As Castle sat deep in thought, mulling over John's suggestion to seize this opportunity to establish his reputation and send a clear message that he was not to be trifled with, events at Miami Airport began to escalate.
Le Chiffre's operative, now dressed in a stolen police uniform, had finally started his mission to plant explosives on Sky Aviation's prototype aircraft. Gianna, monitoring the situation with laser focus, felt her nerves tighten. Ramsey, ever vigilant, directed more than half the surveillance cameras toward the operative. Meanwhile, Harry focused on tracking the movements of James Bond, the British MI6 agent pursuing the saboteur.
Even Castle, distracted by his internal debate, turned his attention to the massive screens in the supercomputer lab that had now transformed into a full-fledged command center.
Meanwhile, Gianna and Castle's young daughter finally managed to wriggle free from John's grasp. The little girl toddled toward her mother, chattering incomprehensibly and leaving her father momentarily flustered.
Ignoring her husband's "battle" with their child, Gianna turned to Castle for a final confirmation. "Rick, are you sure we shouldn't notify the Miami police and have the bomber apprehended now?"
Castle shook his head confidently. "Look over there," he said, pointing to the screen showing Bond tailing the bomber. "That agent is already closing in. We don't need to interfere. Don't forget, his real goal is to find Le Chiffre. The bomber is just a stepping stone. Besides, the Miami police have the entire hangar surrounded. He's not going anywhere."
Though Castle's reasoning was sound, Gianna still looked uneasy. "But what if the bomber slips through? Rick, this isn't just some minor issue. There's a lot of money riding on this—wait, what the hell is he doing?!"
Gianna's words were cut short by the sudden, shocking image on the screen. Bond, realizing that the bomber was about to act, had leapt into action. Without warning, the agent lunged forward, tackling the operative to the ground in a dramatic takedown.
The problem? The bomber was wearing a police uniform.
The chaotic scene that followed was a comedy of errors. Nearby officers, unaware of Bond's true identity or his purpose, mistook the altercation for an assault on a fellow cop. Within moments, a dozen armed officers converged on the scene, guns drawn, ready to subdue Bond.
Castle and Gianna stared at the screen in disbelief. They had anticipated many things—but not this.
"How did we forget this guy was still a rookie?" Castle muttered, slapping his forehead. "Of course, he wouldn't think to warn the other officers before jumping the guy."
The situation was spiraling out of control. If Bond were arrested or incapacitated, the bomber might still succeed in his mission. Reluctantly, Castle grabbed his phone and called Howard, the Miami police chief, who was overseeing the airport's security.
After quickly confirming his identity as the source of the anonymous tip, Castle briefed Howard on the situation. Within moments, the police chief had issued new orders to his officers: arrest both the bomber and the "attacker" immediately.
The scene turned on its head as Bond and the bomber were both handcuffed. When officers searched the bomber's backpack and found the explosives, the truth became apparent.
But for the hapless operative, it was too late. His plan had already fallen apart.
The bomber was devastated. He hadn't even managed to reach the target aircraft before being tackled and subsequently exposed. His disguise as a police officer had briefly saved him from Bond, but now it only added to his humiliation. As he was hauled away alongside a fuming Bond, the operative's thoughts were a chaotic mix of regret and disbelief.
"Just this?" Castle thought, shaking his head in amusement as the scene played out.
The debacle left everyone in the lab speechless. Even Gianna, who had been on edge moments earlier, found herself at a loss for words. The entire operation had collapsed into farce, with the would-be saboteur and the overly eager MI6 agent both ending up in handcuffs.
Castle, however, was less forgiving in his assessment of Bond. "The most refined agent? The epitome of British gentlemanly charm? What a joke! This guy has all the tact of a wrecking ball!"
With the bomber and Bond taken into custody, the threat to Sky Aviation's prototype was officially neutralized. Miami police, working with Sky Aviation's security team, secured the hangar and began preparations for the plane's public unveiling.
Relieved, Gianna scooped up her daughter and turned her attention back to Castle. "So, Rick, have you made up your mind about what John suggested?"
Castle smirked, his trademark mischievous grin returning. "I have. John's right—this is a perfect opportunity. I've been overthinking it, trying to play it safe. But sometimes, the simplest solution is the best.
"If someone like Rajad thinks they can challenge me, it's time to remind everyone why that's a terrible idea. Consider this my message to anyone foolish enough to follow in his footsteps."
Gianna smiled knowingly. Castle's decision was clear, and she had no doubt he would act decisively. If Castle asked John to help carry out his plan, she knew her husband wouldn't hesitate—even if it meant crossing an ocean to do so.
As for Neal and Ramsey, they were too engrossed in the unfolding drama on screen to notice the exchange. They watched as Bond, still cuffed, argued passionately with the Miami police, trying to explain the bigger picture.
Unfortunately for Bond, his efforts were hampered by his inexperience and the limited information he had about Le Chiffre's broader plot. For now, the situation at the airport remained tense but contained.
Back in the lab, Castle's mood had lightened. He had a plan, a clear path forward—and he was ready to put an end to Rajad's ambitions once and for all.
Far away in Bangalore, Rajad remained blissfully unaware that his fate was already sealed. His reckless scheming had written him a one-way ticket to a very dramatic end.
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/Mutter
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.