Tolerance Book III

Chapter One Hundred and Ten: Elusive Fugitive

HS  Headquarters  - Two Days Later

To everyones' chagrin the Serial Killer had gone to ground.  His success in evading law enforcement had so far resulted in two unlucky Civilians losing their lives.  The first Victim was forty-three year old Shop Assistant Mamie Getty.  She had been alone in the small clothes store she had worked in for eleven years when the escaped Prisoner had walked in and asked to be shown some tops by the clearly nervous Assistant, her Customers' orange jumpsuit a foreboding signal.  As soon as the woman had turned her back to retrieve a shirt the Killer had without preamble grabbed her from behind and broken her neck in one swift movement.  The petite mother of two had no chance against the stocky built man.  The second Victim, twenty-three year old Adam Hicks, had stepped into a side alley to make a phone call in relative peace away from the bustling city street, anxious to relay his good news of finally getting a long sought after job. He couldn't have foreseen the freshly attired man would spot him.  Needing a cell Billings had approached the preoccupied young man and without warning punched him in the face so forcibly Hicks had fallen to the ground dazed and in shock, his cell falling from his hand in the aftermath as his Girlfriend heard his last minutes as the Killer battered him to death.

The killings had been carried out  without any heed to surveillance footage or Witnesses. Billings had made no attempt to hide his identity in the store and several people working in the vicinity had observed him entering and leaving the side alley. The only concession the cold blooded man had made was in abandoning his conspicuous jumpsuit.  As the Unit sat around a large table in the cafeteria, after a less than enjoyable lunch thanks to the topic of conversation, Antonio looked over to where Jay was distractedly chewing a piece of chicken from his salad and tried to get a read on how he was faring but as ever that was proving impossible.  Sighing internally he eyed Kevin beside him.  Neither of them could come up with any way to help their friend.

"Since Billings hasn't tried to conceal his actions what's his end game?" Adam frowned.
"To go after Jay  ....," the Italian-American reiterated what the Psychologist had told them.
"Yeah but how can he go after him?"
"The same way he did before," the green eyed Detective responded quietly as he put his knife and fork on the left side of his half full plate indicating he was finished.
"Putting someone in danger?"
"He won't be able to set something up so easily this time round," Mouse insisted sceptically.
"Besides if he's acting on impulse seeking revenge he isn't going to worry about elaborate scenarios," Al opined.
"Doesn't have to be elaborate," Voight reluctantly pointed out knowing what was about to transpire.
"Exactly so we need ...,"
"Halstead you're not going to be bait again," the Sergeant stated firmly to fervent nods of agreement from everyone except the auburn haired man.
"Not this time Kid," Al added his voice earning a green glare for his trouble.
"So we sit around and just wait?" Jay demanded, he just wanted this to be over!
"Fielding is calling the shots," Voight decided to forestall a protracted argument.
"But Sarge ....,"

"Is there any chance he"d come here?" Adan wondered trying to avoid his friend incurring  the formidable mans' wrath.
"He's just after escaping," Kevin shook his head.
"Yeah but he's going to know we didn't leave."
"And Jay is here," Antonio put in thoughtfully.
"He's not going to be that reckless surely," Mouse protested.
"We need to consider all possibilities," Voight admitted, their prey coming to Headquarters  might be the easiest solution but there was only a slim chance of that happening.

The grizzled Sergeant knew that although the Killer had carried out his latest killings without any attempt to evade observation and his access to finances and likely Accomplices would be curtailed thanks to the massive manhunt bring carried out he would still prove a danger.  It rankled him that they were once again on the back foot.   He couldn't imagine the turmoil his youngest Detective was in as a result of the unexpected turn of events.  He had been surprised the still recovering  Detective had not approached him earlier about being bait.  The night before when discussing the issue with Al the seasoned Detective had pointed out that his fellow Sniper was probably waiting for the Acting AD to suggest it. After  finding out Fielding was not in favour of such a tactic Voight wondered what argument the young man would put forth next.   He had no doubt he had not heard the last on the matter.