Castle, in his rush to make up for lost time with Beckett after his lengthy business trip, overlooked a crucial matter. While his AI assistant, Jarvis, was incredibly capable, it had one critical limitation: it lacked creative and anticipatory thinking. Jarvis could execute Castle's commands perfectly within its scope of abilities, but it couldn't proactively consider potential dangers or act preemptively to avert them.
Moreover, after his previous run-in with the CIA, Castle had restricted Jarvis's activities, particularly when it came to intelligence agencies. Though Jarvis was capable of breaching their internal networks, doing so risked detection. To avoid drawing unwanted attention, Castle explicitly forbade Jarvis from snooping around intelligence databases without permission. This precaution inadvertently allowed Watanabe Taro to exploit a loophole, setting a trap for Alexis without Castle realizing it.
Castle had also grown complacent. Having spent over fifty days away from home, he trusted Alexis's intelligence and judgment. Besides, Hawaii was a U.S. state, not a foreign country like France, where Alexis had previously run into trouble with a petty criminal. Back then, her friend Kim had a stroke of bad luck, but the situation was resolved thanks to Castle being in Paris and the timely intervention of others.
This time, however, Castle neglected to have Jarvis investigate Alexis's new friend. By the time he woke up the next morning, distracted by a call from his mother Martha—who informed him she'd be spending Christmas in the Alps with her boyfriend, Chet—Castle once again missed the opportunity to dig into the matter.
That afternoon, with Castle's approval, Alexis eagerly boarded a flight to Honolulu International Airport in Hawaii, accompanied by her classmate and supposed friend, "Park Jin-ho." Castle, confident in the security team he had assigned to secretly protect Alexis, didn't give it much thought. It was December 23rd, and he was busy planning a Christmas Eve party at his estate. With Beckett by his side, along with the chubby assistant, Ramsey, and Big Ivan's crew, Castle felt it would be a lively holiday, even without Alexis.
Castle's optimism was bolstered by the arrival of Neal and his girlfriend, Kate, who had returned from Italy earlier than planned. Neal and Kate originally intended to spend Christmas in Europe, but recent CIA activity and homesickness prompted them to return to New York. Neal and Kate were picked up by Mozzie and soon joined Castle at his Long Island estate. The old friends caught up joyfully, unaware of the danger brewing.
Meanwhile, Alexis was on the flight to Hawaii, chatting and laughing with "Park Jin-ho," entirely oblivious to the malice behind her friend's facade. Watanabe Taro, who had been maneuvering to acquire military equipment for his country, finally allowed a sinister smile to cross his face—his plan was unfolding perfectly.
Hawaii, a volcanic paradise in the middle of the Pacific, boasted warm temperatures of over 20°C in December. The stark contrast to New York's damp, freezing winter left Alexis exhilarated. As the plane descended, she eagerly took in the breathtaking views, utterly unaware of the occasional glint of malice in her "friend's" eyes.
Unbeknownst to Alexis, her five-person security detail—three women and two men—were quietly monitoring her. Trained professionals, they blended in as fellow vacationers dressed for the tropics. Alexis, unaware of their existence, remained focused on her "friend," completely oblivious to the subtle scrutiny of her protectors.
"Park Jin-ho," a spy trained by Japan's Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, had been chosen for her acting skills. Though adept at manipulating targets through her performance and charm, she lacked the broader skill set of a seasoned field operative. Preoccupied with maintaining her cover, she failed to notice the security team occasionally observing her interactions with Alexis.
The situation had become a game of blind chess. Castle and Alexis remained unaware of the danger, while Watanabe's side, pressed for time, had deployed an untrained operative to play the role of a high schooler. Neither side fully understood the other's position, setting the stage for an unpredictable clash.
The security team began to grow suspicious. Their instincts told them something was off about "Park Jin-ho," who spent the entire flight chattering animatedly with Alexis. Upon landing, one of the male agents immediately reported their concerns to Jarvis via his smartwatch, ensuring that Castle's AI was aware of the potential threat. Another agent quickly retrieved a pre-booked rental van from the airport's lot, preparing for contingencies.
However, the team faced a significant handicap: despite holding New York-issued firearms permits, they hadn't brought guns to Hawaii, given the state's stricter regulations.
Completely unaware of the escalating tension, Alexis followed her "friend" out of the terminal, climbing into a car supposedly sent by "Park Jin-ho's" family. She was excited to begin her tropical Christmas adventure. But the moment Alexis stepped into the car, the facade shattered.
As soon as Alexis was seated, the driver—an accomplice of "Park Jin-ho"—pulled a gun and pointed it at her chest. Simultaneously, "Park Jin-ho," now seated beside Alexis, revealed a pistol of her own, the cheery smile wiped from her face.
Alexis's excitement turned to shock as she realized she had walked into a trap. This wasn't an invitation for a holiday vacation; it was a meticulously planned operation to lure her away from Castle's stronghold in New York, leaving her vulnerable.
In that moment, Alexis grasped the gravity of her mistake. Trapped and unarmed, she could only hope her security detail would act swiftly to save her from the sinister plot that had ensnared her.
(End of Chapter)
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