Captain Montgomery was overjoyed. Whether the credit went to Castle or his own subordinate, Beckett, was of little consequence. In the end, solving the case would reflect well on the police department, and this case, in particular, had personal significance for him.
Eager to resolve the case swiftly, Montgomery urged Beckett to begin a detailed interrogation of Winston Weasley immediately. The goal was to pin down the true murderer as quickly as possible.
Beckett, fully understanding her superior's urgency, nodded and headed straight into the interrogation room. She needed to conduct a thorough, procedurally sound questioning of Winston to solidify the evidence. This would ensure the District Attorney's Office could effectively prosecute the case.
Castle, despite already knowing the outcome and the identity of the real killer, had no choice but to join Beckett in the interrogation room. Even though he was aware of the entire backstory and could predict the next steps, he had to maintain appearances. Abruptly withdrawing at this stage might arouse suspicion, so he steeled himself to see the process through to the end.
Winston Weasley, having resigned himself to his fate, was prepared to face the consequences. He understood that neither the police nor his powerful brother would spare him for his role in Olivia's death and the ten-year cover-up. So, when Beckett and Castle sat down for the formal questioning, he laid bare everything he knew about the events from ten years ago.
It was during this confession that Beckett fully realized why Castle had interrupted her earlier questioning in Blake's office. Winston's involvement, though significant, was largely as an accessory. The real orchestrators were Blake and Winston's mother, who had set everything in motion with her deep-seated class prejudices and selfishness. Even Frank Davis, the actual murderer, had acted under orders, though he too was culpable for his actions.
The tragedy was primarily driven by the Weasley family matriarch's entrenched classism and egotism. While yesterday's murders were Davis's desperate attempts to cover up his past crimes, the responsibility for Olivia's death lay heavily on Winston and his mother. Despite Winston's attempt at redemption by purchasing an extravagant coffin for Olivia, the fact remained that Olivia's death could be traced back to the matriarch's ambiguous command to "take care of her," which Davis had likely misinterpreted.
However, regardless of the matriarch's current advanced Alzheimer's, which rendered any further clarification of her intentions impossible, the need to apprehend Frank Davis remained. He was responsible not only for Olivia's murder but also for the two killings the previous day.
After Winston had confessed, Beckett hesitated only briefly before agreeing to the Weasley family's lawyer's request to have Winston released on bail. Beckett stipulated that Winston must remain in New York for the time being. She then hurried to report Winston's confession to Captain Montgomery.
Captain Montgomery, upon hearing Beckett's detailed report, immediately instructed her to lead a team, including Esposito, to apprehend Frank Davis without delay.
Castle, however, had no interest in the upcoming arrest. When Beckett invited him to join them, he declined, saying, "This next part is just a straightforward arrest. I'm confident you and your team have it covered. I'd rather go home and spend time with my daughter. You all go ahead."
Beckett, despite her curiosity about Castle's mysterious nature, couldn't deny the truth. Today's success was largely due to Castle's keen insights and resourcefulness. Reflecting on the case, she realized that without Castle's intervention, Blake Weasley wouldn't have so readily allowed the police to take Winston in for questioning.
Acknowledging Castle's wish to go home, Beckett agreed. She watched as he left, knowing that he had once again played a crucial role in cracking a complex case. With a nod, she turned to lead her team to the Weasley family estate to capture Frank Davis.
As Castle exited the precinct, he chuckled softly, feeling a strange sense of gratitude from beyond the grave. It was as if Olivia was thanking him for uncovering the truth and ensuring justice was served.
This case had given Castle a deep insight into the entrenched classism prevalent in the USA. For someone from a culture with a rich five-thousand-year history, the so-called elite class in a country that had only existed for a little over two centuries, where the ancestors of many were convicts, seemed ludicrous. The notion of 'upper class' was absurd to him. He pondered how civilizations that practiced sophisticated diplomacy while others were still swinging from trees could be considered superior.
Castle felt a wave of disillusionment. Beneath the polished exterior of these so-called elites lay deceit and corruption. Their hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy disgusted him.
As he trudged towards the elevator, lost in thought, Captain Montgomery couldn't help but notice Castle's somber demeanor. Recognizing the need to console someone who had played a vital role in the investigation, Montgomery approached and placed a comforting hand on Castle's shoulder.
"I know what you're thinking," Montgomery began. "But if you spend enough time in the police department, you'll encounter countless cases of corruption and moral decay beneath the veneer of respectability. It's overwhelming at first, but eventually, you become desensitized. Go home, take a few days off. This case's paperwork alone will keep Beckett and her team busy for a while. We'll call you if we need anything."
Castle managed a weak smile of gratitude. "I know, Captain. I've always known. But facing it head-on, it's still hard to swallow. Thanks for understanding. I'm heading home."
Watching Castle leave, Montgomery shook his head in resignation. Understanding that some truths one had to come to terms with on their own, he was nonetheless impressed by Castle's performance. It had altered his view of Castle, who he previously saw as a carefree, untroubled writer. Today, Montgomery recognized Castle as a person of deep emotional integrity.
Castle returned directly home, bypassing all distractions. Having witnessed such a tragic human drama, he yearned for the solace of his daughter's company, hoping to watch a movie and snack together.
But as he entered his home, something caught his attention. His mother, Martha Rodgers, was engrossed in a brochure. Sitting on the living room sofa, she was examining it with great interest. The pamphlet was from a clinic called 'Rejuvenation Hall,' promoting a product called the 'Rejuvenation Serum.' According to Martha's friend, who had been using it for a while, this serum purportedly offered the promise of eternal youth. Intrigued by her friend's claims of feeling rejuvenated, Martha was seriously considering trying it herself.
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