Castle had long understood the high intelligence of Jerry Tyson. His ability to meticulously plan and conceal his true identity as a deranged serial killer was something Castle had already deeply feared back when he watched the original show in his previous life. Tyson, after all, nearly killed Beckett, working in tandem with a rogue plastic surgeon. Such a person could not be allowed to roam free—he needed to be dealt with swiftly, eliminating any potential danger at the source.
Castle didn't want to live under the constant threat of someone like Tyson, a slippery, highly intelligent sociopath. The best solution was to kill him, putting an end to this threat once and for all. This decision wasn't just about protecting himself from Tyson's potential schemes, but also because the state of New York, while still maintaining the death penalty, hadn't executed anyone since the 1970s. Even if Beckett's team captured Tyson and the courts sentenced him to life imprisonment, Castle knew that Tyson was too clever. It was only a matter of time before he found a way to escape.
Castle was well aware that police officers, led by Beckett, typically didn't shoot to kill unless they were in mortal danger. Their job was to apprehend criminals and hand them over to the justice system. What happened afterward—whether the criminal sought revenge—wasn't something they worried about.
However, someone like Jerry Tyson, even if he were sentenced to life in prison, wouldn't stay locked up for long. Tyson could easily find a flaw in the system and escape. After all, Neil had once escaped from prison with ease to help his girlfriend Kate. Though Neil had been held in a lower-security prison, unlike Sing Sing where Tyson was currently confined, no one could guarantee that Tyson wouldn't come up with an ingenious escape plan once his identity was exposed.
That's why, after leaving the precinct the previous night, Castle decided to eliminate Marcus, who had been impersonating Tyson and committing crimes outside the prison. This move disrupted Tyson's plans and likely caused him some doubt or concern, especially since all of Tyson's information had to be brought to him from the outside. Although Tyson had carefully arranged everything before Marcus's release from prison a month earlier, the two of them were undoubtedly in contact.
Otherwise, how would Marcus have known exactly where to find Linda Russell and, in the process, find an accomplice in Paul Macard, who worked with Linda at the cable company?
Linda had inadvertently seen Tyson's true face four years ago when she crossed paths with him in an elevator as he was disguised as a cable company repairman preparing for a murder. At the time, she hadn't realized the danger she was in, but her suspicion had been triggered by Tyson's unconvincing tool kit. Fearing for her life, Linda had fled the elevator and called the police. However, since nothing had actually happened, the police didn't take her concerns seriously. She hadn't even left her name or contact details, just a vague description of her location before hanging up.
This didn't matter to Tyson. All that mattered was that someone had seen his real face, creating a potential leak in his carefully maintained disguise. To plug that leak, Tyson had used Marcus, grooming him for four years in prison, turning him into his pawn. As soon as Marcus was released, he began impersonating Tyson, embarking on his new "career" as a serial killer.
Their plan had been working perfectly—Marcus's first murder had gone off without a hitch, following Tyson's meticulous methods. They had targeted Linda precisely because she had seen Tyson in the elevator four years earlier. Tyson, knowing she posed a threat, had set her up as Marcus's initiation kill.
But there was one unforeseen complication: Paul Macard. Paul, Linda's co-worker, had developed an obsessive crush on her. When Linda rejected him and even obtained a restraining order, Paul became enraged. He began stalking her. While shadowing Linda for his own nefarious purposes, Marcus noticed Paul following her as well. After a few days of careful observation, Marcus realized Paul was just a pathetic voyeur, no real threat to his plans. Seeing an opportunity, Marcus approached Paul in a bar, where he struck up a conversation. To Marcus's surprise, Paul became an unwitting accomplice.
Fueled by anger and alcohol, Paul was easy to manipulate. He provided Marcus with information on Linda's schedule and habits, making her an easy target. Even better, Paul's side profile bore a striking resemblance to Marcus's. As a seasoned criminal, Marcus immediately recognized the value in this. He could use Paul's appearance to create an alibi for himself during future crimes.
With Paul now on board, the two began their sinister partnership. Marcus's first foray into serial killing went off flawlessly, thanks to his meticulous planning and Paul's inside knowledge of Linda. Everything was going according to plan, until Castle and Beckett's unexpected appearance scared Marcus off just before his second victim, Kim Foster, could be killed.
Still, Marcus wasn't worried. His confidence had grown after his initial success, and he wasn't easily shaken.
But what Marcus hadn't anticipated was Castle himself. Castle, knowing the story all too well, had tracked down Marcus and Paul. He didn't bother with words or threats. As soon as the two men stepped out of the bar and prepared to drive away, Castle acted decisively. Without hesitation, he approached, gun in hand, and swiftly executed both men in the shadowy alley. Neither Marcus nor Paul ever saw it coming.
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