Castle had a clear plan for helping Beckett solve her mother's murder case. He knew he had to proceed in two steps. First, he needed to reveal the identity of the person who executed the killing, Nick Coonan, to direct Beckett's attention to this matter. Once Beckett caught Coonan, who directly murdered her mother, Castle knew it would be futile for Beckett to try to get information about the mastermind from Coonan. Even if it didn't unfold like the original show where Beckett shot Coonan in the precinct after he took 'Castle' hostage, Castle was certain that Coonan, if captured, would still be silenced by those working for William Bracken. Therefore, Castle wasn't worried that exposing Coonan would lead Beckett to the real mastermind immediately.
The second step was to wait until Beckett succeeded Montgomery as captain. At that point, Castle would find a way to confront Montgomery and force him to hand over the evidence he had that could bring down Senator William Bracken. He also needed to ensure Montgomery wasn't implicated. This plan would not only provide Beckett with a significant case upon her promotion but also win her gratitude and political benefits from taking down the senator, laying a strong foundation for her future political career.
Castle knew he wasn't a master strategist, and his plan might not be flawless. But it was the best course of action he could think of. If Montgomery were promoted to police commissioner, he wouldn't be able to protect Beckett as directly. The associates of William Bracken, who had been held back by Montgomery's presence, might then target Beckett. Beckett had never given up investigating her mother's murder, and if she continued to push without proper protection, she could become a target for elimination by Bracken's associates.
Although Bracken was now a state senator, Castle knew from the original show that Bracken would soon aim for the presidency. If he decided to run for president, he would want to eliminate any loose ends from his past, including Beckett, who was persistently investigating her mother's murder. Given this, Castle reasoned that it was better to strike first.
When Castle revealed his plan, Beckett visibly ignited with determination. Her eyes red with emotion, she demanded, "What do you know? Tell me everything!"
"Ever since I had my suspicions, I didn't dare ask you directly. But, knowing Henry, I secretly copied the files from the police archives, including the autopsy reports of your mother and the other three victims. Henry confirmed that all four were killed by the same person, using a serrated knife, likely a professional hitman's weapon used during the Gulf War. With this clue, I've been tracking down this hitman," Castle explained, as Beckett became increasingly agitated.
Castle stood up and gently pushed the emotional Beckett back onto the sofa. "Yes, I'm close to finding him. He can't hide for long, but you need to calm down and listen to everything I have to say. Your mother and the other three victims were killed because they discovered a big secret. If you don't stay calm, you won't be able to solve anything."
For the first time, Beckett showed her vulnerability, bursting into tears. Castle, usually irreverent, showed his gentlemanly side, holding her gently as she let out ten years of pent-up grief.
After regaining her composure, Beckett, her eyes red and voice choked, said, "I'm okay now. Continue."
Castle carefully observed Beckett, ensuring she had calmed down before continuing. "After discovering your mother and the other three were killed by the same person, I looked into their connections. One of the other victims was a student of your mother, and all four were investigating a case involving corrupt cops. Unfortunately, the coroner who handled all four cases died four years ago, hitting a dead end in my investigation. But I have a theory that this group of corrupt cops hasn't disappeared; they've just gone deeper underground."
Castle didn't pause for dramatic effect; he continued, "I found a lead on the hitman, Nick Coonan. I couldn't confirm it myself since I'm not a cop, but my online investigator found Coonan's activities highly suspicious ten years ago. He's currently working with a drug lord, smuggling drugs into New York from Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, I haven't identified this drug lord yet."
Beckett, unable to contain herself, wanted to grab her badge and gun and immediately go after Nick Coonan to confirm if he was indeed her mother's killer. But Castle stopped her.
"What are you doing? Are you planning to confront him now?"
Beckett struggled against Castle's grip. "Of course! Shouldn't we go after him now?"
Castle, with a stern face, said, "The leads I've found were obtained through less-than-legal means. Going after him now won't help. Sit down and listen to everything I have to say."
Reluctantly, Beckett stopped struggling and remained seated, though her body was tense with emotion.
Castle continued, "Your mother's murder is connected to a larger conspiracy. Even if Coonan is confirmed as the hitman, he's just a pawn. Don't you want to uncover the people behind him?"
Beckett, still frustrated, replied, "You said the corrupt cops vanished after my mother's murder, and the coroner, who knew the truth, died four years ago. The trail is cold. How do we find them?"
Castle, maintaining his composure, said, "We keep a close watch on Nick Coonan. He might lead us to more clues. And I suspect that the drug lord he's working with now might be involved in this conspiracy. Remember, those corrupt cops managed to cover up four murders as robberies. Doesn't that make you think there's more to uncover?"
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