· A moment in the past *
Voight proceeded through a group of police officers to investigate the cause of the commotion. 'Hold still,' he heard Mac order as he approached the scene, where he observed two officers restraining a brown-haired girl who appeared to be around 15 years old.
'Let me go, you pricks,' the girl hissed angrily as she struggled to free herself from their grasp. 'No, we're taking you in,' Mac asserted, his grip on the girl's arm tightening, causing her pain.
'You're hurting me, you dumbass,' the girl retorted. Voight approached Mac and his partner, who were restraining the girl firmly. 'Mac, Jean, release her immediately!' he commanded. As the two officers complied and let go of the teenager, Mac questioned, 'You're just going to let her go?'
Voight noticed the girl swiftly kicking between Mac's legs, causing him to groan in pain and clutch his crotch. 'You little troublemaker,' Mac exclaimed, preparing to retaliate, but Voight intervened just in time. 'Back off, Mac,' he admonished, pulling the girl away from the agitated officer.
Voight disregarded the sarcastic remark made by the girl and turned towards Mac, instructing them, 'You two go check out the house.' Despite Mac's attempt to object, Voight intervened, stating firmly, 'Now, I'll deal with the kid,' leaving no room for further discussion. Observing Mac walking away.
The girl taunted him by shouting, 'Yeah, you better go, you dickhead,' which earned her a disapproving glare from the detective who stood before her.
In response, he commanded, 'You shut your mouth and come with me.' In defiance, the girl declined, expressing gratitude for removing the troublemakers and attempting to leave. However, Voight grasped her arm, declaring, 'I said you are coming with me, young lady,' and guided her towards his truck.
As she resisted and tried to walk away, Voight firmly stated, 'Hey, let me go!' while finally managing to push her into the back seat of the truck. Overpowering her attempt to escape, he warned, 'You sit in that seat and behave, or I'll have to restrain you with handcuffs.'
Voight shook his head as he closed the door just in time to prevent the girl from kicking him in the chin; however, her leg collided with the door. 'Are you enjoying yourself with the child?' inquired his partner as he settled into the passenger seat, while Voight took the driver's seat.
'Let me go, you fool,' the girl protested as she kicked the seat, prompting Voight to release an annoyed growl. 'Stop kicking my seat, for heaven's sake!' he ordered sternly, reaching to give the impulsive teenager's leg a light smack before driving towards the district.
Al chuckled as he observed Voight's face turning red. 'In any case, young lady, what is your name?' he inquired in an attempt to dissuade the girl from further assaulting Voight's seat.
'It's none of your business, weirdos,' the girl retorted, ceasing her kicking when her stomach began to growl, resulting in her complexion reddening. 'Well, it seems someone is hungry, regardless of what you say,' Al remarked with a smirk, deciding to engage in her banter for a brief moment.
Voight expressed his annoyance as Al engaged in small talk with the girl. 'I am not hungry,' she stated, looking out the window as her stomach growled. 'Silence, you traitor!' the girl scolded her own stomach.
'Hank, please find a place to stop for food,' Al suggested, hoping that satisfying the girl's hunger might lead to her cooperation. Voight questioned the rationale behind feeding someone who kept kicking his chair, exchanging glares with the girl. Al noticed the girl's demeanor improving and proposed that feeding her might facilitate their collaboration.
Voight reluctantly agreed, with the condition that Al foot the bill, pulling into a Denny's parking lot. As they ate, Voight initiated a conversation with the girl. 'Will you share your name with us now?' he inquired as he observed her devouring her burger. 'It's Erin,' the brunette responded after swallowing.
· To The present *
Voight shook his head as a memory flashed through his mind, but he couldn't help but chuckle at the recollection of the first time he encountered Erin and apprehended her. He walked with Eddie to the basement to find Antonio and Al standing by a table with their arms crossed.
'Did you two uncover anything?' Voight inquired as he approached them. 'We've unearthed something,' Antonio responded as he gazed at Voight. 'How is Erin?' He inquired upon noticing the distant expression in Voight's eyes.
Voight shook his head. 'She has been taken back to surgery. They had to deliver the baby before it endangered both of them,' he said, his voice trembling, while Al and Antonio comfortingly patted his shoulder. 'I'm sorry, my friend,' Al expressed.
'So, what information did the shooter provide you with?' Voight inquired. 'He mentioned that he was hired to divert our attention,' Antonio explained, glancing over at Mike who was observing them with anxiety upon seeing Voight. 'Who was the one who hired him?' Voight demanded sternly as he glared at Mike.
Antonio informed that he was unaware of the woman's identity, but confirmed she was on the other end of the phone as he presented Mike's phone, which he had taken from him.
'Take it to Mouse and have him identify the woman,' ordered Voight as he approached Mike, who attempted to move away upon the cage opening.
'I apologize,' Mike repeated. Voight disregarded Mike's insincere apologies and grabbed his throat, demanding answers about the shooting incident.
'Tell me who the woman is that called, or else,' Voight threatened as he squeezed Mike's throat with his hand, due to the injuries from punching the hospital wall earlier.
'Tell me her identity or face consequences,' he seethed, as Mike choked out that he didn't know much about her, only that she promised him a substantial sum once the task was completed.
Voight forcefully pushed Mike into the cage and proceeded to strike him in the face. 'So you shot a pregnant woman? For money?' he yelled, unabashed about airing Erin's pregnancy publicly, determined to hold the culprit accountable for their actions.
Voight clenched his jaw while landing a series of punches on Mike before being restrained by Antonio. 'Voight, that's enough,' Antonio intervened, directing Al to secure the cage.
'We will find who is responsible,' Antonio assured. 'Your emotional turmoil will not benefit Erin. She requires your support,' Antonio expressed, fighting back tears. 'I will take charge of the investigation. Eddie, escort him to the hospital and monitor him,' he instructed.
'I vow to keep you informed once we uncover the truth.' Voight acknowledged Antonio's words gratefully, appreciating his choice as his right-hand man. 'I promise that this individual will face consequences for crossing Erin or any of my associates,' Antonio pledged.
" Please accompany me, Erin is expected to have completed her surgery,' Eddie stated as he guided Voight out of the basement and towards the truck. The former prisoner assisted Voight in getting into the passenger seat, and proceeded to drive them to the hospital.