitting right here in front of me."
Joe's call left Beckett stunned. The fact that the deceased and the murderer were both after Castle's technology or information infuriated her. Just once, she wished her boyfriend wouldn't attract so much trouble.
Castle, meanwhile, had already sensed that something was up from Beckett's half of the phone conversation. Rather than being worried, he seemed… delighted?
Yes, delighted.
When Beckett relayed Joe's message, Castle's excitement surged. The recent months had been exhausting for him, thanks to his misadventures in his workshop. Now, however, this new development reignited his thrill-seeking spirit.
"Beckett, was that Joe on the phone? What's going on? Does this case have something to do with me? Was I the killer's target?" Castle asked eagerly.
Beckett rubbed her temples in frustration.
"Yes. Joe just called. After Esposito and Ryan arrived, the joint command center got updated intelligence from the CIA. It turns out the victim was a European military intelligence officer, and he came to New York specifically to obtain certain technologies or information from you. These people were willing to steal or do whatever it took to get what they wanted from you. Seriously, how do you always end up connected to this kind of nonsense?"
Castle feigned innocence.
"Hey, I'm the victim here! This isn't my fault!"
Knowing that arguing was pointless, Beckett decided to focus on the task at hand. She instructed Castle to drive her to the joint command center, hoping to get more detailed information from Joe in person.
Beckett was well aware that unknown enemies lurking in the shadows posed the greatest danger to Castle. Now that they knew who their adversaries were, Castle's resources—including Jarvis, God's Eye, drones, and satellite surveillance—would make finding them much easier.
Joe understood this as well. However, because she had mobilized the full resources of the command center in front of agents from multiple federal agencies, she couldn't openly reveal Castle's capabilities. Some of the agents, especially those from the CIA, were still eyeing Castle with suspicion despite the political shake-up that had purged many elements within their agency. While Castle's role in those events made him untouchable, Joe had to maintain appearances.
After a short drive, Castle and Beckett arrived at the joint command center. Esposito and Ryan quickly realized that their presence was no longer necessary. The upcoming discussions between high-ranking officers were beyond their jurisdiction. After exchanging brief greetings with Castle, the two detectives tactfully excused themselves.
In the meeting room, only Joe, Beckett, Castle, and Jabot remained.
Beckett had already made up her mind on how to handle the situation. Given her advanced pregnancy, she knew that her involvement in an international espionage case would be limited. The joint command center was far better equipped to deal with intelligence matters. Additionally, Castle's security protocols and technology provided more protection than any police resources could.
Castle and Beckett had discussed the matter on the way over. Castle would offer intelligence support under the guise of collaboration with the command center. This arrangement would allow him to manage any hidden threats while keeping the NYPD out of unnecessary danger.
Jabot, understanding Joe's intentions perfectly, began a formal briefing with Castle. This was all part of the show for the agents outside who didn't know the full story. As Joe and Beckett exchanged quiet words on the sidelines, Jabot initiated the standard questioning process.
To everyone in the room, it was clear that Castle was about to take control of the situation in his own unique way.
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