Castle snapped back to reality, quickly scanning the room and confirming that everyone was present. He discreetly exchanged a glance with Henry, and from Henry's assured look, Castle knew he had given Martinez a heads-up as instructed. Relieved, Castle joined the others in the small conference room to share the intel they had gathered over the past few days.
As everyone settled into their seats, Castle began, "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm not sure what you've uncovered these past few days, but Dr. Henry and I have made a small discovery that might be of help."
Beckett, already impatient, was eager to know what Castle had been up to. Interrupting his preamble, she snapped, "Castle, just tell us what you found!"
Startled by Beckett's abruptness, Castle composed himself. The primary purpose of this meeting was to cover for the whereabouts of him and Henry, ensuring that neither Beckett nor Martinez would suspect them. Thus, Castle commenced his performance.
Unfortunately, Castle was unaware that both female detectives saw him and Henry as mischievous kids who got along due to shared mischief. They merely feared the two might cause trouble together, never suspecting they could pull off something as audacious as secretly capturing the killer.
The truth was, Castle had been the daring one, constantly prodding Henry. The detectives had no inkling that the suspect, Adam, had been paralyzed and hospitalized by Castle and Henry, making it impossible for Beckett and Martinez to ever catch the real culprit, turning this case into a cold one.
Unaware that his fears were unfounded and his elaborate cover story unnecessary, Castle began his tale. "At the scene, I noticed the wounds on the body resembled those from an 1888 case in London. Something felt off, so after consulting with Dr. Morgan, we identified a discrepancy: the shape of the wrist wounds. He's not the same person!"
Beckett rolled her eyes, irritated by Castle's obvious statement. "Of course, he isn't the same killer from back then. He couldn't live that long. What did you find?"
Castle, smiling sheepishly, delivered the agreed-upon explanation. "We discovered that the victim's wrist had a crescent-shaped wound, a detail reported only in the Manchester Star back in 1888. However, the actual 1888 case victims had star-shaped wounds. The Manchester Star might have made an error, but it gives us a lead. The Manchester Star went out of business in 1889, and its archives aren't available online. The only place to find these records is the New York Library."
"So, our conclusion is that the killer must have visited the New York Library to access this old report, as the crescent-shaped wound was mimicked from the Manchester Star's erroneous description."
Beckett and Martinez, initially skeptical, straightened up, intrigued by this new, credible lead.
Beckett turned to Henry, considering him more reliable than Castle. "Dr. Morgan, what's your take on this?"
Martinez also addressed Henry, "Henry, is this the result you mentioned that would catch our attention?"
Henry, smiling confidently, delivered his rehearsed lines. "Yes, modern forensic science began with the 1888 case. I happen to have records from that time. Comparing those records with our current victim's, we found the main inconsistency was the wrist wound. Further investigation revealed the Manchester Star was the only publication to describe this wound, even mistakenly. Since the paper ceased in 1889 and isn't digitally accessible, the New York Library is the only place with those archives. Hence, the killer must have been there, leaving a trail for you to follow."
Henry, unwavering, recited the story Castle had crafted. Despite being a lie, it held a kernel of truth because Castle was well-versed in this storyline. This made the information coming from Henry, a normally credible source, convincing enough for Detective Martinez.
Trusting her colleague's judgment, Beckett decided to consider the lead, setting aside her suspicions about Castle's odd behavior for a private discussion later.
"Then we need to check the New York Library's records to see who accessed the 1888 Manchester Star. Our killer must be among them, right?" Detective Martinez summarized.
Castle and Henry, having completed their act, nodded in unison. "Exactly!"
Beckett, still wary of Castle, decided to let Martinez handle the investigation at the library, planning to question Castle later when they were alone.
"Detective Martinez, would you and Dr. Henry like to take on this lead? What do you think?" Beckett offered.
Martinez, eager to finally have a substantial lead in the case, accepted without hesitation. It was frustrating to have the victim's heart sent to her station only to find the crime scene in the jurisdiction of another precinct, leaving her with no direct evidence to work with. Now, with Henry back and a clear lead, she felt confident.
"Sure, Beckett. We'll check the library. Thanks for the trust!"
Beckett, seeing Martinez's enthusiasm and relieved to delegate the task, agreed. "Alright, be careful. Good luck!"
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