"So how goes it with Riley?" Voight asked as he and Erin drove back from visiting a CI.
"I think I'm starting to make some real progress with that girl." Erin said.
"Is that right." Voight said.
"Yeah, I've been popping in on her every day and I think her personality is really starting to shine through." Erin said as she couldn't help but smile.
Voight smiled too. "You're fond of this girl."
"I am. You should meet her sometime." Erin said.
Voight nodded. "So what's your next step?"
"Well today's the day I take her back to the hospital to get her stitches out... and then if she doesn't bolt, I plan to ask her what she knows about the murder again."
Voight pulled into the parking lot and parked the car before turning to Erin with a smile.
"I've got big plans for you." He said as they got out of the car and entered the building.
"Alright I'm heading out.. if anything comes up just give me a ring." Erin said as she gathered her coat and car keys.
"Hey, you're heading to the hospital right?" Jay said.
"Yeah" Erin said, stopping.
"Mind if I tag along? I got some business to take care of across the street." Jay said.
Erin nodded in the direction of the stairs, gesturing for him to come along.
Erin and Jay pulled up in front of the firehouse and Erin got out. As Erin walked inside she noticed that no one was there, all the trucks were gone.
"Riley?" Erin called out. There was no answer and Riley was nowhere to be found.
Just as Erin was about to worry, she heard the sound of the ambulance pulling in. Erin went out to the garage where she saw Riley hopping out of the front seat.
"Hey Erin!" She said, looking happy to see the detective.
"Hey," Erin said, smiling at the girl. "You ready to go?"
"Yep," She said before turning to wave to Shay. "Thanks for the ride Shay!"
Riley and Erin hopped into Erin's car.
"Riley you remember my partner Jay?" Erin said.
"Hi Riley." Jay said turning around in the front seat to face her.
"Hi," Riley said quietly.
"So were you doing a ride along with Shay?" Erin asked.
Riley shook her head. "No, she was going to get gas and I asked if she could drop me off at the tattoo parlor on the way."
"Did you get a new tattoo?" Erin said.
Riley shook her head again. "No, I was just getting this one redone. It's henna. I have to get it redone every three weeks or so."
"Why don't you just get a real tat then?" Jay asked.
"Just don't like pain I guess." Riley said as she turned to look out the window.
After Riley got her stitches out the three of them drove back to the police station.
"Wanna come up for bit?" Erin asked as she turned in her seat to face Riley.
"Sure" Riley said a little hesitantly as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
The three of them got out of the car and headed up the stairs to the big doors of the police department. Right before they reached the doors Erin heard Riley take in a big breath and she felt Riley take her hand. Erin glanced down at their clasped hands and Riley followed her gaze. When she realized she had subconsciously taken Erin's hand she let go immediately.
"Sorry.." She whispered as she followed the two detectives into the building.
Erin put her arm around the girl and pulled her to her and smiled. "Come on, theres someone I want you to meet."
With Riley in front of her and Erin's hands on the girl's shoulders, they marched into Voight's office.
"Sargent Voight, I'd like you to meet Riley." Erin said.
Voight stood up and came around his desk. "I remember you from last week, sorry we didn't get to meet before. I'm Hank Voight. May I shake your hand?"
Riley had been watching his hands since she had entered the office, but when he asked her permission to shake her hand, her eyes shot up to meet his."Yes."
Voight extended his hand nice and slow to her and she took it and shook it gently. A slight smile cracking on her face as she stared down at their hands. Erin too, cracked a smile. Voight certainly had a way with those in need.
"Would you like to sit down?" Voight asked, offering her a chair.
Riley took it and Erin sat beside her. Voight walked to his office door and closed it just enough so that it was shut but no sealed. He didn't want Riley to feel trapped. Erin knew this, for he had done it for a time with her when she was young. Voight walked back around his desk and sat down.
"You were there the night that officer was killed." Voight said, getting right to the point.
Riley squirmed a little in her chair and glanced at Erin out of the corner of her eye before looking back at Voight.
"You're a good kid Riley, I can tell. I hear you've been staying at Firehouse 51 and that you've been doing good work over there. That you help out with the day-to-day chores without being asked or told and that you clean up after yourself and show respect to the men and women there. I also hear that you're quite the talented musician."
Riley nodded. "Yes."
"You're smart too, and I know you want to help us. I can see it. But I can also see that you're afraid. But know that you don't to be, cause you got one of the best cops in Chicago looking out for you." He said, nodding to Erin.
Riley stared down at her hands in her lap. Voight and Erin waited patiently.
"I do want to help you..." Riley said softly.
"Just tell us what happened." Erin said.
"If I do will I have to testify?" Riley asked. Her voice was a little shaky.
"We can make you a Confidential Informant so that you don't have to." Voight replied. "We would then just add you to our database."
"But I'd have to give you my name, my full name." Riley said, starting to get upset again.
"Yes, you would." Erin said in a gentle voice.
Riley became stiff in her chair. "No, I can't." She was starting to panic.
Voight held up his hand, and waited for Riley to quiet down. He gave Erin a look and she nodded. He then got up and left the room. Leaving Erin and Riley alone in his office.
"Riley, why don't you want to give us your full name?" Erin asked gently. She pulled her chair closer to Riley and faced her. "Are you in some kind of trouble with the law, cause you know we wouldn't care.. we employ many CIs that are still committing crimes but we look the other way if it means catching someone worse."
"No, its nothing like that, I just can't Erin, I just can't! I want to go. You said I could split if I wanted after my stitches were taken out. Well I want to.. I want to go! Now!" Riley sputtered as she fidgeted in her chair. Her hands gripping the arms of the chair like a vice. Her head on a swivel as she panicly looked around the room.
Erin watched the display in front of her and she thought deeply to herself. Suddenly a lightbulb went off in Erin's head as she realized...
"..You're not 18.. are you..." Erin said.
Riley turned to look at her, tears welling up in her eyes. She bit her lip as it quivered. "No.. I'm not..."
BOOM. R&R! Hope you liked the chapter :) Keep the reviews coming! Thanks again to everyone that reads, reviews, favorites, and follows this story! :) I've also added some more pictures and some gifs to my website so feel free to check it out! Stay tuned for Chapter 5! Peace :)