Sorry for the delay. (I meant to have this up this morning.) Had stuff to do to get ready for my next college term.
Anyway, I was asked to show Jamie and Jackie. As you know, I tried to give people what they want. :)
A huge thanks to my beta, Shaz1, as well as the people who reviewed, such as Iris and Accounting Professional. (Your feedback really helps.)
Enjoy ...
Chapter 3
Jackie looked over the rap sheet of Eric Connors, the kid whose prints were on the crowbar. He wasn't talking, but as soon as they got the lab results back they would still have enough to put him in Rikers. Until then, she was just going to have to keep pushing to find out what happened to Danny. It had been nearly eight hours with no leads and every minute that passed lessened the chance of a happy ending, but her dark thoughts were broken by the sound of her desk phone.
"Curatola."
"Detective, this is Dr. Alkon at the crime lab. We still need to wait on DNA confirmation, but preliminary tests on the blood from the crowbar show a match to Detective Reagan's blood type."
"Great," Jackie answered, wondering if the news could be counted as good or bad. "How about the rest of the blood from the dock?"
"Two types were found there," the lab tech paused. "Yes, one was the same type as the crowbar, the other was the rare AB-."
"How rare is rare?"
"Less than one percent of the world's population."
"Okay. Anything else?"
"I'll call you if there is."
"Thanks Doc."
She hung up with the lab and immediately pulled up the rest of the rap sheets. If there were two blood types on the dock, then they might have a witness to what happened to her partner. Or, at the very least, someone to push if Mr. Crowbar kept refusing to talk.
"Jackie."
She looked up to see Erin heading her way. She really wasn't surprised to see Danny's sister on the case. It was all hands on deck for this one, especially if your name happened to be Reagan. Still, she wasn't expecting to see her at the precinct this early into it.
"Hey, how's Linda doing?"
"Hanging in there," Erin sighed. "Grandpa and Nicki are with her. They told the boys that Danny was working on a case, so we are trying to keep things as normal as possible until we know more. Have you found anything new?"
"Preliminary blood tests are back," Jackie replied, handing over the case file. "Still waiting on DNA, but it looks like it's Danny's blood on the crowbar."
The ADA nodded, calmly looking over the information with what would seem like cool detachment; or at least it would to someone who had never met the woman. There was a tension that was not often present and a flash of hatred in her eyes. Erin and Danny may not have a relationship that was all lollipops and rainbows, but he was still her brother and she was still a Reagan. When she got the guy who did this in a courtroom, heaven help the son of a bitch.
"What about the blood on the dock?"
"Two types," Jackie answered, running a check on their suspects. "And, I think I found where the other one came from."
Erin circled to her side of the desk to look over her shoulder as she started to read.
"John Hastings, age 20, junior at NYU, no priors; but his blood type matches the one found on the scene and was brought in with a busted nose."
"Why don't you ask him where he got it."
*B*B*
Hudson walked the streets, hoping something would trigger another memory. Though the streets themselves seemed familiar, his mind was still a complete blank.
"I don't get it," Hudson sigh, shaking his head. "If you asked me to name the five boroughs I could do it in a heartbeat, but I can't remember the last time I was on the subway."
"Eh, minds are funny that way. If you need proof, just look around."
All it took was seeing a guy at the corner talking to a cockroach for Wolf to have made his point; not that it gave him much comfort. All he had been able to clearly remember was handing out beat downs and shooting at people. And what about the shooting they heard. Had he been involved? Was he some kind of homeless drug dealer or ex-mob enforcer? The thought of it made him sick and Hudson couldn't help but wonder if he even wanted to remember.
"Here's Riley's tea place," Wolf announced, stopping outside a small Asian market. "You want to come in?"
"Nah, you go ahead."
He shrugged and stepped inside while Hudson took the time to look around. This was a side of New York that the average tourist didn't see, but still seemed natural; comfortable even. This was his world, or at least a part of it, he was sure.
"Well, look who's here," a voice sneered, causing him to turn. "The big man himself."
The speaker was a young guy, probably in his early twenties with a shaved head and at least a dozen tattoos. However, even this punk seemed to fit in somewhere in the foggy reaches of his mind. Of course, his tone made if obvious that they were not friends. Rivals maybe? But that didn't make any sense, he was homeless. Wasn't he?
"Hey man, I was talking to you."
"Yeah," Hudson replied, his face automatically becoming a smirk, "but then you assumed I was listening."
"You think you're tough?" the punk growled, pulling a gun. "You're just stupid."
Even staring down the barrel of a gun, even seeing the murderous gleam in the kid's eye, something inside Hudson kept him calm. Giving into that instinct he smiled, grabbed the weapon twisting it out of the punk's hands and simultaneously punched him in the face. His opponent went down hard, just as Wolf coming out of the store.
"You done?" Hudson asked, tossing the gun in a dumpster and stepping around the kid to join his friend.
"Uh … yeah, um… who is-"
"Not important," he replied, waving his hand dismissively.
Wolf looked concerned, but said nothing as the two walked away. Then again, the speed he walked away spoke a lot louder than words. Hudson kept up, but didn't feel as much urgency. Something about the altercation felt… right. But if that was the case, what kind of man did that make him?
*B*B*
Jamie looked down the busy street as dozens of people hurried off to work. How could life go on as normal when deep inside he felt dead. He had just started his shift when the call came out that one of their own was missing, but it wasn't until he reached the scene that this nightmare really started. Danny was gone and all he could do was search and pray that he had not lost his last brother.
"Reagan," Renzulli called, as he walked toward their squad car. "Time to head in."
"Now?"
"Come on kid, everyone has got to sleep," he nodded his head toward the car. "Let someone else have a turn."
As much as he trusted the skills and abilities of his fellow officers, it wasn't their brother out there. Every minute that passed took away some hope, and that hope was all he and his family had to hold onto. He couldn't just stop, not until Danny was found.
"You go," he replied, turning back to the streets. "I'll join the next shift."
He heard his TO sigh, but kept his eyes on the people around him. Had one of them seen something? Did they hold the key to bringing this hunt to an end?
"Look," Renzulli started, appearing at his side. "I know how you must feel-"
"Do you?" Jamie challenged.
He knew he shouldn't be so short with his sergeant, but at the moment he didn't care. Danny was still missing and even if he had to defy a direct order to stop from the police commissioner himself, he was not going to rest until he brought him home.
"I'm going to do you a favor and ignore that," Renzulli stated seriously. "But you need to think about this. You are no good to your brother if you are dead on your feet. Now …"
Though the sergeant was still talking, Jamie stopped listening when he noticed something across the street. Now, it might have been just another couple of homeless guys on their way to a nearby mission for breakfast, but something about them caught his eye. If you looked past the dingy long coat and moth eaten wool hat-
"Reagan! You still with me?"
"Uh … yeah, just … give me a second."
Taking his eyes off the familiar image just long enough to jog across the street, Jamie approached the two figures. It could be just his mind playing tricks on him, but one of those two men looked just like Danny.
"Excuse me!" he called out, trying to get the bums' attention.
He got it, but no sooner had the men looked up then they both took off running. No longer completely sure of what he saw, but knowing that no one bolts from the police unless they had something to hide, Jamie raced after them. Barely managing to radio in his pursuit, the rookie pushed himself to keep up. They had to have a reason to run and maybe, just maybe, that reason was his brother. Hang on Danny, he thought as he tracked the two men through the dismal neighborhood, I'm coming.
So, what do you think is gonna happen when Jamie catches up to them?
I hope people still review this chapter, as I am set to update again before the night is over. (For me, that's the next few hours.) I look forward to your feedback.
