Tolerance Book III

Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Nine: Task Force

Authors' Note

Apologies. Chapter 158 has disappeared. I am publishing 159 as it is still coherent to Readers. Sorry about this. No sign of 158 in Revision History! Uninstalled and reinstalled app but to no avail!

Carson Residence

Jay was determined to honour his solemnly given promise to Tommy that his family would be safe from further attack. To that end he had spoken to Celia Carson and she signed off on a state of the art security system being installed. He had attended the residence as the work was being carried out. As expected it was being done quickly and efficiently. He had recommended a company run by a former Ranger, Danny Murphy, whom he trusted implicitly. His presence accordingly was merely to go over the numerous vulnerable points that needed to be covered. Murphy could have easily identified them himself but he had suggested the green eyed man attend in any event. Murphy had a great deal of respect for his one time Lieutenant not least because the quiet man had saved his life not once but twice. As a result of that he had offered to do the job for free but Jay had declined on the basis money was not an issue for the Carsons. At the rear of the property, where a red patch stubbornly rebutted the diligent Housekeepers' attempts to remove it, the Security Expert looked off in the distance towards the trees which had harboured the Sniper and spoke grimly trying to offer consolation however meagre.

"Hartley wouldn't have known what hit him. I'll get a Crime Scene Cleaner to deal with this."
"I meant to arrange that," Jay sighed, it was on his to do list.
"Well consider it sorted," Murphy assured eyeing his companion critically, "man you look like you haven't slept in weeks."
"Compliments won't get you anywhere," Jay chided before becoming serious, "can you cover the treeline as well with surveillance?"
"No problem. Some of our cameras aren't big or bulky. We're using discreet ones and the blatantly obvious ones here," Murphy tapped the clipboard in his hand, "this place will be impenetrable when we're done."
"Wish to hell it had been before ....," Jays' gaze landed on the crimson stain again.
"Not your fault Carson didn't take precautions."
"About that isn't it a bit strange he didn't have a better security system in place? I mean a place like this screams money."
"Maybe he didn't want to incur the expense. One thing I've learnt in this business is most rich people tend to be miserly with their money."
"Guess that helps them get rich," Jay wrily observed with a shrug, he had encountered many wealthy people through the job and couldn't counter Murphys' opinion, "have you dealt with many cases like this?" the Detective wondered knowing Victims tended to review their security measures after an attack.
"Home invasions yes but this wasn't that," Murphy reminded, "the Attackers were quite brazen. They had to have seen the security cameras yet didn't wear masks. The old system was adequate. I reviewed the footage and ....,"
"... the Attackers' faces are clear."
"Exactly so the question is why?"
"Maybe they intended to kill Carson and everyone in the house."
"All the more reason to wear masks," the security expert stated the obvious.
"So why didn't they kill him?" Jay muttered to himself, it was obvious the Attackers had the opportunity to do so yet didn't.
"There's obviously something sinister going on," Murphy didn't envy his friend, he had a lot of responsibility on his shoulders.
"You'll let me know if you hear of any other similar attacks?"
"Of course," Murphy readily assured, eager to help, knowing the security community while diverse was actually relatively small.

21st Precinct

Upon returning to the office Jay had been surprised to find Parker present in the bullpen talking to the others with their Seattle Visitors nowhere in sight. The Psychologist had been due to attend an all day conference so the green eyed man frowned.

"Conference was cancelled due to a bomb threat," Al supplied saving his friend asking.
"Everyone alright?" the young Detective posed the concerned question as he shrugged off his jacket and sat down at his desk.
"Yeah," Parker confirmed, "it was a hoax."
"Better than the alternative," Adam pointed out.
"So what's going on with the Carson case?" Parker checked, he had met up with a few colleagues the previous evening so had missed the nightly catch up in the Voight residence.
"So far we've ruled out any links to organized crime ...," Antonio replied.
"That's good."
"Be better if we had some leads to follow," Adam grumbled.
"Where are we on checking Tommys' friends?" Voight asked from where he leant against his doorframe.
"All accounted for," Kevin gestured to his notepad, "wasn't a long list. Seems after Hector Tommy didn't go out of his way to make friends."
"Can't blame him," Antonio stated, they all recognised the need to protect oneself from further hurt.
"Of the four names he supplied two were on the other side of town at the time of the attack and the other two also have solid alibis," Kevin explained.
"That's good," the New Yorker knew a betrayal by a friend was the last thing the Carson son needed at this point, "Tommy has enough to deal with."
"Any more from Forensics on the shooting?" Jay queried, it hurt deeply that Brett had been killed but he was determined to remain stoic, at least outwardly.
"They pulled a set of prints off an energy bottle found at the scene ...," Adam began only to be interrupted.
"It won't be the Shooters," Al stated without a doubt.
"How can you be so sure?" Adam questioned with a raised brow.
"Our guy is a Professional," Jay explained, "he won't have left anything behind."
"Still wish we knew for certain if the Sniper was linked to the Attackers," Kevin looked at the others, "right now we're at a dead end."
"Well the Doctors are expecting Franklin Carson to wake up tomorrow," Jay informed his friends of the one good piece of news, both for Tommy and for the case.
"He's going to have to tell us what the hell is going on," Voight noted bluntly, there was no time for cajoling the Businessman into co-operating.
"Sarge I'd like to do the interview," the green eyed Detective stated, he knew Voights' gruff approach might antagonise the man they needed answers from.
"Okay but Olinsky sits in with ....,"
"There's no need ...,"
"Yes there is. You're fit to drop and don't try denying it. You're not working alone. That's final."
"Kid I think he means it!" Al warned in a stage whisper.
"Hell!" Jay shook his head knowing it was a battle he couldn't win.