Did Castle go to all this trouble just to settle the matter so simply?
Of course not. Castle's elaborate plan wasn't just about dealing with Finch and Reese—it was a show of strength aimed at negotiating with Finch, who had become obsessed with his vigilante role. The right way to approach someone like Finch was through a combination of strength and dialogue.
Castle, well-versed in the mindset of successful individuals and one himself, had reflected deeply on his earlier misstep when he impulsively hacked into Finch's computer. That rash action—taken after a particularly wild night with Beckett—was, in hindsight, a mistake. Castle realized that if someone had invaded his privacy in the same way, he would've been furious too.
After all, Finch wasn't just any ordinary person. He was a wealthy, intelligent, and determined individual. Convincing him to stop with a simple warning was unrealistic. Castle had to acknowledge that his earlier approach was ill-conceived, fueled by frustration rather than strategy.
People are stubborn, especially those accustomed to getting their way. Finch, like Castle, was a beneficiary of the system. In a country where wealth often equates to power, Castle understood that negotiating with Finch required a more tactful and respectful approach.
Still, Castle had promised Beckett he'd handle the situation, and now the perfect opportunity presented itself: Peter Burke, likely to be attacked that evening, had also caught Finch and Reese's attention. Castle saw this as the perfect moment to tackle multiple issues at once.
As for the gunmen targeting Peter? That wasn't Castle's problem. Neil had already passed Castle's implicit message to Peter: handle it yourself. Peter, a seasoned federal agent and the presumptive head of the FBI's New York field office, didn't need Castle or the NYPD to save him. If anything, Castle showing up with the NYPD to "rescue" Peter would only embarrass him.
Peter understood Castle's real objective and played along, while privately considering the attackers' fate sealed. Though he might appear calm and composed, Peter wasn't someone to be trifled with. Anyone bold enough to target him would soon regret it.
At 8 PM, the stage was set.
Peter, dressed in a bulletproof vest, briefed his team—Jones and Diana—on the plan. With everything prepared, Peter left his office, fully confident that his subordinates would protect him if needed.
Meanwhile, Castle and Esposito, sitting in an unmarked van a short distance from the FBI office, monitored the scene using surveillance drones and cameras. They weren't watching Peter but waiting for Reese, who had been under continuous surveillance by Castle's tech-savvy ally, Ramsey.
Unbeknownst to Reese, his every move in recent days had been tracked. Finch's advanced system might have been cutting-edge, but Castle's tools were on another level—a true deus ex machina.
The operation unfolded as Castle had anticipated. Within twenty minutes, the three gunmen sent to attack Peter were gunned down in a hail of bullets by FBI agents. Peter didn't even have to step out of his car. He drove off shortly after, leaving Jones and Diana to handle the aftermath.
The real action began when Reese arrived on the scene. Sensing something was amiss, Reese tried to retreat, but Esposito and his team quickly surrounded him with guns drawn. Reese, recognizing the futility of resistance, raised his hands in surrender.
Castle didn't gloat. Capturing Reese was just the beginning—the real challenge lay in negotiating with Finch.
Back at the 12th Precinct, Castle didn't interrogate Reese. Neither did Beckett, who had stayed late to oversee the situation. Instead, Castle called Finch directly. Finch, having hacked into the precinct's surveillance system, already knew Reese had been taken into custody.
When Castle "invited" Finch to come to the station, Finch immediately agreed.
In Beckett's office, Castle sprawled on her couch, casually asking, "So, do you want to talk to him, or should I?"
Beckett considered the question before waving him off. "You promised to take care of this, remember?"
Castle, incentivized by Beckett's earlier "rewards," wasn't about to back down now. Failure to deliver would undoubtedly mean going home empty-handed—figuratively and literally. Knowing that Beckett's real goal was simply to stop Finch and Reese from operating in her precinct, Castle headed to the station's conference room to meet Finch.
This was Finch's first face-to-face meeting with Castle, whom he'd only known by reputation. Castle, on the other hand, was familiar with Finch's appearance, down to his signature glasses. Despite having the upper hand, Castle adopted a candid and straightforward approach, explaining Beckett's concerns and the reason for the night's operation.
Finch was taken aback. He hadn't expected Castle's grand plan to boil down to a simple request: stop conducting vigilante activities in the 12th Precinct's jurisdiction. What's more, Castle offered to assist Finch and Reese if they operated elsewhere.
Finch was skeptical. "You're offering help? Why would I need your assistance?"
Castle shrugged. "Maybe you don't. But if you're causing headaches for my wife's precinct, I can't ignore it. Move to another area, and I'll even lend you a hand if you need it."
Finch mulled it over. While he initially dismissed Castle as an overconfident meddler, the conversation made him reconsider. Castle's openness and the resources at his disposal were hard to ignore. Moreover, Finch wasn't blind to the fact that Castle's technology and connections made him a formidable opponent. It wasn't worth clashing with someone who had both the law and advanced tools on his side.
Finch wasn't foolish or reckless. His success stemmed from his ability to adapt to circumstances. Recognizing Castle's intent wasn't to stop their work but to redirect it, Finch agreed to the proposal.
By the time Finch and Reese stepped into the elevator to leave, Castle stretched lazily, turning to Beckett with a wide grin. "Let's go home."
Beckett, rolling her eyes but smiling, followed him out.
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