Pt 7: Immediate Aftermath

It took a couple of minutes for Frank to notice that Abby, Garrett, and Tony had left the office.

Frank also noticed that Jaime … Jimmy … was not completely comfortable with an embrace. He disengaged and stepped back. "I apologize if I come off as too familiar. I've been waiting 25 years."

Jaime smiled wryly, even if he still looked nervous. "No. I understand. It's just I didn't grow up with a parent who used any physical showings of affection."

Frank felt a stab of anger at that even as he retreated to the chair he had been sitting in, allowing Jaime to sit back down himself. "I think it might be better for me to not comment on that – it is likely that I might get upset if I think about it too hard." He calmed himself and looked at Jaime. "How are you doing with this?"

Jaime (he was already Jaime in his mind) looked thoughtful. "I don't know. I know this was just sprung on you but this has been the thing uppermost in my mind for over a week. The first couple of days it was all I could do not to go scream at the river or get drunk to try to drown it out."

"You drink?" Frank asked curiously, no judgment in his voice.

Jaime chuckled. "No more than anyone else, probably less than most." He winced. "Growing up with her – it wasn't something that appeared to be something I wanted to get in to."

Frank nodded. "This has got to be tearing you up."

Jaime sighed. "Yeah. It has been." He looked up. "But Sarge has been great. He was completely willing to give me room when I needed it and listen when I needed that." He paused as he considered that. "To be perfectly honest? Sergeant Renzulli has been an absolute rock for me about all this."

Frank nodded. "I'm going to have to think of something nice to do for him."

Jaime chuckled. "Just don't make a big deal out of it. He's not that guy. He just wants to do right with the people around him. I really admire how he's trained me and how he's been handling things. He never made it like it changed one bit of how he thinks of me." Jaime grinned a bit and said, "I hope you don't take personal offense but I want to be just like him when I grow up."

With that Frank couldn't help it. Normally he would be in much better control but this situation had really put his emotions all over the place.


The three people outside the office suddenly heard a sound that they had never heard before: Commissioner Reagan was laughing unreservedly inside the office what sounded like a deep belly laugh.

They then could hear Jimmy/Jaime respond quietly at first and then it changed over to the same unbridled laugh.

They all looked at each other. Tony finally said, "I don't get it. The kid is funny – but he ain't that funny."

The other two shrugged helplessly.


Frank and Jaime took a moment but they eventually calmed down. Both actually felt better for something to have broken them out of the seriousness of the situation. Finally Frank said, "I can't wait to tell the rest of the family that one."

Jaime looked startled for a moment and then a bit nervous. "I had forgotten for a second. Renzulli gave it briefly but who else is there?"

Frank gave his youngest son a kind smile. "Don't worry. They'll all be thrilled to find out that you've been found. First there's my father, Henry. My kids and grandkids call him Pop. I'm Dad and Grandpa. Your eldest brother is Danny. He's the intense one – the Detective who takes things personally and tends to be … sarcastic … with his humour. Then there's my daughter, Erin. She's an ADA. Smart as a whip and she's the one who tends to try to rein Danny in. She's pretty passionate about proper legal procedure. She's the one who's going to be a bit mothering likely. Linda is Danny's wife is the supportive one – she's a wonderful, accepting woman who gave me my two grandsons, Jack and Sean. They are 12 and 9, turning 10 soon. Erin's daughter is Nicky, she's 15 turning 16 soon. Erin's actually divorced – the Reagan men have fantasies about getting Jack Boyle in a position where we can have a few words without repercussion for cheating on my little girl but she refuses to allow it." Frank smiled. "She's in her late thirties but she's still my little girl." Jaime nodded.

Frank then sighed. "You also had an elder brother, Joe, who Renzulli probably told you about."

Jaime nodded and said quietly, "He told me a bit about what happened. How it turned out to be dirty cops." Frank looked angry at the reminder and then Jaime added, "He also explained how you came down on the group of them like a ton of bricks to clean up the department. I remember hearing about it but none of the details that didn't make the papers."

Frank nodded in agreement. "Yes. I've been an honest cop for too long to have any respect for dirty cops – especially those who conspire to kill good ones."

Jaime nodded. "I know. Your honesty was a big part of why I came to New York."

Frank smiled gently and said, "Baker told me. And I can't tell you how much I appreciated hearing that – especially now. I just can't imagine what would have happened if you had gone anywhere else."

Jaime nodded slowly and thoughtfully. "It almost beggers belief. All the coincidence. It's truly rather a shock."

Frank nodded. He then sighed. "Unfortunately, we lost your mother Mary a few years before Joe passed – breast cancer. She never gave up hope that you would be found."

Jaime nodded. "I'll probably want to hear all the stories eventually, and be told all about them. But first we actually have to get mo … Sherry Riordan investigated and arrested." His face became slightly stony. "I think that I'm pretty upset about having so much time stolen from me and from who I now know to be my real family."

With that, Frank Reagan's face mirrored the look on his newly-rediscovered son's face. "Let's get Detective Baker back in here to have her tell us how she plans to do that."

Jimmy nodded. The Commissioner raised his voice. "You guys can come back in!"


Baker saw that Jaime Reagan's face, with certain emotions, showed a tremendous likeness with her bosses. Both looked like they had settled the immediate emotions and were looking like the typical person who has been subjected to a crime: Pissed off and slightly vindictive.

Garrett Moore actually looked a bit scared as he often did when the Commissioner's face took on that look. He knew that Frank Reagan, given the right impetus, could be absolutely inexorable.

Abby immediately spoke. "Before you say anything, Commissioner," Frank's face broke slightly into interest, "I am going to insist that you allow me to continue this investigation without direct input. We are going to avoid any claims that you are using your position in a witch hunt."

Frank paused and then nodded. "I wouldn't have it any other way, Detective. That you insist on that is why you are head of the Commissioner's Squad," he said quietly.

Abby nodded in satisfaction. "However, I will speak to you as the alleged victims to tell you how we are planning to proceed." Frank and Jaime both looked happy at that.

"Currently, the squad is planning on asking Officer Riordan for assistance." She looked at Jaime. "Until this gets to the Grand Jury and indictments are handed out, you cannot think of yourself as Jaime Reagan. We want nothing to alert anyone that this is taking place."

Jimmy looked thoughtful and said, "I can see that. If this goes the way it looks like it's going, I will be changing my name back to what it should be." Frank looked happy at that, his smile beaming at his son.

Abby nodded. "Okay, then. Monday morning you and Sergeant Renzulli will be assigned to assist a case out of the Squad. I will be informing your Lieutenant that this is the case. You will drive to Buffalo and meet with the Chief of Detectives. But then arrangements should be in place and he will have four trusted members of his department to assist. You will wear a wire in to speak to Sherry Riordan. Due to you public act of heroism, you are being considered for a medal but your birth certificate and social security showed problems which you will demand she explain because you are so upset."

"Not a big stretch," Jimmy said. He then paused and then said, "You do realize that I don't actually need a medal, right?"

Renzulli spoke up at that point. "I already said I was putting you in for one." He then turned to the Commissioner. "And, respectfully Commissioner, I would put in for any cop who did what he did – regardless of the cop's last name. I rode with Joe and I know how much you avoid giving your kids too many props in case you look biased, but I don't think anyone could disagree he deserves it."

Frank considered that. "I promise to stay out of the decision making process and to accept the recommendations of the Chief of Department and those around me." Renzulli nodded in satisfaction. "But I would recommend putting it in before Monday because doing it later will involve too much politics." Renzulli nodded again in agreement.

Abby saw that the side conversation was done. "Alright. Considering the likelihood that she will confess given the right motivation, she will be taken into custody at that point by the Buffalo PD though Sergeant Renzulli will take lead. Once the paperwork is finished, you two will return to New York and come directly to 1 PP."

She looked at Renzulli. "You will bring all evidence and paperwork that you might have to the Detective Squad. You will then be done for the day." She turned to Jimmy. "You will meet with the Legal Department, along with your Union Delegate. By then, we will have a judge's order which will authorize the necessary steps to change all of your records from James Riordan to Jameson Reagan. You will then go from Legal to Personnel to complete all departmental procedures on that."

She looked at the Commissioner. "The entire case, at that point, will be hand delivered to the Brooklyn DA's office. I find that it is very likely that an indictment will be handed down by the Grand Jury immediately."

She turned to Jimmy again. "Tuesday, you will be on duty as Officer Riordan." She looked at the DCPI. "I recommend that you allow the mother of the baby to meet him that day because she's already been asking. Any public ceremony should be done that day." She looked back at Jimmy. "You will then be placed on a five-day vacation with pay – we're going to use the vacation days you already have. I highly recommend that you do not stay at your current address because there will be reporters that will be camped out once it leaks both there and around the 12th Precinct – and it will leak at the end of Tuesday."

Frank said, "The family will help him out with that."

Jimmy looked a bit overwhelmed. "This sounds like it's going to be messy."

Baker nodded. "It will be. But we'll get through it. In ten days, your life should resume pretty much as normal – with the minor caveat that your name will be different."

She looked around. "Any questions?"


Linda Reagan looked around the room at the other family members present. "Does anyone know what this is about?" she asked around.

Everyone just shrugged. Henry said, "All he said was that he needed the entire family home and that he would be bringing in dinner."

Erin asked, "You know where he's picking it up from?"

Henry shrugged. "Not really."

Nicky volunteered, "He even told Mom to leave my homework at home – he'd write a note."

Everyone looked at her in shock, even Henry. The exception was her mother. "But you won't need to take him up on that, right?"

She gave her mom a long suffering smile. "Yes, mom. I already finished my homework."

Erin nodded. "Good," she replied with satisfaction.

Sean asked, "When is grandpa going to get here?"

Danny looked at his watch. "Should be any time now."

His words were prophetic as they could hear the door open and Frank Reagan's voice call out, "Jack, Sean! Come here and help bring the bags."

The two youngest jumped up and rushed to the back door. Very soon thereafter, the two boys came back in carry large bags. Nicky jumped up to help get them on the table.

Danny looked the bags. "Gino's? Isn't that a bit much for a weekday evening, Dad?" he asked his father as he walked into the door carrying the largest bag and a paper shopping bag.

"Maybe. But we're having a little bit of a celebration tonight. Besides, I was buying dinner for a couple of other people and they were accommodating," he said quite calmly.

Erin looked at her father for a long moment. "You're happy. I mean really happy." Her eyes narrowed. "What is this all about?"

He smiled his biggest smile at his daughter, all cheeks and mustache, and said, "I'll explain once everything is set up and we've sat down to eat."

Danny and Erin looked at each other, both a small bit suspicious. They looked at their own grandfather, who looked as surprised as they felt. Danny started helping to debag and asked, "You aren't retiring and buying a 60 foot yacht so you can fish everyday or anything like that, right?"

Frank considered that for a moment, and then chuckled. "No, Danny. Thought that does sound like a wonderful retirement – I am not retiring."

His good humour had finally convinced the family that there was nothing bad and they calmly set up the meal. Henry's face took on a look of pleased surprise at the wine that Frank had brought out of the paper shopping bag. "We must be celebrating something important. That's an expensive bottle of wine."

Frank paused in what he was doing (taking off his coat and putting it off to the side) and looked cheerfully thoughtful for a moment. Finally he said, "Yes. Could say that. I do think that it's important." He then gave his father the same smile he had started with.

Henry was truly taken aback at that. He hadn't seen Frank this happy since before Joe was killed. Why he could possibly be so happy must be quite the surprise.

It took a few minutes but soon everyone was seated around the table and everyone was ready to eat. Frank looked at everyone and said, "I know that we don't often do it throughout the week, but I would like to say grace before this meal."

Linda, who was the most devout among the family, said, "I think that would be great, Frank." She then looked around to ensure that her kids and husband were assuming the proper position of prayer.

Frank's voice showed real emotion as he recited the prayer. It was obvious that he was feeling quite emotive and the family felt a particularly strong reaction to it.

Frank moved his hands to the table and looked around. "Dig in, everyone."

For the next few minutes, everyone ensured that they had all of the food that they wanted and they began to eat. After beginning to eat Erin finally said, "Okay. We're eating. Now: What has got you so happy?"

Frank continued cutting his food and asked a general question, "Did anyone hear about the baby that got rescued from the fire today?"

Nicky paused and said with some enthusiasm, "Oh, yeah! That was trending by the time I got out of school. A cop walked into a fire to pull out a baby before the fire department arrived."

Danny said, "Yeah. It was in the 12th. We heard about it. That took some guts to do. From what I heard it was engulfed. A lot of guys would have decided it was too dangerous."

Frank nodded and looked at Danny, "If I don't miss my guess, you probably would have gone in if you were in the same position."

Danny actually looked both embarrassed and pleased at the blanket faith his father had that he would do the right thing. "Well, yeah. But I've been in situations like that both on the job and in Iraq. I mean, I'm a Marine. From what I understand the cop who did it is a rookie."

Frank said, "Well, actually, he's in the middle of his second year, but you do make a point. The fact is, his Sergeant says he has great instincts. Didn't hesitate a moment."

Linda was curious. "What is his name anyway?"

Frank said, "Patrol Officer Jimmy Riordan."

Erin was actually quite interested. "What do you know about him?"

Frank thought a moment and then turned his head a bit as he spoke. "Well. He grew up in Buffalo. Went to SUNY-Buffalo and graduated top of his class with a degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology. Took the entrance exam right out of college and had a top score on that. He then went on the graduate at the top of his class from the Academy, after which he was assigned to the 12th."

Erin was quite surprised. "Wow. That's a nice CV."

Danny asked, "Well, yeah, all that stuff is great. What kind of cop is he?"

Frank finished chewing and swallowing the bite he had taken. "Actually, his Training Officer has been singing his praises since he was assigned. Has a couple of commendations already for going above and beyond. Ten days ago he actually had talked a suspect who was an EDP into dropping the gun he had on the vendor he was robbing. When the sirens from the other responding officers spooked him, he actually tackled the suspect before he could shoot at the arriving cops or at him or his partner. Saved the suspect and the arriving officers from a shoot out."

Linda, who had actually paused in eating, said, "Wow. Sounds like a good cop." She turned to look at her husband who looked impressed despite himself and said, "Sounds like the kind of cop who would fit in with this bunch."

Frank chuckled as he looked at the food on his fork. "Actually? I thought so too." He took the bite and quickly swallowed it. "Anyway … the DCPI rushed into my office giddy as a school girl. Someone on the scene had taken the video and posted it. It was already going viral."

Danny shrugged. "That's great. Sounds like good PR for the Department. So what's all that got to do with anything?"

Frank paused and said, "Well. Garrett's reaction was quite understandable. What actually was a shock was Baker's reaction to hearing the news."

Erin asked, "Abby Baker? The Detective in your office?"

Frank nodded. "And the head of the Commissioner's Detective Squad."

Danny asked, "What did she have to say about him?"

Frank said matter-of-factly, "Actually she was the one who gave me the rundown on Officer Riordan's history. When Garrett gave the name of the officer she was shocked because Officer Riordan was on her radar as a part of a case that she was investigating."

Danny looked a bit taken aback. "What? He have given over some evidence as a part of his job?"

Frank smiled and said, "No, actually. He was the subject of the investigation."

Erin was also then taken aback. "What kind of investigation? Was he a suspect?"

Frank said firmly. "No. Actually, Officer Riordan's former Training Officer and current Partner Sergeant Renzulli had brought Officer Riordan to Detective Baker's attention just this last Saturday."

Danny stopped again. "Renzulli? Tony Renzulli? Joe's old Training Officer?"

Frank nodded. "Yes. That Renzulli." Frank set down his fork and reached into his pocket and pulled out a picture and placed it on the table. "And this is Officer Riordan."

Erin was the first to grab it. "Good looking guy." She paused and looked at the picture more closely.

Nicky, who was looking over her mother's should said, "Actually, he kind of looks like Uncle Joe did."

Erin looked at Nicky suddenly and then back at the picture thoughtfully.

Danny, who was now insanely curious reached out to take the picture himself. Erin reluctantly handed it over, allowing Linda and the boys to see it as well.

Frank smiled and said, "As a part of the case she opened, she had occasion to send certain things out for testing." With that, Frank reached into his pocket and pulled a folded piece of paper out and handed that to Erin. "Why don't you explain to everyone what that is?"

With that, Frank smiled at his father at the other end of the table, picked up his fork, and took another bite of his food.

Erin unfolded the piece of paper. Everyone looked at her for the explanation even as the photo was passed down to Henry Reagan. "According to this, this is a DNA Paternity test. It shows a 99.9999 percent likelihood of paternity." Erin's eyes opened wide and she looked at her father. "Who's DNA was being tested?" she asked urgently.

Frank put his fork down and said with some solemnity, "Officer Jimmy Riordan's … and mine."

Erin carefully let go of the paper before she crushed it, even as she looked in shock at her father. Tears started forming in her eyes. Finally she said in a forced and quiet voice, "Jaime?"

With that word all noise and movement stopped and everyone looked at Frank for the response.

Looking at his daughter with compassion Frank slowly nodded his head. Finally he said, "According to the evidence that Detective Baker has been gathering, all signs point to Officer James Riordan as having been born Jameson … Andrew … Reagan."

With that, Erin put her hand to her mouth and let out a loud sob. Linda looked very surprised (she had only heard about him and never met him). Jack and Sean looked just as surprised. Danny and Henry looked absolutely stunned, as did Nicky.

It took a long moment until Nicky finally said with the surprise she felt in her voice, "So this Officer Jimmy Riordan is my uncle that was kidnapped as a baby right out of the park?"

Frank looked at Nicky and said one word. "Yes."

It took a long few minutes for everyone to get their reactions under control. Then the almost obsessive questions started. "Has he been told?" Erin asked.

Frank paused and said, "Yes," even as he was nodding. "Tony Renzulli told him a week ago that it was a possibility and got his cooperation to get tested, though he was as stunned as you could imagine him being when Renzulli brought it up as a gut feeling he had. As a matter of fact, when his name came up all Abby would say was that he was in one of her cases as a victim and that she had been preparing to ask him to 1 PP to give him some news that had just arrived that day. He was told at the same time I was, just before 6:00."

Danny asked, "What news had just come in?"

Frank motioned his head toward the paper that Erin had put down but was now being passed around for inspection.

Nicky asked with delighted surprised, "You mean the DNA results came back just today, the day that he saves a baby from a burning building?"

Frank chuckled. "Yes. The results had been hand delivered just today."

Danny was suddenly angry. "What was he doing going into a burning building? He could have been killed!"

Frank looked at his oldest and said, "Calm down, Danny." He waited till Danny had calmed a little bit. "Even you said that you would have done the same thing. Just because this came up doesn't change the fact that he is a cop on duty. And from all reports he is a … darn … good one."

Jack looked at his father's reaction and then looked at his grandfather. "Yeah. Just imagine that. He's a cop like the rest of the family."

Henry, who was beaming in his seat, said, "Well, the genes will tell."

Frank chuckled. "Yes. He heard stories from the father of a friend and decided when he was about Sean's age that he wanted to be a cop.

Erin, who had been listening intently, suddenly asked, "Wait! So he knows? Is he okay with it?"

Frank nodded. "He's had a week to think about the possibility. He's going to wear a wire on Monday to help us assess Sherry Riordan's part in all this, whether it was her or a boyfriend or someone else who gave him to her. But he's decided that after she is arrested – he's pretty certain she will be – he plans on letting go the name of Riordan and taking up his proper name."

Erin nodded and then asked in a plaintive voice, "So if he knows already, why isn't he here? With the family?"

Frank had a tone of admonishment. "He just got confirmation today. He has to wrap his head around it just like we do. Besides, he wasn't ready to be confronted by a whole extended family. Growing up he had who he thought was his mother and that was it. And she, apparently, wasn't that great a mother anyway – a bit manipulative and emotionally abusive actually. Do you honestly think that someone who grew up like the would be ready to immediately immerse himself into this family?"

Linda snorted and everyone looked at her. "Sorry, Erin. But this family can be scary. I remember being absolutely terrified I the first time I was invited to Sunday dinner."

Erin pouted and said with a small whine, "We're not that scary."

Danny, who had been listening, looked thoughtfully amused as he said, "Actually, I can see what she's saying. There are eight of us – and there were about that many when she first started coming. I can see someone being nervous if they aren't used to us." He looked at Frank and said, "I'll just have to help toughen him up."

Erin, Linda, and Nicky immediately protested that statement, even as Frank and Henry just shook their heads. Jack and Sean just looked amused.


Jimmy Riordan and Tony Renzulli sat on the couch in his living room, drinking from the 18 year old bottle of Jameson that the Commissioner had gifted him with when they had been picking up the dinner that the Commissioner had bought for Tony, his wife Marie, and Jimmy.

Jimmy would be sleeping on Tony's couch and go in with him in the morning.

"What a day. Eh, college boy?" Tony asked before taking another sip of the extremely smooth whiskey.

Jimmy nodded. "You can say that again. Just over a week ago, my life was simple. Now – things are kind of messy."

Tony nodded but said, "Yeah. But that was a lie. Isn't the truth better? Besides, the mess is a small price to pay to give a grieving family closure after so long. And I think that you'll prefer the family you actually should have had to the family you thought you had. The Reagans are good people, every one of them. You included."

Jimmy nodded. "I wonder what the reaction will be when the Commissioner," Tony's face had a look of immediate protest, "my father," Tony's face went back to the way it was, "tells them."

Tony chuckled. "I can imagine that they will be almost as shocked as you were when I brought up the possibility. They're going to be happy, you'll see. But you should probably look out for Danny."

"Oh?" Jimmy asked curiously.

"Yeah. He's going to want to 'teach you to be a cop' – you should take whatever he says and do the opposite." Tony's voice was laced with humor.

"He's a bad cop?" Jimmy asked.

"Actually? No. He's a great cop. But he can be a little impulsive and quite involved. He'll get pissed off with a suspect at the drop of a hat. What he does works for him – but you're a different kind of cop. You're more like Joe was. Use your education and what you learned from me – and you'll do just fine. Just let Danny be Danny when he talks to you. It's easier that way." He paused and said, "Trust me."

Jimmy chuckled. Actually, he was looking forward to meeting Danny and all the rest. The idea of having a family was actually starting to sound appealing.