Tolerance Book I (Chicago PD/Med FF) by Frances51163

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Rifle Question

Down at the 21st Hank and Al had finished interrogating Burton and arranged for his removal to the holding cells. Antonio looked up from his desk as the two men came out of the Sergeants' office where they had retreated after the interview.

"So did Burton give up anything else?"
"He still maintains Halstead Senior brought the assault rifles with him on the night of the attack," Al returned to his cluttered desk.
"And the real reason they really agreed to take on the job was for €10,000.00 each," Hank added.
"So he wasn't acting as a concerned citizen," Al explained.
"That would be a lot of cash for someone who is on minimum wage in a shop to have," Kevin looked at his boss, "he say anything else?"
"Just that he couldn't name the other guys because they were not part of the group he's with. Also he was approached after the meeting when he was by himself."
"That makes sense," Antonio offered, "chances are most of them would have shown him the door.  So why did he pick Burton?"
"Somehow he must have found out that the guy is in debt to a loan shark," Al spoke as he began reading the papers on his desk, "I have a few names to check in the morning.  Just to make sure the story he gave us is right but I'm pretty sure he's telling the truth."
"We need to find out how Halstead Senior got access to four AR 15s," Hank pointed out gravely, "according to Burton they all had them on the night of the attack."
"Why bring them and not use them?"
"Probably intended to tackle Jay in a less public area since it was just bad luck they followed the guys from Mollys," Al guessed.
"Four assault rifles is overkill don't ye think," Antonio contemplated the matter with a raised brow, "even if Jay is ex-Army."
"That's what's worrying me the most," Hank looked around at the team members, "we still don't know what he wanted with Jay."
"The attack was a violent one which could have killed him," Al tossed a pen on his desk as he leaned back in his chair, "so the idea that he wanted Jay to do something, a job or something, seems null and void."
"Yet four weapons would fit with the job theory but he has no criminal record," Kevin entered the discussion for the first time and sighed in disgust, "heck I feel like we have to climb to the top of a stairs and the middle steps are missing."
"If Charles is right about Halstead Senior he didn't go out that night to attack Jay," Al pondered aloud, "but the conversation he overheard in Mollys enraged him so much he changed his plans."
"We need to talk to Will. Antonio give him a call and get him here. Without his brother knowing."
"Boss?"
"The less the Kid has to worry about at the moment the better it is for him. If Will can give us what we need it will mean less questions for him to deal with."
"Gotcha," Antonio acknowledged as he quickly dialled.

Although Will was surprised to be summoned to the precinct he promptly left the new apartment after manufacturing an excuse to go to the hospital. After talking to his brother in his room Will asked Conor to keep checking on him. The black haired man had assured his friend that he would remain until he returned, however late it was. Upon arrival Sgt. Platt quickly escorted Will up to the Intelligence Unit. She had a soft spot for Jay and knew he was going through a hard time. She informed Will that if there was anything at all she could do for the Detective to let her know. He confirmed he would pass on her message.

"So he talk to you about what he remembered yet?" Hank didn't waste time on small talk once the red head was seated at his brothers' desk.
"Barely spoke a word," Will replied, "he's been in his room most of the time."
"Well Doc we're looking at a number of possible scenarios for Halstead Senior to go in search of Jay that night. Problem is none of them are rock solid."
"What can I do?"
"Would you know how your father could get access to assault rifles?" Al asked.
"He had access to four, that we know about, which would suggest he was going to carry out a job," Kevin explained.
"A job?"
"Robbery of some sort," Hank expanded one line of thinking, "maybe he wanted Jays' help to pull it off."

"Listen guys, as ye know by now, I have no time for that .......that ........," Will searched for an appropriate word.
"Ass?" Al finished helpfully.
"That 'ass'," Will nodded to the older man, "but he really wouldn't be into a robbery."
"You sound confident," Hank looked at the Doctor as he leant against the door frame of his office.
"Well wish I could say he wouldn't do one because of ethics but truth is it would involve work, something he avoids like the plague. My mother said once that he wanted a job but not the work. She said he hadn't been like that when they met but over time things changed. "
"He has a job," Kevin argued.
"Sure but only because his buddy is the store owner. And one of these days the guy will decide he has had enough and fire him."
"Any idea how he could get access to a lot of cash?" Antonio checked.
"Nope. As far as I know he lives paycheck to paycheck. Occasionally Jay or myself arrange to get groceries delivered."
"Jay bought groceries for the guy," Adam allowed his disbelief to show, "and you did too?"
"Mom asked Jay to promise to look after him when she was gone. Jay asked if she wanted him to look after him 'no matter what' and she said yes. Those three words have bound him to the old man in that he gets him things even if he doesn't see him. I do it sometimes when Jay gets caught up at work."
"But ....," Adam couldn't understand it.
"Kid loved his mother Ruzek. Jay is keeping his word to her," Hank decided to end that topic which he knew would be a painful one for the Doctor , "so does he have money?"
"Why?"
"He offered each of the guys €10,000.00."
"Damn," Will shook his head in frustration, "I'm beginning to think this is all a nightmare and I'll wake up any minute. Ye're saying he could be a robber. Does that mean he's done it before?"
"He has no criminal record but that just means he might have committed a robbery but was not caught," Hank answered, "you have any theories we'd like to hear them."
"Sorry I've been wracking my brains since the night of the attack. Can't come up with anything."
"Boss there is something else to consider," Adam sat up straight in his chair as a thought struck him, "when Jay came around that night after the attack he was frantic about Will and Ethan."
"They'd be on his mind as he was going to meet them," Hank shrugged his shoulders.
"But what if he threatened them?"
"To make him go along with his plans," Adam persisted, "we all know Jay would do anything to keep someone else safe."
"He would," Al agreed, "and he would go along with them to save Will and Ethan."
"But they beat him up. He couldn't do any job or whatever for them then," Antonio contested the idea.
"Well I'm wondering if we're not looking at the attack the right way," Adam continued despite the baffled looks sent his way, "we found Jay in the car park and Will and Ethan were outside so if there were shouts or anything else they should have heard them."
"He kept quiet to keep us safe?" Will paled at the realization.
"Exactly," Adam nodded in vindication, "ye didn't hear anything because Jay kept quiet. He didn't fight back which fell into place when we found out it was Halstead Senior. Remember he had no defensive wounds. Given what Dr. Charles told us about the guy it would make sense. He threatened Will and Ethan first then .....,"
"Told Jay what he was going to do," Antonio followed on as his stomach churned, "sicko probably even told him he was going to be stomped on."
"Damn it!" Will pounded the desk before him viciously to release some of fury building up inside.
"Agreed," Hank concluded, "and now I think we know what the Kid recalled earlier."
"Makes sense. We were discussing the attack," Al nodded, "but we're still no closer to finding out why the assault rifles were obtained and that is one big unknown."

Will was going to talk to his brother as soon as he got back to the apartment. He needed to let him know how grateful he was for what he did. He always knew his brother had a high level of pain tolerance but he was learning that he had a tolerance for much more than physical pain. Keeping his mothers' promise would be difficult when the cause of their troubles was arrested. Will now realized that he had a mammoth task ahead to ensure his baby brother didn't shoulder any unnecessary guilt over the promise made so many years ago. Will knew his mother would not expect Jay to keep his promise when he was being hurt but it would be a huge hurdle to overcome to convince him, one he was resolutely determined to surpass.

tbc.