Page 74 of Until the End

Alistair clapped his hands, rubbing his palms together, a smile brimming on his face. “This party is about to get bigger.”

“What?” Kit asked with honest confusion.

“They just called for backup,” Castle said.

“That’s not a good thing.” Was she missing something? “Why is he happy about it?”

“Because he’s fucking crazy,” Castle said.

Alistair peeled off toward the garden in the woman’s direction. Castle forced Kit to quicken her step, passing the empty outdoor tables of the café as Buzzcut closed in.

Behind her, she heard Alistair say, “Excuse me, luv, do you have the time?”

Sounds of a scuffle followed.

Kit glanced over her shoulder. Alistair emerged from behind a bush. Alone. There was no sign of the woman. Was he Houdini?

“Where is the mail room?” Castle asked.

“Upstairs, but packages have to be collected at the loading dock in the basement of this tower first.” Lenny pointed to the building closest to them.

“Keep going,” Castle said. “I’ll be right behind you.”

Before Kit spat out the question on the tip of her tongue, Castle pivoted one hundred eighty degrees so fast she did a double take. She stayed with Lenny, hurrying to the building, but kept Castle in her sights to make sure nothing happened to him.

Castle swooped in front of Buzzcut and threw a fist to his throat that made the man choke. A knee to the stomach sent Buzzcut doubling over. Castle slammed his head into a cast iron table, knocking him unconscious.

The entire thing unfolded in a flash. If she hadn’t witnessed it, she never would’ve believed it was possible to move so violently so quickly.

With shocking nonchalance, Castle settled the man in a chair, propped his arms on the table, and tipped his head down, making him appear as if he were taking a nap. Then Castle swiped his earpiece, wiped it off, and inserted it.

One, two, three, four. Kit regulated her breathing and maintained a steady pace.

Lenny held the door open and ushered her inside the building. She barely cast a glance at the fire hydrant attached to the water fountain as they passed it.

A heartbeat later, Castle and Alistair were with them.

“Shit, they’re everywhere,” Castle said. “Someone named Wheeler is in charge. They’re converging on this location.”

Who was Wheeler and why was he after the package? How did anyone even know about it? She’d been so careful. Avoiding surveillance cameras, living on the street, sleeping on the subway like a hobo for God’s sake.

“Two more are upstairs by a mailroom,” Castle said, listening to the second earpiece. “One is headed down now.”

“I’ll handle it,” Alistair said.

They hustled along the wide, airy corridor that was flooded with light from the five-story atrium. There must’ve been miles of hallway. Fortunately, it only took a minute until they came across the first stairwell.

“That’s the fastest way to access the mailroom,” Lenny said. “Third level. Mailroom is in the middle of the floor. There’s another stairwell on the opposite side.”

Alistair gave a two-finger salute and bolted up, taking the steps three at a time.

“Basement stairwell is over here.” Lenny led them past the café, offices, and numerous nooks and crannies buzzing with students set up with their laptops and engrossed in conversations. “Here.” He indicated another stairwell tucked in an alcove that would’ve been easy to miss.

They followed him down a dimly lit black staircase.

“Are you okay?” Castle asked Kit. “Ticker’s good?”

Thanks to the cocktail of meds she’d taken in the car, she gave a confident nod. “But feel free to carry me.”