Burzek Goes Undercover

Chapter 10: Mouse

"I didn't even know he was back or that his tour was up. Why didn't he tell me? We've always been honest with each other", Jay says letting tears escape.
"Jay I need to know if your head is on straight or I'm benching you. I know what Mouse means to you, but I can't have you jeopardizing this case", Voight says sternly.
"I promise I'll have my head on straight. For mouse,", Jay responds.
"Alright, I'm sorry for your loss. Adam call Kim and let her know it's mouse. Tell her to find out anything she can about his life since he was deployed" Voight says turning to Adam.
"On it boss," Adam says

Adam calls Kim.
"Hey, what's going on?" Kim asks.
"Baby I'm sorry. It's Mouse. He was murdered", Adam explains.
"Oh my! He was stateside? How's jay?", Kim asks with a crack in her voice.
"Barely holding up but he wants to solve this. Voight wants you to find out anything and everything since he was deployed. He didn't tell Jay he was back which sounds fishy", Adam states.
"I'm on it. We have to catch this monster. Be safe.," Kim says.
"I agree. I will be darlin we have a date to redo," Adam says as he hangs up.

Kim goes downstairs to the tech area. She freezes thinking of all the times Mouse would sit down here, even if they didn't have an active case. He likes watching the headlights of the cars pass. She's pushed her own feelings out of the way, she can grieve when they catch this monster, for Mouse and Jay. She decides there's one more person who should know. She shoots Erin a text "hey call me as soon as possible. I have bad news you'll want to hear".

Kim sits down and starts to search through Mouses life. Credit card recipients, phone calls, deployment records and last known address.
It looks like every 6 weeks Mouse has came home from Afghanistan. She doesn't know much about military, but she's pretty sure that's not normal. She doesn't remember Jay saying anything about it either, she's pretty sure it's been 6 months since Jay has seen him. Why is he coming home? Why is he keeping it from Jay? It looks like he stays at the same hotel every time, The Paradise Inn. There's a few transactions for pizza, but not much else. His phone calls are either to Jay or to a Howard Young. Kim searches that name. Looks like Howard is an FBI agent. Now I really need to talk to with Erin. Just as she thinks that, her phone ring.

"Hey Kim, is everything okay?," Erin asks.
"Not exactly. I thought you would want to know, Mouse was found murdered," Kim explains.
There's a pause from Erin.
"You okay?," Kim asks.
"I think I need to come back to Chicago," Erin starts.
"Does this have anything to do with a Howard Young?, Kim asks.
"You have always been good at your job. I'll be on the next flight," Erin states.

As Kim hangs up she hears the team upstairs and decides to fill them in. She takes a deep breathe and heads upstairs, not sure how everyone is going to feel about Erin returning. Especially Jay.

"What did you find out?," Voight asks.
"Just hear me out, first. Mouse has been coming home every 6 weeks. He only calls Jay and Howard Young when he's home", Kim starts.
"I didn't know he was home every 6 weeks. God it's been 6 months", Jay says in disbelief.
"Well this is where it gets interesting. I had texted Erin to let her know, since they were friends and she called me immediately. It seems like Young is an FBI agent and Mouse must be helping them with a case. Which means him and Erin are on the next flight here", Kim says. There's a long pause.
"Erin is coming back," Jay says more to himself.
"For this case, yes. For mouse," Kim says.
"I can't wait to see her!" Voight exclaims.
"There's more," Kim starts.
"What is it?", Hailey asks.
"I'm not sure Mouse was ever actually deployed. I think whatever he was helping the FBI with had something to do with Afghanistan. I can't find records of his regimen being deployed. I contacted the rangers to inform them, they told me Mouse hasn't been redeployed since him and Jay came back." Kim explains.
"What the hell is going on? Why didn't he tell me anything?," Jay asks.

Voight walks over to Jay and puts a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm really sorry about all this. Are you sure you want to stay on this case? You might find out things you don't like", he says.
"I have to Srg. Either way he saved me and I owe him this." Jay says.
"Alright. We keep this in house until we figure out what is going on here", Voight tells the team.

It's been a few hours and they are all just trying to figure out Mouse's habits while back in Chicago. Upton is talking with Jay, making sure he is okay with everything. When there's a noise and everyone looks up.

"Erin", Jay says.
"Hi guys!," she says with a smile. Man has she missed Chicago.