Castle gave a sheepish grin, knowing that his flamboyant idea of putting up a sign as big as a billboard at the entrance of his estate might have been a bit over the top. "I might've gone a little too far with that sign. But don't worry, I didn't add the neon lights yet. I was originally going to have it glowing at night, but I think I'll pass on that now."
He then quickly changed the subject, turning to Bob. "Hey Bob, welcome back. You're all in the clear now, right?"
Beckett, feeling a bit embarrassed about scolding Castle in front of his friend, let go of his ear after shooting him a sharp look. She knew Bob likely wanted to have a talk with Castle, so she didn't press the issue and left the two men to their conversation as she walked into the main hall.
Bob Lee Swagger smiled, watching the playful exchange between Beckett and Castle. Once Beckett was out of earshot, he said, "Yeah, with Johnson's unexpected death, the FBI quickly pinned the Times Square incident on him. But those five actual killers? I doubt the FBI will let them off easily. After all, the CIA and FBI have been rivals for a long time…"
Castle chuckled as he motioned for Bob to follow him into the hall. After pouring Bob a drink, he said, "We know. The person who took out Johnson was actually the big shot who dropped by last night. Turns out, he's a retired CIA agent.
It's really Johnson's own fault. He sent hitmen pretending to be Andrew's people to mess with that retired agent's peaceful life. Now, even the CIA used to be wary of this guy. And the funny thing is, this old agent just so happened to cross paths with the man who was framing him—Johnson. Talk about karma!"
Beckett had already noticed during her previous phone conversation with Castle that something seemed off when he mentioned the two old men who had killed Johnson. He even admitted knowing their identities. Now, after Esposito's report earlier that morning, her curiosity was piqued. "Castle, you know who these two guys are, don't you?"
Castle didn't deny it. He openly explained how Johnson had hired people to pose as Andrew's men and attempt to assassinate Frank Moses. The plan was to make Frank, a retired CIA legend, believe that Vice President Andrew was trying to eliminate anyone who knew his dark secrets, so he could run for president. But when Frank discovered this, he shared all the intelligence with Castle, who passed it on to Beckett.
Beckett was puzzled. "How do you know this retired agent that even the CIA is afraid of?"
Castle, seeing no reason to hide it now, said, "He was my father's subordinate. They used to work together on missions."
Just then, Alexis, who had been coming down the stairs, overheard Castle's last words. "Dad, what did you just say? You found Grandpa?"
Crap. Castle cursed his big mouth. He had been trying to keep his reunion with his father a secret from both Alexis and Martha. Now, his daughter had overheard, and he knew there was no way to talk his way out of this one. Alexis was too smart to be fooled. She had always been his Achilles' heel.
With a deep sigh, Castle tried to calm Alexis down. "Sweetie, I promise I'll tell you everything later. But not right now. I still need to talk to Bob about some important matters, okay?"
Alexis, being the understanding daughter she was, didn't push the issue. After greeting Beckett, she went back to her "teachers" Neal and Mozzie to continue her lessons on art appreciation and avoiding creeps.
Beckett wasn't surprised by Castle's admission. She had always known that Castle had access to favors and resources from places like Alley Street, thanks to his father's legacy. She wasn't too concerned about Castle's connection to the two old men who had killed Johnson, as she already despised the colonel for stirring up trouble in her jurisdiction. For her, it was a matter of justice—Johnson had died by the hand of the man he had targeted, a fitting end to his schemes. Beckett's main concern now was whether the situation in New York had finally come to a close.
However, Castle's next words revealed just how bold her boyfriend really was.
"Beckett, Bob's situation is wrapped up now. From the intelligence we've gathered, it's clear that the real mastermind behind everything, Senator Charles Hahn of Montana, is ready to reconcile with Andrew. Vice President Andrew, in turn, won't retaliate too harshly because Charles holds the evidence that could ruin him. So, the aftermath of the Times Square shooting is mostly just going to involve the FBI using those five CIA hitmen to tear a piece out of the Agency."
He paused before continuing, "But that doesn't mean it's over. Don't forget, there's still a group of retired agents who had their peaceful lives disrupted by Johnson. And they've got their sights set on Andrew now."
Beckett picked up on Castle's implications immediately. "You're saying that even though both sides—the Elephants and the Donkeys—might want to call a truce, your father's old team is so pissed about being attacked that they want to take Andrew down?
But they're just a bunch of retired old-timers. How could they possibly take on the Vice President?"
Castle smirked. "Did you forget about the two old men who, without leaving a trace, took out Johnson just a hundred meters from the FBI's New York branch? You told me yourself that none of the security cameras caught a glimpse of them. These guys may be old, but they're still among the best of the best—agents who survived battles with the KGB during the Cold War. Just because they're retired doesn't mean you should underestimate them. They're still incredibly dangerous, right Bob?"
Bob, who had been quietly listening, nodded in agreement. "I was brought to the scene where Johnson was killed. From the looks of it, he had no idea those two old men were even there until it was too late. He was holding binoculars, watching the FBI office across the street when they got him. I don't know if he was after me or those five agents the FBI was holding, but what's clear is that those two guys took out Johnson's bodyguards without making a sound before entering the room. Not just anyone can pull that off. Even though Johnson was a former CIA Africa Bureau chief, he was completely blindsided. That takes skill.
And the shot that killed him? Precise. It was a 11.43mm caliber, likely from an M1911—an old-school choice that fits the style of these older gentlemen. Nowadays, younger guys usually prefer Glocks, but these men? Definitely seasoned veterans."
Beckett was left speechless after Castle and Bob's explanation. "So, those retired agents are going to give Andrew a lesson during his fundraising banquet tomorrow night, right?
Castle, I just got a notice. Because my precinct embarrassed the FBI and the Secret Service yesterday with our performance, they don't want us handling the security for the banquet anymore. They're giving it to the 22nd precinct—Martinez's team!
Do you really want to see Henry's girlfriend caught in the crossfire of those old agents' schemes?"
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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