Chapter 356: Discussion

Fortunately, Neal was indeed free today. Instead of being at the FBI investigating financial fraud or missing art cases with his partner Peter, he was leisurely enjoying the autumn sunshine on the rooftop of June's mansion in New York. When he received Castle's call, Neal laughed and told Castle to come over, welcoming Rick's visit.

June's mansion on Canal Street was quite close to the Twelfth Precinct. It took Castle less than five minutes to drive there. As he walked up to the rooftop, a servant opened the door for him, and he saw Neal Caffrey lounging like a lord in silk pajamas, reading a newspaper with a pot of fragrant coffee in front of him. The sight made Castle click his tongue in amazement.

"Neal, I think I need to learn from you how to enjoy life instead of running around all the time…" Castle joked as he approached his friend, who had put down his newspaper and stood up to greet him with a hug.

Handsome and charming as ever, Neal Caffrey, even in silk pajamas, maintained his graceful demeanor. He gestured for Castle to sit and poured him a cup of coffee before responding, "If you lived like me, you wouldn't be Rick Castle. It's your curiosity that gives you so many novel ideas, isn't it?"

Castle laughed heartily at Neal's compliment and got straight to the point. "Neal, I need your help with something very important. There's no one else I can turn to for this."

Seeing Castle's seriousness, Neal asked, "What is it? Tell me."

The rooftop was an ideal spot, free from concerns of eavesdropping. Knowing the consequences of leaked information, Castle looked around to ensure the privacy and then explained his request to Neal: He needed Neal to break into the safe at Montgomery's house—who was about to be promoted to NYPD Deputy Commissioner—and retrieve a specific file. Castle remembered the file's distinct features, so Neal would recognize it immediately once he opened the safe.

After listening quietly, Neal's face lit up with a bright smile. He had wanted to repay Rick for his help, especially for finding Kate. Now, Rick needed his assistance, and Neal was more than willing. "Alright, I got it. No problem. I'll get that file for you within three days, at the latest."

Neal had checked his tracking bracelet's range and confirmed that Montgomery's house was within it. This meant he could help Castle without arousing FBI suspicion. With that assurance, he interrupted Castle's explanation and confidently took on the task.

Castle was delighted with Neal's commitment but cautioned him not to raise FBI suspicions. He still planned to have Vincent kidnap Neal and Peter once the submarine was retrieved, providing Neal an alibi within the FBI.

With that issue settled, Castle detailed his original plan to Neal.

"You're saying that the submarine's hatch is rigged with explosives from when it was sunk? And Vincent might kidnap me to open it? How will you move everything out of the submarine without setting off the explosives and then leave them for me and Peter to find?"

Neal was nearly driven mad by Castle's convoluted plan. Castle explained that he would remove everything from the submarine, leaving only the shell and explosives, so when Vincent kidnapped Neal and Peter, they'd find it empty, clearing Neal of any suspicion.

"Buddy, I can't exactly tell him about the ten-meter-cubed portable space I have…" Castle thought to himself, maintaining a confident front. "Don't worry about my methods. I assure you I can do it. This is the only way to keep the FBI from suspecting you. They'll think an old submarine crewman took everything, not you. It's the best way to keep you out of trouble."

After thoroughly considering Castle's explanation, Neal realized the plan was indeed brilliant. If Castle could empty the submarine without anyone noticing, then Vincent's kidnapping plan would inadvertently clear Neal's name.

Neal also considered the high probability that Vincent would kidnap him and Peter together, ensuring an FBI witness. This would provide Neal with an irrefutable alibi when they found the empty submarine.

Resolved to follow Castle's script, Neal decided to subtly inform Peter about Vincent's secret return to New York, setting the stage for the final act.

Neal discussed the details with Castle for the rest of the morning, finalizing their plan. Despite his curiosity about how Castle would manage the seemingly impossible feat of emptying the submarine under tight surveillance, Neal, a world-renowned thief, knew better than to pry. Castle had no motive to harm him, so his secrets were his own.

After an enjoyable lunch with Neal and Alex, who joined later, Castle returned to the Twelfth Precinct at Beckett's summons. Neal had promised to retrieve the file from Montgomery's safe soon, which meant that Castle and Beckett would soon be in a stronger position. With the crucial evidence in hand, Castle believed they could quickly overpower Nick Connan and William Bracken. Thus, his advice to Beckett to delay Connan's arrest to avoid arousing Bracken's suspicion would no longer be as critical. The only thing left was for Montgomery to be promoted, allowing Beckett to take over as the captain of the Twelfth Precinct.

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