CHAPTER ONE
doubt

Later that night, Sam and Jay jump out of their vehicle, meeting with Kim and Kevin who says, "What the hell is going on?"

"I don't know. We just got the call" Jay says and the four rush into the house. As Kim opens the door, they walk in to see Brian Kelton shot and killed on his living room floor.

"What the hell?" Sam says.

~~~

Once acting Superintendent Crawford covers up Kelton's body with a sheet he stands up and says, "Alright, I want a joint op between Homicide and intelligence" as he walks over to Jay, Sam and Clay Terkla from Homicide, "every eye in the city is on us, so you go hard, but you make sure you do it right"

"Understood" Terkla says.

"Yes sir" Sam and Jay say in unison, as Hailey walks over to them.

"Can we get the news helicopters out of here? Tell them to show some respect" Crawford asks an officer, "Sergeant Voight on scene?"

"I just spoke to him. He's on his way" Sam says.

"Good. Detective, how'd it go with Kelton's driver?" Crawford asks Upton, "we get anything helpful?"

"Not really, sir. He said he dropped Kelton off around 10, then he went to get the mayor elect cigarettes and Advil. When he got back 25 minutes later..that's when he found the body" Upton says.

"Okay. Updates on the hour" Crawford says walking away.

"I'll handle the progress reports. You hit me with your IPRs. Sound good?" Terkla asks.

"Absolutely" Jay says, as the detective walks away.

"So Voights on his way?" Hailey asks.

"I don't know. I was just covering" Sam says.

"Covering? Why? What are you talking about?"

Sam sighs and says, "Earlier today, Voight said he was going to see Kelton...to do what needs to be done"

~~~

After the M.Es office takes away Kelton's body, Voight walks into the house through the back door next to the kitchen where Jay, Sam and Terkla are and says, "Alright, what do we got?"

"Acting superintendent Crawford wants us running it with Homicide" Jay states.

"We got a lot of eyes on this. Makes sense"

"Hank, I need a word. In private" Terkla says.

"You can talk in front of the Halsteads"

"We just found a witness. Saw a black SUV driving near Kelton's house around the time of the murder. The SUV was driving slow, suspiciously"

"Okay"

"I had CPIC run traffic cams on any black SUVs in the vicinity. Got three hits. 75 year old grandfather, soccer mom...and your SUV"

"You're asking if I killed Kelton?" Hank asks, making everyone go silent. Then he nods to his detectives to walk away with him and explain what's going on.

"No forced entry. Nothing suggesting robbery or home invasion, so it looks a whole hell of a lot like whoever did it, they knew Kelton" Jay says.

"Alright, shell casings recovered?"

"No. They policed their brass" Sam says.

"How about his phone?"

"A lot of congratulatory texts, but, um, all the calls are either personal or campaign related. Also looks like you called him. Around noon" Jay says.

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"Hey, everything okay?" Lucy asks, as Sam and Jay walk through the door. Sam sighs taking off her coat and says, "Someone killed newly elected mayor Kelton"

"Oh, my god. Seriously?"

"Yeah. Gracie sleeping?" Sam asks, as Jay walks upstairs.

Lucy nods her head and says, "Yeah. Sound asleep, as well as Denise. But I think Wyatts still up"

"Thanks Lucy. I know it's late, you can stay here tonight if you want"

"Okay. Thanks Sam" the brunette smiles.

"Of course" Sam says, before going upstairs following after her husband.

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"Hey, you talk to Antonio this morning?" Kim asks Voight as she leaves the locker room.

"No, not today" Voight says, as he and Burgess walk onto the bullpen, "alright, what do we got?"

"No ones heard from him since last night, and he's not responding to texts. It's not like him"

"I'll reach out to him in a bit"

Brayden walks over to the whiteboard, followed by Sam and says, "Alright, so a burner phone was recovered from Kelton's personal vehicle. OCD ran muds and rolls. Lot of cryptic texts going back and forth with other burners."

"Someone named Slo-Mo texted Kelton three times yesterday" Sam says, pointing to the board where she taped up the messages earlier, "9 a.m. he writes, 'Not kool, need to to talk. Hit me back for a meet', an hour later, 'I ain't playin', then at 6 p.m., he goes all caps, 'WATCH YOUR BACK BITCH', four hours later, Kelton's dead"

"We get a hit on this Slo-Mo's phone?" Hank asks.

"The phone was shut off today, but all the prior texts pinged off a cell tower in Englewood on a block known to be a south side hustler stronghold" Brayden says.

"No hits on a Slo-Mo in the database" Sam adds.

"Alright, well, we need a name. I want boots on the ground now"

"I'll get the warrant going" Jay says.

"I said now"

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After the team went to the streets to find anything out about Slo-Mo. The team is surrounding Jay who is looking Slo-Mo up on an officers laptop on the hood of a patrol car who says, "Slo-Mo's real name is Curtis Monroe. Mid level player, self admitted south side hustler. He's got an extensive sheet. He did two stints inside."

"Alright. Any gang associates?" Voight asks.

"Yeah, hold on a sec" Jay says, bringing it up on the laptop, "here we go. Look at this. Wilson Young."

"Wilson young? The same one?" Hailey asks.

"Yeah, it's the same one Kelton had killed so he could win the election. He also happens to be Monroe's cousin"

"Cousin looking for revenge" Atwater says.

"Alright, so where's this Monroe hang his hat?" Hank asks.

"Uh, did six months in Dixon, then he spent three weeks in a halfway house. He goes dry after that...the kid that ID'd Monroe, he doesn't know where he lives either." Jay states.

"Alright, let's find him. Start digging." Hank says, as the team parts ways, "Hey Kev. I need you and Sam to do a pick up for me"

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Sam and Kevin wait outside the jail to pick up Adam after Voight posted his bail. As soon as the brunette sees her partner in crime she smiles.

"You guys my Uber?" Adam asks walking over to his friends.

"We usually don't pick up two star passengers, but, yeah" Kevin says, going over to give Adam one of those bro hugs, "how you feel?"

"Good, yeah" Adam says, then looks at Sam, "hi Sammy"

"I'm so glad you're out of there" Sam says bringing the officer into a hug.

"Me too" he says, as they detach from the hug, "Yo, the guard just told me about Kelton"

"Crazy right?" Kevin says.

"Any suspects?"

"Uh, south side hustler named Monroe. No real evidence" Sam says.

"You think Voight had something to do with it?" Kevin asks and Adam shrugs.

"No way" Sam says, as they get into the car.

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Kevin pulls up to the side of the street in front of Adams house and parks who says, "Thanks guys"

"No doubt" Kevin says.

"Listen, you alright? You been pretty quiet the whole ride"

"He's upset with us that we didn't tell him what was going down with IAD" Sam says, messing with her seatbelt in the passenger seat.

"I wanted to talk to you about it. We just didn't wanna drag you into it. That's all"

"I just wish I knew." Kevin says.

"Kev, there's nothing you could've done. Trust me"

"So, what happens next?"

"I wait for trial"

"What about work, you on desk duty?"

"As of today, I am striped of all my police powers"

"What?!" Sam exclaims, turning around to look at Ruzek.

"Damn" Kevin breathes out.

"Kev, Sam. You copy?" Jay says over the walkie.

"Yeah, go Jay"

"We flipped a friend of Monroe's. Looks like word got out we're after him. Monroe's holed up in a stash house. Pre raid meet with Homicide in 20 minutes. Addison and Whitney. And take Sam back to the district please"

Sam rolls her eyes taking the walkie from Kevin and says, "I'll be holding up at Adams house with him"

"Copy. Be safe"

"Always" Sam says then hands the walkie back to Kevin.

"Hey, don't trip, dog. You'll be back shotgun no time." Kevin says.

"Yeah, hope so" Adam says, getting out along with Sam, "alright be safe. Call me later"

"No doubt"

Adam watches as Kevin drives away and Sam looks at her partner in crime and says, "It's gonna be okay, Adam. Everything will work out in the end, right?"

Adam sighs and says, "I hope so"

~~~

Sam opens Adams freezer and says, "So...where's your ice cream?"

"Sam, it's 10 in the morning" Adam says, walking into the kitchen. Sam shrugs and says, "So? I'm five months pregnant and the babies want some delicious, creamy goodness" then she closes the door and sighs going to sit at the counter.

"I can't believe you're having twins"

"I know" Sam smiles, placing her hands on her growing belly, "it's unreal. Jay basically passed out on the doctors floor when she told him"

"Well, I'm happy for you"

"Thanks. So, um, where did we land on the whole ice cream thing?"

"Let's go" Adam smiles, grabbing his car keys from his pocket. Sam smiles getting off the stool and says, "yay"

🌙🌙🌙

Sam walks onto the unit after getting ice cream with Adam, eating away at her second cone.

"It's 10 o'clock and you're eating ice cream?" Hailey asks, curiously.

"It's the cravings. I don't even like bubblegum, it's a completely unnatural ice cream flavor but it sounded good, so.."

"Uh-Huh" Hailey says, looking over at her partner. Jay shrugs then goes over to kiss Sam on her cheek and says, "hi gorgeous"

Sam smiles and says, "Hi" then sits at her desk.

"Alright, Monroe's cleared, so we're back to square one" Hank says, as he and Kevin walk back onto the bullpen, "so here's what we know. Kelton opened the door for the assailant. That suggests it was personal, right? So dead cousins, Gangbangers, debts not paid, whatever. We keep digging. Hit the streets. Talk to your CIs let's go" then he walks into his office.

"What do you think?" Jay asks his partner.

"I think we keep digging like he said" Hailey says, putting on her coat, "If he did it, he wouldn't have us out there risking our lives. Not with Sam pregnant. Voight's a lot of things, but selfish isn't one of them" then Jay checks his phone, "what's up?"

"Techs got a lead on the gun" Jay says, grabbing his coat then goes over to kiss Sam and leaves for the crime lab with Hailey.

Kevin walks over to the brunette and says, "bubblegum craving again?"

Sam sighs and says, "Yeah. It's gross, huh?"

"A little bit, yeah. Bubblegum works for many things but ice cream isn't one of them"

~~~

Sam stuffs her hands into her back pockets waiting in the hall with Jay for Hank to leave interrogation who says, "well, Chavaros sticking to his story. Asking for a lawyer. You search his place?"

"No guns. No drugs." Jay says.

"What about his phone?"

"Nothing useful. No communication with Kelton, and the cell tower ping puts it in south Detroit at the time of the murder" Sam states.

"We don't think this is the guy, Sarg" Jay says, "you want to kick him?"

"No. His gun was used to kill Kelton. Maybe he ordered somebody to do it. Either way, I'm telling you he knows something" Hank says.

"Alright, well, Hailey said she's got a CI that knows Chavaro. So maybe she can find some leverage."

"Okay. Look, I've been calling Antonio. His phones off. Have either of you heard from him?"

"No" Jay says, as Sam shakes her head, "no one has either?" And Hank shakes his head, "I gotta be honest, the last time I saw him, he wasn't in good shape"

"You don't think it had anything to do with what I said" Sam says, "Cause I didn't really mean it. I was just upset"

"No, it's not" Jay says.

"Alright, Jay, you and Hailey keep working the case. Chase down this CI. Sam, you'll stay here, help around. We don't need anything happening to the baby. The van getting shot up was to close of a call" Hank says, as they start walking down the hall.

"What about Antonio?"

"Call Adam. Have him check it out. It's better he stays busy"

~~~

"Okay, so do you think-" Jay cuts off his partner and says, "wait, hold on a second" then he closes the doors to the empty room he, Hailey and Sam had entered.

"Do you think Chaveros telling the truth?" Hailey asks, sitting on the edge of the desk.

"He was definitely arrested on the raid in 2016" Jay says, sitting on the edge of the desk opposite Hailey next to his wife, "so he's telling the truth about that"

"That doesn't mean a cop stole his gun" Sam says.

"So what are you talking about?" Hailey asks.

"Hanks not involved"

"I'm not saying he is. But the dots are starting to connect, and not in a good way" Jay says.

"Jay, just say what you want to say" Hailey says. Jay takes a deep breath and says, "Voight was one of the cops involved in that raid in 2016. Given his relationship with Kelton and what we know he's capable of..."

"There's absolutely no way he killed Kelton" Sam says.

"I understand, but I also just think there's not enough evidence to reach that conclusion" Hailey says.

"I hope you two are right. But.."

"But what?" Sam asks.

"But I don't think we can just look the other way either." Jay says, taking out his phone. 

"What is it?"

"It's that Homicide cop Terkla, he wants to meet. He says it's important. He wants you there too Sam"

🌙🌙🌙

Sam and Jay get out of the truck meeting up with Terkla in an empty parking lot who says, "thanks for meeting me"

"Yeah, sure thing. So what's up?" Jay asks.

"Look, I'm gonna shoot you two straight, cause I hear you two are solid cops and people. The evidence is starting to point in a certain uncomfortable direction"

"What does that mean?" Sam asks, placing her hand on her stomach.

"It means your boss Voight is our lead suspect. We did the math, same as you. I got wind you had Chavaro in custody, which you didn't share. I know the gun used in the murder connects back to a raid Voight was involved with. Means he had access to the murder weapon"

"Seriously, that's your evidence?"

"A lot of cops are involved in raids, man" Jay says.

"Yeah, but none of those other cops were engaged in a holy war with the dead guy, or had their fingerprints on a scotch glass in his living room" Terkla says, making the couple look at each other, "look, I'm just giving you guys a heads up. That's it. Out of respect"

"Respect? You're calling this respect? You're telling us our boss is a murderer"

"Every powerful eye in the city's watching this case. One way or another, we're gonna find the killer. We just are. And when we do, we will have probable cause to charge every one of you with obstruction"

"Are you threatening me? Are you threatening my pregnant wife?!" Jay shouts, "you called us here to threaten us?"

"I'm giving you guys a way out. Work with me. Help me build a case"

"Alright, enough of this. You can go to hell" Sam says, as the couple starts to walk back to the truck.

"You guys really wanna throw away your career, your life, to protect Voight?"

"He's innocent" Jay says.

"And family" Sam says, as the two go to open their doors.

"If you really believe that, you got nothing to worry about. Look, sometimes you gotta look out for you, no one but you"

"No, actually. I have to think about my family. Alright, have a nice day" Jay says, getting into the truck along with Sam.

"This is one of those times!"

"Jesus, can you believe that guy?" Jay says, resting his head back on his headrest.

"I know. What a prick"

🌙🌙🌙

"I'm not saying Terkla was right or wrong. I'm just telling you what he said" Jay explains to the team, closing the door in the hall near interrogation.

"So he said Voights good for Keltons murder" Kevin says.

"He said Voight is his lead suspect. Those are his words, not ours" Sam says.

"But all of the evidence. It's all accurate" Jay says.

"So you think Voight could be involved?" Kim asks.

"He could be. I guess so, I-"

"Sam?" Brayden asks. Sam sighs and says, "I still don't think he did it"

"Okay, let's say that he is. What's our play?" Kim says.

"Look, guys...Terkla also said that if Voight is good for this, we're all gonna get investigated and charged with obstruction" Jay says.

"He's just threatening. Trying to get you two to cooperate" Hailey says.

"I know, I'm just telling you what he said, so we all know where we're at, what the risks are"

"So what exactly did you guys tell him?" Kevin asks.

"I told him to go to hell" Jay says, and Sam nudges him, "Actually Sam did before I could. Now you have all the info"

"Doesn't matter to me how much info I got. Ain't no way in hell im siding with Homicide over Voight. Guilty or not"

"Neither am I"

"Me too" Sam says.

"Me three" Hailey says.

"I'm with you guys" Kim says.

"Brayden"

"I'm with you guys. 100%" Brayden says.

"Okay. So it's unanimous. What's the next move?"

~~~

"Okay, so I've been digging through the paperwork regarding the 2016 Latin player raid, like you asked" Platt tells Hank, Jay and Sam, standing in front of a table filled with boxes on top in the roll up, "one units report was missing from the pack, so I followed up. Found three more names of cops who were involved in the operation"

"Good" Hank says.

Trudy opens a file and says, "two of the three checked out as solid citizens, but the third, detective named David Baker" then she hands Hank the file with his picture in it, "was kicked off the force last year for stealing from offenders homes. Drugs, guns, TVs. You name it, he stole it."

"You saying Baker stole the sig sauer?" Jay asks.

"I'm saying a cop who liked to steal from homes was involved in a raid where a very expensive gun was allegedly stolen. Nothing more. But it sure as hell makes sense to me"

"Thanks Trudy" Hank says, before he, Jay and Sam walk away.

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Hank bangs his fist on the apartment door and says, "David Baker"

"He doesn't live here anymore" a lady says, moving around a mop bucket.

"Do you know where he moved?" Jay asks, as they walk over to the woman.

"He didn't move. He died two weeks ago. Heart attack"

"Anyone else live in the apartment? Wife, girlfriend?" Hank asks.

"No, he was all alone. I tried to find family to clean it out, but I came up empty. He had some nice things too. He had a flat screen tv, espresso machine, and lots of guns" the woman says, making the three officers look at each other.

"Mind if we look inside?"

"There's nothing in there. I finally found someone to take the stuff"

"Who?"

"Lady who's been paying his rent the last few months"

"What's her name?" Sam questions. The woman shrugs and says, "I don't know. I think she was a cop. Thin, blonde, not too bad looking. She said she used to work with Baker"

Hank takes out his phone to show her a picture and she says, "yeah that's her" then he shows Sam and Jay the picture of Kate Brennan.

~~~

"Thanks" Jay says, hanging up his phone to meet up with his wife and sergeant outside of the apartment building, "I just talked to Platt. She dug a little deeper into Baker. She confirmed that he and Brennan, they worked together, they got close. They even dated for a while. She looks really good for it, Sarg"

"Alright, I'll take it from here" Hank says.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I'll take it from here" Hank says walking to his car. Sam looks at her husband and says, "Jay, come on" then they walk to the truck.

🌙🌙🌙

Sam walks down to the tech room in the roll up where Jay and Hailey sent Hank a picture of Brennan two blocks from Kelton's house in Bakers car. As the two detectives get up, Sam says, "where are you going?"

"To Brennan's" Jay says.

"You think Voight's gonna help Kate skip a murder rap?"

"I don't know" Jay says, leaving the room. Sam looks at Hailey who shrugs and follows after him.

~~~

Jay and Hailey drive into the roll up with Brennan in the back, cuffed where Trudy and Sam are waiting. Jay takes Brennan out of the back and says, "she's under arrest for the murder of Brian Kelton"

"Okay. Let's get her processed" Trudy says, taking her arm. Voight rushes in and says, "Kate..Kate. You need me to call you a lawyer?"

"You said you'd wait an hour. You lied to me, Hank" Kate says, walking away with Platt, followed by Hailey.

Hank looks at Jay who closes the door of the truck and says, "How dare you? You went behind my back?"

"Sarg, I didn't know what you were doing. I thought maybe-"

"Yeah, I know..I know what you thought. You thought wrong didn't you?" Hank says, making Sam sigh in frustration, "I gave her a chance to get her affairs in order, to do what she needed to do. I was setting up a containment."

"How was I supposed to know that?!"

"You didn't know because you didn't ask!" Hank shouts.

"I didn't ask you?!" Jay shouts back.

"Guys!" Sam shouts.

"I said I would handle it, didn't I? Me! Not you! It was her choice, Jay. You understand? Hers, not yours! She wants to put a bullet under her chin in full blues, that's her right, her call. If you don't trust me, Jay...the way I do business concerns you...then get the hell out" Hank says then walks away.

Sam walks over to her husband who looks like his ears are smoking, and places her hands on his cheeks and says, "Jay, look at me. Look at me" and he does, "I know you're pissed, okay. I know. But you need to take a deep breath. Relax, and we'll head home, okay?"

Jay nods his head and says, "Yeah, alright" then he walks away.

🌙🌙🌙

Gracie tilts her head to the side, looking at her father's sad face. Usually he's happy to be playing with her and she knows that, so the fact that he's sad, makes her sad. "What's wrong, daddy?"

"Nothing princess. Just a long day at work" Jay breathes out. Gracie stands up from from her play chair and walks over to her dad, who picks her up and places her on his lap and lays her head on his chest and says, "love you, daddy"

Jay chuckles and says, "how much?"

Gracie lifts her head up and spreads apart her arms really wide and smiles, saying, "this much"

"That's a lot" Jay says, hugging his almost four year old, and kisses the top of her head, "I love you too, babygirl. More than life itself"

a/n;

First chapter of book 6 is here! 🥳
How'd we like it?
Jay & Gracie = ❤️😭👨‍👧
& Sam is pregnant with twins?! 🥰 this family has just gotten a lot bigger and crazier! I also already have the genders picked out, so any guesses..?!