Reborn as Richard Castle in Criminal Minds

Harry stared at Castle, dumbfounded: "Uncle Rick, you must have heard wrong, right? Did you say those robbers plan to steal about a hundred tons of gold from the Federal Reserve's vault? How is that possible?

"While a ton of gold doesn't take up much space—stacked up, it's about the size of a computer tower—that's just one ton. A hundred tons is not something those robbers can move by sheer manpower alone. Are you kidding?"

Castle wasn't surprised by Harry's astonishment. If he hadn't known the plan, he wouldn't have believed anyone could attempt to steal a hundred tons of gold bricks in one go. But Castle knew Simon's strategy, which included using a front-end loader to fill garbage trucks with gold bricks. Therefore, he was confident in the accuracy of his information. He needed Harry to monitor Simon and his crew, as they would surely steal those fourteen garbage trucks from Long Island before the heist.

By having Harry track Simon's movements, Castle could justify his knowledge of the situation when Beckett inevitably questioned his sources. Beckett probably already had doubts but refrained from asking detailed questions due to the urgency and Montgomery's presence. When Simon and his crew planted the fake bomb at Chester A. Arthur School, Castle would inform Beckett immediately, ensuring she wouldn't have to search all 1,446 schools in New York. In such a scenario, Harry's involvement would serve as Castle's convenient cover.

Castle knew he had to explain everything to Harry to ensure he understood the gravity of the situation and didn't miss any crucial details during surveillance. 

Castle settled on Harry's messy sofa and said seriously: "Harry, I need to explain this whole situation to you from the beginning. Listen carefully because your responsibility goes beyond just monitoring the robbers' movements. Once you know their plan, you'll understand why."

Harry had rarely seen Castle so serious. Even during their time in Brazil, Uncle Rick had always faced challenges with a grin. Realizing the severity of the situation, Harry sat upright, ready to listen.

Castle, amused by Harry's defensive stance but understanding the importance, started explaining Simon's plan to rob the Federal Reserve.

"I found out yesterday, for reasons I can't fully disclose, that a German named Simon Gruber, leading a group of professional criminals, plans to rob the Federal Reserve's underground vault on Wall Street in a few days. Simon Gruber has an IQ of 187 and is incredibly dangerous. Despite committing numerous crimes in Europe, the authorities there are powerless against him..."

Harry interrupted, incredulous: "Wait, Uncle Rick, how do you know Simon's IQ? Your information seems overly detailed. Are you sure?"

Castle, though interrupted, was reminded to be cautious. Except for Harry, he should avoid detailing the plan too much. He quickly rationalized: "This intel comes directly from Simon's crew. So yes, it's detailed. Let me continue without interruptions. I'll explain Simon's plan briefly so you can help effectively.

"Simon doesn't plan to break into the vault straightforwardly, knowing the noise would attract police. Instead, he intends to use a diversion. On the morning of the heist, he will plant a powerful bomb in a Manhattan department store and detonate it before the store opens. With New York's heightened post-9/11 vigilance, this explosion will shift the NYPD's focus entirely onto the bomb.

"Simon will then call the police, claiming he's avenging his brother against Officer John McClane. This claim will obscure his real motive of robbing the bank. The police will be preoccupied with a supposed widespread bomb threat.

"Simon plans to manipulate Officer McClane, claiming he's placed bombs around the city as a pretext for revenge. While the police chase after these fake threats, Simon will detonate a bomb on the subway line near the Federal Reserve, collapsing Wall Street's subway exit. This explosion will lead the police to lock down the station.

"This is where Simon's plan comes into play. With the subway station sealed and the police focused on finding a fictitious 2,400-pound bomb supposedly hidden in a school, Simon and his crew will use stolen garbage trucks, posing as cleanup crews, to enter the subway. They'll then blast a tunnel into the vault and load the gold bricks into the trucks. With the police distracted, Simon's crew will have ample time to move the gold."

Harry listened in disbelief, stunned by the complexity of Simon's plan. It was indeed the work of someone with a high IQ, layering deception upon deception. Without Castle's insider knowledge, no one would suspect that the apparent terror attack was a cover for a heist.

Castle, having outlined the plan, saw Harry's shock and said: "Now you understand why I need you to help track and monitor them. I'll have to inform the police about this, but I can't reveal that my information comes from Simon's crew. So, I'll have to rely on you."

Harry, just recovering from his shock, was confused again by Castle's last statement: "What do you mean, rely on me? Uncle Rick, what are you saying?"

Castle patiently explained: "I've already told the police about an impending bomb threat and heist, but only in vague terms. Beckett, my partner, repeatedly questioned the source of my intel. To avoid suspicion, I need to credit you for the information. If I can't dodge Beckett's questions, I'll explain your hacking skills. As a super hacker, you obtaining such intel isn't unbelievable. Don't worry, she won't cause you any trouble."

Castle's maneuver was undeniably self-serving, but Harry showed no sign of displeasure. His unchanged expression intrigued Castle.

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