After hours of fruitless phone calls, playing hardball with the local assortment of rich and influential people and exchanging what-if theories, there'd been only one thing left at Montgomery's disposal and the sheer thought of it sent shivers down his back.
But he had to try it, more or less to scratch the possibility off his list, not putting much faith into a successful outcome.
Ignoring Castle's, fear-fueled arguments pointing out his hypocritical actions, he'd headed south of town, leaving his car parked below the event center hosting Steward's latest fundraiser.
Armed with listening devices and two guns, one of them concealed, Montgomery had sent up word that he needed to talk to the Senator-to-be, and do so alone.
Surprisingly, his wish was granted after a few minutes and he saw the short and stocky man in the expensive black tuxedo cross the street, then wait at the sidewalk for Montgomery to get out of the unmarked police car and greet him with a half-hearted nod.
"Word has it that you have something that belongs to me.", the Captain said evenly, his eyes taking in every nuance of the other man's body language as he laughed faintly, then shook his head.
"So much for pleasantries, Lieutenant Montgomery.", Steward countered and sunk his hands into the pockets of his expensive dress pants.
"It's Captain now.", he growled and stepped closer, "And I am missing two of my officers."
"Well, isn't that a shame?", Steward sneered, his round cheeks flushed from the alcohol, "You of all people should know how to find things that are lost, Captain."
"What's it gonna take to bring my men back? They can't wait for the elections to be over with."
The other man raised his eyebrows, a wide, manipulating smile crossing his lips.
"Captain, Captain, just to make it clear to you and that listening device that's undoubtedly strapped to you somewhere below those cheap clothes…I don't know what you are talking about. You missing two of your detectives is none of my concern."
"Let's assume they went to see you.", Montgomery continued on, completely unaffected by the hostile attitude coming from their suspect, "And let's assume they found something that ties you directly to an ongoing murder investigation…holding them hostage won't free you of those charges. You're still going to have to answer to Shelley Richardson's murder. Don't add kidnapping, assault and obstruction of justice to that list. Stop this nonsense while there is still time."
With a dismissive headshake, Steward came closer until both men stood only a foot apart.
"I heard that you people sometimes need a little help understanding the English language, so let me repeat it for you, Captain. I don't know what you are talking about. I could care less about your two detectives. I am innocent- and incredibly busy."
Feeling the heart in his chest beat incessantly, Montgomery clenched his jaws, the other man slowly but surely eating away at his reserve of patience.
"That ten-thousand-dollar transfer from your business account the other day…we tracked it right to the Dark Shadows.", Montgomery baited, grateful to see the other man's smile fading, "It's ironic that a racist, good-for-nothing piece of work such as yourself decides to hire a group of African Americans to keep his sorry ass safe. But it all makes sense because they're a convenient third party that you can hire out to do your dirty work, and in the meantime, make sure you have alibis for any criminal activity you partake in."
When the other man didn't answer, Montgomery bridged the last of the distance between them, before poking an angry finger at Steward's chest.
"Let me make it clear for somebody such as yourself, who seems to have trouble understanding the English language…I want my detectives back. And I won't rest until I see you behind bars for the murder of Shelley Richardson and the kidnapping and assault on two of my officers. If you have any brains left in that champagne-flooded mind of yours, you're gonna go back upstairs and make a phone call to release my people, let us know where to find them, and fully comply with the investigation we're going to conduct when it comes to your involvement with Miss Richardson. Because you don't want to stand between me and the truth. You've already made a poor choice kidnapping my people and trying to blackmail us. Don't dig that grave any deeper. Do the right thing while there's still time. Trust me Steward, if Beckett and Esposito have as much as a scratch on them and if you keep interfering with our investigation, you will pay. And by the time I am done with you, no voting ballots, bodyguards and campaign money will protect you from me."