A/N: Here is the latest update folks. I hope everyone enjoys this update. I have been battling a pretty vicious cold the past few days but finally managed to finish the chapter. Next Chapter will be a short one with the storm and family dinner. Look to Eddie and Jamie: The Wedding Planning for the venue story, which should be posted sometime tomorrow. Enjoy and keep the reviews coming. Thank you.
Chapter 6
Center and Grand Street
Manhattan, New York
Jamie and Eddie were on their way back to the precinct after being dismissed from the hearing. They had expected to be there all day, but when the panel went for deliberations, they were released from their expectations of being there. Eddie smiled as she looked out the window. Jamie saw her smiling. "What has you all a grin?"
"Thought it be worse, but it went better than expected with no prep time." Eddie replied as she looked back at her former partner and now fiancé. She turned back towards the window. "The defense looked devastated when the lawyers for the bar basically destroyed their theory."
"I saw the same look as they asked me the same…." Jamie started to say but he slammed on his brakes to avoid a girl running out into the road. "What the hell?"
The girl ran over to Jamie's side and knocked on the window. Jamie rolled it down as Eddie put on the lights. "Please help it's my grandmother. She tripped and I think she broke her leg or something."
"I'll go over and check on her." Eddie said opening the door and getting out quickly.
Jamie nodded and looked at the girl. "Go with my partner there, and wait by your grandmother so I can park the car."
The girl nodded and ran around the car as Jamie waited for her to clear before moving the RMP off the road and to the side. Once that was completed, Jamie got out and ran over to where the girl and Eddie where. "Eddie what do we got?"
"She defintley has a broken leg Jamie, and a deep gash that is bleeding pretty good." Eddie replied as she tried to apply pressure with a rag that someone had been using to try to use before.
Jamie nodded and got up and looked for an address. "Central-12 Sergeant."
Central came back. "12-Sergeant-Central."
"I need a bus at 1145 Center Street for a 10-54 female with a broken leg and a deep leg gash." Jamie started to say.
"She is undergoing cancer treatments as well." The girl stated.
Jamie nodded. "Also be advised that the 10-54 is a patient also undergoing treatment for cancer."
"10-4 12-Sergeant." Central replied as they went off the radio.
"Alright ma'am what is your name and your grandmothers name?" Jamie asked as he knelt back down by lady who was in obvious pain and crying out.
"I am Tamina, and my grandmother's is Charlotte." Tamina stated as she also knelt down by her grandmother. "It will be okay grandma, the police have help coming."
"How did this happen?" Eddie asked the sirens of an ambulance grew closer as a small crowd started to gather round.
"We were walking from her oncology appointment when she tripped over there by that drive and landed here." Tamina stated as she pointed towards the drive.
Jamie looked that way and saw what had cause it. "Great, construction workers didn't even bother putting up barriers for the pipes they were planning on setting."
"What caused the gash?" Eddie asked as she still tried to stop the bleeding."
"Concrete with rebar." Jamie answered as she turned back towards Tamina. "How old is your grandmother?"
"67." Tamina answered as the ambulanced pulled up. One ran towards them as the other two gathered the equipment.
"What do we have?" As the first team member from the ambulance arrived at the scene.
"67 African American female tripped and gashed open her leg on rebar, and also broke her leg as well." Jamie stated as he told the paramedic what was told to him. "Also she is undergoing cancer treatments as well."
"What kind of treatments?" The man said.
"Chemotherapy and radiation treatments for colon and bone cancer." Tamina stated as she started to really break down now.
"Alright, officer, I will take over. With the treatments we have to worry about her blood pressure." The man said as his other two colleagues arrived on the scene.
"Where will she be going?" Jamie asked as the he got up and as the crowd moved away to let the paramedics worked. Jamie turned to everyone and put up his hands. "Please everyone back up further and give them more space."
"St. Michaels which is up the road a couple blocks." The paramedic told Jamie who nodded. They quickly got her stabilized and a pressure bandage applied on the wound. They slowly moved her to the backboard and onto the gurney. The man turned to Tamina. "You can ride with us sweetheart."
Tamina nodded and turned back to Jamie and Eddie. "Thank you."
"No problem. We'll stop by and get your guys information later. Go." Eddie stated with a smile as the girl rushed towards the ambulance to board it with her grandmother. She turned to Jamie. "Partners for one more day at least."
"Yeah, and spending the rest of tour doing the paperwork." Jamie replied with a smile as he and Eddie started the process of documenting the scene.
Major Case Squad
54th Precinct
"Really. Alright thanks." Danny said as he hung up the phone and looked at his partner who was looking at paperwork at her desk and typing something into her computer. "OCCB tells me that a couple of their undercovers reported that the Vata family is laundering money but they didn't find out where yet."
"I think we just cracked it for them." Baez commented as she looked at something on her computer. "Danny come take a look at this."
Danny got up and walked around the desk to look at what Baez had found. "What did you find?"
"Those names that we suspect are linked to this. Well I ran them together, and look what turned up." Baez said pointing to a social media picture on Facebook. "That is Vincent Patrick, Maria Sommers, Aaron Davis, and two drone pilots. A Daniel Jorgenson and a Peter Vata."
"Vata as in the Vata family?" Danny asked getting a nod from Baez. He stood up and took in a deep breath. "So the question how do they know each other?"
"They became really close during orientation and have been hanging out ever since then, or at least according to their Facebook pages." Baez stated as she clicked through some of the pages.
"So they get to know each other, and somehow they get wrapped up in a money laundering scheme? I find that a stretch, even with a family member of the Vata family employed there." Danny stated as he sat down back at his desk.
"Well his Uncle is the head of the family, but Peter himself has been clean his whole life. Mainly because he's lived in Florida." Baez replied to Danny's statement. She saw the look. "Came up here right a couple months before the track opened."
"Really." Danny asked getting a nod.
Before he could answer, the tech assigned to the case walked over with some pictures. "Detective, I found these by going through the surveillance footage from the club. The driver also placed some of the bets. Ran him through the computer. Came back to Altair Tolja. Errand boy to the Vata family."
"Alright thanks." Danny answered the statement as the tech nodded and moved off. He flipped through them. "Here is Altair placing a bet, with another gentlemen, who I think we know."
"Who's that?" Baez asked as Danny brought over the picture. "The secretary?"
"Where are they all at now?" Danny asked as Baez set the picture down on her desk.
"At Walter's memorial service." Baez answered as she and Danny rose to their feet and put on their coats.
Danny pulled out his phone. "You call dispatch to send us some back up while I call Erin and get the warrants processed."
One Police Plaza
Manhattan, New York
"Mr. Mayor, our latest projections on the storm having it arrive sometime late tonight and lasting through Friday afternoon." Mike the National Weather Service representative stated from in front of the conference room with the emergency management team looking on. "Winds in excess of 25-35 miles hour with gust up to fifty. Snow fall totals up to at least a foot. This is not be just the light stuff Mr. Mayor, we can also expect some heavy snow to come as this storm mixes with moisture coming in from the coast."
"Mr. Mayor, with regards to this latest forecast, I suggest we place a travel restriction on the city and limit it to essential personnel, such as police, fire, medical and security personnel." Frank said getting nods from everyone at the table except Michelle Ortega who still look skeptical. "We have had help in the media with them saying despite the forecast, people should prepare for the storm."
"Mr. Mayor, I strongly disagree with the commissioner's statement. 12 inches is not a lot of snow." Michelle Ortega stated as she leaned forward and placed her elbows on the table. "The economic fallout from this could be problematic despite what everyone here thinks."
"Miss Ortega, it's not the total that concerns us. It's the wind and the blowing snow reducing visibility. And with the heavy laden snow also forecasted, it's the problem of road safety for emergency personnel and citizens." Frank said also now leaning forward. The chiefs nodded in agreement but none said anything. This was a fight that Frank had to fight on his own to show that he would not back down. "Most citizens wouldn't travel in weather like that, but closing schools and businesses isn't just the issue. If motorist get stranded and help can reach them, it's a life and death situation then."
"Mike what are the temperatures expected to be?" Mr. Poole asked after he looked both at Frank and Michelle.
"It will be dropping sir as the front approaches, and with the windchill, it can feel like below zero." Mike replied.
Mayor Poole sat back and thought about it for a moment. "Travel restrictions go into place at 10 pm tonight lasting through Saturday morning. Sanitation has a plan place to bring on their crews. Frank?"
Frank ignored the look from Michelle Ortega and sat back in his chair. "All officers will work extended tours until the restriction is over sir."
"Mr. Mayor, I strongly disagree with…." Michelle Ortega started to say, but was cut off by the hand of the mayor.
"Sorry Michelle, but we can risk the lives of citizens and the visitors to keep the city open for business. I will contact the Fed about Wall Street as soon as the meeting is over." Mayor Poole stated to the room who all nodded in agreement and made the appropriate notes.
Frank ignored the look coming from the transportation chief and focused on the Mayor's words.
St. Michael's Hospital
Manhattan, New York
Jamie and Eddie walked to the room that was indicated by the emergency room nurse. Jamie knocked slightly on the door. "Tamina?"
"Oh officers." Tamina looked up in surprised and recognizing them. She had been observing her grandmother who was sleeping right now. "They gave her something for the pain that wouldn't be too harmful with her treatments."
"That's good to hear." Eddie replied as they walked deeper into the room. They stopped by the bed and pulled out their note pads. "We just need to get your information and what happen for the report?"
Tamina nodded and recounted what had happen. They were walking to the metro stop just up the block from them. She was holding her grandmother's hand when her grandmother tripped and landed hard on the sidewalk. When Tamina saw the blood and the pain her grandmother was in, she rushed to check on her as other people came by to try and help. That is when Jamie and Eddie had arrived in the RMP they were driving back to the precinct. "That's what happen."
"It looks likes the construction crew forgot to either clean up or set up the markers indicating there was construction." Jamie replied as he made a note. He looked at the grandmother who stirred a bit. "An investigation by the city will happen probably, but we'll get you the case number."
"Thank you." Tamina answered as she looked relieved. Then she remember. "Oh yeah our information. Here you go."
Tamina handed over the id's of her and her grandmother to them. Jamie looked at them. "You live up in Harlem?"
"Yeah, but her doctor is near where she fell. We were going to a particular restaurant that her and granddad love to eat at before he died." Tamina stifled a tear. Eddie handed her a tissue. "Thank you."
"What happen to your grandfather?" Eddie asked.
Tamina took her grandmother's hand. "He walked down to the corner store one night for milk for the morning and walked in a robbery. Robber shot him dead as he entered because he panicked. A nice officer with the same last name as you found out what happen and captured the robber. Name was Frank Reagan if my grandmother remember telling me correctly."
Jamie and Eddie looked at each other and then back to Tamina. Jamie cleared his throat. "I heard it's a little tougher up there now?"
Tamina nodded. "It's the environment we are in. Social media and people speaking out. You have a tough job and a few bad apples throws the image off, yet for many up there they still trust the police, but its changing. If more people would see what you did today that will change I know it will."
"Thank you for that Tamina and you wish your grandmother a speedy recovery." Jamie said handing back their id's to her.
"Thank you again." Tamina replied getting up and hugging the both of them.
As they left the room, Eddie looked at Jamie. She knew the look that was on his face. "If you want to go there to the 2-9, I will back you."
"Who says that what I was thinking about?" Jamie smirked at his fiancé. He saw Eddie smirk back. "I promised you we would talk about this…"
Eddie stepped in front of him to stop him. She smiled and took his hands. "It's like you said babe. You want to take what you learn and apply to someplace else. What better place to start than a area where mistrust is growing. Besides in Bed-Stuy you be an extra 45 minutes from home and I aint planning on moving anytime soon."
Jamie stifled a laugh as he nodded. "Alright, I'll tell Sarge when we get back."
Eddie nodded and released his hands as they walked out together towards their RMP.
St. Victors Cathedral
SoHo, New York
Danny and Baez were waiting outside the church for the service to end. They wanted to respect the family of the deceased but at the same time, a majority of their suspects where inside the church. They regretted what they were going to do, but it was necessary. Time was wasting and the longer they waited the less likely their shooter and driver would disappear. The doors to the churched opened and out walked the family who along with their friends and coworkers of Walter waited for the casket to make its way down the stairs. Danny nudged Baez and the pair of them walked up with other officers coming right behind. Danny held up his badge. "Ladies and Gentlemen, sorry to do this during a time like this. Vincent Patrick, Maria Sommers, Aaron Davis, Daniel Jorgenson and a Vera Suja. You are coming with us. Please cooperate with these officers."
People started to murmur as the cuffs were place on the group and led to the squad cars. Twenty minutes later they were back at the precinct where all five of them were placed in the conference room where Danny and Baez walked in. Danny smiled. "Alright, all of you minus Peter Vata who we are looking for are being charged with accessory to murder, money laundering, and interfering in a police investigation."
"Yet the first one that talks gets the best deal." Baez stated as she set the pad of paper down on the desk. "So who be willing to talk?"
There were looks around the table but it was the drone pilot that spoke first. "It was Peter and Vera's idea to launder money for Peter's uncle."
Vera looked down. "Shut up Daniel."
"You shut up and let him talk." Danny said to Vera who then looked away. Danny looked back at Daniel. "Keep going."
"Happen right after Walter redid the betting system. Peter saw how much bets and money were increasing so he took the idea to his uncle. Took us with them." Daniel stated.
Aaron joined in. "It didn't take much to convince us to help them. We each got a thousand a week for the bets, while I changed the drones Wi-Fi to have Peter and Daniel fly the drones most likely to place and show."
"How does Vera fit into this?" Baez asked.
"She grew up with Peter, and pretty much were lovers from the time he returned." Maria stated.
"Oh all of you are so dead. You hear me…" Vera started to say, but got dragged up by an officer and out of the room.
"Who killed Walter?" Danny asked as he looked at the group.
"Peter. When Walter found out what was going on, I told Peter, who said he take care of it." Aaron replied as he shifted nervously.
"Where can we find him?" Baez asked.
"At his uncle's restaurant over near Pelham Parkway." Daniel stated.
Danny and Baez nodded and pointed to the officers outside to come in and separate the four from Vera. Baez looked at her partner as they were left in the room. She looked at Danny. "Going to be tough to convict if we don't get a confession out of Peter."
"I know, but thank goodness that OCCB had the Veta's under surveillance for a while." Danny smirked as he grabbed his coat. "Come on partner lets go get Peter."
One Police Plaza
Manhattan, New York
Garrett walked into the office and sat down in the chair as Frank was signing a piece of paper and handing it to Baker. "So I heard the first round went to you."
"Well you would know you were there." Frank stated without even looking up from the other form he was signing.
"Well it was a spilt decision from the judges." Garrett replied with a smirk as Baker took the last form and proceeded to leave the two of them alone in the office. "Found out why Michelle Ortega was here for with the traffic management office."
"To get a briefing on the events of a storm like we are getting." Frank answered as he got up and walked to get his coat from the coat rack.
"Why do I even ask if you know the answers?" Garrett asked with a look of nonbelief on his face. "Heading home?"
"Just till early next morning. Figured I serve the city from here when the storm hits." Frank stated as he grabbed his briefcase as Baker came in and gave him the two minute signal. "Hopefully this storm won't interfere with Saturday."
"Speaking of which, what did you and Ms. Janko decide to do?" Garrett asked as he started to follow his boss as he began walking towards the elevator.
"We decided that we'll pay spilt the cost for seating additional people and if need be a larger hall with Jamie and Eddie, or cut down on the numbers based on occupancy rate." Frank said with a smile on his face. "We'll talk it over with them on Saturday as we meet to look at the venues."
"You're a good man Frank." Garrett stated with a smile.
"I think so, but really spilt decision. I thought I had the better punch connections." Frank answered with a smile as the elevator opened. He stepped in and the doors closed.
Pelham Avenue
Bronx, New York
Across the street from the Restaurant Jospehina, a cadre of uniform officers, Detectives and ESU personnel were assembled. Danny walked in and went over to the detective wearing a grey suit with his vest over it. "Benito."
"Reagan, we're set." Detective Benito said as he made a motion for everyone to gather around. "Listen up, Detective Reagan will brief us."
Danny patted his friend on the shoulder. "Thank you. We are looking for this man Peter Vata, and his friend Altair Tolja. Both are believe to be suspected in the killing of my victim, and part of a money laundering operation. Detective Benito has an undercover inside."
"I will go arrest the undercover myself as we raid the place to make it look legitimate. Just be careful. These guys play for keeps." Detective Benito warned everyone. Detective Benito looked at Danny. "Surveillance and audio footage has your suspect talking about the death the morning after it happen. Didn't make the connection till you called me."
"It's alright Paul." Danny told him. He checked his watch. "Let's do this."
It took a couple minutes for everyone to be position, but as soon as they were set, the teams breached the closed restaurant where the Vata family was currently hanging out. "NYPD everyone show us their hands."
As expected most threw up their hands as the police swept the building as Detective Benito went to secure the undercover. Danny and Baez found Peter Vata and his friend Altair Tolija in the back of the restaurant playing cards with a couple others. Danny approached first. "Peter Vata, you are under arrest for the murder of Walter Davis."
Baez slapped the cuffs on Altair Tolija as Peter didn't resist. Danny took him by the shoulder. "You were a pretty good drone pilot kid, why did you do it?"
"Innocent until proven guilty officer, and I bet none of my friends will testify." Peter said confidently as Danny handed him over to a detective from OCCB.
"We'll see about that." Danny said as he moved towards his partner who had finished putting Altair in a patrol car. "What did Altair say?"
"Already asking for a lawyer and a deal when I dangled a life sentence in front of him." Baez replied smiling. "He'll talk."
"Yeah he will." Danny replied with a smile on his face. He patted his partner on the shoulder. "Come on Baez, if we hurry we get the paperwork done before this storm hits."
