Tolerance Book III

Chapter Sixty-Eight: A Selfless Character

Command Post

Listening to the tense conversation taking place inside the bank Voight eyed Parker thoughtfully.

"If Halstead is right Billings will be preoccupied with him and the Hostages might get a reprieve ....,"
"Jay didn't say that though," the Psychologist guessed.
"No, like I said earlier, he simply said pre-empting his attempt to justify shooting a Hostage was the best chance of avoiding bloodshed," the Sergeant acknowledged ruefully, the young Detective would never admit he was willingly placing himself in the firing line both literally and figuratively.
"Still think the finger would have been accepted as proof," Murphy cut in unhappily.
"Billings is too smart," Al argued, "but the finger will aid Halstead anyway."
"How?" Kevin wondered, sharing confused looks with Antonio and Adam.
"It shows how resourceful he is."
"So? What good does that do?"
"Billings will be impressed," Parker answered, "and that will bolster his opinion that Jay is a worthy opponent."
"Are we actually saying it's a good thing Jay is baiting the guy?" Adam demanded heatedly, he was not going to remain silent about the unwelcome turn of events.
"It will take the emphasis off the Hostages," Al stated pragmatically, "end of the day that's the goal."
"But ...,"
"No one is saying they're happy about it," Voight pointed out, "but it's the only option we have right now."

"What's happening about the bomb?" Antonio changed the subject slightly knowing the Sergeant would only remain tolerant of Adams' reticent attitude for so long.
"The Bomb Squad is ready to go as soon as we give the go ahead," Murphy explained, "right now though there's nothing we can do.  There's no way to assess the actual threat with Billings present."
"The Kid knows that," Al spoke cryptically causing more than one person to scrutinize him carefully.
"What are you saying?" Kevin raised a brow, he wasn't sure he really wanted to know.
"Halstead knows the bomb can't be taken care of while Billings is on site," the moustached man noted softly.
"So?" the Italian-American pressed but like Kevin he had misgivings about the response he would get.
"Reckon he'll get rid of the threat."
"He's hardly going to tackle the guy!" Adam scoffed at the very notion, the situation was too volatile to attempt such a move.
"That's not what Al means," Voight pointed out with a heavy sigh as he exchanged a knowing look with his oldest friend then continued solemnly, "Halstead will try to get Billings out of the building ...,"
"Sure, that's been the goal from the start," Adam looked at the older man nonplussed wondering why he looked so grim.
"He means Jay is going to try to persuade Billings to take him as a Hostage and get away," Antonio reluctantly laid out the bare facts that the other Detective was clearly not grasping.
"What?!"

Adams' startled exclamation was loud enough to cause several law enforcement personnel in the vicinity to turn towards the Command Post.  Antonio shook his head.  He couldn't offer any comforting words because the bleak reality was if Jay did indeed intend to inveigle a way to get Billings away from the Hostages and the bomb by convincing him to leave with him and was successful in the endeavour then the young Detective could be signing his own death warrant. 

Bank

While his friends outside were coming to grips with his likely actions Jay himself was solely concerned with taking the Killers' focus away from the Hostages.  His own welfare never even factored into the equation.  To that end he decided to make the boldest move in the circumstances and be truthful before an inquisition could even begin in earnest.  Mindful of Will and Conor eagerly listening to the conversation he spoke softly but resolutely.

"So I exceeded your expectations by bringing you this," the auburn haired man explained gesturing towards the uncovered digit, "but I met your expectations when I failed to kill someone."
"Ahah! You admit you failed!" Billings' triumphant declaration was accompanied by a gloating tone.
"As I said you knew the task was never going to be accomplished.  You knew from the start I would fail.  You don't like losing and to that end you'll go to any lengths to ensure victory."
"To the Winner goes the spoils," Billings lost his gleeful expression then looked over towards the seated Captives, "which in this case are Hostages' lives so ....,"
"You are being pretty damn predictable," Jay scolded as he shook his head in disgust.
"Predictable?"
"You want me to be the reason you kill another Hostage but you and I both know you haven't really beaten me," Jays' quietly spoken words held a challenging tint as he continued casually, "to do that would take guts and let's face it ......,"
"You think you can taunt me?" Billings' demanded.
"Nope.  You're going to do what you're going to do.  Me?  I just know the real state of play ....... and so do you."