Taking advantage of the opportunity today, Castle decided to explain some things to the chubby guy who was unaware of the intricacies involved: "We know that the people who targeted you tonight are from General Atomics, interested in our drone's flight control system and you. Besides being suppliers of the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper drones to the US military, what else is this company?"
The chubby guy looked at Castle, confused and unsure how to answer this out-of-the-blue question. Castle, not expecting a response, continued on his own.
"They somehow learned about our drones and discovered that you were operating them. They are interested in the high-tech features of these drones and want to solve their current problems without paying a hefty fee for the technology transfer. So, they decided to kidnap you, possibly thinking that since you're a computer nerd who rarely leaves the house, your disappearance wouldn't be noticed.
Unfortunately for them, they didn't consider the variable of me. That's why they failed due to my intervention. But we both know they won't give up after just one setback, right?"
Harry finally understood Castle's point and quickly nodded in agreement, following Castle's analysis.
Castle, pleased that the chubby guy was getting the point, continued, "Our situation is delicate and dangerous. I doubt these people will give up on getting our drone's flight control system after this small setback. Although I avoided using lethal weapons and only used a strong sedative to incapacitate everyone at the private airport in the Bronx to rescue you, I don't think they'll back off just because I showed some restraint.
Also, even though Beckett took those four guys to the station, do you believe they will stay silent under police questioning and get bailed out quickly? We need to consider partnering with a company as big as, or bigger than, General Atomics. This way, we can shift General Atomics' focus away from us."
The chubby guy, though a homebody, wasn't stupid. He understood the logic of Castle's argument, especially since Castle had already mentioned contacting Northrop Grumman, another supplier to the US military, earlier. But he was puzzled about why Castle would reach out to Northrop Grumman. This question made Castle laugh.
"I chose Grumman because they didn't send anyone to kidnap you, showing their information isn't as up-to-date as General Atomics. Their company's scale and relationship with the military are equal to or better than General Atomics. Plus, I'm a fan of the F-14 Tomcat. Why not choose Grumman?
Having Grumman involved would not only protect us from General Atomics' interest in our drones and you, but also bring in a significant technology transfer fee. This way, we control how our drone technology spreads and avoid becoming a target."
The chubby guy didn't fully understand these business intricacies but trusted Castle implicitly. After all, the drone's technology and flight control system were entirely Castle's work. He just sat on the couch, staring at his Uncle Rick, who was explaining everything with enthusiasm.
For the chubby guy, today's kidnapping wasn't as scary as it might have been for others. In fact, he felt a bit thrilled by the adventure, something he'd never experienced as a homebody. He wasn't concerned with the details Castle was explaining; he just planned to follow his uncle's instructions. His main focus was on bragging about his exciting experience to his online friends later. Unlike his previous adventures in Brazil, which involved his Uncle Rick and the millions of dollars they got from Dominic Toretto, this was something he couldn't wait to share.
Castle, noticing the chubby guy's wandering mind, realized his efforts were in vain. The chubby guy was clearly not paying attention, lost in his thoughts about sharing his latest adventure online. Castle sighed, knowing that his explanations fell on deaf ears.
Seeing no other option, Castle called Alexis to inform her that he wouldn't be coming home tonight. He feared that the people he sedated at the Bronx airport might retaliate against the chubby guy. To ensure his safety, Castle decided to stay.
Castle sent the chubby guy back to his bedroom, instructing him to check the house's security and the two drones in the garage. Alone on the couch, Castle pondered how to connect with Northrop Grumman.
At the same time, in a vast underground hall on Barry Street, Castle's Uncle Powell, the underground intelligence king, was listening to reports about today's explosions in New York, Simon's gang robbing the lightly guarded Federal Reserve vault, and their subsequent defeat by a NYPD officer with the help of a mysterious sniper.
Powell had already anticipated some of these events, given that his network of homeless informants across New York reported Simon's activities, including stealing chemicals to make bombs and garbage trucks to transport gold bars. However, he wasn't a cop and only monitored these actions with mild interest. He hadn't expected Simon to go so far as to blow up the Federal Reserve vault.
Even more surprising was NYPD Officer John McClane, who, with a mysterious sniper's help, managed to wipe out Simon's highly trained ex-military team. Powell was stunned by this development, having never imagined a lone officer and a sniper could take down Simon's entire crew.
___________________
Read Ahead
P@treon.com/Mutter