The latest intel brought a huge sigh of relief to Castle. Knowing that Watanabe's weapons—especially the TOW anti-tank missiles—hadn't yet been delivered to his mercenary team gave him and his allies room to maneuver.
With this critical delay, Castle realized he had plenty of time to prepare his defenses. They could launch a preemptive strike on the mercenaries just as the weapons arrived or, better yet, coordinate with the NYPD to stage a "fake raid," forcing the attackers to act prematurely and disrupt their plans.
Castle felt confident. With the intel advantage provided by Jarvis, coupled with the support of John, Gianna, and his team of former Spetsnaz bodyguards, the odds were in their favor—even if the NYPD's standard equipment couldn't match the firepower Watanabe had arranged for his mercenaries.
What Castle didn't anticipate, however, was that Jo Martinez—an old friend and now head of the FBI's Joint Task Force—would pay an unexpected visit to Beckett.
Beckett's Office at the 12th Precinct
Beckett greeted Jo warmly, her smile lighting up the room as she welcomed her old friend and occasional professional ally.
"Jo! I didn't expect to see you here. What's the occasion? And how's Morgan? You two should drop by Castle's place sometime—he's been asking about you."
Jo returned the smile and graciously accepted the coffee Beckett prepared for her, brewed from the top-tier machine Castle had donated to the precinct.
"This is probably the best coffee I've had in any precinct," Jo said, taking a sip. But her expression quickly turned serious. "Kate, I'm here for something important."
Beckett raised an eyebrow and leaned forward slightly. "What is it?"
Jo set the cup down and got straight to the point. "We've received a credible tip that earlier today, a group of high-profile individuals arrived at LaGuardia Airport. Among them were ten mercenaries from a well-known outfit operating in the Middle East—every single one of them entered the country using business visas.
They were escorted by none other than Watanabe, the head of Watanabe Group, and from what we've pieced together, their target is Rick. Were you already aware of this?"
Beckett froze for a moment, processing the directness of Jo's question. The NYPD captain was fully aware of the situation, but hearing it confirmed by the FBI added a weight of urgency. Still, it wasn't the content of Jo's statement that caught Beckett off guard—it was the realization that Jo had come here personally to warn her.
Beckett's expression gave her away. Jo tilted her head slightly, her sharp instincts kicking in. "You already knew," Jo said flatly.
Beckett hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Yes, we're aware."
Jo's lips quirked in a small, knowing smile. "Of course you are. With Jarvis running on your side, I should've figured. I doubt there's anything you don't know about Watanabe and his band of merry mercenaries by now."
Realizing there was no point in keeping secrets from Jo—especially since she had come as a friend, not just an FBI agent—Beckett decided to be upfront.
"Jo, first of all, thank you for coming here to warn me," Beckett said sincerely. "But yes, we've been keeping tabs on Watanabe and his team since they landed. Castle's had Jarvis monitoring them non-stop, and we've gathered enough intel to know they're here for revenge.
Apparently, Watanabe blames Rick for the deaths of his son and nephew. And in his twisted mind, he believes he's 'ending his bloodline' by taking Rick out."
Beckett paused, then added gravely, "It's not just the mercenaries that worry me, though. Watanabe went all out. He's provided them with a full arsenal of equipment—everything from state-of-the-art U.S. military gear to two TOW anti-tank missiles."
Jo's eyes widened slightly at this revelation. "Two TOW missiles? And he smuggled all that into New York?"
Beckett nodded. "We've confirmed it through intercepted communications. The weapons were stored in Canada for months before being trucked across the border. As far as we can tell, the shipment is still en route—it hasn't reached Watanabe's estate yet."
Jo's expression darkened. "Kate, this isn't something the NYPD can handle on its own. If Watanabe's mercenaries get their hands on those weapons, it could turn into a bloodbath. We're talking about military-grade firepower in the middle of New York City. You need to let us step in."
Beckett hesitated. She had anticipated this reaction from Jo. While Beckett fully trusted her friend, involving the FBI could complicate things—especially if it meant losing control over how the operation unfolded. Castle, Gianna, and Beckett herself had all agreed that keeping the operation local would be the best way to ensure Watanabe and his team were dealt with permanently.
But Jo had a point. The presence of TOW missiles raised the stakes significantly, and Beckett knew she couldn't afford to let her pride—or Castle's paranoia about federal agencies—put lives at risk.
"Jo," Beckett began carefully, "I understand what you're saying, and I know how dangerous this situation is. But you have to understand—we're in a unique position here. We've been monitoring these guys since they got off the plane. We know their plans, their movements, and their resources.
The second they make a move, we'll be ready to act. And between Castle's security team and my officers, I'm confident we can handle this without outside interference."
Jo folded her arms, her gaze steady. "Kate, I appreciate the confidence. But you and I both know that confidence alone doesn't stop a TOW missile. This isn't just about you or Rick—this is about protecting the city.
If one of those missiles goes off, it'll be chaos. And if the FBI wasn't prepared because we didn't know the full scope of the threat, I don't even want to think about the fallout."
Beckett sighed. Jo was right. As much as she wanted to handle this quietly and efficiently, the stakes were too high to take any chances. She had a responsibility—not just to Castle, but to the people of New York.
"Alright," Beckett conceded. "You can report this to your team. But promise me this—you'll keep it low-key. No bureaucratic red tape, no leaks to the press, and no sweeping in and taking over the entire operation.
This is personal for Rick. And as much as I want to see Watanabe and his mercenaries stopped, I won't let this turn into some grand federal spectacle. Do we have a deal?"
Jo nodded firmly. "Deal. I'll report the threat and recommend a low-profile approach. But if it comes down to it, Kate, you know I'll do whatever it takes to keep the city safe."
Beckett gave her a small smile. "That's all I can ask for. Thanks, Jo."
Back at Castle's estate, the writer was busy working with Gianna and John to refine their plan of action. They had just received new intel from Jarvis—Watanabe's weapons shipment was less than an hour away from reaching his estate.
Castle leaned back in his chair, a determined glint in his eye. "Alright, it's go time. Let's see how Watanabe likes being the one on the defensive for once."
Gianna smirked. "Now you're talking, Rick. Let's show these mercenaries what happens when they mess with the wrong guy."
Unbeknownst to Watanabe, the trap was already set. And this time, Castle wasn't just playing defense—he was going on the offensive.
(End of Chapter)
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