Tolerance Book III

Chapter Seventy-Seven: Unwanted Curveball

Nicks' Diner

At the counter Conor made short work of paying for everyone before Al could argue.  Putting his wallet away the Surgeon glanced back at the table where an intense conversation was obviously taking place.

"You think Will's gone too far this time?" there was no point in pussyfooting around the subject.
"With Jay it's hard to tell."
"So you want me to get Will back to Chicago?"
"Heck Doc you're not his Keeper," the older man acknowledged ruefully, "mind you at times you must feel like it.  Reckon you got the short end of the straw."
"He's a good guy," Conor quickly defended his friend, "just .... sometimes he has a blind spot where his brother's concerned."
"It's for them to sort out but Jay needs his head on straight for the investigation and ....,"
"This guy Billings is very dangerous isn't he?"
"You saw him in action," the veteran Detective reminded referring to the Bank Managers' demise.
"Yeah I did.  What's he got going with Jay?"
"That's something we haven't figured out yet.  Mouse couldn't find any link between them."
"He looked ..... smug .... when he went off with Jay.  Like he had got what he wanted."
"Guess he did," Al noted.
"Look I can't make any promises ...,"
"No one is asking you to Doc."
"I'll do my best to get Will back home."
"The best is all any of us can do," Al accepted the other mans' words then gestured towards the table they had left, "best get back before they start trading punches."

Conor hoped the other man was joking but didn't comment.  He was just glad the Detective was reasonable and understood he was doing his best in the circumstances.  Besides it was true Will was his friend but so was Jay and he was trying to be there for both siblings. 

HS Headquarters

Murphy sat in his office staring at the receiver he had just replaced in its' cradle as Parker entered after a light knock.

"Am I interrupting?" the Psychologist frowned, noting the glum expression.
"We have a problem," the older man motioned for his friend to take a seat, "I just got a call .... from Thompson."
"Thought he was staying in the shadows."
"Guess he changed his mind."
"So what did he want?" Parker asked with misgiving as he sat down.
"He wants Halstead to be made available to IA ...,"
"Internal Affairs!!!  What is he trying to do? Jay didn't do anything wrong."
"Hey you don't need to tell me that," Murphy reminded his friend defensively.
"Sorry ... it's just ...,"
"...... Jay is a good man.  He doesn't need the extra hassle," the Assistant Director finished the thought.
"Yeah.  What grounds?"
"Leaving Billings walk away."
"But he had no choice!"
"No arguments here."
"This is a deliberate act against Jay," Parker pointed out unhappily, "Thompson is going for his shield."
"He doesn't have that much reach," Murphy shook his head then elaborated on the real issue, "but it will cause problems for Halstead.  Might curtail his involvement in the investigation."
"Damn!  Is that why Billings went to all the trouble with the siege? To get Jay off the case?"
"Seems like a distinct possibility," Murphy agreed as he eyed the wall clock, "and any minute now Voight and his men will be back here with Halstead ....,"
"And you will need to act ...," Parker rose to his feet as he took out his cell heading for the door, "I'm on it."

The Assistant Director knew his friend would grasp what needed to be done without being told.  As soon as the young Detective was within Headquarters he would be compelled to advise IA and request the young man to submit himself for questioning.  Hopefully the Psychologist would intercept the Chicago men and buy them some time to try to inveigle a way around the problem or at the very least give them a heads up on what they were walking into.

                                                ----------------------------

Central Park

Twenty minutes later Parker was relieved to have made contact with Voight before the Unit reached the offices.  Unwilling to go into the matter over the phone he had merely told the Sergeant it was urgent the Unit meet him in the park.  To his credit Voight hadn't wasted time asking questions.  He had simply confirmed they were on the way.  Now as the group sat on and stood beside a black metal bench the New Yorker realized the time had come to impart the bad news.