Officer Down
Chapter 1
Jess had WGN on in the kitchen while she rolled out pie crust for the pie she was baking. Her ears perked up when she heard the anchor announce a CPD officer had been shot in the line of duty. She went to the TV set and turned up the sound. As expected, they said the name of the officer was not being released. She felt her stomach flip over and her hands start to shake. She knew she couldn't call Hank because if he was safe, he'd probably be busy taking over the investigation.
She walked back to the sink and hung over it for a few minutes, waiting to see if she was going to throw up. In the fifteen years she had known Voight, this had only happened twice before. Halstead was all right. Wilhite had joined Voight's father with her name on the wall.
'Alright, Jess, you have a pie to finish. Get to it,' she scolded herself.
She washed her hands and went back to the pie. She added the crust to the pan, then slid the pumpkin mixture to it. She rolled out more dough and repeated the steps with the second pie. She slid them into the oven. As she closed the oven door, her cell rang. She snatched it off the counter. She saw Hank's picture light up when she unlocked the phone.
"Hank," she said worriedly.
"Jess, I'm okay," he started.
"Thank God!" she said in relief. She felt her knees growing weak and starting to give out. She grabbed the kitchen counter to keep from falling.
"I take it you heard the news."
"Kind of hard not to," she said.
"It wasn't anyone from Intelligence, but it was an officer from the District."
"I know you can't tell me anything, but please let everyone know I'm thinking about them."
"I will. I'm heading over to Chicago Med now. I'll keep you posted."
"I appreciate it. Thanks, Hank."
"Just wanted to let you know I was ok and not to worry."
"But I am worried. It's one of your colleagues."
An hour later, the pies were on the counter cooling. Jess was busy packing up boxes. She hauled everything down to her Rav4 and put everything in the back. She got in the car, buckled up and took off.
Twenty minutes later, she parked in front of the 21st District. She grabbed a box and headed inside.
"Jess, " Platt said as she saw Jess enter carrying a box.
"Hi, Trudy. How are you holding up?"
Platt leaned on the desk. "Not too well. I sent the officer on the call."
"You didn't know what was going to happen, Trudy. Nobody did. You were just doing your job," Jess soothed, hoping to make the older woman feel a bit better.
"I take it Hank called you?"
She nodded. "I heard it on the news first. Worried myself sick for 15 minutes, then I went back to baking my pies. No sooner got them in the oven when he called to tell me he was OK."
Platt peeked into the box that Jess had set on the counter. She raised an eyebrow and looked at Jess expectantly.
"I knew you'd be upset and that you'd probably be hungry, so I brought you some spaghetti and salad," she offered. "There's a serving in there for Randy too."
Platt looked at her. Not many people went out of their way to make things nice for her, and here was one of her Sergeant's wives doing just that. "Oh, Jess, that was so kind of you. Thank you," she said. "Seriously, you so did not have to do this."
Platt walked around the desk and stopped in front of Jess. She gave her a hug. "Thank you, Girlfriend."
You're welcome. Enjoy it."
"Oh, I will. Randy might not get his."
"Gertrude Alice Platt! You had better not."
Platt took a step back. "You so did not call me that."
"Not loud enough for anyone to hear it," Jess said, eyes twinkling. "Make sure Randy gets his."
"You just wait Jessica Marie," she threatened as Jess walked out of the house.
Jess turned around and blew Platt a kiss. "Love you Trudy."