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

Chapter One Hundred and Fifty: Answers

The following morning Jay once again found himself sitting in front of the embittered Franklin.   Much to his chagrin when he had greeted Voight and Adam in the foyer after leaving his room in the motel earlier he had found an unexpected visitor in the form of David O'Sullivan.   The Doctor had hastily explained that Will had informed him of their return visit and he just wanted to see how Jay was doing.   Despite his arguments Jay was forced to undergo a quick examination before they headed out for breakfast.   He had kept his complaints to himself, anxious to prove he was doing okay.   O'Sullivan had left for work as the other three headed to a nearby cafe.   He hadn't been happy with the young Detectives' appearance but had informed the Sergeant that the best thing was to finish up whatever they were doing and get the injured man home where he could finally begin to recover properly.   Voight had listened in agreement and assured the medical professional they were on the same page.   He would do everything in his power to return to Chicago soon.    Watching from the Observation Room Moretti sighed impatiently from where he leant against the back wall, arms folded in  consternation.

"Why is he just sitting there?!"
"Halstead knows what he's doing," Hank insisted after looking at the back of the pale Detective in the Interview Room.
"He's letting Franklin be the one to start talking," Adam put in quietly although he too was wishing things could be rushed for they had been watching the two silent men for over an hour.
"Yeah so ye said but he hasn't has he?" Moretti pointed out, this whole thing with his Brother-in-Law was making him frustrated and his pent up anger was threatening to spill over.
"Pete," Hank turned away from the window and walked over to his old friend, "no one is blaming you for Franklin.  What he did is on him, not you.   How about leaving this to us?   Looks like it's going to be a while before Franklin gives in."
"You sound confident he will.   At this stage I don't trust my own judgment."
"I understand but in time that will pass.   You're a good man Pete.   Don't let his stop you doing your job."
"I won't," Moretti stated firmly as he shook himself, "think I'll check how the Statements are going.   I'll be back later.
"You surprised it's taking so long?" Adam asked as soon as the two men were alone.
"Yeah.   At this stage Franklin has to know he has no way out.  No point in staying quiet.   He already gave us enough to send him to prison for the rest of his life."
"Yeah that's what I figured too.   So why isn't he talking?"
"Patience Ruzek, patience," Hank cautioned.

Jay had been sitting watching his shackled companion for the past hour.   He wasn't really sure what he was expecting but the mans' demeanour, for all his silence, seemed to be more subdued.    Throwing a quick glance to Jones he saw the Guard was steadily keeping his gaze on the prisoner.  There was no way the inmate could get free to attack Jay so the young Detective simple leaned back further in his chair to get comfortable.   He wasn't going to be concerned about time.   He knew once Franklin finally started talking he would not be able to stop himself.   The need to rationalize his actions would propel him to disclose the real reason for killing Carter and Thomas.

"So how long are we going to sit here?" Franklin finally demanded.
"You got something to say you say it," Jay instructed hiding his relief that the standoff was over, he just wanted to be home in bed.
"In school you were so damn tough," the shackled man noted derisively, "Thomas and Carter actually looked up to you.   You know that?"
"Nope."
"Hell when Micheal Williamson got in touch about a School Reunion it was like peeling all the old woulds open.  I wasn't sure why he was so in favour of the Reunion but once we met up I understood.   He wanted you to pay for what we went through in school."
"I never hurt any of ye," Jay put in softly keeping his gaze on his clasped hands on the table, "any trouble ye had ye brought on."
"You could have just stayed out of our business!"
"Sure beating up little kids was a 'business'."
"It had nothing to do with you!"
"I couldn't let ye hurt those kids."
"Why the hell did you stand up for those kids when no one else did huh?  Tell me that."
"Maybe because no one else did," Jay shifted uncomfortably on his chair acutely aware of the men in the Observation Room, "someone had to."
"Danny liked you," Franklin noted sadly, "he said he could tell you anything."
"He was a good kid," the Detective acknowledged surprised by the turn in conversation, "and what he did was something I'll always regret but that doesn't change anything.   It won't bring him back.   You got to know I tried to stop him."
"Maybe ....," the prisoner eyed the man across from him reluctantly, "maybe it was easier blaming you than accepting I had let him down."
"Why did you bully the other boys?" Jay decided to move away from the painful topic of his young friends' demise.
"I was a kid.  What the hell did I know?"
"You knew what you were doing was wrong."
"It was just something to do."
"Michael Williamson got in touch with you about a reunion.   I never heard of one."
"Well turns out that was just a ruse to get us all together.  There was no School Reunion.  Not that we were upset when we found out his plans."
"To make life difficult for me."
"Seemed a good idea at the time."
"So why did you really have Carter and Thomas killed?" Jay decided it was time to get some proper answers, that was why he was here after all.
"They were always complaining about things.  Even when we were kids.  One day I heard them talking behind the gym after a class about how they thought you were so cool, that nothing scared you.  Then and there I swore they would see the real you no matter how long it took.  Michael getting in touch was the perfect way to show them," Franklin shrugged his shoulders dismissively, "at least I thought it was.   Turns out they were more impressed with you than ever."
"Sure that's why they helped you," Jay shook his head in disbelief.
"They were just doing what they were told.   They were always easily led but in the end they were no use to me."
"So you just arranged to have them killed?" 
"Wasn't that difficult," Franklin affirmed, "I had plenty of money and knew who to pay off."
"Don't you have any remorse?"
"Can't say as I do."
"I want the names of everyone involved," Jay shoved a notepaper and pen across the desk.
"Sure."
"Just like that?" the Detective asked doubtfully.
"I don't see why they should get away with anything when I'm going down," the prisoner picked up the pen awkwardly and began writing.

Jay glanced around at the two way mirror with a nod.  He was satisfied some of the puzzle had been pieced together.  He knew he was never going to get all the answers he wanted so for now he was grateful they could head for home, at least for the time being.

tbc

Authors' Note

Apologies for larger gap between Chapters.   Real Life is making writing difficult at moment!