Capítulo 51: Chapter 51: The Curse of Immortality
"What? You're going to discuss the case imitation methods and the psychological portrayal of the murderer with that writer? What about the autopsy?"
Joe Martinez was immediately troubled by Henry's request. Although he always knew Henry was competent, he also felt that Henry was somewhat odd at times. However, this was the first time he encountered Henry running off when there was work to be done. Wasn't Henry usually very dedicated?
"Joe, Renee is handling the autopsy. It doesn't matter whether I am there or not. I just spoke with Castle, and I'm really interested in some of his ideas. Perhaps our thoughts could help you catch the murderer more quickly!"
At that moment, Beckett, who overheard the conversation between Henry and Castle, approached. After knowing that Castle had persuaded Henry, she sensed that Castle might indeed have noticed something that they had missed. She was eager to see if Castle could always guess correctly!
Speaking up, she said, "Detective Martinez, although I hate to admit it, Mr. Castle indeed possesses extraordinary intuition and insights in some areas. Since he wants to discuss with Dr. Morgan, we might as well wait and see if they can bring a different perspective to our investigation."
"Alright, Henry, since Detective Beckett also thinks that your discussion with Mr. Castle will aid our investigation, you can go. However, you can only discuss as consultants. If it involves conducting an investigation, you must notify us immediately, understand?"
Joe Martinez conceded. After all, Henry had approached him just to be polite; he wasn't his subordinate, nor did Martinez have the authority to keep him from leaving.
However, Martinez still cautioned Henry that both he and Castle were not authorized to conduct investigations and should not act on their own.
Beckett's eyes flickered as she immediately realized that compared to Henry, the more reckless novelist was actually the one who should be warned. Recalling a recent robbery case, she quickly pulled out her phone and called Castle, making sure to warn him in advance; otherwise, he was sure to cause a significant uproar.
The handsome Dr. Henry Morgan, as he left the scene, saw Castle repeatedly assuring Beckett over the phone with a series of "yes, yes, yes." Already having composed himself, Henry couldn't help but smile. Clearly, the seemingly mature middle-aged elite in front of him was actually just a kid at heart.
"So, Mr. Castle, where shall we talk?"
Seeing Castle finally finishing the call with 'Mom' Beckett, Henry asked.
"Let's go to 'Abraham's' antique shop, shall we? I always have a feeling that I will become good friends with Abraham!"
Castle chose his home as the venue for their discussion without causing any emotional disturbance in the seasoned Dr. Henry Morgan. Instead, he responded with a laugh, "I also think you'll become good friends with my son!"
"I hate you immortals the most. You look a few years younger than me. Who would believe that your son is almost seventy!"
As the two bantered, they were surprised to find how well they clicked. Henry was simply amazed that Castle could keep up with him, given his long life and vast experiences, while Castle, who had seen the original series, deeply understood Henry's conflicting desires to be recognized as immortal and to find a friend with whom he could share everything. As they returned to 'Abraham's Antique Shop', they had already become friends.
This shocked Abraham, Henry's adoptive son, who was well aware of Henry's usual cold and defensive nature toward others.
"Abraham, come here, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Castle, Richard Castle, yes, the author of those novels you enjoy."
"Richard Castle? How did you two end up together?"
Abraham was extremely curious. Having lived with Henry for nearly seventy years, apart from his missing adoptive mother, Abigail, this was the first time Abraham had seen Henry voluntarily close to someone else, and it was clear this closeness wasn't feigned—Henry's character wouldn't allow for pretense.
Henry was just about to explain to Abraham, who seemed like a stranger but was actually his son, when Castle spoke up, "Hello, Abraham, I was just talking to Henry about how sure I am that we'll become good friends. As for how I came across Henry, it's because I've been consulting at the New York Police Department's 12th Precinct, and today, due to a case, I met Henry!"
"Oh? What case? Do you also solve cases part-time? Were your previous novels not just fabrications?"
Abraham asked Castle with interest.
"Abraham, now is not the time to discuss this. Mr. Castle and I came back together because he understands who I am, though I don't know where he got his information. But that's exactly what we need to discuss now!"
Henry's words shocked Abraham. The secret they had carefully guarded for
so many years had been leaked? For a moment, Abraham was caught off guard, looking at his adoptive father, Henry Morgan.
Henry shrugged, "Yes, Abraham, but now is not the time to worry. Let's first hear what Mr. Castle has to say."
Sensing Abraham's momentary distraction and defensiveness, Castle knew he had to speak up before the situation worsened, "Henry, Abraham, don't worry, I will tell you everything. But, Abraham, shouldn't you lock the shop door first?"
Once Abraham had locked the door and followed Castle and Henry upstairs to the drawing room, where each poured a whiskey, the three sat down on the sofas.
"Alright, Mr. Castle, can you tell us how you came to know my secret?"
Henry got straight to the point, voicing his most pressing concern. He needed to know if his disguise had been compromised.
"Dr. Morgan, first off, I can tell you how I came to know about you!
You know, in today's highly data-driven, digital society, a person, no matter how well they hide, will always leave traces unintentionally. I first learned about you when I was researching for my new book, specifically looking into a slave ship called the 'African Queen.' From the ship captain's records, I learned about a noble's son named Henry Morgan who mysteriously disappeared overboard during the voyage. At that time, I just glanced at it and didn't pay much attention!!!"
"The African Queen!!"
Hearing this name, Henry knew that Castle wasn't just making things up. He really knew Henry's background and the entire history because, two hundred years ago, it was on his family's ship, the 'African Queen,' that Henry was transformed into an immortal after opposing the captain's mistreatment of slaves and being shot in the chest with a flintlock pistol before being thrown overboard.
Since Castle could mention the African Queen, it proved he wasn't lying. Perhaps, he was the one who could lift the curse of immortality that Henry had always borne. Unlike others, Henry Morgan had never considered immortality a blessing; he always saw it as a curse, especially as he watched his beloved Abigail age while his own appearance remained youthful, deepening his hatred for his unaging, immortal body.
Because his appearance never changed, Abigail had left home, unable to bear the stares of others, and had been missing ever since. Henry, forced to move every decade to avoid suspicion, was now hopeful that with Castle's knowledge, he might resolve his curse of eternal life, or at least understand the mysterious phone calls he had been receiving lately.
With renewed hope, Henry's typically calm demeanor warmed as he looked expectantly at Castle.
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Capítulo 52: Chapter 52: Explosive Revelations
Castle was not one to hold back. Seeing the hopeful expressions of the father and son before him, he did not hesitate to continue his persuasive pitch: "At the time, I was just conducting a routine investigation, only learning that the African Queen belonged to a British noble family named Morgan. I didn't pay it much attention beyond that.
Until one day, I forgot to turn off a fuzzy search program, which popped up a potential related person—it was you!! Dr. Henry Morgan, the chief medical examiner in New York.
Dr. Morgan, you should know, today's big data on the internet can reveal many incredible things. Initially, I thought you might be a descendant of that family. On a whim, I researched your life trajectory and was surprised to find that you seemed to be hiding a huge secret."
To alleviate Henry's suspicions and to willingly recruit him as an ally, Richard Castle—bereft of any scruples and unabashed con artist—came online once again. Combining what he knew from the original series with some of his own embellishments, he ardently bamboozled Henry, whose judgment was clouded by excitement.
"At first, I only discovered your odd diploma issued by the University of Guam. Then I found out you had worked as a gravedigger for a while before becoming a medical examiner in New York. However, what was strange was your far-above-average understanding of human anatomy, which piqued my curiosity.
Thus, I employed my top-tier hacking skills, known to few, along with some underground channels, and the consolidated intelligence showed that you, Henry Morgan, were the very Henry Morgan from the Morgan family declared missing at sea by the captain of the African Queen. You can't imagine my surprise when I realized that, counting from your disappearance to now, you must be a legendary figure who has lived for over two hundred years.
You know, Dr. Morgan, I've always believed that miracles exist in this world, and you are one of those miracles.
However, after some investigation, I noticed you were always cautiously avoiding public attention. That made me realize you were hiding from the world. If I had approached you directly with this information, it likely would have panicked you. So, out of respect for your choices, after investigating your past, I decided to keep this information about you confidential.
Until today, when I met you at the crime scene, I still harbored the same thought and had no plans of confronting you. But truth be told, the murderer in today's case is also an immortal, a lonely soul from the Roman era who has been calling and harassing you because he has noticed you and thinks you are like him. He plans to coerce you into compliance with his directives.
His goal is to destroy your humanity and turn you into a cold, indifferent observer like himself.
Remember the subway derailment a while ago? If I remember correctly, you were in that subway car, right? Yes, the person who poisoned the subway driver was him!!!"
Castle's speech, packed with so many explosive secrets, utterly shocked Henry and Abraham.
Initially, Henry only thought Castle somehow knew his secret of immortality, but he hadn't realized how transparent he had been to Castle.
Abraham was also frightened. Are novelists nowadays really so formidable? To easily dig up an old man who had been hiding for two hundred years seemed unimaginable. Castle surely didn't know about his youthful fling with his mother, Martha, did he? That would be awkward.
Yes, Abraham, who had once been an actor, actually knew Castle, but only through his mother, Martha. This was actually their first real-life meeting.
Abraham's feelings about the current situation were a mix of hilarity and dismay. He was an old friend of Castle's mother, yet Castle was a friend of his father. Abraham puzzled over how he should regard and address Castle.
Seeing the astonished expression on Henry's face, Castle couldn't help but internally gloat, confident that this home-bound, old-fashioned man without even a cell phone couldn't escape his ruse.
Over the years, Henry had been dedicated to understanding why he would revive in the river immediately after dying, stark naked, making him quite out of touch with technological advancements. From his lack of a smartphone—a staple for modern people—it was clear that while Henry kept up academically, he had sealed himself off from the outside world ever since Abigail had left home, which was over twenty years ago.
Thus, Castle felt no guilt in bamboozling the father and son duo with tales of hacking and big data, his words exposing little risk of being caught, especially since he truly possessed top-tier hacking skills, allowing him to be unrestrained in his deception.
It took a while for Henry to recover from the bombshell Castle had dropped: "Mr. Castle, are you saying that the murder case, the mysterious person who has been calling me, is the same person who has lived since Roman times? Because he thinks
I am like him?"
Castle nodded emphatically; "Yes, Dr. Morgan, about this person, oh right, his name is Adam, and his current cover is a psychiatrist working at the Seventh Psychiatric Hospital!"
"All this, you found out through your computer?"
Henry was somewhat dizzy. Had computer technology really reached such incredible levels? Was it so powerful that not only could it uncover someone who had been hiding for two hundred years like himself, but also another who had lived for more than ten times that long?
"Oh, of course not, didn't I just say? I also utilized some underground channels and intelligence networks, and finally, I needed some help from sources I'd rather not introduce to you," Castle said, banking on Henry's gentlemanly nature, which would prevent him from pressing for more details on the sources.
"Let me summarize, then. So, starting from the subway incident, the mysterious person who has been calling me, who lived since the Roman era, discovered me and thought I was like him. So, he murdered the subway driver while I was on board to test if I was an immortal like him?
After he got the answer he wanted, he has been calling me to increase the pressure, including the incident today, all to exert his influence over me?"
Henry methodically pieced together the information he had received from Castle.
"Yes, and moreover, Dr. Morgan, he is also the murderer of Abigail!!"
Castle decided to spill all the beans about the mysterious Adam from the original series, delivering the most devastating news to Henry and Abraham.
"What did you say? He killed Abigail? Do you know where Abigail is now?"
Henry's usually composed demeanor completely vanished, his eyes red as he stared at Castle on the sofa, almost unable to believe what he had just heard.
Abraham's eyes also narrowed sternly at Castle, trying to discern the truth in his words.
Seeing the ferocious expressions of the father and son ready to pounce, Castle spoke seriously: "Dr. Morgan, since I met you, I have emphasized that I have no ill intentions towards you and that I understand you well. Do you think I would joke about something like this?"
Overwhelmed by his emotions, Henry abruptly stood up from the sofa, fixing his gaze on Castle: "Tell me, where is she?!!!"
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