The vacation passed quickly.
At the airport, the movement of passengers and the constant murmur of the loudspeakers filled the air. Suitcases rolled across the floor, and people said their goodbyes with hurried hugs before boarding the plane.
Job looked at the departure screen and then at Ethan and Nola.
—Well… I guess this is where it ends —he said with a half smile.
He adjusted the backpack on his shoulder.
—New York is calling me back.
Nola let out a small laugh.
—I'm sure it is.
Job stepped forward and hugged Nola first, quickly.
—See you soon.
—Take care —she replied.
Then he gave Ethan a friendly pat on the shoulder.
—Try not to get into too much trouble.
—I'll try.
The boarding call for his flight sounded over the loudspeakers.
Job raised his hand in farewell.
—See you, bitches!
Without adding anything else, he walked toward the boarding gate and disappeared into the line of passengers.
When they were alone, Ethan and Nola looked at each other for a moment.
—I guess that's it —she said in a melancholic tone.
—Yeah, well… I'm sorry things didn't go the way I planned.
Nola picked up her suitcase, but before leaving, she stepped closer to him.
—Are you kidding? That was the most fun I've had in months… —she added with a small smile.
Then she leaned in and kissed him. When they separated, she looked at him with that calm energy that always seemed to surround her.
—See you soon.
—I'll be waiting for you in Banshee.
Nola nodded. She took her suitcase and began walking toward the boarding gate. She had only taken a few steps when she stopped and turned around one last time.
—Oh, by the way…
Ethan looked up.
—You should come visit us soon… or maybe you'll regret not being there when it happens.
—What do you mean? —Ethan asked, confused.
Nola smiled with a mysterious air.
—You'll find out when you go. I promise you'll be very surprised.
Without saying anything else, she turned around and continued toward the boarding.
Before disappearing into the crowd, she turned and raised her hand in farewell.
Ethan stood there watching until she vanished among the people.
The few days they spent together ended abruptly. Back in his car, Ethan was on his way to a crime scene, lost in his thoughts. He took a sip of coffee and turned up the volume of the radio.
He had been paying attention to the news in Illinois. Logically, an incident of that magnitude should have shaken the media.
But there was nothing. Absolute silence.
A car appeared in the distance. When he saw it, Ethan turned off the engine and stepped out. Snow swirled in the air. Blue lights flashed. He showed his badge to the patrol officer and crossed the police tape.
It was his first day back after vacation. Before he even made it to the station, Hank had called him to join them in Chinatown. Several patrol cars blocked the street, surrounding an alley that led to an apartment building.
—Wow, looks like you rested well —Erin said, walking up with a smile.
Antonio and Halstead were behind her.
—Pam!
Ethan high-fived Halstead.
—Your wound healed already?
—Thanks for worrying. I'm good as new —he replied, crossing his arms proudly.
Ethan also bumped fists with Antonio.
At that moment, Hank's Cadillac arrived at the scene. He got out of the car and climbed the stairs without wasting time.
Everyone followed him. Erin slowed her pace and shot Ethan a sharp look.
—What happened? —Ethan asked as he caught up.
—Robbery, murder —Hank replied curtly. We don't know much yet.
Nothing unusual for the South Side.
When they got upstairs, Ethan raised an eyebrow.
From the outside, it looked like a normal place. Inside, it was a small underground casino.
Small bills covered the floor. Mahjong, roulette, blackjack… everything was there.
The place was full of people, most of them of Chinese origin. There were also elderly people, fear etched across their faces.
Officers were already questioning them.
—How was your break? —Erin asked, sitting down at a table.
—It was good, although I discovered snowboarding isn't really my thing —Ethan replied with a smile.
—I missed you… Dinner tonight after work?
—Yes, ma'am! But you're paying —she teased.
An officer called them. The Intelligence team had arrived.
Red tape blocked the inner access.
They crouched and stepped inside. The scene was brutal.
Several desks. Behind each one, bodies: some face down, others slumped over.
Money-counting machines still sat on the tables.
The bills were soaked in blood.
—Here!
Antonio's shout made them turn.
Behind a wooden door was another body.
A boy. Fourteen, maybe fifteen.
Still with a child's face. Eyes wide open, frozen in terror.
Ethan slowly crouched down, fists clenched. The boy lay in a pool of blood. Beside him, half-opened food bags.
—They even killed the delivery kid —Antonio spat angrily.
—Ethan… Ethan!
Erin called him twice, but he didn't respond.
She touched his shoulder.
—What's wrong?
—I was calling you.
—Sorry… it's just… he's only a kid.
Hearing that, Hank sighed.
Surveillance room.
Members of the Intelligence Unit gathered around the computer. The casino technician, his face drenched in sweat, opened the surveillance footage with trembling hands. The screen flickered before the video started playing.
At first, everything seemed calm: several people were working normally in the accounting office. The door opened, and the boy from earlier walked in carrying several takeout bags.
He exchanged a few brief words with the staff and left the food in a corner of the room.
Then the situation changed abruptly.
The door was kicked open from the outside, and two individuals wearing black hoods and tactical uniforms, armed with rifles, stormed violently into the office.
Outside, a third subject remained watching the surroundings.
The two who entered opened fire without saying a word, shooting everyone present. The boy, frozen in the corner, watched the scene with a stunned expression.
The attackers quickly pulled bags from their gear to collect the money when one of them noticed something behind him and turned his head sharply.
Then several consecutive gunshots were heard, and the boy collapsed into a pool of blood.
—They move like professionals —Jay said, slowly shaking his head. In and out in less than three minutes.
—The kid caught them by surprise —Antonio muttered, clenching his jaw. But honestly… even if he hadn't, the way they work, I doubt they planned to leave any witnesses.
On the screen, after shooting the boy, the two attackers didn't slow down at all; they tossed the money from the tables into their bags with quick movements.
In less than two minutes, the group left the place.
—How much money did they take?
Ethan tapped the surveillance guard on the shoulder.
—More than sixty thousand dollars —the guard replied.
—That kind of coordination feels familiar. If I had to bet, I'd say they're ex-soldiers —Jay said, pointing at the screen— Look how they enter. Three-man formation: the first breaks in, the second advances covering the opposite sector, and the third stays half a step back, securing the rear and controlling access. There must be a fourth, maybe the driver.
Hank thought for a moment and then made a gesture with his hand.
—Alright, copy the surveillance footage. We'll discuss it back at the station.
When they stepped outside the casino, the snowfall had already lessened.
Watching the curious Chinese onlookers around them, Ethan put a cigarette in his mouth and bit the filter hard.
—Are you okay? —Erin asked, approaching with a concerned expression— What happened earlier? I rarely see you like that.
—I'm fine —Ethan replied, slowly exhaling a cloud of smoke— It just bothers me… killing an innocent kid in cold blood like that. For some reason, it really pisses me off.
—I feel the same way! —Antonio stepped closer as well.
He took off his gloves and slapped them hard against his palm.
—Don't worry, we'll find the killer —Erin said, giving him a light shove on the shoulder.
—Mm.
Ethan nodded, tossed the cigarette butt away, and walked toward his vehicle.
Starting the day with such a discouraging incident. By the time he returned to the Police Department, he had already managed to regain much of his composure.
He climbed the stairs quickly, and the first person he saw was Platt.
Of course, there were a few times when he didn't see her.
—How was your break?
—It was good.
Platt saw him and stopped working.
—I heard what happened in Chinatown. It's a tragedy.
—Yeah, for that kid, it definitely is.
Ethan forced a smile and extended his fist to the side.
—What are you doing here?
—Welcome back!
Alvin was outside the reception desk. He pulled the licorice from his mouth and pointed to the side.
—I'm watching a monkey show.
Ethan turned his head and followed Alvin's gaze until he spotted Ruzek chatting animatedly with two patrol officers. He was wearing an impeccable two-piece suit, more suited to a gala than a day at the station.
Their voices carried clearly across the room.
One of the officers asked curiously:
—How's it going here?
Ruzek smiled and removed his sunglasses.
—Not bad, the Intelligence Unit is amazing.
—I'm really jealous. We've always planned to apply here once our training period ends.
—By the way, what's the salary like for Patrol officers here?
Ruzek adjusted his hair proudly.
—Sorry, I'm not really sure. You know, I skipped that stage entirely. Work hard, that's my advice.
The two rookie officers looked at each other, their faces full of envy.
—Yeah, we heard you're in the Intelligence Unit.
On the other side, Ethan, already in a bad mood, decided to mess with him a little when he saw that smug face. His eyes shifted, and he nudged Alvin lightly with his elbow.
—Your apprentice is way too cocky, don't you think?
—You bet he is.
Alvin nodded, biting hard on the licorice.
—We can't let him be that smug.
Ethan held his coffee with both hands and took a slow sip. At that moment, Burgess came up the stairs, almost hopping the last few steps.
—Good morning, detectives!
When she saw him, her smile widened.
—Good morning, —Ethan replied without taking his eyes off Ruzek, with that calm that always meant trouble was coming.
Then something changed in his expression. A dangerous spark crossed his eyes when he saw Atwater and Burgess together. The idea formed instantly—dark and delicious.
—Sergeant Platt… —Ethan said with calculated softness, almost angelic—don't you think it's a real shame that Ruzek missed such a… valuable experience as PPO?
The silence that followed was dangerous.
The PPO—Probationary Police Officer—was that glorious eighteen-month trial period that turned any academy graduate into everyone's favorite target: a rookie cop working under the strict supervision of a Field Training Officer who didn't let the slightest mistake slide.
Platt slowly raised her eyes. They locked first on Ethan, then on Ruzek. The corner of her lips curved slightly.
She understood perfectly.
—Oh, detective —she replied with a calm that promised a storm—are you suggesting that Officer Ruzek needs that valuable experience?
She crossed her arms, clearly enjoying the idea.
—You're right, detective.
—Could you help us organize it?
Ruzek felt a chill run down his spine and turned toward the reception area. Platt looked at the confused Ruzek and showed a sharp smile.
—Detective, believe me. You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this day.
As a newcomer, he had never gone through his training period since he had been recruited directly into the Intelligence Unit. Ruzek often acted arrogantly around Platt, and she had been waiting for the chance to put him in his place.
Unexpectedly, Ethan and Alvin had just handed it to her on a silver platter.
Platt's eyes narrowed with a smile.
—Atwater.
—Let's go! —She ordered with a firm wave of her hand— Today is your lucky day. You'll be supporting the Intelligence Unit.
Unlike Ruzek, Atwater grinned from ear to ear, clearly excited, while Burgess barely hid a small pout.
Ethan then called Ruzek, who returned with visible apprehension.
—Officer Ruzek, today you won't be with the Intelligence Unit… It will be your training day, and Officer Burgess will be your instructor.
—Wait, Sergeant, I have an operation with the unit —Ruzek protested, trying to maintain his composure.
—That doesn't matter anymore. Your supervisor just released you. Congratulations.
—No… that's not true —he muttered miserably.
—Sergeant, that's not fair —Kim replied, frowning.
—Oh, look at that —she answered with fake surprise— Seems like it's three days of training now. One more complaint and I'll make it a month. Now get your asses out of my sight.
Ruzek's defeated expression was impossible to ignore. Seeing it, Ethan's mood improved instantly.
—Thanks, Sergeant… see you later. —then he gestured to Olinsky— I'll head up first.
He waved and went up the stairs with a slight smile, followed by Atwater. When they reached the top, the rest of the team had already returned to the Bullpen.