Finally, Vincent Adler, who had been holed up in New York, was ready to set sail for the submarine salvage operation. This news brought a sigh of relief to Castle and his team, who had been closely monitoring the situation. Castle had been contemplating what to do if Vincent knew the exact location of the submarine but remained inactive. Given that Vincent Adler was still a fugitive wanted by the FBI, Castle had considered tipping off the authorities about his return to New York, which would prompt an FBI response. Knowing Vincent had insiders within the FBI, this would likely force him to hasten his plans.
Fortunately, Castle's underhanded plan was unnecessary as Vincent could no longer contain himself. Contrary to Castle's initial thoughts, Vincent wasn't stalling out of hesitation but due to the immense preparation needed for salvaging a several-thousand-ton submarine. This submarine held treasures worth billions of dollars, as well as explosives set by Vincent's father and his team before they left. Vincent had to account for all these factors, making the operation far more complex than Castle had imagined.
Vincent knew that the longer he stayed in New York, the greater the risk of FBI detection. That's why he brought the ten-thousand-ton salvage ship directly from Argentina, planning to set sail from New York Harbor once everything was ready. The submarine's location wasn't far off the coast.
Because the salvage operation was so intricate, Vincent had to methodically complete all preparations. He even submitted a salvage plan to the US Coast Guard under false pretenses, ensuring it didn't reveal the true nature of the operation. Only after completing all these tasks did Vincent decide to proceed with his plan.
Vincent chose a time when the Atlantic was rough, believing it would deter curious onlookers. The salvage ship he selected was a rare semi-submersible, which would allow them to conceal the submarine in its hull once recovered, preventing detection by the Coast Guard. They would then secretly transport it back to New York Harbor and hide it in the rented warehouse, minimizing the risk of discovery.
What Vincent didn't account for was Castle's intervention. Castle had been monitoring Vincent from the beginning, knowing his ultimate goal. Unbeknownst to Vincent, he was essentially a tool in Castle's hands, funding and executing the operation for Castle's benefit.
Standing in the bridge of the ten-thousand-ton salvage ship, Vincent Adler had no idea that less than 500 meters away, a drone was hovering, transmitting live images back to a Long Island estate. There, Mozzie, Castle, and the chubby guy were watching and whispering, discussing how to maintain continuous surveillance on the semi-submersible salvage ship about to set sail.
"Rick, I think from now on, we can't rely solely on Harry for this. You know he can't stay focused 24/7. I think I should partner with Harry. You asked for my help with the Northrop Grumman negotiations, but since you showed Mark, the technical director, your drone's modular design today, they want to include that in the tech transfer talks. This will take more time for technical assessment. I have nothing else to do, and Neil is being closely watched by his FBI handler. You need to help your soon-to-be police chief. John Wick isn't familiar with this kind of surveillance. So, let me take over."
Holding a glass of fine wine Castle had found in Gianna's cellar, Mozzie made his case.
Castle knew Mozzie was right. They were short-handed, a problem once again laid bare. He couldn't help but think of Zeus and Belle, who hadn't contacted him in over a month. Gianna, although having plenty of people at her disposal, wisely refrained from using her resources, keeping the operation confined to their small group to avoid leaks. Even the surveillance equipment installation at Vincent's warehouse was done by John Wick personally.
Gianna understood the importance of maintaining discretion, knowing the treasure's immense value. She feared that involving her subordinates might lead to undesirable thoughts. A simple team structure minimized risks but also highlighted the manpower issue.
Neil was essentially sidelined, and Alex had been spotted by Neil's meticulous FBI partner, Peter. To avoid exposure, both Neil and Alex had to maintain a low profile. Mozzie himself had reduced contact with Neil, focusing on Castle's negotiation preparations.
With limited personnel, the only ones available for continuous drone surveillance were the chubby guy, Mozzie, and Castle. Castle still had to support Beckett at the police station to help her secure the chief position. Thus, Mozzie had to put aside the tech transfer preparations to handle this urgent task.
Initially, Castle was tempted by Mozzie's plan. However, after assisting Beckett with three murder cases recently, he was confident she would smoothly succeed Montgomery as the precinct chief. Castle had even consulted his mayor friend, who assured him of Beckett's promotion with a strange look. With his concerns for Beckett's career alleviated, Castle, previously determined to stay by her side, was now excited by Vincent's activities. He saw a perfect excuse to take a leave: investigating Nick Coonan's associates.
After weighing the pros and cons, Castle decided to proceed. He stepped out, called Beckett, and explained his need to investigate Coonan's network. After assuring her he wouldn't break any laws and would notify her with any evidence, Beckett granted his leave. She agreed he could stay home to work on his new novel, freeing him to monitor Vincent's submarine salvage operation with Mozzie and the chubby guy.
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