Far From Home [Chicago PD]

Chapter 4: Night Moves

    Voight and Jon flashed their badges to the uniformed officers guarding the red tape at the scene. Atwater, Ruzek, Halstead and Upton were already on scene.
   
    “Hey Sarge.” Adam started to fill Voight in. “Teenage girl over here was on here way home from a study group at her friends house on 55th. She cuts through the park here and goes to toss her coffee cup into this trash can but she sees blood on the rim. That is when she discovered the head and called it in. The head belongs to an African-American female. Halstead was first to respond and found her torso behind those bushes over there. We are still looking for the rest.” his voice was dismal.

    “Where are Jay and Hailey now?” Voight asked.
   
    “The last time we saw them they were checking the other garbage cans in the park for the missing body parts, Sarge.” Atwater responded to the sergeants question. Voight grabbed his phone from his side and clicked the side button to radio his unit.

    “Halstead, Upton. What is your location?” Voight maybe a tough guy but he cared deeply about his unit.

    “Checking trash cans with unis on the south side of the park.” Jay's voice came across the radio.

    “It is starting to get dark out here. I want you guys to let the patrol units take over the search. You two get back here to the scene so we can lay out what we are gonna do to find this guy.” Voight's voice was very direct and to the point.

    “Understood, be there in five.” Halstead responded. Within the next few minutes Antonio and Burgess arrived on scene as well. Cragen ran to his partner and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned quickly then put her arm around him as he put his arm over her shoulders.

    “Long time no see partner.” Jon said as his heart fluttered. They started walking together towards the meeting area

    “Yeah,” she replied “why can't we ever meet on happy terms?” she joked. Then Halstead and Upton walked up the knoll to the scene. Platt had also arrived on scene, per Hanks request, with a fleet of uniformed officers ready to search the park for the rest of the victim.

    “Thank you Trudy,” Hank spoke as he hugged the silver haired woman. “We have to catch this sicko.” The two clearly had a close history and cared about each other very much. Hank had suffered so much loss; his wife (Camile), his son (Justin), his best friend (Alvin Olinsky) and when Erin Lindsay moved away. Sergeant Platt was here for him through all of that.

    “Hank we both know that your team cant do it all. What is the point of having K-9 search units if we use them?” Sgt. Platt looked at Voight with a smile. “Let's catch this guy.” She turned and walked toward her group of uniformed officers. Voight started walking back to the group and his eyes met with Halstead's.

    “So, did your brother know who the guy in the picture was?” Voight questioned.

    “Yeah the guy actually works at Med as a Physicians Assistant. Name is Lance Polsca, his employee file indicates he is 28 years old.” Halstead started. “Will said he and our first victim, Vicky used to be close but that recently he hasn't seen them together. And get this he hasn't been to work for the past few days, he's been on sick leave.” In the background you could hear the barks of cadaver dogs and the sounds of leaves crunching as the foot patrols set out.

    “Tomorrow we waste no time. We find this guy and question him. See what he knows about Vicky's death. See if we can connect victim number 2 to Lance somehow. Okay see you all at Molly's for a quick one, but we all need to get our rest tonight.” Voight said before he turned around and walked to his suburban.

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    The squad has always gathered at the local cop bar called Molly's. The Blackhawks were on tonight so it was a packed house. Jon sat at the bar to order a drink. Over the bar on the back wall was a wall for those lost in the line of duty. They had put a small picture up there of Hank and Al sitting at the bar with Al circled and underneath was a handwritten sign 'Det. Olinsky'. Hank looked so happy in that photo. 

    “He was a good man, Jon.” Voight said as he placed a hand on Jon's shoulder before sitting next to me at the bar. “He was wrongfully put in prison by a corrupt Lieutenant. Al was murdered before he even saw trial. He was in there for less than a week and I couldn't help him.” Hank stared at his glass of bourbon as he swirled it around. Jon could see how much pain it brought him. Then Voight looked at Cragen. “He would of liked you kid.” He smiled before getting up and joining the rest of the squad at the table behind them. Just then two hands softer than clouds covered Cragen's eyes.

    “Guess who?” her voice was like that of an angel. 

    “Hey Kim.” Jon laughed as she joined him at the bar. “Finally a happy occasion to meet on.” he joked. Picking on his partner for her remark earlier that night.

    “Oh really now. We are going to resort to picking on each other?” she fake pouted. “Hey Herman  two of what he's having on my tab please.” she asked the bartender.

    “I still can't get a clear read on everyone. I don't know if they like me or not.” Jon admitted as he took a sip of scotch. “It's been a little rough for me since I've been out here. I haven't really made any true friends besides you and I have no family out here. I must've called my godmother, Olivia, 100 times since I've been here.” 

    “Wait, Olivia as in Olivia Benson?” Burgess sounded shocked. “Captain Olivia Benson of Manhattan SVU is your godmother?”

    “Yeah, my father was her captain when she first started in SVU.” Jon explained. “She has always been close to my family. My mother passed during childbirth. So Olivia was the closest I had to a maternal figure. She was always over at holidays, birthdays and celebrations.” Burgess' face immediately turned to one of empathy.

    “Jon I'm so sorry I didn't know.” she put her hand on Jon's arm.

    “It's alright.” Cragen said as he looked down at his drink. “So after my dad passed I had to leave New York. There was too much there to remind me of what I never had. I came here to build something new of my life. At least I'd hoped to.” Jon's tone was some what melancholic. His ice blue eyes met Burgess' and for a second it felt like all of time had stopped. Kim leaned in closer to him and their lips met. Jon's heart felt like it was about to explode. She pulled away slowly making eye contact. She then waved down the bartender to pay her tab.

    “I'll see you tomorrow partner.” Kim gave her usual smile but this time there was a glow in her eyes. She began to walk away before she turned around and said “Oh and we need to talk about that at some point.” she continued to walk away.