Campus break in (open)

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Chicago Police Department K-9 Officer Jason McGuire and his partner, the German Shepherd Ice were on patrol near the University of Chicago. During roll call, the Sergent had informed them to be on the look out for any shenanigans at the universities. The chief had ordered a step up in patrols of the area, mainly near the greek houses, knowing that parties there could easily get out of hand. That wasn't lost on Jason as he drove around. He remembered the hijinks he had seen when in college, thankfully there was nothing like what he had witnessed here.  Jason shook his head a bit as he came off the road the university greek houses were on. While driving along, Jason glanced over to each side while Ice looked out as well. Jason didn't see anything out of place, but knew how quickly that could change.

A few moments later, he got a call about a break in at one of the sorority houses that was close by. Jason responded and headed over. Once there, he met up with another officer that had arrived. The two, along with Ice, headed to the front door, which they saw was open. "Police department with a K-9, come out or you'll get bit!" Jason called out while he and Officer Lindsay Jackson waited with their guns down at their side. After calling out, Jason heard a muffled call for help. Jason and Ice went in first, followed by Lindsay. Ice lead them into the dining room, where they found four of the sorority members tied to the chairs that were placed around the table, each had tape pasted over their lips. Jason and Lindsay holstered their guns when they came across the four, freeing them after calling in what they had found. While helping the four petrified women out of the house, Jason had no idea who he would soon be interacting with.

[Henry 'Hank' Voight]

Voight had been finishing up the day’s paperwork when the call came in. University of Chicago was the address, he assumed that some prank had gone wrong and the local patrol could handle it but as further details were given he saw why he had gotten the call. Hank looked out at the empty desks, his team had left early to celebrate a win on the case they had just closed yet he preferred to stay behind and make sure all of the t’s were crossed and I’s were dotted. He hated technicalities which generally meant the suspect would come across their desks again, first time win only. He hated second time around as it meant there was a screw up somewhere along the way.

He grabbed his gear before heading down from Intelligence to find a stand in partner for the evening. Even though he would probably end up finding a probie of some sort, experience was key in learning. He didn’t like new cops as they made mistakes but everyone had to start somewhere. With that in mind he swung by the detective desks in the 21st precinct. There were few people left working late as he knew detective’s kept their own hours sometimes, and if there was no active case clocking off time was exactly that.

He saw a few familiar faces sat behind the desks, heads buried in concentration when his eyes set upon the red haired detective. He knew she was bomb squad and due to budget cuts doubled as a detective for any case that needed one. Like most cops they had to be a jack of all trades to cover what the city was doing to them. “Hey Walker!” He yelled, “Need you to ride along with me on a case, consider yourself working for me tonight.” He knew if she refused it was within her right although he hoped not. He knew that bomb squad wasn’t needed but she seemed fairly competent from what he had heard. He didn’t give her time to answer before he headed outside to the car and waited for her to get in.

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Tess was minding her own business when she heard her name yelled across the desks. The military had taught her to answer to her surname as she would her first though she was more surprised to see who had called her. Hank Voight of Intelligence, the man had a reputation that came first and refusing him wouldn’t look good. After all the promise of a case and the mountain of paper work, well she knew which one she would prefer. “Sure thing boss.” She replied grabbing her gun, badge and rucksack before pulling on her tactical gloves to cover her hands. Gloves for a crime scene were a given but you never knew what else you would need.

She had a change of clothes rolled up in the bag alongside a few more clips of ammo, water and energy supplies along with a small but workable kit for bombs. Nothing too flashy but enough to get back in a tight situation. Be prepared was her motto to live by, if she wasn’t prepared them people got hurt, it was simple. She followed Voight to the car getting into the passenger side as she shut the door. “What detail do we have?” She asked him as the car pulled away from the pavement.

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Voight didn’t have much to share until he got to the crime scene which was why he used blues and twos all the way. “University of Chicago, four women tied to chairs. Won’t know what we got to we get there.” He replied, it didn’t take long to pull up at the sorority house from the address that was given. “You’re with me so follow my lead.” He said parking up and turning the siren off as he got out of the car and went in search of the first on the scene. “First officers on the scene, where are they?” He called out as Tess did as he asked and followed behind him glancing around.

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Jason was standing with two of the women while a female EMT checked them out. He was listening to what the brunette was saying when a bark from Ice got his attention. He looked over and saw an older man looking around, asking where he and Lindsay were. "Over there sir" another officer said, motioning to the ambulance Jason was at. Lindsay was close by at the same time. Jason spoke to Ice in German, at which point the massive dog laid on the ground next to him. Jason noticed Sgt. Voight as he stood there, wondering why the head of Intelligence was here.

*Stay focused Jason* he said to himself, his army training taking over. He had heard stories of Sgt. Voight from other officers. Jason wasn't that phased by them. Voight reminded him of his drill sergeants from Ft. Jackson, three men Jason would not soon forget. Lindsay looked over to Jason after the other officer told Sgt. Voight were they were. Ice looked up as he lay next to Jason, not moving unless he was told to.

[Henry 'Hank' Voight]

Voight heard the voice call ‘over here sir’, it was nice to know that some people used Sir however he never considered himself worthy of such a title. Not given his reputation at least which wasn’t all earned, people had a way of believing what they wanted to and spinning the truth when it was a simple matter. Putting a certain level of fear into people worked although some people it just annoyed, he couldn’t help the fact he was talked about although he preferred to keep which parts were true and which were false to himself.

As Voight approached the ambulance he glanced at the two officers, it really was a bad thing to find on patrol although then again it was rare when anything nice was found. “I’m Detective Sergeant Voight, this is Detective Walker.” He said motioning to Tess who was still following behind him. The woman knew how to follow an order he thought to himself. He already knew she worked military bomb squad for years though he was still considering if he was good police. He had never worked with her before so that would remain to be seen.

He turned his attention back toward the matter at hand and the two patrol officers. “So what are we looking at here Officers?” He asked them both looking toward them both and then down to the dog who lay on the ground next to one of the officers. He had to presume the man and woman were from a K9 Unit, it was nice to see them out and about as he hadn’t seen the K9 units for a while.

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Tess barely had time to nod or even speak by the time Voight had exited the car, follow his lead? That was easier said than done when breaking skulls were a favorite past time of his or at least according to the precinct rumors. Still she followed Hank from the car as she looked around the scene. It was a habit to scan the area for anything out of place, sometimes she found it tough to swap between being a cop and forgetting that she wasn’t on a bomb squad call. A simple detective call, no booms or explosions involves as far as she knew. As Tess was introduced by Voight she nodded and smiled politely as she stepped out to the side of Voight. Tess glanced between the two officers as Hank asked about what they were dealing with, “Don’t worry his bark is worse than his bite.” She said motioning to Voight although she couldn’t been one hundred percent sure about that statement.

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Jason and Lindsay both nodded before Jason spoke up. "Breaking and entering that escalated into a robbery. The young man by Officer Jackson's squad car saw three masked men in hunter's camouflage leaving the house and called it in. Myself and Officer Jackson were the first on site, calling out to anyone that was in the house. I sent Ice in first after hearing a muffed scream from inside. Upon entering, Ice lead us to the dinning room were we found Taila Merrel, Bailey Andrews, Kayla Stephens and Nicole Burke taped to the chairs. Further inspection of the house discovered that the house had been torn apart, but only things missing are the TV from the common room and the money that the sorority had collected from a recent fundraiser." Jason replied, a bit puzzled as he said that.

The guys behind this could have take much more, but passed up everything for cash from a safe and a one flat screen TV. It didn't make sense to him or to Lindsay, but then again, half the things they've seen didn't make sense to them. At the same time, Nicole looked over to Bailey as they sat in the ambulance. The brunette noticed her friend's hand was shaking as she sat there. Nicole reached over and gently took Bailey's hand in her's. Bailey looked at her when she did that, relaxing a bit as she looked at her.

[Henry 'Hank' Voight]

Hank listened carefully as Jason spoke about what they knew. There was a good amount of information there which meant that Jason knew his job well which was an instant like from Voight. He glanced over to Officer Jackson’s squad car and saw the young man, in his mind he seemed credible but what he found most disturbing was the lack of robbery. Even as he looked toward Jason the man seemed puzzled by the TV and money being the only stolen objects. It was odd given that the girls had been incapacitated and well there could have been a marching band sent through the house and no one would have been able to stop it.

“Good information and good job here.” He said nodding toward Jason, Linsday and Ice. “So what is your theory on this, a simply home invasion or more to it?” Voight asked glanced toward Jason.

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Tess simply observed as Jason spoke, he had Voight’s attention which was either good or bad but it left her at a lose end. She chose to take a look at the girls, she saw Bailey’s hand shaking and the act of kindness given by her friend. Tess might have chosen to write it off but then again being tied to a chair in your own house was something that didn’t scream robbery. “Hey, do you have any idea who might have done this?” She asked the girls before looking toward Jason, Lindsay and Voight. “Seems extreme for a tv and cash, I mean a gun could get you that but masked men in hunter’s camouflage.” Tess had an idea it was a little more than a robbery and considering Jason seemed puzzled he did too.

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Jason looked at Sgt. Voight when he asked that. "Simple home invasion no, something more, yes. Why tie up four people just for cash and flat screen when one of the suspects could have held his gun on them while the other two took what they were after? On top of that: why ransack the house when your only taking two items?" he replied, Officer Jackson was thinking the same thing as she stood there.

Bailey, Taila, Nicole and Kayla each shook their heads no when Tess asked them that. Kayla looked at her while she sat on the edge of the CFD ambulance with a blanket wrapped around her. "One of them said something about paying off a debt." she said, her voice shaky as she spoke. Jason and Lindsay both looked over when she said that, then back at Tess and Sgt. Voight. It was clear by the look on Jason's face that his hunch was confirmed. However, he knew that more questions were raised.

[Henry 'Hank' Voight]

Voight nodded, it was far too odd to be a home invasion and leave it at that. If there had been a spot available on Intelligence then he would have considered if not given it to Jason. He was smart and saw beyond what most might leave. He knew a few cops in the city that would have written up the home invasion to save the paperwork and most likely any leg work involved so it was nice to come across someone who looked into things.

He listened as Kayla spoke, “A debt, what kind of debt?” he asked not liking the sound of that. Anyone willing to go through that much trouble wasn’t after the fiver that their friend borrowed for a pizza.

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Tess raised her brow as the girl spoke. Yes this was truly interesting despite her feeling a little unsure where to go now. Voight asked the question as to the kind of debt but Tess glanced between the girls wondering either which would fold first or who would be the one to say they had no clue. She felt sorry for the girls, a home invasion was never easy as it felt like your personal space had been violated although they would turn over every rock in the girl’s lives if they didn’t have an idea what was going on.

“Any surveillance in the area that we know of?” Tess asked Jason figuring it might be a second place to start looking. Either a general direction for the escapee’s or simply a face to follow up on which was what she hoped for although given it seemed professional she doubted any of the three would be that forgetful.

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"Something about a gambling debt....that's all I heard before they left." Kayla added as she sat there. Jason looked at her, then at Tess and Sgt. Voight. "Thankfully there is a security camera at the house's front door and a red light camera at the intersection." he replied. "Working on getting the footage from the red light camera. The house camera is on its way to be processed." Jason added as Ice looked up to him.

At the same time, the three guys who pulled off the robbery were hiding out in a run down building. They would lie low until they were sure that the heat was off. They didn't know that the leader's debt comment had tipped off the police and would have them hot on their trail. At the moment, they were doing all they could to cover their tracks, not knowing that one of the guys left a fingerprint at the house.

[Henry 'Hank' Voight]

Voight raised his brow as a gambling debt was put into the mix. That was never a good think to have in any investigation, debts were things that people collected where as gambling debts meant it was far more serious than your average argument. “Nice work Sergeant...?” He asked realising that he didn’t even know the officers name yet. “Sorry, ticking clock and we forget the politeness but good work on this none the less.”

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Tess glanced around again, “So any of you girls involved with gambling?” She asked rather bluntly and to the point. Tess had nothing against gambling but you always stopped when you were up, she had little time for debts as that then became an addiction. She found herself looking at each and every one of them trying to work out if any of them would try to lie. It was the one part of her job that she found difficult, she had to put her trust in others from her previous job but this one it was finding the truth while having to keep a certain amount of trust for others. In one word, it was complicated.

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Jason looked at Sergent Voight when he said that. "Officer Jason McGuire" he replied with a slight nod. He didn't say it, but the way he spoke was thanks enough. Jason wasn't one to go around and looking for recognition for what he did. Taila, Bailey, Kayla and Nicole all looked at Tess when she asked if any of them were involved in gambling. "No" all four replied honestly as they sat there. Jason and Lindsay looked at them when that was said, then looked back to Tess and Sgt. Voight.

"This keeps getting more and more puzzling." Lindsay commented as she stood there. Jason glanced over to her when she said that, as did Ice. Seconds later, Jason's phone beeped, indicating he had a message. "Camera footage from the house's camera is ready." he said to the others as he stood there.

[Henry 'Hank' Voight]

Hank nodded as Jason told him his name, “Well Officer McGuire, you will probably be hearing from me to give Intelligence a hand when needed.” He said seriously, the man knew his job well and he seemed the sort of person he wanted to work with. “This is Tess Walker and you can call me Hank.” He said trying to be a little more approachable than usual. He would rather keep people he liked on side than terrify them although either way it worked for him.

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Tess held her hand out as Voight said her name, she was slowly getting used to her first name being Detective rather than Sergeant as it had been a few years ago, though she much preferred Tess. “It’s Tess.” She said before turning to Lindsay. It was becoming more and more puzzling as time went on. If the four girls didn’t know about any gambling debt then did the men have the wrong house? That in itself was a long shot though it wouldn’t have been the first time a criminal had made an epic mistake like that. “Maybe they had the wrong address?” She suggested.

“Shall we go and take a look at it?” Tess suggested as the mention of camera footage, it would hopefully provide some answers or simply a direction that the men headed in for them to check out. All she could say was that it would be an experience this case, one she only hoped worked out for all that were involved.

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Jason nodded in reply when Hank said that to him, shaking Tess's hand at the same time. As he did, Ice gently pawed at Tess's leg. Jason noticed it and spoke to him in German. Ice pulled his paw back and looked down, as if saying "Sorry dad." Jason shook his head a bit at the same time. "He normally doesn't do that." he said off the cuff as he looked at Tess. As he said that, the EMTs released the four girls. Jessica looked over to the group, then walked them away from everyone. It wasn't lost on her that they would be on edge for a while.

Jason nodded to Tess's comment about the footage and lead them over to the van that it had been sent to. Jason looked at the crime scene tech who had the footage ready and spoke to him briefly. The young man nodded in reply, then started what he had once everyone was watching.

[Henry 'Hank' Voight]

Tess smiled as Ice pawed her leg, the dog was beautiful and the sort she had seen a few times before. The military had her working with the dog handlers sometimes and she was convinced that the dogs were sometimes a lot smarter than their owners. Tess knelt down to Ice’s level as she patted this head before shaking his paw. “He is lovely and it’s not a bother, I like dogs besides he’s friendly. I take it he was trained in Germany?” She asked to Jason before turning her attention to Ice for a moment, “Sorry boy but I haven’t anything for you. I will make sure that next time I have something.” She said apologetically.
Tess followed Jason over to the van. The footage would hopefully help give them something she thought as she glanced toward Voight who followed them.

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A dog loving detective, Hank was still trying to figure out Tess although she seemed okay he guessed her heart was in the right place at least. That in itself was either a good or bad thing given the job they had to do. “Pretty good angle we get, it should give us a lead.” Hank said as he watched the footage closely.

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Jason nodded in reply when Hank said that. At the same time, he watched as the footage showed the guys coming out of the house, one of them didn't have his mask on. "Well, looks like one of them slipped up." Jason commented as he watched the play back. At the same time, he had a feeling that he had seen that guy before and it showed on his face. Ice looked up to Jason, sensing that something was off. Ice whined softly to Jason, then looked at Hank and Tess, worry in his eyes. "I've seen that guy before." Jason said to them after a few seconds.

Back at the hide out, the other two men were berating Sean for having taken his mask off and for the fact that they hit the wrong house. Sean really didn't care, not knowing that Jason was on his trail. Sean and Jason had crossed paths once before a year ago after another robbery just like this one.