Reborn as Richard Castle in Criminal Minds

Beckett was taken aback by Castle's statement. What did he mean by saying she might not be able to accept it?

Seeing Beckett's puzzled expression, Castle chuckled to himself. Today, he planned not only to clear up her doubts about his intelligence sources and his mysterious actions but also to give her a big surprise—or perhaps a shock. However, now wasn't the time for that. He decided to address Beckett's questions one by one before revealing everything.

Ignoring Beckett's confused look, Castle continued, "Remember the night I asked you to pick up those four kidnappers from that chubby guy Harry's house? Didn't I already give you a rough idea of who Harry is?"

Beckett frowned. "You mentioned something about him being named Harry Mitnick, right? And that he's a hacker?"

Castle knew Beckett was an old-school investigator, not very tech-savvy. So, he patiently explained, "Yes, and he has a cousin named Kevin Mitnick. Does that name ring any bells?"

Beckett looked blankly at Castle. "So what if Kevin Mitnick is his cousin? Is he some big shot? Oh, wait, was it Esposito or someone who mentioned that this guy is a famous hacker?"

Castle wasn't surprised by Beckett's reaction. Despite her sharpness, she wasn't deeply interested in the tech world, which was typical. So, he elaborated, "Kevin Mitnick was once the world's number one hacker, hacking into the Pentagon and many other secretive institutions at a young age. Harry inherited this talent and is also a very skilled hacker. To put it simply, what we now call the Internet is just a small part of a vast information exchange network. The Internet we use is just the tip of the iceberg. The real Internet is much more extensive and hidden below the surface, known as the 'Dark Web.'"

Beckett remained silent, her expression showing she wasn't buying it. Castle felt a bit frustrated; Beckett seemed to think he was just spinning tales. In reality, she knew about the Dark Web but was skeptical that Castle's intelligence came from there. She preferred to believe he was bluffing.

Seeing Beckett's skepticism, Castle decided to prove his point. He went to Beckett's study, brought her laptop to the living room, and accessed a specific website in front of her. He then turned the laptop to Beckett, signaling her to take a look.

Beckett, albeit doubtful, was soon amazed. Because of her job, she knew about the Dark Web but had never seen it firsthand. Today, Castle opened a new world for her.

Castle had selected a website specializing in intelligence trading on the Dark Web. Beckett's worldview was shaken as she saw countless legal and illegal pieces of intelligence being traded. This website was a marketplace for information, where you could buy and sell any intelligence, provided you had the money. The anonymity of the transactions provided a shield for both buyers and sellers.

What shocked Beckett the most was the forum on the site, buzzing with discussions about Simon and his gang after their heist of the Federal Reserve gold. The detailed information available on the forum was astonishing; it was filled with their backgrounds, exploits in Europe, and more. Beckett was stunned to see such comprehensive details about the group that had caused chaos in New York, leading to police from surrounding areas being called for support.

Reflecting on her recent sleepless nights spent investigating Simon's crew, Beckett realized how much work could have been saved had she known about this website. She turned to Castle, her eyes filled with frustration, causing Castle to feel confused.

"Did you know about this website all along?" Beckett asked coldly while continuing to browse the forum.

Castle, oblivious to the trouble he was in, replied nonchalantly, "Yes, I did. My information comes from this site and my analysis, with Harry's help. For example, the exact locations of the bombs planted by Simon were found using drones, thanks to Harry."

Before Castle could finish bragging, Beckett, eyes blazing with anger, turned to him. "You idiot! If you had told me about this site earlier, do you know how much work we could have saved? You have no idea how crucial these identities are for our follow-up work. Do you know why I haven't been home in two days? Because I was comparing and verifying their identities. This forum could have provided us with everything we needed!"

Castle was taken aback. He had planned to use the website to cover his intelligence sources but hadn't realized it could significantly aid the police's follow-up work. This misunderstanding stemmed from Castle's lack of experience in police procedures. He had always been the type to disappear after solving the case, unaware that the bulk of police work came after the case was cracked.

Now, confronted with an angry Beckett, Castle realized his mistake. Yet, unfazed by her outburst, he grinned and said, "Okay, I admit I didn't know you needed these identities for follow-up work. But now that you do, your job will be easier, right? So, are you still struggling with Simon's gang's identities? Shouldn't you be telling Esposito and the others to check out this site?"

Beckett, still furious, glared at Castle but couldn't deny the practicality of his suggestion. Shaking her head, she decided to utilize this newfound resource, even if it came with Castle's usual antics.

________________________

Easter Discount on Patreon

From Thursday to Sunday, I'm offering a 33% discount on all Patreon tiers.

Just use this code when you sign up: 7DC41

If you'd like to support the project and get early access to chapters, now's a great time to join or upgrade.

The offer is only available for those four days.

Thank you for your [email protected]/Mutter]