Tolerance Book III

Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen: The Longest Hours

County Morgue

The following day, as Voight decreed, the ruse was put into  motion.  Although the planning had been  detailed and thorough with every conceivable angle discussed and altered to improve the operation there was one element none of the men involved had considered.  The actual sight of Jay lying inside the steel drawer being a sobering one. They had faked his death before but it hadn't progressed to the storage stage.  Even Voight and Al who had seen him ensconced in the drawer during the trial run felt the grim reality of their task descend.  It made the gravity of the situation all too real.  In keeping with their ruse the Unit remained in character even within the morgue confines where only Fieldings' most trusted Agents were undercover in various roles.  The visit to the morgue would be expected upon the demise of one of their own.  Closing the drawer reluctantly after a reassuring wink and thumbs up from Jay  Sandy Griffiths, one of the supposed Morgue Attendants, solemnly eyed the Chicago men.

"We'll take good care of him," the tall brunette assured, she had observed genuine Attendants dealing with bereaved loved ones and was glad she could use words which would assure the men their friend would be safe.
"Thanks," Adam rubbed his right eye surprised to find a genuine tear threatened to fall!
"We need to get back to Headquarters," Voight reminded quietly, his voice gruff with unforced emotion.
"Sarge," Kevin acknowledged the order placing a hand on the pale IT Technicians' shoulder to head him towards the door.
"I still can't believe it," Antonio whispered as he followed the pair shaking his head.
"It's not fair," Adam pointed out once in the hallway.
"Life is rarely fair," Al opined glad to be out of the oppressing room as Voight closed the door behind the group.

Inside Drawer

As soon as the steel drawer was closed Jay struggled to control the impulse to try to get out. Blanketed in pitch blackness  he concentrated on regulating his breathing.  It had been decided he should refrain from using the oxygen as long as possible.  They had no idea how long it would take for Billings to make his move, if in fact he would.  That unanswerable factor plagued them all.  If the Serial Killer failed to take the bait then there was a very real possibility he might disappear for good.  Although Parker had agreed with Jays' assessment of what the evil man would most likely do no one was giving guarantees.

HS Headquarters

As Jay was grappling with demons the Unit were in the Conference Room with the two way communication system Mouses' friend had produced. It rankled each man that they had to be distanced from their youngest member.  The door opened revealing Fielding followed by a surprising companion.

"I need to be here for this," Murphy spoke hastily as frowns greeted his presence then added his reasoning,  "if Halstead had really died I would naturally want to meet you to offer my condolences."
"Well you're here now," Voight stated simply then nodded towards the vacant seat on his right, "take a load off. "
"I explained to John he won't be able to stay for the whole operation," Fielding explained as he sat down relieved there had been no arguments.
"Good," Voight eyed the recovering man shrewdly, "guess sitting on the sidelines isn't easy."
"No it's not," the New Yorker frankly agreed, he was itching to get back to work, "so do you think the newspaper articles worked?"
"We can only hope," Voight replied with a heavy sigh, it didn't sit well with him that such an unknown factor had to he dealt with.
"It got good traction," Kevin reminded trying to be positive, "two local TV stations picked it up."
"That was unexpected," Al pointed out.
"I think it was the link to the Billings investigation that piqued their interest," Fielding put in.
"Well if it gets to Billings one way or the other I don't care as long as he finds out," Voight as ever was succinct, "there's too much at stake if this doesn't work."
"As Ben well knows," Murphy muttered earning a glare from the man in question.
"What do you mean?" Al asked before his old friend could, noting the sudden discomfiture of the Acting Assistant Director.
"It's not important," the Califirnian brushed off the query.
"Well in that case answer the question," Voight persisted.
"He's in danger of being blacklisted if Billings doesn't get brought in," Murphy finally explained.
"What the hell?!" Antonios' disgust was mirrored on the faces around the room, office politics could destroy careers.
"Why didn't you mention this?" Voight asked although he already knew the answer.
"Right now we have more important things to be worried about."
"This have anything to do with you trying to identify who raised the liability issue in relation to Halstead?"
"Could be," Fielding shrugged.
"Well no one is going to railroad your career," Voight declared with a note of steel tainting his tone.
"Well that's agreed then," Al rubbed his hands together then added to the bemused Californian, "once Voight decides on doing something it's as good as done."
"And we'll all be with him," Antonio assured confidently.