Chapter 3
NYPD Police Commissioner Francis "Frank" Regan had a bit of a problem. Garrett Moore, Deputy Commissioner of Public Information and Frank's de facto chief of staff, had just gotten punched out by a very angry woman as they were making their way through the courthouse.
Before she could attack him and before Security could get to her, a young woman with short red hair under an eight-point tan camouflage utility cover cap with the Marine logo on it, got there first. Even in black jeans, knee-high tan riding boots, and what looked like a well-worn over-sized Marine utility uniform coat under a black messenger bag, the girl managed to appear sure of herself.
"Look, you crazy bitch, that wasn't nice," she said, keeping a firm grip on the woman's arm.
As Garrett got up off the floor, groaning, while a guard helped him, the woman swore something nasty at her challenger and swung.
And was blocked. Again, and again, before the girl looked at Frank with a look of disgust on her face.
"You're kidding me, right?" she asked.
"Apparently not," said Frank.
"Fine, but I'm not getting blamed for this," she said. And with that, she proceeded to bring the woman down to the floor, bloodying her nose in the process, pulling moves Frank was sure he'd seen his son, Danny, pull during his days as a Marine.
"Would someone please put this bitch in cuffs?" the girl yelled.
Several guards gladly pounced on the woman and she was quickly cuffed and taken away, looking more than a little woozy.
"You okay?" the girl asked Garrett.
"I'll live," Garrett groaned.
"And I, ma'am, apparently now owe you lunch," said Frank.
The girl chuckled. "I wouldn't object. Dabi Moore-Gibbs, Washington, DC," she said, offering her hand.
"Frank Regan, Police Commissioner for NYPD," said Frank, accepting her hand. She had a firm grip and her nails were short but clean.
"A pleasure, sir. Where are we going? I'm starving."
Frank told her and she didn't even raise an eyebrow. "As long as the coffee's hot, I'm happy."
Dabi was with Gibbs and Ellie in New York City. Dabi was there on business to deal with one of the bakery's suppliers, while Gibbs and Ellie were chasing down a lead on a case. NCIS had discovered several sailors were being forced to transport drugs aboard their ships and one of the ports was in New York. They had the name of a suspect and a possible contact with the NYPD.
The deal was everyone would keep in close contact through text messaging. Dabi could wander through New York to her heart's content, as long as she stayed in touch with Gibbs or Ellie, whom she had become friends with. Ellie liked her for the delicious baked goods she was forever dropping off at NCIS and her pranks that she constantly pulled on Tony. Dabi also had Ellie's respect and admiration, for running such a complex business at such a young age and with a disability. As for Dabi, Ellie was fun, if not a bit quirky, and it was nice to have another girl to talk to, even if Ellie was older than her by several years.
Dabi had stopped by the courthouse to check on some licensing work on her new potential supplier and seen the angry young woman and the rather handsome-looking man in the suit. It didn't take Dabi much to figure out what was about to happen and she was already moving when the woman punched out the first guy.
The fight, if one could call it a fight, wasn't even really a fair fight, as far as Dabi was concerned.
And now this guy, Mr. Police Commissioner of the NYPD, was offering to buy her lunch at some swanky place. She figured her chances of him not doing something stupid were pretty good, or at least that's what she hoped. The senator who'd made a drunken grab at her still had the mark on his face from where she'd nailed him with a fancy serving platter a few weeks back. Neither Gibbs, Vance, nor SECNAV had been too impressed.
Vance's only comment was, "Nice hit. Did you have to hit him with the serving platter, though?"
"It was the first thing I could reach!" Dabi protested.
Publicly, SecNav Sarah Porter had not been amused, either by the senator or by Dabi, but had privately suggested to Dabi and Gibbs that, next time, Dabi aim for the balls. It seemed this particular senator had a known habit of getting a little grabby with girls Dabi's age.
"Although a dented silver platter may be reminder enough," Sarah said. "Nice swing."
"And if he has a broken jaw?" Gibbs asked.
Sarah just smiled. "It would shut him up for a few weeks, something I have no problem with. As for possible repercussions from him, I wouldn't worry about that. If he tries anything, he's going to have to explain to a very nasty tabloid paper a few little details he'd like to keep private."
"You're a nasty bitch, aren't you?" said Dabi, without thinking. Her face went red at the look of horror on her father's face, but Sarah just laughed.
"I have to be in this game, dear. It's called survival."
Now, as Dabi got in the back of the nice town car with Frank Regan, she quickly texted her father a message.
Going to lunch with Frank Regan, Police Commissioner of the NYPD. Nice guy, she sent.
Have fun. And how the hell did you manage that?
Saved his suited ass from a bitch with an attitude at the courthouse. You good?
Running in to a bit of a problem over here, but will keep you posted. Be safe.
Always.
The coffee was indeed good, and the menu, while a bit pricey, was actually pretty good. As for Frank, he was a charming gentleman who acted like one and treated Dabi just as. Garrett was funny but knowledgeable and once he got over the fact that she was practically a teenager and deaf to boot, he relaxed a bit.
Then Dabi got a message from Ellie.
"Uh-oh. Dad's pissed," she mumbled, reading the screen on her iPhone.
"What's the problem?" Frank asked, having been told about Gibbs' line of work and why they were in New York.
"Seems a Detective Hanoen is being a prick. The suspect Dad and Ellie are chasing after? He's Detective Hanoen's CI and is refusing to let them question the turd. Ellie has a sneaking suspicion this guy doesn't like feds and is deliberately making things difficult for Dad," said Dabi. "Dad needs to talk to this guy if they're going to get a lead on who the distributor is and who the main kingpin is that's forcing sailors to move drugs. If they can at least get a name, it would be a place to start."
"Hmm. May I have your father's number?" Frank asked.
Curious, Dabi gave it to him, seeing the smirk on Garrett's face.
Gibbs answered on the first ring.
"Yeah, Gibbs."
"Agent Gibbs, this is Police Commissioner Frank Regan. Your daughter, Dabi, is a very charming young lady and has appraised me of your situation. I believe Detective Hanoen is causing you some problems?" Frank asked.
"That's putting it mildly, sir," said Gibbs. "We need to talk to his CI and Hanoen is refusing to help us find him or show us a list of his contacts. The sooner we get to him, the faster we can stop good men and women from having their careers destroyed."
"I understand, Agent Gibbs. Is Detective Hanoen nearby?"
"Yes sir."
"Put him on, please." A moment later, the detective was on the line. "Detective Hanoen, this is Commissioner Regan. Agent Gibbs has asked us for our help. Such as it is, we will extend full courtesy towards him, just as he would if we were in his city. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir," gulped the detective.
"Now, I understand some federal agents can be difficult and may make you uncomfortable, but they have a job to do, and so do you. If you cannot do that job to the absolute best of your abilities, then I would strongly suggest you re-evaluate your career with the NYPD. Am I clear on this, Detective?"
"Yes sir," said Hanoen, his voice very quiet.
"Excellent. Agent Gibbs, please."
"Gibbs here."
"I do not believe Hanoen will be giving you any more problems. However, as a courtesy, I will be sending another detective your way to give you a hand. Based on what your daughter has told me about you, I believe you'll find him a bit more agreeable."
"Thank you, sir. I appreciate that," said Gibbs.
"Anything for an officer of the law, and apparently a fellow Marine," said Frank. He hung up and then dialed another number. "Danny, are you busy? Good. There's an Agent Gibbs in town, NCIS. He's investigating a case involving drugs and sailors. Would you mind giving him a hand please? This is his number. Thank you."
"Danny?" Dabi asked Garrett.
Garrett smiled. "Detective Danny Regan, Frank's son. He has another son, Jamie, who's also a cop, and Erin, who's a deputy Trial Bureau chief with the District Attorney's office."
"Regular family of blue bloods, aren't you?" Dabi asked, eyes wide.
"And proud of it," said Frank.
At the precinct, Gibbs looked up when he heard someone call his name.
"Agent Gibbs?" a man with close-cut brown hair, penetrating eyes, and in a suit and tie, asked, coming up to him. A woman with dark brown hair followed him.
"That's me," Gibbs said.
The man held out his hand. "Detective Danny Regan. A mutual friend of ours sent me. Said you needed some help with a case?"
"Could use it. This is Agent Bishop," said Gibbs, introducing his probie.
"Ma'am," said Danny. "This is my partner, Detective Maria Baez."
"Pleasure," said Maria. "Could you bring us up to speed?"
"As long as you can tell me where the nearest coffee shop is; the coffee here is a joke," Gibbs groused.
Danny grinned. "I know just the place. And you're right; the coffee here is the closest we come to motor oil, I swear."
Ellie shivered in disgust.
Back at the restaurant...
"Fifty percent off any baked goods in the store and twenty-five percent off any special order cakes?" Frank asked, holding up a business card with the bakery logo and information on it. Dabi had just written on it and signed it. "What would the owners say?"
"With Nana retiring, I'm the owner," said Dabi. "My office manager is a former Navy storekeeper and some of my staff have known me since I was born. I live right above the bakery and as I told you, we're in the process of renovating. So yeah, I think it's safe to say that card is pretty good."
"Well then, the next time I'm in Washington, I shall certainly make a point of stopping by," said Frank, smiling.
Back at the bakery:
Owen and Leo stared at the huge hole in the wall, the floor, and the mess in the apartment. Somehow, through various things coming together, the water heater in the basement of the bakery had just exploded.
No one was seriously hurt, but there was plenty of damage, mostly in the apartment.
"How the hell are we going to explain this to the insurance company?" Leo asked.
"Never mind the insurance company," said Owen. "I'm more worried about what Dabi's going to say."
"I can already hear the screaming," Leo groaned.