Helloooo! Every week i think 'This'll be a short one.' Every week my writing brain says 'Uh no I don't think so!' So here I am again with one long chapter, split into two!

You honestly blow my mind with your amazing reviews and your kindness. I'm so grateful and it makes me quite emotional really. Thank you. And masive thanks to Nons as always xx

Steven Flynn lowers his eyes straight after Jay makes eye contact with him.

Jay thinks he maintains his poker face even though there are a million thoughts bubbling in his head.

Jay also considers that there's a slight chance they've made him already. That they'll kill him whether or not he keeps his composure, but Flynn regains his and stands up, reaching out a hand out to shake Jay's. Giving him a nod as Hunt does the same and there's a satisfied murmur of approval to Jay's right as Price smiles.

"Sit Foster, sit."

Jay looks at Price for the first time as he circles the table; moving to the head of it beside Barnet, staring intently at Jay, scrutinizing him as much as Jay does the same of him.

Price's aged, seeming much older than the pictures on the board in the bullpen. His hair is gray, regulation military cut, blue eyes and a scar on the side of his face.

When Price smiles like he's doing now, there's not a hint of kindness, nothing about him that's comforting.

"So, Foster, you in for this?"

Jay shrugs his shoulders, leaning forward, "I don't know what the 'this' is, Sir."

To Price's right, Jay sees Barnet's nod of approval and Price's smirk. The tension which Jay hadn't realized was so deep in the room eases.

"We're like a family here, we support each other. As long as you stay true to us, you'll be treated as well as you were in the Rangers," Price explains.

"Yeah, those things I talked about, Ryan, the way we're nothing out here in civilian life. It ain't like that here. We keep you occupied so you don't lose yourself in negativity," Barnet continues.

"Okay," Jay replies, "Occupied in what way?"

"Tony, why don't you explain to Ryan what happens here for a few minutes while some of us have a little private conversation?" Price looks at Hunt, who seems surprised and uncertain of how to respond until Flynn nudges him and offers an encouraging smile.

"Sure, sir," Hunt nervously gestures toward Jay as Flynn stands up and walks away. Toward the door in the corner of the room that's now open and follows Barnet and Price through it.

Leaving Jay and Hunt alone.

"Afghanistan or Iraq?" Jay asks.

"Iraq," the other man stands up as he answers, reaching for a glass and pouring out the water from the carafe in the middle of the table, "Want some?"

"No," Jay watches Hunt carefully. He's not far off Jay's age except he's balding in a way Jay's seen before when stress makes someone fidget and fidget with their hair and his hands tremble, "You always lived in Chicago, man?"

Hunt doesn't look at him, his eyes darting away to his left as he takes a sip of the water, "Ain't got no family, man, except for those guys.

He gestures toward the door Barnet, Price and Flynn had disappeared through.

"We all got some family," Jay persists.

The look Hunt gives him is a curious mix of annoyance and fear. Fear he doesn't even attempt to hide: fear and something else now Jay recognizes.

Desperation. The way Anthony glances quickly at the door and then putting the glass down, he rounds the table and crouches close to Jay.

"Not me but you know, sometimes I miss my fri-."

Hunt doesn't finish what he said, though Jay can complete the last word in his head as the door opens and Hunt straightens quickly, ramrod straight, shoulders back.

Price is good but Jay can read body language; can read the way he slows and his eyes narrow the smallest bit as he and the other 2 men return to the room.

His smile as he approaches Jay, the way he lowers a hand on one of Jay's shoulders and the other on one of Anthony's should seem kinder than it does. Should mean something good, but Jay can see that Anthony's about as convinced as he is, there's tension in his jaw.

"I trust Anthony's told you how we're here for each other. Never anything less than one hundred percent, right Tony?"

Anthony swallows, "Right, sir."

"Good then, you in Ryan?"

Jay wants to say, 'in with what?'. Jay wants to grab hold of Flynn and ask what the hell is going on?

Instead, Jay as Ryan maintains his poker face, albeit with a small added smile and a sigh of relief.

"Like you even have to ask, sir."

The laughter in the room wouldn't and shouldn't convince a single soul in the world, Jay thinks.

Jay sits in the Focus a few doors away from the house he and Hailey visited back at the start of all this.

He sips at the coffee and screws his face up at the liquid that's now cold. Opening the window and pouring the remaining coffee away then closing it. Tossing the cup onto the seats behind him as he returns his attention back to the house.

He'd barely slept again, though this time it was more to do with the events of the evening. Flynn and also Price in particular. The fear on Anthony Hunt's face, too.

Jay doesn't get the chance to ponder more as the door opens and Helen Flynn kisses her husband on the cheek. She waves before turning her back and walks away along the sidewalk, Steven Flynn's gaze following her till he casts a glance toward where Jay sits in the car then steps inside shutting the door.

It's risky being here. Jay had been careful on the way here and he's as sure as he can be that he didn't pick up a tail at any point, he's unsure of whether he can even trust Flynn.

Jay puts the thoughts to the back of his head because at the moment he's in a position of being unaware of the reason Flynn was there at all. Flynn knows more than him and intelligence. Knows Jay's a cop, which makes him dangerous.

As Jay approaches the front door, he sees that it's slightly ajar. He looks around him, down the street both ways but still can see no one tailing him so he pushes the door once and again till he sees Flynn leaning against the doorway, grim-faced.

"I was expecting you. Saw the unfamiliar car when Helen left and well, I owe you an explanation, Detective or Ryan,"he amends with a frown, "Get you a drink?"

Jay shakes his head, hears Flynn mutter something about needing a drink himself and follows him.

He has a bunch of questions, could yell at him but he knows that won't get the answers he needs.

Instead, he stands in the kitchen observing Flynn as he busies himself preparing the drink before he halts and turns around.

"I thought I was helping David. Introducing him to Jim and Pete. Jim Price and I met in Vietnam. I got out as soon as I made it out of there. Jim found his calling, served in Desert Storm, rose through the ranks to Master Sergeant till he got injured and got out. Jim used to be solid, used to be decent, and I have no idea when it changed."

He turns back toward the counter, pulling a mug from a cupboard and pouring the coffee into it. He moves towards a chair around the small table in the kitchen and gestures toward Jay, urging him to sit too.

Jay shakes his head, "I'm fine here."

"Actually, I kind of know when he changed, he was respectable, he was normal, he was so damn supportive of us when Ella died. He was good around David too. Encouraging when he talked about serving then he got mad. Jim that is, he got so mad because he said it was like history repeating itself. People not understanding what those guys who served were going through in Afghanistan or Iraq. He used to rail against everyone for not getting it."

Jay's thoughts go back to the same anger Barnet had displayed with him on the same subject.

"Jim's always had his fingers in multiple different pies. I had no hesitation in David spending time with him when he got back. I was relieved when he told me he was in contact with him and when he changed for the better, It was like like it vindicated my relief."

Flynn's expression darkens and he looks away, "When he changed I didn't want to believe it related to the bar or to Jim or anything so I asked Jim if I could come with David one time to see what was going on and he didn't hesitate. He said I was welcome, and I got there and found that on the surface at least, it's normal."

"It's not though, right?"

Flynn shakes his head, "They do this thing where the guys they have. That they select," Flynn emphasizes the last word with an air quote, "They call them tours of duty so they mimic life in-country. They never said and they've not said to me how long the tours last, only vague comments about it being a similar period to the genuine thing."

"What happens when they reach the end of a tour?" Jay questions, almost sure he won't like the answer.

"I'm still trying to figure it out but I think it's what happened to my boy, the way he was good for months and then suddenly not. I think they cast them aside, he wouldn't say. Jim or Pete won't say either. I sense the only reason they allow me to be there is because they're afraid I'll ask questions if not."

Jay steps forward, pulling the chair next to Flynn backward and sitting down, leaning his body toward the older man.

"Do you know what happened to Brian Townsend? Craig Farmer? Eddie Stapleton? Or what they're expected to do when they're doing whatever this whole thing is?"

Flynn sighs, picks up the coffee cup and sips, shutting his eyes as he lowers it before his returning his attention to Jay.

"Drugs are part of it at least. You know they got Marcie hooked on Oxy?" At Jay's nod, he continues, "They do stuff that means these guys are all so grateful. Expose them to the trauma so they can recover from it, but it's so fucked up. They try to get them to stay away from their families, they don't disappear in the conventional sense. They house them someplace if they were with their families before or their friends could say where they lived and you've seen how dependent Marcie is on them. She's grateful to them and yet, see what happened to her kid."

There's a sick churning sensation in Jay's stomach and he almost doesn't want to ask but has to.

"Expose them to the trauma so they can recover from it? By repeating what they want through?"

Flynn's grimace confirms Jay's suspicions are correct. Also explains some of Stapleton's injuries.

"You know, they're more impatient than they used to be. The body count is rising and I'm scared for Anthony, he's a pleasant kid. It's worse with him as he ain't got no family. He has friends but Jim made sure he doesn't know they're worried, that they were and probably still are hunting high and low for him," Flynn points towards Jay then, "And now, now I'm concerned for you too, Detective."

"I got back up. I'll be good," Jay responds then counters, "You should get out of town or at least Mrs Flynn should."

"She won't do that. Too many memories mixed up in this city and all, but you're right, I should send her to Cali to see her sister."

"You should go too."

"I want to make sure this ends. And ends without more needless deaths. Also, I may have been the one to sign off on you. If I skip outta the city, they'll investigate you more and Ryan, you may have good back up but you can't have that backup 24/7."

Jay examines the way Flynn looks at him now. Searching for signs he's bluffing, searching for anything that could signify Flynn's the one to worry about, particularly given what he'd withheld from Jay. That he says he was the one to sign him off.

Comes up with nothing except concern for now.

"We can't allow you to stay in if this is some thirst for revenge, Mr Flynn."

Flynn laughs, bitter, short.

"I want justice. I want answers for why someone I considered one of my oldest friends, a brother even, turned to this. Murdered my son, but I'm also not kidding myself, I'm too old. Too tired. I want to get away from this city, these memories. Except if I left now, the memories would follow me and this feeling in my stomach that's so unsettled will never leave me. If my being here at least lends credibility to you, to Ryan and helps, helps you do what's needed to get those answers, then that's all I could want."

After a beat, Jay nods, "Ok."

"I know you'll investigate further also, Detective, me that is. I understand and I regret not being honest with you before but Helen, if she had any idea about this? She's tough, but I don't think she's tough enough for that. She's still close with Jim's family, you know."

Jay's about to reply, but they both look toward the front door at the sound of a key being turned.

"You can go out the back. Please? It'll only raise her hopes, get her asking questions which…"

The words die on Flynn's lips and Jay pushes his chair back, stands up and sees Flynn hold his hand out to shake his, which he does.

"Do please be careful, Detective."

"I know what I'm doing," Jay assures Flynn as he walks through the back door.

"So does Price."

Jay doesn't look back.

"Anything?" Jay asks, skipping the usual greeting as he slams the door shut and walks toward Hailey.

It's early morning the following day. Jay had spoken to Voight yesterday about the conversation he'd had with Flynn and arranged to meet Hailey this morning.

It's cold and Jay hunches his shoulders. His hands burrowing deeper in the pockets of in the pockets of the jacket that's inappropriate for the weather, trying to get as warm as he can but the car's heater doesn't work properly so he's already at a disadvantage.

Hailey allows a slight smile before replying, "Good morning Jay."

Turning the smile into a grin as Jay rolls his eyes and mouths 'morning,' to her then turning all business, she answers his question, "There's nothing so far that jumps out. The bank accounts appear to be normal, though we're going further back to be certain. Flynn was a respectable businessman after leaving the military. Donated to charity, he still does and takes two holidays a year. No priors, just your average guy."

"That's linked to people who may have murdered multiple guys including his son," Jay finishes.

"Yeah," Hailey agrees, "Anything more from you. Anything happen at the bar or afterward last night?"

"No. No sign of Barnet last night. Only Marcie giving me sidelong glances, not looking away fast enough when i caught her, fidgeting the entire time and breaking more glasses than she's done since I've been under."

"Think they know about her talking to you. Increased her dose?"

"Anything's possible," Jay scuffs the toes of his boots into the ground, staring at his feet. Changing the subject "We got anything on the lawyer?"

"No. Kev and Adam have been going back every other day and apparently Kev's wearing the guy's secretary down with his charm but nothing so far. He's back in the next few days if we get nowhere before then."

"Kayleigh Alexander called you?"

"No."

Jay's huff of impatience sums up Hailey's mood. This case is a whole other level of frustrating with the need to trust that this slow build will pay off eventually.

"Okay, well better get back to it. Promised Marcie I'd help her deep clean the bar this morning," He moves to walk away but Hailey's hand on his arm stops him.

"Anthony Hunt, Jay. You asked Voight, remember?" She fixes him with a concerned look that he wants to shrink away from.

"Right, right sorry, yeah, so?"

"Not much. 31, no family. His parents died before he was 16. Brought up in foster homes. Minor priors, stealing, but that's it, no violence. Army at seventeen. Clean otherwise and apparently been living a normal existence since he came home as far as we can tell."

"Who was it that reported him missing?"

"A friend. The same person who set up the Facebook group searching for him. Kim spoke to him yesterday. They're still searching, have no clue he's alive."

Jay scratches his head, "I don't get why and how Anthony can walk around alive and not even worry about his friends. Not even question it."

"How do we know he's not?"

"Yeah that's true. From what Flynn said and even going only on Marcie, they create this world where I guess it feels like they don't need anyone else. Then they get them jammed up on Oxy or whatever else that they don't even know what day it is."

Hailey frowns, fixes Jay with a concerned stare and asks, "Hey, you still with me, you still good?"

Jay almost wonders at the way Hailey can ask, and it doesn't rile him now. He accepts the concern, brushes it off sure, but he doesn't instantly get defensive or not in the way he did before. It's quicker than he thought it would be, then again he hadn't expected this case, this undercover.

"Just need to nail them. That's all, it's the waiting for whatever has to happen."

"Poker, it's all about who shows their hand first and you're playing it well, Jay," she comments before adding, "it's just."

"What?"

She dismisses her thought, unhelpful as it is, but persistent as it remains. This nagging doubt and concern.

"It's okay."

"Hailey?"

"It's like we're missing something big. I don't know what and maybe it's not that big on its own, but what if it takes us somewhere?"

Jay makes a thoughtful sound and then repeats her name and she peers up at him, "If there is something, you'll find it. You all will."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," Jay smiles. Certain enough that Hailey feels it: the confidence he has in her and all of intelligence. The belief in them and she smiles gratefully.

"Oh I almost forgot," she turns away and opens her car door. Pulling something from it and holding it aloft before she rejoins Jay, "Didn't think the coffee shop would be open so early so I made some for you."

Jay takes the thermos from her, takes the lid off which he hands to her and unscrews the cap breathing in the smell, the smile reaches his eyes properly.

"Okay, this is definitely a thing now."

"Eh, maybe," Hailey half smiles and shrugs, her cheeks reddening slightly as she hands back the lid to Jay, and he hugs the thermos close to his body.

The quiet between them isn't awkward. If Jay was being honest he'd say he appreciates it, how easy it feels.

Hailey clears her throat, leaning in, her voice lowered even though it's only them, "Babur and Tabssum, you want to talk about them?"

"I said after."

"And I said sooner was okay."

Quick as a flash Jay counters, "I'll tell you now if you tell me what got you meritoriously promoted."

Her expression speaks of 'Really Jay?' without her needing to say it, "One day and besides, it's not relevant to this case for you to know. Me asking you on the other hand, it's doing my due diligence. Supporting my partner with something I figure is related to the case. Could come up."

Jay feels a flicker of disappointment, fights not to let it show, "Only for due diligence?"

There's something unreadable about her expression which drives Jay crazy. He knows people better than this.

"I know how these cases can mess with someone's head, Jay."

"Personal experience?"

"After, Jay," she turns away from him toward her car, not wanting the conversation to go down this road.

"Okay but sooner's okay too," He assures her, smiling as she turns to acknowledge his words.

"You can't copy everything I've said, Jay."

"Can't I? What if it's just another thing we have?" He walks to his car, thermos still held tight into his body though he reluctantly pulls a hand away to open the door.

Hailey looks over the top of the bonnet of her car at Jay, "Okay sure, and I guess you can't have too much of any good things, right?"

"Right," Jay agrees and they share a smile before they get in their cars, start their engines and drive off in opposite directions.