After a long flight, during which Castle enjoyed a comfortable sleep in first class, he finally arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was here to spectate the upcoming heist planned by Dominic Toretto and his crew to rob Hernan Reyes. As he stepped off the plane, he immediately felt the vibrant, sizzling energy of the Samba nation. The young hacker, following Castle's instructions, didn't come to pick him up at the airport but waited obediently at the hotel.
Castle wasn't planning on getting involved; his interest was purely observational. The hacker had committed to providing technical support and logistics for Dominic's crew, a role Castle deemed relatively safe. But Castle wanted to keep his presence as low-key as possible. Even though Hernan Reyes was portrayed as somewhat dimwitted in the original movie, Castle knew that was likely due to Justin Lin's direction to emphasize the protagonists. In reality, Reyes was the formidable ruler of Rio's underworld, a local powerhouse. Without directorial assistance, it was improbable that Dominic's ragtag team could so easily pull off their heist.
Castle couldn't help but critique the film's plot. If Reyes had all that dirty money and couldn't bank it, why store it in a police station? The movie showed Reyes owning a corporate building. Why not just keep the cash in a high-security floor of his own building and dare Dominic to move it with two Dodge Chargers?
And speaking of the Chargers, Castle had to question their ability to physically drag a several-ton safe at high speeds without disobeying basic physics. The centrifugal force during those high-speed turns should have made it impossible for the cars to maintain control.
Castle's curiosity was to see if this real-world scenario would mimic the outrageous scenes from the film. Plus, he was eager to see Mia Toretto (who was pregnant in this installment, carrying Brian's baby), Gisele, and Vanessa—three stunning women in action.
Dressed like a typical tourist ready for a good time, Castle caught a cab from the airport to the luxurious beachfront hotel where the now-wealthy young hacker was staying. Upon checking into a deluxe suite just below the presidential level, Castle called the hacker to come down and meet him, ready to give him some much-needed advice about the big mess he was about to get involved in.
Soon, the young hacker, a typical nerdy guy with messy brown curls, thick glasses that magnified his eyes, and a short, chubby frame, knocked on Castle's door. He looked like a comical rodent, which only made his claim of losing fifteen pounds recently seem even more exaggerated.
Castle had known this young man for several years. They met when Castle was researching for one of his Derrick Storm novels, and the hacker was a student at Columbia University. Discovering that the man doing research on campus was the author of his favorite series, the young hacker had struck up a conversation. Castle, with his charismatic social skills, quickly formed a fast friendship with him. Upon learning the hacker's impressive abilities, Castle often relied on him for digital expertise, such as the time he and John Wick needed to erase surveillance footage after causing mayhem at the Tanasoff family nightclub.
"Uncle Rick, you must have been bored out of your mind to come all the way to Brazil just for fun, right?" The young hacker teased as he entered, knowing well that Castle was prone to seeking excitement whenever possible.
Castle didn't take offense. Instead, he responded with a serious expression, "You're mistaken. I'm not just here to watch the show. Do you know what your friend Tej wants you to do?"
The hacker looked puzzled. "I have no idea. Tej only just arrived in Brazil. He's gone to meet his friends and said he'd catch up with me later. I was waiting here for you, as you asked."
Castle sighed at the hacker's cluelessness. It was a good thing he decided to come. The young man had no idea what kind of dangerous situation he was walking into. Despite his impressive digital skills, his social and practical judgment seemed to be severely lacking.
Castle lamented inwardly, wondering if the young man had lost his common sense along with his recent indulgences. He considered that perhaps Tej hadn't disclosed the full plan yet. Castle decided it was time to fill in the gaps.
"Sit down," Castle instructed, handing the hacker a beer. "I did some digging. Your friend Tej came here because he was called by Dominic Toretto, a former street racer from Los Angeles. Dominic was sentenced to twenty-five years but was broken out during transport. Now, he's hiding out in Brazil and is wanted by the U.S. government."
Castle continued, "Recently, Dominic came across a data chip revealing Hernan Reyes's smuggling routes and locations of hidden cash. He's planning to rob Reyes, but it's a massive job that he can't pull off alone. That's why he's gathering people like Tej to help. But you, my friend, are just the latest recruit."
The young hacker stared in shock, his mouth agape. How did Uncle Rick know all this from New York? Even details that were news to him?
Castle enjoyed the astonished look on the young man's face. "Don't doubt my intel. I'm here to make sure you stay safe. You're about to face the kingpin of Rio's underworld, not some pushover."
The hacker finally grasped why Castle had come. Clearly, Castle had learned about Dominic's plan to rob Reyes and, true to his thrill-seeking nature, had flown to Brazil to watch the real-life action unfold. Understanding Castle's motives, the hacker felt a headache coming on. Castle's presence wasn't just about ensuring safety; it was to be a spectator in the wildest way possible.
"Rick, you really came here just to watch this heist unfold?" the hacker asked, bewildered. "What do you want me to do then? Sabotage their plan?"
Castle rolled his eyes at the suggestion. "Who said anything about sabotaging? I want you to help them perfect their plan. Just keep me informed about the critical moments, especially when they plan to hit the police station. I'm here for the show, not to interfere."
The hacker, still confused, asked, "Are you planning to rob them after they rob Reyes?"
Castle's exasperation was palpable. "Of course not! I couldn't care less about their money. I'm just here to watch. Whether they succeed or fail doesn't matter to me. My only concern is your safety. You're not cut out for dodging bullets."
Castle's goal was simple: to observe the real-life heist and ensure the young hacker's safety. He wasn't interested in the money or in getting involved. He just wanted to witness the spectacle, provided it didn't put his friend in harm's way.
As Castle pondered his plans for when he would arrive in Brazil, he decided he would stay in the beachfront hotel far from the favelas where Dominic's crew was hiding. This way, he could avoid running into Vanessa, who might recognize him and cause trouble.
Rio de Janeiro's unique layout, with its wealthy districts along the coast and its hillside shantytowns, provided the perfect separation for Castle. He figured that as long as he stayed in the upscale areas, he could safely watch the events unfold without risk. The local crime boss Reyes was scouring the city for Dominic's crew, so they wouldn't venture near Castle's luxurious retreat.
With this plan in mind, Castle focused on enjoying the warm beaches and the company of the lively local women while waiting for the action to begin. He put all his non-essential items into his dimensional storage space and boarded his flight to Rio, dressed like any other tourist on vacation.
At the Twelfth Precinct, Beckett hung up after talking to Castle and muttered, "What's Rick up to now? Why would he suddenly decide to fly to Brazil? He sounded excited, almost too much. What's he planning to do there?"
Unable to figure out Castle's motives, Beckett shrugged off her curiosity. Castle had promised to be back in two weeks, so she decided to wait and ask him directly when he returned.
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