Tolerance Book III

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Three: Assessing

iHOP

The following day, Thursday, found the men gathered for brunch at the iHop restaurant coincidentally located on North Halsted Street which the locals had used before. Adam had chosen the venue and informed the Out of Towners that the surname Jay used was spelled differently and no he didn't have a street named after him. The banter flowed until the chosen meals were served. As the Waiters departed and Adam, as ever ravenous, dug into his current favourite dish Chicken Quesadilla Collins got down to business without preamble as he eyed Atwater eagerly.

"So did your CI offer up anything useful?"
"He said the Food Saviour Volunteers have arranged for blood donations ...,"
"That's great."
"But he didn't notice anything untoward. The four people he knew who donated all came back happy with the extra cash. None of them have disappeared in the meantime."
"That doesn't really mean much," Antonio pointed out, "we already figure if they're a match they'll be taken at some point."
"Exactly. There's probably an interval between finding a match and an abduction," Jay mused then expounded when he noted frowns, "sheer volume of people they're taking dictates they don't have room for everyone."
"But isn't that risky for them? The 'reluctant Donor' might move on," Antonio arched a brow.
"Maybe they're given incentives to stay," Adam suggested, extra food and blankets and an offer of more cash down the line."
"And the Volunteers would be able to keep tabs on them," Kevin nodded.

"Finding the Victims and with Jason Martin in the wind it seems we've put a major crimp in the organ theft operation ....,"
"It's strange Martin was the one named in both Chicago and Seattle," Antonio eyed his Chopped Chicken Salad hungrily, "wouldn't it be better to have different Owners in case one place was discovered?"
"I've been wondering about that too," Kevin concurred beside him as he seasoned his Classic Eggs Benedict with salt.
"It's probably to do with keeping the number of people who know the full picture at a minimum," Jay took a bite of the first fluffy pancake on the stack before him, he'd never eat that much!
"Gambini doesn't trust many people," Voight reminded.
"But what they've been doing is a huge operation surely?" Pearson stirred his coffee after offloading two sugar sachets into it.
"Likely different people know different stages," Jay suggested, it made sense to keep different areas of the operation separate to the others.
"So Surgeons are not in contact with the 'Cleaners' and so on?" Kevin checked.
"Exactly. If they had two people minding those taken then two .... shall we say Cleaners .... that's four who only know the Victims are being held. They are probably being kept in the dark as to what is actually going on," Parker elaborated beside the green eyed Detective, they had discussed this the night before in the Voight residence.
"Why assume they're are only two Minders and Cleaners?" Adam frowned.
"They don't have that many people to look after at any given time," Jay explained, "one would probably be enough but two guarantees they have that angle covered if something should happen to one."
"Good point," Collins nodded leaning back in his chair, gradually beginning to understand why the Unit set such stock in the young man.
"By 'Minders' and 'Cleaners' what exactly do you mean?" Pearson sought clarification as he took a bite of grilled chicken.
"Well Minders would be whatever Medical Professionals they're using to mind Victims prior to surgery," Jay expounded then grimaced as he explained his logic, "they need to ensure the welfare of the so called Donors."
"And 'Cleaners'?"
"Housekeeping," Jay shrugged, "living conditions would play a part in the Donors' health."

"Given Gambinis' propensity for running a tight ship it makes sense he'd make sure information is kept at a minimum," Al spoke from his chair beside the still pale Detective, "but no matter what part of the operation they're taking part in they all have to know nothing good is happening."
"So they're on the lookout to make quick cash ...," Jay explained.
"They don't realise Gambini can't leave Witnesses behind," Collins stated loosening his belt, he really shouldn't have ordered that enticing stack of pancakes and how had he eaten the lot while the green eyed man was still on his first!