Tolerance Book III

Chapter Sixty-Three: Into The Unknown

Grand Central Terminal

Located at 89 East on 42nd Street in midtown Manhattan the majestic architecture of the Grand Central Terminal seemed to belong to yesteryear with its' once opulent grandeur evidenced in the marble, brass and opal structure of the sprawling building and its' Guastavino tiles perfectly befitting the expansive domain. The terminal was open daily from 05:15 to 02:00 and regularly saw various influxes of crowds bustle through. By the time Jay reached the terminal that night there were still many Travellers going about their lives. After arriving at the Information Booth located in the middle of the main concourse with its' overhead famous and extravagantly expensive four sided ornate clock he quickly opened the envelope and purused its' contents, a pass key card and a small strip of white paper. To his chagrin the missive only had four typed words 'SHOOT A TENNIS PLAYER'. Frowning in consternation he took a look inside the envelope in case there was another note inside but came up empty. Now he was completely baffled. He had been directed to a train terminal that, according to an information leaflet he had snatched up at the entrance, saw 750,000 people pass through its' confines on a daily basis. Jay was totally flummoxed.  The likelihood of a Tennis Player using the terminal seemed as likely as a Swimmer using it.  The green eyed man closed his eyes momentarily, willing his brain cells to deliver up something he was obviously missing.  Opening them with a sigh he put the note and card in the pocket of his jeans after tossing the envelope in a nearby trash bin. Glancing up at the clock he realized it was time to check in with Billings.

At a distance away standing in the high ceiling concourse Adam and Kevin watched their friends' reaction to the contents of the envelope. Even if Mouse hadn't informed them of the typed message thanks to the miniscule camera hidden in the baseball cap the youngest Detectives' demeanour would have signalled things were not going well.

"What the hell is Billings doing?" Adam demanded.
"Wasting Jays' time?" Kevin suggested uneasily.
"Look around you. How is he supposed to find a Tennis Player here, in a train station?"
"That's another thing."
"What?"
"He said 'A TENNIS PLAYER' meaning not a specific one. Does he want Jay to shoot someone randomly?"
"Can't be very random if it's a Tennis Player! How many could there be?!" Adam scoffed.
"Wonder what the pass key card opens," Kevin mused looking at their surroundings more intently.

Adam looked over at his best friend seeing the body language of someone being pushed to their limit.  Jay was running on empty and had been for some time. Although he had taken some downtime back in Chicago Adam suspected there were still demons haunting him.  The reality was Jay should never have been brought into this investigation and the proof of that was now being played out as Billings manipulated his actions with deadly intentions.

Command Post

Mouse had left the Surveillance Van to discuss matters in person with Voight, Murphy and Parker.

"The note isn't specific apart from mentioning a Tennis Player," the IT Specialist shrugged a shoulder in defeat.
"Hell of a place to look for a Tennis Player," Voight grumbled.
"Well ....," Murphy eyed his companions seeing their bafflement, "it's not really so far fetched."
"It's not?" Parker looked at his friend in surprise.
"There is actually a Tennis Club at Grand Central Terminal," the Assistant Director divulged.
"There is?" the Psychologist queried in shock, he'd lived in New York all his life and never knew that.
"Only in America," Voight shook his head ruefully.
"Wow," Mouse had immediately called up details on his tablet, he would never have expected to find a Tennis Club of all things at a train station, "the Courts are located on the 4th Floor and are open till 1 a.m. but they're open to the public so the pass key card isn't for there."
"How come you know about the Club?" Parker looked at Murphy speculatively knowing he wasn't into sports, especially tennis.
"Janet," the AD explained with a fond expression as he thought of his wife, "she loves tennis and often plays there."
"I'll check out the plans for the 4th Floor," Mouse put in before heading back into the Surveillance Van knowing from experience the Sergeant was going to want schematics of the location.

Voight considered the logistics of trying to carry out a hit in a public Tennis Club. It just didn't seem very practical if a Hitman was to successfully make an escape.

Grand Central Terminal

Jay had meandered into Vanderbilt Hall with its' fifty-five foot ceiling and two golden chandeliers as he glanced around aware that his friends would be following at a distance. As he strolled his keen eyes took in his surroundings.   He noted he was close to the exit onto 42nd Street.  He took out the cell Billings had furnished before he left the bank and dialled the one number conveniently stored under Contacts.

"Ah Detective I assume you have managed to follow the instructions I gave you."
"I found the note and card," Jay replied succinctly as he kept his eyes on the passing throngs, apparently this section of the spacious hall was especially busy no doubt because of the access to 42nd Street.
"Aren't you going to ask me anything?" Billings' tone was mocking.
"What would be the point?  You're going to tell me who the target is when you want to."
"Now you're displaying one of the prime attributes required by a Sniper, patience."
"You said to check in," Jay reminded as he ignored the comment anxious to get on with whatever the Killer had in mind.
"I did indeed.  You are to use the pass key card to gain access to the further most window on the East side of the main concourse .....,"
"What do you mean?" the Detective headed back to his initial location with a frown.
"Looks can be deceiving Detective.  There are walkways at window level."
"Okay," the green eyed man entered the main concourse again and glanced at the windows.
"When you get there you will find a weapon."
"Where?"
"It is hidden in a flower pot by the stairwell door."
"What am I supposed to do with it?"
"That will be revealed in due course Detective," Billings declared imperiously, it was obvious he was enjoying controlling the younger mans' actions.

tbc