Hailey waits outside for Jay to collect her. Holding a tupperware box with 6 cupcakes she'd made that morning at the request of Marcie. It's shortly after noon and the streets are busier with people traveling to their families and people coming home from the Thanksgiving Day parade.

Maybe later Hailey'll call her mom. She could try to time it well enough that her father'll be passed out and there's no chance she'll hear him in the background or notice the tremble in her mother's voice when he asks who's on the phone.

She's pulled from her thoughts when Jay pulls up alongside the sidewalk and she climbs in, grateful that she's working today. Not able to dwell on different times or things she should do or should have done already.

"Had you making something too, did she?" Jay asks as he pulls away.

"Yeah, cupcakes, which I last made when I was thirteen years old."

"And I thought I had it tough searching for cranberry sauce?"

"You seem brighter," Hailey observes and watches Jay closely for any sign he's not, if he's covering.

He glances at her for a second before returning his attention to the road ahead, "I am better."

For all the words he doesn't say, there's an obvious indication that he's better but a long way off from good. She's grateful that he doesn't attempt to conceal it with an overexaggeration of how well he is at least. It's progress for them as partners and there's a lot to be said for that progress, particularly with the twists and turns of this case.

They arrive at Marcie's twenty-five minutes later, the roads busier with the aftermath of the parade and others travelling to see family for a few hours for the day.

Marcie's waiting for them just inside the apartment building as they arrive, her arms stretched out in greeting as Hailey gets out and hugs her and then she pulls Jay in too.

"Well, aren't you two a sight for sore and lonely eyes? Come on in, I need a sturdy man to slice the ham and the turkey," she says linking arms with Jay as Hailey follows them up the two floors to Marcie's apartment which has a garland with autumnal leaves on it on the door.

"Ham and turkey? It's only the 3 of us, Marce?" Hailey points out as the older woman unlinks her arms and turns the key, gesturing for both Jay and Hailey to go in.

"Yeah, but he's ex army honey, and if I've learned one thing about former soldiers, it's that they never lose their damn appetite. Right, Ryan?"

"Well, I could be persuaded, let's put it that way."

"See, I told you, Paula."

It's remarkably easy to turn what's essentially a meal between 2 people forced together by their job to be close and a woman they're at once deceiving and watching closely into a fun and somehow heartwarming experience. The scene in the kitchen is chaos, but it's chaos that smells beautiful. It's plates piled high and a dining table with scarcely any room for plates for them to sit and eat at it and they give up, eventually. Finding tea towels to rest the plates on and Hailey and Jay on the couch next to each other while Marcie sits in the armchair sending happy glances their way each time they clink their glasses against each other's

"The cranberry sauce hasn't killed me yet, Ryan. Now be honest, did you make it or was it from the grocery store?"

"I'm offended, Marcie Townsend that you think I wouldn't have spent the time making it."

"You didn't though, did ya?"

"No, of course I didn't," Jay laughs ducking just in time to avoid the tea towel as it hits the back of the couch instead.

"Thank goodness you didn't let me down, Paula."

Hailey peers at Marcie over the top of her glass, "You haven't even tried them yet. Let's see how you are in twelve hours, Marce, and make sure you don't die of food poisoning in that time."

"Ryan will never marry you if you don't learn how to cook, Paula."

It's almost immaculate comedy timing the way Jay and Hailey are both having a sip of their drinks and nearly choke on them. Marcie's laughter is far too smug as she stands up and takes their plates from them and disappears to the kitchen area.

Leaving Jay and Hailey next to each other on the couch. It's been good to laugh; good to see Jay relax into it; lovely to see him smile and the stress seeming to disappear as his shoulders relaxed and for Hailey to at least experience a Thanksgiving dinner that doesn't involve raised voices, threats and doors being slammed or Hailey covering her ears with her hands.

Even if it's fake. Even if it's not real, it's still better than almost every other Thanksgiving dinner she's been with others for and the ones where she was alone.

"We're going to ask about Kacey Stapleton. right?" Jay whispers, leaning in.

Hailey glances toward the kitchen where Marcie's singing to herself then suddenly shouts as she opens the tupperware container, "These look so good Paula, if a 5-year-old made 'em."

Hailey looks back to Jay, "Yeah, we'll do a toast to absent friends and go from there."

There's something instantly in Jay's expression, something in his eyes that says he's hiding more than he's showing suddenly.

"Or we can do whatever it was you were considering? We don't have to do it like that," she says.

"It's okay," Jay gets out before his expression changes and Hailey sees the difference in how he'd been before to now. He absolutely is acting now.

The brightness is fragile now, and the smile more brittle.

"I was joking before Paula, these look beautiful and they actually seem like you made them rather than cheating the entire damn system like this lazybones did."

"I am right here, Marce," Jay protests, grinning at Marcie and then at Hailey.

It's the eyes, Hailey decides. His eyes that never fully mirror the brightness of his smile.

The conversation turns before the drinks come, a sudden melancholy sweeping over the room as Marcie picks up a photo frame and shakes her head at it.

"This is Brian a few years ago. Thanksgiving 2014," she hands the frame to Jay who holds it in front of Hailey so she can see too. Brian Townsend smiles into the camera with his arm around Eddie Stapleton, another man and a young woman with red hair.

"Who are these other people, Marce," Hailey asks.

"Hmm?"

"These people with Brian, he looks so happy. So comfortable."

Marcie stands up, holding out her hand to take frame back and frowning as Hailey holds it away from her.

"Come on Marce, it's no big secret, surely?"

"That guy's Terry right?"

Hailey holds the photo closer, "Oh my god, Ryan, you're right. He looks sober, or at least less addled by drink."

"Does it matter?" Marcie says defensively as she leans over the back of the couch and snatches the frame from Hailey.

"I recognize the other guy. From the pictures of him in the news? That's Eddie Stapleton, right? So who's the girl?"

"She's some girl probably who muscled her way into the picture like all these girls do when they see 3 guys together and they've had too much to drink."

Hailey and Jay exchange a quick glance.

"But that looks like somebody's home, Marce, not the bar?"

"Oh, for the love of god, Ryan, stop asking questions. I don't have a clue who she is, okay? Now will someone get a drink so we can toast to absent friends and be thankful for everything and you two can leave?"

Marcie sinks into the chair and slams the photo frame upside down on the arm of the chair, shaking her head as she does it then glaring at Hailey and Jay when they don't move immediately.

"I really gotta ask twice?"

"No, no, you don't Marce, sorry." Jay stands up and disappears to the kitchen, leaving Hailey watching as the older woman fidgets with a handkerchief and looks anywhere but at her.

The minutes before they leave are like days gone by for Hailey. Awkward tense silence and half hearted murmurings of being thankful.

Marcie rallies as they toast, albeit with a soft drink for Jay as he's driving, and insists on a kiss from Jay before they leave.

"That's better. See what happens, see how much easier it is when you don't ask stupid questions."

Marcie rests her hand on Jay's arm as they reach the door and Hailey steps out beyond the doorway and walks near the stairs, "Sorry I got uptight there Ryan. I only wanted a moment to remember Brian, and you both railroaded me and I don't know why and I also don't know why I reacted like that. I'm sorry. Thank you," she looks at Hailey, "Thank you both, you made my Thanksgiving and I'm only sorry too that the mood isn't right for me to get you to kiss Paula like you've been dying to all night. I'm not blind, just make sure you do it on the way home."

She lets go as Jay shakes his head but leans in, kissing her again and waving as he joins Hailey and the door slams shut behind them.

"Well, that went well." Jay says drily.

It takes a lot less time to get back to Hailey's apartment than it did to get to Marcie's.

They sit in the car outside the apartment block not having talked really on the way back.

"She's lying. Covering, but is that cause she's scared or something else?" Jay looks at Hailey.

"Or both?"

"I don't know which is worse. Sometimes I think she's innocent. She's genuinely a rabbit trapped in the headlights of this whole mess. Other times."

"Yeah," Hailey agrees.

"I hope we get something from Ruz and Kev's lawyer visit today."

"Me too, and I hope Kayleigh Alexander calls."

"And Anthony Hunt turns up safe, full of answers, ready to talk and that the wire works next time."

"It's okay to wish on Thanksgiving, right?" Hailey asks.

"Yeah, just one wish each though usually."

"Well, I was crossing my fingers."

Jay grins, "Okay, well that'll definitely work," his expression softens, "You going to call your family when you go up?"

Hailey doesn't look at Jay, just shakes her head, "No. I almost did earlier but not going there today."

"Oh yeah, I can relate to that. I should call Will but he'll be at my dad's probably and I don't need that today."

Hailey hesitates, taking a breath, "You could come up. You can sleep on the couch this time. Terrible night to be alone. We can toast to absent friends?"

Jay looks tired but there's warmth now in his eyes, genuine warmth and none of the strain from earlier though there's a hint of regret as he shakes his head and exhales, "I want to and for the sake of the operation, Ryan and Paula and all that I could, but I shouldn't."

"Yeah, it's probably for the best," Hailey agrees.

"Yeah, I definitely shouldn't."

They look at each other, share a smile before Hailey reaches for the door and goes to leave but Jay's hand is on her other arm and she stops, turns out and Jay's lips brush against her cheek for a fraction of a second.

She hears, "Happy Thanksgiving, Hailey."

Somehow she manages to reply "Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Jay," and somehow she convinces herself to get out the car alone and stand there just watching, waving at Jay's car even after it's out of sight telling herself it's only a kiss, barely a kiss, on the cheek.

Clayton Healey's home smells of Thanksgiving turkey and the house is filled with people when Kevin and Adam arrive. Healey lives in Forest Glen. An affluent district, perhaps the most affluent in Chicago.

They're in a room that's been turned into a study/office on the ground floor of the two-storey home, ushered in there by Healey himself before he offered them coffee and tea and at their refusal had insisted his wife would make some in case they changed their mind.

Adam's standing up, staring at the bookcases which go from floor to ceiling, then pointing at the grand paintings adorning the other walls in the sizeable room.

"Ever feel like we made some bad decisions when we chose to be cops instead of lawyers, man?"

"You and me as lawyers, man? That wouldn't have lasted long." Kev replies.

"Kicked out of the ABA in record time?"

"You know it," Kevin agrees then looks toward the door as it opens and Healey comes into the room with a tray followed by a tall dark-haired kid holding 2 plates, one which has sandwiches on it and the other cakes.

Healey sets the tray down on the table in front of where Kevin's sitting, the child placing the plates either side of them.

"Thanks Max, this is my boy Max, officers. And these sandwiches and cakes are courtesy of my wife Kitty. A slight consolation we hope for you both coming here on Thanksgiving."

"Thanks Mr. Healey," Adam acknowledges, taking in the fancy china plates and the cups and saucers which are likely worth more on their own than half the contents of Adam's apartment.

Max hovers by the door till his father walks over to him, says something to make the boy grin and presses a gentle kiss to his son's head who opens the door, pulling it shut as he exits the room.

"He's a wonderful kid," Healey gestures towards the door as he pulls up a chair and urges Adam to sit next to Kevin before he sits down himself.

"I'm sorry you've had to wait so long to see me, Officers. Tara was worrying about it every time we spoke. You made quite an impression on her Officer Atwater, right?," the man winks at Kevin.

"That's right, Mr Healey. Not as much as an impression as she made on me."

Healey's laugh is genuine and warm. He's not what Kevin expected at all.

"Tara has that effect on many people," Healey's expression turns serious, "Anyway you're not here on Thanksgiving to talk about my secretary. You're here to talk about important matters and I want to get back to my family so ask what you need to ask."

Healey stands up, walks over to his desk and picks up a box file, then a pair of glasses and sits back down opposite Atwater and Ruzek, laying the file on his lap.

"Mr Healey, do you remember Brian Townsend?"

Healey holds up the box file, handing it across the table to Kevin.

"Everything you need is in there. I got nothing to hide."

Adam and Kev share a glance before Kevin opens the file and rummages through the contents.

"How did you come to represent Brian Townsend, Mr Healey?" Adam asks.

"The brotherhood," Healey smiles, "I've known Steve and Jimmy for years. Impressionable inexperienced kids together in 'Nam. We all came back and did all kinds of different things with our lives. I lost touch with both of them for a while until Steve called me in a terrible state one day. Ella, his eldest child, had died."

"Of leukemia? We were informed. It's tragic, especially at such a young age." Adam replies.

Healey's reaction of confusion speaks volumes before he even says anything and shakes his head, "We're talking Ella Flynn, right? The same person?"

Kevin looks up from the file, "Yes sir, Ella Flynn. Died of leukemia at twelve."

Healey shuts his eyes, sighing as he does and reopens them, "I'm not surprised. I imagine it was Helen who couldn't deal with the truth of it all. Or at least didn't want a bunch of cops to know unless they had to dig deeper."

Adam and Kevin share a stunned look before Kevin says, "Ella Flynn didn't die of leukemia?"

"No, Ella died at eighteen. Overdose. Accidental. She was predicted to go to Yale. Smartest kid. Gone, just like that. Anyway, Steve found out that Ella had been to court with misdemeanor possession, but she didn't tell them. She was dead 2 days later. He blamed himself entirely. Helen blamed him too. I helped him through it, but we grew apart again."

"Till?" Adam prompts.

"Till I got a call in the middle of the night from him, in 2013. Asked me if I would take on a case and get this kid he knew off a misdemeanor possession charge. Said he was doing it on behalf of some friend who knew the kid better. The money came from Price's bank account, but I know for a fact the source of the money was Steve. I didn't care as long as I got the money. Three adopted kids and we spoil them like crazy, you know?"

"Brian Townsend was the kid?"

"Yeah though, calling Brian a kid isn't right of course. In his thirties ain't no kid. He was messed up though. Mind like a kid. I saw plenty of guys like that after 'Nam. Anyway, it was easy to make the charges disappear the first 2 times, 3rd time not so much but if you do a job like mine for long enough, you can make it happen."

"What happened then?" Adam asks.

"Nothing really. The last time was late 2014. His mom was there yelling at him. Price was there too. It was a complete mess. Suddenly Steve appeared and everything was calmer the moment he arrived. I got the kid off and that was it. Last I heard till I got another phone call from Steve. Another tearful call telling me Brian was dead. He was drunk, incoherent. Kept saying something about the kid's mom and Jimmy."

"What was he saying?" Kevin presses the older man.

"I can't even fully remember. I remember expressing my condolences. Said I knew it must bring back memories of Ella, but he was ranting and saying it was nothing like Ella. And that was it till a few months later and he wanted to meet me. Said he had a proposition, and he wanted to do it off books."

"What was it?"

"Oh, nothing illegal. Just he didn't want Helen to hear about it. He calls me every so often when some kid needs the best kind of representation to get them off some minor charge that could destroy their life if someone wasn't around to help. He pays me. Cash. I help the kid and he tries to help them not go the way Ella did, though I haven't heard from him since I read about David. I reached out a bunch of times but," Healey shakes his head.

"Mr Healey, did Steven Flynn ever say anything more about Brian Townsend and what he thought happened? Or he ever say anything about James Price?" Adam asks.

"And Marcie Townsend too?" Kevin puts in.

"Honestly, no. I don't think he would've said if he could. You hear things doing the work I do. Just like you guys do. I heard about that bar. The people that disappeared. I know that Brian's mom, Marcie, she works there. They renamed the bar like it was some kind of thoughtful grand gesture."

Healey chokes out a laugh.

"Steve and Jimmy were total opposites always at one time. Jimmy was the warmest guy pre 'Nam. Steve, the iceman. Then it flipped after we got home. Jimmy would never do something for another person unless there was something in it for him. Steve, he'd do anything. He turned every tragedy in his life, every difficult into doing something good for someone else and he ends up with both his kids dead?"

Healey stands up walking to the drinks trolley in the corner, pointing at Atwater and Ruzek and shrugging as they shake their heads, "Your funeral. You know I'm all about justice but I don't see any in that and the thing in all this that confuses me? Jimmy Price is rich as Midas, rich from I don't even want to guess what but rich all the same and yet Steve was doing the bailing out of the Townsend kid?"

There's a knock on the door and Healey shouts, "Come in," and a blonde-haired child pokes her head shyly round the door.

"Daddy, mommy says dinner'll be ready in 5 minutes and you need to come and carve."

"Ok, sweetie. Tell your mom I'll be there soon. We're finishing up, aren't we gentlemen?"

Adam nods, "Yeah, yeah we're finishing up," He smiles at the little girl who gives him and Kevin a shy smile back and waves as she releases the door handle and disappears from sight.

Healey gestures toward the still full plates then, "Oh well, at least we don't have to prepare new sandwiches for later on tonight at least. Anyway, that's all I got. You can take that file. It has all the information I know of. I had Tara take copies. You can stop by the office anytime to check they're all legit if you need to. I hope I've been of some help at least?"

You can say that again, Kevin thinks as he and Adam stand up and each shake Healey's hand. Kevin stops as they're about to walk to the door and leave, turning to Healey.

"Mr Healey, from what you know of Price and Flynn, are they capable of torture and murder and potentially the murder of his own son in Steven Flynn's case?"

Healey offers a grim smile, "If anyone laid a hand on any of my kids, I can remember how to fire a gun. Once you kill one person in conflict, you don't forget, you always have it in you. Steve's the nicest guy, but you harm a hair on anyone who means something to him? He'd get to you eventually if you ask me."

"And Price?"

"Some people value money and power over everything else. Soon as you start down that slope, I figure you're capable of anything and everything."

Another gentle knock and the door opens, and the child rushes to Healey's side and he scoops her up.

"People raised their eyebrows when a guy my age adopted this kid. Same for my wife, she's not much younger than me. She keeps me sane, keeps me happy. Keeps me honest and hardworking as long as she stays safe, right? Jodie, shall we let these fine young men go and enjoy the rest of their Thanksgiving?"

Jodie nods as Adam reaches his hand out to shake Healey's and ruffles her hair. Kevin does the same immediately after and they follow Healey and his daughter out of the room and to the front door.

"You need something else, Officers, feel free to call me," he pulls 2 business cards from his trouser pocket, "Anytime. Happy Thanksgiving."

They leave the house and walk back down the driveway to the car.

"Think he's solid." Ruzek says jerking his thumb in the direction of the house.

Kev takes a few seconds to answer, long enough so they reach the car and nods.

"I do. That whole thing with Ella Flynn? Price too and Flynn, I mean. It all makes sense. He tries to be the righteous guy and then his own kid gets involved somehow and he goes in, and no one questions it cause he's known and helped Price before, so he can keep an eye on him. As far as we can tell he's not told Price and Barnet who Jay and Hailey are. Seems solid to me."

"Copy that. Why is he still involved though if he knows Price is responsible for his son's death? Doesn't that make him just as dangerous, unpredictable if he's out for revenge?"

"Yeah. That's what we need to figure out? Maybe have a talk with him?"

"And let Upton and Halstead know as soon as we can too."

"Never liked Thanksgiving turkey anyway," Adam comments over the top of the car as he pulls out his cell to update Voight as Kevin gets in and starts the car and Adam holds the phone to his ear.

"Hey Sarge, sorry to pull you away from the turkey sandwiches and beer with Olinsky, you'll want to hear this."

I'm trying to be as realistic as possible with the pacing and realistic in general and I know some of it may not be strictly police procedure but that's the beauty of artistic licence right? (I do have a google doc with all the locations of each place in this story so I may well add that as a separate chapter at the end) Hope you enjoyed. Would love to know what you think as always. anyway me me shut up - take care and stay safe xx