Tolerance Book III

Chapter One Hundred and Nineteen: Time With Billings

Franks' Diner - New Hampshire

The following morning.the men had pulled their rental SUVs into the parking lot of a roadside diner on the outskirts of Littleton.  Once enconsed in a wirn black leather booth the group had given their orders to the friendly Waitress and found their choices served up in a surprisingly short time.  Now while satisfying their hunger they got down to business.

"Fielding obtained the Warrant for the cabin," Voight explained, that meant their actions would be covered, "he's also after talking to the local law."
"Is that good or bad?" Antonio enquired around a mouthful of bacon.
"We're out of our jurisdiction," the Sergeant reminded unnecessarily.
"Nothing new there," Al put in.
"So are we heading straight for the cabin?" Adam checked as he concentrated on coating his eggs in an apparent sea of red sauce.
"No. We're heading to the Sheriffs'  Office."
"But Sarge ...," Adam finally  looked up from his plate.
"We need to do this by the book. I'm not having any technicality let Billings walk."
"Hell we have enough for the death penalty, ten times over," Kevin opined after  finishing off his orange juice.
"We all know one loose link can derail a case," Al shrugged, even when Criminals were caught justice wasn't always served.
"Is Fielding still catching flack for leaving Billings go?" Parker asked worriedly, as far as he was concerned the Acting AD should not be blamed.
"He didn't mention it," Voight referred to the telephone conversation he had with the man in question on arrival in New Hampshire, "but when Billings is back in custody we'll deal with it."
"Murphy isn't too happy about staying on the sidelines," the Psychologist pulled his full plate closer knowing he needed the energy the food would provide even if his appetite was missing.
"We'd all be the same," Kevin  commiserated as he pierced a baby tomato, "patience isn't a common trait in our line of work."
"I disagree," Antonio shook his head, "we all have to be patient working on most cases.
"Okay," Kevin agreed easily then elaborated, "I just meant we don't like being patient."
"Now that I can agree with," Antonio grinned as he slathered a small roll with butter before eyeing Adams' messy plate with a grimace,  "you could have just asked for a plate of tomato sauce!"
"Hey I like sauce with my eggs!  It's not a crime."
"Not sure about that," Al deadpanned surveying the  concoction in distaste.
"Everyone's a Food Critic!" Adam complained.

"So how do we get Jay away from Billings?" Mouses' words instantly dismissed the levity.
"If they do come here it will mean Billings is ready to end things," Parker explained.
"Just hope we made the right choice in coming here," Kevin voiced their common concern.
"We'll give it a few days," Voight declared, "if there's no sign of them by then we'll consider our options."
"There is something that needs to be considered ...," Parker spoke tentatively, garnering worried looks from his companions.
"What?" Voight as usual was blunt.
"By coming here he will presumably feel he's secure  ....,"
"Like in the hidden hotel room?" Kevin asked.
"Yeah. As far as he's concerned we don't know about the cabin ...,"
"He was never questioned about it when his other properties were brought up," Antonio recalled.
"Exactly," the New Yorker nodded, "so he's going to make his final play."
"Hell Doc we thought that before," Adam noted without rancour.
"True but even though the morgue set up went wrong his MO has changed."
"Because he left the Agents alive?" Kevin checked.
"Yes.  It's indicative of a shift in his .... priorities .... for want of a better word."
"If he's regarding the cabin as a safety zone does that mean he's going to ....  hurt Jay again?" the IT Specialist asked hoarsely, the thought of his former Lieutenant enduring further pain sickened him.
"Are we agreed the vials were probably harmless?" Parker asked a question rather than answering.
"Yes," Voight nodded, with no reported robberies it seened unlikely.
"Then there's one way Billings will probably try to beat Jay ...,"
"Do we want to know?"the Italian-American asked with misgiving, the New Yorkers' grim features betrayed the gravity of his  thoughts.
"I think he'll try to get Jay to kill him.  It would be the ultimate victory.  Forcing his Nemesis to take a life in cold blood."
"Hang on," Adam interjected, "since when did Jay become his Nemesis? All along we were going with Billings  admires Jay and maybe envies him.  That's a far cry from Jay being his Arch Rival."
"True but it's always been a contest.  At least in Billings' eyes ...,"
"So eventually it was always going to wind up with Halstead being his Nemesis," Voight surmised unhappily, this meant the young Detective would have a harder task trying to subdue the Killer.
"Exactly."