"Careful with your words, Mr. Cassel. Reality isn't like the novels you write, where you can't just slap your assumptions on someone."
For a moment, Calderon was like a wounded old lone wolf, baring his still-sharp fangs at Cassel.
But that was all. After Jack snorted coldly, he chose to continue defending himself.
"Yes, I fell in love with Valerie, and she reciprocated my love, but we didn't have any arguments, and I was here that night, in this suite, I didn't go anywhere!"
"Let's not even talk about the fact that you have enough money to bribe the hotel staff to provide your alibi." Beckett took out another photo and placed it in front of Calderon.
"We told you before that after Dr. Monroe was murdered, his body was taken to the funeral home. This is the surveillance footage my colleague retrieved from an ATM less than a block away.
Does that car, a black Cadillac DeVille, look familiar? You often used it to take Dr. Monroe for walks in the park, right?
As we speak, the forensics team is extracting the lining from the trunk of this car and comparing it to the gray nylon fibers found on Dr. Monroe. I have a feeling the results will be very unfavorable to you."
Calderon seemed lost in a state of uncertainty, muttering to himself, "No, no, no, I was here that night. I remember it clearly. I didn't go anywhere. I remember this car."
"Perhaps your dear brother Manuel can help explain what's going on," Jack, who had been observing everything with a cold eye, suddenly said.
He took two steps forward and blocked the doorway leading from the living room to the bedroom.
Although the possibility of resistance was slim, Jack still instinctively took precautions, avoiding any clichéd scenario, like pushing him into the bedroom and pulling out a shotgun when the situation became dire.
"Oh my God," Calderon turned, looking at his brother in disbelief. "You did it? You took the car keys that night. Look at me, my brother!"
Manuel's eyes glistened with tears, and his voice trembled slightly as he replied, "You don't understand, brother. I had to do this. It was all for you."
"Manuel! Why!" Calderon roared, a hand instinctively clutching his chest.
"She's an informant, Caesar," Manuel growled back. "I noticed the man waiting in the restaurant, so I followed him. Do you know who he is?
He's an investigator with the State Attorney's Office. That woman betrayed you."
Cassel and Beckett sighed silently. Although they were already certain that Dr. Monroe's death was linked to the drug lord, they had considered various possible motives before arriving.
But the only thing they hadn't expected was that it was all just a misunderstanding.
"Why didn't you tell me beforehand?" Calderon's face twisted, his expression becoming utterly ferocious.
"Because you've been blinded by love, brother. I know you too well." Despite being a murderer, Manuel's voice choked.
"When you gave her Mother's bracelet, I knew I was the only one who could have stopped this, stopped Valerie from hurting you."
"What did you do, my dear brother?"
Calderon tried to grab Manuel's collar, but his frail body clearly wouldn't allow him to do anything too drastic in such a frenzy. Instead, Manuel held his arm.
"He struck her in the back of the head, knocking her unconscious, and then injected air into her neck. I think it's a technique your brother learned while taking care of you."
Cassel's tone was tinged with pity, but it was more out of sympathy for the deceased's misfortune than for the "loving" brothers before him.
Beckett continued, "So there wouldn't be any blood evidence. Then he stuffed Dr. Monroe's body into another person's coffin, so no one would ever find it."
"I think your brother probably prepared a story about leaving without saying goodbye, like Dr. Monroe gave him the bracelet before leaving, and then waited for the right moment."
Jack even finished the story that hadn't yet happened, pulling out the handcuffs.
"Why did you do that?" Calderon panted, his gaze filled with an indescribable mix of emotions as he looked at his brother, his voice switching to their native Spanish.
"I've always done that, haven't I? Brother, make them disappear. No body, no murder. You taught me that." Manuel released Cesar Calderon's hands, letting them fall limply.
Beckett stepped forward, took the handcuffs from Jack, and stood behind him. "Manuel Calderon, you are under arrest for the murder of Dr. Valerie Monroe. You have the right to remain silent."
Manuel didn't struggle. After all, both he and his aging brother were now just ordinary wealthy individuals in New York, investors in name only.
Their shady history of rising to wealth, the constant scrutiny of federal law enforcement, made them somewhat marginalized.
"I can't let her hurt you, or our family, I hope."
Manuel's heartfelt words were abruptly interrupted by Jack. "The truth is, Dr. Monroe couldn't hurt anyone. She was indeed an informant for the State Attorney's Office, but the investigation wasn't about you or your brother.
They have no interest in your family; they're only investigating corruption at the county hospital. Your murder is meaningless."
After hearing this, Cesar Calderon slumped back onto the sofa, clutching his chest, breathing heavily, as if he were about to have a heart attack.
However, to Jack's disappointment, this dramatic scene didn't unfold. Even after the three men left the hotel suite with Manuel, the former drug lord remained sitting there, staring blankly at the ceiling, speechless.
—
"Want to go to my place for a drink?" The case was closed, the courtroom was the only thing left. Cassel seemed in high spirits, already pulling out his phone to search for tomorrow's flight to Las Vegas.
"No, our work isn't done yet." Since Beckett's police car was being used to transport the criminals, Jack gestured for the great writer to get into his Audi R8.
"Anything else?" Cassel asked, puzzled.
"Two things. First, notify the DEA and have them monitor the Calderon family's financial flows. They've been unable to catch this guy because he's kept most of his funds in secret overseas accounts.
But now that his most important family member, his closest brother, is behind bars, he'll definitely hire the best legal team in New York, which means a huge expense, and there's a chance they'll reveal a flaw."
Jack smiled cunningly. He wasn't obsessed with absolute justice; the perfect ending was to eliminate the bad guys. Nothing else mattered, but if given the chance, he'd still be happy to see them suffer.
"Calderon's brother killed his lover himself. Do you think he'd save him at all costs?" Castle found Jack's idea a bit bizarre.
"Who knows? After all, before Dr. Monroe showed up, and even in the past six months, his brother has been caring for him tirelessly."
Jack trusted his judgment. Besides, there was nothing to lose by giving it a try; who knew there might be a surprise.
"So, what's the second thing? Where are we going?" Castle grew curious as Jack drove onto Central Avenue.
As they approached Columbus Park, Jack found a random parking spot on the side of the road and pulled out his phone to text Erin Reagan, explaining, "I think we might have a chance to right a wrongful conviction."
(End of chapter)