Tolerance Book III

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Seven: Two Cases

21st Precinct

Jay had returned from the firehouse with a renewed determination to find out why Tim Williams had been summarily executed.  He had spoken to the lead Detective at the 15th Precinct  by phone and while surprisingly willing to help  Paul Arnott had not been able to disclose any useful details with the investigation only in its' infancy.  As anticipated Jay had been obliged to divulge his tenuous connection to the Deceased.  The Detective had offered to meet him in person that evening so as soon as Voight had dismissed the Unit for the day he had headed to the Locker Room.  He had been surprised but grateful for the offer and when the other man had suggested Mollys as the venue he had felt obliged to agree as it turned out the bar was actually in his neighbourhood in Bucktown.  Jay just hoped none of his friends decided to drop in while they were there.  Questions would undoubtedly be asked.  A sound from the Locker Room door had him turning around to face the Newcomer as he closed his locker.

"Adam."
"Hey man," the brown haired Detective entered then noted with a trace of accusal, "you took off before I could talk to you."
"Didn't know you wanted to talk," Jay shrugged, "something wrong?  You need something?"
"No, no ... all good. Just figured we haven't really had a chance to catch up since our week off."
"Well I have somewhere to be now but how about we catch up tomorrow?  Lunch on me."
"Where do you have to be?" Adam frowned.
"Gee did I forget to ask permission?"
"Just curious."
"That's a great trait for a Detective," Jay chided as he checked the wall clock and walked by his friend purposefully, "I'll catch you in the morning."
"Sure."

Adam watched his friends' departure with a mixture of curiosity and concern.  The other man was being evasive about something and it rankled that he wouldn't share.  Of course the fact that the IT Specialist was obviously being kept in the loop did not sit well with him either.  He sighed heavily as he headed out.  Maybe Kevin and Antonio would be up for darts in Mollys.

Mollys' Bar

The bustling venue was as usual loud making conversation difficult.  After retrieving drinks from Herrmann Jay had guided Arnott to the table nearest the store room and back entrance knowing it afforded the best place for a discussion.

"This place is always busy," the tall, grey bearded man commented in apology as the pair sat down, "but it's on my way home."
"Oh I come here regularly," Jay explained, "my friends run it."
"Small world," Arnott smiled then became serious, "you explained your interest in the Williams' shooting but you're not acting in an official capacity is that right?"
"Yes. We were tasked with finding out if Williams was bringing a fraudulent claim against Porter ....,"
"I checked out Harry Nelson. He came back clean."
"Wouldn't have expected anything else."
"Does he have any particular reason for helping Porter?"
"You'll have to ask him. I was just told he felt Porter was a good guy who needed help."
"Good guys don't go around executing people."
"Exactly," Jay agreed readily, "whoever killed Williams is obviously involved in something big."
"You're so sure Porter isn't the Shooter?" Arnott leant back on his seat and folded his arms.
"Nothing is absolute. I haven't even spoken to him but the anonymous tip alone raises doubts."
"Agreed," the older man acknowledged, "and there's no history linking Porter to organised crime."
"You're thinking they're involved?" Jay knew the manner of death had all the hallmarks associated with sending a message.
"Don't know anyone else who would want to send that type of  warning," Arnott pointed out succinctly.
"Me either."
"You know Severide well?"
"Yes. I trust him."
"Well at this point apart from Porter we have no Suspects."
"But you don't believe he's guilty," Jay stated confidently, the fact the pair were sitting in the bar confirmed that.
"No but the murder weapon is enough for the DA."
"Is that all the evidence?"
"Yes but .....,"
"What?"
"The gun was wiped clean."
"No prints at all?"
"None."
"That doesn't fit with the shootimg," Jay mused, "kind of sloppy.  If they wanted to make sure Porter went down they would have got his prints on the weapon."
"Nothing to say Porter didn't wipe it clean," Arnott countered.
"That's what the DA is going with?"
"Look at it from her point of view.  She has a viable Suspect early on in the investigation and the murder weapon.  It's all wrapped up in a nice little bow for her," the bearded man pointed out the facts, he couldn't blame the lady in question.
"Do you have a problem with me talking to Porter?" the green eyed man didn't want to step on any toes.
"Before I answer that tell me why you're still eager to be involved."
"I agreed to help Severide mainly as I thought it would be a distraction from the usual cases I work on, " the younger Detective admitted frankly, "it was meant to be a straight forward matter."
"So why not walk away now?"
"Would you?" Jay issued his own query rather than answering.
"Probably not," Arnott stated ruefully, he had done his due diligence and checked ou the young man before him, "you have one hell of a reputation Detective."
"You didn't answer my question?" Jay reminded.
"Alright," Arnott nodded, "you can talk to Porter but you share anything you learn  ....,"
"He might not even want to talk," Jay pointed out.
"True but I'm not just referring to Porter.  I want to be kept updated gping forward on everything you learn."
"Agreed," Jay readily accepted the terms and offered his hand in affirmation, he had no interest in getting a collar, as the main door opened emitting Adam, Kevin and Antonio, "you mind heading out the back way?"
"Your friends don't know you're looking into the murder?" Arnott rose to his feet, he recognised the Unit Members from their photos, he hadn't been lying when he said he had checked out the young Detective.
"They tend to be ..... overly protective  ...," the younger man explained readily as he led the way out through the supply room to the alley hoping their departure had not been observed.
"Well in checking your background I also came across Sergeant Voight," the veteran Detective pointed out as the pair stood in the cool night air  then continued ruefully with an exaggerated shiver, "he's not someone I'd want to get on the wrong side of!"
"Schucks Sarge is a pussy cat," Jay grinned mischievously.
"Sure he is," Arnott nodded pleasantly before continuing sarcastically, "and I'm a Ballerina!"
"I'll tell them if it becomes necessary.  Right now we're working a case  ...," Jay became serious.
"The Carson Kid."
"Word gets around."
"It does," the stocky man concurred then issued a friendly warning, "so you might be wise talking to Voight sooner rather than later. I give you my word though I won't say anything."
"Appreciate it," the green eyed man said gratefully, "I'll let you know how we get on with Porter.."
"Do that and be careful!  Last thing I need is Voight blaming me because you got hurt!"
"I won't get hurt."
"Your history seems to argue that likelihood," Arnott offered knowingly before offering his hand again.
"Thanks for letting me stay on this," Jay shook the limb firmly with his left hand, he knew he had made another friend.

Watching the older Detective head out of the alley a familiar voice called his name from the other end.  Turning Jay saw Kelly and Casey approaching.

"You coming or going?" Kelly questioned as they reached him.
"Going.  Just spoke to Arnott, the Detective dealing with the Williams' shooting."
"He give you any grief?" Casey wondered, he had been brought up to speed by his fellow Firefighter after returning that afternoon from a two week Health & Safety Conference.
"No," the Detective replied with a frown at the query.
"I told him the Cops investigating the case might not want us in the way," Kelly explained then looked at his watch and shivered in the cool night air, "you have time to come in for a bit? Could do with a proper catch up."
"Yeah," the green eyed man knew they needed to confer before meeting Porter in the morning.
"How come you're in the alley?" Casey  looked at the surroundings.
"Wanted to avoid answering questions," Jay commented succinctly then led the way around to the main  street entrance and elaborated, "Adam, Kev and Antonio turned up."
"Let's get in out of the cold," Kelly instructed when he saw the blonde Firefighter about to protest.
"Lead the way," Jay gestured then followed the pair into the noisey venue knowing he was going to be grilled about keeping the Unit out of the loop.

Ten minutes later, after exchanging chit chat with the three Dart Players,  seated at the furthest end of the long dark wooden counter the trio got back to the main topic of concern.

"So Arnott doesn't believe Porter is guilty either?" Kelly sought confirmation after the auburn haired man had given a brief rundown of his discussion with the Detective.
"No but he has no proof to base that on."
"You said the weapon found in his car had been wiped clean but surely if he was the Shooter and had wiped off his fingerprints he wouldn't have left the gun in his car?" Casey arched a brow.
"Does seem mighty suspicious," Kelly grumbled in disgust, he was out of his depth and was kicking himself for getting involved at all let alone bringing Jay into the mix!
"Well we know Williams was shot execution style which meant a message was being sent ....,"
"To who?" Casey asked as he took a sip of beer.
"I'm hoping Porter might be able to shed some light on that," Jay stated, it was a longshot but right now it was all they had.
"I spoke to Harry.  He said Porter never mentioned he had known Williams years ago."
"That's understandable if they hadn't been in the same class in school," Casey pointed out practically, "kids don't take too much notice of things or people."
"Yeah true," Kelly acknowledged, "I wouldn't know many of the pupils who attended school with me."
"We need to find out more about the accident," Jay mused, that after all had instigated their surveillance of Williams.
"Someone might have seen us watching Williams," Kelly unhappily explained to Casey.
"So? That wouldn't have got him killed," the blonde man had recognised the guilt behind his best friends' words.
"I sure hope not," Kelly sighed then shook himself out of his melancholy to tackle another more pressing matter, "Jay maybe it's time to tell Voight and the others ....,"
"This has nothing to do with them."
"You think Voight will buy that argument?" Casey asked incredulously
"I'm not working on the case," Jay insisted.
"Not officially but Arnott's given you leeway to investigate," Kelly countered, "and they're going to have to be told at some point so why not now?"

Jay looked at his companions then let his eyes stray to the Dart Players.  The Firefighters' words made sense.  The thought of divulging his downtime activities however did not appeal to the Detective as in future it would mean his friends would seek him out via Kelly.  The other mans' quiet friendship as the pair worked in the boatyard had become a place of sanctuary for him and he was reluctant to lose that.  Maybe there was a way to preserve same ....

tbc