Chapter Twelve
Cover Blown
Detective Romano stiffened as he walked through the door back at the garage of the 23rd precinct.
"So," Captain Bolton began as he walked towards him, flanked by two slightly familiar figures. "How did your meeting with your brother go?"
"My brother?" Romano asked, trying to sound confused. "I am sorry, sir, but you must be mistaken. My brother died in a car crash several years ago."
"Yes, that's what everyone believed back then. A clever thing by the way to kill an innocent homeless man and burn his body so badly he couldn't be identified. However, the technique has been refined since then and your so-called brother's body was excavated a few weeks back. I don't think it comes as a surprise to you that it wasn't a match."
Angelo took a step backwards, glancing at the door behind him.
"If you're thinking about leaving us, forget it Detective Romano," Bolton said. "Detective Chantini has produced enough information about Curkola's operation for him to be locked away in prison for at least a century. I'd say there is a decent chance his band of brothers will join him. Unfortunately, neither she nor I managed to find out who set everyone up from the inside but others connected the dots. The way I see it you can still get out of this with a fairly short sentence if you play it right."
"They are going to kill me," Romano mumbled. "Doesn't matter if you put me in protective custody. Men like Curkola has got connections."
"Those are the words of a coward," Detective Jay Halstead spoke up from behind Bolton.
Romano looked at him, his eyes narrowing as he finally realized who it was. "Voight's puppy," he goaded.
"Not at all," Jay replied calmly. "But I am Voight's right-hand man and this is my partner Detective Upton. We are going to hang around with you for the duration of the evening. Just to make sure you won't do anything stupid."
OOOOOO
Detective Chantini couldn't remember the last time she had been this nervous. She couldn't take the risk of reaching out to anyone within the police department, afraid of being discovered. She still didn't understand why Romano hadn't told Curkola whom she really was. Or maybe - just maybe - he didn't know? Maybe Angelo hadn't told his brother? What kind of game was he playing and what side was he on? She had never met the detective while being undercover, her contact had been Sergeant Marks until he had been shot and killed by one of Curkola's men while waiting for her. She still didn't know who had made the connection. The thoughts kept whirling around in her head and they didn't want to stop.
She grimaced as the gunshot wound made itself known again and she gingerly sat down on a sack which lay on the dirty industrial floor of the old dilapidated factory. Her eyes took in the surroundings, the oily floor, the worn overhead cranes, the cracked rows of small windows near the roof and she sighed. A raid or a bust in here had the potential of killing a lot of good officers and still she hoped they would come and put an end to Curkola and his cohorts. She hoped Dylan would forgive her one day for leaving the hospital with Tony and understand why she had been left with little choice in the matter. Her only regret was that she hadn't been able to bring Curkola here tonight.
OOOOOO
Atwater pursed his lips in disappointment and shook his head lightly as he put down the binoculars. "As the man in charge he doesn't appear overly concerned about what is going down in that old dilapidated factory of his across the city," he said seriously.
Platt huffed, sitting next to him in the empty place across the street from Nikola Curkola's fancy apartment. "I guess being the top dog and everything that he doesn't see the need to mix with the low lives he's hired a night like this," she suggested as she reached for another snack.
"Help yourself," Kevin said kindly.
"It's been a long time since I did something this boring, you know," Trudy let on sarcastically. "Al loved to put rookies in this position and see how long they lasted. He was especially fond of handing out diapers, telling them they couldn't risk taking a leak."
Atwater shook his head in amusement. "Yeah, that didn't seem to scare Ruzek away," he said.
"Nope," she shook her head. "He's more resilient than he looks."
The police officer reached for his phone and speed dialed a familiar number.
"Upton," a hushed voice answered on the second ring.
"Crashed the party yet?" he asked by way of greeting.
"Just about to actually. How is it going at your end?"
"Bastard's just sitting there, having a glass of wine with his wife while their daughter is playing with toys in the other room. If I didn't know any better, I'd say I am watching a pretty normal family."
"Or maybe he really doesn't care about anyone but himself and his small family?" Hailey suggested.
"Nah, something is going on," Kevin replied thoughtfully. "It's almost like he's got some form of guarantee nothing is going to happen tonight."
"Ok, thanks," she replied.
Platt waited for the call to disconnect before she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in her plastic chair. "So, been polishing your shoes and tried out your dress uniform lately?"
He frowned yet his lips curled slightly upwards as he turned to her. ""Why would I even look at that uncomfortable thing?"
"Unless you're as stupid as you look, you might have guessed there is a promotion coming," she teased.
Unfortunately for Platt, he was too experienced to take the bait. "No, no. You're not going to get my hopes up until it's really true," he replied smartly. "I know you have your special channels but I will wait until it comes from the brass directly before I take something for granted."
OOOOOO
Makayla kept glancing at the door every now and then, with hope in her dark brown eyes, but she said nothing; she really didn't have to because Kim knew who she was waiting for.
"Adam is not coming over tonight, honey," Kim said softly as she gently squeezed the kid's shoulder. "There is someone else that needs him; an important person."
"You are preoccupied," Makayla said bluntly. "You want to be somewhere else."
"What? No, honey," Kim protested. "I love to be here with you."
"But you are troubled," she insisted.
Kim sighed and forced a smile on her lips. "Okay, you win. I am troubled."
The child broke into a triumphant grin. "Told you so," she said.
"There are some really bad people out there, honey, and my friends are-"
Makayla took Kim's hand. "-You friends are superhumans, mama," she said brightly.
Kim was moved by her words but shook her head sadly. "No, honey, but tonight I wish they were."
OOOOOO
Doctor Scott looked up from his patient as he heard a commotion outside and excused himself. Several police officers filled the waiting area as two came riding stretchers. Dylan felt a lump form in his stomach, his worry for Jo intensifying.
"Male late thirties, shot through and through chest to back, BP 98 over 66, pulse 102," the medic continued but the doctor no longer listened, lost in his own thoughts.
Scott stiffened beside the bed as he realized whom it was. "Detective Romano," he said under his breath.
"Doctor Scott?" the nurse on duty next to him asked with concern.
He nodded. "All right people, lets roll him over," he said.
Crocket Marcel joined him just in time to get a good look at the exit wound on the back. "Ok, this man needs a chest tube," the surgeon remarked.
"Stand back for the x-ray," a technician ordered. The machine was placed over the damaged area and a snap-shot was taken before the doctors and nurses could attend the patient again.
"And there it is," Crockett said as he studied the picture displayed before him. "Let's book an OR."
Scott moved out of the room, in search for other wounded from the police raid. He spotted the head nurse across the ER. "Hey, Maggie!?"
She turned around.
"Where are the rest of them?"
She moved over to him, confused by his question. "The rest of them?" she echoed.
"From the police raid," he clarified. "There must have been other casualties."
"There were four incoming traumas. One is in trauma 2 and one in trauma 6. The other two hasn't arrived yet," she said checking her list.
"A female – huh – white, mid-thirties, thin," he began.
"Hey, Scott!" Jay Halstead shouted as he came in supporting Jo, her hand around his neck and his around her petite waistline.
"Jo!" he exclaimed as he quickly made his way over to them.
"I am fine, Dylan," she said softly but the crinkles around her eyes and the set jaw told another story.
"Stretcher," he called over his shoulder.
"I am leaving you here with your knight in the shining armor," Halstead said smugly.
"You mean the red scrubs," she corrected with a smirk.
"Whatever, Detective Chantini," he replied somewhat cockily and blinked at her as he moved away.
"Dylan, I am fine, really," she protested as he gently scooped her up and placed her at the stretcher. "I might have pulled some stitches, that's all."
"Let me be the judge of that. I do have a medical degree unlike you," he replied.
OOOOOO
"I appreciate the support tonight," Bolton said as he shook hands with Jay and Hailey. I have to admit I was a little disappointed at first when Voight didn't show up personally but obviously his team is as good as the rumors say."
"Thanks for having us captain," Jay replied curtly.
"Just so I understand it correctly," Hailey spoke up curiously. "Detective Chantini's direct superior wasn't Lieutenant Jeffords?"
"No," Bolton answered. "Narcotics are divided into subcategories as you know. Lieutenant Jeffords runs the narcotic unit specialized in youth and teen abuse over at the 31th. She works closely with the narcotic trafficking unit situated at Lieutenant Scott's precinct. That unit was run by Sergeant Marks."
"Marks?" Jay mused. "He was shot in the line of duty 5 months ago."
Bolton nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. He moved here from Miami three years ago; a promising officer with fine credentials and a few years of undercover work on his CV. He became the natural liaison for Chantini while undercover. I realize – now that I know – that Romano figured it all out. It is a good thing the Detective decided to play not only us but the Serbian Mafia and his own brother as well."
"Maybe he wanted to have a back door if things started to go south," Halstead offered.
"Who knows," Bolton replied with a shrug. "The downside of it was that Chantini didn't know who to trust after Marks died. She was bright enough to realize the operation had been compromised somehow but instead of turning up at the precinct she decided to finish the job she had started."
"It takes some nerve to keep going after a thing like that," Halstead said. "But her cover is blown so she can't take another undercover assignment for a long time."
"Chantini's future looks bright, she's a little rough around the edges perhaps but she handled this like a true professional and there will be a place for her at the 23rd permanently if she wants it."
"Bolton!" a sharp voice rang out behind the trio.
Upton and Halstead shared a curious look as a slender middle-aged Latino approached them.
"Ortega," the captain replied and turned to the two detectives. "Detectives Halstead and Upton meet Agent Alonso Ortega from the DEA."
They shook hands as the agent read their name tags and section on the bulletproof vests. "CPD Intelligence," he remarked with a faint smirk. "I am glad you could join us."
Bolton nodded at the hospital entrance. "I better go in and see how my detectives are doing."
"I take it there is a whole lot from the 23rd precinct that would want a word with Detective Romano?" Agent Ortega remarked sarcastically.
"I have no doubt he will be closely guarded by his former colleagues until he can be placed into custody," Bolton replied.
The agent looked smug for a moment. "Halstead, Upton," he acknowledged. "Like I said, it was nice of you to join us. I had my reservations at first, Voight can be difficult, but I might call upon the service of the Intelligence Unit again someday, now that I know what you're made of."
"Looking forward to it, sir," Upton said with a smile.
OOOOOO
To be continued
