The intelligence that Jabot obtained from the CIA merely confirmed that the murder victim was an MI6 agent from Britain and revealed part of his mission in New York. However, neither the CIA nor the various agencies within the Joint Command Center had access to the full picture. Compared to Castle, who had the support of Jarvis—an advanced AI—their intelligence gathering capabilities were still lacking.
For example, Jabot had no idea that the British agent had been killed by a Turkish operative from the remnants of the Ottoman intelligence network. Nor did he know that both British and Turkish intelligence agencies were now targeting Castle. The Turks, often seen as reckless and overly ambitious, had also joined the hunt for Castle's technology.
Castle didn't share these details with Jabot, who was still providing him with a standard case briefing. Moments earlier, Joe and Beckett had agreed that the case would remain under the jurisdiction of the Joint Command Center rather than being returned to the NYPD. Beckett, now six months pregnant, didn't have the time or energy to take on such a dangerous case. Additionally, investigations involving foreign intelligence agencies fell under federal jurisdiction. While the 12th Precinct was highly skilled in handling local crimes, it lacked the expertise to go up against professional foreign operatives.
After delivering the essential case information, Jabot tactfully left the meeting room. Being aware of the close relationship between Castle, Beckett, and Joe, he knew when to give the key players privacy. He had completed his duties and saw no need to linger.
Now alone with Beckett and Joe, Castle spoke candidly.
"Joe, I already know what's really going on behind this case."
Beckett wasn't surprised. She was well aware of Jarvis's vast capabilities. Once Castle had a specific target, his AI could scour countless sources across the internet and extract valuable information in no time.
Joe, though less informed about Jarvis's full capabilities, had some idea. Castle had once provided her with a weakened version of God's Eye, though she later deactivated it to avoid drawing unwanted attention from the FBI. Still, she was curious as to how Castle had unraveled the case so quickly.
"I've got my own sources," Castle explained. "After your call, I had someone investigate the situation. I've got some information that you might not have yet. Since Beckett is handing the case over to you, I think it's only fair you know the full story."
Joe remained silent, more interested in the information than how Castle had acquired it. She wasn't like the CIA, which tried to seize any technology it came across. Her friendship with Castle and Beckett was strong enough that she didn't need to act selfishly.
Castle continued.
"The victim was indeed a British intelligence agent targeting my technology. The person who killed him is a Turkish operative with the same objective. Apparently, the Turkish agent discovered the British operative's identity and reported it back home. The Brits had previously sent this guy to support Kurdish separatists in Turkey, so the Turks put him on their blacklist. Once their agent recognized him, they got the order to eliminate him."
Joe was taken aback.
"Wait, Rick, are you saying this is a turf war between two foreign intelligence agencies? And you're their common target?"
Castle nodded.
"Exactly. We know two things for sure: the Turkish agent killed the British operative, and both agencies want my technology. The Turkish operative is still hiding somewhere in New York. If you want to catch him, you'll need to wait a bit. I'm still tracking his whereabouts."
This, of course, was a lie. Jarvis had already located the Turkish operative before Castle even arrived at the command center. However, Castle couldn't exactly explain to a room full of federal agents that his AI had solved the case in mere minutes. He needed to bide his time and play along.
Joe didn't press the issue. She was grateful for Castle's cooperation, especially given the complexity of the case. If the command center managed to capture the Turkish agent, it would be a major victory and boost the center's reputation. However, secrecy was paramount—none of the agents outside could know how Castle was involved. She appreciated his discretion and agreed that taking some time to process the information was necessary.
Once the plan was finalized, Castle and Beckett left the command center. Back in Castle's car, Beckett turned to him with a knowing look.
"You've already found the killer, haven't you?"
Castle didn't deny it.
"Yes, but since this case involves two foreign intelligence agencies, I didn't object when you and Joe decided to leave it in her hands."
Beckett nodded. She understood how messy the situation was. Although the 12th Precinct had the capability to apprehend the suspect, dealing with the political and international ramifications was far beyond their expertise. It was better for the joint command center, with its network of federal agencies, to handle the case.
"This isn't just about catching the killer," Beckett remarked. "The real problem is that you've caught the attention of foreign intelligence agencies again. This isn't like the time you were targeted by that Japanese agency. We're talking about MI6 and Turkish intelligence—both NATO members."
In her previous life's experience, Beckett knew that relations between Turkey and the U.S. were often strained. The CIA had once supported separatist movements in Turkey, prompting the Turkish government to retaliate by surrounding and cutting off a U.S. air base on their soil. While that incident hadn't happened yet in this timeline, tensions between the two countries remained high.
Beckett also understood that beneath the surface of this murder case lay a web of political rivalries. Even without her pregnancy, she might have hesitated to get involved.
The joint command center had been established precisely for situations like this. Its purpose was to enhance coordination between various U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies, particularly in response to growing terrorism threats. Additionally, both the FBI and CIA had their own agendas—one seeking greater global authority and the other hoping to secure domestic jurisdiction.
Ultimately, this case was better left in Joe's hands.
Castle, however, seemed oddly calm about the situation. Despite the serious implications, he appeared unconcerned. Beckett, who knew him all too well, quickly realized that he had already devised a plan to deal with both the Turks and the British.
"You've already figured out what to do, haven't you?" she asked.
Castle gave her a playful grin.
"Of course. You know me."
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