So, this is my first published Linstead fanfic... let me know what you think of the first chapter and if I should continue.
...
This story is sort of AU. Picking up from 4x22 Erin decides she needs a change and takes a job out of Chicago. Jay is forced to move on, but 2 years on the pair find themselves running in the same circles once more.
...
Jay rooted through the cupboard for a clean mug, his frustration mounting as his search continued but his efforts came to no reward as he sighed and picked up one of the many dirty mugs that sat in the sink.
"You know it wont kill people to clean up after themselves" Jay muttered as Burgess walked into the kitchen.
"Someone's chipper this morning" she quipped as she pushed her mug under his nose for a refill. Jay gave her half a smile before pouring the hot coffee into her mug and then slowly into his. He then made his way to the table pushing away the stack of papers and leaflets to make space for his and Burgess' mugs.
"Did you hear that Deputy Chief Lowe is stepping down? Some scandal involving him and some recruit in the Academy, Adam didn't give me a name but he said his dad heard Lowe was paying for every expense the recruit had as well as paying for flights for him to join Lowe in his house on Lake Michigan."
"Wait, the recruit was a guy? Doesn't Lowe have a wife and kids?"
Burgess nodded her head and smirked "scandalous"
"Wow. Any idea who's gonna takeover?"
"No idea, Adam's dad thinks they're going to look out of state for a replacement."
Jay nodded his head, it never ceased to amaze him the amount of drama that could go on in one city. He sipped at his coffee as he and Burgess sat in silence both enjoying the midmorning peace on an unusually quiet day.
"Hey..." Atwater announced as he and Adam burst through the door "... you guys remember that ex- narc we caught a few months back?"
"The one who was dealing from an ice-cream truck in the park?" Jay queried recalling the peculiar case the unit had worked on.
"That's the one. We just bumped into him in the convenience store 'round the block. Buying ice-creams."
Burgess made a face " Why isn't he in prison?"
"He got released after 60 days due to overcrowding." Ruzek revealed as Jay shook his head "I didn't sleep for 2 days doing surveillance on that guy and he's out after 60 days?!"
"Protect and serve guys" Ruzek said jokingly as the group chuckled.
"Hey guys..." Upton said knocking on the door "... we got something". With that the relaxed atmosphere amongst the group took a sharp turn as they all filed into the bullpen sitting at their respective desks.
"Alright..." Voight announced as pulled the board out into the middle of the room sticking a mugshot of a middle aged man in the centre "Billy Fox, 46, wanted for the murder of 4 people including his wife, Gina 45, and brother Robert Fox ,43. The believed murder weapon for the first murder was recovered from his home in Grand Rapids."
"Grand Rapids as in, Michigan?" Ruzek questioned with confusion.
"Fox was interviewed by Grand Rapids Police the morning after the murder of his wife and next door neighbour John Foley ,50, but there was nothing linking him to the crime scene, the high school gym, it wasn't until the murder of his brother and a gas station employee Cathy DeLuca ,32, just north of South Bend did Police suspect Fox but by that time Fox was MIA..."
Upton rose from her desk, sticking up four individual photos of the victims on the board "... Police raided his home where they uncovered a meat cleaver and a steak knife with traces of both his wife's and his neighbour's blood."
Ruzek shook his head in confusion " I'm sorry, as intriguing as this is – why are hearing about this? Shouldn't this be for the Grand Rapids departments to deal with?"
"Fox and his wife owned properties in Chicago, 4 to be exact..." Voight added.
"Michigan Police have reason to believe he could have crossed state lines and is in Chicago. Given the connections and the fact Fox' father lives just outside the city."
"We heading the case?" Al queried as Voight shook his head " Superintendent in Michigan is sending members from his intelligence unit in Detroit and Head of Intelligence in Grand Rapids, we'll co-ordinate with them when they get here. Should be this evening."
"Good, I can't wait to meet the bozo who let the suspect cross not one but 2 state lines...' Ruzek quipped as he stood up from his desk.
"Until then, I want background checks on all victims and on all 4 of the properties owned by the Fox's..." Voight ordered before turning to Jay "Jay you're with me, we have to go tell a man his son is dead and his other son is number one suspect . Al you take point until we're back."
Jay nodded his head, grabbing his coat before following Voight down the stairs and into the yard where Voight made a beeline for his new GMC Sierra.
...
"You know much about the Michigan crew?" Jay asked, in an attempt to make conversation as they entered the 22nd minute of sheer silence.
"I know they're experienced, know their stuff."
Jay nodded his head slowly, keeping his eyes on the road as they entered another period of silence. Voight was a man of few words but Jay had felt their relationship had improved in the past 2 years however on this occasion Jay couldn't come up a topic to hold a conversation and he got the feeling Voight had little interest in having one.
After 90 minutes of sheer silence Voight came to a slow stop outside a redbrick 3 story house. He peered out the windscreen before turning to Jay, that's the house, he said pointing to the well-kept house in front of them.
"So what do we say? Fox could be in there. Do we search the house?"
"We've got no warrant, no plan, we are going to in there and notify that man that his son has passed and that the case is in the hands of the Grand Rapids Police Department. I'll do a scan around the grounds while you're in there."
Jay knew not to argue his boss' orders and stepped out of the car. It was a cool August afternoon as he strolled casually up the steps of the porch and rang the door bell before stepping back, looking over his shoulder giving Voight the all clear as an elderly man approached the other side of the door. He opened it slowly, fully taking in Jay's appearance as he did so.
"Yes." He said hesitantly
"Mr Fox. Roy Fox?"
"Yes. That's me. Can I help you?"
Jay stepped forward "Mr Fox, I'm detective Halstead with the CDP, I need to speak to you about your son."
The elderly man sighed as he opened the door a little more "which one?"
"Robert"
"You better come in so son..." Mr Fox stepped back allowing Jay to enter the open plan living room and kitchen. It was a well kept house with the radio on in the background and there was something cooking in the oven as the aroma engulfed the home.
"I can't offer much, I haven't been to the store yet." Mr Fox said as he took a seat at the kitchen table.
"That's alright..." Jay sighed "... Mr Fox, I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this but your son's body was discovered at a gas station in Indiana, its looking like he was murdered."
Jay hated this part of the job – having to tell someone that their loved one was gone and in such a brutal way. On this occasion, the colour disappeared from the mourning father's face as he struggled to find the words.
"Do.. do... do they know who did it? Have they told Billy yet?"
"I'm sorry sir, but it seems your son Billy is the main suspect so if you have heard from him or he makes contact we need you to tell us..." Jay looked around the room "... is there anyone I could call for you? A neighbour or someone?"
"My wife went out a few hours ago, she should be back soon."
Jay nodded his head slowly "Again, I am so sorry for your loss. If you or your wife have any questions at all please call the district and uh..." he searched his pockets for a pen before scribbling something down on a napkin "... ask for me, Detective Halstead." He slid the napkin in the direction of Mr Fox before rising to his feet. The old man attempted to rise to his feet but Jay urged him not to, insisting he would see himself out. The grieving father didn't protest and only watched as Jay strolled out of his house.
Jay scanned his surroundings as he made his way back to the waiting vehicle. He hopped in quickly as Voight greeted him with an anxious look.
"How'd it go?"
Jay shrugged his shoulders "Something tells me I wasn't the first to tell him his son was dead... you see anything?"
"Basement windows are closed up, gonna get an unmarked car to sit on the house, see if there's any activity."
Jay nodded his head in agreement as the car started back up and they began their journey back into the city.
...
It was just after 6 when the car pulled into the yard of the district. Jay was exhausted but knew work was only beginning. Al had called Voight on the way home to say that the crew from Michigan had arrived and were getting set up, the head of the crew wanted to get to work fast and that Billy Fox's picture and license plate number were being released to all media outlets.
Voight was slow pulling into the yard which Jay found unusual, but on this occasion Voight came to a slowly stop, undid his belt even slower and clambered out of the car with Jay following behind. Jay could feel Voight's stares on his back as he made his way up the steps.
"Look Jay..." Voight exhaled, finally breaking the uneasy silence "... there's a reason I took you with me down there today and it wasn't for your ability to notify families that their loved one is dead."
Jay squinted in confusion, the two lingering on the steps awkwardly with the light of the day fading rapidly.
"Maybe I should have told you earlier but-"
"Ah Sergeant Voight!" a booming voice announced from the top step. Voight looked up to see the tall man standing in front of him and Jay "Sergeant Hayes, welcome. I hope you're settling in ok... this is Detective Halstead, he'll be working the case with us."
The Sergeant held out his hand in front of Jay to shake his had, which Jay duly did "Halstead, I'm Sergeant Hayes and this is my head of Intelligence..." he opened his body out to make way for the person standing behind him. It took Jay a moment to register but the moment she lifted her head and revealed her hazel eyes Jay's body froze, he couldn't feel a thing. It was as if someone had taken the muscles from his body and replaced them with stone.
"Erin..." he squeaked.
"That's right..." the Sergeant said, completely unaware of the tense atmosphere he was surrounded by "...Erin Lindsay."
...
So yeah, let me know what you think and if I should continue! Thanks