38. Chapter 38

Hey guys...so Linstead did actually go to a sex club. I'm a little surprised and disappointed...I feel the writers wasted a great opportunity...and was it just me or was Jay a total dork? Cute but dorky. Still love him though. He's my fave character! I don't think Linstead will be happening anytime soon which kinda has me wishing they'd just let them date other people...maybe then we might get a little jealousy and teasing. Also *speculation* does anyone else feel that as part of the fall finale, Erin will accept the task force?

Anyway, rant over. I hope you enjoy this chapter. It's case heavy but vital to the plot. I am off sick with the flu so I am struggling to write between bouts of sickness. As always, please read and review. It would make me feel so much better ;)

Chapter 37

Erin and Jay stood in the hospital elevator; waiting to arrive at the ward where their victim was recovering. Jay was wearing jeans and a black roll neck sweater to cover the hickey on his neck. Erin was dressed in black pants and a red button down shirt; her hair was pulled back into a ponytail.

"Jay, have you any idea how we are going to play this?" Erin asked.

"Erin, we know how not to be compromised under cover." Jay replied.

"I meant with Voight." Erin stated. "I mean, do you think..."

"Erin, we haven't done anything." Jay retorted. "So just relax." The elevator doors opened. They stepped out, scanning the ward. They could see Dawson at the nurses' station and Voight leaning up against the vending machine. "Do you see anyone from the manor?"

"No." Erin replied.

"Okay, well let's do this." Jay stated, placing his hand on the small of her back and guided her towards the nurses' station. They stopped just beside Dawson. Jay reached out and lifted a pamphlet. He pretended to look at the pamphlet. "So where's our victim?" He quietly asked.

"Room 214." Dawson replied. He nodded his head towards the vending machine. "Erin, why don't you get yourself a coffee first?"

Erin inwardly groaned, nodded and headed towards Voight and the vending machine. She was nervous about seeing him and what he might ask. She hoped Olinski hadn't mentioned the love bite on Jay's neck because she really wouldn't know how to explain her way out of that.

She slipped a coin into the machine and pressed the button, requesting a coffee. "You look good kid." Voight croaky voice whispered, making her smile as she suddenly felt at home. "I see Halstead is treating you well."

"He's definitely focused on the operation...we both are." She retorted, giving him a quick glance.

"Erin, I never expected anything less." Voight replied. "I'm not here to check if Halstead is keeping it in his pants, I just wanted to see you and wish you a happy Christmas just in case..." He trailed off.

"You never know...maybe this is the lead we need to get this wrapped before Christmas." Erin softly stated, waiting for her coffee cup to fill. "We still have a few days."

"We need the girl to talk." Voight shot back.

"And we'll do our best." Erin retorted, lifting the cup out of the machine. "But just in case...make sure you and Nadia are not alone for Christmas..."

"Don't worry...she's already making plans for us." Voight said. "And Antonio if Laura won't let him stop over with the kids...you trained her well."

Erin gave a small smile and nodded. "Happy Christmas Hank." She said, reaching out with her free hand to give his hand a quick squeeze before walking back to the nurses' station; tossing the horrible hospital coffee in the bin as she passed.

She placed her hand on Jay's shoulder, making him aware of her return. "You ready?" She asked.

"Room 214." Jay replied, looking at her.

She quickly glanced at Antonio. "We're making sure he's okay Erin." He reassured her about Voight. She nodded and gently patted his back as she passed with Jay, heading towards the victim's room.

Erin walked along the hospital corridor with Jay, towards the victim's room. "So how was Voight?" Jay asked, glancing over at her. He could tell it was playing on her mind.

"He just wanted to wish me a happy Christmas." Erin replied.

"Anything else?" Jay asked as they approached the room.

"Don't worry...he says I look good so you are obviously treating me right." Erin replied, giving him a smile.

"So my balls are safe." Jay stated, flashing his badge at the uniform officer outside the room.

"At least for today." Erin teased as the police officer stepped out of their way.

They paused briefly outside the door; giving each other the nod to let each other know they were ready. They stepped into the room.

The victim, Isla, was lying on the bed, obviously drowsy and weak. There was evident bruising to her wrists and neck. As her eyes fell on Jay; she jumped back; recoiling in fear; grimacing in pain. "I swear I didn't mention the manor...please don't hurt me." She pleaded; tears filling her eyes.

"Whoa Isla, I'm not here to hurt you...I'm with the police." Jay stated softly, flashing his badge.

"But..." She stuttered, confused; her body still struck with fear.

"Isla, my name is Erin Lindsay and this is Jay Halstead; we are both detectives with the Intelligence unit of District 21." Erin calmly stated; also flashing her badge. "We've been working undercover at the manor for the last week or so."

"How am I meant to believe you are undercover?" She stuttered. "For all I know, you were always members and they sent you here to shut me up."

"Isla, no one is going to hurt you." Jay softly reassured her. "We have an armed officer on the door...keeping you safe is our main priority."

"Isla, we have been trying to catch Carl's killer for a while." Erin stated, edging closer to her. "You were not the first victims and we're sorry we couldn't save him but you could help us stop this happening to anyone else...we just need you to be honest."

Isla began to cry. "Carl didn't deserve this." She cried. "He was a great guy...at times I almost felt guilty taking his money but my student loans weren't covering the cost of med school and now look at me...everyone knows my secret. My parents are going to be so ashamed."

"Isla, you're the victim here, along with Carl." Jay stated softly. "The past is the past...we don't care about your history as a call girl...we just want to keep you safe, along with any other future victims."

Isla nodded. "I don't know how much help I will be." She softly muttered.

"Any information will be a help." Erin replied. "Maybe you can start with your association with the manor?"

"I'm not a member...Carl is...I guess was." Isla stated; fresh tears in her eyes. "He'd been taking me there on and off for a few months. They knew I was a call girl...not a girlfriend; even though he was paying me for the girlfriend experience...but they were okay with me being there as long as I signed a confidentiality waiver."

"And what did you two get up to at the manor?" Erin asked.

"Carl wasn't very adventurous." Isla replied. "I sometimes wondered why he was spending all that money being a member. Most of the time we would just people watch...occasionally take in a peep show, receive a lap dance, a few times we just had sex and once or twice he watched me have sex with another girl. None of these things I was proud of but..."

"But that night of his murder...you approached me about a threesome?" Jay questioned.

"Yeah...typical me, hitting on a detective." Isla muttered. "He never asked me to do something like that before but he said some girl Amy suggested he might like it."

"Amy?" Erin asked. "Did he mention a surname?"

"No, but I did see him chatting to some blonde girl...I think she was with that club guy...Tony?" Isla replied.

Erin's mind was beginning to spin. Was Amy at the centre of all this? Was Tony? He was their C.I. that got them into the manor, which means they could have been set up for a trap.

"Isla, after me, did you approach anyone else that night about a threesome?" Jay asked. Like Erin, his mind was also beginning to spin but he was trying to stay focused on the task at hand.

"Um no...Carl said he got someone." Isla replied, beginning to get drowsy again.

"How?" Erin asked. Isla slowly closed her eyes. "How Isla?" Isla jumped at the sound of Erin's bark.

"I don't know." Isla replied.

"Isla, I know you've been through a lot and you have a lot of pain meds in your system but try to stay focused." Jay calmly pleaded. "What happened?"

"We headed into a room and some guy came in, wearing a mask like the bar tenders wear." Isla replied. "He forced us to strip to our underwear and then tied us up." Tears began to fill her eyes again. "I thought it was part of the act...then he raped me, forcing Carl to watch. Carl tried to fight back, which is when he started stabbing him. I squealed so he stuck the knife in me. Then, I remember him taking a scarf and wrapping it around Carl's neck...and Carl stopped moving." Jay reached out and took hold of Isla's hand. "Then he moved towards me and everything goes black. Next thing I know I'm being tossed onto the river walk but I didn't dare speak..."

"You did the right thing...playing dead probably saved your life." Jay reassured her.

"It didn't save Carl though." Isla cried.

"Isla, you said the guy was wearing a mask like the bar tenders." Erin softly stated. "Did you notice any distinguishing marks like tattoos, piercings? I mean, do you think it could have been a bar tender?"

"That's just it; I don't think it was a bar tender." Isla said.

"What makes you think that?" Jay asked.

"The guys that work the bar...they're just like me, trying to make a good living." Isla replied. "For most of them, it's their second or third job. A lot of them do construction during the day...the guy that did this to us...his hands were so smooth and pampered...he's never had a hard day's work in his life."

Jay nodded. "Thank you for your help Isla...we're gonna catch him." He softly stated, squeezing her hand. "You need your rest...we're going to leave you now." He released her hand.

"Has Carl's mum been notified yet?" Isla asked.

"She's flying in from Michigan now." Erin replied. "Why?"

"Does she really have to know how he died?" Isla asked. "If she hears it was part of a sex act in a sex club, it'll kill her...she's extremely Catholic."

"Had you met her?" Erin asked.

"Only once...like I said, Carl wanted the girlfriend experience." Isla replied.

"We'll do our best." Erin reassured Isla. "You need to rest now." Isla nodded and rested her head back on her pillow.

Erin and Jay looked at each other as they exited the room; the uniform officer stepping back to guard the room. "Erin...I know your mind is spinning..." Jay began.

"Did you just hear that information?" Erin shot back.

"Yes and we will relay it to the team when we meet them at our assigned location and let them decide what action to take." Jay replied.

"But Amy..." Erin began to state as they arrived at the elevator.

"All she has done so far is suggest a threesome...which is quite normal for her." Jay interrupted. "We're not acting alone in this." He pressed the button to call the elevator.

"Jay...what if Tony..." Erin began to say just as the elevator doors opened, revealing Amy. "Amy?"

"Well if it isn't the Kingstons." Amy nervously laughed. "I never expected to see both of you here."

"We're here for an appointment." Jay replied, slipping his arm around Erin's waist as they stepped into the elevator. Erin automatically cuddled into him.

"We um...we've decided we're gonna try for a kid." Erin stated. "We were just getting a check up to ensure everything is in working order."

"Oh! That's great news!" Amy exclaimed.

"Did you have an appointment too or were you visiting a friend?" Erin asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.

"Oh, I um...I was at my dermatologist." Amy replied. "Great skin like this just doesn't happen."

"Well your skin does look great." Jay laughed as the elevator came to a stop.

"Good to know I'm not wasting my money then." Amy laughed as they stepped out of the elevator.

"Well um, I guess we'll see you later." Erin said.

"Yes, of course." Amy agreed.

They parted and walked off in the opposite direction; Jay and Erin looking at each other; knowing that was a close call.

To be continued...