As soon as Alexis's five bodyguards got into their car, they noticed something off. The vehicle that had just picked up Alexis suddenly accelerated and merged aggressively into traffic. The experienced security team instantly realized this wasn't normal. Something was wrong.
The driver of the security team's car immediately started the engine and followed, but they were already at a disadvantage. Not only were they several steps behind, but they were also unfamiliar with the traffic patterns around Honolulu International Airport. Coupled with the element of surprise, they lost sight of the car within minutes.
"What? Alexis was kidnapped right after getting off the plane? How is that even possible?" Castle was nearly beside himself. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and he had been planning to celebrate the holiday with friends and family. Instead, his beloved daughter had gone missing, kidnapped under the watchful eyes of her five bodyguards.
"Yes, sir. We can confirm that the Korean girl who invited Miss Alexis to Hawaii is highly suspicious. We noticed some irregularities during the flight and reported them to the 'Command Center' earlier…" the bodyguard on the phone explained. The so-called "Command Center" was actually Jarvis, though Castle had instructed his security team to refer to it by a more mundane name to avoid raising suspicion about the AI's capabilities.
"You're saying her classmate, the one who invited her, is involved in this?" Castle found it hard to believe.
"Yes, Mr. Castle. We saw her board the car that supposedly belonged to her classmate's family. But less than three minutes after getting in, the car sped off and disappeared into traffic. Miss Alexis's phone is no longer reachable," the head of the security team confirmed.
At this point, Jarvis, having received authorization from Castle, quickly uncovered the truth. In under three minutes, the AI identified the so-called "Park Jin-ho" as a Japanese spy from the "Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office," or "Naicho." Jarvis also unearthed direct orders from Watanabe Taro, whom Castle had previously dismissed, instructing the spy to kidnap Alexis as part of a scheme to obtain Castle's critical technology.
Despite the kidnappers' efforts to take Alexis's phone, passport, and luggage, they had overlooked the smart bracelet on her wrist. Jarvis was still able to pinpoint her exact location via satellite tracking. Additionally, Jarvis had discreetly activated the bracelet's communication module, allowing real-time monitoring of all conversations around Alexis.
When Castle realized this was Watanabe Taro's doing, his fury erupted.
The mood in the room turned grim. Big Ivan, who had been boasting about leading his team to Hawaii to rescue Alexis, along with Neal, Mozzie, and other friends who had just arrived at the estate, were incensed. Even Beckett, freshly home and learning about the situation, broke her usual calm demeanor, calling for swift action.
But Castle faced a logistical hurdle: Hawaii was thousands of miles away, and he couldn't simply snap his fingers to solve the issue. While the five bodyguards in Hawaii could potentially rely on Continental Hotel's global network to quickly acquire weapons, Castle knew that wouldn't suffice. This was more than a simple kidnapping; it was a calculated move by a foreign intelligence agency.
What truly shocked Castle was the involvement of "Naicho." This wasn't merely Watanabe Taro's private vendetta but a coordinated effort by Japan's equivalent of the CIA. Naicho reported directly to Japan's Cabinet Secretariat and ultimately to the Prime Minister. It was a significant escalation.
Castle understood that merely rescuing Alexis wouldn't be enough. He needed to deliver a decisive blow to the Japanese agents involved.
Then inspiration struck. Castle remembered a popular TV series from his past life. In 2010, a newly formed Hawaii-based task force, Hawaii Five-0, had been authorized by the state governor. Led by former Navy SEAL Commander Steve McGarrett, the task force was a perfect ally for this situation. Castle realized he could leverage Steve's personal vendetta against his father's killer, Wo Fat, to gain the task force's assistance. Together, they could not only rescue Alexis but also expose the entire Japanese espionage network operating in Hawaii.
There was no way Castle was letting this "Pearl Harbor" repeat without consequences.
Jarvis, now unleashed, began a full-scale investigation into Naicho's personnel in Hawaii. Castle intended to hand all evidence over to Steve McGarrett, ensuring that Hawaii Five-0 had the necessary tools to dismantle the network.
Meanwhile, Castle dispatched Big Ivan and nineteen other ex-Spetsnaz operatives to LaGuardia Airport. Armed with documentation from Joe Martinez authorizing them to carry weapons, they boarded a chartered plane bound for Hawaii. Castle didn't want the Russian operatives directly involved in rescuing Alexis—they were too brutal and might endanger her. However, they would be invaluable for cleaning up Watanabe Taro's operation and assisting Hawaii Five-0.
After calming the visibly distressed Beckett, Castle convened a meeting with Neal and Mozzie in his study. He left Neal's girlfriend, Kate, and Beckett to collaborate with Ramsey on using the "God's Eye" system to locate Alexis's exact position.
Interestingly, though Alexis was already confined in a villa near Pearl City, Watanabe Taro hadn't yet contacted Castle. His delay was puzzling, but Castle didn't care what the man's intentions were. His focus was on using this opportunity to annihilate the Japanese intelligence network in Hawaii.
Castle outlined his strategy to Neal and Mozzie, asking the master strategists to identify any weaknesses. With Jarvis confirming that Alexis was unharmed and merely under surveillance, Castle felt less urgency but remained determined to make the most of the situation.
After finalizing the plan, Castle picked up the phone. With Jarvis's help, he found Steve McGarrett's number and dialed the leader of Hawaii Five-0.
"Hello, Commander McGarrett? My name is Richard Castle. I think we have a common enemy, and I can help you find him…"
(End of Chapter)
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