Tolerance Book III

Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-One: Close

Parking Lot

Voight had asked Parker to join him by the vehicles while the others got their gear checked and sorted.  Once the Sergeant had satisfied himself the pair had privacy he got straight to the point.

"What's got you worried?"
"What?"
"Doc you've been in a world of your own for a while. It's obvious you have something on your mind," Voight stated frankly, "it's time to share."
"What makes you think I'm not just worried about how this will all end?"
"Hell that's a given," the older man readily acknowledged but continued grimly, "however my gut's telling me there's something else."
"I'm just .....,"
"Whatever it is I need to know."
"I think ...... I think I misread Billings," the Psychologist and part-time Profiler finally muttered hoarsely.
"How?"
"I misjudged his fixation on Jay," the New Yorker divulged regretfully.
"You confirmed it," Voight argued.
"Not the full extent."
"Doc you want to clue me in?" Voight asked evenly, he knew the other man was missing Murphy as his confidante to bounce ideas off so kept his trademark impatience under control.
"I think Billings will try to kill Jay!" Parker blurted out, exposing the source of his discomfiture.
"We always knew that was a possibility," Voight noted, he still didn't understand his companions' recent behaviour.
"Yes but ...... Billings won't play fair.  He's going to use underhand methods to accomplish his goal."
"Highly likely," the Chicago man agreed calmly, glad to get to the root of the problem, "look Doc Halstead is not going to let his guard down. He's going to fully assess his surroundings.  That's one of the perks of heing a Sniper  ....,"
"Ex-Sniper," Parker corrected.
"Where his instincts are concerned he'll always be a Sniper.  He's hyper alert. If Billings has any motions of catching him unawares he's in for a rude awakening!"
"You sound so certain of that I want to believe you."
"If it was anyone else on the team, myself included, I'd be more worried.  Halstead will pick up on things we'd miss."
"You said everyone else," Parker frowned, "Al was a Sniper too."
"True but even he acknowledges the Kid is more experienced than he is."
"So you're not overly concerned?" Parker asked seriously, he felt as if a weight had been lifted off him.
"No I'm not."

Voight was glad to have unearthed the younger mans' worry. He hadn't been merely placating him when he spoke of the green eyed Detectives' experience.  If Billings thought he could blindside his reluctant companion he was in for a surprise.

Cabin

In the remote dwelling Jay was unknowingly proving his Sergeant right.  Ever since their arrival at the cabin he had been subtly  assessing every nook and cranny visually. His Host seemed eager to create a convivial atmosphere bereft of outright friction but he knew that could not last.  So far his covert assessments had not yielded any possible threats but he knew that was no reason to let his guard down.

"So have you decided to accede to my request?" Billings finally disturbed the silence.
"It's not a simple request."
"We've already covered that."
"I won't do it," Jay finally replied pushing the weapon further away from him to affirm his decision.
"So you have no qualms ...," the Killer reached for the vial stand and removed the two glass recepticals, "about killing hundreds for your scruples."
"Those vials are harmless," Jay stated without any shred of doubt, his instincts were guiding him and he decided it was finally time to get proactive.
"As it happens Detective ....," Billings fondled the vials in one hand then suddenly without warning tossed them across the expanse between the two men  clearly  expecting  his companion to scramble to catch them.

Jay for his part had been expecting a rash response and remained still as the two vials sailed through the air landng unceremoniously at his feet, one cracking upon impact with the timber floor.  If he was right Billings was going to show his ire.  If he was wrong neither of them would be around for long.