Tolerance Book I (Chicago PD/Med FF) by Frances51163

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-Nine: Options

Although three days had passed no progress had been made in the investigation.  The fact that Wells and his accomplice had not made any attempt to make contact with Jay had surprised Parker.  Now sitting in the large Conference Room with Murphy, the Intelligence Unit and Burke he decided to voice his concerns.

"I would have expected Wells to make contact as soon as he had confirmation Jay survived."
"Maybe he's cheesed off he didn't succeed in killing him," Antonio suggested.
"There was no guarantee his plan would work," Jay countered as he coughed, "there were a lot of variables."
"You should be in bed," the Psychologist put in, "pneumonia is nothing to mess with."
"A cold is not pneumonia!"
"But it could lead to it," Parker ignored the young Detectives' obvious displeasure, "you getting sick is not going to help us."
"Halstead knows what he can handle," Voight cut in knowing an argument would not achieve anything, "besides he won't be alone at any stage so we'll know if he gets worse."
"Charming," Jay groused.
"Well you don't have a good track record of being truthful when it comes to your health," Kevin reminded as he sipped his coffee.
"What's this? Pick on Halstead day?"
"Yep," Adam grinned wickedly.

"What variables are you referring to?" Burke questioned seriously.
"He placed the IEDs in the ambulance but he had no guarantee we'd find them," Jay explained.
"You mean he had no way of ensuring you would find them," Antonio corrected, "he did challenge you personally after all."
"At least we know from Forensics that the components were not fully military grade," Kevin noted, they had been relieved when some fragments of the explosive devices had been found.
"We don't know for certain if there were two devices," Al reminded.
"One or two doesn't matter," Adam spoke crossly, "Jay could have been killed either way."
"Which brings us back to why Wells hasn't been in touch," Voight eyed the group, "like Halstead says there was no guarantee he would be killed."
"Bet he never expected you to take a swim," Al stated without mirth.
"The River was the obvious choice," Jay shrugged, they had been over this many times, "it was the only location close to the hospital that had a likelihood of being unpopulated.  He must have known that."
"Maybe but I doubt he expected you to actually drive into the Hudson," Adam shivered as he recalled that heart stopping moment, "hell we know you're a nut and even we were surprised."
"Gee thanks!" Jay rolled his eyes in disgust.
"Hey it's okay," Antonio said with a wide grin before continuing with mock sincerity, "you may be a nut but you're our nut."

"Maybe it's time to turn things around," Jay dispelled the mirth, "I think I should try to contact him."
"So far he's been pulling the strings," Adam nodded, "and he's been in charge."
"Let's face it as long as Wells is loose he's in charge," Kevin sighed heavily, "what do you think Doc?"
"Might push his buttons," Parker acknowledged, "but it might encourage him to become more destructive."
"He's destructive now," Antonio opined.
"I said 'more'."
"Well sitting around isn't achieving anything," Jay pushed, he was tired of hitting a brick wall.
"How can you get in contact with him when you don't know where he is," Burke questioned.
"We have his contact number," Al replied before Jay could, "but he mightn't answer "
"No harm in trying," Jay persisted.
"So you're looking to be bait?" Antonio demanded unhappily, surprised when Voight didn't immediately kill the suggestion of contacting Wells.
"No, I just want him to make a move."
"You must like playing with fire," Burke stated worriedly, "he might give you another challenge."
"I don't like anything about this but we need to make some progress."
"Let's not forget it's not just Wells we have to consider now," Adam reminded them of the unknown partner.
"Which is another reason to make contact," Jay explained, the existence of another suspect had them all on edge, "they're going to keep going until we stop them."
"I hate to say it but you're right," Parker confessed, "the escalation in attacks confirms they are getting more confident."
"And the longer they evade capture the higher their confidence gets," Murphy pointed out the obvious.
"We've been down this road before Halstead," Voight looked at the Detective sternly, "the answer hasn't changed. I'm not letting you act as bait."
"Maybe Jay might get a reaction just by calling Wells," Al mused.
"Like the Doc said it might encourage him to do something bigger," Kevin shook his head, "he's clearly following his own agenda. He might not appreciate Jay trying to rattle him."
"Might force him to make an unexpected move, a mistake," Jay countered, "I've never contacted him before. He won't be expecting it."
"The risks are high whether or not Halstead contacts him," Murphy joined in thoughtfully, "we have bodies piling up and the higher ups want progress."
"What's new?!" Adam scoffed, this was a dilemma every member of law enforcement was well acquainted with.
"Office politics don't have a place in this," Voight insisted gruffly, no matter how long he was on the job this aspect of the work always needled him.
"In an ideal world no," Murphy sighed in defeat before looking around the room, "unfortunately it's far from an ideal world and ....,"
"You cannot be serious!" Voight cut in angrily, knowing where the conversation was leading.
"If Halstead hadn't suggested it I would have."
"So you're bowing to pressure," Voight noted with obvious disdain.
"I want to stop IEDs going off."
"Some victims were shot rather than killed in an explosion," Al put in a reminder calmly.
"Maybe the different methods can provide a clue," Parker tried to be optimistic as Murphy and Voight glared st each other.
"We haven't found one yet," Antonio stated evenly.
"Doesn't mean there isn't one," Kevin noted with a shoulder shrug as he tried to ignore the staring match between the two Leaders.
"For now let's get ready for the briefing," Murphy directed as he eventually tore his gaze from the grim Sergeant.

Two hours later the Unit, minus Voight and Mouse, and Burke headed for their temporary residence.

"So ye reckon Voight will go along with Murphy?" Burke looked at the Chicago men curiously.
"Doubt it," Kevin replied from the front passenger seat when no one else seemed inclined.
"But Murphy's in charge isn't he?" the Bomb Disposal Technician queried as he glanced over at his quiet back seat companion.
"He's in charge of the investigation," Antonio acknowledged as he changed gears to come to a stop at red lights, "but if Sarge doesn't agree with his tactics he'll do what he thinks is best."
"So Jay isn't going to contact Wells?" Burke pushed, sending another glance past Adam to the young Detective who seemed to be in a world of his own as he stared out the window.
"Depends on how persuasive Murphy can be," Kevin tossed back.
"Somehow I don't see many people persuading Voight to do something."
"You have him pegged," Adam confirmed, sending his own worried look to his friend, "wish I was a fly on the wall for that conversation."
"Murphy doesn't strike me as the type to be easily dissuaded," Burke pointed out.
"Neither is Voight," Antonio observed as he pulled into the driveway, "that's why it's going to be an interesting conversation."
"Guess it's a good thing we left when we did," Burke grinned ruefully.
"We should have stayed," Jay finally broke his silence as he opened his door and stepped out of the SUV.
"Well I for one am glad we're not there. By now the air is probably turning blue!" Adam stated with mock relief as he passed Jay and headed for tbe door.

Jay stopped in his tracks as his friend passed him.  Something was wrong. Every instinct was warning him. Looking around keenly he sought anything that was out of place.

"Adam! Don't move," the young Detective spoke urgently as he put up a hand signalling the other men to stay where they were behind him.
"What's up?" Adam continued to retrieve his keys to open the door.
"I said don't move!"
"Jay what is it?" Al asked softly as Adam finally stilled.
"There's something wrong."
"Like what?" Burke frowned, everything looked okay to him.
"I don't know," the young Detective admitted.
"I can't see anything out of place," Al spoke after a cursory examination of their surroundings.
"So we can go ....," Burke began only to be interrupted.
"If Jay says there's something wrong there's something wrong," Antonio confirmed confidently.
"Hell now I wish we had stayed at Headquarters," Adam tried to lighten the atmosphere.
"What are you thinking Kid?" Al asked with his usual nonchalance.
"Bomb."
"Oh hell," Adam cursed, so much for forcing Wells to make a move .....

tbc