"A few weeks," he admits with some chagrin, because he absolutely wasn't supposed to be gone that long, and he knows it. He also wasn't supposed to be doing things that would get him shot. He'd like to think he has all-around solid excuses for both, though.

"The trip up north was an adventure unto itself," he sighs, "and upon my return to Chicago, I met my new commanding officer, who tried to fire me. By the time that was sorted out, Gerard had escaped."