Tolerance Book IiI

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Three: Unpopular Suggestion

Voight Residence

Al had invited himself to dinner the following night and after sharing the meal with his oldest friend, Parker and Jay had steered the conversation back to what was on the forefront of all their minds as the men cleared away the dishes.

"Finding Marcus has to take priority now. We always knew the Partner would be pivotal to the investigation."
"Problem is if it is the brother he's unlikely to give Gambini up," Jay cautioned as he rinsed off plates at the sink before handing them off to the Host.
"It's highly likely Marcus is the Partner," the Psychologist pointed out as he returned the salt and pepper shakers to their shelf, "the animal abuse tracks with the type of person we're looking for. Be a big coincidence if Gambini knew two guys like that."
"Doc Gambini runs a major criminal organization so he deals with Killers all the time," the moustached man reminded as he placed the empty mugs on the counter above the dishwasher.
"Killers yes but our Victims were tortured, that's a whole different situation to just shooting someone."
"That kind of sadistic trait isn't overly common," Voight posited from where he was crouched placing dishes into the machine.
"Sure seems like it is sometimes," Al shook his head but knew that was only because their line of work sought out the worst of the worst.
"So you agree Marcus is the most likely to be the Partner?" Voight checked eyeing the New Yorker as he rose after depositing the last mug into the dishwasher.
"Makes sense. Everything points to him. When Gambini handed over the reins ten years ago it had to have been to someone he trusted implicitly."
"His sibling makes perfect sense," Voight nodded in agreement as he leant back against the counter and folded his arms while the others retook their seats at the table.
"Just wish we knew how close they are," Jay put in thoughtfully, "there's a four year age gap but they attended different boarding schools ....,"
"Why was that?" Al wondered.
"Mouse is trying to find some answers."
"Well Marcus being forced to move to stay ahead of the animal abuse incidents probably played a part," Parker put in.
"Definitely," Voight rubbed a hand down his face tiredly, everyone was feeling the strain.

"Doc if we do get Marcus what are the chances of him giving up his brother?" Al posed the question on all their minds.
"To be honest it's impossible to say with any degree of certainty," Parker reluctantly admitted as he leant back in his chair, "we don't know the dynamic between the pair ....,"
"But if Marcus took over the running of the business Gambini must trust him a great deal," Voight pointed out.
"Maybe ... but he might not have had a choice."
"No Doc if Gambini didn't trust him he would have shut all operations down," Voight stated, he knew the Mob Boss better than anyone.
"Would he take such a big financial hit?" Al questioned.
"He's greedy but not stupid. He knows when to cut his losses."
"It's going to be difficult to get Marcus on side," Jay spoke up, he had been mulling over the possibilities, "if they're close we'll need one approach and if they're not we'll need another."
"That's a headache for another time," Voight noted, "for now let's focus on tracking Marcus down."

Al looked at the green eyed man speculatively. He could sense he was contemplating something but what he had no idea. Deciding not to press him there and then he resolved to talk to him at the first opportunity he got him alone.

21st Precinct

As it happened between various leads burning up on the younger Gambini sibling and other jobs it was two days later before the veteran Detective was able to corral his young friend in a private setting, the Locker Room.

"What's up?" Jay had been surprised the older man had followed him when he went to retrieve a thicker jumper from his locker.
"Wanted to have a word with you about something."
"Okay," Jay nodded as he took off his sweatshirt and gratefully put on the heavy black jumper, the blood loss from the leg wound hadn't been fatal but he was still feeling chilly as a result of the unexpected depletion of the vital life source.
"I got the impression the other night in Voights' house when we were discussing Marcus you had something on your mind."
"I always have something on my mind," Jay chided as he closed his locker and eyed the other man.
"Don't be smart," Al rolled his eyes, "I could tell you were thinking of something."
"I was trying to come up with a way to get Marcus on our side," Jay stated honestly, wisely not mentioning the notion of going undercover!
"And just what did you come up with?"
"Nothing," Jay shrugged dismissively.
"Want to try that again."
"I didn't come up with anything that would be agreeable," the younger man elaborated honestly, the guys would undoubtedly nix his undercover idea!
"So what were you considering that you think we'd object to?" Al asked suspiciously.
"No point in discussing what won't happen."
"Maybe it could."
"Al I know you guys. You worry too much," the younger man insisted shaking his head.
"Try me."
"Thought it might be an idea to get close to Marcus ...,"
"You going undercover?!"
"It might help getting to know him before we arrest him."
"Not going to hapoen," Al sternly informed, was the Kid actively trying to give them all ulcers?!
"He's going to be on guard and defensive once in custody," Jay argued, "understandibg him is vital to bridging Gambini down."
"I'm sure Parker will have some ideas on how to approach the matter once we have him in custody."
"I'm sure he will," the younger Detective readily agreed.
"But you don't think that will be enough," Al stated rather than asked.
"Parker knows his stuff ...,"
"He does," the taller man accepted before adding knowingly, "but you figure it won't be enough."
"We're only going to get one shot at connecting with Marcus," Jay would never disparage the New Yorker, "given what's at stake if we don't bring Gambini down I think we need to think outside of the box."