Tolerance Book III

Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Three: Patience Required

21st Precinct

Voight had called Al into his office once the other men went back to dreaded paperwork. Now sitting across from the moustached man he posed a serious question.

"What's your read on Tommy?"
"He seems like a good young man," Al leant back in his chair, "but that's not what you're asking."
"I need to know if he's going to do a runner," the gruff man acknowledged the truth in his old friends' words with his usual frankness.
"It's impossible to say ....,"
"Al I need to tell Crowley soon ...,"
"..... and you want a definitive answer," the moustached man cut in, "but I can't give you one. Halstead is doing a great job earning his trust."
"That why you're here? You didn't connect with him?"
"Not like Halstead," Al easily admitted.
"Maybe it's an age thing," Voight noted with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Well in that case you'd have the same problem," Al tossed back before becoming serious, "Tommy is scared and rightly so. It's hard to believe he might have a whole new life waiting for him. If he had some memories to fall back on it might make his decision easier."
"What's he got to lose? If he doesn't like being with his family he can always take off again," the Sergeant pointed out realistically, as far as he was concerned the young man only had one option.
"Hopefully Parker will make some headway with him. Our biggest problem will be Carson Senior."
"He doesn't strike me as the patient type."
"Exactly. He pushes too much and Tommy could bolt for good."
"Hell I thought finding him would be a good thing. Nothing is ever easy though."
"Hey we do the best we can," Al consoled sincerely, "least he's alive. That's gotta count for something."

Voight looked across at his oldest friend. Crowley would need to be told the next day irrespective of what, if any, memories the young man had recalled. He was not looking forward to informing the Carsons their son had been found but might not want to meet them. There were turbulent times ahead and on top of that he wanted to look into Gambini. A reckoning with the Mafia boss had been long overdue.

Carson Residence

Two days later Jay and Voight sat in a warm and welcoming living room. The large marble fireplace had a roaring fire and the peach curtains and carpet accompanying the burnt orange couch and armchairs created a cosy atmosphere. Unfortunately their surroundings could not blunt the import of their news. Franklin and Celia Carsons' initial delight on learning their son was very much alive was quickly replaced by shock and dismay as Voight explained the young man did not want to meet them yet. As expected it was the Patriarch who voiced his displeasure in no uncertain terms. Celia had merely brushed aside a stray tear determined to retain her composure.

"It makes no sense! After all this time ...," Carson shook his head in despair.
"Sir if I may explain ....," Jay began only to be angrily cut off.
"Explain what?! Our son doesn't want to see us ...,"
"Franklin," Celias' quiet but firm voice held a note of censure, "you will let the Detective speak. I want to know what's going on with Tommy."
"But ...,"
"'But' nothing. Now listen to what Detective Halstead has to say."
"You're right," the upset man agreed contritely then addressed their Visitors, "my apologies."
"We know this is very difficult," Voight stated genuinely.
"Tommy is scared of ....,"
"What's he got to be scared of?"
"Franklin!" Celia rolled her eyes in frustration.
"Okay, okay. Sorry. Please .... continue."
"He's scared of the unknown. He's used to the streets. His trust issues will take time to overcome."
"Does he remember us at all?" Celia enquired hopefully.
"No. He has a vague recollection of the house and driveway but nothing else."
"What about his disappearance?"
"He remembers being in an empty warehouse and he had a head injury. He recalls climbing out a window into an alley. He was found there by a man named Hector who wound up looking after him for years."
"We know Hector was stabbed to death two years ago," Voight put in softly, "but it seems he tried to look out for Tommy."
"That's good," Celia stated then elaborated, "I mean that he wasn't alone all these years.."
"Yes. Tommy could have wound up in a whole lot of trouble if the wrong people found him," Jay noted gently.