Hold You Close: A Jay Halstead Story

CHAPTER SEVEN

TW: Domestic Violence

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The Intelligence Unit was buzzing with anticipation and determination Thursday morning as everyone shuffled around to fine tune all of the last minute details of the raid to take down Santino Caputo.

Jay's heart thumped in his chest as he reviewed the map of the raid one last time. He fidgeted with the pen in his hand as waves of excitement and anxiety crashed throughout his body. Everyone moved around him hastily, but he stayed focused on the plan that was laid out in front of him.

"Hey Jay?"

At the sound of his name, he looked over his shoulder to see Burgess walking up behind him. He turned to face her. "Hey, what's up?"

"Della," Kim started, her face a mixture of reluctance and concern. "She's supposed to be waiting for me in the records room, right?"

"Yeah," Jay answered. "Is she not down there?"

"She's not there," she confirmed, shaking her head. "I checked both rooms."

He glanced down at his watch. Della should've been at work over an hour ago. He had been too busy with preparations to go down there and see her, but he had no reason to think she wouldn't be at work. His brow furrowed as fear began to trickle in.

Without another word, he dropped his pen and hurried toward the stairs. Kim followed dutifully as he led her back down into the main lobby then strode up to Trudy's desk.

"Platt, have you seen Della?" Jay demanded without a greeting.

"Good morning to you, too," Trudy replied sarcastically.

"Seriously, is she here?" He pressed.

"You'd be the one to know, lover boy," was Trudy's smart-ass response.

"Please don't fuck with me right now," Jay pleaded. "This is serious."

Trudy wanted to admonish him for cursing at her but she could see the desperation and fear that was quickly spreading across his face.

"No, she's not here," she finally answered. "She never showed up for work this morning. I tried calling her but it went straight to voicemail."

Jay ran a stressed hand over the top of his head as his brain raced with what to do.

"I'll try calling her again once I'm not up to my ears in paperwork over Johnson's release," Platt said casually to pacify.

Jay's eyes snapped to her face. "Wait, what?! You released Johnson? Damien Johnson?"

"Yeah? The DA's office ordered his release at like 4:00 this morning. I had no choice but to kick him," she said, throwing up her hands, able to tell that the detective wasn't happy.