Under normal circumstances, the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., is surrounded by multiple layers of security. Tanks from the National Guard are stationed nearby, and fighter jets from Andrews Air Force Base stand ready to shoot down any unauthorized aircraft attempting to enter Washington's airspace. Meanwhile, the Secret Service and other agencies maintain constant vigilance to handle any emergencies inside or outside the White House.
The idea that it would take thirteen minutes for reinforcements to arrive, as depicted in movies, is a complete joke. In reality, it would take less than five minutes for the White House to be surrounded by an overwhelming response force.
After all, this is the heart of the United States. Even though the presidency is often seen as just a high-profile "job" in America, the president remains the Commander-in-Chief and symbol of national power. Would the country really allow an attack on the White House to go unanswered? Not a chance.
However, the strongest external fortress is meaningless if it's betrayed from within.
When Gianna and Beckett learned about Roxette's deep infiltration into key security positions—placing operatives not only in the Secret Service but also in the military to facilitate an AC-130's unmarked entry into Washington's airspace—they finally understood the scale of the conspiracy. The plan to lure President Benjamin Arthur into the White House bunker, where infiltrator Kim Yan Kang would betray him, could indeed have succeeded if not for Castle's artificial intelligence, Jarvis, intercepting their communications.
Now, the apparent uproar being stirred by the so-called Blade Fist activists in New York started to make sense. It was likely a diversion to keep Castle distracted, preventing him from uncovering even more details about the conspiracy.
When all the pieces were put together, it became clear: the chaos in New York was a deliberate strategy to preoccupy Castle, someone with a personal supercomputer and two highly skilled hackers at his disposal. For the conspirators, ensuring Castle's attention was diverted was critical to executing their plan.
Moreover, Castle's earlier conflict with the politically correct activist groups tied to "Blade Fist"—stemming from his takedown of the corrupt congresswoman and activist Veer—provided the perfect pretext for targeting him. This time, they used the NYPD's controversial use of drones and missiles to stir public outrage and drag Castle into the fray.
By entangling Castle in a public relations battle with the activists, they aimed to keep him too occupied to notice their machinations. After all, planning an assault on the White House—securing weapons, aircraft, and operatives—was no small feat, even with the backing of Japanese intelligence and Roxette.
Such large-scale preparations could leave traces, especially with someone as resourceful as Castle lurking around. Distractions like the Blade Fist protests served as insurance to buy the conspirators more time.
In the face of this revelation, Beckett was the first to explode in anger. As a law enforcement officer with a deeply ingrained sense of responsibility, she couldn't tolerate the idea of such a massive conspiracy taking shape under their noses.
While Beckett was fixated on stopping the plot before it could progress further, Castle and Gianna were less inclined to act rashly.
Castle, knowing the larger context, understood that Benjamin Arthur—despite his frequent misfortunes—would likely survive this ordeal unscathed. At worst, some high-ranking officials like the Secretary of State might perish, but Benjamin himself was unlikely to be harmed with the legendary bodyguard Michael Banning at his side.
Gianna, ever the strategist, saw the situation as an opportunity. If the conspiracy played out partially or fully, it could create openings for her and Castle to gain leverage, whether by exposing the plotters or strengthening their ties with powerful allies like Benjamin.
Beckett, however, remained focused on prevention. "We should take action now to stop this before it even begins," she argued passionately.
But neither Castle nor Gianna supported her proactive stance.
Castle, confident in the strength of his foreknowledge and in Michael Banning's abilities, dismissed the urgency. "Relax, Kate. Michael Banning isn't just any bodyguard—he's the real deal. Even if the attack happens, Benjamin will walk out alive, I guarantee it. And honestly? Letting them try and fail might expose more of the conspirators hiding in the shadows."
Gianna, noticing Castle's calm demeanor, silently pieced together his true intentions. She had known Castle long enough to sense when he was up to something. His lack of concern, combined with a subtle confidence, suggested he had already formulated a plan.
Unlike Beckett, who was too caught up in the immediate stakes, Gianna could see Castle's confidence for what it was: a sign that he had everything under control.
She leaned back in her chair, scrutinizing him. "Rick," she said thoughtfully, "you're not worried at all, are you? Not about Benjamin, not about the Blade Fist protests, not even about this conspiracy. You've already figured out how this is going to play out, haven't you?"
Castle grinned but didn't answer directly, which only deepened Gianna's curiosity.
What Gianna didn't know was that Castle's confidence stemmed from his knowledge of the future. In the original timeline, the White House attack occurred years later, with Benjamin Arthur as president. Despite overwhelming odds, Michael Banning had singlehandedly saved Benjamin, his son, and himself, defeating all the attackers.
In that timeline, Michael hadn't even been at the White House when the attack began—he'd been stationed at the Treasury Building. Yet he still managed to fight his way through and rescue the president.
Now, with Michael still serving as Benjamin's primary bodyguard, Castle was certain that no one—not even Kim Yan Kang or Roxette—could harm Benjamin.
"Let them come," Castle thought to himself. "Michael Banning isn't just a bodyguard—he's a walking disaster for anyone foolish enough to try something like this."
Meanwhile, Gianna continued to watch Castle carefully. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was hiding something. Why was he so sure this would turn out fine?
For now, she decided not to press him. But in the back of her mind, she resolved to keep an eye on him. If Castle had some grand plan, she wanted to know exactly what it was.
As for Beckett, she couldn't understand why the other two were so calm. "Are you seriously suggesting we just sit back and let this play out?" she demanded.
Castle sighed. "Kate, trust me. Sometimes the best way to deal with a conspiracy is to let it expose itself. If we jump in too early, we risk tipping them off. Let them think they're in control—it'll make it easier to catch them when the time comes."
Though Beckett wasn't entirely convinced, she reluctantly agreed to hold off for now.
Castle, however, was already thinking several steps ahead. With Michael Banning guarding Benjamin and Gianna watching his back, he felt confident that everything would go according to plan. Still, he knew he couldn't let his guard down—not when the stakes were this high.
(End of Chapter)
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