Tolerance Book III

Chapter Eighty-Three: Hidden

Brioklyn - Woodhaven

As Jay took in his new surroundings he considered the implications. When Billings had tersely instructed him to get up the younger man had initially assumed his companion feared his friends and colleagues were closing in and intended to vacate the property without delay. There had been no phone call however alerting the Killer to such danger. When Jay had been told to bring the take out delivery with him however that notion seemed improbable. Billings had silently ushered him to a wooden panelled wall in the elongated hallway and casually tapped a section resulting in a panel slowly opening. Knowing he was expected to step through Jay did so unsure of what he would find. To his surprise he found himself in a room furnished similarly to the one they had just left. The only difference was blue was the predominant colour here instead of the more refined cream and golds. Looking at Billings the green eyed man deposited the food bags on a silver tray on the oval shaped table by the light blue velvet sofa with its' dark blue plush cushions. There was one major difference between this room and the one they had just departed. There were no windows. This was no real surprise however as they were now in the middle of the residence.

Voight led the way up the steps and extracted the keys to the Woodhaven property he had been given by the Realtor. Opening the large oak door he walked in, gun drawn, ready for anything. Murphy stepped in behind him and closed the door with a whistle of appreciation leaving his lips.

"Hell we aren't living at all are we?" the New Yorker wrily asked rhetorically while he scanned the opulent dwelling as they advanced down the long hallway.
"Same as before," Voight got down to business, "you take the right I'll take the left."

In the hidden room Billings once again surprised the Detective by opening a large cabinet at the far end of the room. Within were housed several large monitors and in a short time the older man had the screens active. Jay felt his gut clench as he watched Voight and Murphy proceed through the residence. He sincerely
hoped Billings had not set any traps for the men.

"I knew Detective that sooner or later your friends would check this place out," Billings offered an explanation even though none was sought.
"Pretty basic reasoning," Jay shrugged, unwilling to give the kudos his companion was obviously seeking, he noted he spoke in a normal manner clearly unworried about their voices carrying, "so can we hear them?"
"There's no need to," Billings insisted dismissively.
"I'll take that as a no," the green eyed man commented sardonically, he decided his best option was to keep the man occupied until his friends had left.
"If I wanted to hear them I could."
"If you say so," Jay stated in obvious disbelief, he had noted a hint of petulance in the mans' tone, he was getting under his skin which was exactly what he wanted.
"They are doing exactly what I predicted they would. Rather simple indeed," Billings turned the younger mans' words back on him as they watched Voight walk around the living area.
"Anyone who watches TV shows knows the routine."
"But not everyone uses the knowledge to their advantage."

Voight glanced around seeking any clue what would tell them Billings had been there with the missing Detective. The layers of dust coating the surfaces confirmed no one had resided permanently in the dwelling for some time but that didn't mean a short visit hadn't taken place. Sighing he hoped Murphy was having better luck. He was about to pass the low oval table in front of the sofa when his eye caught something. Not making any indication of the discovery he sank down opposite the table and made a show of shaking his head while he took off one shoe and shook it on the pretext of trying to shake a stone or piece of dirt free. Placing the shoe on the table without hesitation he proceeded to take off his sock and give it the same treatment. After a few moments, apparently satisfied he had succeeding in getting rid of an annoying item he replaced his sock then distractedly pulled his shoe along the table towards him.