American TV Writer

Dr. Henry Morgan, usually calm, composed, and outwardly refined, was in rare high spirits as he joked with Castle. While they chatted, he pulled out a stack of documents from his desk drawer. "These are the forensic reports I prepared for you after your last visit. They completely overturn the conclusions of the autopsy conducted ten years ago. If you can find the dagger used by the killer, you can convict them."

Castle, without hesitation, took the documents from Henry. "Thanks, man. I knew I could count on you!"

Henry, who seldom had the opportunity to chat with anyone who knew his secret of immortality, was genuinely enjoying the conversation. Castle was one of the few people, besides his adopted son Abraham, who knew the truth, so Henry allowed himself to be more relaxed and conversational.

"Rick, I'm sure you have a plan, but from what you've told me, you and Beckett are in a very dangerous situation. Have you realized that?" Henry's words took Castle by surprise. "Do you think there's something wrong with how I'm handling things?"

Seeing Castle's confusion, Henry, who had lived for over two centuries and was well-versed in the dangers of human nature and political intrigue, sighed. He decided to give his friend a lesson in caution.

"Based on what you've told me, it seems likely that the 'Donkey' party will use the captured assassin's testimony to take down Senator William Bracken, who is heavily backed by the 'Elephant' party, right? And you and Beckett plan to use the distraction caused by this attack to arrest Bracken's key allies and those corrupt cops in the NYPD?"

Castle looked at Henry, puzzled. "Yeah, that's the plan. What's wrong with it? We're taking advantage of the 'Donkey' party's move against Bracken to weaken his support without attracting too much attention. Isn't that a good strategy?"

Henry, frustrated by Castle's lack of understanding, shook his head. "You're underestimating Senator William Bracken. I bet he's already realized that his hitman has been captured by his enemies. A politician like him would be on high alert right now. If you and Beckett start arresting his allies before the 'Donkey' party officially makes its move, you risk drawing all of Bracken's retaliatory power onto yourselves. You've waited this long; waiting a little longer won't hurt. It's better than becoming cannon fodder for the 'Donkey' party. I think your plan overlooks the power behind Bracken, and that oversight could be deadly."

Henry's words hit Castle like a wake-up call. "You're right. Why are we in such a rush? I always planned to follow behind the 'Donkey' party and pick up the pieces. We shouldn't be the ones to start the fire!"

Henry was a bit surprised by how quickly Castle grasped the situation, but he was glad to help. "I'm pleased you're taking my advice. Remember, all politicians are untrustworthy unless your power equals theirs. No matter who you're working with, always be cautious, or you might find yourself betrayed."

Castle sincerely thanked Henry for the warning. With the forensic reports in hand, he didn't want to take up more of Henry's time. After arranging to visit Henry's home sometime soon, Castle hurried back to the 12th Precinct with the signed forensic reports from the chief medical examiner of New York.

As Castle walked into the precinct and saw Beckett still in her office, working on reports, he felt a wave of relief. Henry's warning had truly shaken him. This two-hundred-year-old man was incredibly sharp, and if Henry believed that Senator William Bracken was already on high alert, it wasn't just speculation. It meant that Henry had detected something in Castle's story that hinted at a potentially fatal flaw in their plan. Castle realized that Henry's insight, developed over centuries, might just have saved them from a serious mistake.

As he reflected on everything he knew about Senator Bracken, Castle had to admit that Henry had a point. The senator was a seasoned and dangerous politician. Henry had accurately identified the gaps in their strategy based on Castle's somewhat vague explanation. Perhaps Henry's sensitivity to intrigue was a result of his English upbringing, or maybe it was just his innate ability to read people and situations. Castle wondered if their friendship was so strong because Henry saw a bit of his own troublemaking nature in him.

Lost in thought, Castle finally snapped out of it when Beckett put down her files. He quickly entered her office, handed her the new forensic reports from Henry Morgan, and relayed Henry's advice.

After hearing Henry's opinion, Beckett didn't immediately react. Instead, she looked at Castle, clearly seeking his thoughts.

"I think Henry's right. We don't need to be the ones to light the fuse. The current situation is obvious—the 'Donkey' party won't resist using the information they got from Nick Coonan to go after Senator Bracken. We've waited this long; a few more days won't hurt. Henry made me realize that if we start arresting Bracken's allies now, we could end up being his primary targets for retaliation. That's not necessary."

Beckett knew the principle of "the bird that sticks its head out gets shot" but had momentarily lost sight of it in her eagerness after hearing "good news." She had been preparing for a long time to take down Bracken and his associates. She had already coordinated with the New York District Attorney's office and the NYPD's Internal Affairs. Everything was in place, just waiting for the right moment to strike. But now, with the new information Castle brought, she realized she needed to hold back her eagerness and wait. Castle's reasoning made sense—rushing in could make them the target of the 'Elephant' party's vengeance if Bracken was toppled.

Castle's analysis was sound. No matter the reason for targeting Bracken or his cronies, doing so now would likely provoke the 'Elephant' party's ire. As Castle said, they weren't the ones in a hurry. The 'Donkey' party, always under the 'Elephant's' thumb, was the one eager to make a move. So why not let them fire the first shot and then follow up?

Though she had only been a precinct captain for a short time, Beckett was already learning to see things from a leader's perspective, rather than just charging forward as an officer. Once she shifted her thinking, she realized she had a strong hand to play. She had the evidence needed to bring down Senator Bracken. There was no need to rush; waiting for the 'Donkey' party to act first was indeed the best strategy.

Having reached this understanding, Beckett no longer felt conflicted. She looked at Castle with a rare softness. "Thank you, Castle. Not only for running around all day for me but for thinking everything through so carefully..."

Castle, used to Beckett's usual tough demeanor, was momentarily thrown off by her gentleness. He shifted awkwardly in his seat. "Are you okay?"

Beckett's sudden tenderness made him uncomfortable, and his expression made her laugh. "Alright, no more teasing. If you think we should hold off for now, then we'll pause this operation. But do you really believe the 'Donkey' party will move against William Bracken?"

Castle was confident. "I'm sure they will. The 'Donkey' party's candidate in the presidential race is being crushed by Bracken. They won't miss this chance. Plus, with Nick Coonan in their hands, what do you think they'll do with him?"

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