"The APB on the car is out, as well as the three guys you were talking to…and Esposito. All units in the vicinity are on high alert and I have a special squadron of patrol cars set aside to canvas the neighborhood. If they show up somewhere, we should be able to track him down as soon as possible."
Montgomery let out a weary sigh as he dropped another file on his ever-growing stack, then let his glance drift across the three people sitting in his office, their tense expression mirroring his.
"What about Steward? Isn't the DA the least bit interested in pressing charges? This circus could all be over with once he's arrested."
Beckett subtly ran a hand over the aching bruise on her cheek, her wrists and ankles still raw from the prolonged capture. Across the desk, Castle had noticed the move, looking over at the Captain who decided to ignore it for the time being.
"Don't think that wasn't the first thing that crossed my mind. He admitted to hiring the Dark Shadows for personal protection but adamantly refuses any knowledge of the guys who attacked you, claiming they must be some rogue splinter group."
"We were in his bedroom when it happened!", Beckett countered just to see Montgomery nod soothingly.
"If you still had the strap I'd have a lot more leeway in going after him. But right now, he claims it never happened and that your kidnapping must have occurred after you left. Without the proof, it's your word against his. And while I would love to play that card, I am afraid his legal counsel is going to force you to undergo a medical eval during which it might show that you suffered from a concussion, something Steward's lawyers could use to dismiss your testimony. This guy is in the big times, I'd hate for him to get off on a stupid technicality while we are so close."
"What about Esposito?", Ryan chimed in, his foot tapping a nervous rhythm against the hardwood floor, "He's out there somewhere. There's gotta be something we can press Steward with to force him to let Esposito go."
"I am open to suggestions, detective.", Montgomery growled, his voice growing frustrated and confrontational, "Right now, we lack the evidence to officially charge him and so far, nothing that CSU found in that warehouse ties Steward to what's been going on. He's done a fine job twirling around on that balance beam, making sure not to incriminate himself. Fact of the matter is, even if we found Esposito right now, and if he was in sound mind to let his testimony stand, there's a chance that this slime bag will still walk thanks to his team of lawyers. So yes, if you have any suggestion on what can be done outside the realm of some emotionally driven need to find your partner, I would love to hear it because the thought of Steward getting away with murder is making me sick."
"What about the bedroom?", Castle suggested, his eyes wide in excitement.
"We already covered that. Steward claims that nothing happened there."
"Yeah, but that's not what I am talking about.", the writer countered and took a few steps toward Beckett, then gently pointed at her injured cheekbone, "What about any blood? By the sound of it, there was a large fight. Somebody had to have been bleeding. If you find the blood on the carpet, wouldn't that proof that he's lying?"
Montgomery froze in his spot for a moment, looking down as his experienced mind was going over what had been said, then reached for his office phone.
"It's going on 5am. See if I can coax the DA out of bed and get us a search warrant. And before you ask, yes, you're coming along, Beckett. I can't wait to see Steward's face when you enter the sanctity of his bedroom again."