Detective Joe Martinez and Dr. Henry Morgan headed to the New York Library to investigate the list of individuals who had borrowed the 1888 edition of the Manchester Star. Detectives Esposito and Kevin Ryan were also re-examining the victim's social connections. Castle, attempting to slip away, was thwarted by Beckett's stern gaze and resigned himself to a private interrogation between just the two of them.
"Spill it. What have you and Dr. Morgan been up to? Don't tell me you spent all these days tracking down people who borrowed old newspaper articles. I admit, it's a new line of investigation, but that excuse won't fly with me," Beckett said, sitting at her desk and staring down the grinning Castle. Her intuition told her Castle was hiding something important.
Castle knew his tricks wouldn't fool Beckett's sharp instincts. Fortunately, he had prepared a story in advance. Carefully meeting Beckett's eyes, he began his performance with a mysterious air.
"I never expected to fool you. Some things are just not suitable to say in front of everyone," he said.
Beckett was curious. "Why?"
Castle, seeing that Beckett wasn't immediately questioning his intentions, felt a bit more confident. "Do you remember the black flower we found at the crime scene? I thought it was a clue the killer left us, indicating his next target."
"I remember, but it's been days and he hasn't struck again. That means your guess wasn't entirely correct," Beckett responded, somewhat contemptuous of Castle's failed prediction but also relieved that there hadn't been another murder.
"Well, if I hadn't helped Henry take down Adam, there might have been more crimes by now. Maybe even several more," Castle thought to himself but kept his tone respectful. "You're right, I'm not a psychic. I just mean the copycat might be a drifter. He precisely mimicked Jack the Ripper's case, down to the publicly known details. This suggests he has obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Do you agree?"
Beckett nodded. "Go on..."
Seeing her agreement, Castle continued, "The black flower must be a clue he left. If he hasn't continued his spree, there are two possibilities. One, something unexpected and severe happened to him, disrupting his plans—maybe someone noticed him, or he faced some insurmountable obstacle. Two, he's a transient criminal who vanished after this murder, possibly leaving New York."
Beckett listened, nodding slightly even though Castle's words sounded far-fetched. She couldn't deny that his analysis, particularly about the killer's obsessive tendencies, made sense.
She didn't suspect that the seemingly thoughtful man in front of her had actually rendered the killer a bedridden invalid, a fact shared only with the seemingly upright Dr. Morgan, who was actually an accomplice.
"So, you're saying the killer either left New York or faced an unexpected obstacle that prevented further crimes?" Beckett murmured, pondering Castle's words.
Castle saw his chance and eagerly built on his argument. "I'm not saying that's definitive. We should wait for Henry and Detective Martinez's findings from the library before making a comprehensive judgment. I'm just suggesting it as a possibility..."
Castle knew Beckett's intuition was sharp, so he couldn't outright mislead her. He had to subtly nudge her thinking and investigation in a different direction, relying on her trust not to suspect him and Henry of such audacious acts.
While Castle was still racking his brain to mislead Beckett, Joe Martinez and Henry had already arrived at the New York Library.
"Henry, have you been with Castle these past few days? You seem different today. Did something happen?" Martinez, an excellent detective like Beckett, sensed a change in Henry but couldn't pinpoint what.
Henry indeed had changed. After finding his long-lost wife and avenging her death by rendering the culprit powerless, he felt unburdened and lighter than ever. Unfortunately, he couldn't share his joy with Martinez, so he simply smiled and gave a vague excuse. "Perhaps it's because Rick and I get along well. We're quite compatible."
Martinez sensed Henry wasn't being entirely truthful but didn't press further, acknowledging their effective partnership. She assured Henry he could talk to her anytime if needed.
Henry appreciated her offer and smiled. "Alright, let's focus on the investigation at hand."
Martinez, leading the way, entered the library. "Hello, NYPD. We're here to investigate a case," she said, showing her badge and requesting access to the borrowing records.
With the records in hand, they sat at a table, scrutinizing the list of people who had borrowed the 1888 edition of the Manchester Star.
"Joe, look at this name. It's the detective who handled the case back then..." Henry pointed out.
Martinez examined the record. "Henry, are you saying this person is the killer?"
Henry couldn't be sure Castle's idea would pan out but was impressed by the ingenuity. "No, but I'm certain this name is fake. It's the name of the detective who originally investigated the case, indicating our lead is correct."
Martinez and Henry, armed with this clue, felt they were on the right track, their investigation into the case narrowing down potential suspects.
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