Voight observed as Kelly escorted Erin out of the bullpen, and once they were out of sight, he turned to the remainder of his team, noting their preoccupied expressions as Erin's words resonated.
'You know Erin is correct on most of that,' Antonio remarked, glancing up from a conversation with Ashley, who was shaking her head in agreement as she looked towards Voight. Voight acknowledged with a nod and a sigh, running his fingers through his hair.
'I suppose we did give up too easily, but I ceased the search due to Erin's well-being. Persisting in futile leads would only escalate her stress,' he explained. 'If she continues to be under immense stress, it may result in premature labor, and that is undesirable.'
Voight continued, 'We ought to speak with Thomas to ascertain Ace's potential whereabouts, particularly where he might have taken Soifon.'
Voight instructed Adam and Antonio to speak with Thomas while Al and he would talk to Brian who was still in prison. Antonio and Adam complied, heading towards Thomas as Voight and Al directed their steps towards Brian's location outside the district.
Upon arriving at the prison where Brian was located, Al followed Voight.
( Soifon)
Meanwhile, Soifon lay on the bed gazing at the ceiling, contemplating an escape plan. She considered seeking help from Jack, the one who had initially suggested the idea of escaping.
With a sigh, she rose from the bed, approached the door to check if Ace had locked it, to her surprise, it was unlocked. Whispers of pondering Ace's intentions crossed Soifon's mind as she speculated that he might be testing her willingness to escape.
She slipped out of her room, pausing unexpectedly as she encountered Jack walking down the hallway, their eyes locking in a moment of connection. Jack scanned the area to ensure Ace or Peyton was not in the vicinity before approaching Soifon.
Jack discreetly advised against being too overt about attempting to escape as he approached the woman's location and exchanged looks with her. 'I've been searching for you,' Soifon confessed, meeting Jack's gaze with her blue eyes.
After leading her back to her room and closing the door behind them, Jack inquired, 'What is it that you require from me?' His eyes locked with Soifon's as he awaited her response.
'Perhaps you could assist in distracting Ace while I make my escape, and once I reach the district, I will arrange for help.' Soifon proposed, looking to Jack for support, acknowledging the debt he owed to her and Erin for their previous assistance during the kidnapping incident.
Contemplating her plan, Jack eventually agreed, noting the wisdom in her idea. 'I will aid you, but please refrain from attempting to assist me in return. I will handle Ace on my own; he will no longer pose a threat to you once I have dealt with him.'
Soifon appeared puzzled as she wondered about Jack's intentions once she was out of the cabin. 'Are you intending to kill him?' she inquired. Jack nodded in agreement, stating, 'It's the least I can do to repay you and Erin for all the trouble I caused.'
Furthermore, Jack revealed that he collaborated with the person responsible for Julie's death, emphasizing that he would not allow him to escape justice. Despite Soifon's disapproval of Jack's methods, she acknowledged his explanation.
'However, that does not justify assaulting Erin. You should have informed us of your plans; we might have been able to offer assistance,' she asserted. Jack clarified that while Erin was aware of certain aspects of the plan, he had deliberately kept information from Soifon.
Soifon observed him as an action that Jack orchestrated involving Erin, to which her lover acquiesced. "Please do not hold resentment towards Erin, dear Soifon, as she was simply following my instructions. I had her behave in such a manner to safeguard my disguise," explained Jack.
"I do not harbor any ill will towards Erin, but I am disappointed that you both concealed this from me. I would have cooperated with the fabricated plan involving Ace," Soifon expressed, disregarding the moniker Jack had given her during her earlier days with the Grays.
Jack affirmed with a nod and a sigh, "I considered it, but Ace ensured he remained in close proximity to you. Besides, I sensed his suspicions about the situation, hence why I made arrangements for you to open the window for an escape," he clarified.
"Let us set aside this topic for now. You should depart and return to Erin, conveying that I will surrender myself once I conclude matters here," Jack instructed as he approached the window and unlatched it. "You must now climb through this window," he said, assisting Soifon in transitioning through it.
Upon realizing the truth, Soifon exhibited a frown as she exited through the window. She comprehended Jack's actions and accepted them as a means to approach Ace, hence refraining from anger towards him. 'Here, take this,' Jack stated while discreetly passing a chain through the window.
Soifon accepted it, suppressing the lump in her throat, and swiftly headed towards the woods after Jack indicated the direction to reach the road. Halting midway, the raven-haired woman witnessed the cabin engulfed in flames, shielding her eyes from the intense blaze.
'Jack?!' she called out, yearning for his safety, yet noticing no signs of movement, she realized the urgency of her departure. With a deep breath, Soifon sprinted through the woods towards the road, aspiring to hitch a ride to the district.
Despite the weight on her chest and the impending explanations that awaited her, her sole desire was to depart from the current situation.