Unlike Dominic's biker gang, Richard Castle and Harry aren't the kind of people that a nameless operative could simply intimidate by flaunting a CIA badge. Castle is not only a renowned author in New York with excellent connections among the city's elite, but he's also the largest private shareholder of Northrup, a defense contractor. Someone like this wouldn't be swayed by a mere shadowy operative, especially one of dubious status. They were in entirely different leagues.
As the nameless agent grew suspicious of Castle and Harry, sensing they held some critical secret, he updated his superiors via video call, aiming to relay the news to a CIA chief. Meanwhile, Dominic and his crew had already arrived at Central Park, closing in on Deckard Shaw, who had stayed there without making any attempt to flee.
Trailing closely behind Dominic was a large contingent of NYPD officers led by Beckett and backed by an ESU team. Following directions from two drones in the sky, they closed in on Dominic's group to encircle the area.
Deckard Shaw, feeling audacious, had deliberately made his presence known and remained in Central Park, prepared for a confrontation. Since teaming up with the warlord that Dominic's team had forcibly seized Heydrich from, Shaw had allies—spies scattered around the park's perimeter to feed him updates. Thus, he quickly learned of Dominic's arrival.
In Shaw's mind, the additional arrival of NYPD forces was inconsequential. A veteran of dodging both intelligence agencies and law enforcement globally, he was unbothered, planning to first deal with Dominic and his crew and then slip past the police. Little did he know that he was up against NYPD's toughest division. Not only was Castle observing him with "God's Eye" from his estate, but the two hovering drones ensured that Shaw had no clear escape route.
Beckett, nearing the scene, had been forewarned by Castle that Shaw, a super-soldier crafted by British intelligence, might have backup lurking nearby, possibly sent by the warlord. Beckett, therefore, didn't rush in recklessly but had the patrol officers focus on evacuating civilians first, prioritizing their safety over immediate confrontation. After all, her team and the ESU squad were only a few minutes away from Central Park. With the bikers closing in on Shaw, it was only practical to let them wear each other down before the NYPD moved in to clean up the aftermath.
As for the mysterious CIA operative, Beckett doubted they'd risk exposing themselves now that the NYPD was deploying in full force. If they did, they'd face a public inquiry into domestic terror activities—a PR nightmare for an already controversial agency.
With Beckett's orders, patrol officers began directing parkgoers to safety. Dominic, driven by anger, led his team to confront Shaw, hoping to avenge their fallen friend. Without hesitation, both sides opened fire, the crackling of gunshots prompting any remaining civilians to duck for cover or hide behind nearby structures. Shaw, fierce as ever, was a one-man army against Dominic's six-person team.
The moment gunfire erupted, Beckett, only a few blocks from the park, checked the drone feed on her tablet and confirmed that civilians had cleared the vicinity. She then ordered Espo to step on the gas and updated her officers over the radio.
"These people are all bad news. Once we have them surrounded, if they show any signs of resistance, go ahead and use suppressive fire. Your safety is the top priority! Both sides' identities are known to us—one group comprises British operatives, while the others are LA and Miami-based crooks. The only exception is the Israeli girl; even the blond guy is an FBI traitor. So, you're cleared to act according to the situation."
Beckett's orders sparked cheers among her officers. The police were grateful for a leader who prioritized their safety.
Castle, along with his tech team, watched the action unfold in real-time from his estate. Just then, JARVIS chimed in.
"Mr. Castle, I've intercepted a video transmission between the nameless CIA operative and CIA headquarters. Your rapid report to Detective Beckett after noticing Shaw's presence in Central Park has raised the operative's suspicions. They've obtained internal NYPD updates, confirming that you were the first to detect Shaw's activity. They're now speculating that your estate's supercomputer might have capabilities similar to Heydrich's search software."
Castle was taken aback by the news. He hadn't overthought his immediate alert to Beckett; he simply did what seemed right at the moment. How had the nameless operative deduced so much from such a small detail?
Annoyed but undeterred, Castle instructed JARVIS to continue monitoring the CIA's moves. He focused again on Beckett, who was now arriving at the park entrance with her officers, while Dominic and his team were still in a tense standoff with Shaw.
Unlike in the open fields and high-speed chases of the past, Dominic's group was at a disadvantage in the park, without any cars to support their maneuvers. Shaw, on the other hand, exploited his training and the cover, pinning them down with his rifle. Of Dominic's team, only Gisele, a former Israeli soldier, and O'Conner, a former FBI agent, had any significant combat skills. Tej and Roman were dead weight, and Dominic himself wasn't accustomed to face-to-face firefights. Thus, despite outnumbering him, they were no match for Shaw's tactical expertise.
In a twist of fate, despite sustaining injuries, none of Dominic's crew had yet been killed. Beckett, hoping to let both groups weaken each other, watched from a distance, biding her time to swoop in and contain the situation.
Just then, Beckett's phone rang. It was Deputy Commissioner Montgomery, instructing her to end the standoff swiftly. The gunfight in Central Park had caught the media's attention, and with the park situated in the heart of Manhattan, the NYPD could no longer afford to merely spectate. They had to intervene, and fast.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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