Watching Beckett grit her teeth and seethe with anger, Castle wasn't surprised. She wasn't exactly "righteous fury incarnate," but she was undeniably a good person. While Castle himself could theoretically deal with Duhoviche directly and put an end to his atrocities, wouldn't it be more satisfying to let the man be utterly disgraced before his death?
Besides, even if Castle didn't intervene, wasn't it only a matter of time before Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) and Samuel L. Jackson (The Hitman's Bodyguard) metaphorically threw this tyrant off the metaphorical—or literal—roof of the International Court of Justice? Duhoviche didn't have long to live anyway. Let Beckett kick off this dramatic saga by exposing the truth to the press, especially if it helped her vent her frustration.
Castle's mind wandered as he thought about Zeus, now Kincaid. It had been ages since he'd last heard about Belle, the former "Queen of NYC's Taxi Underground." Years ago, he'd used JARVIS to track Belle and Kincaid as they left New York for South America with their three gold bars. What he hadn't realized at the time was that, after they parted ways, Belle had been recruited by the CIA.
Castle had been too busy with his own affairs to follow up on Belle's situation, but seeing Kincaid now reminded him of her. Ramsey, who had long since turned the CIA's classified database into her personal playground, quickly pulled up Belle's file. She was reportedly stationed in Africa, fresh out of CIA training, on a covert assignment.
Beckett, while familiar with Belle from past encounters, didn't dwell on the revelation. She was too preoccupied with orchestrating a full-blown media exposé on Duhoviche's crimes. After all, exposing a war criminal was far more pressing than speculating about a former NYC cab driver turned CIA operative.
Castle skimmed through Belle's CIA performance reviews and wasn't the least bit surprised by her stellar evaluations. It seemed likely she would eventually become something akin to the protagonist of The Equalizer, a retired agent dispensing justice on her own terms. But since Belle's official career was just beginning, Castle figured it would be years before her story reached that point.
Satisfied that Belle was thriving, Castle refocused on Duhoviche and the inevitable confrontation between him and the unlikely duo of Kincaid and Deadpool... er, Reynolds. However, a question lingered in his mind: how was he going to justify traveling to Europe to witness this spectacle firsthand? His current life didn't allow for such impulsive trips.
Then it hit him: the satellites! He had commissioned Hughes to build private communication satellites, and the company had recently informed him that the first two were nearing completion. Maybe he could call them tomorrow and expedite the launch? If he had his satellite network in place, he wouldn't need to be physically present to watch events unfold.
Thinking it over, Castle realized that Beckett's exposé would likely force Duhoviche to act rashly, perhaps even sending assassins after Kincaid to silence him. In that case, Castle wouldn't need to be there in person—he could let fate play out from the comfort of his home.
Later that evening, Beckett remained busy, her anger palpable as she directed the chubby kid to package all the damning evidence against Duhoviche and send it to media outlets worldwide. Castle stood behind her, quietly watching the fiery "female commander" in action.
By nightfall, every major news outlet—whether traditional newspapers, TV networks like Fox News, or modern online platforms—had received an anonymous email containing the explosive revelations. The emails included detailed photos and videos of Duhoviche commanding his forces at massacre sites, along with confidential plans for his ethnic cleansing campaign.
The response was immediate. Newsrooms scrambled to verify the information, and within hours, breaking news segments were airing the shocking footage. Papers halted their printing presses to swap in this bombshell story as the next day's front-page headline.
Castle remained in the supercomputer lab, watching Beckett unleash her fury on the world. Only after the emails had been sent did they head to their bedroom to rest. Yet even after her shower, Beckett's anger hadn't subsided.
The sheer ruthlessness of Duhoviche's actions weighed heavily on her. "Why massacre children, women, and the elderly?" she vented, sitting on the edge of the bed, her voice sharp with indignation. "Why not just kill your enemies and leave it at that?"
Her mind kept circling back to the images of the innocent victims, which only fueled her rage further. As she dried her hair, she turned to Castle, her tone laced with both frustration and determination. "Is there really nothing else we can do to make Duhoviche pay? You're always stirring up trouble, Castle. Surely, you can think of something?"
Castle, lying on the bed, had been eagerly anticipating their usual bedtime antics. But the seriousness in Beckett's voice made him sit up. "I'm being honest here, Beckett. You know as well as I do that this guy is over in Eastern Europe, and we have zero connections or resources there. What do you expect me to do? Borrow a drone and fire a Jericho missile at him?"
He paused before adding, "Look, the evidence you just sent out is more than enough to ruin him. Once the world knows what he's done, he'll face international condemnation and sanctions."
Beckett was unaware that Duhoviche's downfall was already imminent. She didn't know that he had hired Kincaid to silence witnesses—a move that would ultimately lead to his undoing. Castle, knowing that tonight would be rough if he didn't convince her, patiently explained:
"Now that this is public, he's going to face pressure from both his own people and the international community. The ethnic group he's been targeting? They're not going to sit back quietly anymore. And trust me, no one in the world—no country, no politician—is going to stick their neck out to defend a genocidal maniac like him."
Beckett, still skeptical but listening intently, perched on the bed beside him. Wrapped in her towel, she asked, "So you're saying he'll be brought down by his own people and then tried at The Hague?"
Castle nodded. "Exactly. Right now, he's still a head of state, which gives him some immunity. But once he's overthrown—and he will be—he'll be just another criminal. The International Criminal Court won't let him go."
Beckett considered this, her anger gradually softening. While she was a skilled detective, she was less versed in the intricacies of international politics. Castle's reasoning made sense.
What he didn't mention, however, was that Kincaid had already taken a job from Duhoviche. That alone guaranteed that the tyrant's days were numbered. Why waste effort on someone who was doomed to fall?
Castle mentally noted that, even if he wanted to act directly, there was little he could do. He had no connections in Eastern Europe. Perhaps John Wick or his father, Sean, might have some pull there, but was Duhoviche really worth that kind of trouble?
For now, it was best to let events unfold naturally. The wheels of justice—fueled by Beckett's anger—were already turning.
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/Mutter
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.