Tolerance Book III

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Five: A New Angle

21st Precinct

Voight put down the receiver and looked up as Kevin approached the open office door.

"Sarge do you want us to speak to the bicycle store Owners? From what Mouse said they seem pretty hands off."
"As they seem to be the only other store link to the time period when Tommy Carson disappeared we need to interview them. There was nothing in the Case Files indicating they had even been approached. Let's get proactive. Contact them and ask them to come down here."
"Sarge?"
"Their level of co-operation will be a good gauge. If they have nothing to hide answering a few questions here shouldn't bother them."
"Not everyone likes police stations," the Detective pointed out.
"Hell I don't either but I work in one!" the grizzled Sergeant noted ruefully.

Ginos Pizzeria

Before Jay could ask any more questions a Waitress had arrived with a meal for Clara. The watchful Cashier nodded to the Carson daughter indicating she was clearly a well liked member of staff.

"Do you mind if I eat while we talk?" the blonde eyed the food eagerly.
"By all means," Al readily agreed.
"I always skip breakfast so Harry likes to spoil me," Clara grinned over to the burly man as she picked up a fork, "so what else do you need to know?"
"Do you know anyone who would have wanted to harm Tommy?" Jay enquired as he took a sip of water.
"No but I'm guessing my parents mentioned my relationship with him wasn't great?"
"Why don't you tell us your side?" Al suggested as he nabbed another few fries from Jays' plate hoping the casual atmosphere would help put the young woman at ease.

"Tommy .... well Tommy was the apple of his fathers' eye from day one. It had been made abundantly clear to me that a daughter was not going to take over the family empire ....,"
"How did your mother feel about that?"
"She just accepted it as the way things were," Clara explained but it was clear the lack of maternal support stung, "I'm guessing she mentioned I wasn't upset when Tommy vanished?"
"She indicated you were not as distressed as would have been expected," Jay recalled frankly.
"By that stage you have to understand I was used to not sharing my emotions. Crying after all fell into my fathers' perception of girls being weak. I'm guessing the Detective in charge at the tine, Hendrick, considered me a viable Suspect if only because of my lack of reaction."
"But you were never interviewed as a Suspect," the moustached Detective pointed out as he snagged another fry and dabbed it  in  tomato sauce, he was curious to see her response.
"Oh I'm sure my father had a hand in that. It would have been bad PR after all," Clara informed as she speared a piece of stray pepperoni,
"but I did  love Tommy.  Very much in fact and I would never have harmed him."
"You said 'did'," Jay noted quietly, "do you believe he's dead?"
"It took me a while to accept it but yes.  There's no other explanation."
"Your parents are still holding out hope," Al put in.
"It's a hard pill to swallow."
"May I ask a personal question?" the green eyed man asked tentatively.
"You've been asking personal questions all along," the young woman pointed out but there was no rancour in her tone, "ask away."
"You don't seem to have any animosity towards your mother but she mentioned she's lost you.  I was wondering if you're intending to go home any time soon?"
"Jay ..," Als' rebuke was voiced with a headshake, it wasn't their place to play Family Mediators.
"What's wrong?" Clara looked from the older man to Jay and back again with a frown.
"It's not our place to say anything,"  Jay responded solemnly, "but .... sometimes we think we have all the time in the world to resolve issues ....,"
"What are you saying?" Clara put down her cutlery.
"He isn't saying anything," Al insisted before adding cryptically, "but it might be time to head home for a bit."

Jay knew he had overstepped and couldn't blame Al for being cross with him.  They had hinted without divulging Celia Carsons' diagnosis. It was up to the daughter whether or not she heeded their words.  The thought of Mrs. Carson dying without reconciling with her daughter had driven the young Detective to act.  It also seemed unfair Clara would have to deal with the guilt of further unfinished business if her mother passed away without her knowing of her illness.  Due to the unexpected information from Clara Jay was now wondering if Franklin Carson was fully behind the mother daughter estrangement and how much of an act he had put on as a loving father and husband when Voight and himself had visited?  As a seasoned Detective he knew people could be very manipulative and it seemed the Carson patriarch now fell into that category.