Thanks to the CIA's long history of blunders and the diligent work of Hollywood and the media in portraying them as bumbling troublemakers, Beckett was starting to believe Castle's lies. The CIA's reputation for causing chaos without accountability lent credibility to Castle's story, making it more believable.
However, Beckett's remaining sense of reason prompted her to ask one last question. "If Simon had such powerful backing, why did you dare to reveal this to us?"
Castle grinned mischievously. "Don't forget, this is New York, my hometown. A few years ago, those idiots allowed a terrorist shouting 'Allahu Akbar' to crash into the World Trade Center. This habit of enabling criminals or terrorists for their own gain is unacceptable. Remember, they wanted to safely extract Simon after his failure? That's treating us like fools. CIA or not, this is New York, and the NYPD is the largest gang here. Should I side with those morons or my own people?"
Castle's rhetoric about loyalty and protecting their city struck a chord with Beckett. She began to calm down, no longer seething with anger. Though something still felt off, she decided not to dig deeper. Her curiosity shifted back to the subject of her mother's murder, wanting to understand the details Castle had uncovered.
"You mentioned earlier that you discovered details about my mother's murder by accident. What exactly did you find? Tell me everything from the beginning," Beckett demanded, her determination to solve the decade-old mystery resurfacing.
Relieved that he had navigated the tricky situation, Castle adjusted his posture and adopted a serious tone. "I suspect that Nick Coonan might be the hitman who killed your mother and the others investigating police corruption. Unfortunately, I lack solid evidence. That's why I'm telling you now—we need to keep an eye on Coonan. He's collaborating with a drug lord, and sooner or later, he'll slip up. We need to identify this drug lord too, as it might lead us to more clues."
Beckett realized that Castle's approach was more direct than hers, but she saw the merit in it. As a police officer, she couldn't investigate Coonan without concrete evidence. Any unauthorized investigation could backfire legally. But Castle, with his unofficial intelligence sources, faced no such constraints.
Given Castle's connections and his ability to gather information from both online and offline networks, Beckett recognized that he could be instrumental in uncovering the truth. Reluctantly, she decided to let Castle pursue the leads.
Unlike in the original series, Beckett didn't react with anger over Castle's private investigation into her mother's case. Castle had cleverly led with significant findings, ensuring Beckett's focus remained on the results rather than the methods. This approach not only avoided accusations of invading her privacy but also kept Beckett engaged with the clues he had found.
Castle was surprised by Beckett's response. He had hoped she wouldn't hold his private investigation against him but didn't expect her to ask for his help outright. This turn of events reassured him that his plan was working better than anticipated.
In this reality, Castle had not acted like the bumbling, intrusive character from the show. His partnership with the police had been smooth, and his first book based on Beckett was a bestseller. Unlike the original narrative, he wasn't constantly hovering around Beckett, which had prevented her from developing any strong dislike towards him.
Moreover, Castle had genuinely assisted Beckett and the 12th precinct in solving several high-profile cases. His efforts had earned him their respect, culminating in the recent successful operation that had bolstered Montgomery's and Beckett's reputations.
Beckett's decision to trust Castle was also influenced by his formidable intelligence network, which operated independently of the police. This unique resource made Castle a valuable ally in a personal investigation.
Deep down, Beckett knew Castle's feelings for her. She had long perceived his interest but had chosen to ignore it, believing they were from different worlds. Castle's frequent absence due to his various endeavors had also kept them from clashing as often as in the show. However, learning about Castle's efforts on her behalf caused Beckett to reevaluate her feelings.
Objectively, Castle was a desirable partner. He was not only wealthy and capable but also possessed an improved physique thanks to his enhanced system rewards. His occasional display of a commanding presence appealed to Beckett's ambition. Besides, his handsome features and confident demeanor were hard to ignore in a society that valued appearance.
These factors contributed to Beckett's gradual acceptance of Castle's presence and his pursuit. The revelation about her mother's murder had also made her feel vulnerable, providing Castle with an opportunity to support her during a critical moment.
Castle's combination of timely assistance and his underlying affection had shifted Beckett's perspective, making her more receptive to his involvement in her life and investigations.
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