A/N: Hey everyone. Sorry for the delay in getting this out there. Work and the holiday kept me pretty busy. So I hope everyone enjoys the latest update and as always please leave reviews. Thank you. I accidentally uploaded the prologue twice. Will be corrected shortly
Chapter 1
Third Ave and East 50th Street
Manhattan, New York
Frank stepped out of his SUV towards the police line. He returned the salutes of several of the officers standing nearby as he approached his DCPI and Special Assistant who were standing on the sidewalk. He looked around and noticed several ambulances on the scene. "What happen?"
Ghormley cleared his throat and took the lead on briefing Frank. "There was a scheduled protest scheduled here earlier this morning for when the President of Turkey would stop by and visit the consulate here. We detailed several RMP's for crowd control."
"Building security got a little nervous when the crowd size crew so they requested several officers be posted outside the consulate office doors on the 28th Floor." Garrett added in. He shifted on his feet. "Several protestors broke through and went to the consulate floor. From there it escalated."
"I'm still not hearing how this involves one of our officers being detained by Turkish authorities inside the consulate?" Frank stated.
"Boss, we are getting to that." Ghormley added. He saw Frank's nod for him to continue. "So as our officers are trying to stop the protestors from going through the doors into the consulate, Turkish Security officials came out and started to intervene in as well."
"During the melee our officer was forcing one of those security officials back towards the door." Garrett added to Ghormley's statement. "They are claiming that our officer struck the Turkish security official inside the consulate."
Ghormley continued. "While our officers and even some of the protestors claimed that he struck him outside the consulate doors."
Frank sighed and turned his head towards the building before looking back to his senior advisors. "What is the name of the officer?"
"Officer Arda Eren." Ghormley replied. He pulled out a printout and handed it over to Frank. "Six years on the job. Clean record."
"His parents emigrated from Turkey before he was born. Own a restaurant in Lower Manhattan." Garrett added in as well. He shifted on his feet. "Minor hiccup though, both Officer Eren and his parents have been critical of Turkey's government over the past couple years on social media, and State Department has asked us to let them handle it through the UN."
"Which is exactly they would be saying." Frank answered. He took a breath and gathered his thoughts. "Schedule a meeting between me and the consulate general so we may not have to rely on the State Department."
Garrett nodded as Ghormley looked unsure. "Are you sure boss, because let's face it. Turkey doesn't have the best track record when it comes to the rights of prisoners."
"And the fact the consulate is considered Turkish soil." Garrett replied. He looked at Ghormley and then Frank. "So what are we going to do?"
"Work on getting our officer back." Frank answered truthfully.
New York County Courthouse
Manhattan, New York
Erin shifted in her seat as the Chief Judge, Bureau Chief and the District Attorney sat around the conference room table. Erin had just finished explaining to the Chief Judge the situation. "So your honor, there is the situation. Because I had a professional relationship with the witness your honor, I will probably have to recuse myself."
"Your honor this is nothing but a attempt by the defense to get Judge Reagan to recuse herself from the trial by bringing up a former employee who was fired for leaking sensitive case material to the press." The District Attorney said to the Chief Judge who had her attention now on the DA. "Last time I checked Ms. Avila was still on suspension, and what bearing would she have on this case?"
Bureau Chief Egan nodded his agreement. "I have to agree your honor. Multiple canvasses by not only the NYPD and our office turned up no further witnesses. You must dismiss this motion for the witness to be allowed."
The Chief Judge took a breath and thought for a moment. "Before I decide anything I would like to hear from the defense council and the ADA assigned to the case."
The DA leaned forward. "If it pleases your honor, I will speak for the ADA."
"I rather hear it from her if you don't mind please; where are they?" The Chief Judge asked.
"Waiting out in the hall your honor." Erin replied.
"Ask them to come in please." The Chief Judge asked Erin who nodded, stood and walked to the door opening it and motioning the two lawyers inside. The Chief Judge looked at the both of them. "Ladies, we have a situation and I would like to resolve it."
Both lawyers nodded. "Yes your honor."
The Chief Judge smiled and turned to the ADA. "Now Ms. Baxter, I understand you have a problem with this motion?"
"I do your honor. Prior to this case coming to trial, I, NYPD officers and detectives conducted numerous interviews and canvasses looking for any more potential witnesses. We never found any." The ADA assigned to the case stated. She then turned to the Defense council "Now Ms. Perez here day the trial was supposed to start drops another witness on us, knowing the history of her witness and Judge Reagan, in attempt to get Judge Reagan to recuse herself. This shouldn't be allowed."
"I have to object to that accusation your honor." Defense Council Perez said in defense of herself. She looked at the people around the table. "You know as well as I do last minute witnesses pop up all the time, and this time was no different. I didn't know about Ms. Avila history with Judge Reagan."
"I find that hard to believe." Bureau Chief Egan said.
"Easy there Mr. Egan." The Chief Judge politely scolded the Bureau Chief who said a quiet apology. The Chief Judge took a breath. "I understand the last minutes arrival of witnesses, but was this attempt to get Judge Reagan to recuse herself?"
"No your honor it wasn't." Defense Council Perez answered. She shifted a little bit on her feet and took a breath. "She is waiting out in the hallway your honor, if you like to talk to her."
"Your honor can't seriously be considering this?" The DA who was in shock at the request, asked the Chief Judge. He shifted in his seat for a moment. "The women should have been disbarred for leaking that body camera footage to the news outlets, and…."
"I will make the determinations Mr. Keegan thank you." The Chief Judge admonished the DA. She turned to the defense council. "Show her in please?"
The defense council nodded and went to the door, and waved to someone in the hall. Erin took her breath as she turned her head and saw Marta Avila walk in. Marta stopped for a moment before coming further into the room. The Chief Judge smiled as she tried to deflate the tension in the room. "Welcome. Ms. Avila. Now do you mind if I ask you a couple questions?"
Marta shook her head. "No your honor?"
"Good. Now first question? Do you know everyone here?" The Chief Judge asked. Marta answered that she did. "Second question? Do you know Judge Reagan outside of work or the district attorney's office?"
Marta shook her head. "No your honor. We only had a professional relationship."
"Ok that is fine. Now my final question." The Chief Judge said. She took a breath and looked around the room. "Did you only come forward so that Judge Reagan could recuse herself and have the case reassigned?"
"No your honor." Marta answered in shock. She again shifted on her feet. "My only concern is making sure the truth about Mr. Ortiz. That is all."
"Are you now licensed again to practice in the state of New York Ms. Avila?" Bureau Chief Egan asked. He shifted in his seat. "Because last I checked you were not."
"Enough Mr. Egan." The Chief Judge admonished the bureau chief. She took a drink of water and looked at Erin for a moment. "Erin how do you feel about this?"
Erin swallowed hard. "This is quite a shock your honor, and I have no idea what to make of it. That is why I may have to recuse myself from the case because of my past association with the witness."
"Then you would have to recuse yourself for every one of your cases Judge Reagan." The Defense council snipped with a bit of a smirk on her face.
"So would most of the judges currently on the bench, so watch your tone councilor." The Chief Judge admonished the defense council this time. She took a breath and stood up which caused everyone else who was sitting to stand. "I will consider Judge Reagan's request of her recusal before any rulings in this case are to be made. For now Judge Reagan will issue a recess and dismiss the jury until the decision can be made, and then we will go from there. Thank you everyone."
Erin watched as the Chief Judge left the room before making her way to the door as well, only to be stopped by Marta Avila. "It's not personal your honor."
"Feels personnel when the defense council brings you in as a witness." Erin replied before walking past her and out into the hallway. She found her clerk waiting. "Something strange is going on here. What do you got?"
"Not to much your honor." Patrick answered as he fell into step with her as they started towards her chambers. "I had the case files sent over again. Maybe she wasn't home at the time of the canvasses?"
Erin pursed her lips as they continued walking down the hallway. "Maybe, but something is weird about this. I don't know what though."
Patrick nodded his agreement as they continued to walk wondering also what was going on.
Major Crimes
54th Precinct
Danny walked into the bullpen area of the precinct. He got a cup of coffee from the pot before making his way to his desk where his partner Baez was sitting at her desk going over paperwork. "What do you got there Baez?"
"I contacted the company that produces that necklace." Baez answered. She waited until Danny sat down before continuing. "They sold 400 of those necklaces in the past year alone."
"In the greater New York Area?" Danny asked.
Baez shook her head. "In the entire country. And of the 400 only twenty are in the New York area. Each necklace has serial number assigned to it. I was about to go over serial numbers on the necklace trying to find a match."
Danny smiled as Baez handed over the paperwork to him. "Love it when the companies make our jobs easier."
"I hear you on that." Baez replied with a smirk on her face. She picked up her coffee and took a sip as Danny flipped through the paperwork. "Anything from the canvass?"
Danny shook his head. "Nothing yet, and TARU is getting the security camera footage now."
Baez nodded her understanding and turned her attention to her computer as Danny continued to flip through the paperwork trying to find a match on the necklace that their victim was wearing. "Got it. And its Marcus Wendell."
Baez turned her attention back to Danny. "You know him?"
Danny nodded as he typed the name into the computer. "Busted him a couple times when I was in uniform. Small stuff really, but I heard he made it into the music world?"
"As a singer?" Baez asked getting up and coming over towards Danny's side of their joined desk.
"Music producer." Danny answered as the information came up. He looked at the information on the screen. "Not too much here. Small bust for possessions and a couple D and D's."
"Yeah but take a look at that right there Reagan." Baez replied. She pointed to charge at the bottom of the screen. "Got busted for aggravated assault, last year."
"Yeah but never convicted, but its good enough for me." Danny replied with a smile on his face. He stood back up with Baez walking around to her side to grab her stuff. "Come on partner. Let's go find out if our music producer is capable of producing murder."
"Music to my ears." Baez said with a slight smirk on her face as Danny looked at her.
Broome St and Broadway
Manhattan, New York
Eddie looked over to her partner who was sitting in the passenger seat looking out the window. "You okay over there?"
Her partner nodded his head. "Yeah I am fine. Why do you ask?"
"Just curious. You haven't said much since we got into the car." Eddie replied. She stopped at a red light. She turned and faced him. "I understand if you are nervous or a little bit apprehensive. Heck I was the first day I rolled out. I jumped into the drivers seats when my husband was my TO when we got a call. We rolled up onto a scene….."
"And a cop was shot. I heard the story at the academy." Officer Dwyer answered without turning his head away from the window. He took a breath. "Look Officer Reagan, I appericate your concern, but I am fine. I really just expect to make it through my probationary year and then move on to Bureau command to become a driver up there."
Yet before Eddie could respond the radio went off. "12-David, possible 10-30 at the 1568, corner of Canal and Layfette Street."
Officer Dwyer turned to hit the lights as Eddie reached for her shoulder radio. "10-4 Central, 12-David responding. Request any available unit to back us up when we arrive on location"
Eddie hit the gas and pulled the car carefully through the intersection. A few minutes later they pulled up to the scene, which was a bodega, where Officer Dwyer jumped out of the car before Eddie had it completely stopped. Eddie jumped out a moment later. "Hold up Dwyer we got to wait up…"
But Eddie's word fell on deaf ears as her partner jumped into the bodega before she could get set and back up could arrive. She rushed in after him when a she saw him get jumped on by a large man with a bat. She rushed over pulling out her baton striking him in the, legs. She then used the baton to pin his arms as the sirens of the backup unit arrived on scene. She was still struggling with the suspect when she heard the sounds of Walsh and her partner coming in. "Walsh, Paxton. Help me out here."
The two officers rushed over and helped to secure the suspect as Eddie got up and checked on Dwyer who was standing up under his own power. "I'm alright, just some bumps and bruises."
"That's good, but you were reckless." Eddie said admonishing her rookie partner. She turned to the suspect on the ground. "That is why we have regulations and procedures for this, so you don't end up….."
"Officer Reagan, no offense, but you may be a damn fine officer, but I am here just to survive the year before my transfer comes through and I get my assignment to be a driver for my dad." Officer Dwyer replied. He brushed past Eddie to go help Walsh and Paxton with the suspect as Eddie stood there shaking her head.
9th Avenue and West 36th Street
Manhattan, New York
Danny and Baez walked into the recording studios of Big Apple Records. The security guard stood in front of a particular door way blocking their way in. "Sorry no one is allowed in."
Danny eyed the security guard for a moment before flashing his badge. "This is all access pass, unless you want to go jail for obstructing a official police investigation."
The security guard sighed and stepped to the side allowing Danny and Baez to walk on into the recording studio which was a little hazing. A African American man in a tailored suit and three females had their backs to them. "Damn Terry, I thought I told you…"
"Marcus Wendell, NYPD." Danny said cutting the man off, while holding up his badge. The man stood up and turned around. "How you doing Marcus?"
"Officer Reagan." Marcus answered as the girls remained seated to oblivious to their host standing. "Been a long time."
"It's detective now, and how old are those girls sitting there?" Danny replied looking past Marcus to the trio of women. "What do you think partner, 16?"
"More like 15 to me." Baez answered with straight face. The girls started realize what was going on. "You want me to check their ID's detective?"
"No need on that. Girls leave." Marcus stated. The girls nodded, got up and left. Marcus stubbed out his roach and looked at Danny. "Now I know you are not here sweating me about some girls and drugs."
"No we're not Marcus, but I can make your life difficult for you if you don't answer my questions." Danny replied. He took out the picture of the necklace and held it up. "Does that look familiar to you?"
Marcus studied it. "Yeah it does. I bought that when it came out. Set me back forty large."
"You paid forty thousand dollars for a necklace?" Baez asked getting a nod from Marcus, who nodded. "Do you know who you gave it too?"
"Yeah I do. It was a anniversary gift for this girl I knew." Marcus replied. He shifted on his feet. "Her name was Kimberly Ki."
Danny busted out a picture of the victim. "This her?"
"Yeah that's her." Marcus answered in shock. His eyes went wide and he turned his head away. "What happen to her?"
"Somebody smashed her head in." Danny stated. He put the picture away and looked directly at Marcus. "Look at me Marcus. What was your relationship with the victim?"
Marcus turned his head. "She was one of my video dancers when I hired her a couple years ago. During breaks between sets and videos we got to talking a bit more."
"You started dating." Baez said. She saw Marcus nod his head. She wrote this down and then turned her attention back to Marcus. "How long did it last?"
"For a little over a year before we went our separate ways." Marcus answered. He shifted on his feet again and ran his hand over his face. "Damn shame too because I bought a ring too."
"Did you guys have any problems or get in any disagreements?" Danny asked. He saw Marcus shake his head no. "Not even about 8 months ago at a club…."
"Oh that assault charge was bogus man. I never laid a hand on Kimberly." Marcus said definitely in his defense. "The only reason I got charged is because I cold cocked some brother who grabbed Kimberly's ass, what would you have done?"
"Arrested him for starters." Danny replied, but on the inside he agreed with Marcus. He shifted on his feet now. "Are you sure?"
"Damn right I'm sure. I never touched her like that." Marcus again defended himself. Both Danny and Baez looked at, but something about his body language screams the truth.
"Where were you between say eight last night and seven this morning?" Baez asked.
"At a video shoot in New Jersey." Marcus answered. He pulled out a business card and handed it to Danny. "Just call the director."
"We'll be sure to do that." Danny said. He pocketed the business card before turning his attention back to Marcus. "Did she have any problems when she was working here?"
Marcus shook his head. Danny looked at him. "Are you sure about that?"
"I am. I mean she and the other girls for video shoots competed against each other to get gigs, but that is the nature of the business." Marcus answered. He shifted on his feet once again. "I mean girls got jealous of our relationship, stating she was just using me, but nothing worst than that."
"Are you sure?" Baez asked. She saw Marcus nodded. "So why did you end it?"
"I didn't, she did." Marcus replied. He pulled out his phone and showed them a picture. It was a picture of Marcus and their victim. "She said she didn't want hurt me with where she was going. Said it was a better opportunity for her."
Danny wrote that down. "Did she say where?"
Marcus shook his head. "Nope. Just packed up her stuff and left me and the studio."
"Alright we need her information if you still have it." Danny said pocketing his memo book and pen.
"I'll get that for you. Take a few minutes." Marcus answered. He started towards the door leaving Baez and Reagan alone.
"So what would make a girl like our victim want to leave a job and a man who obviously loved her?" Baez asked as she looked at her partner.
Danny shrugged his shoulders. "Don't know, but we are surely going to find out."
Danny and Baez started towards the door where they would wait for Marcus to return.