Tolerance Book III

Chapter Seventy-Eight: A Dark Link

Silence reigned after Adams' passionate curse. Jay placed the bottle on the table and eyed the box speculatively. Looking at the straw which had cradled the bottle he noticed a speck of white underneath. Brushing the prickly pieces aside he revealed an envelope. Retrieving it, once more with an avid audience, he opened and silently read the short message that was contained within. It was brief and to the point. When the young Detective made no move to share the contents Voight stepped closer and read the Killers' words aloud.

"'For you have made me admit my identity and so you shall be my final Victim'."
"Well the guy definitely has anger issues," Al noted evenly.
"That's one way of putting it!" Kevin grumbled in disgust.
"Doesn't make sense," Jay eventually spoke.
"What do you mean?" Murphy queried with a frown.
"He could have killed me when we left the bank but ...,"
"No he could have tried to kill you," Al corrected adamantly, he knew his fellow ex-Rangers' abilities more than anyone.
"Well either way he didn't even try."
"Because he wanted you to fail at saving the Security Guards," Antonio suggested.

A knock on the door had everyone turning. Murphy and Voight exchanged looks. The time had come for a showdown with IA it appeared. Before either man could move however Jay took matters into his own hands and stepped forward to open the door.

"We're here to speak with Detective Jay Halstead," a forty something black haired man stated showing his badge, identifying him as Sean O'Riordan.
"We are carrying out an investigation into ....," the second Agent, a grey bearded bespeckled man in his mid-fifties began speaking loudly only to be halted by a blunt instruction.

"Lower your voice Agent," Murphy directed sternly and motioned the pair into the room, keenly aware of the Onlookers in the open plan area.
"Now wait a .....," John Mannetti began to protest.
"Come in," Voight stood beside the Assistant Director and only a fool wouldn't have recognised the two words were not a request but an order.
"Come on," O'Sullivan entered, leaving his frowning Partner to follow.
"We understand you have an investigation to run," Murphy acknowledged civilly as he closed the door then gestured for everyone to take seats, being adversarial from the start would not help.
"Waste of time!" Adam groused crossly.
"Ruzek!" Voight was not willing to entertain unnecessary comments.
"As I was saying," Murphy glanced pointedly at Adam before turning his focus back to the Newcomers once everyone was seated, "you have an investigation to carry out and we will be as helpful as we can but Detective Halstead has to remain in the field while you are conducting your enquiries."
"That would be highly unusual," O'Sullivan looked at the men around the table, "normal protocol requires any Agent or employee under investigation to be put on administrative leave ...,"
"Well you have two problems in this instance," Voight all too willingly enlightened the IA men, "firstly Halstead is not answerable to Homeland Security or Internal Affairs here and secondly catching a Serial Killer takes precedence over any attempt to discredit my Detective."
"Internal Affairs is obliged to investigate any claims made. We are not here to discredit anyone. I would point out Internal Affairs has jurisdiction over any Agent working on an active investigation here irrespective of permanent place of employment," Manetti countered, he was used to pushback in his line of work.
"Look," O'Sullivan interceded before his stubborn partner alienated the group, "we are just here to do our job."
"And we're doing ours," Al pointed out evenly.
"Agents you are quite correct," the Assistant Director conceded without rancour then continued, "you're doing your job. Unfortunately there are forces in play out of all of our control and those forces are hell bent on discrediting Detective Halstead."
"If he has done nothing wrong he will be found innocent of any or all charges," O'Sullivan assured, he was not interested in persecuting innocent law enforcement personnel.

"So which one of you is Detective Halstead?" Manetti cut to the chase, unlike his younger colleague he tended to believe people were guilty until proven innocent.
"I am," Jay answered before anyone could object, there was no point in delaying the inevitable.
"You will make yourself available immediately for ....," Manetti arrogantly began only to be interrupted again.
"Agent Manetti," Murphy spoke quietly but there was a clear hint of steel in his tone, "that request cannot be granted at this time. Detective Halstead has just received ....,"
"Internal Affairs has every right ...,"
"Be that as it may," Voight cut in this time, he wasn't willing to let the Assistant Director take all the heat, "Detective Halstead is needed on the investigation."
"Assistant Director," O'Sullivan looked at Murphy with a raised eyebrow, "what were you going to say? What has Detective Halstead received?"
"A death threat from Billings," Al answered with his characteristic frankness, "his life is in danger."
"Only if he isn't colluding with Billings," Manetti grumbled to himself under his breath, unfortunately he was not quiet enough.