Tolerance Book III

Chapter One Hundred and Eighteen: Impotent

Outside Morgue

Fifteen minutes later the Unit had been joined by Parker, the SWAT team and a plethora of uniformed Offucers but it was too late.  Their friend had simply walked out with the Fugitive at his side and left them in his wake after issuing a succinct warning not to follow them.  No further words had been spoken but then as the Killer held up the potentially lethal vials none had been necessary.   As soon as the duo had gone out of sight Voight had given the nod for the morgue to be checked.  They  had all heard five ominous gunshots prior to Jays' appearance with Billings.  The Sergeant had remained outside, his gaze on the corner of the building beyond which his youngest had disappeared.  Antonios' confirmation the Agents were actually alive was an unexpected but pleasant surprise.  Griffiths and Lopez had hastily filled the Unit in on wha hadt happened inside the building and Parker arrived shortly afterwards.  The Psychologist/part-time Profiler had clearly been uneasy approaching Voight but the older man quickly set him straight. The latest turn of events could not have been predicted and no blame was being apportioned to anyone. The formidable man had succinctly pointed out they all needed to focus on the task ahead, identifying possible targets and tracking the pair.

Now as he eyed his companions Voight saw reflected the same determination that coursed through him.  They would not let the Killer inflict more chaos  and they would not fail their youngest.

"We'll get him back," Als' quiet assurance offered support.
"Before or after he gets hurt again?"
"Well hell you're just a barrel of fun," the moustached Detective chided without rancour, he was well versed in his old friends' temperament.
"The Kid can't keep cheating death."
"He's going to handle Billings."
"I hope so because I gotta tell you I'm not looking forward to telling Will we lost him."
"Do we have to tell him?"
"He deserves to know."
"I'll do it," Al offered solemnly.
"No," Voight rejected the offer despite its' appeal, "it's something I need to do."

A few feet away Adam, Kevin, Antonio, Sandy Griffiths and  Artero Lopez were discussing the Killers' latest actions.

"We know Billings has no problem killing people so why did he leave us alive?" Griffiths queried.
"Probably to keep Jay on side," Kevin surmised thoughtfully.
"Makes sense," Lopez acknowledged as he shuffled his feet obviously feeling uncomfortable, "we let you down.  We were meant to protect Halstead."
"But we didn't," Griffiths concurred with a heavy sigh.
"There was nothing you could have done differently," Antonio quickly pointed out, "Billings has a nasty habit of out manoeuvring us unfortunately."
"Can I ask a question?" Lopez hesitantly checked.
"Sure," the Italian-American nodded.
"Halstead didn't hesitate in going with him ....,"
"So?" Adam cut in sternly, he wasn't going to have his friends' actions disparaged.
"Let him finish," Kevin ordered with a look of admonishment.
"I was just going to say how could he place himself in danger again after all he's been through?"
"Jay will always do everything he can to protect others," Adam explained, mollified by the query.
"Do you really think those vials are lethal?" Griffiths asked.
"With Billings you never know.  He's been able to access a number of things he shouldn't have been able to," Antonio elaborated grimly.

Fifth Avenue

As was par for the course hy now Billings had not followed the expected attempt to go to ground.  Instead Jay found himself accompanying the unpredictable man along the bustling sidewalk of the famous Avenue at a deceptively casual pace. If anyone looked at the pair nothing would have stuck out meriting further scrutiny.  The older mans' right hand remained hidden in his pocket with the vials.  Acutely aware that the density of people concentrated in the  area could result in a catastrophic event if a deadly virus was released the green eyed man knew antagonising his Foe was out of the question even though he suspected the liquid was in fact harmless.  His curiosity however was peaked so he decided to engage his companion in conversation in the vain hope he might reveal something unintentionally.