5

Danny Reagan stops as he approaches the 54th. A uniformed officer is handling a very unruly suspect through the entry way. He quickly moves to one side and makes way for them to pass. Nearly spilling his coffee in the process he gives the perp a look. The perp just smiles back at him. Wanting to rip the grin right off his face he thinks to himself "I can't afford another civil complaint."

While he is waiting, his partner Detective Baez walks up and taps on his shoulder. "So any luck with the suspect we dragged in here last night?"

Danny answers "Baez, the guy was blitzed! There was no way we were going to get any kind of story from him. Hell he couldn't ever walk let alone talk without slurring every word. He's in holding now sleeping it off."

They both turn and enter through the doors and take the stairs to the second floor. As he arrives at his desk there is an interoffice envelope on his desk blotter. He picks it up thinking that it will be just one more hearing for a complaint against him. He pulls out his chair and opens the envelope. Reading the letter he slowly lowers himself into the chair. He looks over to Baez and notices that she has one as well.

"Danny?" She asks confused.

He looks at her and says "Your guess is as good as mine."

They both sit reading the letters. Maria looks up to Danny and tells him "Danny can I give you my answer by the end of the day?"

Danny wants to be a part of this task force and she sees it in his eyes. But she needs to think this through. They are partners and with whatever the task force is it will be big. It can only boost her career. But there is a downside. It will be constant pressure. Being under the gun to get whatever this case is solved and have closure to the case. Both options she needs to consider before giving him an answer.

"It's okay Maria, take the day to think about and let me know."

"Thanks, Danny." And she means it.

"So what do you say to questioning our drunk suspect?"

"Wow, you really know how to sweep a girl off her feet!"

"Hey I try!"

/ / / / / /

Jamie Reagan walks through the 12th's male locker room. As he turns the corner he notices that at the age old delivery system for inter office mail has not failed yet. Sticking out between his locker door and the frame is an envelope. He takes it and sits on the bench and starts to read. He wonders as he reads if this task force he's been asked to join has any hand of his fathers in it. Replacing the letter back in the envelope he places it on the top shelf of his locker and starts to get ready for his shift.

/ / / / / /

Javier Esposito is in the middle of serving a search warrant on a suspect wanted for the murder of a local gang leader. He and his team are up against the wall near the only entrance/exit to the living space. To his right there are 3 members of the NYPD's ESU unit and directly behind him to his left is 3 more members of the ESU team ready for him to give the word to breach. He looks at his watch one last time and gives the hand signal to enter. The team member to his right moves and slams the battering ram into the door splintering it open. Espo and 2 members enter from the left with the last three from the right following closely behind. Clearing two small rooms one on each side they move forward to the main living space. One of the team sees movement from the opposite side of the room and advances towards the doorway with another team member in tow.

Espo quickly advances behind them and then all hell breaks loose. There is gunfire from two different directions. As the shots ring out Espo turns to look behind him. They had just cleared the two rooms at the front of the apartment. He can't believe that they were that careless in their search. This presents a bigger problem. They are caught between two fairly accurate shooters. He turns back and the lead ESU officer he is behind takes a direct hit to his vest and stumbles backwards into Espo the force of the impact knocking them both down. The rest of the fight is a blur for Espo who only hears the two ESU officers unload their full clips of ammunition into each suspect. The exchange is finished before he can get to his feet.

He surveys the damage and shakes his head. Not only did they kill both suspects which was warranted, but the wrath he will now face from IAB will be a pain in the ass. He secures the crime scene and waits for the CSU team to start gathering evidence. CSU arrives within 10 minutes and he releases the scene to them. As he exits the doorway to the apartment his cell starts to ring. Looking at the caller ID he needs to answer, But he knows that he has to own up to what happened here today.

"Lieutenant Esposito" he answers professionally.

"What the hell happened Espo?" The Captain asks.

"Sir the intel we had was there was only one suspect here when we entered. The spotters had only observed one person in the apartment as well."

"Javi, was anyone injured?"

"No Sir, although one officer got the wind knocked out of him, but we're all good."

"Alright in my office in less than 30 so you can tell me in person just what the hell went on out there!"

The line goes dead and he heads for his car.