Reborn as Richard Castle in Criminal Minds

Beckett listened in astonishment to her superior's heartfelt words, unable to believe or accept them. She couldn't believe that Castle had revealed this intelligence to her and Captain Montgomery just to let her shine in front of her superiors.

However, she knew that Montgomery, who had always admired her and treated her like a junior, wasn't joking. Still, she couldn't accept this fact right away: "Sir, wouldn't it be inappropriate for Castle to do this? He kept such important information from us just so we could have a head start? What if the situation spirals out of control?"

Beckett was a truly responsible police officer. Her first thought was always the public's interest, never considering herself. Her political sensitivity was far behind her case-solving instincts.

Montgomery, the old fox, smiled lightly at Beckett's doubts: "Don't worry about that. I suspect that Castle knows much more about the robbers than he's telling us—their numbers, identities, weapons, and plans. Didn't you notice his confidence when discussing this? I initially thought he was just confident in his intelligence. But later, I realized he must have a way to counter those guys, which is why he's so confident.

"That's why I pretended to believe his claim that he only had limited intelligence. Watch and see, he'll definitely reveal more details to us, especially to you, in the coming days. This way, you can gain the most from this situation!

"Don't blame him; he's doing it for your good."

Montgomery had long noticed the unusual look in Castle's eyes when he looked at Beckett. He thought that if Castle and Beckett could be together, it would be beneficial for her. Castle's extensive social network could offer Beckett the protection she needed. Even if those who killed Beckett's mother, now holding high positions like Senator William Bracken, tried to harm her, Castle's protection would deter them.

Beckett didn't realize that her superior had plans to 'sell' her. Though politically naive, she was a traditional officer who valued obedience to orders. Despite feeling puzzled about the purpose of this conversation, she was determined to follow orders. So, when Montgomery ordered her not to blame Castle for withholding information, she reluctantly nodded in agreement.

Seeing Beckett's reluctant expression, Montgomery had to reconsider his decision to drop the subject. He pointed to a chair, signaling Beckett to sit down, and said earnestly: "Do you feel uncomfortable? Do you think Castle shouldn't have done this?"

Beckett answered straightforwardly: "Yes, I think if he has information about the robbers and tells us, why complicate things? Just tell us their location, and we can arrest them. Why wait until they cause a commotion? What about the citizens' losses?"

Montgomery decided to give Beckett a lesson in political sensitivity: "Your thinking is correct for an ordinary officer, but as a chief, it's different..."

Beckett interrupted: "Why? Aren't we supposed to prevent these things from happening?"

Montgomery wasn't angry at the interruption. Instead, he patiently explained: "Police are also people. We need achievements and media coverage to show people we're protecting them. When I reported this to the Chief, do you know what he said?"

Beckett shook her head, confused.

Montgomery didn't keep her in suspense. He directly shared the Chief's instructions: "He concluded that Castle knows far more than he's saying. The Chief understands Castle's intentions and has instructed me to give you full responsibility for this case.

"Since Castle wants you to shine, the Chief will support it fully. He concluded, just like I did, that Castle will gradually reveal more information to you. This way, when the robbers plant the bomb, you can lead your team to find it first.

"Remember, robbing the bank is minor; the real threat is the 2,000-pound bomb. If it explodes, who knows how many casualties there will be?"

Beckett nodded, feeling the weight of the situation: "Yes, even if he wants to make a big scene, he should at least tell us the bomb's location. If we catch the robbers before they plant it, there won't be any danger."

Montgomery laughed, explaining to his politically naive subordinate: "If we catch the robbers before they plant the bomb and cause panic, will the public appreciate us?"

Beckett stared at her superior in shock: "Sir, you mean..."

Montgomery was honest with her, finishing her thought: "Yes, you mean 'raising a tiger to gain power,' right? Beckett, we need the public to see our efforts. Remember, we need to do the job and loudly announce it. Only then will people know how hard we work for their safety. This is a skill you need to learn as a leader."

Beckett was baffled by the strange tacit understanding between Montgomery and Castle. She couldn't understand how she missed their coordination while standing right there. Was she really that clueless?

Montgomery, seeing Beckett's confusion, smiled and advised: "You've always focused only on the cases, not these dirty political matters. It's normal not to understand. But Beckett, from now on, you need to look up while working to become a qualified leader. Understand?"

Even after leaving Montgomery's office, Beckett was still dizzy. She couldn't fathom how Castle and Montgomery reached such an understanding right under her nose without her knowing.

Putting aside these thoughts, Beckett refocused. She addressed the concerned-looking Esposito and Ryan: "We've just received important intelligence. A gang plans to rob a bank vault in Manhattan and might plant a 2,000-pound bomb to distract us. Our team will temporarily hand over all current cases and focus on this upcoming heist and bombing. Esposito, Ryan, organize our cases and hand them over to the desk. Then, we'll find our informants and see if they have any leads on these robbers!"

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