Castle s08e13 Episode Script
And Justice for All
[Spanish accent.]
Good night and sweetly dreams.
Oh, no.
Good night and sweet dreams.
Pequeño, how you got out of cage, yeah? Stop it, stop it, stop! Uh who are you yelling at? No one.
I just still have writer's block.
That's all.
So, you're taking it out on your laptop? No, not the laptop.
The That cursor.
Just look at it there, taunting me, just blinking on, off, on, off, like it's so easy writing a best-selling novel.
'Cause I'd like to see you try it, Mr.
Cursor! I'd like to see you try it! So why don't we You know what? Why don't we just say goodbye to Mr.
Cursor? What is this, fan mail? Oh, not exactly.
Remember I went on "Good Morning America" a while back and offered a reward for proof of anyone who knew what happened to me during those eight weeks I disappeared? But, Castle, those letters are over a year old, and we've already proven that all the theories were ridiculous.
Why are you re-reading them? Looking to spark my imagination.
But, honestly, these letters are not very inventive.
They all either claim I was a victim of a government conspiracy or abducted by aliens and probed.
This guy even drew a diagram of me being violated by E.
T.
I need inspiration, Beckett, and although Lester's knowledge of alien anatomy is commendable, it is just not enough.
[Cellphone rings.]
Ah.
Sorry.
One second.
[Cellphone beeps.]
Beckett.
Okay.
All right.
I will be right there.
[Cellphone beeps.]
You know that I would love to take you, but But we have to maintain the ruse of our separation until you capture LokSat.
I know.
I know.
I just What am I supposed to write about without my muse, Beckett? I need you.
I-I'm Sherlock without Watson.
No, you probably mean Watson without your Sherlock Because, after all, my darling, you're the writer.
Okay.
I'll see you.
Uh, you know what? Why don't you just go to your P.
I.
office if you're so desperate for a case to solve? Maybe Alexis and Hayley have something that's worthy of inspiration.
Beckett: Good morning, Ryan.
Hey.
So, I, uh, saw the broken door outside.
- Robbery gone wrong? - No, we don't think so.
According to the zoo supervisor, all the animals are accounted for.
Is that a snake hook? Yep.
Looks like our victim was bludgeoned to death with it.
Okay.
Who's the victim? Uh, we're not 100% sure yet.
The zoo supervisor thinks that it's Eddie Ramirez, the nighttime animal caretaker.
If it is, then he's an El Salvador native who's lived in the States for the past few years Yeah, I'm sorry.
Uh, can we go back? Why are you having trouble I.
D.
ing the victim? We can't positively I.
D.
the victim yet because the killer tossed his body into A pit filled with deadly snakes.
Okay.
Well, that's a first.
Your fearless leader has arrived.
Oh, yay.
Now go file these.
Well, I take it business has been good.
Yeah, we're working on three cases right now.
Got a corporate malfeasance, an insurance fraud, and a financial embezzlement.
Wow.
You know what all three of those cases have in common? They are all incredibly boring.
You guys, come on! - When did you sell out? - Excuse me? I think what you meant to say, Rick, was, "Thank you so much, ladies, for taking my money pit of a hobby and making it into a profitable business.
" I didn't open this place to make money.
I opened it for the exciting cases, you know? The double-crossing dame, the stolen relic, a locked-room mystery.
Dad, you're just naming plots from 1940s gumshoe novels.
Speaking of, aren't you supposed to be writing your next Nikki Heat book? Would if I could.
Come on, guys.
Let's just ditch this corporate nonsense and find a case worthy of investigating, you know, with mysteries, with bold characters and twists and turns and Murdered man ends up in a pit of deadly snakes?! Now, that That is a case worth investigating.
Hey.
Well, hello, Captain.
I'm glad you're alone.
I've been meaning to say how proud I am of you.
Oh.
[Chuckles.]
For what? For breaking up with Mr.
Castle, of course.
Now you're free to meet a man who can really appreciate you.
Um Like my brother, Edgar.
Your, uh, brother? My identical twin.
Oh, there's two of you? - I'd be happy to introduce you - Yeah, no.
Uh, no, but, uh, thank you, Perlmutter.
It's just that I-I'm not quite ready to date right now.
I understand that you have confirmed that our victim is Eddie Ramirez, right? Yes.
Here are his personal effects.
Cause of death was blunt-force trauma to the skull.
- Mm-hmm.
- Based on lividity, I'd say it took place between 9:00 and 11:00 last night.
So, then, the killer must have dumped his body in the snake pit to slow down our investigation.
Genius plan.
Mr.
Castle, what the hell are you doing here?! It is nice to see you, too, Perlmutter.
Can't you see the lady doesn't love you anymore? Be a man.
Walk away.
See, it's because of nitwit pretty boys like you that good men like my brother, Edgar, struggle to find Uh, Perlmutter, would you mind giving us the room just for a moment? There's a scalpel and a rib spreader if you need them.
Wow.
Perlmutter really doesn't like me.
[Sighs.]
Neither do I right now.
I know, I know, I just wanted to see the snakes.
Help yourself, Castle.
They are all at the zoo.
Really? They're not here? I thought they would be evidence or something.
No, but this might be.
Someone sent the victim a text yesterday.
"Where go my money, Eddie? Yous owe huge.
Paybacks time.
I got ways for to get you dead.
" It was sent by a blocked number.
I'll see if Vikram can trace it.
"I got ways for to get you dead.
" That's particular syntax, unique grammatical structure, perhaps denoting a cultural significance.
Or maybe bad autocorrect.
No, Beckett.
This was no error.
This was a specific choice.
It was a methodical decision, Dialectology 101, and I, being an expert in the English language, would be happy to help you solve this linguistic mystery.
Castle, you're not gonna work the case.
So, why don't you just, uh, go back home, and I will see you tonight.
While I do love kissing you, Beckett, it's just a little creepy when you do it in front of a dead body.
It's inappropriate.
Captain, check out what we found hidden under Eddie Ramirez's bed.
Ryan: Ten G's.
The question is how does someone who feeds snakes and lizards for a living scrape together this much cash? Now, that threatening text that Eddie received was about owing someone money.
I'd be shocked if those two aren't related.
If they are, then I might be of assistance.
Turns out the text was sent from an untraceable burner, but when the text was sent, it had to go through a wireless network.
- Did you track down the network? - Yep.
It belongs to an English- as-a-second-language school.
Is there any connection to Eddie Ramirez? I spoke with a teacher who said Eddie was a part of the class, but he was absent yesterday when the text was sent.
All right, guys.
Go check it out.
Ryan: All right.
Class: To get to JFK airport from here, you can take the E train.
But since you are late for your flight, I suggest you take a cab.
But since you are late for your flight, I suggest you take a cab.
[Door opens.]
Yo, we're NYPD.
We need to talk.
Yo, we're NYPD.
We need to talk.
This thing about Eddie is quite a shock.
The students have been talking about it all morning.
We understand that Eddie missed class yesterday.
Do you know if he was avoiding any of the other students, perhaps someone he was having problems with? Eddie? No.
He was a sweet man, a gentle soul.
Everybody liked him.
Well, not everybody.
This text was sent yesterday during class.
Any idea who might have written that? "Where go my money, Eddie? Yous owe huge.
Paybacks time.
" I don't know.
It's It's hard to say.
All my students are still learning English.
Well, then we're gonna need to talk to all your students, one by one.
That's gonna be harder than you think, Detective.
Most of my students come from countries where the cops are corrupt, so they're not gonna want to talk to you.
[Chuckles.]
Look, teach.
We don't tell you how to conjugate a verb.
Don't tell us how to interview a suspect.
Yeah.
We're gonna get them to talk.
And you couldn't get any of them to talk? Javi did get a contact number for Eddie's next of kin in El Salvador.
That's true, but there was no one home, so I had to leave a message.
[Sighs.]
Captain, we can drag each of the students down into interrogation, sweat the truth out of them.
Uh, no.
If they're already afraid of cops, it's only gonna alienate them further.
But there might be another way to do this.
What do you have in mind? Uh, don't worry about it.
Why don't you guys dig into those students' lives? Clearly, one of them is hiding their true feelings about Eddie.
All right.
[Cellphone ringing.]
- Hey.
- Hey, what are you doing? Nothing.
Just reading a book.
Uh, do you really think you can figure out who sent that text based on linguistics? Yeah, I can do that.
All I have to do is hear them speak and I can match the syntax.
Why? Well, you might be able to work this case after all, at least in an undercover capacity.
Really?! How? [French accent.]
Bonjour, everyone.
Je m'appelle Jean-Luc Delacroix.
Class: Hello, Jean-Luc.
S08E13 And Justice for All Hello, Jean-Luc.
Welcome to our English-as-a-second-language class.
- Thank you very much, monsieur.
- That accent is fascinating.
Where are you joining us from? Uh, Jonquière, Québec.
[Gasps.]
French Canadian.
- Oui.
- Wonderful.
Wonderful.
And what do you do there for a living? I am, uh, how you say I am a chef.
- A chef! - Oui.
Marvelous.
We're having our international food celebration tonight.
Cannot wait to sample some of your authentic French cuisine.
Oui.
Me, too.
[Chuckles.]
Well, class, it's time for us to break out into our smalltalk discussions.
Why don't we get up and circulate.
- I'll just, uh - Please.
Merci, merci.
Hello, I am Jean-Luc.
Nice to meet you.
Hi.
I am Kim HyunJoo from Korea.
That is it? Please don't be shy.
Tell me more about yourself.
Anything? Uh, okay.
All right.
Alistair Durcoyne.
[Speaking Geordie.]
Good.
Okay.
Very nice to meet you.
Hi.
I am Aida N'Diaye from Senegal.
Enchanté.
I am Jean-Luc.
Ah, so, what brings you to America? Oh.
[Speaking French.]
Ah, you are speaking French like back in Senegal.
But we are supposed to speak English, oui? I have come to America because it is my dream to become a successful painter someday.
Oh, very good.
[Speaking French.]
Ah, oui.
Hello.
I am Jean-Luc.
Hi.
I am Achmed.
I urinate now.
Okay.
Hello.
I am Jean-Luc.
Excuse me, monsieur.
Perhaps it would help me to, how you say, catch up with the rest of the class if I was able to look at their assignments.
You'll be fine, Jean-Luc.
In fact, your English is already quite good.
Ah, excuse me.
One of the other students would like your attention.
In the back.
Keep looking.
[Cellphone rings.]
Hey.
I figured out who sent the text.
Guy's name is Alistair Durcoyne.
- Are you sure it's him? - Yeah.
The grammatical structure in the text, "I got ways for to make you dead" is a direct match to his homework assignment where he wrote, "I went for to get some beer.
" Good job, Castle.
I'll have Ryan and Espo take it from here.
Are you gonna tell them about my involvement? I have to.
I mean, I'll say you found out about the ESL class on your own and that I had no idea that you were going undercover.
- You think they'll buy it? - Oh, I don't know.
I mean, when have you ever gone against my wishes and interfered with an investigation? No need for sarcasm.
All you had to say was "Yes.
" So, we just got off the phone with Metropolitan Police Service in London.
They sure did have a lot to say about you, Alistair.
Esposito: Multiple arrests for assault and battery.
They said that you were an enforcer for a loan shark named Jimmy "The Bones" Barrett.
Did you move to America and go into business for yourself, Alistair? Did Eddie owe you money? Is that why you killed him? [Speaking Geordie.]
Hey, if this guy is from England, why doesn't he speak English? I don't know.
But I think I know just the person to ask.
[Speaking Geordie.]
[Speaking Geordie.]
He's a Geordie.
From Newcastle.
Though technically English, the language has evolved to include a certain unique vocabulary and grammatical structure.
I can translate.
You threatened to kill Eddie.
[Speaking Geordie.]
Oh, he says that he only sent Eddie the text message because he was furious.
[Speaking Geordie.]
He drives a gypsy cab, and Eddie asked to borrow it two nights ago.
[Speaking Geordie.]
[Speaking Geordie.]
[Speaking Geordie.]
So, when Alistair got the gypsy cab back the next morning, it was riddled with bullet holes.
So someone shot up your cab.
[Speaking Geordie.]
That's why he was so livid.
Eddie promised that he would pay for the damage, but then he didn't show up for class.
[Speaking Geordie.]
He thought that Eddie was trying to dodge him, and so that's why he sent him the threatening message, but he swears he didn't mean it.
He was just really pissed off.
Um, let's assume that Alistair is telling the truth.
Do you know where he took your cab? Do you know if he was meeting someone? Mnh-mnh.
Mnh-mnh.
So, tell us about your gypsy cab.
Does it have GPS? Aye.
Ryan: Well, Alistair alibied out.
He was blind drunk at a pub during our time of death window.
And what about his gypsy cab? Looks like Alistair was telling the truth.
Wherever Eddie drove that cab, someone tried to kill him.
Wow.
Sounds like our mild-mannered zoo worker rattled a few cages.
Actually, Eddie wasn't so mild-mannered after all.
I got in touch with his next of kin in El Salvador.
Eddie used to be a cop.
Wait.
He was a cop? Why are we just hearing about this now? He lied on his immigration forms.
Why wouldn't Eddie want people to know he's a former police officer? I thought that was strange, too, so I did a little digging.
Apparently, there were rumors that Eddie was part of a corrupt police unit.
And these guys were accused of extorting criminals, taking bribes.
Hey.
So, I've gone through the GPS on Alistair's gypsy cab.
Looks like Eddie only made one stop, a place called the Saldana Club.
Okay.
What do we know about this place? It's run by Jose and Frankie Saldana, a couple of low-level players, but they got priors for assault and trafficking.
Plus, word is they deal drugs out of their club.
Well, if Eddie used to shake down crooks back in El Salvador, maybe he was doing the same thing to these guys here.
And they might have killed him for it.
Let's go.
Ryan: Jose and Frankie Saldana? Yeah.
Who's asking? So, what happened? Someone drop a grenade in here? We're redecorating.
You like? Looks like you boys got into a little trouble.
- Yeah.
Rock-climbing accident.
- Mm.
See, Frankie here forgot how to tie one of those fancy knots.
[Groans.]
Whoopsie.
So, it's got nothing to do with Eddie Ramirez, the guy you took a shot at Sorry.
I have to get water.
[Coughs.]
Eddie Ramirez.
- Never heard of him.
- Really? Because if a short 50-year-old man broke my face and stole 10 grand, I'd remember.
[Coughs.]
Uh, something on your mind? They're lying their asses off.
That man, Eddie Ramirez? - He was here.
- What happened? Came in all calm.
Next thing I know, he's beating the crap out of Jose and Frankie.
Forced them to fill up a briefcase with cash.
And you saw that all happen? Oh, yeah.
As Eddie was walking out, Frankie grabbed a gun from under the bar, hobbled out, and shot up the guy's car.
Okay, then what about last night? Did they go after Eddie, try to get their revenge? They couldn't have.
They were both laid up in the hospital.
Just got released this morning.
Why would Eddie come here to shake them down for money? I don't think this was a straight-up shakedown.
I overheard Eddie saying that he was doing this for some girl who used to work here.
A waitress.
What girl? Aida.
You think she killed Eddie? Well, all we know is that the Saldana brothers alibied out.
And clearly she's wrapped up in all of this.
Why am I here? I've done no wrong.
Ryan: We just have a few questions about Eddie Ramirez.
Look, Aida, we know about the robbery at the Saldana Club.
Eddie saw me crying after class three days ago.
I was, um [speaking French.]
Very upset because I was fired from Saldana Club.
So, why were you fired? I work two years there, but because I-I don't have green card, Jose and Frankie make me give them 30% of my paycheck.
- They were extorting you? - Yes.
But from taking ESL class, I get self-esteem and I demand my money.
That when they fire me.
When Eddie heard, he was very furious.
He say he would stand up to them and get all my money back.
Okay, if that's the case, then why didn't Eddie give you the money? But Eddie was going to.
He called me yesterday morning to say he got $10,000 for me.
I just had to wait because he was not coming to class that day.
So why wasn't Eddie coming to class yesterday? He tell me he was helping another student with a problem, a very dangerous problem.
Wait, Eddie was helping another student from the class? - Who? - Eddie did not say.
But, uh, when he told me, he sound very nervous.
Eddie say he uncover a terrible conspiracy.
Uh, what kind of conspiracy? Eddie did not say.
That was the last time I hear from him.
If Eddie was helping other students in his class, - then that means - He was the ESL Equalizer.
- Pardon me? - The Equalizer.
From the TV show.
And the movie.
He's a highly skilled operative who exacts vigilante justice for innocent people who can't defend themselves.
Yes, I am familiar with it, Castle, but Robert McCall's character was a good guy.
Eddie is a corrupt cop.
Well, maybe he's making amends, atoning for previous sins.
Isn't that what the American dream is all about, - trying to build a better future? - Well, all I know is that I'm trying to build a better case right now, and if Eddie was helping one of his fellow students with a dangerous problem, then That might be what got him killed.
And this is Achmed Sahid.
He immigrated to this country from Pakistan two years ago.
He was a radar-systems engineer in the military.
Achmed? Wow.
And what does he do now? He runs a hot dog cart in Chelsea.
This is Kim Hyun-Joo from Korea.
She's over here on an au pair visa for six months.
And this is Ernie Gonzalez, originally from Bogotá.
Now, this guy was a lawyer.
Now he's temping as a delivery driver for Ronny's Chicken Hut.
What about Diego? - Ah.
- Diego Lopez from Mexico City.
He works at an elementary school as a janitor.
And what did he do back home? Worked at an elementary school as a janitor.
Hmm.
These people all immigrated to this country in search of a better life.
It looks like Eddie was trying to help them achieve that.
The question is how do we figure out who else Eddie was helping? Well, tonight is international food night, and since Jean-Luc is a chef, I will be plying them with French delicacies.
You packing poutine? Javier, I'll have you know that French Canadians are proud descendents of Parisian culture.
No, I'll be serving them pastries from La Bernardin restaurant.
Uh, Castle, that's one of the premiere French restaurants in the world.
They don't do takeout.
[Chuckles.]
Perhaps not for Jean-Luc Delacroix, but they will for [French accent.]
Richard Castle.
[Clattering.]
Sorry about that.
[Indistinct conversations.]
Salut, mes amis! Oh! - Bonjour, Jean-Luc.
Hello.
- Well, those look good.
So, the police were questioning you? Yes.
They want to hear how Eddie was helping me.
But I-I don't think it's what got him killed.
[Speaking Geordie.]
Ah.
Did the police have any information about the case? They did not tell me more.
Did Eddie ever say anything to you? No.
Nothing.
You eat my japchae? Oh, uh, uh, of course.
[Indistinct conversations in Korean.]
Jean-Luc? What's wrong? You don't like it.
No, um, fantastique.
Where did you say this dish was from? I think I've had it somewhere before.
I doubt that's true.
It's a family recipe from my village.
Oh.
Uh, very nice.
Um, excusez-moi.
Achmed, are you all right? You seem upset.
Do you know who else Eddie was helping? Yes.
Me.
I-I-I came to him with a problem.
What was the problem? A girl in my building is missing.
She is undocumented.
Before she disappear, she tell me someone was forcing her to pay money or else.
And you told Eddie this? Yes.
He promised to find her.
I-I ask about this the day he die, and Eddie say it was all more dangerous than he thought.
Eddie said he discovered a terrible conspiracy.
And now he's dead, all because of me.
No, Achmed.
It is not your fault.
But perhaps I can help.
Uh, what is this girl's name? Anita Rodriguez.
So, I looked into our missing neighbor, Anita Rodriguez.
Now, because she's undocumented, there's next to no public record of her, but I did find out that she was working at a cleaning company off the books.
Now, a week and a half ago, she missed her shift and hasn't been seen since.
Are you okay? Yeah, I Something weird happened at ESL class tonight.
- What happened? - Hey! So, we just got back from Anita Rodriguez's apartment.
We got a hit on a print.
Marco Sutter? Yeah, he's an enforcer from up in the Corona neighborhood.
Organized crime has a file on this guy.
Extortion, money laundering, assault with intent.
All right.
Go pick him up.
[Speaking indistinctly.]
Marco Sutter? NYPD.
Hold it right there.
Gun! Let's go! Go! [Engine sputters.]
- NYPD! - Let me see your hands! Let me see your hands right now! Put them out the window, now! Beckett: Here's what I think.
You tried to extort a powerless immigrant, and when she couldn't pay, you killed her.
And when Eddie Ramirez came looking for her, you killed him, too.
I want a lawyer.
- Hey.
- Macro lawyered up.
But check this out.
We found something interesting tucked inside his wallet.
We traced it to a locker out at the G.
W.
Bridge bus station.
I doubt Marco is keeping his laundry there.
Could be evidence we can use as leverage.
We'll look into it.
Oh, what a day.
Tell me about it.
Pit of snakes, getting shot at it.
Thank God it's almost over.
I don't think that I could take any more excitement.
Man: FBI! Get down, get down, get down! [Indistinct shouting.]
Do you know how long the FBI's been on this case? Two years! Before Crockett and Tubbs here T-boned my stakeout.
Detectives Ryan and Esposito are investigating a homicide, Agent Napier.
And no FBI alert came across my desk about your precious little stakeout, so why don't you drop the attitude? How'd you find that locker? Our murder suspect had a key on him when we arrested him.
And this suspect, does he have a name? No.
Not until you tell me what's going on.
Oh, I'm not at liberty to discuss the specifics of my case.
Okay.
Then I guess we're done here.
It's Marco Sutter, isn't it? It's the only logical person to have a key.
You need to let him go.
Screw that.
He shot at us.
I don't care.
Well, you should, because if we let him go after that, he's gonna figure out why pretty fast.
I'm guessing Marco's the low man on your totem pole and you're tracking the money from his shakedown operations to get to your real target.
So, why don't you let us in on the investigation and we can work this together? Mm.
That's not in my playbook, but you're right.
Marco is small potatoes.
So, you go ahead and keep him.
You just remember My federal case trumps your homicide.
So you steer clear.
So, you gonna let that pretty boy steamroll us? No.
If Marco killed Eddie, then we are gonna take him down along with anyone connected to him.
We have to tread lightly, so I'm gonna reach out to my guys in the FBI and see if they can tell us what Napier's up to.
Castle.
Uh, what's going on? Hey.
Where's your passport? We've got to go to Korea.
Why? Because I finally figured it out.
My missing time? It Now it all makes sense.
It mostly makes sense.
Wait a minute, is this about what happened in your classroom? I ate a dish today.
It triggered a memory.
I was in Korea surrounded by locals, and I could see that temple.
Tongdosa Temple.
It's in the South Gyeongsang province.
Okay, well, we know that you were in Thailand, so Korea's not a stretch.
Yeah, I must have gone there right after.
But why? I have no idea.
I-I ordered more food in hopes of jogging another memory.
It didn't work, but that's okay.
When we get to Korea, all the No, no, no.
Castle, I'm not going to Korea.
Yeah, you're right.
I should go first.
That way And neither are you.
We don't have enough information yet.
It's too dangerous.
You almost got killed in Thailand.
Yeah.
Yes, you're right.
I'll just try to keep triggering more memories loose.
Are you in the mood for some kimchi? 'Cause I bought like $400 worth and the stuff goes right through me.
So, so far, there's no physical evidence linking Marco to Eddie's murder.
You have any insight from your federal contacts? Only that Agent Napier specializes in fraud and financial crimes.
Well, since when does financial crimes trump homicide? Never, as far as I'm concerned.
Who's the sexiest digital investigator alive? There is no way I'm saying you, bro.
Okay.
What do you got? Anita Rodriguez.
And she's alive.
She's in Texas, being held in a private detention center, awaiting deportation.
Thank God she's all right.
How on earth did you find her? There must be hundreds of Anita Rodriguezes out there.
Her fingerprints.
And the paper trail for how she ended up at the facility - is pretty thin.
- Intentionally so? Maybe.
But there was one name I could track.
Judge Jason Caldwell.
He signed the deportation order, and from his record, there is nothing he likes in this world more than deporting foreigners.
But that doesn't prove that he had anything to do with Eddie's murder.
No, but this is pretty damn incriminating.
The day before the murder, our victim got in a shoving match with Judge Caldwell at the courthouse.
Eddie must have connected the Judge to Marco's extortion scheme and gone down there to confront him.
If Eddie threatened to expose the criminal conspiracy, the judge would have a strong motive to kill him.
Castle: I-I don't get it.
The financial upside to extorting immigrants cannot be that high.
Why would a judge who makes six figures a year get involved? My assumption is Marco kept the extortion money for himself.
What would the judge get out of it? Huge kickbacks from a private prison in Texas.
According to Judge Caldwell's financials, he's got a sweetheart deal with a company that runs a detention center in El Paso.
He literally gets paid for every bed he fills.
So, Marco shakes down the immigrants for money.
Sooner or later, they run out of cash, and then Caldwell ships them to Texas.
And gets paid.
I hate this guy.
Me too.
Let's bring him in.
No, wait.
You guys, he's a federal judge.
We can't just go after him.
If we're wrong, then we'll Wait.
Go full on the security cam.
You guys, look at the janitor.
He's wearing an ear piece.
Why would a janitor need an ear piece? So's the guy on the bench with the newspaper.
Which means it's an FBI surveillance team following the judge.
He must be the FBI's real target.
Oh, we can't go at this guy, not with the Feds watching.
Napier clearly stated that we were not to step on his investigation.
The NYPD can't.
But I can with a little help from my friends.
Caldwell is on the move.
Heading to the courthouse.
- Oh! - I am so sorry! Oh, a thousand pardons.
Get out of the way.
Aida: Oh! [Laughs.]
Hi! Kim: Your baby's so adorable.
So is yours.
[Laughs.]
Excuse me.
Team two, subject is coming your way.
[Speaking Geordie.]
Sorry.
We can't help you.
[Speaking Geordie.]
Uh, service elevator down the hall.
Oh, thank you.
Hey, did the judge go up in the elevator? No entiendo.
[Elevator dings.]
Damn it.
- After you.
- Oh, thank you.
This can't be right.
Where's the service elevator? [Gun cocks.]
Oh, my God.
[Nigerian accent.]
You killed my fiancé.
Hold on.
I-I don't know what you're talking about.
You are Judge Caldwell.
You murdered my fiancé, Eddie Ramirez.
I-I have no idea who that is.
Stop telling lies.
I know you are the one who did it.
Lady, listen, you don't want to do this, all right? He He's not worth it.
Aah! O-Okay! I did know him, but I-I promise I didn't kill him.
I didn't have to.
What do you mean you didn't have to? The guy was a cop! He had enemies.
A-And the enemies of my enemies What? What is this, some kind of a setup? Who the hell are you people? You You had better tell me what happened or I'm going to shoot you.
The hell you will.
Let him go.
Damn it.
We were so close.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Do you think the judge dropped a dime to one of Eddie's enemies back in El Salvador? Question is how did the judge find out the names of Eddie's enemies back in El Salvador? I don't know, but Castle said that the judge referenced Eddie's past as a cop.
Why don't you guys see if you can find out who had a beef with Eddie back in his home country? Napier: Captain Beckett.
Do you have any idea what you've done? I have a feeling you're about to tell me.
We lose eyes on Judge Caldwell for all of 10 minutes, and the next thing you know, he's cancelled court and he's holed up with his lawyer.
I'm sorry.
Who is this judge, exactly? Knock it off, Captain.
We know you were on to Caldwell this morning.
We pulled surveillance video from the courthouse.
Your husband and his band of immigrant misfits are all over the footage.
Okay, then I will make sure my guys question them.
Well, you better move fast, 'cause I plan on having each and every one of them deported for this.
No, you want to go after someone, you go after me, but leave those people alone.
They interfered with a federal investigation.
Their friend was murdered.
They wanted justice, which includes the ability to live and work in this country without being victimized by a government-appointed judge or a power-hungry FBI agent.
Eddie's killer was solicited by Judge Caldwell, which means he's complicit in the murder, so you help me identify his killer and we will put the good judge away in federal prison for the rest of his life.
Napier: Meet Alonzo Sanchez, foot soldier for the Sinaloa drug cartel based out of San Miguel.
What's his connection to your case? Judge Caldwell expedited his visa 48 hours ago.
We weren't sure why until you mentioned Eddie Ramirez.
Turns out that they have history.
Eddie killed Alonzo's brother, Mario, back when he was a cop in El Salvador.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
This must be who Judge Caldwell was talking about.
Alonzo was out for revenge against Eddie, and the judge was all too happy to help.
Alonzo Sanchez landed at JFK four hours before Eddie was killed.
Okay.
Sounds like we have our killer.
Now we just have to track him down before he goes back home.
We might be too late for that.
He boarded a flight 15 minutes ago.
- He's already in the air.
- Well, then we're done.
There's no way we can get him now.
Uh, you can't, but I can.
This is Agent Napier.
I need to turn a plane around.
It's too bad your plane got rerouted, Alonzo.
On the bright side, I spoke to the airline, and you're still gonna get the miles.
You got nothing on me.
I was here legally.
And what was the purpose of your trip? - Visiting an old friend.
- Visiting or feeding him to the snakes? [Chuckles.]
What? Come on, Alonzo.
Drop the act.
We know you came here for Eddie Ramirez.
He killed your brother.
And Judge Caldwell He greased the wheels to get you up here.
Judge who? I don't know what you're talking about, man.
We tracked down the cab driver who picked you up from the airport and then took you to the zoo.
We know you killed Eddie.
Eddie is dead? That wasn't me.
Okay, the judge reached out to me, and, yes, I went to the zoo to see Eddie, but I did not kill him.
So, what did you come up here for, then? Little friendly chat? Maybe a frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity? I came here with revenge in my heart.
I thought that Eddie was responsible for my brother's death.
But I was wrong.
Eddie convinced me that he had been working with my brother in secret, protecting him.
Eddie would tell you anything if he thought you were gonna kill him, so what made you believe him? Eddie knew things about Mario that only someone close to my brother would know, and his attitude wasn't that of a man lying to save his life.
What do you mean by that? Eddie hated the man that he was back in El Salvador.
What he did to protect my brother weighed on him.
He told me that he despised everything my family stands for, what he used to stand for.
That's why he came to America To start over, build a new life here.
And he did until somebody took it away from him.
Hey.
Hey.
Ooh.
So, Alonzo alibied out.
Looks like we were wrong about Judge Caldwell's involvement.
No.
We're missing something.
Eddie confronted the judge, and the next day, he was killed.
Well, we know it wasn't the judge.
He was under 24-hour surveillance.
And besides, he thought that Alonzo was gonna take care of it.
Eddie confronts the judge.
12 hours later, Alonzo's on a plane with an approved visa.
How did the judge even know about Alonzo? - Who told him? - No, you're right.
We didn't even know about Alonzo.
How did the judge find out so quickly? There has to be someone else involved in this conspiracy, someone close to Eddie.
The only people that are close to him are in the ESL class.
So, who would kill him? I think I know.
And you know what this means, Beckett.
After all these years, I finally get to say, "J'accuse.
" Emerson: So, we're gonna focus in on the verbs.
Now, if we had [Knock on door.]
Jean-Luc, you're late.
[French accent.]
Ah, oui, monsieur.
Pardonnez-moi.
That's all right.
Have a seat.
Actually, Monsieur Emerson, if I could just have a word with you in private, s'il vous plait? Sure.
Jean-Luc, did you bring these men here? [Normal voice.]
Oh, yeah.
They're with me.
They're here to arrest you for the murder of Eddie Ramirez.
What? We know you were working with Judge Caldwell, funneling him immigrants from the school in exchange for a cut of the extortion money.
You knew each one of their pressure points, which ones were illegal.
- That's absurd.
- Oh, is it? Then why are so many of your students in those private detention centers? Too many to be a coincidence.
Castle: It was a solid plan.
I mean, who's gonna notice? They're here alone, marginalized by society.
In your position, I would have done the same thing.
- No, you wouldn't.
- No, I would not.
- I have a soul.
- Come on.
Let's go.
[Indistinct conversations.]
Everyone, I have some good news.
Anita Rodriguez has been released.
And a federal investigation has been launched into the private detention facility that was holding her.
What about the judge? Your teacher sold him out.
He confessed everything.
Now the FBI can properly prosecute the judge, and justice has been served.
[Cheering.]
C'est magnifique, huh? Oh, but, uh, who will finish teaching us now? I saw on the website it's Mr.
Castle.
[Excited talking.]
Uh, I-I'm so sorry.
I have no idea how that got on there.
I do, only the Castle who will be filling in isn't a mister.
- It's me.
- Really? [Chuckles.]
Nice work.
- Thanks.
- Darling, I am so proud! Isn't she lovely? Okay, everyone.
Shall we dine? Follow me.
Ah, yes.
And, everyone, we are so glad that you were all able to join us.
Now, we celebrated your food earlier.
We think it's time for you guys to celebrate some American food.
And voilà .
This is American food? It's very international.
Exactly.
And this country was founded by immigrants, and it's those customs and cultures that have shaped and molded us.
And you And you are the ones that make this country great.
Mother, I couldn't have said it better myself.
Now, let's dig in.
Yes, yes.
Plates behind you there.
[Talking, laughter.]
[Indistinct conversations in Korean.]
What is it? I wasn't in Korea.
I was in Koreatown in Los Angeles.
Beckett, I've got to go to L.
A.
Good night and sweetly dreams.
Oh, no.
Good night and sweet dreams.
Pequeño, how you got out of cage, yeah? Stop it, stop it, stop! Uh who are you yelling at? No one.
I just still have writer's block.
That's all.
So, you're taking it out on your laptop? No, not the laptop.
The That cursor.
Just look at it there, taunting me, just blinking on, off, on, off, like it's so easy writing a best-selling novel.
'Cause I'd like to see you try it, Mr.
Cursor! I'd like to see you try it! So why don't we You know what? Why don't we just say goodbye to Mr.
Cursor? What is this, fan mail? Oh, not exactly.
Remember I went on "Good Morning America" a while back and offered a reward for proof of anyone who knew what happened to me during those eight weeks I disappeared? But, Castle, those letters are over a year old, and we've already proven that all the theories were ridiculous.
Why are you re-reading them? Looking to spark my imagination.
But, honestly, these letters are not very inventive.
They all either claim I was a victim of a government conspiracy or abducted by aliens and probed.
This guy even drew a diagram of me being violated by E.
T.
I need inspiration, Beckett, and although Lester's knowledge of alien anatomy is commendable, it is just not enough.
[Cellphone rings.]
Ah.
Sorry.
One second.
[Cellphone beeps.]
Beckett.
Okay.
All right.
I will be right there.
[Cellphone beeps.]
You know that I would love to take you, but But we have to maintain the ruse of our separation until you capture LokSat.
I know.
I know.
I just What am I supposed to write about without my muse, Beckett? I need you.
I-I'm Sherlock without Watson.
No, you probably mean Watson without your Sherlock Because, after all, my darling, you're the writer.
Okay.
I'll see you.
Uh, you know what? Why don't you just go to your P.
I.
office if you're so desperate for a case to solve? Maybe Alexis and Hayley have something that's worthy of inspiration.
Beckett: Good morning, Ryan.
Hey.
So, I, uh, saw the broken door outside.
- Robbery gone wrong? - No, we don't think so.
According to the zoo supervisor, all the animals are accounted for.
Is that a snake hook? Yep.
Looks like our victim was bludgeoned to death with it.
Okay.
Who's the victim? Uh, we're not 100% sure yet.
The zoo supervisor thinks that it's Eddie Ramirez, the nighttime animal caretaker.
If it is, then he's an El Salvador native who's lived in the States for the past few years Yeah, I'm sorry.
Uh, can we go back? Why are you having trouble I.
D.
ing the victim? We can't positively I.
D.
the victim yet because the killer tossed his body into A pit filled with deadly snakes.
Okay.
Well, that's a first.
Your fearless leader has arrived.
Oh, yay.
Now go file these.
Well, I take it business has been good.
Yeah, we're working on three cases right now.
Got a corporate malfeasance, an insurance fraud, and a financial embezzlement.
Wow.
You know what all three of those cases have in common? They are all incredibly boring.
You guys, come on! - When did you sell out? - Excuse me? I think what you meant to say, Rick, was, "Thank you so much, ladies, for taking my money pit of a hobby and making it into a profitable business.
" I didn't open this place to make money.
I opened it for the exciting cases, you know? The double-crossing dame, the stolen relic, a locked-room mystery.
Dad, you're just naming plots from 1940s gumshoe novels.
Speaking of, aren't you supposed to be writing your next Nikki Heat book? Would if I could.
Come on, guys.
Let's just ditch this corporate nonsense and find a case worthy of investigating, you know, with mysteries, with bold characters and twists and turns and Murdered man ends up in a pit of deadly snakes?! Now, that That is a case worth investigating.
Hey.
Well, hello, Captain.
I'm glad you're alone.
I've been meaning to say how proud I am of you.
Oh.
[Chuckles.]
For what? For breaking up with Mr.
Castle, of course.
Now you're free to meet a man who can really appreciate you.
Um Like my brother, Edgar.
Your, uh, brother? My identical twin.
Oh, there's two of you? - I'd be happy to introduce you - Yeah, no.
Uh, no, but, uh, thank you, Perlmutter.
It's just that I-I'm not quite ready to date right now.
I understand that you have confirmed that our victim is Eddie Ramirez, right? Yes.
Here are his personal effects.
Cause of death was blunt-force trauma to the skull.
- Mm-hmm.
- Based on lividity, I'd say it took place between 9:00 and 11:00 last night.
So, then, the killer must have dumped his body in the snake pit to slow down our investigation.
Genius plan.
Mr.
Castle, what the hell are you doing here?! It is nice to see you, too, Perlmutter.
Can't you see the lady doesn't love you anymore? Be a man.
Walk away.
See, it's because of nitwit pretty boys like you that good men like my brother, Edgar, struggle to find Uh, Perlmutter, would you mind giving us the room just for a moment? There's a scalpel and a rib spreader if you need them.
Wow.
Perlmutter really doesn't like me.
[Sighs.]
Neither do I right now.
I know, I know, I just wanted to see the snakes.
Help yourself, Castle.
They are all at the zoo.
Really? They're not here? I thought they would be evidence or something.
No, but this might be.
Someone sent the victim a text yesterday.
"Where go my money, Eddie? Yous owe huge.
Paybacks time.
I got ways for to get you dead.
" It was sent by a blocked number.
I'll see if Vikram can trace it.
"I got ways for to get you dead.
" That's particular syntax, unique grammatical structure, perhaps denoting a cultural significance.
Or maybe bad autocorrect.
No, Beckett.
This was no error.
This was a specific choice.
It was a methodical decision, Dialectology 101, and I, being an expert in the English language, would be happy to help you solve this linguistic mystery.
Castle, you're not gonna work the case.
So, why don't you just, uh, go back home, and I will see you tonight.
While I do love kissing you, Beckett, it's just a little creepy when you do it in front of a dead body.
It's inappropriate.
Captain, check out what we found hidden under Eddie Ramirez's bed.
Ryan: Ten G's.
The question is how does someone who feeds snakes and lizards for a living scrape together this much cash? Now, that threatening text that Eddie received was about owing someone money.
I'd be shocked if those two aren't related.
If they are, then I might be of assistance.
Turns out the text was sent from an untraceable burner, but when the text was sent, it had to go through a wireless network.
- Did you track down the network? - Yep.
It belongs to an English- as-a-second-language school.
Is there any connection to Eddie Ramirez? I spoke with a teacher who said Eddie was a part of the class, but he was absent yesterday when the text was sent.
All right, guys.
Go check it out.
Ryan: All right.
Class: To get to JFK airport from here, you can take the E train.
But since you are late for your flight, I suggest you take a cab.
But since you are late for your flight, I suggest you take a cab.
[Door opens.]
Yo, we're NYPD.
We need to talk.
Yo, we're NYPD.
We need to talk.
This thing about Eddie is quite a shock.
The students have been talking about it all morning.
We understand that Eddie missed class yesterday.
Do you know if he was avoiding any of the other students, perhaps someone he was having problems with? Eddie? No.
He was a sweet man, a gentle soul.
Everybody liked him.
Well, not everybody.
This text was sent yesterday during class.
Any idea who might have written that? "Where go my money, Eddie? Yous owe huge.
Paybacks time.
" I don't know.
It's It's hard to say.
All my students are still learning English.
Well, then we're gonna need to talk to all your students, one by one.
That's gonna be harder than you think, Detective.
Most of my students come from countries where the cops are corrupt, so they're not gonna want to talk to you.
[Chuckles.]
Look, teach.
We don't tell you how to conjugate a verb.
Don't tell us how to interview a suspect.
Yeah.
We're gonna get them to talk.
And you couldn't get any of them to talk? Javi did get a contact number for Eddie's next of kin in El Salvador.
That's true, but there was no one home, so I had to leave a message.
[Sighs.]
Captain, we can drag each of the students down into interrogation, sweat the truth out of them.
Uh, no.
If they're already afraid of cops, it's only gonna alienate them further.
But there might be another way to do this.
What do you have in mind? Uh, don't worry about it.
Why don't you guys dig into those students' lives? Clearly, one of them is hiding their true feelings about Eddie.
All right.
[Cellphone ringing.]
- Hey.
- Hey, what are you doing? Nothing.
Just reading a book.
Uh, do you really think you can figure out who sent that text based on linguistics? Yeah, I can do that.
All I have to do is hear them speak and I can match the syntax.
Why? Well, you might be able to work this case after all, at least in an undercover capacity.
Really?! How? [French accent.]
Bonjour, everyone.
Je m'appelle Jean-Luc Delacroix.
Class: Hello, Jean-Luc.
S08E13 And Justice for All Hello, Jean-Luc.
Welcome to our English-as-a-second-language class.
- Thank you very much, monsieur.
- That accent is fascinating.
Where are you joining us from? Uh, Jonquière, Québec.
[Gasps.]
French Canadian.
- Oui.
- Wonderful.
Wonderful.
And what do you do there for a living? I am, uh, how you say I am a chef.
- A chef! - Oui.
Marvelous.
We're having our international food celebration tonight.
Cannot wait to sample some of your authentic French cuisine.
Oui.
Me, too.
[Chuckles.]
Well, class, it's time for us to break out into our smalltalk discussions.
Why don't we get up and circulate.
- I'll just, uh - Please.
Merci, merci.
Hello, I am Jean-Luc.
Nice to meet you.
Hi.
I am Kim HyunJoo from Korea.
That is it? Please don't be shy.
Tell me more about yourself.
Anything? Uh, okay.
All right.
Alistair Durcoyne.
[Speaking Geordie.]
Good.
Okay.
Very nice to meet you.
Hi.
I am Aida N'Diaye from Senegal.
Enchanté.
I am Jean-Luc.
Ah, so, what brings you to America? Oh.
[Speaking French.]
Ah, you are speaking French like back in Senegal.
But we are supposed to speak English, oui? I have come to America because it is my dream to become a successful painter someday.
Oh, very good.
[Speaking French.]
Ah, oui.
Hello.
I am Jean-Luc.
Hi.
I am Achmed.
I urinate now.
Okay.
Hello.
I am Jean-Luc.
Excuse me, monsieur.
Perhaps it would help me to, how you say, catch up with the rest of the class if I was able to look at their assignments.
You'll be fine, Jean-Luc.
In fact, your English is already quite good.
Ah, excuse me.
One of the other students would like your attention.
In the back.
Keep looking.
[Cellphone rings.]
Hey.
I figured out who sent the text.
Guy's name is Alistair Durcoyne.
- Are you sure it's him? - Yeah.
The grammatical structure in the text, "I got ways for to make you dead" is a direct match to his homework assignment where he wrote, "I went for to get some beer.
" Good job, Castle.
I'll have Ryan and Espo take it from here.
Are you gonna tell them about my involvement? I have to.
I mean, I'll say you found out about the ESL class on your own and that I had no idea that you were going undercover.
- You think they'll buy it? - Oh, I don't know.
I mean, when have you ever gone against my wishes and interfered with an investigation? No need for sarcasm.
All you had to say was "Yes.
" So, we just got off the phone with Metropolitan Police Service in London.
They sure did have a lot to say about you, Alistair.
Esposito: Multiple arrests for assault and battery.
They said that you were an enforcer for a loan shark named Jimmy "The Bones" Barrett.
Did you move to America and go into business for yourself, Alistair? Did Eddie owe you money? Is that why you killed him? [Speaking Geordie.]
Hey, if this guy is from England, why doesn't he speak English? I don't know.
But I think I know just the person to ask.
[Speaking Geordie.]
[Speaking Geordie.]
He's a Geordie.
From Newcastle.
Though technically English, the language has evolved to include a certain unique vocabulary and grammatical structure.
I can translate.
You threatened to kill Eddie.
[Speaking Geordie.]
Oh, he says that he only sent Eddie the text message because he was furious.
[Speaking Geordie.]
He drives a gypsy cab, and Eddie asked to borrow it two nights ago.
[Speaking Geordie.]
[Speaking Geordie.]
[Speaking Geordie.]
So, when Alistair got the gypsy cab back the next morning, it was riddled with bullet holes.
So someone shot up your cab.
[Speaking Geordie.]
That's why he was so livid.
Eddie promised that he would pay for the damage, but then he didn't show up for class.
[Speaking Geordie.]
He thought that Eddie was trying to dodge him, and so that's why he sent him the threatening message, but he swears he didn't mean it.
He was just really pissed off.
Um, let's assume that Alistair is telling the truth.
Do you know where he took your cab? Do you know if he was meeting someone? Mnh-mnh.
Mnh-mnh.
So, tell us about your gypsy cab.
Does it have GPS? Aye.
Ryan: Well, Alistair alibied out.
He was blind drunk at a pub during our time of death window.
And what about his gypsy cab? Looks like Alistair was telling the truth.
Wherever Eddie drove that cab, someone tried to kill him.
Wow.
Sounds like our mild-mannered zoo worker rattled a few cages.
Actually, Eddie wasn't so mild-mannered after all.
I got in touch with his next of kin in El Salvador.
Eddie used to be a cop.
Wait.
He was a cop? Why are we just hearing about this now? He lied on his immigration forms.
Why wouldn't Eddie want people to know he's a former police officer? I thought that was strange, too, so I did a little digging.
Apparently, there were rumors that Eddie was part of a corrupt police unit.
And these guys were accused of extorting criminals, taking bribes.
Hey.
So, I've gone through the GPS on Alistair's gypsy cab.
Looks like Eddie only made one stop, a place called the Saldana Club.
Okay.
What do we know about this place? It's run by Jose and Frankie Saldana, a couple of low-level players, but they got priors for assault and trafficking.
Plus, word is they deal drugs out of their club.
Well, if Eddie used to shake down crooks back in El Salvador, maybe he was doing the same thing to these guys here.
And they might have killed him for it.
Let's go.
Ryan: Jose and Frankie Saldana? Yeah.
Who's asking? So, what happened? Someone drop a grenade in here? We're redecorating.
You like? Looks like you boys got into a little trouble.
- Yeah.
Rock-climbing accident.
- Mm.
See, Frankie here forgot how to tie one of those fancy knots.
[Groans.]
Whoopsie.
So, it's got nothing to do with Eddie Ramirez, the guy you took a shot at Sorry.
I have to get water.
[Coughs.]
Eddie Ramirez.
- Never heard of him.
- Really? Because if a short 50-year-old man broke my face and stole 10 grand, I'd remember.
[Coughs.]
Uh, something on your mind? They're lying their asses off.
That man, Eddie Ramirez? - He was here.
- What happened? Came in all calm.
Next thing I know, he's beating the crap out of Jose and Frankie.
Forced them to fill up a briefcase with cash.
And you saw that all happen? Oh, yeah.
As Eddie was walking out, Frankie grabbed a gun from under the bar, hobbled out, and shot up the guy's car.
Okay, then what about last night? Did they go after Eddie, try to get their revenge? They couldn't have.
They were both laid up in the hospital.
Just got released this morning.
Why would Eddie come here to shake them down for money? I don't think this was a straight-up shakedown.
I overheard Eddie saying that he was doing this for some girl who used to work here.
A waitress.
What girl? Aida.
You think she killed Eddie? Well, all we know is that the Saldana brothers alibied out.
And clearly she's wrapped up in all of this.
Why am I here? I've done no wrong.
Ryan: We just have a few questions about Eddie Ramirez.
Look, Aida, we know about the robbery at the Saldana Club.
Eddie saw me crying after class three days ago.
I was, um [speaking French.]
Very upset because I was fired from Saldana Club.
So, why were you fired? I work two years there, but because I-I don't have green card, Jose and Frankie make me give them 30% of my paycheck.
- They were extorting you? - Yes.
But from taking ESL class, I get self-esteem and I demand my money.
That when they fire me.
When Eddie heard, he was very furious.
He say he would stand up to them and get all my money back.
Okay, if that's the case, then why didn't Eddie give you the money? But Eddie was going to.
He called me yesterday morning to say he got $10,000 for me.
I just had to wait because he was not coming to class that day.
So why wasn't Eddie coming to class yesterday? He tell me he was helping another student with a problem, a very dangerous problem.
Wait, Eddie was helping another student from the class? - Who? - Eddie did not say.
But, uh, when he told me, he sound very nervous.
Eddie say he uncover a terrible conspiracy.
Uh, what kind of conspiracy? Eddie did not say.
That was the last time I hear from him.
If Eddie was helping other students in his class, - then that means - He was the ESL Equalizer.
- Pardon me? - The Equalizer.
From the TV show.
And the movie.
He's a highly skilled operative who exacts vigilante justice for innocent people who can't defend themselves.
Yes, I am familiar with it, Castle, but Robert McCall's character was a good guy.
Eddie is a corrupt cop.
Well, maybe he's making amends, atoning for previous sins.
Isn't that what the American dream is all about, - trying to build a better future? - Well, all I know is that I'm trying to build a better case right now, and if Eddie was helping one of his fellow students with a dangerous problem, then That might be what got him killed.
And this is Achmed Sahid.
He immigrated to this country from Pakistan two years ago.
He was a radar-systems engineer in the military.
Achmed? Wow.
And what does he do now? He runs a hot dog cart in Chelsea.
This is Kim Hyun-Joo from Korea.
She's over here on an au pair visa for six months.
And this is Ernie Gonzalez, originally from Bogotá.
Now, this guy was a lawyer.
Now he's temping as a delivery driver for Ronny's Chicken Hut.
What about Diego? - Ah.
- Diego Lopez from Mexico City.
He works at an elementary school as a janitor.
And what did he do back home? Worked at an elementary school as a janitor.
Hmm.
These people all immigrated to this country in search of a better life.
It looks like Eddie was trying to help them achieve that.
The question is how do we figure out who else Eddie was helping? Well, tonight is international food night, and since Jean-Luc is a chef, I will be plying them with French delicacies.
You packing poutine? Javier, I'll have you know that French Canadians are proud descendents of Parisian culture.
No, I'll be serving them pastries from La Bernardin restaurant.
Uh, Castle, that's one of the premiere French restaurants in the world.
They don't do takeout.
[Chuckles.]
Perhaps not for Jean-Luc Delacroix, but they will for [French accent.]
Richard Castle.
[Clattering.]
Sorry about that.
[Indistinct conversations.]
Salut, mes amis! Oh! - Bonjour, Jean-Luc.
Hello.
- Well, those look good.
So, the police were questioning you? Yes.
They want to hear how Eddie was helping me.
But I-I don't think it's what got him killed.
[Speaking Geordie.]
Ah.
Did the police have any information about the case? They did not tell me more.
Did Eddie ever say anything to you? No.
Nothing.
You eat my japchae? Oh, uh, uh, of course.
[Indistinct conversations in Korean.]
Jean-Luc? What's wrong? You don't like it.
No, um, fantastique.
Where did you say this dish was from? I think I've had it somewhere before.
I doubt that's true.
It's a family recipe from my village.
Oh.
Uh, very nice.
Um, excusez-moi.
Achmed, are you all right? You seem upset.
Do you know who else Eddie was helping? Yes.
Me.
I-I-I came to him with a problem.
What was the problem? A girl in my building is missing.
She is undocumented.
Before she disappear, she tell me someone was forcing her to pay money or else.
And you told Eddie this? Yes.
He promised to find her.
I-I ask about this the day he die, and Eddie say it was all more dangerous than he thought.
Eddie said he discovered a terrible conspiracy.
And now he's dead, all because of me.
No, Achmed.
It is not your fault.
But perhaps I can help.
Uh, what is this girl's name? Anita Rodriguez.
So, I looked into our missing neighbor, Anita Rodriguez.
Now, because she's undocumented, there's next to no public record of her, but I did find out that she was working at a cleaning company off the books.
Now, a week and a half ago, she missed her shift and hasn't been seen since.
Are you okay? Yeah, I Something weird happened at ESL class tonight.
- What happened? - Hey! So, we just got back from Anita Rodriguez's apartment.
We got a hit on a print.
Marco Sutter? Yeah, he's an enforcer from up in the Corona neighborhood.
Organized crime has a file on this guy.
Extortion, money laundering, assault with intent.
All right.
Go pick him up.
[Speaking indistinctly.]
Marco Sutter? NYPD.
Hold it right there.
Gun! Let's go! Go! [Engine sputters.]
- NYPD! - Let me see your hands! Let me see your hands right now! Put them out the window, now! Beckett: Here's what I think.
You tried to extort a powerless immigrant, and when she couldn't pay, you killed her.
And when Eddie Ramirez came looking for her, you killed him, too.
I want a lawyer.
- Hey.
- Macro lawyered up.
But check this out.
We found something interesting tucked inside his wallet.
We traced it to a locker out at the G.
W.
Bridge bus station.
I doubt Marco is keeping his laundry there.
Could be evidence we can use as leverage.
We'll look into it.
Oh, what a day.
Tell me about it.
Pit of snakes, getting shot at it.
Thank God it's almost over.
I don't think that I could take any more excitement.
Man: FBI! Get down, get down, get down! [Indistinct shouting.]
Do you know how long the FBI's been on this case? Two years! Before Crockett and Tubbs here T-boned my stakeout.
Detectives Ryan and Esposito are investigating a homicide, Agent Napier.
And no FBI alert came across my desk about your precious little stakeout, so why don't you drop the attitude? How'd you find that locker? Our murder suspect had a key on him when we arrested him.
And this suspect, does he have a name? No.
Not until you tell me what's going on.
Oh, I'm not at liberty to discuss the specifics of my case.
Okay.
Then I guess we're done here.
It's Marco Sutter, isn't it? It's the only logical person to have a key.
You need to let him go.
Screw that.
He shot at us.
I don't care.
Well, you should, because if we let him go after that, he's gonna figure out why pretty fast.
I'm guessing Marco's the low man on your totem pole and you're tracking the money from his shakedown operations to get to your real target.
So, why don't you let us in on the investigation and we can work this together? Mm.
That's not in my playbook, but you're right.
Marco is small potatoes.
So, you go ahead and keep him.
You just remember My federal case trumps your homicide.
So you steer clear.
So, you gonna let that pretty boy steamroll us? No.
If Marco killed Eddie, then we are gonna take him down along with anyone connected to him.
We have to tread lightly, so I'm gonna reach out to my guys in the FBI and see if they can tell us what Napier's up to.
Castle.
Uh, what's going on? Hey.
Where's your passport? We've got to go to Korea.
Why? Because I finally figured it out.
My missing time? It Now it all makes sense.
It mostly makes sense.
Wait a minute, is this about what happened in your classroom? I ate a dish today.
It triggered a memory.
I was in Korea surrounded by locals, and I could see that temple.
Tongdosa Temple.
It's in the South Gyeongsang province.
Okay, well, we know that you were in Thailand, so Korea's not a stretch.
Yeah, I must have gone there right after.
But why? I have no idea.
I-I ordered more food in hopes of jogging another memory.
It didn't work, but that's okay.
When we get to Korea, all the No, no, no.
Castle, I'm not going to Korea.
Yeah, you're right.
I should go first.
That way And neither are you.
We don't have enough information yet.
It's too dangerous.
You almost got killed in Thailand.
Yeah.
Yes, you're right.
I'll just try to keep triggering more memories loose.
Are you in the mood for some kimchi? 'Cause I bought like $400 worth and the stuff goes right through me.
So, so far, there's no physical evidence linking Marco to Eddie's murder.
You have any insight from your federal contacts? Only that Agent Napier specializes in fraud and financial crimes.
Well, since when does financial crimes trump homicide? Never, as far as I'm concerned.
Who's the sexiest digital investigator alive? There is no way I'm saying you, bro.
Okay.
What do you got? Anita Rodriguez.
And she's alive.
She's in Texas, being held in a private detention center, awaiting deportation.
Thank God she's all right.
How on earth did you find her? There must be hundreds of Anita Rodriguezes out there.
Her fingerprints.
And the paper trail for how she ended up at the facility - is pretty thin.
- Intentionally so? Maybe.
But there was one name I could track.
Judge Jason Caldwell.
He signed the deportation order, and from his record, there is nothing he likes in this world more than deporting foreigners.
But that doesn't prove that he had anything to do with Eddie's murder.
No, but this is pretty damn incriminating.
The day before the murder, our victim got in a shoving match with Judge Caldwell at the courthouse.
Eddie must have connected the Judge to Marco's extortion scheme and gone down there to confront him.
If Eddie threatened to expose the criminal conspiracy, the judge would have a strong motive to kill him.
Castle: I-I don't get it.
The financial upside to extorting immigrants cannot be that high.
Why would a judge who makes six figures a year get involved? My assumption is Marco kept the extortion money for himself.
What would the judge get out of it? Huge kickbacks from a private prison in Texas.
According to Judge Caldwell's financials, he's got a sweetheart deal with a company that runs a detention center in El Paso.
He literally gets paid for every bed he fills.
So, Marco shakes down the immigrants for money.
Sooner or later, they run out of cash, and then Caldwell ships them to Texas.
And gets paid.
I hate this guy.
Me too.
Let's bring him in.
No, wait.
You guys, he's a federal judge.
We can't just go after him.
If we're wrong, then we'll Wait.
Go full on the security cam.
You guys, look at the janitor.
He's wearing an ear piece.
Why would a janitor need an ear piece? So's the guy on the bench with the newspaper.
Which means it's an FBI surveillance team following the judge.
He must be the FBI's real target.
Oh, we can't go at this guy, not with the Feds watching.
Napier clearly stated that we were not to step on his investigation.
The NYPD can't.
But I can with a little help from my friends.
Caldwell is on the move.
Heading to the courthouse.
- Oh! - I am so sorry! Oh, a thousand pardons.
Get out of the way.
Aida: Oh! [Laughs.]
Hi! Kim: Your baby's so adorable.
So is yours.
[Laughs.]
Excuse me.
Team two, subject is coming your way.
[Speaking Geordie.]
Sorry.
We can't help you.
[Speaking Geordie.]
Uh, service elevator down the hall.
Oh, thank you.
Hey, did the judge go up in the elevator? No entiendo.
[Elevator dings.]
Damn it.
- After you.
- Oh, thank you.
This can't be right.
Where's the service elevator? [Gun cocks.]
Oh, my God.
[Nigerian accent.]
You killed my fiancé.
Hold on.
I-I don't know what you're talking about.
You are Judge Caldwell.
You murdered my fiancé, Eddie Ramirez.
I-I have no idea who that is.
Stop telling lies.
I know you are the one who did it.
Lady, listen, you don't want to do this, all right? He He's not worth it.
Aah! O-Okay! I did know him, but I-I promise I didn't kill him.
I didn't have to.
What do you mean you didn't have to? The guy was a cop! He had enemies.
A-And the enemies of my enemies What? What is this, some kind of a setup? Who the hell are you people? You You had better tell me what happened or I'm going to shoot you.
The hell you will.
Let him go.
Damn it.
We were so close.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Do you think the judge dropped a dime to one of Eddie's enemies back in El Salvador? Question is how did the judge find out the names of Eddie's enemies back in El Salvador? I don't know, but Castle said that the judge referenced Eddie's past as a cop.
Why don't you guys see if you can find out who had a beef with Eddie back in his home country? Napier: Captain Beckett.
Do you have any idea what you've done? I have a feeling you're about to tell me.
We lose eyes on Judge Caldwell for all of 10 minutes, and the next thing you know, he's cancelled court and he's holed up with his lawyer.
I'm sorry.
Who is this judge, exactly? Knock it off, Captain.
We know you were on to Caldwell this morning.
We pulled surveillance video from the courthouse.
Your husband and his band of immigrant misfits are all over the footage.
Okay, then I will make sure my guys question them.
Well, you better move fast, 'cause I plan on having each and every one of them deported for this.
No, you want to go after someone, you go after me, but leave those people alone.
They interfered with a federal investigation.
Their friend was murdered.
They wanted justice, which includes the ability to live and work in this country without being victimized by a government-appointed judge or a power-hungry FBI agent.
Eddie's killer was solicited by Judge Caldwell, which means he's complicit in the murder, so you help me identify his killer and we will put the good judge away in federal prison for the rest of his life.
Napier: Meet Alonzo Sanchez, foot soldier for the Sinaloa drug cartel based out of San Miguel.
What's his connection to your case? Judge Caldwell expedited his visa 48 hours ago.
We weren't sure why until you mentioned Eddie Ramirez.
Turns out that they have history.
Eddie killed Alonzo's brother, Mario, back when he was a cop in El Salvador.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
This must be who Judge Caldwell was talking about.
Alonzo was out for revenge against Eddie, and the judge was all too happy to help.
Alonzo Sanchez landed at JFK four hours before Eddie was killed.
Okay.
Sounds like we have our killer.
Now we just have to track him down before he goes back home.
We might be too late for that.
He boarded a flight 15 minutes ago.
- He's already in the air.
- Well, then we're done.
There's no way we can get him now.
Uh, you can't, but I can.
This is Agent Napier.
I need to turn a plane around.
It's too bad your plane got rerouted, Alonzo.
On the bright side, I spoke to the airline, and you're still gonna get the miles.
You got nothing on me.
I was here legally.
And what was the purpose of your trip? - Visiting an old friend.
- Visiting or feeding him to the snakes? [Chuckles.]
What? Come on, Alonzo.
Drop the act.
We know you came here for Eddie Ramirez.
He killed your brother.
And Judge Caldwell He greased the wheels to get you up here.
Judge who? I don't know what you're talking about, man.
We tracked down the cab driver who picked you up from the airport and then took you to the zoo.
We know you killed Eddie.
Eddie is dead? That wasn't me.
Okay, the judge reached out to me, and, yes, I went to the zoo to see Eddie, but I did not kill him.
So, what did you come up here for, then? Little friendly chat? Maybe a frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity? I came here with revenge in my heart.
I thought that Eddie was responsible for my brother's death.
But I was wrong.
Eddie convinced me that he had been working with my brother in secret, protecting him.
Eddie would tell you anything if he thought you were gonna kill him, so what made you believe him? Eddie knew things about Mario that only someone close to my brother would know, and his attitude wasn't that of a man lying to save his life.
What do you mean by that? Eddie hated the man that he was back in El Salvador.
What he did to protect my brother weighed on him.
He told me that he despised everything my family stands for, what he used to stand for.
That's why he came to America To start over, build a new life here.
And he did until somebody took it away from him.
Hey.
Hey.
Ooh.
So, Alonzo alibied out.
Looks like we were wrong about Judge Caldwell's involvement.
No.
We're missing something.
Eddie confronted the judge, and the next day, he was killed.
Well, we know it wasn't the judge.
He was under 24-hour surveillance.
And besides, he thought that Alonzo was gonna take care of it.
Eddie confronts the judge.
12 hours later, Alonzo's on a plane with an approved visa.
How did the judge even know about Alonzo? - Who told him? - No, you're right.
We didn't even know about Alonzo.
How did the judge find out so quickly? There has to be someone else involved in this conspiracy, someone close to Eddie.
The only people that are close to him are in the ESL class.
So, who would kill him? I think I know.
And you know what this means, Beckett.
After all these years, I finally get to say, "J'accuse.
" Emerson: So, we're gonna focus in on the verbs.
Now, if we had [Knock on door.]
Jean-Luc, you're late.
[French accent.]
Ah, oui, monsieur.
Pardonnez-moi.
That's all right.
Have a seat.
Actually, Monsieur Emerson, if I could just have a word with you in private, s'il vous plait? Sure.
Jean-Luc, did you bring these men here? [Normal voice.]
Oh, yeah.
They're with me.
They're here to arrest you for the murder of Eddie Ramirez.
What? We know you were working with Judge Caldwell, funneling him immigrants from the school in exchange for a cut of the extortion money.
You knew each one of their pressure points, which ones were illegal.
- That's absurd.
- Oh, is it? Then why are so many of your students in those private detention centers? Too many to be a coincidence.
Castle: It was a solid plan.
I mean, who's gonna notice? They're here alone, marginalized by society.
In your position, I would have done the same thing.
- No, you wouldn't.
- No, I would not.
- I have a soul.
- Come on.
Let's go.
[Indistinct conversations.]
Everyone, I have some good news.
Anita Rodriguez has been released.
And a federal investigation has been launched into the private detention facility that was holding her.
What about the judge? Your teacher sold him out.
He confessed everything.
Now the FBI can properly prosecute the judge, and justice has been served.
[Cheering.]
C'est magnifique, huh? Oh, but, uh, who will finish teaching us now? I saw on the website it's Mr.
Castle.
[Excited talking.]
Uh, I-I'm so sorry.
I have no idea how that got on there.
I do, only the Castle who will be filling in isn't a mister.
- It's me.
- Really? [Chuckles.]
Nice work.
- Thanks.
- Darling, I am so proud! Isn't she lovely? Okay, everyone.
Shall we dine? Follow me.
Ah, yes.
And, everyone, we are so glad that you were all able to join us.
Now, we celebrated your food earlier.
We think it's time for you guys to celebrate some American food.
And voilà .
This is American food? It's very international.
Exactly.
And this country was founded by immigrants, and it's those customs and cultures that have shaped and molded us.
And you And you are the ones that make this country great.
Mother, I couldn't have said it better myself.
Now, let's dig in.
Yes, yes.
Plates behind you there.
[Talking, laughter.]
[Indistinct conversations in Korean.]
What is it? I wasn't in Korea.
I was in Koreatown in Los Angeles.
Beckett, I've got to go to L.
A.