Tolerance Book III

Chapter Twenty-Six: Reluctamt Realization

As the men gathered once more in the Sheriffs' Office, all bar Jay holding coffee cups to revive them in the early morning hours, the anticipation could be sensed. Deciding to take matters into his own hands and to shorten the debriefing Jay addressed the room quietly.

"I'll go through what happened and then answer any questions if that's alright?"
"That's fine," Voight quickly assured before Peters  could respond.
"When we left the morgue it seemed Billings' attitude had changed.  I really thought he intended to end things there but something ..... altered his plans."
"The fact he left the Agents live was out of character for him," Parker put in.
"Exactly," Jay nodded.
"He intended to introduce me to an 'acquaintance' whom I figured was going to be his next Victim.  He received a call which he was not pleased about ....,"
"Telling him Marsha Simmons, the probable acquaintance, had been killed," Al added helpfully, he had filled the green eyed man in on her demise.
"So that put him.in a bad mood."
"He take his frustrations out on you?" Kevin asked in disgust eyeing the casted limb which now resided in a black sling Adam had picked up in the pharmacy.
"Not immediately. He was clearly upset but at that stage reigned in his frustration. We wound up in a house which was fully stocked on arrival. It seemed he intended to stay there a while ....," Jay paused in his re-telling, "he had been holding the vials over me but I figured out they weren't lethal and eventually he gave up the pretense.  We left the house after a short time and travelled on foot to another residence. I don't know if he owned the place.  It clearly wasn't set up for residents."
"So how did your wrist get broken?" Adam couldn't hold back his curiosity any longer.
"That came out of the blue," Jay explained shaking his head in self admonishment, "he had been calm and without warning he picked up a ceramic lamp and .....,"
"Hell!" Antonio grimaced.
"That when you got the other injuries?" Voight checked.
"No.  In fact after he  .... did the deed .... he was quite solicitous in rendering first aid."
"Why would he do that Doc?" Kevin asked the New Yorker.
"The injury was a means to an end.  He probably figured he could control Jay if he was physically at a disadvantage."
"He doesn't know LT!" Mouse scoffed derisively.
"I let my guard down," the injured man admited frankly.
"You're still working this case despite everything you've gone through," Voight stated evenly, "no one is blaming you for Billings' actions."
"He sounds like the worst of the worst," Peters concurred wanting to show the young Detective he wasn't holding him liable for anything, the visiting Sergeant had disclosed some of what had occurred during the long investigation.
"That's one way of describing him!" Adam grumbled.
"We left the last house,  again without warning ....," Jay took up the narrative, his gaze on the fkoor before him rather than his companions, "he was walking behind me and ....,"
"What?" Al pressed softly knowing they needed the details even if it was difficult for their friend.
"And .......," Jay sighed wearily shaking his head, "I misjudged him!"
"Kid just tell us what happened," Voight urged in a rare gentle tone, devoid of judgment.
"I felt a sting on my neck.   Next thing I know I'm on a road somewhere and a car is coming towards me."
"The Cab Driver," Antono nodded.
"You were doing the best you could with the information you had," Kevin consoled their guilt ridden friend, "no doubt you expected him to use you for another sick game ...,"
"I figured he'd pick a new Victim and taunt me," the green eyed man admitted reluctantly.
"Perfectly logical considering who he is," Parker insisted, as far as he was concerned the auburn haired man had arrived at the sane conclusion he would have.
"I was letting him be in control," Jay noted unhappily, clearly that bad been a serious error on his part.
"None of us would have expected him to let you go," Al pointed out frankly.
"So why did he?" Peters asked with a frown of confusion marring his features.
"Wish I knew," Jay confessed, the Killer was unpredictable for sure but this latest twist had totally bamboozled him and it left him decidedly uneasy, "I'm just hoping I didn't do anything ....,"
"What do you mean?" Adam arched a brow.
"I'm missing a chunk of time," the youngest Unit Member stated trying to sound unperturbed but failing miserably.
"You reckon he got you to hurt someone," Voight guessed what his Subordinate was thinking.
"Have to consider the possibility."
"The toxicology results aren't back yet," the Sheriff reminded trying to allay the concern, "and there haven't been any major crimes reported so maybe he just wanted to get away."
"Why leave me alive though?"
"Whatever his reasoning we're damn glad you're back with us," Voight spoke for them all, their youngest was bruised and battered but he was alive and they were extremely grateful for that.
"So how exactly did you get that colourful face?" Al enquired.
"I don't know," Jay answered not meeting the older mans' gaze for fear of seeing disappointment.
"Hey Kid?"
"What?" the discomfited man eventually looked over at the older nan.
"You don't have anything to feel guilty or embarrassed about," the moustached  Detective stated firmly, "Billings doesn't play fair ....,"
"That's the only way he could get away!" Mouse nodded fervently, he hated seeing his former Lieutenant so unsure of himself and longed to punish the Killer!
"Well those bruises aren't from falling down," Voight noted analytically, they were all familiar with beatings and the returned mans' injuries screamed beating.
"That's why I think I may have done something," Jay confessed, subconsciously putting a hand up to his swollen right cheek, "maybe someone tried to stop me."
"Doesn't make sense," Antonio argued, "why not call the Cops on you?"
"Maybe whoever I went after doesn't want that kind of attention."
"Look for now we're only speculating," Parker pointed out sensibly, "when we know what drugs were in your system we'll know if that scenario is a possibility."
"How long before we get the results?" Voight looked at the portly Sheriff.
"Expecting a call any time now," Peters had called in a few favours in the early morning.
"So any idea how much time passed between Billings injecting you and you being found out on Pine Bluff?" Kevin asked not getting his hopes up.
"Can't say."
"Well for now no news is good news," Antonio put in, he knew the auburn haired man would never forgive himself if he had hurt someone innocent irrespective of whether or not he was drugged at the time.
"It's nearly time for breakfast," Voight glanced at the wall clock above the Sheriffs' head, "reckon we might as well get fed while we're waiting."
"Good idea," Peters concurred as the gruff man rose to his feet, "I'll get in touch as soon as I get the results."