CASTLE # 7 THE DISAPPEARANCE

CASTLE # 7: THE DISAPPEARANCE This is how it would be explained, to Senator Kate Castle. The most accurate, and current, information, was that Ryan and Esposito had been pursuing a rumor, about an ancient building. This time, it had been the new captain, of the 12th, who had assigned the detectives. The reason was simple. The mayors office was receiving reports that, not only was there a fortune, in jewels, hidden, in a "secret passage", inside an old building, but that modern day treasure hunters were preparing to mount "expeditions". The mayors office was concerned because most of the explorers submitted no lists, of supplies, to be used in the search. Since the mayors office did NOT want New York City to raise its death toll, by the reckless actions, of un-trained explorers, the mayors office had put in a call, to the 12th. Why? By this time, it was well-known that the 12th had not only been the hang-out, of writer Richard Castle, but that Ryan and Esposito, had been an active part, of discovering parts, of New York City, which most people had forgotten about. While being assigned, to look into more dusty passages, for who-knows-what, was not a duty that the detectives looked forward to, it was when the captain mentioned "I have been approved to offer you hazzardous duty pay, for your help." No way could Ryan turn this down. Not with a wife, and two children, to care for. As for Espo, his reply was "Ryan is my partner. Where he goes, I go." This case, however, would be un-like normal cases. In fact, it would be much more like the case of the woman, who left Richarde Castle the inheritance, of a dusty, old, un-used, home. Before even starting the case, the detectives had to find a starting point. Espo would, even, say "Castle would love this. A case, where we need to FIND the starting point." As Ryan would point out "Well, we KNOW where the jewels are not, since we searched dozens of places", while looking for secret passages, which allowed killers to strike, without setting off alarms. These buildings came off of the list, as soon as the case-file was reviewed. When Espo would call Alexis Castle, the woman would help narrow the list, even farther. This because Alexis had her friends, and cyber-friends, still looking into documenting New York City's history, for the real video. Alexis would inform Espo "To date, we have found four, forgotten, work-shops. We THINK that they were used either during the civil war, or, maybe, Prohibition. We (we, meaning Alexis friends) have found journals, antique weapons, and something, which resembles a camera. Just older than anything we know of." When Espo would ask "Have you heard anything about jewels? Maybe hidden in a secret room?" Alexis would say "At last count, I think we were up to fifty-seven, and had debunked twenty-nine more." When Espo would ask "Would you provide me with the list of those not yet debunked?" Alexis would suggest "Why dont I just fax you a copy." Espo would say "Thanks." Ryan, and Espo, would not be prepared for the information, faxed to them. Now, sure, it was general knowledge that, before, and during, the Revolutionary War, New York had been an important port, for the British Navy. At one point, for centuries, the bay area had been a staging area. A place, for the British Army to inspect all incoming ships, both for imperial seals, and for contraband. Sailing ships, by the hundreds, passed through the bay, regularly. In fact, had it not been for the Stamp Act, of the 1600's, the port might not have had as many soldiers. All of Europes hopes, for increased revenue, from the Stamp Act, faded to nothing when the thirteen colonies stopped accepting European goods, and began improvising, with native goods. During Ryan, and Espo's, duty, with the video review, the detectives were given access to locations, along the Hudson River, where British shipping was not the only wrecks which had been located. Three projects had dug out the remains, of British, sailing, craft then made new soundings. To date, three, Viking, ships had been found, buried in the bottom. This, along with a large, and, suspiciously, Egyptian, boat. Still, the detectives checked in, with the teams, to find out more information, on the jewels. All that the team leaders would say was "So far, all we have found is religious, and personal use, items. No jewels, yet." When asked "Could the story, of jewels be some kind of hoax? A way to rip people off?" All the team leaders would say was "50/50. The jewels COULD just be yet another legend, OR they might be REAL." When Ryan would ask "IF the jewels are real, how much would their street value be?" No one was willing to speculate, except to say "The list, of buyers, would be very SMALL. Items, that old, cannot be fenced, on the open market." When the detectives visited some pawn shops, which specialized in high end merchandise, all the men heard, again, and again, was "Are you crazy? No one would try to sell something that OLD. It would be like holding up a flag, and saying "Here I am." When asked about a list of buyers, the pawn shops operators would say "I dont deal with those kind of buyers. I deal with people, who need cash. Dope, booze, guns, that kind of stuff. You wont find any limosines parked in front of my place." The detectives heard the same thing from ex-cons, drug dealers, and prostitutes. All that one prostitute would tell the detectives was that some "john", had wanted some company, while his wife, and kids were out of town. "Yeah, he took me to his house. Real nice place. Fancy, red, tile roof. Fountain, in the center of the drive. That was just the outside." When Espo would ask "What about the inside?" The woman put out her hand, and Espo would say "Ryan, pay the lady." When Ryan would ask "What about Jenny?" Espo would say "This is police business. You can write it off." Knowing, from experience, of arresting hookers, Ryan pulled out a $100 bill. When the woman took the money, she asked "This is not a bust?" Espo would say "No. We just want information. Now, how about this house." The woman would say "Art all over the place. Picaso, Rembrandt, Michaelangelo, Mozart, Beethoven. Man, the place was like a museum." When Espo would ask "How would you know about all of these people?" The woman would say "I was not born to this life. My parents had all of us sent to art school, and prep school. Only saw our parents on holidays." Espo would say "You are breaking my heart. Now, about this house." The woman would say "I am telling you, this guy did not have anything older than the Vatican. Plenty from the time, since. But nothing older." When Ryan would ask "What about Jewels?" The woman would ask "Do you believe this. This guy asks me into his family home, shows me his collection, yet, when I want to touch it, he sends me away." When Espo would ask "Before, or after, the fact?" The woman would say "After, of course." When Espo would ask "Does the house have a safe?" The woman would say "Yeah, it does. Dont bother trying to break in. That thing is the size of a locomotive. I dont think that even a nuke would dent it." The detectives left the woman, and called Alexis. She would verify "We just checked five more sites. Nothing but old stills, a few log books. Some art work, and mummies. No jewels, so far." It would seem that the district attorney, when informed of the bootleg log-books, failed to comprehend the AGE of the journals. Yes, there were entries, from all over New York, AND New Jersey. The problem, as staff found out, was that the latest entries were from just after Probition ended. IF anyone was alive, from that era, they would be in nursing homes. Still, the D.A. told their staff to check. Any lead would do. All staff came up with was two people, who had Alzheimers, to the point where they did not remember their own names. Prosecution, and cross examination, would be impossible, since the people were slipping away from life. Still, none of this helped the detectives. With a total, of $5,000, in "tips", paid out, the New York City "underground" would promise to inform the detectives, if anyone was talking about high end jewels. Espo would be the one to ask "What I dont get is this. IF a fortune, in jewels, has been in New York, for centuries, then WHY are people just hearing about it, now? Why not a couple of centuries ago?" Ryan would ask "Do you suspect a swindle, or a trap?" All Espo would say was "Maybe both." The trouble, with most, American cities (New York City included), was the fact that both before, and after, Prohibition, the list, of cons, could, nearly circle the globe. Cons, as simple as children, taking money, from other children, for goods, that would never be delivered. Cons as complex as people being offered huge rewards, for diving, in very un-safe materials, for specified items. It would be Martha Rogers who would come up with an un-expected clue. Martha would tell the detectives "You know, back in my day, there was even a wine which was either NAMED "The Jewels", or was reported to taste as fine as Jewels." When Alexis would say "Grams, I never thought..." Martha would say "Darling, I have been of "age", since LONG before you were born. I have tasted more wine..." This is when Espo would ask "Mrs. Rogers, do you know where this stuff was kept?" Martha would say "Dear boy. I said I drank the stuff. I have no idea of where, or how, it was bottled." At this point, Ryan was about to "call it", when one of Alexis on-line friends came forth. The girl would suggest "I have an idea. If you check with the richest people, in New York State, they may not know who has the jewels, but they will know if the stories are true." Ryan would say "Of course. Talk to the people who deal in the item." Espo would ask "Bro, do you realize what it will take, just to get an audience, with these people? It will be like having an audience with either the Queen of England, or the pope." Ryan would say "Better start making some phone calls, then." While the captain was not happy, with receiving calls, saying that the police wanted to question the most prestigeous people, in the United States, Ryan, and Espo, would explain it this way. "We dont want to question them. We just want to ask about the jewels. If the rich dont know anything, then we KNOW the rumor is fake. If the rich know about the jewels, then we know that the jewels are real." This would be when the captain would receive a phone call, from the mayors office. The fortune hunters wanted permits, not delays. How much progress was being made? All the captain could say was "I have my detectives tracking down leads, as fast as they can. We are just dealing with something, so old, that we need more leads." When the mayor would ask "What KIND of leads?" The captain would say "We have a source, which has suggested that, IF we TALK to the very rich, that THEY will know if the jewels are real." When the mayor would ask "Source of the lead?" the captain would say "The group, which is reviewing New York City's checkered past. A group member has suggested that the rich will know if the items are real. Would you make some calls, for the department. Soothe things over?" The mayor would say "I can arrange for social visits. I will ASK for cooperation." The captain would suggest "Tell them that the N.Y.P.D. will be greatful, for any, and all, asistance." Two days later, the list came through. The captain would remind the detectives "These people are opening their homes, voluntarily. Treat them with respect." Both Ryan and Espo, would say "Right, captain." When Ryan made the mistake of telling Jenny about the visits, she made such a fuss, about her husband making a "good impression", that Ryan, finally, said "Gotta go. I hope to be home, by dinner." When he met up with Espo, he found that Espo's girlfriend had given him the same treatment. When Espo asked "I TOLD her this was a police matter, yet she acts like I am going on a date, with another woman." At each, of the first, five, residences, that the detectives visited, they were shown wine bottles, of a very old age. The owners would say "TO throw off thieves." When the bottles were poured into trays, jewels did emerge from the wine." Ryan would say "Impressive. Hide your valuables in the last place anyone would think to look." In each case, the owners would say "These are not the most valuable. These are just to impress the public." It was after the detectives visited number citizens, number five, on the list, that number six would call the station, asking "We have an engagement to leave for, soon. When are your officers going to arrive?" When the captain would say "Hang on." Then would ask the duty staff "Where are Ryan and Esposito? We have clients waiting to be interviewed." When duty staff tried to call, all they got was voice mail. As for the cruisers tracking unit, when this was discovered to be de-activated, the captain would have to tell the caller "I will have to return your call." Then the captain, hung up the phone. When the captain called up maintenance, about the tracker, asking "Could my detectives have turneed the unit of?" The electrician would say "Impossible. You dont have access. If the tracker is not working, the car must be inside something which is blocking the signal." When the captain would ask "How do we track it, then?" The man would suggest "Why not an old fashioned "All Points Bulletin?" The captain thought "Funny! If we put out an alert, on a police cruiser, the media will eat the department, alive." Wasting taxpayer money. What a headline that would make. The captains alternative would be just as simple, if not too late. N.Y.P.D. dispatch would ask officers just to "keep a watch out". By the time this watch went into effect, however, Ryan, and Espo's, unit would be inside a shielded container, loaded onto a west-bound train, and heading west. Atleast seven patrol cars would watch the train go by (not knowing what it contained). Senator Kate Castle would be "brought in", and given a summary, since she had been the mens superior, for years. Kate even allowed the captain to apologize, for calling the senator away from "other business", to ask questions about her former workers. Kate had been happy, to take the call, since she was growing tired of the latest round of "budget favors". It would seem that a politician, from another state, was asking a New York State politician for a favor. If New York would grant the favor, then the politicians own territory could NOT refuse the persons offer. Being a former police detective, Kate would have thought she had heard, and seen, it ALL. (Boy, was she wrong) Kate was suspicious, from the moment, when she heard "New York will receive part of the profits. I just need the states support, to show my own constituents that other states are willing to fund this offer." After nearly ten minutes of hearing "New York WILL profit, from the project", Kate would ask "Sum it up, will you? What is it that you want New York to support you on?" When the politician would suggest "AN evolution, of legalized gambling." When Kate would ask "What SORT of evolution?" The politician would say "MY advisors tell me that, if we allow call girls, as well as gambling, we can triple our income. Maybe even quadruple the money. The more money we make, the more New York will make." When Kate would ask "You want New York State to support legalized prostitution?" The politician would say "Nothing so crude. We are not talking about street corner addicts, hoping for a score. We are talking..." and Kate would finish, by saying "You want what? Escorts, to approach each suite, and ASK if occupants want some company?" When the politician would say "Not a bad idea." Kate would say "I was joking. Tell me this. If a gambler loses their savings, at the tables, HOW are they supposed to PAY the escorts?" When the politician would say "Simple, we add the service as a "room charge." This is when Kate had heard enough, and excused herself. As she left the room, she heard the chairman asking "Approximately how much revenue would this venture generate?" Back, in her office, Senator Castle would no-sooner pour herself a drink, when she would look at the glass, then place it on a table. It was at that moment, when Kate realized "I have just acted as my own escort." Knowing that she wanted no part, in the discussion, Kate would call New York, then arrange a flight, home. Good old New York City. A town which felt just as comfortable as her father. At the family loft, When Kate asked to speak to Martha, Kate was about to ask Alexis to depart the room, when she realized that Alexis was not a school girl, any more. While Martha, still, called the girl "kiddo", Kate knew that Alexis was old enough for anything that she wanted to do. (Kate just did not want to THINK about what young women do.) Instead, Kate asked both women "What would you say if a person came to town, offering not just no-limit gambling, but, when a customer became tired of the games of chance, and went to their room, a call-girl would arrive, to soothe hurt feel..." Martha would say "I have heard enough. What lunatic would supply an "escort", to a person, who was broke?" Kate would say "The "lunatic" is saying that a gambling place can apply the escorts services, to the room bill as "Room Service". It would be billed to credit cards." While Alexis would say "Ewe!" Martha would ask "Who would be dumb enough to add this to a room charge? Once you are busted, you should LEAVE the casino. Thats just common sense." Kate would say "The discussion is before the senate, now. The investor is trying to make the senate believe that the added "service" would increase revenues." Martha would say "Simpler just to put a gun, to guests heads, and say "Turn over your home, cars, accounts, college funds, and so on, and be done with it."" Kate would remind Martha "Putting a gun to a persons head is ILLEGAL." Martha would say "When has that stopped anyone, before?" When Kate would summarize "So both of you feel that adding prostitution, to gambling debts, is a bad idea." Martha and Alexis would, jointly, say "Yes!". At this point, Kate would say "I guess it is time to meet the public, yet again. I need more than my daughters, and mother-in-laws, votes, to stop this matter." Martha would say "Step one. You, Katherine Castle, are headed for a glass, of fine wine, then to bed. Step two. Alexis and I will activate the "network", then Alexis will be off, to bed." Since Kate had too much respect, for Martha Rogers, she did not argue. The two women shared a couple of drinks, then some stretching exercises, then, once Kate was relaxed, Martha would say "To bed with you. If your husband finds you, like this, no one will hear the end of it." It would be over breakfast, that Kates phone would ring. Just out of habit, she would say "Beckett". Soon, after this, Richard and Kate would be on their way to their old precinct. At the precinct, the main question was "Where are Ryan and Esposito?" To Kates surprise, the captain would ask Richard, directly "Mr. Castle. I understand that you have a variety of very wealthy authors, and clients, about you." When Castle would say "That is true." The captain would say "NO false modesty, in this case. I need your help, not just in solving this case, but with FINDING Ryan and Esposito." When Kate would suggest "So, neither man returned home, last night?" The captain would say "Their women called in, this morning, asking if the men had been assigned stake-out duty." When Kate would ask "What did you tell them?" The captain would ask "What do you THINK that I told a mother, of two children, as well as a hopeful bride-to-be? I told them that I would check on the men." Kate would say "Good call. Now, what do we know about Ryan and Espo?" The captain would say "Last we heard, they had departed the fifth name, on a list, and were headed, for the sixth. We knew the men were missing since the sixth name called in, asking when the detectives would arrive. It seems the couple had a dinner engagement, after the interview." When Kate asked "Did either man call in, with any information, on the case?" The captain would say "After interviewing half of the city, all that either man had was that the story was fifty/fifty." When Kate asked to see a grid map, the captain would say "Already checked, three times. After the men left house number five, they just "dropped from sight." Kate would say "Doesn't make sense. They may not have been "by the book", but they ARE good men. Something MUST have happened." The captain would ask "But, WHAT?" When Kate would ask "What about black-and-whites?" The captain would say "Word is out, but no one has seen either the men, or the cruiser." What no one had any clue about was the fact that Ryan and Esposito were, at that moment, being "interrogated", by a couple of fanatical fortune hunters. Poeple, willing to use "enhanced interrogation", as long as they found what they wanted. These people wanted the jewels, bad enough, that they were willing to KILL, for them. All that Ryan and Esposito could tell them was "We dont even know if the jewels are real." When the "hunters" would yell "LIARS", Espo would say "What do you WANT to hear?" Then add "Do you WANT to hear the the jewels are at the Metropolitan Museum?" Ryan would suggest "Why not try a Chuck E. Cheese? Maybe the jewels are in one of the costumes." When the fortune hunters bolted, leaving the detectives tied up, Espo would ask Ryan "Chuck E. Cheese?" Ryan would say "Hey, it gave them something to focus on." Espo would say "Until they tear the old places up, find nothing, then come back, for us." Four hours later, and the N.Y.P.D. was checking out a serious of "Breaking and Entering", at old Chuck E. Cheese locations. Three, in a row, could not be coincidence. Kate would say "Its like someone is sending a message." When Castle was "Like what? That Pizza Hut is better?" Kate would ask "Why Chuck E. Cheese? Why not McDonalds? Why the bears, and not the clown, and his friends?" Since Espo's woman was closest, the N.Y.P.D. checked with her, first. The woman was a Latina, who spoke amazingly good English. Like she told the police "My parents are from across the border, but I was born and raised, in the United States.." When Kate asked "Do you know anything about Chuck E. Cheese?" The woman would ask "Who is that? A money maker?" It was at Ryans place, that the lead came forth. Jenny would inform the detectives "Ryan and I grew up near one another. Just not close enough that he knew about me." When Kate would ask "Does Chuck E. Cheese mean anything, to you?" Jenny would roll her eyes, saying "My Ryan, he loved the place, as a kid. He regrets that our children will, never, know the fun that he had, there." When a lieutenant would call Kate away from Mrs. Ryan, to say "We just got more calls. Someone just went through four more Chuck E. Cheeses." When Kate would whisper "How many does that leave?" the officer would say "Just one left. Going to be demo'ed, next month." When Kate would ask "How far?" The officer would say "Give the word, senator, and units will roll, within five minutes." Kate would whisper "Lieutenant, the "word" IS given." Kate would, then return to Mrs. Ryan, saying "We have a hot tip, on your husband. We have to go, NOW!" When Castle would ask "Whats the rush?" Kate would say "Chuck E. Cheese is the warning flare. We know where any kidnappers might be, next, but we need to arrive, first. We need them alive, to tell us where Ryan and Esposito, are." While using sirens on the main streets, once in range of the restaurant, police proceeded silently, and as dark as possible. Finding locks ripped from doors, the police would hear two voices, calling out "Not here", and "Check over there. They HAVE to be here." The other voice would say "Unless the cops lied." This is when Beckett, armed with a borrowed revolver, would enter the building, saying "Cops dont lie, unless under duress." When the woman turned, and Beckett saw her automatic weapon, Kate did not have time to say "Put it down." The woman opened fire as she turned. Knowing the police needed the suspects alive, Kate would shot the woman in the leg. When the automatic dropped to the floor, followed by the woman, a police officer would say "On the ground, NOW! " When the man saw Kates ruthless efficiency, he decided it was not worth trying. He dropped his gun, and was hand-cuffed. It was only after the criminals were taken to a waiting ambulance that another officer would call Senator Castle over, for an un-expected sight. Kate had to suppress a smile, as the two young people asked the police "IS the shooting over?" Until that moment, Kate Castle had forgotten that this, abandoned place had started as a place, for people to share memories, of Chuck E. Cheese, then it became a make-out spot. This was proven to remain true, when the two, young people, both naked, stood before the police. When Kate found her voice, she would suggest "If those are YOUR clothes, over there, I suggest you get dressed, then check in with the paramedics." At the ambulance, the young people would tell the police "We were, already, there, when the other two broke in." Kate would say "Skip the details. Did they say anything?" The girl would cut a deal. "If we tell you what we know, you DONT call our parents. They would freak out, like we were kids, or something." Kate would say "Fine, now, OUT with it." The young man would say "They kept saying that some cops told them to look in the old place. It was all "Look over there." and "How big is it?" and "I dont know." When Kate walked over to the thieves, saying "If you want to cut a deal, now is the time." When the man started to talk, the woman all-but shouted "Shut UP!", then, looking directly at Kate, the woman would say "You cant trust a cop!" When Kate would ask "Why would you say that?" The woman would ask "Ask me how many times my father raped me, before I left home. Every time he got drunk. He called me my mothers name, while he took what he wanted. The police never did anything." When Kate would ask "What became of your father?" She woman looked at Kate, with the fires of Hell, blazing, in her eyes, as she said "When the police would not prosecute the man, claiming that I made it all up, for attention, I showed them the truth. Slit his throat, from ear to ear, then left home." When Kate promised "I will review the case, at the station. For now, WHERE are my detectives?" When the woman would say no more, the man would give the location. Later, while Ryan and Espo were cleaning up, Kate called for the woman's file. She did have a file, and had, on multiple occassions, TRIED to file charges. Trouble was that her father was both a Catholic, and a drunk. His time, in the "tank", would equal close to a year, when put together. When Kate would ask "Why was there no follow up?", local police would tell her "The family was not perfect. The mother had three affairs, that we know of. The father. He had "stoolies" everywhere. Any time child welfare came close, the home was found empty." When Kate asked "Why wasn't the girl rape-tested?" The police would say "Against her own father? Even we know that the test would be 95, or more, percent, positive. Same family. Same D.N.A. No way to be sure." When Kate asked "When the man was murdered, was there an investigation?" The police would ask "What for?" He was a drunk. His throat could have been slit, any where, and then he stumbled home." Rather than pull rank, and have the officers fired, for "Gross Incompetence", Kate would return to New York, and file a report, verifying that the mans death was, in fact, "Justifiable Homicide". Kate would have wanted to ask the woman how many times her father had raped her, but Kate knew that some memories are best left alone. Besides, Kate had another problem, in the present day. Martha had arranged a series, of community meetings, and, with no small amount, of assistance, from Alexis, and her friends, the "gigs" were just as "sold out" as ever. Kate would explain the proposed project, as well as possible, to her all-adult audience. When the audience asked for clarification, and Kate provided this, Kate would have to call the meeting to order. Kate would tell the assembled "I dont like it, either, but I need your votes, to help me defeat the plan. As we hand out the vote slips, we need you to fill them out, and leave them with us. I will deliver your votes, to the senate, FOR you." Kate then joined Alexis, Martha, and the other volunteers, in handing out ballots. It was after the balloting that Kate, Martha, and Alexis, began hearing bits and pieces, of a story, from long ago. From a variety of people, the Castles would hear such things as "I think that the story is as old as New York. Maybe older." As Kate, Martha, and Alexis, listened, and took notes, the story formed, of yet another, infamous pirate. A man, rumored to be rich enough, in his day, to buy young girls, from impoverished families. The girls would serve the pirates needs, until he tired of them. At this point, the agreement would "fork" as some stories said that the pirate kept the women, at a monastery. A place which forbade women to speak. In another story, the pirate took the girls, walked them into marshes, then held pistols aimed at the womens backs, until heads went under the muck. Still another version said that the priate waited until the girls were asleep, then buried them in concrete. When Kate asked "Any record of any of this?" The people asked "That long ago?" Another person would ask "Do you really think that anyone would record the story, of a pirate, who dragged a girl, from her parents home, after killing her father, then dragged the girl to his boat?" When Kate asked "What about the mother?" The people would ask "What about her? Remember. In them days, women lost just about everything, to their husbands, upon marriage." Another person would say "Yeah, in them days, widows, and orphans, were sold off, like cattle, to pay off a mans final debts." When Martha would say "This is all very charmingly historical, however, does anyone know about some jewels, said to be buried, near New York?" When asked "What KIND of jewels?" Martha would suggest "oh, maybe diamonds, rubies, emeralds. That kind of thing." About the only story that Kate was interested in was the man who said "I dont know how true this is, since I never SEEN the jewels, but I think it was my grand-father claimed he found some stones. Said he hocked them, for enough money, to buy a store front. Converted it into a bar, and its been ever since." When Kate would ask "He pawned the jewels. Did he ever try to recover them?" The man would say "Sure did. As soon as business got good, he bought them back. So he said, anyway. Claimed he kept them in a safe. One of them big, tough, old models. The ones criminals take one look at, and walk away." When Kate would ask "As his grand-son, wouldn't you have the combination?" The man would say "I was told not to open the safe until the limitations are up. I think it will be in two years." Kate would correct the man, saying "The Statute of Limitations" begins when a crime takes place. If your grand-father found the jewels, after who knows how long, the statute is up." Before the man would agree to open the safe, he asked that the theft be verified, in honor of his father. A life-long New Yorker. Kate, Ryan, and Espo, would have to go to the historical society, to find out when the jewels were stolen. The closest match was a set of jewels, stolen from a trading ship, by pirates, back in the days of the Thirteen Colonies. Kate would say "Lets see. That would make the crime, taking place about 350 years ago. Give or take. I think that the statute is up." The man would say "Now, lets hope grand-father was not just a story-teller." It was obvious, by the groaning, of the metal, that this safe had not been open, in decades, if not centuries. It would take the combined muscle, of the man, Ryan, and Espo, to pull the door open. Inside the vault, and resting on smooth silk, was a glorious set of jewels. It was no wonder the rumor never died. When Ryan would ask "How much do you think?" Espo would say "Bro, these are historical. You cant place a value on history." Kate knew that there was no use trying to find the owners. The shipping line had been driven out of business, when the owners were found conspiring with the colonial patriots. The offices had been burned to the ground, after all records were sent to their majesties tax-collector. As for the family, which had imported the jewels, history says that, during the Civil War, their family died out, as they fought off the "Northern Devils". Still, the south had lost the war, yet even the north had taken tremendous losses. The families property was auctioned off, after the burials. As far as Kate Castle could figure out, the young man, and the bar, WERE the legal owners. Just two days later, U.S. Senator Kate Castle would stand, with the mayor, of New York City, to proclaim. "The jewels have been found. They are in a safe place. There is no need for any hunts. As your senator, I certify that the hunt, for the treasure is at an end. The rightful owner is in possession of their property." The man would smile at the fact that the senator had kept her word. She had promised the man that she would announce that the jewels were found, yet would NOT reveal his identity. (She had his vote, in the next election). The U.S. Senate was another matter. By the time Kate Castle would return to the senate, for the vote, on evolved gambling, a community vote, of about 500 people, had turned into an internet campaign, which lead to about five million votes. This is why Kate Castle would enter Senate chambers, with a group, of delivery men, pushing dollies, full of boxes. When the chairman would ask "Senator Castle. What is the meaning of this?" Kate would announce "Fellow senators, I have asked my territory IF I should back the idea, for evolved gambling. In these boxes is New Yorks answer." When the chairman would ask "What does New York think of the idea?" Kate would say "To be polite, I would say that, maybe 100 people are IN FAVOR of the idea. The other five million people are opposed. For this reason, I cannot vote in favor of evolved gambling. Not in New York, for any other jurisdiction." This is when the Chairman would add "You know, senator, I followed your example, and asked my own home territory." When Kate would ask "What was the peoples response?" The chairman would say "Same as New York." This is when three, other, senators would come forth saying "Mine, too." The chairman would tell Kate "You know, Senator Castle. This body does not look DOWN, on the American people. We SERVE the people. We do not look DOWN on decent. We just want to make sure that the people get what they voted for." When Kate would ask "So, no more, idea, about prostitution, paired with gambling?" The chairman would say "Terrible idea, to begin with." Boy, what a month this had been. Mysterious jewels, kidnapped detectives, a prostitution/gambling project, and Ryan and Espo, still doing research, for the real video. When Kate asked herself "IS it worth it?" When she thought of Castle, she wondered. When she thought of Alexis, Martha, and the 12th, Kate KNEW she had made the right call. After all, when her father had liked Rick, taken to Martha, and accepted Alexis, as his first grand-daughter, Kate knew things would work out. Now, if she could just keep everyone OUT of trouble. She knew the answer: NO chance.