Times had changed.
Criminals today often knew enough about the law to challenge every move the police made, and Benji Keyes was clearly no exception.
Even after being caught with drugs and a weapon, he looked more offended by the arrest than worried about what he had done.
Technically, Benji had a point.
The Intelligence Unit had entered the house covertly and taken him without handling the operation like an ordinary warrant service.
Sergeant Hank Voight, however, showed absolutely no concern.
Hank had never been the kind of cop who allowed procedure to stop him when he believed a dangerous criminal needed to be taken off the street.
He stepped closer to Benji and stared down at him, his gravelly voice turning cold.
“Listen to me, Benji.” “I can make your life extremely difficult if that’s what you want,” Hank continued.
“There are plenty of people downtown who’d be happy to see you locked away.
You’re not exactly some nobody.” Benji glared at him without answering.
“You want to argue about a search warrant?” Hank asked.
“Fine.
We can spend all night having lawyers fight over paperwork if that’s what makes you feel better.” Benji’s anger remained, but some of the confidence behind it disappeared.
He knew the situation was much bigger than a technical argument inside an interrogation room.
If the Chicago Police Department truly decided to build a serious case around him, he had plenty of existing problems that could come back to haunt him.
Hank leaned closer.
“But here’s the thing.” “You’re not who I want, Benji.” Hank’s eyes remained fixed on him.
“Your brother Derek is old-school.
He doesn’t trust phones, doesn’t discuss serious business electronically, and only meets people face-to-face.” “People already inside his circle,” Hank added.
“People like you.” The moment Derek’s name came up, Benji understood where the interrogation was heading.
His expression tightened, but he refused to give Hank anything useful.
“I’ve got nothing to say until my lawyer gets here.” Hank didn’t become angry.
He simply studied Benji for several seconds before changing direction.
“What about your boyfriend?” Benji’s expression shifted almost immediately.
“Maybe he’ll have something to say,” Hank continued calmly.
“I don’t think he’s nearly as comfortable sitting in an interrogation room as you are.” The defiant look on Benji’s face began to disappear.
He stared at Hank in disbelief before leaning forward against his restraints.
“No, man.” “He doesn’t know anything.” At the same time, in the interrogation room next door, Alvin Olinsky and Adam Ruzek sat across from the second man taken from the house.
Adam held the man’s file in his hands and studied the short criminal history printed inside.
“Aaron Vitos.
Twenty-five years old.” He looked up.
“Only thing you’ve got on here is a theft charge.” Adam lowered the file slightly.
“That’s what I don’t understand.
People make stupid mistakes, and theft is one thing.
But why were you in the same room as Benji Keyes?” Aaron immediately avoided his eyes.
“You know who Benji is, right?” Adam asked.
“We’re not talking about some guy stealing televisions out of parked cars.” Aaron shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
“We’re just friends.” Alvin gave a slight shrug from beside him.
His expression stayed calm, but his voice carried little sympathy.
“Doesn’t look like just friends to me.” He leaned against the table.
“More importantly, maybe you’re involved in Benji’s business.
If that’s true, you’re looking at something a lot worse than that theft charge.” Aaron stopped moving.
“Drug conspiracy, trafficking, weapons,” Alvin continued.
“Cases like that can turn into twenty or thirty years pretty fast.” Aaron’s face changed as the consequences began sinking in.
The small interrogation room suddenly seemed much quieter than before.
Alvin immediately noticed the hesitation and pulled a chair closer.
“Listen, Aaron.” His tone softened.
“I’m not here to judge whatever you and Benji have going on,” Alvin said.
“Trust me, I’m probably the last guy who should be giving anybody relationship advice.” He gave a tired half-smile.
“If I understood relationships, I wouldn’t have spent years sleeping in my garage, wrecked my marriage, and managed to screw up half the important things in my life.” Aaron slowly lowered his head.
“So don’t sit here thinking I’m judging you,” Alvin continued.
“That’s not what matters tonight.” In the next interrogation room, Hank remained seated across from Benji.
He had already noticed the change in the man’s expression after Aaron’s name entered the conversation.
That concern gave him exactly the opening he needed.
“I don’t care whether Aaron knows anything about your business,” Hank said.
“Maybe he doesn’t.” Benji watched him carefully.
“But if this turns into a full investigation, his name is already connected to yours,” Hank continued.
“That means his life can become very complicated very quickly.” Benji clenched his jaw.
Hank leaned forward slightly.
“But I only care about one thing.” “Derek.” The interrogation room fell silent.
“You give me Derek,” Hank said, “and Aaron walks.” Benji’s eyes narrowed.
“That’s my promise,” Hank continued.
“And if I were you, I’d think very carefully before throwing that offer away.” He watched Benji’s expression closely.
“Sometimes there are people in your life who are worth protecting.” Benji’s eyes reddened slightly at that.
For several seconds he looked away, struggling between loyalty to his brother and concern for Aaron.
Hank didn’t interrupt him.
He simply waited.
Minutes passed before Benji finally looked back at him.
His voice was quieter now, but every word was deliberate.
“All right.” “Here’s the deal.” Benji stared directly into Hank’s eyes.
“I give you Derek.” “You let both of us go.” Hank didn’t respond immediately.
Benji refused to look away.
The two men sat across from each other in complete silence until Hank finally gave a slow nod.
“Okay.” “I’ll find a way.” Benji closed his eyes and sank back against the chair.
Whatever loyalty he had toward Derek had finally lost against the possibility of Aaron going down with him.
The decision had been made.
Benji would cooperate.
A short time later, Hank and Adrian returned upstairs to the Intelligence Unit office.
The rest of the team was already preparing equipment for the next stage of the operation.
This time, black tactical jackets and masks weren’t going to be enough.
At one table, Greg “Mouse” Gerwitz was checking a collection of miniature cameras and wireless surveillance equipment.
He carefully tested each signal while building the monitoring setup that would follow the undercover operation.
Jesse stood nearby waiting for the equipment to be ready.
Hank walked into the middle of the room.
“All right, listen up.” Everyone turned toward him.
“Derek is extremely careful,” Hank said.
“He doesn’t trust strangers, and if he sees somebody he recognizes from the street or from law enforcement, this whole thing dies immediately.” His eyes shifted toward Adrian.
“So we’re using a fresh face.” Adrian already understood what was coming.
“Adrian,” Hank said.
“You’re going undercover.” He studied the rookie carefully.
“Any problem with that?” If Adrian had shown even the slightest hesitation, Hank wouldn’t have allowed him anywhere near Derek.
This wasn’t the kind of assignment where uncertainty could be ignored.
Adrian, however, answered without changing expression.
“No problem.” Hank stared at him for another moment.
There was no fear.
“Good.” Hank clapped his hands once, bringing everyone’s attention back to the room.
“Everybody get ready.” Mouse turned toward Adrian with a friendly smile and held out his hand.
“Greg Gerwitz.
Everybody calls me Mouse.” “I handle most of the tech and logistics around here.” Adrian shook his hand.
“Adrian Knight.
Good to meet you.” Mouse immediately returned to work.
He picked up a tiny wireless camera and examined Adrian’s clothing before attaching the device near one of his buttons.
“This should work.” He adjusted it slightly.
“Yeah.
Sight line should be clean from here.” Adrian looked down at the nearly invisible camera.
Surveillance equipment wasn’t something he had much experience with.
At least, not yet.
Whether the Punisher System would eventually provide him with skills in electronics or surveillance was impossible to know.
For now, Adrian had no reason to pretend he understood something he didn’t.
“I’ll trust you.” Mouse grinned.
“Smart answer.” Standing nearby, Jesse watched Adrian for a moment before frowning.
“You sure you’re comfortable doing this?” Adrian looked at him.
“I can talk to Voight,” Jesse continued.
“Maybe I can take the undercover role instead.” Adrian appreciated the concern, but he shook his head.
“Thanks, but I’m good.” Jesse studied him for another second before finally reaching out and patting him on the shoulder.
“All right.” “Just be careful.” His expression became serious.
“These guys aren’t playing around.” Adrian nodded.
“I understand.” At that moment, Adam entered the office carrying a large bag.
He walked directly toward the preparation table and set it down before opening the top.
Inside were tightly packed bundles of cash.
“Small bills from the 1505 Fund,” Adam announced.
Everyone glanced toward the money.
“One hundred thousand dollars total.” The cash had been authorized as operational money for the undercover transaction.
If Adrian was going to convince Derek Keyes and his people that he was a legitimate buyer, he needed more than a convincing story and hidden camera.
He needed money they could see.
Adam pushed the bag toward the rest of the team.
$100,000.
Everything was ready for the operation.