"One more thing before we break," Oliver announced to the officers as he wrapped up parade. "Detective Swarek is officially returned to active duty. And we're happy to have him back. Alright then. Serve, protect, and let's have a good day. Swarek, Epstein, stay back."

Sam and Dov made their way to the front of the room as the rest of the platoon filed out. "Hey Brother, glad you're back," Oliver said as the detectives approached him. "How are you? Good? How's Andy?

"I'm good, happy to be back. Andy's getting there. She's not too happy about having to take it easy and not being as mobile, but she's trying. Her Dad's going to be back soon so he'll be able to help out some. Until then, Sarah offered to come up just to be around."

"Really? Are you two trying to mend your relationship."

"Yeah, something like that."

"Well, that's good. Listen if you guys need anything, let me know. No hesitation."

Sam nodded, "Yup."

"Epstein, what's the latest on little Lacie?", Oliver asked changing subjects.

"I talked to Lauralee, the social worker, again today and she told me that placing her with family is a no-go. So, they're placing her in the system."

"Bummer. Though I suppose it's better than placing her with a family that doesn't want her."

"Yeah, from what Lauralee told me, the family is so broken, divided, distant, that they don't really see Lacie as part of the family. Or even her mother."

"It's sad what happens to some families. It really is," Oliver remarked and looked down for a moment. "Well, I won't keep you anymore. Get to work."

As the two detectives were walking away Oliver said, "And Epstein, go easy on Sam. First day back and all."

Clear of the parade room and walking to their desks, Sam asked, "Who's Lacie?"

"She's the young daughter of the woman that was killed when she hit Andy."

"Oh, I see. So that's what you've been working while I've been away."

"No, well, only the last day or so. And the day of the accident, of course." They had made it to their desks and they both sat down. Dov continued. "Anderson and I were working the drug dealing roommates."

"And how was that going."

"It's a shit show. We had no leads, so we roped in Nash and Ward. Eventually we even called Drug squad to see if they had these guys on the radar."

"And?"

"Well, here's where it starts to get shitty."

"Oh, the no leads part wasn't?"

"Not compared to this. Listen. Drug squad says they'll send someone over to 15 to discuss. So the four of us come back here and the detective that comes by is Blackstone."

"Okay."

"He tells us that they do, in fact, have an investigation into the roommates. What about? He wouldn't say. Further, he tells us that we can't look at any of the files they have on the guys. And, you'll appreciate this line, he told us to, and I quote, 'leave it in the capable hands of the Drug Squad.' Then he walked out."

"Shit show might be putting it lightly."

"Oh, there's more. Traci talks to Oliver to come up with ideas about what to do next. He calls the Drug Squad Sergeant Becker, someone he knows from the academy. Oliver says he's good police. Becker told Oliver that Blackstone left early that day and hasn't shown up since. Also, Drug squad has noting in their files on the roommates and definitely no open case."

"What are we doing?"

"Nothing."

"What?"

"Oliver said Becker is looking into it and he'd keep us informed."

"It wouldn't be the first time Blackstone has gone off the books, but this seems worse."

"Anderson thinks he's dirty. And that Drug squad would try to take care of this on their own for damage control."

"Makes since, I can see why she thinks that."

"Yeah, well, regardless. We can't officially do anything."

"But unofficially?", Sam asked knowingly.

"You should talk to Anderson."

"Dov talked to Lauralee today."

"Oh, yeah?" Gail replied trying to sound sarcastic, but she couldn't hide that she actually cared. She and Chloe were out on patrol in between calls.

"Yep, apparently the family doesn't want Lacie so she's being placed in a foster home."

"Well, that's the way it goes."

"Gail, come on. We both know you care about this. You don't need to hide that."

Gail was about to reply when the radio went off.

"In 15 we have a possible domestic disturbance. Available units identify."

Gail snatched the radio and quickly replied that they'd respond and got the address back. When they arrived on scene, another squad was already there.

"1519, on scene," Chloe said to dispatch as they got out of the car. They could still hear shouting and some familiar voices. In side, Zettle was restraining a boy around 16 in the next room while Nick had apparently taken an older man, forties, to the ground and was trying to put cuffs on him. Gail jumped in and assisted in restraining one arm while Nick reached for his cuffs. With the man finally detained and the situation seemingly diffused, Gail asked, what happened.

"We roll up, and there is a ton of shouting, profanity, you get the picture. We knock and the father opens the door. Immediately we could tell he was loaded. After some back and forth he eventually let us in. We tried to ask what the argument was about and the son tried to tell us but almost immediately the dad moved to grab him or hit him, whatever, so I tried to pull him back. He turned around and swung at me, but missed. I wrestled him down and you guys got here."

Gail nodded and pointed at the son. "What about him?"

"Oh, I think he was afraid I'd hurt his dad when I took him down."

"He oughta be afraid of what I'll do to him," the father slurred out. Gail squatted down. "Sir how much have you had to drink today?"

"I got no clue. All day, on-and-off." It wasn't even noon yet.

"I'm sure," Gail replied and stood back up. Do you have ay idea what this is about. You said the son began to talk…"

Inck shook his head. "Nah,

He didn't get very far before it blew up."

"Price stay here with Collins, I'll go talk to the boy."

Crossing to the adjacent room, Gail stopped next to Marcy who had gotten the kid to sit down and relax some. "Zettle, got anything about what happened."

"Yeah, So the son here borrows Dad's car and side-swiped a guard rail last night. He comes home and Dad is gone so he goes to bed. He wakes up a little bit ago and goes to tell his dad about it. And boom, it all went to hell."

"That how it went?", Gail asked him.

"Yeah, that's it. And he was already drunk. And I know he gets angry when he's drunk sometimes so I should have just waited to tell him. But I was afraid he'd find out and think I was trying to cover it up or something."

"It's okay, you told the truth, that's the right thing. You're not responsible for his reaction," Gail tried to reassure him. "Did he hurt you or grab you or anything?"

The son shook his head, "No. But he would have tried if you guys didn't get here. Look, you got to understand. This isn't him. All of this is only because he's drunk."

"About that. Is your father often drunk this early in the day?"

"He didn't used to be. Hell, he rarely even drank. Maybe some wine with my mom for special occasions but that was about it."

"So, what's changed?"

"She died. A few months ago. Just before Thanksgiving."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

Gail thought for a moment. "So, to be clear, one more time, he didn't touch you or hurt you in any way?"

"No ma'am."

"Okay. Officer Zettle? Sit tight here with him for a minute. I'll be back."

Gail went back to the other room and pulled Nick aside leaving Chloe to watch over the father. She explained the situation to Nick who having lost both parents could understand the effect a parent's death has on a family.

"Okay, so what if he didn't try to hit me. He just tried to shake my grip. If he didn't hurt the kid and he didn't assault me then we wouldn't have a charge here."

"My thoughts exactly. Why don't we try to find a place for the son to go for the day? That way the father can sober up and they get some space. And make it clear that if we have to come back the dad's going to jail."

"Works for me," Nick said. And that's what they did. The son went to an aunt's house nearby for the day and the father, having sobered up slightly, admitted some fault and promised that the officers wouldn't have to be back there.

Leaving the house, the four of them huddled on the front lawn and went over everything to make sure they were all on the same page about what had happened. In the end, they were all happy with the outcome. There was no sense in causing more problems for a family that had more than enough already. Especially when no real harm was done.

Sam knocked on the door frame of Frankie's office and she motioned for him to enter. Dov followed.

"Detectives? What can I do for you?"

"Epstein told me what happened with the case," Sam said

"Oh, really? And what exactly was that?"

"Everything," Dov said.

"My suspicions?", Frankie asked and Dov nodded. "Well, then. I'll assume you're down here to see what I'm doing about it."

In response Sam only grinned. Frankie scrutinized him for a moment and then looked to Dov who nodded. Finally she got up and closed her door then sat back down.

"Look, I'm sorry about the hesitation and vague wording. But I know you're tight with Staff and he can't know about this. Any of this. You got me Swarek?"

"Completely. Nothing said here leaves the three of us."

"I'm trusting you because we've worked together and I know you're both good. But I don't want to get caught and wear anything from this."

"I understand that. Trust me, I want to help. We want to help."

"In that case I should probably let you know that your partner has been helping me already."

"Well that figures, he's a go-getter."

"Right," Frankie reached under her keyboard and withdrew a key. She opened a lock box and grabbed a second key and opened the bottom drawer of her desk which had one file on top. No writing on the outside to identify it or the owner of it. She opened it and placed in front of Sam.

He paged through the contents and was amazed at the colume. "You pulled this much together in a couple days?"

"What can I say, I'm conviced and I'm committed. And like I said, Epstein's been helping."

"Heh, it's good to see that Intelligence Unit stint with Marlo is paying off again. Sam closed the file and handed it back to Frankie who locked it back in the drawer. "What's next?"

That night, Gail was at the apartment she shared with Chris and Dov. Frankie had told her she'd be working late on something and wasn't sure when she'd get off. So, Gail went to her place and poured herself a drink. She went into her room and locked the door behind her. Sat on her bed and placed her phone in front of her and looked at it, doing nothing, for a long while. She wasn't sure how long. Eventually she pulled up the notes app and clicked on the phone number she had there under a nickname. She had searched around on the internet and located this work number, not knowing any other way to make contact. She was hoping to leave a message and to be called back when it was convenient. That didn't go to plan however when a familiar voice picked up on the other end and said "hello". Gail almost hung up out of surprise. Maybe fear, too? Damn time difference. Instead she took a composing breath and said, "Hi, Lunchbox".