Intelligence Office – 9:00 A.M
The metal gate opened with a buzz as the magnetic locks released, and Ethan crossed the Intelligence office carrying a tray full of steaming coffees. The smell of freshly brewed espresso spread through the room.
At the desks, the detectives had barely slept a couple of hours… He knew everyone hated the awful coffee the district provided, so after their help with last night's surveillance operation, he'd brought them some from a hipster spot downtown—apparently the best in the city.
Ruzek was slumped back in his chair, wearing black sunglasses. His whole face looked like pain; he was massaging his temples with his fingertips.
Ethan set a cup in front of him.
—Double Americano. Black.
Ruzek grabbed it like it was a holy relic.
—Oh thank God… you're a saint. —he mumbled without lifting his head— I swear, if I didn't feel like this, I'd hug you —he added, sipping with his eyes closed—.
Erin let out a laugh from behind him, watching Ruzek suffer. Deep down he'd also wanted to see Ethan just as wrecked, but apparently he wasn't affected at all by the hangover.
Ethan continued handing out the cups: one for Jay, one for Alvin, one for Antonio…
—Ethan, how the hell do you look this good? —Antonio greeted him while taking his cup—
—What can I say… good genetics, and also the fact that I'm at least fifteen years younger than you. —he said, laughing as Jay snickered at Antonio.
After all, he couldn't exactly say he had a regeneration factor, and that a couple of hours were enough to rest and flush the alcohol from his system.
Antonio hesitated for a second, then firmly flipped him off as he walked by. The bastard had called him old.
And finally, Ethan kept the one at the top left—clearly set aside from the rest.
He walked to Erin's desk. She was going through reports, a faint frown on her face, her hair loosely tied back as if she'd rushed out the door that morning.
Ethan placed the cup in front of her without a word.
Erin looked up, raised an eyebrow… and then saw the words written in marker on the lid:
"I owe you one."
The amused sparkle in her eyes was immediate.
—Vanilla cappuccino? —she asked, taking it in her hands.
—With extra foam —Ethan replied with a slight nod—
—You really are full of surprises… and wealthy —Erin teased, lifting the cup. She took a sip and closed her eyes for a moment, savoring it. — You know my favorite coffee and you're a good shot. If you also know how to make a good pasta… —she opened her eyes and pointed at him with the cup— You're going to have a hard time getting rid of me.
Ethan leaned casually against her desk, not losing that easy, quiet half-smile while they talked.
Behind them, Ruzek lifted his head just a few centimeters.
—Is anyone else feeling like something's going on between those two? —he commented, pointing at them with his coffee.
Alvin pushed him back down into his chair with one hand.
—Shut up and drink your coffee.
A loose, friendly chatter filled the large room. Ruzek, unable to keep up, could only raise his hands in defeat.
Olinsky, with his usual curiosity, wanted to know what had happened the night before for his protégé to end up in that state. It took less than ten seconds for him to burst into laughter when they told him Ruzek had thrown up the second he stepped out of the club… and that he'd almost done it inside Jin's van.
Meanwhile, Ethan could clearly tell that the topic of his finances was hanging in the air. Everyone was dying to ask—obviously. But no one dared, and if they had, he wouldn't have had any problem revealing he received dividends from a Native casino.
The lively atmosphere only died down when Hank stepped out of his office.
—Alright, listen up. —Hank said, clapping his hands— What did we get from last night?
Ethan watched as Erin grabbed her notes and moved to the corner to pull the board over.
—We got pretty lucky last night. —She dragged the board closer and pinned two photos to it— These are Bricks and Stockley, both with priors for armed robbery and a few drug-trafficking charges. They run a car-repair shop on the East Side —she added.
Ethan remembered the two Black men; they had been sitting next to Snyder last night.
—Given Snyder's history, it's very likely they work for him, since they're not exactly bright. —Erin said, tapping the photos—
She picked up another picture and pinned it up. This time, it was an African American woman in her 30s; the photo looked like a passport picture.
—I remember her. She didn't seem like a girlfriend or a street girl. Her clothes were expensive —Ethan said, pointing with his pen— She didn't stay long, just exchanged a few words with Snyder and left.
—What's special about her?
—Her name is Connie —Erin said with a faint smile, though it faded as she recalled the details— She has no criminal record, just a traffic ticket; spotless history. The interesting part is that she works at the Department of Children and Family Services.
She leaned on the desk, flipping through the documents.
—A child-protection employee meeting a drug dealer who uses minors to move product… at midnight… in a club? —Olinsky muttered, incredulous— Call me paranoid, but that sounds pretty damn suspicious.
Antonio let out a snort, crossing his arms.
—Whatever they're planning, it's definitely not innocent.
—This woman is a key target for surveillance —Hank's gravelly voice cut in. He looked at Antonio— Find her private number and request a warrant from the State's Attorney for her call records.
—Got it —Antonio answered, gripping his pencil tightly.
—Any other leads worth following? —Hank asked Erin.
—That's all for now —she replied, returning to her seat.
—Alright, here's the plan —Hank said firmly, pointing at the photos of Snyder's crew— Olinsky, Ruzek, you two watch the area near those two's mechanic shop; look for anything unusual. Ethan, Erin, you follow Connie. Halstead, you and I follow Snyder. Everyone move.
Half an hour later, Erin drove to the outskirts of the Child and Family Services building and parked under the shade of a tree.
Connie's car was parked off to the side: a silver BMW, sleek and elegant, a 5 Series. Not the kind of vehicle you'd expect to be registered to a government employee. Possible, yes… but far from common. And exactly because of that, it drew attention.
The two watched in silence. Erin remained quiet; she seemed a little off that day.
—Want some? —Ethan asked, pulling a piece of jerky from the glove compartment.
—No, thanks —Erin replied curtly, her expression cold.
—What's wrong with you? —Ethan asked, chewing slowly.
—Nothing, sorry, I was just distracted —she said, catching her own tone, then offered a faint smile—.
—You don't need to apologize —Ethan replied. He looked out the window—. We'll be partners soon, so don't hesitate to talk to me if something comes up.
—Do you have family? —Erin asked quietly.
—Oh wow, you're taking the partner thing very seriously, huh? —Ethan stammered.
—Sorry —Erin said quickly—. I mean, what's your relationship with your family like?
—It's complicated —Ethan answered, turning his head toward the offices—. My only family is my friends. My mom died when I was a kid and my dad passed away two years ago.
Silence settled over the car. After a few minutes, Erin said softly:
—Guess we're the same.
—Huh? —This time it was Ethan's turn to look confused.
But remembering she was adopted, Ethan understood.
Erin changed the subject:
—Do you know why Hank didn't take part in the operation last night?
—It was a small operation; not everyone needed to be there —Ethan replied, grabbing another piece of jerky—. Olinsky wasn't here either, was he?
—His son —Erin shook her head—. Justin got out of prison last night. He went to pick him up.
—That's great news —Ethan said. He hadn't known, but it was a family matter for Hank; it was normal he wouldn't mention it. He didn't need to.
Justin… he hadn't made things easy for Hank. He'd made a lot of bad decisions. And every time he screwed up, Hank did everything he could to pull him out. It dragged him into complicated situations… in the end, it nearly sent him to prison.
Ethan understood immediately. It wasn't anger —it was pure instinct to protect the man he saw as a father figure.
Just then, a Black woman in her thirties walked briskly down the front steps of the social services office.
—Target on the move —Ethan said, recognizing her immediately.
It was Connie. She wore a long coat and carried a Prada bag. Her presence radiated confidence —a successful professional woman. It was hard to believe someone like that could be involved with gang members.
The BMW started up and pulled away from the building. Erin waited a few seconds before turning the wheel sharply. Ethan glanced between the car ahead and the documents he held.
Connie's job mainly involved finding suitable foster families for children from especially troubled backgrounds whose guardians couldn't meet even basic responsibilities.
For example, if one parent was in prison and the other was an addict, and there were no trustworthy relatives, the child would be forcibly removed and placed elsewhere until the guardian proved they had the ability and means to provide normal care. In return, those parents received a monthly payment.
If their suspicions were correct, Connie was using her authority to find and select suitable targets for Snyder to use as runners.
The main problem now was where those kids were. With someone like her helping, the number of minors involved wouldn't be just five or six. With so many people, it would be impossible to stay completely hidden; there would inevitably be traces.
—Don't let her see you, keep your distance… try to stay close to the side of the road —Ethan said in a low tone—
The request sounded strange. Even so, Erin nodded and followed the BMW cautiously. It seemed Connie's work that day involved home visits for foster care follow-ups, and she kept stopping. By midday, she had already visited more than a dozen houses.
Just as Ethan instructed, Erin approached each house after Connie left. She pretended to observe the home and take photos, but she was actually counting the people inside using the radar.
Most of the houses seemed normal, with only three or four signals inside. If there were more than five, Ethan wrote it in his notebook.
The car drove for more than ten minutes before stopping again. This time, something was different. Connie went into the house and stayed there for a long time, unlike before, when she left after barely a minute.
Ethan twirled the pen in his hand and said quietly:
—Stop.
Erin nodded and, under her control, the car rolled slowly along the curb and parked a little further ahead. She watched closely as the pen Ethan was spinning suddenly stopped.
Erin slipped on her sunglasses.
—What did you find?
—Something's off here —Ethan said, looking at the rearview mirror, his voice turning cold.
—What do you mean…
Right at that moment, a dozen points blinked on the radar. All the arrows pointed downward. Clearly, there were more than a dozen people in the basement. Who would put that many people down there unless something was seriously wrong?
—Look at the yard. It's empty. Every foster home we saw earlier had toys for the kids. Here there's nothing. Absolutely nothing.
—Now that you mention it, you're right… —Erin said, pursing her lips—
At that moment, a van slowly approached from down the street. A few meters away, Erin quickly unbuckled her seat belt, turned, and leaned toward Ethan. Their faces were inches apart.
—You're flattering me, but aren't we moving a little too fast? —Ethan asked, startled by how close she was. A faint scent of perfume surrounded him. He swallowed nervously— Be gentle with me…
—Asshole. The guy driving the van is Bricks —Erin whispered, looking him straight in the eyes, slightly flushed.
She reached out and wrapped her arm around his neck, pretending to have a tender moment.
—He could recognize you from last night, and they might suspect the place is compromised.
—Mmm —Ethan murmured, making a low humming noise.
To make it look more convincing, he wrapped his arm around her waist, feeling the softness of her skin. The moment he held her, Erin stiffened for a second, but soon relaxed.
She noticed Ethan wasn't looking at her —his eyes were fixed on the rearview mirror. In it, Bricks was climbing the steps to the house, carrying a thick stack of pizza boxes.
Enough food for a lot of people.
Bricks knocked on the door and went inside quickly.
—You can let me go now, Ethan… —Erin whispered, slightly breathless from the embrace.
Ethan turned his head, their eyes meeting, both breathing a little faster.
—I'm sorry —he murmured.
He let go immediately. Erin quickly straightened her clothes and sat back.
Olinsky and Ruzek were clearly sitting in the vehicle approaching from the opposite direction. Erin made a quick gesture and started driving.
The two cars passed each other, their eyes meeting for a brief moment before continuing on. A few streets later, they regrouped.
Rolling down the window, Erin nodded at Olinsky.
—We're lucky. Looks like we found where they're keeping the kids.
—Seems like it. We found nothing at the workshop, just a few workers —Olinsky said, chewing on a candy— I saw the pizza guy carrying way more food than they could ever need. So we followed him.
—I already sent the address to Jin so he can check who owns the house —Ethan said, slipping his phone back into his pocket—. What now?
—I'll stay and keep eyes on the house. You two head back to the station —Olinsky replied, rolling up the window— Talk to Hank about the next step.
Erin nodded, accelerated, and headed straight back to the precinct.
Back in the common room, Hank had been waiting for a while. He and Halstead had been tracking Snyder with no success.
—You're sure this is the place? —Hank asked when he saw them rushing up the stairs. Olinsky had already informed him by phone.
—Almost sure —Ethan replied.
—That's enough —Hank said, turning to Jin—. What do you have on the owner of the house?
Everyone except the two still surveilling outside had gathered in the main room. Jin checked his phone.
—A normal family —he said—. A childless couple with a good financial situation. They have a good rating with Child Protective Services and currently have two registered foster children. Connie handled all the paperwork.
—Everything points to this being where they're holding the kids —Hank said, frowning—. We're not using those kids as bait. Request an emergency search warrant right now.
—Okay, it's already in motion —Jin said, typing quickly.
—Antonio —Hank said, turning—, give us something good on the silencer.
—Of course —Antonio replied, holding a thick stack of papers—. This is the call log from Connie's private number over the last six months. I've gone through everything. One number shows up a lot, always at very specific times.
—Connie and the silencer are definitely connected —he added, rolling the papers and pointing aside—. Jin also found the owner's information.
Jin stepped forward:
—I found out the property belongs to Snyder's cousin.
Hank thought for a moment, then gave the order decisively.
—Notify patrol units to detain all of Snyder's men, and put the girls in protective custody.
Juliet had already sent Ethan the addresses for their group through social media; those kidnapped women needed to be rescued as well —at the same time.
—Let's go save those kids —Hank said, grabbing his jacket—.
—Jin —Hank continued, patting him on the shoulder— send the address to Platt. Have her dispatch an unmarked patrol car and let them know we'll be there. Tell them to watch the workshop and the cousin's house. But no one moves without my order… understood.
— Understood —Jin replied, jotting it down quickly—. I'll send the emergency search warrant to your phones the moment it's ready.
Minutes later.
Seeing the Cadillac SUV tailing them, Ethan pressed harder on the gas. The two cars, one after the other, sped toward the place they had just left, while Erin nervously put on her bulletproof vest beside him.
Ethan's expression was just as serious; his fingers tapped anxiously on the steering wheel.
—Olinsky sent a message. —Erin pulled out her phone—. Connie and Bricks are gone; it looks like they took off on their own.
—Is that good? —Ethan asked—. Who's following them?
—Patrol officers are on them, they won't get away. —she added, tapping her phone—. Jin sent the emergency search warrant. Once we have the kids, they'll arrest them right away.
Driving at high speed, the vehicle quickly returned to the previous location, where Olinsky and Ruzek were waiting for them with their bulletproof vests on, taking cover behind their car.
Stopping the car at a safe distance, Ethan flashed the headlights to get their attention.
The two noticed immediately and hurried over; within seconds, the whole team was together again. Without wasting any time, they started a quick briefing to lock down the entry plan.