Playing with Fire

Chapter Thirty-Three - Shay

Everly

"Hey, guys."

"Halstead."

"What's up. What we got?"

"Got chlorine powder, bags of cat litter, brake fluid, vegetable oil. All in bulk."

"Yeah, well, he definitely had peculiar taste when he hit the Sam's Club."

"These are accelerants every arsonist knows about. At least the slick ones. Then there's these. All about Shay's death."

I nodded over to the guy walking in and Jay, Kelly and I walked over to him.

"What can you tell us about the person who leased this unit?"

"Paid cash. Two years in advance, I can pull the paperwork."

"Man or woman?"

"Man."

"You remember what he looked like?"

"I don't weigh 'em and measure, I just take the money."

I shook my head.

"We'll check that paperwork in your office. Give us a minute."

The guy nodded and walked off. Jay turned around to face us and sighed.

"The thing is, it's not exactly a crime scene. It's gonna be real hard to pull forensics in on this."

I nodded.

"We know it's a long shot, and arson is almost impossible to prove, but even if it just rules it out, we'd sleep better."

"Can't make any promises but I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks Jay."

"Of course. I'll call you if I have anything."

I nodded as Jay walked off. I turned towards Kelly and smiled. I walked out of the unit and Kelly swung his arm around my shoulder as we walked off. We drove back to the house and we made our way to the briefing room.

"The items discovered at that storage unit are unsettling to us all here at 51. As of now, there was no indication of foul play, but rest assured, no matter what we looked into. In the meanwhile, our job remains the same, and that is to safeguard the people of Chicago, so you keep your heads down, and you handle your business. Brett and Casey, my office. Everybody else dismissed."

I got up and walked to Chief's office and sat down.

"After everything you went through, I want you to know you have my full blessing, if you want to take some time off."

"Thank you, Chief. But, personally, I'm fine. I'd rather be here at work."

Chief nodded.

"In that case, I would like to ask you both to consider to see someone. Processing a trauma like that takes time. We have a lot of good people who can help."

"I think that that would be really good. For me, anyway."

"I'll make the call."

"Sylvie?"

"I'm okay Chief."

"Okay then. You change your mind, you let me know."

"Will do. That's all."

We both nodded and walked over to the common room.

"Hey Chief, can I borrow Casey? We'll keep our radios on."

"Yeah."

Kelly nodded over to me and I walked over to him.

"What's up?"