Chapter 3
Frank and Henry's House
Bay Ridge, New York
Henry was cleaning up from breakfast before he would go to the hospital to visit Jamie. As he was closing the door to the dishwasher he saw Frank walk into the house. "Francis, I thought you were going to stay down at headquarters?"
"I came back to get cleaned up and change my clothes pop." Frank replied coming over to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup.
"How's the search going for this creep?" Henry asked sitting down.
"We have the whole NYPD out looking for him pop." Frank replied leaning against the counter. He took a sip of coffee. "We have a sketch out there but so far nothing has turned up."
"Ehh. Someone will turn this mutt in Francis." Henry stated to his son. He looked over at Frank and saw the look on his face. "Jamie had an angel on his shoulder last night."
"I know that pop, but you still worry about them." Frank said after sighing a moment. He came over to the table. "I know he's capable, but every time I hear an officer is in the hospital and then come to find out it's not Jamie, or Danny, I say a prayer of thanks."
"You're human, and a father, it's understandable." Henry told his son who looked at him. Henry leaned forward. "That was my greatest fear as you were coming up the ranks. Getting that phone call, and every night I say a prayer you don't ever receive that call again Maybe the man upstairs was a little slow on processing the message from the other night."
That got a chuckle out of them both. Henry leaned back. "So Jamie and his partner huh?"
"You see it too huh pop?" Frank said with smile.
"Worst kept secret in the precinct. I maybe old Francis, but I'm not blind." Henry replied with a smile on his face. He shook his head. "This just pushed them to bring their feelings forward. Hopefully inviting her to Sunday dinner would have settled the debate."
"She's good for him, and he is good for her. You are right though, this just brought them forward to this point." Frank said taking another sip of coffee and he got up and set the mug in the sink. "I like her pop. Jamie probably had to dig those feelings deep to keep the partnership going, but they balance each other out."
"I remember that with Betty, and you with Mary." Henry answered the statement with a sad smile. He pushed his chair back and got up from the table. "I'm heading to the hospital. Hopefully I'll see Eddie there. You coming by later?"
"As soon as I can." Frank replied as his father walks out of the kitchen.
District Attorney's office
Manhattan, New York
"Alex." Erin called out from her office as she was putting the case file together for her replacement on the Gomez case.
"Ms. Reagan." The District Attorney investigator Alex McBride answered the call coming into Erin's office. He knew already about Jamie, by the way of the NYPD pipeline into the office.
"Can you help go over these reports, case notes, the evidence and the witness statements with Michael?" Erin asked with a smile, despite all the sympathy that been thrown her way since she came in. She finished bundling the case file together and signed off on the top sheet.
"I can do that Ms. Reagan. You heading to the hospital?" Alex asked coming over and grabbing the bundle from her.
"Not yet, I am heading to Major Case squad to get an update from my brother." Erin said as she put on her coat, and grabbing her briefcase. "I may be off the trial, but I can still call in some warrants."
"Erin, you ought to take a step back." Alex told her coming over to the desk. He set the folder down on it. "You're too close, so is Danny. We would want this warrant and case to stand up in court."
"In case you haven't notice Alex, it's Jamie in the hospital." Erin replied with a little more harshness than the situation warranted. She started towards the door before stopping. "I appreciate your concern, but a warrant is not going to get thrown out as along it is valid."
"I'm not talking about validity, I am talking about judgement." Alex told her as he walked over to face her. "It's different with family especially with a person like Jamie. You would be a walking a very fine line between justice and revenge."
"I know the line Alex, but it will be fine." Erin told him sharply. She walked out of the office wondering what the hell that was all about.
St. Victors Hospitals
Manhattan, New York
Henry was walking into the waiting room for the ICU when he noticed Eddie walking out of the unit. She noticed him, waved and walked on over. "How you doing sir?"
"No sirs, just Henry. You saved my grandson." Henry said with a smile which Eddie returned. He could tell why his grandson loved this women. He then looked up at the door. "What you doing out here Eddie? Jamie ok?"
"He's fine. His doctor wanted Jamie to have a scan before he comes in today to see how the patch is holding." Eddie said with some comfort but still a little uneasy around Jamie's grandfather and former police commissioner. "They said it should take about an hour."
"An hour huh?" Henry said looking at his watch. He smiled as he looked up. "Care if an old man bought you a coffee and kept you company."
"Not at all." Eddie answered smiling. Henry held his arm and she hooked her arm through it. A couple minutes later they were sitting down in the cafeteria. "Jamie told me some of stories of your dinners."
"Huh. That is Jamie for you." Henry said laughing as he added sugar to his coffee. He stirred it quietly. "Since you partnered with him, he's been the happiest I've seen in a long time."
"The same can be said about me, so my friends tell me." Eddie answered while beaming at Henry. She took a sip of her coffee. Her smile went away when her mind went back to last night. "I lost it last night, and I hardly ever do that."
"That's understandable dear. He's your partner, friend, and now as everyone knows a little bit more." Henry told her to reassure her. He reached out and took her hand. "You had the same reaction that every member of the family had, just more because you really love him."
Eddie nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes. Henry handed her a napkin. "Sorry didn't mean to make you cry dear."
"It's ok. It was just that I was nervous about what everyone would think." Eddie replied with a small smile. She took another sip of her coffee.
"You and Jamie fit each other well, and if you are yourself, you'll fit into the family well." Henry told her with another smile trying to make her more at ease, which it did. "Jamie may be the most levelheaded of us all, but he is still a Reagan, so he can be hardheaded."
"That he can be." Eddie replied with a laugh to which Henry joined in. She looked at Henry with more assurance now. "Thank you Henry."
"Ahh forget dear. You're one of us now." Henry told her as he took a sip of his coffee. He glanced at the clock. "We still got a half-hour, would you like to hear some stories about Jamie growing up."
"Ohh are they good?" Eddie asked leaning in.
"Yes they are." Henry replied with a chuckle.
One Police Plaza
Manhattan, New York
"Councilman, I understand that you represent the people of area in question." Frank said on the phone to the councilman that represents the area of the shooting an hour after getting cleaned up. "I also understand your concern for their safety, I assure you that we were doing everything within our standards and training."
Lieutenant Ghormley walked into the office where he saw Garrett sitting down listening into the conversation from the commissioner's end. Garrett saw Gormley. "Councilman AbbaDelli called up to discuss the article."
"You have to understand also councilman that I have two wounded police officers and the capture of their assailant is a priority as well." Frank said looking up and turning to his attention to Garrett, who just shrugged. "I'll expect your call then, and I'll pass along your prayers."
Frank hung up the phone and looked at Garrett who just looked down at phone. "I schedule for a meeting so you don't take that call."
"Thank you." Frank replied now turning his attention to Ghormley. "Is that the report we arrested the suspect Sid?"
"No sir." Ghormley replied as he shifted the folder in his hand.
"Then I don't want it." Frank answered going back to the paperwork on his desk. Despite the effort to bring the last suspect to custody, the daily workday of the commissioner didn't end.
"It's Officer Janko's command discipline sir." Gormley said coming over and taking a seat. He set the folder down on the desk. "Per policy you can review, reduce, or remove the command discipline sir."
"What did Officer Janko receive?" Garrett asked now interested. He held up his phone and waved it around. "I'm getting phone calls asking about Officer Janko and if she going to receive any discipline?"
"How did they find out?" Ghormley asked now looking over at Garrett.
"All I know is they did. Yet nothing on Jamie and Janko's relationship." Garrett stated setting his phone down. "So Sid what did she receive."
"Five day rip, and official notification in her record." Ghormley responded to Garrett's question. He saw the commissioner pick up the folder. "That is failure to follow an order and disrespect towards a superior officer."
"And she only received five days?" Frank asked looking up now from the folder. He set it down as Ghormley nodded. "It would have been a ten day rip if I was her superior."
"Extradtionary circumstances sir. Lieutenant Hanson took that into account sir." Ghormley told Frank who again picked up the folder sir. He shifted in his seat. "May be we can do something else sir. Now I am not suggesting we get rid of the suspension sir, but Janko's actions are those that any officer would do for their partner, despite romantic feelings.
"Not according to the press." Garrett stated looking at Frank now. He held up a newspaper in his hands. "People are split on the issue of whether or not she should face action."
"The suspension stands because feelings or not she violated an order and disrespected a superior officer." Frank said getting up from his chair and moving towards the window. "Garrett release a statement letting the press know."
"I suggest we sit on the decision for a day to…." Garrett started to say.
"Just do it Garrett." Frank ordered with more force than need. He walked away from the window and sat down. "Please."
Garrett and Ghormley got up and walked out as Frank just sat looking out across his office.
Major Case Squad
54th Precinct
"No wonder we don't have anything from the sketch, this could be one of a million guys." Baez stated as she looked at the sketch for the millionth time. She tossed it down on the desk. "Hell you could fit it."
"I don't think so partner, because I am better looking." Danny said with a little bit of smile as he picked up the sketch. He held it by his face. "See."
"I call you in." Erin told her brother as she came over and stood next to their desk. "How you doing Baez?"
"Tired, but hanging in there." Baez replied with a tired smile and a sip of her coffee. "How you doing Erin, and how's Jamie?"
"I'm ok. Eddie called and said Jamie is getting a scan to see how the patch is holding up." Erin told them. She saw Danny's look. "He's fine, his doctor wanted to know how's it holding."
"Eddie? You on a first name basis with Jamie's partner now?" Baez asked with a smile. She shook her head at the looks of Danny and Erin. "Relax I'm not going to say anything."
"Thank you." Erin answered. She sat down in the chair next to Danny's desk. "How's the search coming?"
"We've got squat, and a sketch that looks like any guy out there." Danny said leaning back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. He was going on 26 hours of no sleep. He heard Baez's phone ring. "We're waiting on the hospital to call to say we can talk to the other suspect."
"They just did, he is out of ICU and in a regular room." Baez told her partner who both were getting up and grabbing their weapons, badges. They walked towards the exit.
"Can you take me with you?" Erin asked getting up as well and walked behind them. "I got a judge on speed dial and I want to see Jamie."
"Sure, be where I can find you if I need a warrant." Danny said to his sister as they walked outside.
"I'll be in Jamie's room." Erin told him.
In the traffic, it took them about 30 minutes to arrive at the hospital. As Erin went upstairs to visit Jamie, Baez and Danny went to Samuel Ramirez's room. Danny nodded to the police officer standing guard outside the room as they walked in.
"Samuel Ramirez, how's the shoulder?" Danny asked coming over to stand next to the bed as Baez stood on the opposite side of the bed.
"Hurts, one of your cops put a bullet through it and killed my brother." Samuel replied looking straight ahead at the TV. "Now if you don't mind, Springer is on."
"Your own TV watching days are done pal." Danny said turning off the TV and unplugging the controller from the wall. Baez tossed a glance over at Danny. He set the controller on the bed.
"What you doing, I need that for my nurse?" Samuel asked turning his head towards Danny.
"Don't worry, we'll get her if you need her." Danny told him as he smiled at Samuel.
"Now Samuel you can help yourself out here, because of all the charges you're facing attempted murders of a police officer is pretty serious." Baez said getting Samuel's attention. Samuel's eyes went wide with the news. She held up the sketch. "What's his name?"
"Dude he looks like a million guys." Samuel told him pushing the sketch away. "Now plug back in controller so I can watch Springer."
"Oh no Samuel, you see those cops that you're crew wounded, one of them was my brother." Danny told Samuel whose eyes went wide. Danny leaned in close, over the wound. "So I'm not in a good mood."
"Yeah, so he's in a pretty bad mood Samuel. Why don't you help us out?" Baez told him handing back over the sketch.
"All I know is that the dude wanted us to call him Bane." Samuel said to Baez who wrote that down. "You know the bad guy from…."
"Batman we know. Why Bane?" Danny asked.
"Dude had a bald head and kind of stocky." Samuel told them as he looked at the sketch again. "This is about what he looked like."
"That's all?" Baez asked taking the sketch back and putting it in her pocket.
"That's all." Samuel told them.
Danny bumped the bed with his leg with just enough power, to cause the bed to shift and Samuel to shift as well. "Oww man."
"Sorry I thought I was further back." Danny apologized ignoring the look from Baez. He held out a photo of Fredrick Johnston and his own notes. "This guy told us Bane contacted you through a cell, is that the number?"
"Yeah that's the number." Samuel said nodding. Danny picked up the controller and plugged it back in. Samuel looked at Danny again before turning his attention to Baez. "Your partner is crazy."
"Well it's been a rough day for him. Sorry." Baez answered closing her notebook and started towards the door with Danny behind her. "Thanks for your cooperation."
"Hey man, is the cop that saved the kid really your brother?" Samuel asked at the back of Danny.
"Yeah he is." Danny said turning around.
"I'm glad the kid is ok, but the next time your brother may not be so lucky." Samuel said with a smirk. It took Baez to step in front of Danny to stop him. "Whoa dude chill out."
Danny walked out into hallway as Baez told the officer station outside to shut the door before going over to her partner. "Danny, I know it's your brother, but if we get the information….."
"I know Baez, I'm sorry." Danny replied. He looked at his watch. "Why don't you go home for a few hours. I'm going to see Jamie and get some sleep myself."
Baez nodded and started down the hallway as Danny ran his hands over his head.