Having decided to keep a low profile for a while, Castle took advantage of the Sunday morning to sleep in. It was only when a phone call woke him up that he realized it was already 10:30 AM. To his surprise, the call was from Bell. Curious, Castle answered.
Bell, typically upbeat, had called to invite Castle for lunch, mentioning something she wanted to discuss regarding Zeus. Though she didn't specify over the phone, Castle sensed from her uncharacteristically hesitant tone that it was something important.
After freshening up, Castle noticed his daughter Alexis was not around. She had probably gone to the library with friends, making use of the Sunday. Without delay, Castle left his house, heading to a small, historic restaurant near Central Park, not far from his Upper East Side home, where Bell had arranged to meet.
Upon entering the restaurant, Castle spotted Bell sitting with Zeus, whom he had met only a few days earlier. Bell was dressed in her usual bold fashion, wearing a bright yellow coat that made her look like a banana with a burnt top, contrasting sharply with her dark skin. Castle found her fashion sense utterly hopeless. Zeus, on the other hand, appeared nervous. Seeing Castle, they both stood up, and Bell greeted him with a hearty laugh and a warm hug.
"Hello, Mr. Castle! Thank you for coming. Please, sit down! You must try the famous beef here; it's the best I've ever had!" Bell exclaimed enthusiastically.
Castle smiled and nodded, playing along with Bell's exuberant recommendation. "Yes, I've had it before, and you're right, it's excellent! Hello, Zeus. You seem to have recovered from the scare the other day. That's good! Do you know how Officer John McClane is doing?"
Castle greeted Zeus as he sat down. After all, Zeus had been inadvertently involved in the recent incident because of Castle's recommendation to Captain Montgomery, which led Walter to place John in Zeus' neighborhood hardware store. It was only polite to ask after him.
Zeus, who was not a stranger to Castle, responded politely, explaining that John McClane was recovering from minor injuries and was still in the ICU at Metropolitan Hospital, mainly to avoid questions from certain unpleasant individuals.
Castle laughed, recognizing that the cunning strategy of feigning severe injury to evade persistent interrogations from the CIA and FBI was likely orchestrated by Walter, a veteran bureaucrat, rather than the hot-headed McClane.
The waiter, evidently tipped off by Bell, did not approach immediately for their order, allowing Bell and Zeus to discuss their business. When Zeus, under Bell's encouraging gaze, awkwardly explained that they wanted to follow Castle's lead, Castle was surprised. He never expected them to propose such a thing, considering himself a writer, not a gang leader or a mafia boss. Clearly, this was Bell's idea, possibly influenced by her new relationship with Zeus.
However, Castle saw this as a solution to his recent dilemma. He needed to keep a low profile at the precinct and had been worrying about the lack of reliable help. Bell, with her exceptional driving skills, would be a great addition, as would Zeus, who, despite his unassuming appearance, was quite sharp and resourceful. If they were sincere, Castle was open to the idea.
After a moment of contemplation, Castle spoke candidly, knowing that Bell appreciated directness. "Bell, I understand your intention to support Zeus, but I can't agree right away. I need some time to think about how to arrange things for both of you. However, I promise to get back to you as soon as possible. How does that sound?"
Bell seemed a bit anxious, ready to say more, but Zeus, sensing the underlying message in Castle's words, quickly intervened, reassuring Castle that they were grateful for the consideration and eager to move forward. He then shifted the conversation, calling the waiter to take their orders.
Castle appreciated Zeus' perceptiveness and his ability to read between the lines. Zeus understood that Castle was inclined to accept their proposal but needed time to organize things. Meanwhile, Bell, puzzled by the abrupt change in conversation, decided to focus on ordering food.
The restaurant's famous beef lived up to its reputation. After enjoying the meal, Castle politely excused himself, leaving behind a somewhat reassured Bell and a clearly relieved Zeus. Before departing, Castle gave Bell a reassuring word: "Don't worry, Bell. I'll be in touch soon. Take care, Zeus, and congratulations on your recent windfall—you've got the bill!"
As Castle left, Bell turned to Zeus, looking for an explanation. Zeus, noting her confusion, explained, "Last night, when you mentioned Castle's schemes, I was skeptical. But after today's conversation, I believe you were right. Castle didn't reject our offer; he just needs time to figure out how to fit us into his plans. He's likely considering how best to utilize our skills."
Bell, still puzzled, listened as Zeus reassured her that Castle had essentially accepted their offer but needed time to finalize their roles. This explanation seemed to calm her, even if she didn't fully grasp the nuances of the conversation.
Zeus continued, "Don't worry, Bell. Castle agreed to let us join him. Now, he's just figuring out the best way to use our skills. He really is planning something big, and he needs reliable people."
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