Bob maintained his usual stoic expression, one that looked more pained than pleased. "Yeah, after seeing firsthand how dark things get during a Senate campaign—and witnessing Moz's endless tricks—I couldn't bring myself to stay on with Senator Rutledge, even though he offered."
Castle chuckled as he handed Bob a beer. "So you really don't have any faith left in politicians after that experience, huh? So, what's next? Are you just going to take Sam back to that house in New York and settle in as a recluse? Seems a shame to let your sniper skills go to waste like that."
Bob took a sip, his expression remaining serious. "What good are those skills if all they do is kill? What are you suggesting, Rick? That I become a mercenary?"
"Not at all," Castle said, his eyes lighting up. "But what about joining the NYPD as a sniper?"
Bob nearly choked on his drink. "Me? A cop? Rick, I'm a sniper, trained to take offensive action. Policing is about maintaining order, not taking lives."
Castle laughed. "I don't mean a beat cop or a detective, Bob. I'm talking about joining the NYPD's emergency response team. They use snipers too, you know? Besides, Beckett's likely to climb the ranks sooner rather than later. With all the talk of diversity in leadership and all these feminist movements pushing for women in power, she might even end up as a deputy commissioner in the not-so-distant future."
Bob looked amused. "So, what? You want me in the emergency response team so you can influence them if Beckett gets promoted to a senior role?"
Castle didn't even try to deny it. "Exactly! And while you're at it, it'd be a waste to let your skills gather dust. Besides, as much as you enjoy being a loner, you're not planning to spend your whole life with just Sam, are you? Or maybe…" Castle took a playful step back, pretending to gasp, "You like men?"
The joke finally cracked Bob's stoic exterior, drawing a rare laugh. "No! Absolutely not! Don't even start with that nonsense!"
Seeing the usually unflappable Bob flustered made Castle grin wider. He knew the truth about Bob's orientation, but since Castle's interventions had saved Bob from his harrowing escape and injury, he hadn't had the opportunity to connect with anyone romantically. Now, Bob was one of the few remaining single men in Castle's circle. Even Mozzie, Harry, and Henry had found their own relationships. Castle was genuinely hoping to see Bob find someone, though he knew it wouldn't be easy.
As a thought struck him, Castle asked, "How about I turn your story into a novel? Imagine the drama—the military missions, getting framed and almost dragged into a conspiracy to assassinate the Vice President. I think it'd make for a great read. Plus, it could give Beckett's career a boost, showcasing her as this capable, no-nonsense police commissioner."
Bob rolled his eyes. "Rick, most of my missions in the Marines were classified. If I so much as gave you a hint, I'd end up in court for breaching national security."
Just then, Ramsey and Henry ambled over, with Ramsey looking as if she had something to confess. Before she could say a word, Castle waved her off. "No need to tell me. Whatever you and Beckett are working on, I trust you'll handle it."
Relieved, Ramsey explained anyway, "Beckett just wanted me to use Eye of God to develop a simpler tracking program as a pilot in her precinct. It's been working surprisingly well, Rick. Thanks to this, the Twelfth Precinct now has the highest case clearance rate in the city. Whether current or cold cases, if a suspect's identified, they're as good as caught."
Castle nodded approvingly. "I trust you two, really. I don't need to know all the details, as long as it's working out."
Henry smirked at Ramsey. "See? I told you Rick wouldn't mind. Now, come on. There's barbecue waiting!"
As they headed to join the others, Castle explained to Bob how Eye of God, combined with Jarvis's abilities, had transformed case-solving. Bob, usually unshaken, looked alarmed. "Rick, this kind of technology shouldn't even exist. If it fell into the wrong hands, there'd be no privacy left for anyone."
Castle agreed. That was why, when the CIA had come sniffing around, he had denied everything and kept Jarvis's true capabilities under wraps. Technology was advancing so rapidly that something like Eye of God was bound to emerge sooner or later. Even if Jarvis hadn't been created, someone like Finch would eventually have developed something similar.
Ultimately, Castle's priority was keeping himself and his loved ones safe. So long as he had Jarvis and the support of his close friends, he felt secure.
Later, as Alexis returned from school in the incongruous Ford F-350 her father had gifted her "for safety," and Beckett finished her shift, everyone gathered on the beach for a feast. After the meal, Castle and Beckett had a serious discussion about the risks and implications of using Eye of God in the precinct's surveillance room. Beckett assured him that only her most trusted officers—Esposito, Ryan, and two other loyal officers—were aware of the software. Ramsey had also designed the program to be non-replicable and limited to the Twelfth Precinct alone. Relieved, Castle agreed to support her in moving forward with it cautiously.
The following morning, after breakfast with Beckett and Alexis, Castle eagerly headed to his lab. Jarvis had informed him that the smart glasses he'd been dreaming of were finally complete.
The main challenges in creating the glasses had been twofold: designing a microchip with both extreme miniaturization and high processing power, and sourcing the right materials. With Jarvis's programming prowess, the software was the least of his worries.
The long delay was due to Jarvis working painstakingly on the custom ultra-microchip. Even with the futuristic materials and technical knowledge Castle had gleaned from his Marvel-inspired imagination, creating a functional prototype had been a significant accomplishment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get early access to chapters by joining my Patre@n!Find me at: patre@n*com/Mutter
You can read each novel for $5 or get them all for just $15.
I Am Zeus, KING OF GODS (Chapter 79)
Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 391)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 471)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 677)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 1059)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1418)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1422)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1452)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1504)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld!(Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 703)
[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter][+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]