Tolerance Book III

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-One: A Cold Case

Firehouse 51

By Wednesday morning Kelly was back at Firehouse 51 and Jay had called in to discuss their next steps. After a number of deadends the pair had finally located the laundrette which serviced the popular gym. As Jay had suggested it transpired gym uniforms were in fact cleaned by the company also. As promised the Firefighter had put his charm skills to work and ascertained Williams did indeed get a uniform cleaned there so they knew he had a second source of income. So now armed with the new information the Firefighter and Detective wanted to reassess the case. Sitting in.Kellys' office the green eyed man looked across the desk with a serious expression.

"If he's putting in full days in both jobs doesn't it mean he's fit to work?"
"Well ... yes and no. It would help his claim if he was out of work a long time after the accident," Kelly surmised, "but he was actually back within a month."
"Pretty short period of time considering the claim he's making."
"Exactly but there's another simple angle to consider."
"Such as?"
"The guy is legitimate and returned to work too soon. You'd know all about that," the older man chided good naturedly, "his Lawyer must love him!"
"Have you checked out the Lawyer?" the Detective questioned with a frown, the calibre of the legal representative would be a good indication of a Plaintiffs' credibility.
"In as much as I can. Unlike you I don't have official intel sources to rely on," Kelly reminded with a teasing grin.
"So it's back to basics."
"Ptetty much," the Firefighter nodded, essentially without official computer access like the Cops had he was reduced to doing legwork and making  enquiries.
"Schucks nothing wrong with being old fashioned."
"You saying I'm old?"
"If the shoe fits," Jay grinned.

The reality was his job was exponentially made easier by access to all sorts of intel through computerised records. Such access definitely increased the pace of an investigation. For now going old school meant the case might not be finished by the time he returned to work and that did not sit well with him. As far as he was concerned he would be letting the Firefighter down if he didn't see things through. The unexpected conundrum had him sighing internally. There was something niddlibg the Detective and he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He had a feeling he had missed something.

21st Precinct

The Sergeant and veteran Detective were discussing a case Crowley had handed down. When the moustached Detective had received the call from his oldest friend he had been surprised. Now sitting across from the grim faced man he sought immediate answers.

"What kind of case has you so rattled?"
"The Carson kind," Voight replied succinctly, his tone bordering on disgust.
"The unsolved kidnapping?" Al scratched his forehead, the Carson case was a black eye for the department and still remained unsolved.
"Next week marks the tenth anniversary," Voight nodded, the disappearance of teenager Thomas Carson from outside his wealthy family home had yielded much speculation but little else.
"No one came forward for the reward," Al recalled, "that much money should have gotten some response."
"One million is a pretty big carrot," Voight acknowledged then reminded, "so it pretty much led to the belief something had gone wrong and the kid was killed."
"Okay so I understand with a big anniversary the family wants to use the timing to generate interest and try to get answers but what's got you worried?"
"Didn't say I was worried."
"Hank I know you too well.
Spit it out."
"Apparently word of the Units' results with Serial Killers has reached the Carsons and ....,"
"There was never a suggestion the Carson kid was a Victim of a Serial Killer."
"No there wasn't but Franklin Carson got wind of our investigations and has got it into his head fresh eyes and skills might bring results."
"Just what do we know about Carson Senior?" Al checked as he tried to recall the old open case.
"Not a lot," Voight sighed heavily, "I'll get Mouse on it as soon as he gets back on Monday."
"So we're investigating the disappearance?" Al asked but knew the answer already.
"Don't have much choice. It was all I could do to get Crowley to agree to the Unit starting on Monday ....,"
"She wanted us on it straight away?"
"More likely Franklin Carson wanted an immediate start," the Sergeant grumbled, he did not appreciate pressure from wealthy people with connections.
"So the guy made some calls and hey presto a new investigation," Al was also less than impressed even though the thought of finally closing the case was an appealing one.
"You and I both know this isn't likely to end well," the Sergeant noted, they had both dealt with a number of disappearances and the longer a person was gone increased the likelihood of a fatal outcome.
"There was a ransom note wasn't there?"
"I think there was. I didn't know anyone dealing with the case so wasn't really up to date with it."
"Another high profile case is not something Halstead needs," the seasoned Detective observed, "least Carson didn't single the Kid out. That would have been more pressure on him."
"Or Carson did his research and knew Halstead wouldn't work solo."
"That wouldn't happen anyway."
"Well irrespective of the origins of us catching the case I think you and I should pay Carson a visit."
"Lay down some ground rules," Al nodded in agreement.
"This guy is going to be used to people asking how high he wants them to jump and .....,"
"..... he's in for a shock. Priority has to be the case."
"Exactly," Voight concurred, "he won't be happy but the best way for us to proceed is under the radar. No publicity."
"So you want to go today?" the moustached man grinned, he knew his friend too well.
"Made an appointment," Voight rose, "didn't want to turn up unannounced."
"Good thinking," Al got to his feet with a smirk, "don't get in his bad books straight away."
"No comment."