The Soldier and The Spy: Jay Halstead- Episode 6

Chapter 1

Present Day

"So, we just walk up and hope they let us in?"

"Pretty much." Jay said with a grin, adjusting the button on his shirt to make sure the camera was working. And facing right side up.

That had him shooting another smirk at Adam, his friend's had not been but he just waved him off, then Kevin who was also snickering. It'd been a while since the three had been undercover together, not that this was going to be a long stint. Two days ago Deputy Superintendent Miller had assigned Intelligence to investigate the murder of Samuel Hollowell, a local big wig businessman and aspiring politician and after finding no promising suspects in the normal circle of family and friends they'd delved a little deeper and learned Hollowell had been trying to expand his social circle, just not in the typical sense.

Actually in Chicago politicians making criminal connections was very typical.

Which led to where they were now. Hollowell's secretary had confessed to overhearing him trying to make a deal with someone who ran a club downtown and while they hadn't been able to get a name they had eventually gotten an address. Jay had considered reaching out to Tess to see if she knew of the place, they hadn't talked much about it but he knew she was dialled into the city's underground, she had to be for her work and her safety, his safety too but in the end he'd decided against it. Even though it'd been a few weeks since the showdown between her and Voight he didn't want to push things; she had asked for space and he was determined to give it to her. Besides, it wasn't like this wasn't anything they couldn't handle. Kim, Hailey and Vanessa would wait in the van, ready to support if needed but otherwise just watching as they tried to get information on who ran the place and whether anybody recognized Hollowell from any of his legal or illegal dealings.

Easy.

So then why did it feel like someone had their fist wrapped around his intestines?

Jay knew better than to ignore the feeling but he also knew he couldn't call this off without a good reason so he just kept his eyes and ears peeled for anything out of the ordinary as he, Adam and Kevin walked down the alley towards the door they'd seen a few people slipping into. It wasn't locked so getting in was easy but then they stopped, staring at the three men opposite them. Bouncers. Large, muscled, probably armed and definitely not willing to take any shit kind of bouncers. For a moment the six men just stared at each other but Jay quickly realized that aside from a brief glance at his friends the bouncers weren't looking at them.

They were looking at him.

"Is there a problem?" He asked calmly, that fist in his gut giving a tight squeeze as the one in the middle shook his head and while he had no reason to even before the man spoke Jay knew what he was going to say.

"Nope. All kinds are welcome here- stars and stripes included."

Yeah.

He should have talked to Tess.

Kevin and Adam both straightened as they too put it together, just like the girls were likely doing and Jay was glad he didn't have to see their reactions, mostly Hailey's, instead focusing on the door one of the bouncers opened, the one that hadn't looked like a door until he'd pressed against a part of the wall.

"She's in the cage."

"Kicking Drew's ass." The last one muttered and the genuine mirth in his voice had him walking straight through, Kev and Adam right behind.

"Just to clarify-"

"Yes." He cut Adam off quickly but quietly, glancing back at the two as they headed down a flight of stairs. "If he says we're welcome, we are. So we find her and we go from there."