Castle rambled on, oblivious to Beckett, who was leaning against him with a dangerous glint in her eyes. She listened to his boasts about his 'achievements' until she couldn't hold back her anger any longer. Suddenly, she stood up, glaring at the bewildered Castle. "You bastard, I'm sure now that you knew Simon's entire plan from the start. You probably knew everything even before Simon started executing his plan, including blowing up the department store on Fifth Avenue and the Wall Street subway station, didn't you?"
Castle was caught off guard by Beckett's accusation and momentarily froze, failing to explain immediately. His face displayed a clear expression of 'How did you know?' which only confirmed Beckett's suspicions.
Beckett's anger surged, thinking about the casualties and chaos from a few days ago. Castle, who knew, had let it happen. This betrayal of justice was unacceptable to her.
Under Beckett's intense gaze, Castle realized he needed to act fast to salvage the situation and maintain the rapport he had built. Driven by a strong survival instinct, he quickly shifted the blame to a familiar scapegoat—the CIA, known for its controversial actions.
"Wait, don't get angry. What I'm about to say must not leave this room. If this information gets out, my life will be in danger!"
Castle's plea caught Beckett's attention. She knew him to be bold, often ready to face danger, evident from his infamous bulletproof vest labeled 'WRITER.' Hearing him express fear for his life over revealing Simon's actions intrigued her. She decided to hear him out.
Having planned to shift the blame to the CIA, Castle seized this opportunity. He had never liked their meddling, especially when they insisted John capture Simon and the bomb expert, Faris Tago, alive. Castle sensed their ulterior motives and now used this as an excuse to save face with Beckett.
Castle, feigning seriousness, said, "I really didn't want to hide the truth from you, but before Simon made any overt moves, I couldn't speak out. When I uncovered Simon's plan, I also discovered that the CIA was somehow involved. Do you think I dared alert you to stop Simon before knowing what was going on?"
Beckett was shocked and then pensive. She recalled that the CIA was indeed involved, as they had been at NYPD headquarters demanding John McClane capture Simon and Faris Tago alive. However, hearing Castle claim that the CIA was behind Simon's actions was hard to believe. "The CIA? Are you sure?"
Seeing Beckett's thoughtful look, Castle knew she was aware of the CIA's orders to John. This realization meant his lie was gaining traction. He hastened to elaborate, painting the CIA as the real culprits.
Maintaining a solemn demeanor, Castle said, "Yes, it's them. I wasn't sure at first, but when I noticed their subtle involvement, I couldn't risk tipping off Simon and his group. Remember, after I warned you at the station, I found that the CIA was somehow connected to Simon's plans. Not knowing their full intentions, I couldn't act prematurely."
Beckett, now alert and analytical, caught a flaw in Castle's story. "If the CIA was behind Simon, why would they have him steal chemicals for a bomb rather than supplying him with explosives directly? Wouldn't that be more efficient?"
Realizing he was caught in a web of lies, Castle knew he had to continue fabricating. The CIA's notorious reputation and their involvement in various shady activities provided him with ample material to spin a convincing story.
"Have you forgotten the CIA's usual tactics? They operate like shadows, instigating chaos without showing their hand. They wouldn't openly supply explosives; they prefer to manipulate from behind the scenes. Since 9/11, the FBI has resented them. The creation of the Department of Homeland Security, which divided FBI powers, was largely due to CIA blunders. So, their connection to Simon was always covert."
Castle continued, "Remember, when John was pursuing Simon, didn't the CIA insist that Simon and Faris Tago be captured alive and handed over to them? Why do you think that was? They feared Simon revealing their secret dealings if he fell into police or FBI hands."
Castle's argument was strengthened by the CIA's unusual demand, which had indeed raised eyebrows at the time. Beckett, though skeptical, found the scenario plausible, given the CIA's history of murky operations.
Sensing Beckett's acceptance, Castle continued to heap blame on the CIA, ensuring that his narrative absolved him of any wrongdoing. "How could I openly speak out when I wasn't sure of the CIA's full involvement? I only felt safe acting when Simon made his public move, hoping to prevent further chaos. I can't believe you doubted my intentions!"
The manipulation of the CIA's involvement and Castle's earnest performance started to win Beckett over. She began to doubt her initial anger, considering the possibility that Castle was genuinely concerned for his safety and the safety of others.
As Castle continued to justify his actions, Beckett, while still grappling with the complexities of the situation, found herself reconsidering her harsh judgment of him.
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! Only $5 per novel or $15 for all!!] [www.p@treon.com/Mutter]
[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]