Chapter 11: Too Many Directions

[Author's Note: Before we begin this next chapter, I just want to acknowledge the current state of the world that we're in. According to recent media reports, cases of Coronavirus have increased in Chicago. I myself don't actually live in Chicago, but my family and I have been in precautionary self-quarantine for the last 3 weeks or so. I also haven't been able to work at my hospital volunteer job for a while now, so I can't imagine what people in bigger cities like Chicago, New York, and especially countries such as China or Italy are going through. At the risk of sounding a bit cliché, we're all going through this together and I just want to say to the people of the real Chicago and the other aforementioned places, keep your heads up everybody and I wish the best for you all! You're in our prayers! Finally, thank you to all our essential workers, medical staff, and first responders for doing what you can to keep us healthy and safe during this very uncertain time.]

Chicago Police Headquarters
Office of Superintendent Arthur Daniels
The Next Morning
8:00 AM

Commander Darren Brooks knocked on the large glass office door of Superintendent Arthur Daniels at Chicago's Police Headquarters, known to CPD officers as "The Ivory Tower".

"Come in", a male voice said from inside the office.

The uniform-clad Brooks entered the office to find Superintendent Arthur Daniels sitting at his desk. Daniels was a very tall African-American man in his mid-fifties dressed in a black CPD dress uniform adorned with the various service medals he had earned throughout his 31 years of service, the most obvious compensation being the very position he was in as Superintendent of Police.

Commander Brooks then stood at attention and formally saluted his boss, a gesture known in the police community as "presenting arms". "Good morning, Superintendent", he said, "I appreciate you being able to see me this early, sir."

Superintendent Daniels put a hand up. "No need for formalities, Commander", he said, "How can I help you and your people at the Thirty-Fourth District?"

Brooks sat down in a chair in front of Daniels' desk and pulled it closer. "Two of our detectives may have stumbled onto something that may have potential repercussions for you all here at the Ivory Tower. Have you heard about the blackout and the murder victims that were found at May Stadium last night?"

Daniels nodded. "I have, yes", he replied, "What about it?"

"We have this new Homicide detective at our district, Troy Harrison…" Brooks said.

"I've met him", Daniels interrupted, "Ex-FBI. Trained profiler, smart guy. I hired him personally."

"I remember you saying that before, sir", Brooks said, "He has this good friend, a rookie Narcotics detective named Abigail Asher. The two of them apparently grew up together in Vermont. They were at the baseball game last night and stumbled upon the murders and were there when the blackout occurred. As you know, Detective Harrison is part of the CtOS Task Force and he got them to investigate things for us. We stumbled onto some footage that could be considered incriminating. I wanted to come to you first."

A very troubled look came across the Superintendent's face. "Where's this going, Darren?" Daniels asked.

"With all due respect", Brooks began, "What do you know about how First Deputy Barron spends his time off the job, sir?"

Daniels shrugged his shoulders. "I know some things", he replied very frankly, "He and I play poker together once a month with some of the brass from the Fire Department. He has a wife, Sheila, who teaches high school math. They have teenage twin daughters named Faith and Destiny. Shall I continue?"

"Let me get to the point, sir", Brooks said, "We caught some of your command staff, including First Deputy Barron, on surveillance at the stadium around the time of the blackout. Harrison, Asher, Lieutenant Deon Henderson, and this young patrolman named DeYoung all saw them there. We caught Barron on camera footage just before the bodies were found and the blackout occurred."

"Again, Commander", Daniels cut him off once again, "I have to ask, what exactly is the point you're trying to make here?"

"We have reason to believe that Barron and the other members of the brass were in close contact with a guy named Joseph DeMarco", Brooks replied, "He's some kind of artist who's being investigating by the guys at Organized Crime for possibly being affiliated with Lucky Quinn and the Chicago South Club."

Though very perturbed at the Commander's insinuation, Superintendent Daniels sighed away his anger and calmed himself. "If you're thinking what I believe you to be thinking, Darren", he said with a tone that was a bewildering mix of shaky and confident, "The blunt truth is, I really don't know what Wally Barron does off the job aside from the things I just mentioned. The man is a goddamn island."

"I get that, Art", Brooks said, "This is Chicago in the new millennium. Everybody's got secrets. What I'm wondering is, if his skeletons are pulled out of the closet, are you going to be prepared to get in front of everything and have our backs?"

Daniels nodded his head affirmatively and without any hesitation. "Absolutely", he replied, "If it's determined without a shadow of a doubt that Walter Barron has in any way violated the law, or even CPD procedure for that matter, I'll fire or even arrest him myself if I have to."

Commander Brooks rose from his seat and extended a hand to the Superintendent. "That's all I wanted, sir", he said, "And I have every confidence that my detectives will find something if something is to be found."

Daniels shook the Commander's hand. "I have no doubt, Commander", he said, "Just tell them to tread lightly and be careful for now."

Homicide Squad Room
CPD District 34
11:30 AM

Detectives Harrison and Tran busily typed away at their respective computers, trying to lose themselves in their work to avoid approaching the difficult subject that was the dark shadow of possible corruption on the part of CPD's First Deputy Superintendent.

"Have you had any luck finding a new place other than that motel of yours?" Tran asked Harrison, trying to make small talk.

Not taking his gaze from his computer, Harrison shook his head. "I can't say as I've had the time to really look lately", Harrison replied candidly, "I had my eye on a duplex apartment in Wicker Park, but the rent was way too high for my liking. But you're right, I can't stay in that shabby motel room forever."

Tran leaned back in her wheeled leather office chair for a moment and thought to herself. "You and Abby grew up in that small town in Vermont, right?" she asked after a minute or so of thought, "What was it called again?"

Harrison finally took his eye off his own work for the moment, leaning back in his own chair and returning his partner's gaze. "Winterville", he replied, "It's a little town on the Connecticut River that's also on the state line with New Hampshire. Why?"

"There's this small town about ten minutes outside the city called Pawnee", Tran explained, "Scenery-wise, it doesn't even feel like you're anywhere close to Chicago. There are lots of nice cottages, plenty of water access for fishing, a small hotel, and a cozy little bar."

Harrison pondered Tran's suggestion for a moment. "Sounds very quaint", he said, "You know any of the realtors over there?"

With that, Tran opened the top drawer of her desk and took out a business card, bringing it to Harrison. "This guy's name is Scott Kaslov", she said, "He has a realty office right in Pawnee. Give him a call and hopefully he can help you out."

Harrison nodded with an appreciative grin as he took the card and examined it. "I just might do that", he said, "Thanks. How do you know this Kaslov dude?"

"We dated for about two years until last summer", Tran replied.

Just then, Harrison's desk phone rang. "Sounds like there's a story there", he said, "But it doesn't look like we have the time to go over it at the moment." He picked up the receiver. "Harrison", he said into the phone.

"Yo, Harrison", the familiarly deep voice of Monty Jones replied from his end of the line, "It's me, Monty. My guy I told you about came through. I think I found you a solid lead on where this Maurice Vega dude might be."

Harrison had to obviously conceal his knowledge of Maurice Vega's apparent assault and kidnapping, but nevertheless he grabbed a legal pad and a pen. "Okay Monty", he said, "Go ahead."

"My man says that your boy is squatting at the abandoned library in East Garfield Park", Monty explained, "That's on the West Side in case you aren't familiar. The exact address is Three-Twenty-One West Washington Boulevard. Is that good enough?"

"Yeah man", Harrison replied as he tore the page off the pad and handed it to Tran, "That should be good enough for now. Thanks, Monty, and thank your man for us while you're at it, would you?"

"No problem, brother", Monty said, "Anything else you guys need, I got you. Peace." He then hung up before Harrison could thank him for some reason, at which point Harrison hung up his own receiver and got up from his chair.

Tran studied the piece of paper. "Monty came through for us I take it?" she asked.

Harrison nodded as he threw on his coat. "Yep", he said, "His buddy gave us a possible last known address for Maurice Vega. I didn't tell him about the stadium thing and the fact that Vega may have been kidnapped, but who knows, that may have been where his kidnapper snatched him from."

"So", Tran said, "This address is an apartment building or something, then?"

"Monty said that the address is to an abandoned library", Harrison said as he took his cell phone from his pocket, "I'm going to call Voight and fill him in."

"Okay", Tran replied as she took out her own cell phone, "Dobbs and Brooks are on a lunch break across the street. I'll call them and have them meet us over there."

Harrison nodded as he dialed Voight's cell number. "Voight", Hank Voight answered after a few rings.

"Hey Hank", Harrison greeted, "It's Troy Harrison. My informant gave us a lead on a possible last known address for Maurice Vega. It's an abandoned library at Three-Two-One West Washington Boulevard in East Garfield Park. Sunny and I think that could give us some evidence as to who kidnapped him."

"Al and I are at the courthouse today waiting to give our testimonies on another case", Voight said, "We can't leave right now. Tell you what, though. I know a female patrolman who works that area. I'll give her a call and see if she and her partner can back you guys up."

"We'd appreciate that, Hank", Harrison said, "That'd be great. What's her name?"

"Erin", he said, "Erin Lindsay."