02x04 - Fool Me Once...

[bunniefuu]

Fool Me Once

There are two kinds of folks

who sit around thinking
about how to k*ll people:

psychopaths
and mystery writers.

I'm the kind that pays better.

Who am I?

I'm Rick Castle.

Castle.

Castle.

I really am ruggedly handsome,
aren't I?

Every writer needs inspiration.
And I found mine.

Detective Kate Beckett.

- Beckett.
- Beckett.

- Nikki Heat?
- The character he's basing on you.

And thanks to my friendship
with the mayor,

I get to be on her case.

I would be happy
to let you spank me.

And together, we catch K*llers

We make a pretty
good team, you know?

Like Starsky and Hutch.

Turner and Hooch.

You do remind me
a little of Hooch.

(woman) # oh, oh #

Everybody, settle down.
Quiet down, please.

Come to the front.
You know your assigned seats.

( children speaking indistinctly)

Careful.

Take your seats.

Now listen,

if you remember, the last time
we spoke with Fletcher,

he had just entered
the polar ice cap.

from Greenland, right here,

headed toward the North Pole.

Remember?

Now he was supposed to ski
about 10 miles a day,

which would have put him
right about here.

( TV beeps, snow hisses )

Oh, good. Right on time.
Now listen, everyone.

Remember,
Fletcher can't hear us, right?

So no yelling out questions,

especially you, Kahlil.

Hey, kids.

( children ) Hi, Mr. Fletcher.

I don't know if you can tell,
but a blizzard just blew in

about an hour ago.

And let me tell you,
it wasn't easy setting up camp

in 50-mile-an-hour winds.

( children ) ooh.
- good thing I was able to buy

such a strong tent

with all the, uh, money--
( thud )

money you raised.

Must be a polar bear out there

looking for a little bit
of trouble, huh?

Anyway, I want to tell you
about this herd of Caribou

I saw yesterday
while I was out skiing.

There were 12 of 'em,
including 4 calves

who had just started to grow
the velvet on their horns.

Oh, talk about cute.

So there I am,

and I'm trying to pull out
my camera when all--

Wait, what are you...

No, No, No, don't.
Don't! Don't! Aah!

[ g*nsh*t ]

( doorbell buzzes )

( buzz )

Hi, I'm Dylan.
I'm here for Alexis.

I'm her new violin teacher.

Dylan, Hi.
Thanks for coming.

Dad, let him in.

Yeah.

( mutters )

(lowered voice)
What happened to Olga?

(lowered voice)
She retired.

So you went male model?

Dylan goes to Julliard.
He's a musical prodigy.

I was lucky to get
a lesson with him.

Prodigies are supposed to be
all nerdy and awkward,

not...that.

(hums) Well, hello there.
I'm Martha.

Hi. Dylan.

Dylan. Oh, Alexis tells me
you're very talented.

(chuckles)
and,

very strong, I might add.

- uh, gram.
ooh. Quite a grip.

(laughs)

Uh, why don't we get started?
I can assess where you are,

and then tomorrow we can
start your lessons. Does that

sound good.

Yeah, my room's upstairs.

Lead the way.

Uh, wh-why don't you
do it down here?

You know how I love
watching you play.

Nonsense.

She needs privacy,
not a performance.

Spoken with
true artistic insight.

Well, thank you.

I'm an actor,
so it stands to reason.

Well...

(Dylan) So how have you been?

He's a charming
you man.

Well, I'm off.

See you later, darling.

I liked Olga.

(cell phone rings
and beeps)

Castle.

(whispers)
Hey, Mike.

Where's the body?

You didn't tell him?

Tell me what?

And ruin the surprise?

What surprise?

Hey, kids.

I don't know if you can tell,
but a blizzard just blew in

about an hour ago...

Do we have jurisdiction
in the North Pole?

Wait for it.

...50-mile-an-hour winds,
good thing that--

...of Caribou I saw yesterday
while I was out skiing.

(Beckett) Okay.
there comes the guy.

there were 12 of 'em
including 4 calves...

(Castle) Whoa.
- who had just started to grow

- the velvet on their horns.
- (Beckett) We see the g*n.

I'm trying to pull out
my camera when all--

Wait, what are you...

No, No, No, don't.
Don't! Don't!

[ g*nsh*t ]

That was awesome! I mean, well,
obviously it was horrible, but--

That's not the Arctic.

That's an apartment.
But where?

Ryan, rewind it.

I thought I saw something
when the camera was falling.

Stop. Right there.

Out the window
in the background.

That's classic
upper West Side architetcture.

Take a picture of it.
Send it to the precinct.

See if any of the b*at cops
recognize it.

On it.

Mr. Wheeler,
I'm Detective Kate Beckett.

This is Rick Castle.

I just don't understand.

Everything seened
on the up and up.

He had Yale, PhD.

When was the first time
that you met Mr. Fletcher?

A few months ago.
He came into the school

and made a presentation
to the school board--

A month-long, one-man trip
to the North Pole.

We agreed to help fund
the expedition.

in exchange, Fletcher said
he would give

a unique educational experience
for the kids,

including weekly video reports
from the Artic Circle.

How much did you raise?

Between our school and others
in the area, around $50,000.

hmm.

(Castle whistles) (Beckett) Wow.
That's a lot of pemmican.

A basic staple of the, uh,
polar explorer diet.

High in fat and protein--
Basically, it's beef and grease

kind of melted together
into a jerky.

You think it'd be disgusting,
but surprisingly...

I'll fill you in later.

When was the last time
you saw Mr. Fletcher?

He came by the school
two weeks age to pick up

a stack of letters the kids
wrote to him for his trip.

He was supposed to get on the
plant to Greenland the next day.

We got an I.D. on the building.

79th and Amsterdam.

All right, tell Lanie
that we'll meet her there.

( police radio chatter )

(camera shutter clicking)

Uniforms said the door
was unlocked when they got here.

Either the victim left it
that way or, uh--

or the k*ller had a key.

mm-hmm.

All right, talk to
the neighbors.

See if Fletcher had
any regular visitors.

But first, I'm thinking our vic
might have been a squirrel.

Mm. I'll check the bedroom.

I'm sorry, a squirrel?

Likes to hide his nuts
for the winter.

And by "nuts" you mean.

- Valuables.
- Ah.

Secrets, anything a guy
living a lie

wouldn't want someone
to find.

(chuckles)
Oh, yeah.

This reminds me of that movie
"Capricorn One,"

But with, like,
a winterland twist.

Yeah.

Lanie, what do we got?

Victim was sh*t in the face
with a large caliber b*llet.

- Ouch.
- Oh, I don't think he felt

much with a b*llet that size.

Face sh*ts usually indicate
a deep anger in the sh**t.

Literally trying to erase
what makes the victim a peron.

Well, con men do leave
a wake of angry people.

It's amazing
that this is all it took

to fake two weeks
in the Arctic.

Mm-hmm. The wonders
of modern technology.

A lot of criminal today
don't take advantage,

I blame the parents.

I'll give this to Fletcher--
He did do his homework.

Oh! This is a library book.

Something tells me he wasn't
planning on returning it.

You were right.

Look what our little squirrel
was hiding in the air vent.

Something tells me
our Steven Fletcher

wasn't actually
Steven Fletcher.

Hmm.

Multiple I.D.s
usually indicates multiple cons.

I'd say our k*ller is someone
who Fletcher duped.

From the height of
the b*llet hole in the tent,

I'd say our sh**t was anywhere
between 5'3" and 6'.

Mm-hmm.

I guess that rules out
the first graders.

Unless one was standing
on another one's shoulders.

Hiding inside
of a trench coat, maybe.

(Castle snaps fingers)
Diabolical. I like it.

Thank you.

Lanie, I'm gonna need a rush
on the fingerprints.

We're gonna need to know
who our victim really was.

Okay.

Let's bag all of this,
get it back to the station.

- Right on.
- Um-hmm.

(Ryan)
Just like cap, huh?

(Esposito) If I climbed
in a tent,

(Beckett)
Couple of U.S. passports.

Hmm.

- See ya.
- Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh.

Oh, thank you.

So have you read it?

Read what?

The book.

What book?

Oh, your book.
"Heat Wave."

Well?

I haven't gotten to it yet.

What do you mean,
you haven't gotten to it yet?

I'm sorry. I've just been
so busy with work.

I haven't had time.

You were all over me to get
a copy of that book,

Do you have any idea how many
hoops I had to jump through

just so my editor
wouldn't send an armed guard

to watch over you
while you read it?

The least you could do
is to...

Oh. (chuckles) Oh.
I see what you're doing.

I'm not doing anything.

Oh, yes, you are.
Yes, you are.

You're trying to push
my buttons,

but it's not gonna work.

Really?

mm-hmm.

'Cause it seems to be working
just great.

Now if you'll excuse me,
I have to input these I.D.s.

into Vi-CAP to see if any of
Fletcher's other identities

have been flagged.

Where do you want all this stuff
from Fletcher's apartment?

Right here.

How come you have to
carry everything?

Ryan hurt his back.

( groans) We checked with
all of Fletcher's neighbors.

None of 'em could remember
seeing anyone but Fletcher

coming or going
from the apartment. Ah.

And we called Yale.
Turns out Steven Fletcher

Does have a PhD
in Wildlife Biology, only--

Only their Steven Fletcher
is a 7-foot-tall Albino.

No. 300-pound Hawaiian,
but close.

(Ryan)
You know what I don't get?

Mm-hmm.

Why go to so much trouble to
create such an elaborate scam?

Fletcher
must have spent weeks

going through
all the prep work.

I can give you
50,000 reasons why.

Yeah, but for con men,
it's not just about the money.

I mean, for them,
it's about the game.

The-the thrill they get
from pulling a con?

It's like a drug high.

Con man was on dr*gs?

No, sir. Castle was just
giving us psychological insight

based on his extensive
experience as a fraud.

(whispers)
Meow.

Well, I just fielded
several phone calls

from some very embarrassed
private schools,

and they want this solved
quickly and quietly.

Unfortunately,
it looks like our con man

was running a whole
slew of cons.

unraveling all of them
and finding the k*ller

is gonna take some time.

(beeps)

or maybe not.

(beeps)

One of Fletcher's aliases conned
a woman named Patty Schultz

out of her life savings
about a year ago.

Sounds like a motive
for m*rder to me.

Apparently Ms. Schultz
has spent several stints

in Greystone Park
Psychiatric Hospital,

and none of them voluntary.

Straightjacket.

# Castle 2x04 #
Fool Me Once
Original Air Date on October 12, 2009

Ms. Schultz
I'm, Detective Beckett.

Is this about Sanchez? 'Cause,
you know, I only hit him

because he was drilling holes
in the wall

to watch me exercise.

This isn't about Sanchez.
This is about him.

Steven Fletcher--
also known as Steven Miles.

Are you arresting me?

Why would we arrest you?

Because I k*lled him.

Um, Mrs. Schultz,
you've just confessed to a crime.

- I'm gonna read you your--
- in my mind

Did you just say

you k*lled him
in your mind?

I meditate--
an hour every day.

It--Doctor's orders. And

all I think about
are my cats...

and k*lling
this son of a bitch.

And it finally worked,
didn't it?

Well, I'm not sure.

How did you k*ll him
in your mind?

With a belt sander.

Where were you at 9:00 A.M.
this morning?

At the Vet.

Mr. Muffins has
high cholesterol, so--

Okay. Thank you.
We're done.

How did--How did
Mr. Fletcher con you?

He said he was
a Cryogenist

and that he would freeze me
and my cats

so we could
be resurrected

once science had conquered
the death barrier.

And you believed him?

Have you ever been duped?

I've been married twice.

You think I got suckered
because I'm crazy.

Well, you're wrong.

I have paranoid
personality disorder,

which makes me the
most suspicious person

you've ever met.

And Steven just
made me feel safe

for the first time in years.

And then he vanished
with $60,000 of my money.

That man could sell sand
to a camel.

Thank you...

for coming.

Can I see his body?

Uh...

No.

(whimpers)

You know, I can't help
but be a little impressed

with our boy Fletcher.

Please tell me
you're kidding.

Not on a personal level.

Just more of
a professional one.

I mean, one storyteller
to another.

The guy's a master.

He's a leech.

He preys on innocent victims
and ruins their lives.

Well, it looks our leech has
jumped up to the major leagues.

What do you mean?

One of Fletcher's identities was
recently engaged to be married.

(Esposito)
To Elise Finnegan.

Wait. Finnegan.
Where do I known that name?

Her family owns
half of Park Avenue South.

Our lovely bride-to-be is worth
a cool 100 million bucks.

(whistles)

Ooh.
Now I'm really impressed.

(woman)
He wasn't a con man.

(Beckett)
I'm afraid he was, Elise.

We've already uncovered
two other scams,

and I'm certain
we'll find more.

No. No.
I don't believe you.

Elise--

(woman)
It's okay, Sue.

They were getting married
next weekend.

Elise was so excited.

How long
did she know Fletcher?

Six months.

That's quite
the whirlwind romance.

It was love at first sight
for both of them.

So there were no clues
that he was setting her up?

Stories that didn't add up
or bills he couldn't pay?

He insisted on, uh,
paying for the wedding

even though the cost
was substantial.

He seemed to live
to make her happy.

That's because making her happy
was vital to his con.

You're wrong.

I have been rich
my whole life, Detective.

So if there's one thing
I've learned, it's how to spot

a man who's only interested
in me for my money.

Steven wasn't like that. He...

He love me
for me.

I can't believe
how naive she's being.

even with overwhelming evidence
that her fianc? was a con man,

she still believes
he loved her.

People see
what they want to see.

It's what con artists
prey on.

It's really kind of
a psychopathy--

to be so cold that you can
look someone in the eye,

tell them that you love them
and then rob them blind

without the
slightest remorse.

Whoa. I just flashed back
to the eighth grade.

Sherry Ort--broke my heart
stole my lunch money.

(cell phone rings and beeps)
Beckett.

Then she laughed about it
with her friends.

All right, thanks.

Well?

No match on
Fletcher's fingerprints.

We still don't know
his real identity.

(Montogmer)
What you got?

Trying to find a clue to
the con that k*lled Fletcher,

but it looks like our guy
was a criminal overachiever.

(Ryan laughs)

What?

Oh, you know those
Nigerian e-mail scams?

Oh. Fletcher didn't pull
one of those?

No. It looks like someone
tried to pull one on him.

Fletcher conned the guy
out of 10 grand.

Man, our boy
was good.

Damn good.

Don't be so impressed.
The guy was a criminal.

Oh, no, there's something
about a-a well played con

that just makes you want
to tip your hat, though.

and they have such great names--
the Spanish prisoner,

The pig in the poke,
the pigeon drop.

Oh, I love
a good con movie--

"House of Games",
"Catch Me if you Can."

(mouth full)
"Ocean's Eleven," baby.

"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels."

(imitates Steve Martin)
"Mother?"

(imitates Steve Martin)
"Not Mother?"

(Montgomery laughs)

For my money, it starts
and it ends with "The Sting."

Oh.

How about you Beckett?
What's your favorite?

I hate con movies.

(Castle and Esposito)
What?

Really?

How can you hate "The Sting"?
It, like, what, took 20 Oscars?

Something like that.

Because the only people
that get conned

in a con movie
are the audience members.

You can't invest in anything
because nothing is real.

That's what makes it fun.

Well, it wasn't fun
to these kids--

The ones from Wheeler's class
who wrote to Fletcher?

"Dear Mr. Fletcher,
when do Polar Bears sleep?"

"Dear Mr. Fletcher, do Penguins
really wear tuxedos?"

Penguins are South Pole.

Hey, these are 6-year-old kids.

And he scammed them.

You guys still impress
by this dirtbag?

If you were just scamming
these kids,

Why would you
write them back?

'Cause it's all
a part of the con.

Yeah...
I'm not sure.

I mean, if you were just
a greedy monster,

would you really bother
writing back to all of them?

He's got a point.

(Esposito)
Yeah.

Oh, now who's
the sucker?

Sir.

Sucker or no sucker,

clearly there's more to
this guy than meets the eye.

(Ryan)
Busted.

(Clicks tongue)

Shut up, Esposito.

All right, I'm gonna
leave you guys to it.

Where you going?
It's early.

I got plans.

Oh, you have a date,
don't you?

No.

You liar.
Who's the unlucky guy?

Ha Ha. Yeah, right.
See you guys in the morning.

All right,
see you tomorrow.

Careful.

Okay, so who is it?

- I don't know.
- Got me.

So she hasn't
mentioned anyone?

In case you
haven't noticed,

Beckett isn't exactly
what you'd call a "sharer."

Why do you care
anyway, Castle?

Do you have
some unresolved feelings?

mm.

For Beckett?

(Esposito)
Yeah.

The woman
hates con movies.

(Mozella's "Can't Stop" playing)

# speak to me #

# read my mind #

# fill your mouth #

# with flesh #

# and wine #

# and I'll be yours #

# just give #

# me time #

# mm #

# give me time #

# and I just can't stop #

# Lord, I can't stop #

# myself #

# I can't stop #

# Lord, I can't stop #

# myself #

# now #

##

( violin music playing)

I thought you said
her lesson was tomorrow.

Oh, Dylan
had a cancellation.

Alexis begged him to let her
take the slot.

(Alexis) So it's B-flat
and C-sharp, right?

(Dylan speaks indistinctly)

What are you doing?

Nothing.

(Dylan) Rest.
Beautiful.

(Alexis) Right, I know
I keep forgetting that rest.

Very nice.
(song ends)

Why'd it just get
so quiet?

Maybe he's teaching her
something.

Maybe he's filling her head
full of lies.

What are you
talking about?

All right, that's it.
I'm going up there.

Oh.

So when I start the piece,
should it be up-bow?

- Ah, Yeah, I would.
- Okay.

Oh, hey, you guys. I had
no idea you were even here.

Well, she's a
very talented girl.

And a real hard worker.

So, um,
practice your sautill?,

and we'll take another stag
at Brahms next week,

Okay, great.

Have a good night.

You too.

Night, Dylan.

Bye.

You be safe.

(door closes)

I don't trust him.

What? Why?

What do we really know
about this guy?

I know that he's
an amazing violinist

and a really great teacher.

Olga was a great teacher.

Olga kept a tissue
up her sleeve

and smelled like
hard candy.

What's this about, Dad?

I just don't think
that you realize

that what you see
is not always what you get.

I mean. how do you know that
Dylan really goes to Juilliard?

Did you call the school?

No.

Check his transcripts?

No, but, Dad, I--

Okay, I don't think you should
take any more lessons

from this guy until he's been
properly vetted.

I want credit check, school
reports, maybe even a polygraph.

Okay, you're officially
out of control.

No, I'm not.
And back me up here.

You want her violin teacher
to take a lie detector test?

You're off the
reservation, kiddo.

Okay, you know what?
You're cut off?

- Oh.
- Dad.

No, you know what?
I am the grown up here.

Oh, this is scary.

And I say no more lessons
from this guy

until we've got him
checked out.

What?

I finally find a teacher
that I connect with,

who's as exicited about music
as I am.

Why are you trying
to ruin it?

I'm not. I'm just...

Hey.

(signs)

What's going on with her?

Besides your unreasonableness?
Hormones.

What's your excuse?

Okay, Castle,
what was so important

that you had to cut
my sparring session short?

Just that I cracked this case
wide open.

You know, the thought of you
fighting in a ring

with another woman--
strangely arousing.

Who says I was sparring
with a woman?

Oh, your mystery date.

Oh, do I detect
some jealousy?

Me, jealous? Ha!

Double Ha!

What if I told you
that my date

was with your book?

Really?

No.

God, you're easy.

Give me your
case-breaking information

Well, I went a little
"Daddy Dearest" on Alexis,

and it got me thinking.

If I can go this crazy
over a violin teacher.

How crazy would I go
if my daughter

was about to marry
a scam artist?

Crazy enough to k*ll, maybe?

- That is--

- Inspired?
- No.

- Brilliant?
- mnh-mnh.

- Genius?
- Unh-unh.

-What?
- Thin.

- Oh

We don't have
the slightest indication

that Elise's father knew
that Fletcher was a con artist.

Maybe not, but Castle here
suggested that we check

g*n registration records
for Gerry Finnegan.

and guess who happens to own

the same caliber handgun
as our m*rder w*apon.

- Who?
- Gerry Finnegan.

Shut the front door!

No time for dirty talk,
Go get changed.

I keep it
locked in the safe.

Hasn't been fired
in years.

Did anyone else
have the combination?

No one.

Hasn't been fired recently
or cleaned.

I'd like to take it
to the lab if you don't mind.

Certainly.

- Mr. Finnegan.
- Hmm?

One father to another,

I just can't believe
that you never had the urge

to check out your
future son-in-law.

I mean, you never thought
for a moment that maybe

Fletcher wasn't what he was
making himself out to be?

I didn't think.

I knew.

Two weeks ago, I hired a private
investigator to look into Steven.

Not that I was suspicious
I wasn't.

I just thought
better safe than sorry.

I was shocked
when he called to tell me

that Steven was a fraud.

Then I got angry.

Please.

I confronted Steven.

I told him
I was going to expose him.

and have the wedding
called off.

Well, he begged
me not to.

He said he was head over heels
in love with Elise,

wanted to spend the rest
of his life with her.

(chuckles) I told him
I wasn't buying it,

but he promised
that he was done with cons,

that the only reason
that he was still pretending

to be a polar explorer
was for the kids.

He didn't want
to let them down.

He was a professional liar,
Mr. Finnegan.

Yes, I know that.

But what ultimately
convinced me was the prenup.

He said I could draw up
any document,

cut him out of our fortune
entirely if I wanted,

and he would sign it.

After a lifetime of greed,
he said,

he'd finally found something
more important than money--

- Love.
- And you believed him?

Yes, I did.

So I never said a word
about it to anybody.

and then when you
showed up here yesterday,

I...I-I just
couldn't tell Elise.

The private investigator
that you hired,

did he take
any photographs?

Yes.

He followed Stevem
for a week.

He offered me the photos,
but I said I didn't want

them in the house
were Elise might see them.

What are you thinking?

That Fletcher's k*ller.

might be in one
of those photographs.

You think it's possible

that Fletcher was
telling Gerry the truth?

That he's suddenly a con man
with a heart of gold? No.

That's just another con.

Who, Who.

You don't think
people can change?

No.

I've seen too many
repeat offenders

to believe for one second
that a guy who promises

never to b*at his wife again
actually won't.

- That's a pretty bleak attitude.
- Not bleak.

Realistic.

After Mr. Finnegan hired me,

I followed your boy
night and day.

It became clear pretty fast
he was a grifter.

Hello.

What?

- Isn't that
- Jim Wheeler.

First grade
teacher extraordinaire.

- When was this taken?
- Ten days ago.

When Fletcher was supposed
to be in the Artic.

Looks like Mr. Wheeler
was in on the scam.

Um..

Okay, I... I'm not
gonna lie to you.

Really? 'Cause clearly,
you're pretty good at it.

(sighs) Listen, I realized
that Fletcher was faking it

when I discovered
that the pictures

in his promotional booklet
were photoshopped.

So you figured you'd make
a few bucks.

rather than,

I don't know,
protect your students?

No. I-I know
this sounds crazy, but...

the kids were learning.

Fletcher loved those kids,
and they loved him.

Sure, he was faking the trip,
technically,

but he went out of his way

to provide a dynamic,
fact-filled presentation.

I just figured,
if he was making money on it,

why shouldn't I?
Nobody was getting hurt.

He was scamming little kids,
and you were his accomplice.

Any jury in the world
would convict you of that.

Jury?

I didn't k*ll him.

I was standing right here
when he was m*rder*d.

Doesn't mean I won't prosecute
you for criminal fraud.

Now you want
to stay out of jail,

You better point us
towards Fletcher's k*ller.

Listen, I-I swear,
I don't know who k*lled him.

Have you spoken
to his partner?

- Partner?
- Partner?

I guess that's who
she was.

She was with him at the caf?
when I met him.

She's in the picture.

Where?

Hard to see.

Do you have
a magnifying glass?

Better.

That's Elise Finnegan,
Fletcher fianc?.

Who is conning
whom here?

First you tell me

that you have no idea
that Fletcher is a con man.

And then I find
a picture of you

witnessing him make a payoff
during one of his scams.

That's not what it was.

- Then what was it?
- I can't...

Elise, the man
that you loved is dead.

I am trying to find
his k*ller.

Help me.

Steven wasn't a con man.

- Elise, we--
- He wasn't.

He was in the CIA.

- This is the best case ever
- Shut up.

What makes you think
he's in the CIA?

A month
after we started dating,

he told me that he couldn't bear
lying to me anymore.

He wasn't really
a corporate lawyer,

he was a CIA agent
on a top-secret case.

And what part of this case
involves conning first graders?

Well, that was part
of his mission.

Next you're gonna tell me

that Wheeler
was also a secret agent.

- Oh, comeon.
- Think about it.

Wheeler works
at the International School.

Half of those students
are the children

of U.N. diplomats--

Syria, China, the Middle East.

Getting close to their kids
allowed Steven unique access

to some of our country's
worst enemies.

- That is--
- Pretty smart.

Steven wasn't k*lled
for being a con man,

he was k*lled
for his intelligence work.

No.

- I'm just saying--
- No.

- You can't deny it's a possiblility...
- He is not in the CIA.

I'll bet you a dollar.

All right.
You're on.

(keypad beeping)

- Who are you calling?
- My guy in the CIA.

You have a guy
in the CIA?

When you gonna learn?
I've got a guy everywhere.

Thai food is pleasing
to the tongue.(beep)

Secret code.

He'll call me back.

I met agent Gray when I was
researching "Storm Warning".

Now this guy was invaluable

for the really hard-core
secret agent stuff.

This guy is a machine.

I've interviewed
serial K*llers, hit men.

- Agent Gray?
- mm-hmm.

By far the deadliest man
I've ever met.

He once k*lled
a North Korean agent

with a melon baller.

It was an
ice cream scoop, Castle.

and that information
was supposed to remain private.

- Sorry.
- Agent Gray.

Not quite what I pictures
based on Castle's description.

I live in a world where nothing
is as it seems, Detective.

For good reason.

Transparency gets you k*lled.

Didn't you use that line
in "Storm Warning"?

Yeah. I use some of your kines
in "Heat Wave," too.

Which you'd know
if you'd read it.

I read it.

I thought it was terrific,
especially that sex scene.

Talk about racy.

Wait. There' a sex scene
in the book?

Between us?

There's a sex scene in
the book between Nikki Heat

and the roguishly handsome
reporter who's helping her.

Oh, good.
So he's nothing like you.

Funny.

Wait, how did--How did you
get a copy of the book?

Look...Can you just tell us
that Fletcher wasn't a spook

so wee can get on
with the case?

Not here.

Get out.

Officially, I am not
at liberty to confirm or deny

whether anyone is an agent,

but unofficially...

We've never heard
of your boy.

(whispers) - So cool.
- Wh--

I can't believe
Fletcher conned me.

We need to take
another run at Elise,

see if there's anything else
she's holding out on us.

Dad!

We need to talk.

- Sweetie...
- Sit.

Dylan called.

Did you call Juilliard
and check on him?

Maybe.

I can't believe you.
After I told you.

how much taking lessons
from him means to me?

- Sweetie--
- No, no, quiet.

Am I a troublemaker, Dad?

Do I get drunk,

disobey authority,
steal police horses...

- That--
- Naked?

No, That's be you.

I seem to be the only person
in this family

blessed with good judgement,

And yet,
you don't trust me.

I trust you. It's just--it's
a dangerous world out there...

(whispers)
and people lie.

You don't think I know that?
I'm in high school.

it's like the wild wild west
with hormones, and I think

I'm doing a pretty good job
navigating it.

You are, and I'm proud.

Well, then why don't you
trust me to pick the person

Who's gonna inspire me
as an artist?

I love you, daddy, but I'm not
a little girl anymore.

You can't protect me
from everything.

She's good.

She took you apart
like a pro.

- You saw that?
- Mm-hmm. Through the glass.

It was actually kind of
difficult to watch.

Even harder to experience.

So do you need a minute,
or can we get back to work?

I'll give you a minute.

You're the one who's been
pushing her to break the rules,

and when she suddenly steps
outside of your comfort zone,

(rings doorbell)

I didn't freak out.
I was...

I freaked out a little,
didn't I?

Welcome to parenting
a teenage girl.

as someone who used to be one,
you have my sympathy.

Detective...

Can we come in?

Sure.

Is everything okay?

Fine.

We did some checking, Elise.
Fletcher wasn't in the CIA.

Okay. I-Is that all?

I don't understand.

You fight me tooth and nail
that he wasn't a con man,

and now you just give in?

I just--I just want
this whole thing behind me.

There's something
you aren't telling us.

I don't know
what you're talking about.

Elise, tell them
the good news.

- What good news?
- Nothing.

Fletcher's alive.

(whispers)
Best case ever.

I'm sorry
I tried to fool you.

It's just...(sighs)

Steven left me a voice mail
a half an hour ago.

And you're sure
it was him?

Elise,
they're after me.

I'll contact you
when I can.

Trust no one.
(cell phone beeps)

Okay, I just got
a chill.

(whispers)
That's not possible.

(whispers)
and yet...

But if Fletcher's alive,

then who's the dead guy
in our morgue?

It's Fletcher, right?

Honestly,
I'm not 100% sure.

His prints match the ones
found at the apartment,

but we never got a fingerprint
match on his real identity.

So I have nothing else
to compare it to.

Plus, Fletcher has seven known
identities, and so far,

I haven't found a single one
that went to the dentist.

So I have no dental records
to compare.

Okay, bottom line?

This body could
or could not be

a man whose alias
is Steven Fletcher.

- But we saw him die.
- Or did we?

- I hate this case.
- I know, isn't it great?

Wait. What are you...No.
No. No, don't. Don't! Don't!

(g*nsh*t)
Aah!

We don't actually see
his m*rder.

The camera's already fallen
when the sh*t went off.

And the body we have
doesn't even have a face.

But why? Fletcher was about to marry
into an obscene amount of money,

and the only other scam
he had going was at the school.

Why would he just jump ship
and fake his death?

It's possible agent Gray
was lying to us about Fletcher

to protect the mission.

No, he wasn't in the CIA

the paper trail for the cons
is way too extensive.

(cell phone ringing)

There's something else
that we're not seeing here.

Yeah.

Yeah, one of Fletcher's
credit cards was just used

to buy a plane ticket--
JFK to Jakarta, Indonesia.

He's making a run for it.

- Why Indonesia?

it's a nonextradition country.

- What time does the plane leave?
- 5:00 o'clock.

Alert D.H.S. and T.S.A.

We'll cordinate a plan
of att*ck on the way.

Wait, wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait.

We also got hits
on five other identites--

credit card reservation
for flights out of Newark

and LaGuardia, car rental
reservations out of New York

and Philadelphia
and an Amtrak out of D.C.

He's trying to confuse
his trail, spread us thin.

Well, it's gonna work.

We don't have resources
to cover that territory.

And these are just the ID's
that we know about.

I guarantee you he's got
at least one identity

we've never heard of.

So he's gonna get away
with this m*rder?

- No.
- What do you mean, "No"?

By the time we figure out
his real escape route,

He'll be on a beach somewhere
laughing at us.

We don't need to figure out
his escape route,

Because all roads lead
to Elise.

Why would he risk everything
by calling Elise?

Sir, I believe
he really does love her,

and he was planning on
running away with her.

If we get to Elise,
we'll find Fletcher.

Go.

You just missed her.

She left about ten minutes ago
after she got another call.

From Fletcher?

She wouldn't say.
She just ran out the door.

But I think she might have
written something down

by the phone?

What's going on?

Try the old pencil trick
where

- I know.
- you rub it--

Damn it.

I'm gonna call in
an A.P.B. on Elise,

see if we can get lucky
at one of the airports.

or...

What?

- Mrs. Finnegan, What is this?
- Oh, oh.

that's their
engagement albumn.

it just came.

Sue made it for the wedding.

Every guest
was going to get one.

This looks just like the--

The Artic brochure
Fletcher handed out.

You said Sue made this?

Yes,
she's a graphic artist.

How long has
Sue known Elise?

Oh, I don't know.
A year, maybe.

Sue is Fletcher's partner.

It's the
undercover lover con.

Sue is the scout.
She gets close to Elise first,

learns everything
there is to know,

paving the way
for Fletcher.

Who comes in
with a playbook

of all of Elise's
hopes and dreams,

and voil?,
it's love at first sight.

Oh, no, no, no.
Something doesn't quite track.

Why would they fake Fletcher's
death in such a public way?

They had to know the police
were gonna get involved,

exposing their con to a lot
of dangerous scrutiny.

Unless Fletcher
really is dead.

If her dad is right,

and Fletcher really
fell in love with Elise...

And was going to give up
his con man ways...

Then Sue stood to lose a fortune
by not finishing the con,

and if Fletcher married Elise,
then Sue had no chance

of pulling off the con
on her own.

So Sue takes matters
into her own hands,

she kills Fletcher,
sh**ting him in the face,

making sure a positive I.D.
is impossible.

Bingo.

But what about the
phone call from Steven?

Well, she must have
faked it somehow.

Why?

Because...

- The con is still on.
- The con is still on.

If Elise needed money
where would she go?

National Bank and Trust.
84th and Lexington.

- Thank you Mrs. Finnegan.
- Save these, they're evidence.

Sue.

Is Steven okay?

Yeah, yeah. He would've called
himself, but it wasn't safe.

and-and he's sure that
a million's going to be enough?

it's enough to get you
out of the country.

He's got money
stashed overseas.

Oh, thanks, Sue.

- You need to hurry.
- Okay (chuckles).

- Any problems?
- No, no.

(man) Ms. Finnegan!

- You forgot your phone.
- Oh, thank you.

Your welcome.

Steven just called.

He wants me to drop the money
at the safe house,

while you go pack.

He said to meet him
at Grand Central at 9:00

after he does
one last thing.

- And then you two
can be together.

Here.

- Good luck.
- Thanks.

Newspapers

I didn't think people
read those anymore.

(sirens wailing)

Outta the car, you.

Come on,
Let me see your hands.

Turn around.

You know,
Detective Beckett here

didn't think we could con
a con artist, but

I told her
you just weren't that smart.

You did, after all, fall for
the oldest con in the book--

The lazy susan.

The lazy susan?

It's either that
or the grumpy beaver.

I always get
them mixed up.

Detective.

Thank you so much
for your help.

Absolutely

It's my job
to protect our clients.

Hey.
(laughs)

Oh, wow. Whoa.
Hang on a second.

I thought you said
you hated con movies.

Oh, Castle, you are such
an easy mark, aren't ya?

Hey, I got something.

Elise,
they're after me.

I'll contact you
when I can. Trust no one.

When you see how it's done,
it really takes the magic out of it.

Detective?

Is Steven really dead?

I'm afraid so.

(voice breaks)
Then it was all a lie?

No, Elise.

You need to know that Steven
loved you very much.

He changed his ways because you
made him want to be a better man.

Thank you.

No hot date tonight?

No, Just the paperwork.

One of the many reasons I'm glad
I'm not actually a cop.

Uh-huh.

- Have a good one.
- Yeah, you, too.

Aha.

Oh!. (whispers) Castle,
What are you doing here?

- I knew you were reading it.
- Uh, I w--

- It's one page 105, by the way.
- What?

That sex scene
you're looking for.

And Agent Gray was right.
It's steamy.

I wasn't.

See you tomorrow

(gasps)

(whistles)

(door opens)

(exhales)

Oh.

(door closes)

("Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"
playing out-of-tune on violin)

Wait.
Who's getting a lesson?

Gram.

- (Dylan) Very good. Very good.
- Thank you.

- That's nice
- Yeah.

- Very nice.
- Yeah.

Yeah, Oh, I-It's--Yes.

I'm sorry for how I acted.

There's no one in the world
I trust more than I trust you.

And I'm gonna try
to be more respectful.

Just promise me one thing.

Be patient with me.

I've never had
a teenage daughter before.

Deal.

Thanks.

Aren't you worried about Dylan's
intensions towards Gram?

I'm hoping they involve
running away together,

but I'm not that lucky.

(Dylan) It's getting better.

Speaking of running away,
how about we have dinner out?

- Yes, please.
- Thank you.

(Dylan) Really keep
that wrist relaxed.

Good, good.

Come on.