Devin Sampson squirmed uneasily in his seat as he sat in the silence of the interrogation room. The effects of the marijuana that he has smoked prior to his arrest had caused him an episode of paranoia and currently Hank was using this to his advantage. Both he and Antonio stood in the adjoining room watching through the double-sided mirror as beads of sweat trickled down the young man's face. He wasn't the brightest of kids, he didn't have the common sense to ask for a lawyer and Hank could see that he would probably spill out the truth after a few rounds between detective's vs idiot criminal.
"Devin Sampson, small time misdemeanor criminal," Hank sat and slit a file over to Antonio who stared Devin down.
"Tell us Devin what do you have going on in the South street apartments." The man's eyes went wide.
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"I think you do," Hank pulled the surveillance photos from the folder and laid them out in front of Devin.
"Seems to us that you have been following our detective here."
"Detective," Devin said in surprise.
"Yeah, Detective."
"I don't know anything about your detective."
"Then tell me why I have you following his truck and them after a few moments going into the apartment after him."
"It was part of the instructions."
"What instruction?" They could see that Devin had notice he had said to much.
"Come on Devin, either tell us what's going on or we will send you to Canaryville," Hank threatened.
"And I'm pretty sure that your friend Ian Wallace is there," Antonio reminded him, "You remember Ian, you let him take the fall for that robbery."
"Okay," Devin threw his hand up in surrender.
"I'm a drug courier," Devin admitted.
"What idiot hires a drug user as a courier?"
"He goes by espejismo, he isn't the type to tell you his real name."
"The Mirage," Antonio translated.
"Yeah sure, all I know is that he told me not to deliver until that guy walked into the apartment building and made it home."
"So, he wanted you to deliver drugs when there was a cop on premise, that doesn't make sense."
"Hey, I don't make the rules I just follow, that Mirage guy is nobody to be messed with."
"Where can we find him?"
"No clue, each drop is in a different spot, him and his back up come, drop it to me and them I distribute."
"Who lives in the apartment where you deliver?"
"Some chick and she doesn't seem to like it, she aint a user, I can tell."
"How so?"
"She's got her life together, I saw her in scrubs once, had a badge, it said RN on it."
"She's a nurse."
"Do you know where, did it say it on the badge?"
"Yeah Gaffney, she's a real pretty thing, makes me wonder why she took the drugs but hey no questions asked."
"What apartment?"
"320," he told them.
"Alright, thanks Devin." Hank stood up and opened the interrogation room door showing an officer from Drugs and Narcotics. "This is detective Ray; he is going to take you in for questioning."
"But I just helped you out, don't I get a deal?"
"You should have asked beforehand, maybe Detective Ray can work something out if you cooperate." Antonio and Hank slipped out while Ray took over.
"I cant see Jay not seeing a drug ring going on in his apartment complex, the few that I did interview were every open about how safe they felt with Jay in the picture."
"And even if he knew he would have brought it to us."
"Maybe he wanted to be sure."
"Maybe he was protecting this woman and whoever had her trapped found out Jay was a detective, saw him as a liability."
"I'll have Adam check with and see if any dealer goes by that alias." They entered the bullpen and Hank gave his orders to Adam who immediately dialed the number and started to get into contact with the gang unit.
"Sarge," Kim was hanging up her phone just as he was walking back to his office.
"What do you get Kim?"
"Sarge I just got off the phone with Med; Will's waking up." A small piece of relief was released through the room.
"You and Hailey go get some answers, maybe he knows who the attacker was."
As they finally pushed their way through the crowded police precinct, with all officer's eyes on them Kim noticed that Hailey had been pretty silent this whole time. She was Jay's partner and though she hadn't known him as long as the others, Kim could tell that they bond between them was strong, they had become best friends. Kim knew not to ask, the obvious answer was no, she was not okay much like the rest of them. Instead she focused on the white out in front of her hoping that Jay was out their frozen to death and that they weren't too late.
They made it safely to the hospital, an easy thing as most of the city was shut down because of the storm. Much like the precinct, all eyes were on them as they walked through emergency and to the elevators. Hailey pressed the fourth-floor button and stepped back as the doors closed.
"Maybe he can get us a step closer," Kim said hopeful.
"Yeah, I hope so," Hailey dully replied.
"I can take point if you want," Kim offered.
"I can do it, shouldn't be too hard, I know Will is going to want to find Jay more than anyone else."
"True, I just hope he remembers, I mean even though that hypothermia slowed the bleed he still had a brain bleed."
"Yeah, its all so terrifying not knowing but he's awake now and that's a good thing." They stepped off the elevator to the ICU where the spell of medical grade hand sanitizer overpowered their noses. They flashed their badges to the secretary who buzzed them in. It was only a few rooms down where they spotted Natalie sitting bedside to the bruised and troubled looking Will. His face was black and blue, his left eye swollen shut and his head wrapped in a bandage hiding his red mane.
"Hey," Natalie greeted them with a whisper. Unlike the last time Kim had seen her she was now calm and collected.
"How is he doing."
"I don't think he remembers much but then again he was only awake for a few minutes before he passed out."
"And I'm guessing most of that was getting a million questions about how he was feeling thrown his way," Kim guessed.
"You would be correct; I just worry, he isn't out of the woods but the fact I got to hear him speak was relief enough."
"I bet," Hailey smiled.
"Are you any closer to finding Jay?"
"We have a lead we are working on but so far nothing, but he is one of ours and we will find Jay."
"Jay," the three women looked over to Will who had woken up. His voice hoarse and quite but enough to grab their attention.
"Hey Will," Hailey and Kim took the chairs beside the bed as Natalie stood and held Will's hand.
"Jay," he called again.
"We are looking for him Will, do you know what happened to you?" They watched as his one good eye opened, a tear trickled down from the left. The look on his face gave them all that sinking feeling in their stomach.
"Attacked," he pushed out. Natalie felt him squeeze her hand and she shot the woman a worried look as if this were too much too soon.
"Do you know who did this to you," Hailey asked her final question.
"No," He threw his hand weakly in the air, pulling away from Natalie and making motions as if trying to defend and protect himself. Natalie looked at the monitor and quickly read his vitals.
"Kim, go call the nurse in tell them to get Rhodes."
"What's going on," Hailey asked.
"He's spiking a fever."
"Will, its okay you're safe now," Natalie called to him through his episode. "Shit."
"What?"
"His pressure is dropping." Hailey was not sure what any of this meant but she knew it was not good. A team rushed him, and she was pushed out with Kim, they caught a final glimpse of him before they drew the curtains.
"Call Hank, tell him this is a dead end for now, Will isn't in a good state to be questioned."
"I don't have to call Hank," Kim replied. "He's calling us," She flashed her the phone that read "Sarge" on the screen.
"Maybe they got somewhere," Hailey said hopeful. She glances back at the curtained room just in time for the doors to be pushed open and Will rushed out.
"What's happening?"
"He's bleeding internally, we have to get him up to surgery, I'll find you after," Rhodes rushed out as they made their way to the elevator. Natalie followed behind until the very last second where Rhodes told her she had to stay.
"Come on Natalie, lets go sit." She ushered Nat to the vacant room and sat her down before she went out and joined Kim.
"Hank needs one of us, they are going to go talk to a female suspect."
"Okay, I can go, can you keep an eye on her."
"Yes and I will call immediately when I know something."
"Thanks Kim."