Tolerance Book III

Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Two: Considering Possibilities

Voight Residence

The following morning Jay stood before the mirror of the ensuite in the guestroom he was still using, despite numerous protests, and eyed his reflection. The colourful bruising creeping out under the forehead dressing covering the stitches had extended its' reach to the point where his right eye was now a purplish/reddish hue. Thankfully however the previous swelling which contrived to close the eyelid had subsided so he decided to be grateful for small mercies.  His features were pale but then again with his Irish complexion he never had much of a tan.  Heaving a sigh he put away his shaving kit.  The Sergeants' insistence that he continue to remain under his roof for the time being did not sit well with him.  His reticence was mainly based on concern for his Superior and also his other House Guest, the Psychologist.  Parker had extended his stay in Chicago due to more speaking engagements. The green eyed man suspected that wasn't the only reason he was staying longer than planned but could not tackle him without any evidence to the contrary. Jay knew the New Yorker had been glad to help Tommy and his aid was much appreciated but as far as he was concerned the Psychologist would be safer back home.  The Bodyguard assigned to Tommy had been providing regular updates and so far it seemed the young man was not under any undue scrutiny.  If Jays' gut was right however a link with Gambini would suggest possible tribulations ahead. He was meeting with him in a diner ostensibly for breakfast but the conversation would have an impact on the investigation if the lone Carson son confirmed a link to the Mob Boss, tenuous or otherwise.   After brushing a hand through his shower damp hair to give some semblance of neatness he headed downstairs hoping the others had already left.  Voices in the kitchen however banished that hope.

"You get more colourful every morning," Parker chided in greeting from where he sat on a kitchen stool as he alluded to the patchwork of bruises on the other mans' face.
"Gee thanks!"
"You still meeting Tommy before heading into work?" Voight asked without looking up from the newspaper he was reading at the table while having his usual scrambled eggs on toast.
"Yeah. Told him we'd have breakfast," Jay reminded as he walked over and snagged his keys from the hook by the back door.
"You be sure he knows he can call to the 21st if he has any problems."
"He knows Sarge," Jay assured as he headed out into the hall to retrieve his jacket, "I shouldn't be too late."
"It's okay if you are," Voight noted then teased, "I'll have a word with your boss."
"I heard he's a bit grumpy," Parker put in cheekily.
"You're mighty brave so far from home!" Jay chuckled as he saluted the pair and headed out.

The Detective hated not telling the Sergeant what he suspected but if he was wrong there would be no harm done. If he was right however it would be a whole different story. 

Sams' Diner

As Jay entered the bustling diner his eyes rested on Brett Hartley, the Bodyguard he had recommended, sitting in the booth nearest the door and exchanged a nod.  He had phoned the other man earlier explaining he needed a private word with Tommy. Scanning the small eatery he saw his quarry sitting in a booth near the rear.  He had his back to the Detective and Jay knew Hartley had instructed him about where to sit. The seat opposite the young man would give Jay a clear view of any incoming threats.

"Sorry I'm a bit late. Still getting used to judging traffic coming from Sarges' place," the green eyed man apologied as he sat down on the time worn  dark green leather and picked up a menu, "you order?"
"No.  Waited for you," Tommy smiled in greeting, he liked the Detective in a way that reminded him of his late friend Hector.
"Well I'm going to be adventurous and ....,"
"...... get pancakes!"
"You psychic?"
"Nope," the blonde chuckled, "it's usually what you eat for breakfast."
"Maybe you'll grow up to be a Detective," Jay tossed back motioning the Waitress over.

Ten minutes later the mound of fluffy egg concoctions had been generously doused in sugar and one had already been demolished.

"Prefer my fry up," Tommy cut into the second large fried egg on his overflowing plate hungrily, he was still getting used to having easy access not just to food but to food he actually liked!
"We can't all have taste," Jay joked before becoming serious, "you watch the video?"
"Yeah," Tommys' bleak expression gave the auburn haired man the answer he did not want, "you're investigating Gambini?"
"Yes we are," Jay took another bite of pancake although his appetite was gone, "your friends know him too?"
"Hell everyone on the streets knows him," Tommy speared a piece of egg angrily, "he's one dangerous guy!"
"Was Seth able to decipher what was said between Gambini and the other man?" Jay enquired, he had purposefully avoided identifying the men on the footage.
"No," Tommy replied sombrely as he placed his knife and fork on the left side of his plate, an act to let wait staff know the plate could be cleared and an act Jay was surprised he knew.
"My mother taught us manners, etiquette and decorum from an early age," Tommy answered the unasked question.
"You remember that? That's great," the Detective observed.
"Seth doesn't know what Gambini and the other guy discussed because I didn't show him the video ...,"
"Fair enough," Jay accepted the news easily then added contritely, "I shouldn't have asked."
"I didn't need to show it to him because I can read lips too."
"You can?"
"Hector taught me many lessons and one was to learn whatever I could whenever I could."
"And Seth taught you," Jay guessed.
"He taught me sign language. The lip reading was not as easy.  I'm okay but not as good as Seth."
"But you don't want him involved over Gambini?" Jay pushed his half full plate away, no point in pretending to be hungry when his companion had stopped eating.
"Gambini makes people disappear."
"What do you mean?" Jay frowned.
"Over the years people have vanished never to he seen again," the blonde explained grimly, "my friend Lauren banished two years ago. Just .... gone."
"Are you sure he was involved? Maybe she moved on or .....,"
"She wouldn't have left without telling me! I know that!"
"Okay then," the Detective nodded, "do you know her surname?"
"O'Reilly.  Why do you want to know?"
"Well I'm assuming you didn't report her missing and ...,"
"Hah!"
"Maybe I can trace her," Jay ignored the obvious scepticism, "do you know her story? How she wound up on the streets?"
"Parents died in a house fire when she was a kid. She wound up in foster care but ran away."
"Damn. Where was she from?" Jay pulled out his small notebook and scribbled down the details of another lost soul.
"Indiana."
"Could you work with a Sketch Artist?"
"No need," Tommy took out the battered cellphone that he had refused to relinquish at any stage and quickly brought up an image of a young 20 something woman with long light brown hair framing thin, pale features and hazel eyes.
"That your most recent photo?"
"My only one," Tommy admitted sadly, "she hated having anyone focusing attention on her. Hated photos."
"So how did you get that one?" Jay wondered curiously.
"Pancakes."
"Pancakes?"
"I promised her fresh pancakes," the blonde recalled wistfully before continuing softly, "they were her favourite but hard to get."
"I'm thinking she was lucky she had you as a friend."
"Didn't stop her disappearing."
"Tommy I need to ask you something and I need you to be totally honest with me," Jay stated solemnly and waited for a nod before continuing, "do you know Gambini in any capacity at all personally?"
"Personally? As in have I ever spoken to him?"
"Yeah."
"No .... but ...,"
"What?" the Detective pressed, his relief at a negative response quickly threatened.
"His Goons have tackled me ...,"
"Why?" Jay kept the alarm out of his voice but this could not be good!
"When Lauren went missing I went looking for her.  Guess I asked some questions Gambini didn't like," the blonde shrugged but the auburn haired man was not fooled by the feigned nonchalance.
"So the 'Goons' did they say they were working for Gambini?"
"Yeah," the younger man answered after a brief hesitation, "guess they figured me knowing who their employer was wasn't a threat  ...... and they were right.  Who'd have listened if I went to the Cops? Nobody!"

"Could you make out what the pair were saying?" Jay decided to steer away from the contentious truth for the time heing.
"Some of it. Gambini was saying what the guy saw was none of his business and the guy was saying it wasn't right. He said he couldn't 'unsee those people' .....," Tommy divulged then affirmed, "he definitely said that."
"Anything else?"
"You saw the video.  It was a short conversation."
"How did it end?"
"Gambini told him to think about his next move very carefully," Tommy explained then looked at his companion intently, "you know who the guy is?"
"Unfortunately I do," the Detective nodded deciding honesty was required, "Andrew Williams .....,"
"There's something you're not telling me."
"Williams was found shot execution style ....,"
"Damn!"
"Look Tommy no one at the precinct knows who I approached about getting intel on the conversation from the footage and it stays between us ...,"
"Why?  Don't you trust your friends?" the blonde couldn't hide the surprise in his voice, he had seen how close the men were and wasn't usually a bad judge of character.
"I trust them completely but ... it's complicated."
"Tell me!  Don't treat me like some damn kid," Tommy instructed, a hint of steel colouring his tone.
"I'm not treating you like a kid.  I'm trying to protect you. If Sarge becomes aware of a link, however tenuous, between you and Gambini he could be placed in a difficult position ....,"
"Why?"
"He might be obliged to interview you formally and that route could lead you somewhere you don't want to go."
"Voight would force me to do something?"
"Not Sarge," Jay quickly corrected the understandable erroneous assumption, "but his Superiors wouldn't care about you only what you might he able to provide ...,"
"There's nothing I can provide," Tommy frowned.
"It's a longshot but they might try to have you gather information," Jay pointed out, it was an unlikely scenario but he wasn't willing to take any chances with the young man and therefore had to factor in all possibilities.
"It wasn't like I was with his crew," the blonde shook his head, "seems unlikely the Feds would want me as a Snitch."
"No harm in being cautious," Jay insisted, noting his companion clearly had a grasp on what an operation against the Mob Boss would ultimately entail and the FBI would be involved.
"Voight doesn't strike me as a Pushover ...,"
"He's not," the Detective readily agreed wondering what prompted the comment.
"Well then might be better to loop him in. It will save you hassle down the line ....,"
"But ...,"
"Hey it's nice that you want to protect me and I genuinely appreciate it but I want to know what happened to Lauren. Be easier if he was on board wouldn't it?" Tommy reasoned as he motioned the Waiter over.
"Would you like anything else?" the summoned man enquired as he picked up the plates.
"A dessert menu please."
"Of course."
"Dessert for breakfast?" Jay raised an eyebrow once the pair were alone.
"Mint choc ice cream," the younger man grinned, "I have a lot of desserts to make up for."
"Guess I could treat myseif. If only to tease Adam!"
"You're like brothers.  You all are actually," Tommy noted becoming serious again, "I don't want you ruining that over me."
"They all want you safe and sound," Jay stated, he knew they'd back his play.

As the Waiter returned to take their dessert orders the green eyed man realized bringing the Sergeant up to date now was indeed the best way forward.  The older man would, like him, do everything in his power to protect the lone Carson son. Besides they had an ace to play if the Feds tried any coercion in the form of Franklin Carson. A man of his social standing and financial status was bound to have powerful friends ...

tbc