The next morning Ruzek arrived at 9:00am to drive Jay home so he could grab a change of clothes before we headed to Molly's to watch the game. Kim was to watch over me until the guys got back. Since we weren't heading to Molly's until 3:00pm, I called the hotel and placed a last minute food order of a 6ft Italian sub with all the fixings, four dozen wings, three orders of potato skins and three orders of nachos. I decided to host an impromptu pre-Super Bowl party at my apartment. I was expecting the Intelligence Unit, Roman, Laura, Connor, Will, Ethan, Matt, Sylvie, Kelly, Cruz, Trudy and Mouch to arrive at 12:00pm. Gabby and Stella would already be at Molly's with Hermann and Otis getting ready for the busy afternoon, so they said they would see us when we got there. Telling Kim we needed to head to the hotel to pick up the food would give me the opportunity to make the phone call from my office that I needed to without be overheard. I could just play it off that it was a confidential financial call that had to do with the hotel's closing. And that's exactly what I did. Before getting the food from the hotel's kitchen, I walked into my office closing the doors behind me and leaving Kim in the conference room located down the hall from my office, but still within the Executive Offices, so she would be in shouting distance if I needed her.
Sitting at my desk, I picked up the phone and made my call. "Did you get my text?" I asked in lieu of a greeting. "Yes, little one. I did. You're risking a lot by asking me to handle this. It's going to upset a lot of people. You know I would take care of the bounty on your head and get the Cartel off your back without a problem now that you have actually reached out to me, asking me to take care of it. But, because you are now involving the Detective there's going to be favors I need to call in and as a result, little one, you're going to owe me." Uncle Paddy told me. "I know. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to keep Jay safe. I don't think the Chicago PD can handle this. I also think there's a leak, a mole, within Voight's ranks. I need you to look into that as well. Uncle Paddy, these people have become very important to me and I don't want to see any of them get hurt because they're trying to protect me. I told Voight I don't care if this causes a war between the Irish and the Cartel. I want this dealt with now." I told him, pausing knowing the next words that came out of my mouth would not only change my life forever but, if anyone found out, these words would disappoint my Dad and destroy any chance of a real future I could have with Jay. "I'm all in Uncle Paddy. Whatever it takes and whatever I need to do to keep Jay safe, I will. All I ask is that I remain protected and the least amount of people possible know about this conversation. You've been after me for almost ten years to join the family business and for two years now to take over Chicago. I know Finn is getting old, and let's face it, his two successors are more equipped to be soldiers, not leaders. Shamus and Liam don't have the brains. I'll do it Uncle Paddy but you need to bring in someone to be the face of the organization. I'll call the shots from the shadows, from behind that person, if that's what it takes to keep Jay safe." I said. "Welcome to the family business, little one. It was inevitable, you must know that. I have always known you have been the one who would replace me when the time comes. We will work out your taking over the family business in Chicago after we settle this mess with the Cartel. You can expect to see a face from the past in Chicago soon. I called in a favor to the people who hate the Colombian Cartel as much as we do. Enjoy the Super Bowl and I'll be in touch." he said, rather cryptically ending the call. I meant what I told him. I would do anything to keep Jay safe. Even if it meant selling my soul to the Devil.
By 11:15am, Kim and I were back at my apartment setting out the food and drinks. We decided to use my 98" Kosas Home Elodie dining room table as the buffet table. Moving the chairs and strategically placing them in the living room, I looked at the table that I fell in love with the minute I saw it in the store. Made from solid reclaimed pine wood, with an antique finish, it was hand carved displaying artisanal details and rustic charm. The burgundy button tufted wingback chairs hadn't been part of the set but I liked them so much better than the chairs that had been on display with the table in the store. The large sandwich (which was already sliced into good size portions) was displayed in the middle of the table along with the nachos, wings and potato skins that were all being kept warm in the tinfoil chafing pans Chef Daniel had instructed his staff to pack them in. I set out paper plates and paper napkins, with the Patriots logo on them, for people to use (no fine china was being used today). I had also picked up a variety of beer from the hotel as well and the beer bottles along with various types of white wine, cans of soda and bottled water were chilling in two coolers on my dining room floor floor. Along the top of the credenza in my dining room was an assortment of red wine and liquor. As Kim and I glanced at the setup I was confident we were well prepared to handle the last minute crowd of eighteen plus any stragglers that may show up as well. Noticing the time, I told Kim I would be right back and then I ran into my bedroom, quickly changing into my white Patriots jersey, an Amendola shirt with the number 80 on it, a pair of light blue cuffed distress jeans and my Patriots canvas sneakers. I was proudly supporting my team today even tho I knew I would most likely be the only Patriots fan in the bar. Although the rest of the bar would be filled with Chicago residents and fans, they would be pulling for the Philadelphia Eagles. No one liked the Patriots unless you were from New England, had previously lived in New England or held strong ties to New England I thought to myself as I got dressed. I decide to leave my hair looking slightly wild, loose and curly. After touching up my makeup I walked into the living room, stopping dead in my tracks at the sight I saw in front of me. "Jay Halstead! What in the world are you wearing!?" I asked in disbelief as I looked at him wearing a blue Patriots Gronkowski jersey. "Hey when you don't have a dog in the fight you gotta support your girls team. Plus, I like Gronk. The man's a beast." he said, smiling at me. "People are going to make fun of you." I whispered to him as Kim used my iPhone to snap a picture of the two of us, in front of my fireplace. "It's okay. You're worth it and I can take it. That's a good picture, text it to me." Jay said as he kissed me.
By 2:45pm everyone was ready to head to Molly's. Because I didn't want anyone to worry about drinking and driving, I had arranged to have two of the ten passenger hotel shuttles take us down to Molly's and then bring us back to my apartment after the game. Those who were sober enough to drive home could do so and for those who weren't the shuttle would drive them home. I had also, as a surprise, had the hotel deliver enough food for 100 people to Molly's. People would spend the afternoon eating a variety of sandwiches, nachos, wings, potato skins, mozzarella sticks, onion rings and sliders. I would be approaching Hermann, Otis and Gabby next week about a Molly's franchise so I was trying to butter them up in advance. It was a great afternoon and other than the uniformed cops at the door, checking ID's and for weapons, you wouldn't have thought any of us had a care in the world. I had the opportunity to officially be introduced to Capp and Tony from Squad 3 and Chief Boden. As I stood to the side of the bar, I was amazed that I was really the only true Patriots fan in the bar. Jay and I were the only ones in Patriots gear. I walked to the front of the bar, trying not to call any attention to my myself, I snapped a selfie clearing showing no other Pats fans in the bar. I quickly uploaded it to my Instagram account and captioned it "Lone Wolf" with hashtags I knew would make my friends from home laugh: #OnlyPatsFanInMollys #JustLikeBeingAtYankeeStadiumInRedSoxGear #TheyAreAllJealous #NotDone #GoPats #BradyNeedsNumberSix #DolaBaby. The comments I got made me laugh but that was the first time Jay had requested to follow me on any of my social media accounts. Since my account was private, and Sylvie or Kelly probably showed him the post, he had requested to follow me. Interesting, I thought, as I quickly accepted his request. I started following him knowing that I would spend some time the next day trolling his account.
Maybe an hour before the game started, one of the uniformed officers came in and told me there was someone outside to see me. They had searched him for weapons and he had come up clean. They said he didn't want to go into the bar but just needed two minutes of my time. Obviously, I wasn't permitted to go outside by myself so Hank, Antonio and Jay went with me. Antonio went out first and giving the all clear I was flanked on either side by Hank and Jay. We walked outside and I looked into the eyes of someone I hadn't seen since I was 16. I may not have seen him in 14 years but I recognized him immediately. "It's been a while, Christine. Your eyes are just as mesmerizing as I remembered in my dreams but are now set in the face, of not a cute young girl but, a gorgeous woman who exuberates class and confidence even in her Patriots gear." he said. I glanced to my right and thought "oh shit" as I saw the tick in Jay's left cheek. I then looked back at the man standing in front of me sand said, "It's been almost 14 years to the day since you last saw me. I'm pretty sure you haven't been dreaming about my eyes since then. What are you doing in Chicago, Joseph, and how did you find me?" Handing me a small white box, with a familiar logo on the top that had my mouth watering thinking about the contents inside, he grinned and said, "If I remember correctly these were always your favorite...cannoli's from Mike's Pastry in the North End. Your Uncle told me where I might find you when he learned of my trip. By the way, my Mother sends her love and an open invitation to dinner the next time you're in Boston. She enjoyed her three day visit with you, when you stayed at our house, all those years ago. Made her wish she and my Father had a daughter. Anyway, I'm staying at your hotel. I thought it would be nice to catch up tomorrow night for dinner. I'll contact your office around 10:00am to confirm. Enjoy the game, il mio amore." Without acknowledging Hank, Antonio or Jay, he then turned and got into the back seat of a waiting car leaving me to deal with the mess he left in his wake. "Who the fuck was that?" Jay asked. Knowing I couldn't lie, I simply told the truth. "Joseph DiStefano. Our families know each other. Well more so my Uncle knows his Dad. Joseph's Father was the Consigliere who kidnapped me 14 years ago. Weird...haven't seen him since then and he looks almost exactly the same. Come on, all the good pregame stuff is on and I don't want to miss the National Anthem." I said as I turned and walked back into Molly's. "We're going to have to talk about this." Jay said, following me into Molly's. "Nothing to talk about Jay. I haven't heard from or seen Joseph since the day I was returned to my parents. I don't know why he is here and I have nothing to hide where he is concerned. Have dinner with us tomorrow night and you'll see. Plus, you know, as well as I do, Hank is probably having someone run his background right now. Don't let this ruin what has been a great day so far." I said smiling at him before I continued, whispering in his ear, "And Detective Halstead, if you relax and I see you having a good time I"ll have a special treat for you later on when we're alone." "Oh, really? Well if that's the case why don't you go buy me that drink you owe me and meet me back at our table." he said, kissing me before walking over to where Hank, Al and Antonio were standing.
Shit, I thought to myself as I waited to get Gabby or Stella's attention at the bar. Molly's was packed with mostly people I didn't recognize so I wasn't surprised to see a stranger to my left. "Here." the stranger said holding out a phone. "Use this to contact Joe and Paddy. No more business calls from your personal cell." I looked at the iPhone in his hand and said "It looks just like mine." "Paddy had me hack your iCloud account and basically clone your phone. The only numbers in this phone belong to Joe, Paddy, Finn and me. I'm O'Malley. Take it. I gotta go. I'll be seeing you around, Boss." the stranger said shoving the phone into my hand before he disappeared. "Great pre-bash at your place earlier. Thanks for the invite and thanks for including Cruz. Hey, are you okay?" Kelly asked noticing my porcelain skin had somehow managed to go a shade whiter than it already was and my eyes were wide with anxiety as they darted around the bar wondering if anyone had noticed or overheard the interaction that just occurred. Before I could respond Stella stopped in front of me to get my drink order. "Two Bud Lights and two shots of Jack Fire. Hold up a second. Want a shot, Kelly?" I asked. He nodded and I told Stella to make it five shots, two Bud Lights and whatever Kelly wanted for a beer. "When does two plus one equal five? What's going on with you Christine? You were fine until I saw you walk outside with Voight, Dawson and Halstead." I told Stella to put it on my tab, knowing my credit card had been swiped when we first got to the bar that afternoon. "Cheers, Kell." I said handing him the shot, while I chose to ignore his questions and comments. We took our shots and then I surprised him by doing a second shot right away. I now had two shots and two beers for Jay and I to enjoy at our table, where we were sitting with Ruzek, Kim and Will. "What's with the back to back shots, Christine? That's not like you." Kelly said. Knowing I could trust him I smiled sadly and said "I made a deal with the Devil in order to keep Jay safe. I can't talk about it here and even when we talk I can't go into much detail but I need you to keep whatever I tell you between us. I gotta get back to Jay before he wonders what's taking me so long. I'll catch up with you later."