Close to midnight, they finally had something to work with. After hours of doing research and talking to CI's, they found out that a high-ranked member was thinking about leaving the gang. One of Voight's CI's knew him and arranged a meeting.
Right now, they found themselves around a dark alley, where they wanted to meet the gang member. Voight stood next to his CI, they were connected to the team with an earpiece. Jay and Hailey sat in Jay's truck, Kim and Kevin hid in the building opposite of the alley and Adam watched the whole scene from within the surveillance van.
"Get ready people, five minutes till midnight", Voight said.
Hailey's jaw clenched and she stiffened. Jay noticed immediately and took her hand in his. They looked at each other without saying a word. These small moments made her fall for him just a little harder, and he was grateful for being able to ease her strain.
Meanwhile, Kim eyed Kevin when Voight called out the five minutes.
"Kevin are you good?"
He turned his head around and looked directly into her eyes.
"I will be if this guy has some valid information about Vanessa's location."
His voice was sharp, and his eyes were as cold as ice. Kim shivered. She had never seen Kevin like that before.
"Just promise me that you keep yourself together, okay?"
He nodded and turned his gaze back to the alley.
"There he is", Voight's CI announced, and everyone shifted into action mode.
"Hey Bro, how're you doing?"
The other guy looked at him and raised his eyebrows.
"Who's that?", he asked and pointed at Voight.
"I'm a friend."
Voight's face was blank.
"You didn't tell me that you'd bring a friend. I thought we were meeting in private."
"Hey, don't mind him. He's a nobody, you know. I… I just don't like to wait alone in such a dark alley, so I brought him. Anyway, you told me you could help me with some info about that gang you're in. You remember?"
"Yeah", he answered while eyeing Voight closely.
"So? I heard your friends are planning something big… What's that about?"
"Where did you hear that?"
Voight's CI raised his eyebrows and threw his hands up.
"Streets are talking, man. What did you expect? Did you think that a deal like that would go unnoticed?"
"Well, first of all, they're not my friends anymore. And secondly, I'm not exactly involved in that plan."
"But you gotta know something. I mean, you're still part of the leading circle, right?"
"For now…"
"Come on Ricky, you promised me that you'd help me."
"Why do you want to know all these details? You tryin' to sabotage this?"
Voight's CI flinched slightly.
"Damn it, he's gonna blow this", Kevin muttered, and was about to move, when Kim stopped him.
"Hey Kevin, no! He's Voight's CI, he's got this. You promised me to keep yourself together."
Kevin looked at her and remained in his position.
At the same time, Hailey and Jay stiffened in their position. Hailey straightened her back and her hand went up to the door handle. Jay moved his shoulders slightly and grabbed his radio.
"Adam, is this going south?"
"No, Voight's with him, they got this. Let's trust our boss."
Adam's calming voice was enough for now, but Jay knew that next time, Hailey would jump out of the truck.
Meanwhile, Voight's CI found an answer to Ricky's questions.
"Of course I'm not! What makes you think that? I'm trying to find out how I can fit into all of this… you know, maybe I could find some clients for your former friends. If they don't already have clients, of course."
Ricky eyed him closely.
"You think you know someone who is willing to pay enough for our dope?"
Voight's CI shrugged.
"Alright, this changes the game then. What do you want?"
"I want to see the dope first, so I can tell my friends that it's as good as you say. Where do you stash it?"
Ricky laughed. Voight and his CI raised their eyebrows.
"What's so funny 'bout that? If I don't see the dope first, you won't meet my friends."
"Chill, I get it. You'll see it, but I gotta call my fellows first. You know, Marc doesn't like it when I pull stunts like that on my own. two days and I'll see you again?"
Everyone stiffened again.
"Boss two days is too much", Adam warned.
When Ricky turned away for a second to light his cigarette, Voight shook his head at his CI. The latter nodded barely visible and looked back at Ricky just in time.
"You know man, I don't know how long my friends still stay in town, so I think two days is too much. Could you make this work a little faster?"
Ricky shrugged.
"How fast?"
"I don't know… tomorrow morning or lunch time? You could just call me and tell me the address, I'll come there, and we can arrange this whole thing, how 'bout that?"
"And when do I tell Marc about this?"
"Tomorrow morning? Don't you call each other?"
"Sure sure, but he doesn't like to get started before lunch… Well, I could just bring you with me and we could talk about this right then and there. He likes to meet new business partners in person anyways. You cool with that?"
"Okay, but only if I can bring my friend here. You know, I don't like meeting people alone."
"I thought he was a nobody and you're going with me, so you're not alone."
Ricky started to get a strange feeling about Voight, but luckily, Voight's CI was quick to react.
"Yeah, I know, but he's kinda my bodyguard. Like literally, I don't go anywhere without him. Can he come with me?"
Ricky threw his hands up in surrender.
"Alright, if you insist. I'll call you tomorrow morning to give you the address. See you, Bro."
He turned his back on them and disappeared in the dark alley. Voight and his CI waited a few minutes longer, listened to the motor of a car fading away and then they walked over to the surveillance van.
"We'll meet at the district", Voight commanded over his earpiece.
A/N: Hey there!
I know it's a short chapter and that I'm very late again, but I think it's better than nothing right 😊?
Anyways, I wish you all a good day and I hope that you're still with me on this one! ~ D.