Castle's plan to use the IRS as his weapon was nothing short of brutal.
Why?
Because among the protesters who had been blockading the NYPD headquarters, nearly 80% were Black activists, with their leaders primarily consisting of dreadlocked, loud-mouthed individuals who were experts at exploiting political correctness. To make matters worse, the remaining leaders were white liberals—recruited by the Lockset organization over the past two days to refocus the protest's chaotic energy onto Castle, after the Black activists had failed to properly direct their aggression.
Now, here's the thing about these Black activists: they didn't exactly have a culture of dutifully filing taxes or reporting income. Their favorite form of currency was cold, hard cash—specifically those green bills adorned with Benjamin Franklin. Since cash is difficult to trace, why bother declaring it for taxes?
But none of this could escape the all-seeing eyes of Castle's AI, Jarvis.
For the IRS, Castle's meticulously compiled whistleblower email was an undeniable jackpot.
Even if the IRS realized they were being used as pawns in someone else's scheme, they didn't care. A win was a win, and cracking down on massive tax evasion cases was good for their stats.
When the IRS informed the NYPD of their intention to arrest the leaders of the protest—those who had been choking the NYPD headquarters for days and who were now confirmed as serious tax evasion suspects—the police were overjoyed. It was as though a rainstorm had finally come to end a long drought. Without hesitation, the NYPD not only approved the IRS operation but also offered their full cooperation.
This was understandable.
The NYPD had been thoroughly humiliated over the past few days by these so-called Blade Fist activists. Due to political sensitivities, the NYPD, despite its overwhelming firepower, couldn't act against the protestors who had been obstructing their headquarters. So, when they learned that the IRS planned to swoop in and arrest the leaders, even Deputy Commissioner Montgomery—himself a Black man—enthusiastically supported the plan.
This was a textbook example of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Thus, the dreadlocked Black activist who had been basking in the glory of his ability to paralyze the NYPD with a crowd of chanting protesters suddenly found himself in deep trouble.
And not just him. The white liberals who had joined the protest at Lockset's request to escalate the situation and redirect the fire onto Castle also found themselves caught in the net.
What made the situation even more amusing was that the IRS, fully aware of how sensitive this operation was, deliberately sent six Black agents—two teams of three—to arrest the dreadlocked activist. This ensured that the media couldn't spin the narrative into one of racial discrimination.
Meanwhile, the white liberal leaders, who had fancied themselves untouchable, quickly realized they were doomed. These individuals, so bold when confronting the "poor, powerless, and oppressed" NYPD, dared not lift a finger against the IRS.
The sight of IRS agents arriving in armored vehicles outfitted with M2 Browning machine guns was a stark reminder that these weren't cops bound by political constraints.
It was no secret that the IRS, like the Federal Reserve, was backed by powerful Jewish financiers. Black activists might defy the NYPD, but challenge those behind the IRS?
Not a chance.
Even Lockset, the organization orchestrating this protest, wouldn't dare provoke the IRS—let alone the activists they had manipulated.
So, in full view of countless reporters and cameras, the once-cocky dreadlocked activist, along with the other protest leaders—including the white liberals—were handcuffed and led away by IRS agents. They didn't resist; they didn't dare. All around, the remaining Black protesters watched in stunned silence as their leaders were taken away, unable to process what had just happened.
The journalists, who had been eagerly waiting for the NYPD to clash with the protesters so they could capture sensational footage, were also caught off guard. When the IRS arrived, they wisely refrained from making any offhand remarks or indulging in biased commentary. Instead, they uncharacteristically stuck to objective reporting, explaining that the IRS had acted on concrete evidence of tax evasion to arrest the so-called Blade Fist activists.
Why were they so careful?
Because no one messes with the IRS.
Journalists might mock the FBI, ridicule the CIA, or criticize the NYPD, but the IRS? That was a line no one crossed.
This was true not only for the reporters on-site but also for the media organizations they worked for. None of them dared to go toe-to-toe with the IRS.
As a result, viewers across the country were treated to the bizarre spectacle of a textbook example of "big fish eating small fish, small fish eating shrimp."
The Blade Fist activists had dared to block the NYPD headquarters because they thought their political correctness shielded them. But no amount of social justice rhetoric could protect them from the IRS, the enforcer of America's infamous mantra: "Only death and taxes are eternal."
And just like that, the protest that had plagued the NYPD for days came to an end in the most absurd manner possible.
Members of the Lockset organization, who had been closely monitoring the situation, were furious when they learned what had happened. Through their channels, they discovered that the IRS operation had been triggered by an anonymous email—one that meticulously detailed the tax evasion schemes of the protest leaders. The IRS couldn't resist acting on such solid evidence, especially since the fines and back taxes they could collect from these individuals represented a significant win for their New York branch.
The Lockset members were livid. They didn't need a genius to figure out that this was Castle's doing. Enraged, they briefly considered turning the tables and filing a similar tax-related complaint against Castle.
But upon closer inspection of Castle's financial records, they realized they were up against an impenetrable fortress.
Castle had long since entrusted all his finances to PricewaterhouseCoopers' New York branch. As a writer, he had meticulously managed his taxes. Although he owned shares in Northrop Grumman, Pratt & Whitney, and General Electric, these were private holdings and didn't generate taxable income unless liquidated. Additionally, Castle had recently purchased a 12-acre estate on Long Island, reducing his tax liabilities even further.
Simply put, Castle's finances were airtight. The IRS wouldn't find a single thing to investigate.
Meanwhile, the loss of the Blade Fist leaders, who had been the driving force behind the protest, effectively neutralized the entire movement. Without their leadership, the remaining activists had no choice but to disperse.
The Lockset organization found themselves stuck. It was impossible to find new leaders to reignite the protest on such short notice.
What about the plan to smear Castle?
It was dead in the water.
The Lockset members, skilled at scheming but lacking in execution, were left seething with frustration.
Back at his estate, Castle wasn't the least bit concerned about whatever petty schemes Lockset might still be plotting. Deep in his lab, he had far more interesting things to focus on.
With the defensive systems of his estate fully upgraded and 30 elite bodyguards led by "Big Ivan," Castle was confident that no one—not even the U.S. military—could breach his sanctuary without significant effort.
At the moment, Castle was busy assembling a massive flexible display screen for testing. Designed to be mounted on the belly of an AC-130 gunship, the screen would serve as the prototype for his visual stealth technology. Once complete, he planned to hand it over to Lockheed Martin for experimental trials.
So, when Beckett came home that evening to share the news that the protests outside the NYPD headquarters had ended following the IRS arrests, Castle barely reacted.
His calm demeanor made Beckett immediately suspicious. Knowing him as well as she did, she couldn't help but suspect that the man in front of her, feigning indifference, was the mastermind behind the whole thing.
(End of Chapter)
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