This chapter is in parallel with 'Feral, Chapter 14 - Sleep of The Vigilante - Day 5', which should be read first...

The next day
Friday

The following takes place between Midnight and 1:00 A.M.

I received a text from Mindy advising that Safehouse A in New York was gone!

I called her and got her to explain what the hell had happened.

To say that I was shocked, was an understatement! But I was glad that they are all okay, including the boy. I was actually looking forward to meeting this kid. He gets himself into almost as much shit as I do! Or should I say did?

The following takes place between 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 A.M.

Safehouse A
Chicago

7:40 A.M.

I woke up feeling really sore. I had got to that freaky stage where I couldn't sleep, I ended up pacing around the house and talking to Sophia, who seemed to enjoy following me around! What the hell I was talking to her about, I really did't know and Sophia wouldn't tell me.

I had spent time thinking and had finally come to a decision. It was a decision that Mindy may not agree with, but it was important and we needed more support. I had no idea if she would respond positively to my request, or not. In fact I had not talked to her much, since Mindy had attacked her.

I woke Marty up and told him that I was heading back to the house, with Sophia, to meet somebody.

He said good luck and went back to sleep!

The following takes place between 8:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M.

West Ridge
Chicago

8:37 A.M.

I made the call and arranged for her to come to the house, at around ten that morning.

I grabbed a shower and had breakfast. Then I just sat about and working out what I was going to say to her.

Finally I gave up and took Sophia for a walk.

The following takes place between 9:00 A.M. and 10:00 A.M.

The Park
Chicago

9:37 A.M.

Dr Bennett called to say that she had visited Murphy and checked on his wounds. She had redressed them and he was healing fine. Both families were in good spirits and appeared to be coping well with their forced move.

West Ridge
Chicago

9:45 A.M.

We returned from the walk. It was a good distraction and Sophia enjoyed herself. This week she had spent too many hours cooped up in the safehouse.

I was nervous, I had no idea why.

Maybe because my partner tried to kill her! But that wasn't exactly true; my partner does not try to kill people, she just kills them, there is no try!

The following takes place between 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.

West Ridge
Chicago

10:12 A.M.

"Hi Kim, thanks for coming!" I said, carefully.

I'm glad you let me come Dave," Kim replied, with a smile.

"I never expected to hear from you again, considering..." I let it hang.

"Dave, I don't hold it against Mindy. She apologised, so that's that, time to move on!" Kim said.

"Will you join us, we need more hands and guns; it may be dangerous and you may come up against people you know!" I said.

"I'd love to help. I need to avenge my ex-colleagues that died at District 21! I can handle myself," Kim replied.

"You know a guy called Voight?" I asked.

I saw Kim sit up and nod her head.

"Yes, I know Voight, why?"

"We're working with him and his team," I said.

"I can manage, but I might need some kit, my old stuff was really crap!" Kim said, grimly.

"You can borrow some of Mindy's combats and a vest. We can supply you with firearms. Use your existing mask and spear," I suggested.

"Thanks Dave," Kim replied, enthusiastically.

"It's only temporary; Hit Girl and Shadow would need to approve you properly," I explained.

"No problem, I won't let you down; not again!"

The following takes place between 11:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.

Safehouse A
Chicago

I took Kim down to Safehouse A and got her kitted out.

I also took the time to check her out on the G36C and a Glock 17.

Marty was very pleased to see Kim and they spent quite a lot of time chatting. Kim seemed to like Marty's brand of humour.

Mind you, Marty did kinda save Kim's life during the week of hell!

The following takes place between 12:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.

Safehouse A
Chicago

Kim stayed with us and insisted on learning the weapons perfectly.

I also started training her in some key defensive movements. Kim had been taught a lot of defensive moves in the Chicago PD, so she had a good basis to build on, plus she was very flexible. Marty had noticed and commented on that, not me!

Abby joined in, as she seemed serious about learning to defend herself. Plus it was kinda funny watching her do some of the moves! Abby was very proficient with her pistol, which was good to see.

The following takes place between 3:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.

Safehouse A
Chicago

The rest of the afternoon was spent resting, as we were all knackered. Kim went home.

I had tried to call Mindy, but had got no response. I assumed that she was busy and hopefully not doing anything stupid!

The following takes place between 7:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M.

Safehouse A
Chicago

7:32 P.M.

Marty, Abby and I finished off our evening meal.

We all hoped to get some rest tonight. I was very impressed by Abby's stamina and told her so. Marty joked that it would come in handy, when she got 'involved' with a boy. Abby then threatened him with a virus in his comms kit and Marty backed down fast!

My cell rang and I hoped it was my Mindy, but no; it was Voight.

"I have a man that I am sure you'd like to meet!" Voight said. "I'll text you the address."

"You got it!" I snarled, hanging up.

"Back to business, guys!"

There was silence.

"Well, don't all get excited at once!" I laughed. "Marty we have an interrogation!"

Abby went through to prepare the comms, while I got changed. Then I had a thought.

"You coming Sophia?"

Two barks were my answer, followed by Sophia rocketing into the armoury.

The following takes place between 8:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M.

Voight's Warehouse
Chicago

8:02 P.M.

We pulled up inside the warehouse and the roller shutter was brought down, behind us.

Battle Guy and I got out, then I let Eisenhower out.

In front of me was, I assumed, Voight, another man and Matthews.

"Kick-Ass, Battle Guy, this is Olinsky and Voight," Matthews said. "And this must be the intrepid Eisenhower!"

Eisenhower looked up at Matthews, then over to Voight and Olinsky, before she wagged her tail and barking twice.

"She won't eat any of you," I advised.

"Good to know!" Olinsky laughed.

"You have a client?" I asked, getting back to business.

8:24 P.M.

The man was strapped to a chair, which in turn was bolted to the floor.

"Time for some Q and A!" Olinsky said, cheerfully, ripping off the man's gag.

"Look I'd like to help you if I could, but I can't!" The man said.

"You see that!" Olinsky said, waving his fist in the man's face, before hitting him across the face with it.

"Fuck!" The man screamed.

"Smarts, doesn't it, getting slammed in the nose, fucks you all up. Get that pain shooting through your brain and your eyes fill up with water. It 'aint any kind of fun!" Olinsky said, conversationally, before looking over to me.

I walked over and the man tried to push back, away from me.

"Now!" I growled. "This can go easy, or it can go hard!"

"You have to arrest me, I have rights!" The man squealed.

"Sorry! We aren't the Police!" Matthews said, walking away and out of sight

"Neither are we!" Voight said, walking off with Olinsky and also vanishing out of sight.

I had to smile at them; they were like Marcus, plausible deniability!

8:30 P.M.

"Bartolemeo, I presume."

"I have no idea, what you are talking about. I want a lawyer!"

I pulled out my Glock and pressed the muzzle into the back of his hand. The man squirmed and tried to pull his hand away.

"You don't get it, do you? There is no lawyer! There is no Police! Just me!" I growled.

"Okay, I am Bartolemeo! Please..." Bartolemeo begged.

"Wimpy little bastard, aren't you?" Battle Guy commented.

"You've caused a lot of problems, men have died, good men!" I snarled, punching the man across the face, causing blood and a tooth to fly across the concrete floor. I was feeling no emotion, except hatred, towards this man. He worked for D'Amico, he deserved nothing!

"You are not from around here, are you?" I commented, reading a file that the Chicago PD had hastily assembled on Bartolemeo.

"I'm allowed to travel, it's a free fucking country!" Bartolemeo yelled, through his pain.

"Not for scum like you!" I replied.

"Now... Simple question... Who is pulling your strings?"

"As if I'm gonna answer that question! I tell you I'm dead!"

I already knew the answer, but someone once said: 'Don't ask a question, you don't know the answer to'.

I kicked the man in the kidney.

"You fucking bastard!" Bartolemeo yelled, once he was able.

"Eisenhower! Schwanz!" I called.

The man screamed, as his manhood was chomped on.

"Fair exchange... Your dick, for a little information!" I growled.

"Fucking ouch!" Olinsky laughed, reappearing. "Remind me never to piss you off, when that dog's around!"

I got approving grimaces from Matthews and Voight, who had also reappeared.

8:57 P.M.

He caved, much to Eisenhower's displeasure!

Olinsky and Voight made notes, plenty of notes.

The following takes place between 9:00 P.M. and 10:00 P.M.

Suspected D'Amico Headquarters
Chicago

9:47 P.M.

We gathered near to the building.

Battle Guy and I were going in on the first floor, via the main entrance. A four-man SWAT team, was going onto the second floor, via a fire escape. The final four-man SWAT team, would enter via the rear, on the first floor.

Voight and his team would be ready to mop up.

Tonight, I was taking a page out of Hit Girl's assault guide and I was not going to be subtle. No sneaking in; I had brought a new toy. Everybody in the building had been identified as an armed watchdog, there would be no innocents in the way.

The building had a pair of plate glass doors, shame, they were gonna need some more glass.

9:58 P.M.

I fired two breaching rounds from the Remington Model 870 shotgun, which shattered the glass doors and I headed in, before all of the glass had hit the ground. Two men stood up from behind the reception desk, reaching for their pistols, seconds later both men fell back down again, with large wounds from my shotgun. Only the first two rounds, in the magazine had been breaching rounds!

The following takes place between 10:00 P.M. and 11:00 P.M.

Suspected D'Amico Headquarters
Chicago

We came around another corner and found three more watchdogs, Battle Guy dropped two with His G36C and I dropped the final one, with the shotgun. We met up with the first floor SWAT team, who had cleared the rest of the floor, successfully and without injury. We advanced towards the staircase and proceeded up, as we could hear gun fire above us.

At the top of the stairs we found the other SWAT team, engaging half a dozen watchdogs. I slung the shotgun and readied my G36C, Battle Guy already had his up and firing.

10:09 P.M.

Facing ten weapons, the watchdogs didn't stand a chance and were soon lying dead or dying.

None of the SWAT team were injured and neither were any of Fusion. Voight and his team moved in and started looking for intelligence.

Voight and I had a quiet chat, this had been far too easy. Not even a dozen watchdogs and not much intelligence either!

It didn't feel right, we both agreed on that.

You are advised to read 'Feral, Chapter 15 - Sleep of The Vigilante - Day 6' next...