Hello.
I wish you a lot of fun reading the story.
Summary
A case with a terrible end that will change the life of intelligence, especially Jay Halstead. He struggles with the consequences and his family threatens to fall apart.
Prologue
-Flashback-
"Hank! You have to get us the money! No matter how!" Erin yelled at him angrily.
"You can't raise that much money from one day to the next, Erin," He said calmly.
"This is about Zach's life!" Erin cried desperately.
"We will find Zach," said Voight.
"He is only three years old! Three!" Erin yelled.
"Erin, calm down." Jay said.
"What? Our child was kidnapped you want me to calm down?" She said angrily
"Stress can lead to a premature birth," Jay said to his pregnant wife.
"Then bring our son home!" She hissed.
"I have no other plans," Jay said.
Their almost four year old son suddenly disappeared yesterday. Erin was with him on the playground and at some point she lost sight of him. Not three hours later, a ransom demand of over $2 million was made. Jay and Erin were completely out of sorts and their patience ending. They just want their little boy back.
Now, the intelligence prepared for the money transfer, which takes place in a few hours.
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The handover took place in a park. Beneath a park bench, a cell phone rang, and Jay received further demands. Fortunately, his colleagues could follow everything through the hidden camera on his shirt button.
He placed the money in the bin on the left of the park bench and his phone displayed GPS coordinates that led him to a parking garage filled with cars. This was where his son was being held.
Antonio, Ruzek, Kim, Roman and Atwater hurried to help look for the boy. Even Erin could not sit still and wait, so she searched for her son with her husband. Every minute mattered. Who knows how long the boy had been in the trunk. He had already been missing for 24 hours.
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Meanwhile, Voight and Olinsky pursued the perpetrator, who already retrieved the money. At the corner of the next street, they ambushed him. Angrily, Voight pressed his weapon to the perp's forehead.
"Where is the boy?" Hank asked angrily and gave a warning punch to the man, resulting in a bloody nose. The man just grinned greasily and laughed at the sergeant. Little did he know he messed with the wrong man - Voight was definitely not in a good mood.
"We're going on a trip," Voight hissed and drove the guy straight to the silos.
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The team hustled in their search for Zach. They opened many suspicious vehicles, none of them leading to the boy. Antonio and Kevin looked in the boiler room from the parking garage - still no indication. Mouse searched the surveillance footage to see if he could find a vehicle that had been there for a while or the suspect. As he was looking, he saw the suspect paying for his parking pass. It led him right to the vehicle.
"Ok, guys," Mouse announced over the radio. "Find a dark blue Opel Astra G. The car is parked on the third floor."
"Jay!" Adam called and pointed to the vehicle. Immediately, Jay hurried there, closely followed by Erin.
They forced the trunk open and the sight of their son made their breath hitch. The young parents paused for a moment.
Zach was unconscious, arms and legs tied together with a rope. His mouth was taped shut with duct tape.
Gently, Jay took his almost four year old son in his arms. He desperately searched for a pulse, but he couldn't find it. Immediately, he began to revive his child while Erin stood rooted by his side, crying.
Antonio immediately called for an ambulance, but they were too late. Gabby declared the little boy dead. Zach had been suffocated to death.
"No! Zach! Wake up! Zach! "Erin cried desperately and collapsed to the ground, howling. She bent over the dead body of her child and took him firmly in her arms.
"I'm so sorry, Zachary. Mommy loves you." Erin whispered, kissing the cold child's forehead. Jay knelt silently beside her and wrapped her in his arms.
This bastard will pay for this... He destroyed their future and their dreams of a small family. Nothing was alright. Somehow it seems that the world is turned upside down. The meaning of life has been lost. Their greatest happiness was taken from one minute to the next...
-End of the Flashback-
Erin startled. It was all just a dream, wasn't it? She saw her snoring husband beside her. Her eyes fell to the picture on the nightstand.
It showed a small 4-year-old boy who was smiling in her arms. Exhausted, she let herself sink into her pillow...
A few moments later she heard little feet already drifting across the floor, and only a few moments later the girl scurried into the middle of the bed.
"Hey Zoey. Honey, are you alright?" Erin whispered softly, hugging her daughter close to her. The young girl nodded tiredly, and shortly thereafter Erin heard the deep breaths of her sleeping child. She watched her peaceful daughter as she kicked her father every minute with her arms or legs.
Jay groaned briefly and opened his eyes a tiny gap.
"Looks like we have a guest," he murmured, pointing to the little sleeping girl in their midst. Erin gently stroked the hair of the little girl and nodded silently.
"Erin? Are you alright?" Jay asked worriedly.
"I-I thought of Zach's kidnapping again," She replied.
"Er. That was 5 years ago. We're fine," Jay mumbled wearily and put his arm around his girls.
"Yeah."
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"Good morning," Jay whispered, kissing his partner. They were close together, arm in arm, cuddling.
"Morning," she smiled. "Our daughter is perfect, isn't she?"
"What can I say? She has my genes," Jay grinned and took a quick hit from Erin.
"Ow," he grinned.
"Watch what you say," Erin laughed.
"Alright. Our genes," Jay corrected himself. At the same moment another small body scurried to their bed.
"Hi cheeky monkey. Did you sleep well?" Erin asked worriedly and pulled her little man into a bear hug.
"Great!" he answered and Erin gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Bah. Mum I'm not a toddler anymore," He complained.
"Oh, yes. You will forever be my little boy," she said worriedly and hugged him closer.
"Our little boy," Jay corrected her.
"Are you alright, Mum?" He asked
"Yes. Um. I just had a bad dream, I guess," Erin answered honestly. "Why?"
"It doesn't matter. I'm just happy that you're okay."
"You know, Mommy sometimes has bad dreams where we didn't find you in time," Jay explained.
"But you guys did. Daddy took me home, Mummy."
"And I'm very grateful to Daddy for that," Erin said, leaning for a kiss to Jay.
-Flashback 5 years ago-
The team, minus Erin, forced the trunk open and the sight of the young boy made their breath hitch.
Zach lay in the trunk, arms and legs tied together with a rope. His mouth was taped shut with duct tape. Gently, Jay took his 4 year old son into his arms.
"Hey Buddy. You are safe now. I'll remove the tape, okay?" Jay said and Zach nodded slightly. Zach cried and more tears rolled down his cheeks. Antonio cut the rope so the little one could move.
"Daddy!" Zach howled, tightening his grip on his dad.
"Daddy is here, buddy. It's over. Everything will be alright," Jay whispered.
They were driven home by Roman and Burgess, where Erin was eagerly awaiting their return.
"MOMMY!" Zach shrieked and hugged his mother tightly. Erin knelt on the floor and stretched out his arms for her little boy. "Zach. I was very worried about you. I'll never never let you go again." Erin whispered.
Jay squatted with his family and took both Erin and his boy in his arms.
"You were very brave, Zachary," Jay said, stroking Zach's back.
"Mommy and Daddy love you very much," Erin said, kissing his little forehead.
"I love you too," he whispered.
-End of the Flashback-
"Bah, do you have to do that when I lie between you guys?" Zach asked.
"Sorry, we love each other," Jay smiled.
"Still, you don't need to be gross," Zach said and the two laughed.
Slowly, the small sleeping body stretched and stretched.
"Mommy," She yawned, "I'm hungry."
"One thing is clear, at least. They get this constant urge for food from you," Erin laughed.
"Just not the taste buds," Jay muttered and took another quick hit from Erin.
"OK. Daddy is baking pancakes and we're getting dressed," Erin said.
A little while later, they sat together at the breakfast table. They chatted and joked, as they did every morning.
"How about if we go shopping today?" Erin asked.
"Oh no," Zach said.
"Zoey needs new clothes. The old ones have become too small for her," Erin explained.
"Then go with Zoey," Zach offered.
"Alright, then I guess you don't want to get any ice cream afterwards."
"That's extortion."
"Come on Zach. It's going to be fun," Jay said, even though he was not a big fan of shopping himself. However, he was able to spend time with his family, and that was all that mattered to him.
Later on, they walked together along the road. Zoey and Zach hopped playfully over the floorboards of the sidewalk. At the sight of the kids, Jay and Erin laughed. They really had the two most adorable children.
"Zach! Zoey! Do not run so far!" Jay warned, as the children were almost out of sight. Since Zach's kidnapping the parents have become very vigilant. Especially in the first few months, they almost never let Zach or Baby Zoey out of their sight. Since then, they have become more relaxed, but nevertheless they are admittedly overprotective.
"Then walk faster!" Zach, who was almost on the main street with Zoey, shouted back at his parents.
"Zoey!" Erin shouted. In the last second she hurried and grabbed the hand of her 4 year old daughter, who would have otherwise run directly into the street.
"Honey. You cannot just walk across a street like this. Look, the pedestrian lights glow red. That means we have to wait until she turns green," Erin explained.
"Is it green now?" Zoey asked impatiently.
"It will be green soon." Erin said, "You see, now we can go."
As soon as Erin spoke out Zoey wanted to run again, but Jay grabbed her other hand in time.
"You can stay between Mommy and me," Jay told her.
"But why?" She asked.
"Because Chicago is a big city and you can easily get lost," Jay said.
"But we were allowed to pre-run."
"We weren't on a busy road and there were no cars. Look at how many cars there are now, sweetie. Not everyone stops when we walk across the street," Jay explained.
"Okay," Zoey resigned, reaching for her mother's hand again.
"Can you pull me up?" She asked.
"Of course." Erin grinned. She counted to three and then they pulled up her giggling daughter.
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In the shopping center the family separated because the father and son duo no longer wished to chase after Erin and Zoey. They went on their own adventure while the ladies continued on their shopping spree.
"Do you like this sweater?" Erin asked, holding up a pink one
"Nah," Zoey answered.
"How about this sweater?" Erin asked, holding up a dark red with gray stars.
"Nah," Zoey answered again.
Erin took a deep breath. They searched stand after stand, but nothing pleased Zoey. Erin always thought that Zach was exhausting to shop for, but Zoey was far worse. After all, you could get Zach just about anything, because he wears everything that is green, blue, black or gray.
"This one, Mommy! I want this one!" Zoey cheered, holding up a dark blue pink Paw Patrol sweatshirt.
Erin raised her eyebrow slightly. On the shirt a dog's head was shown with aviator glasses.
"Seriously?" She asked.
"Yeah, because that's Skye," Zoey explained.
"All right," Erin muttered. After all, she didn't care. As long as her Zoey finally found something she liked, Erin was satisfied.
Meanwhile, Jay and Zach were having fun in the toy department. Like little children, they had to try everything.
"Can I get that?" Zach asked with a dog-look and pointed to a Lego Minecraft set.
"Put it on your wishlist," Jay said.
"Christmas is in seven weeks! If Mum can buy new clothes for Zoey, why can't you buy me a new toy?" Zach argued.
"Because if Mum didn't buy Zoey clothes, she would have none. You can live without a toy for seven weeks," Jay reasoned.
"Please, daddy. Please, please, please," Zach begged with a pout.
"Did you even look at the price?"
"But, but, but Daddy," Zach begged. "I'm always behaved."
"That trick would have worked if you were little."
"You said only this morning that I am your little boy."
"Yes, but that was a figure of speech."
"Please. Daddy. Please. Zoey's clothes definitely cost as much as, if not more than, the Lego set."
"Alright, but then stop with the puppy dog eyes," Jay gave in, smirking.
"Okay," Zach grinned.
After they made their purchase, they met the two female Halsteads at the ice cream parlor. The kids ordered a chocolate cup, while Jay and Erin just preferred a coffee.
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In the late afternoon, Zoey persuaded her brother to play Paw Patrol with her. Zach played the leader and Zoey played her favorite dog Skye. Zoey's loft bed with the slide represented the headquarters. The missions, however, were distributed throughout the house. The two were about to invade the living room - they had to save the Nintendo DS, which had been taken away days before because they spent too much time on it.
"What is this?" Jay asked, entering the room
"Um ..." both desperately tried to come up with an excuse, but failed.
"You can give me that Nintendo DS, now," Jay said, holding out his hand.
Both children looked at each other and exchanged facial expressions and gestures. Zach and Zoey grabbed the sofa cushions to arm themselves against their dad.
"Oh. You want to fight?" Erin asked, who came in now.
The two nodded enthusiastically and threw a pillow at their parents, who smiled. Shortly thereafter, the chaos erupted, parents against children. Erin and Zach fought each other with pillows. Jay picked up the little girl and started a tickle attack. Zoey laughed and begged her dad to stop. Erin could not help but hurried to help her little girl. She threw her husband off with a pillow and released Zoey. Zach noticed the change and now helped his dad. Now, it was father and son against mother and daughter. Jay and his son sought shelter behind the sofa, as Zach fetched a nerf gun and Erin then took the other. Erin and Zoey sought shelter behind the opposite couch. Nerf darts flew everywhere.
After almost 2 hours of ruckus, three of them lay exhausted on the sofa - Jay, Zach and Erin. Zoey lay across the three.
"Oh God. I'm k.o. "Erin muttered.
"Not only you." Jay said.
"Why must our children be so full of energy?" Erin asked, stroking the sleeping Zoey over her back.
"Can we still get revenge?" Zach asked and Erin groaned. She loves spending time with their kids, but right now she really did not have any power anymore.
"Can we move the rematch to another day?" Jay asked, who was in a similar state as Erin.
"OK. Can we watch a movie? And can someone bring me food and drink, please?"
"Anything else?" Jay asked.
"Yes, a dog would be nice."
"Um. I'll bring something to eat." Jay said, returning a little later with enough drink and mini pizzas for everyone.
"So what do we want to watch?" Erin asked and tapped through Amazon.
"Diary of a Wimpy Kid," Zach said.
"Paw Patrol," Zoey muttered sleepily and straightened from the lying position. She sat on Erin's lap and rested her head on her shoulder.
"No. Not again," Zach complained.
"How about Zoomania?" Erin asked.
"Yes, anything other than Paw Patrol." Zach said.
"No. Mommy, I want to see Paw Patrol," Zoey sniffled.
"Honey. You already know the series in and out," Erin comforted.
"Paw Patrol!" Zoey cried.
"Tonight Zach decides and tomorrow you can choose a movie, okay?" Jay tried to reason with his tired daughter.
"No!" She insisted.
"Zoey. Either you watch the movie with us or you can go to bed right away," Erin said sternly. Lately Zoey always tried to get her way. At first they gave in, but by now the cuteness of the child no longer counted. They had seen every episode at least one hundred times.
"Only if you come with me," she said, wiping away her light tears.
"Honey, I would like to stay here with Daddy and Zach. The movie is supposed to be funny, huh?"
"Okay, but only if I'm allowed to sleep with you."
"Okay, but only tonight." Erin said and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
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In the next chapter, the story starts.
I'm really looking forward to reviews. Let me know your opinions and ideas!
How do you like the prologue?
Bye lelema