Author's Note: Thanks once again for you guys who reviewed! I cannot wait for s2! Even though it doesn't show in the UK till January I'm so gonna watch em' online! Anyway, back to the story - this chapter and the next involves the capture and interrogation of Freddie McCredie so read it and tell me what you think!

Chapter 13 – Two Down…

June 26th 2000

The Reagans had agreed to meet up at the house that morning to go over the plan before branching off. Danny shadowing his boss, Senior Detective Sorenson, Joe touring the streets with Renzulli and Erin would be present at the bail hearing of Brian McCredie. Later in the evening Joe and Danny would arrest his brother Freddie, the main accomplice in the shooting and best friend of the Sniper.

"Morning family!" Danny greeted as he entered the kitchen. Joe was seated at the table while Mary bustled around the kitchen.

"Hey Danny!" Joe called back.

"Where's Erin?" Danny asked with a frown, noticing that his sister wasn't there. "She can't be running late?"

Erin glided into the kitchen, beaming, the phone held to her ear. "Yeah I love you too, I'll see you back at home tonight? Great!" She hung up the phone and cradled it, only then noticing everyone glaring at her. "What?" She asked innocently.

"You haven't taken him back?" Danny asked suspiciously.

"Well…" Erin smiled apologetically. "He called me last night after I got back and he was being so kind to me -"

"And that impressed you did it?" Danny interrupted scathingly.

"No but -"

"Dad's gonna be upset!"

Mary slammed the frying pan down and whipped around to face her children, "Upset? Upset? Didn't any of you see him last night? He'll be more than just upset!"

"That's what I meant Ma!" Danny muttered irritably.

"Johnny said that he was really, really sorry for the way he behaved," Erin said confidently.

"Oh, he's really, really sorry! Well that's all right then!" Danny retorted, every word oozing with sarcasm.

"He's still my husband, we're married!" Erin responded heatedly. "I took vows and I intend to keep them!"

"If it was down to me you'll be filing for divorce, Catholic or not!" Mary picked up the frying pan and started shaking it at her daughter.

"Yeah well it isn't down to you is it!" Erin bit back. She glared at Danny, "Neither of you!" She stormed out of the kitchen.

"You were a fat lot of help!" Mary barked at Danny. She started scrubbing the pan furiously.

"Ha! Me?" Danny scoffed. "What about you? I thought you were gonna kill her with that damn frying pan!"

He sat down next to Joe as Frank walked in buttoning up his cuffs. "What's going on in here? I just ran into Erin in the hallway, she looked like she'd been crying?"

"Oh just leave her Dad!" Danny snapped, "It's her own fault. If she wants to gravitate back to him, let her do what she wants. As long as she's turning up to Brian's bail hearing, that's all that matters."

"What time does it start?" Frank asked sipping his coffee.

Danny checked his watch, "In about an hour." He rose to his feet, "I should probably get going to work."

"Yeah me too!" Joe followed suit.

"So we'll meet up tonight in Hell's Kitchen just outside Fitzgerald's Pub," Danny confirmed.

"I don't think you need me to tell you boys to both be careful," Frank said pointedly, unfolding the newspaper.

"We're gonna be fine Dad don't worry," Danny muttered rolling his eyes, "Everything will be under control." Both boys left the house.

Mary turned to her husband and sighed, "Why do I always get a bad feeling every time he says that?"

"Instincts," Frank replied without looking up from his paper.

11:29am

Danny's phone rang just as Detective Sorenson was cuffing some convict they had just chased into a subway station in Queens.

"Reagan?" Danny panted.

"Hey, it's me!" Erin chirped, "The hearing just finished and I thought you should know that Brian McCredie just made, bail."

"Tell me everything and don't miss a thing out," Danny ordered as he followed his mentor and their offender back to the car.

"Well the judge went easy on him because he showed genuine remorse, it was his first offense and he was never initially a part of the whole thing. Also, he's offering us any information we want about Bachman and his brother. All in all I think it went pretty well!" Erin said satisfied.

"What are the bail conditions?" Danny asked while mouthing, 'it's my sister,' to Sorenson who nodded in understanding.

"He is to remain in New York City and is not to have any contact with his brother."

Danny rested his hand on top of the hood of his car and leant against it in exhaustion, "Well – that shouldn't be too hard seeing as he'll be locked up by the end of today."

"Are you sure you're up for this tonight Danny?" Erin's voice sounded concerned, "You sound tired."

"Yeah because I've just chased a five-foot eight sucker into a substation! It's okay Erin. We can't wait any longer. We have a warrant, we have a raging psychopath on the loose, and we have an arrest to make tonight! I'm not gonna waste any more time on this!" Danny murmured through gritted teeth.

Danny heard his sister sigh heavily on the other end, "Okay fine. I just hope you know what you're getting into."

Danny rolled his eyes, "I'll be fine sis, listen have you called Joe and Dad yet." He got into the car.

"No, I'm going to do that now. I thought you should be the first to know." Erin replied.

Danny let out a long sigh, "I tell you I'm going to sleep for three weeks when Bachman is sitting on death row."

"Er… yeah about that," Erin started hesitantly. "I don't want you getting your hopes up about getting Bachman the death sentence just yet."

"What? Why the hell not?"

"We can charge him with a hundred counts of murder but in the end it's the jury who'll vote for execution. And sitting in on Brian's trial today made me realize that no matter how hard the prosecution will fight for justice, there's always gonna be an opposing team that could easily swing otherwise." Erin explained in a tense voice.

"That's bull!" Danny exclaimed crossly.

"That's the law Danny!"

"So are you telling me that execution is too heavy a punishment after what he's done?" Danny said loudly, causing several people nearby to scuttle past looking scandalised.

"No, I'm just saying that Bachman's lawyer could plea insanity. And given his history the jury could agree with him." Erin said heavily.

"Nah, the jury will never buy that!" Danny dismissed, "We've checked into his background remember? He has no history of mental illness that can be proven."

"It doesn't matter. It all depends on what the jury see in court before them. They'll take into account - his… appearance, his attitude… just to see if he'll fit the bill."

"Then he'll play it up!" Danny stated emphatically. His lawyer will tell him everything you've just told me and advise him to come to his trial looking like a paranoid - anxious - depressed – schizophrenic or whatever! The jury will lap it up!"

"I know. If there's anything Bachman's good at we know it's manipulation. Anyway, I can tell my boss that we can also tackle the subject of mental illness on our side. When Jamie's put on the stand they can see that. They'll see what Bachman put him through and then they'll be able to see what a real… you know… mentally ill - well, you know what I mean." Erin finished timidly.

Danny was unaware that he was clenching his fists. "Yeah," he said through gritted teeth. "Let's put our already fragile brother back in court – like he hasn't suffered enough!"

"There's nothing I can do Danny!" Erin said heatedly. "Jamie and Dean have to testify – they're important witnesses! Without them - we won't have enough!"

"We'll have loads to go on!" Danny said hotly. "They shouldn't have to see him, not after what he did!"

"Danny I want to protect Jamie as much as you do, of course I do! But putting them on the stand could lock in our chances of getting Bachman for good."

"I just - hate the idea of them having to face his ugly mug after everything that's happened. Can't we – put them on video monitor or something?" Danny asked hopefully.

"No, they only do that on child abuse cases."

"Okay, well feel free to jump in and pitch your ideas, you are the lawyer you know!" Danny muttered irritably.

"Danny I'm working on it! I'm not an ADA yet. I have rules to follow and a reputation to build first before I can pitch any important decisions." Erin said firmly.

"Right." Danny bit his tongue so as not to say something sarcastic to his sister.

"Danny I gotta go, I've got another court case to sit in on before lunch and I'm already late, but… call me when you've arrested Freddie McCredie and keep me updated okay?"

"Okay bye." Danny hung up and turned to his boss. "That was my sister, just come out of Brian McCredie's bail hearing."

"I'm guessing he made bail," Sorenson said casually, pulling out onto the street.

Danny nodded. "Yeah. He's out. And tonight, we're gonna catch his brother."

8:35pm

As twilight melted into the summer evening, Danny and Detective Sorenson sat in their car outside Fitzgerald's Pub, clutching their Starbucks coffees and waiting for the signal that Freddie McCredie had finished his shift. They had five back up cars stationed around the pub in including Joe and Renzulli.

Danny kept his eyes glued to the pub, waiting for the undercover cop to come out and give them their signal. Any minute now.

"Easy there Reagan, you're gonna burn a hole in the glass," Sorenson murmured.

"Sorry boss, just waiting for our guy." Danny said in agitation. "He's got a lot to answer for this one. A lot."

Detective Sorenson hesitated for a moment before saying with the utmost fortitude, "Reagan you know I think you're a good detective. You're quick, sharp minded, always on the game… but when we get the signal… you know we shouldn't just run into this headlong."

"I know that sir and I respect that. But this guy we're arresting tonight, he was the one who helped the psycho who murdered my brother's friend. I'm not just doing this for my brother but for Jared Henderson as well." Danny said with sincerity. "We owe it to his memory and his family."

"The kid who died? He was a friend of your family right?"

"Our neighbour." Danny corrected, "But yeah, we've known him and his family for years, almost as long as Jamie. Jared was a good kid, I've watched him grow up with my brother. I feel so angry when I think about what Bachman did."

"Well, from what you told me, it seems like Jared wasn't even a part of Operation Annihilation, he was just talking back." Sorenson said thinly.

Danny let out a bittersweet laugh, "Yeah! That's him. He never did know when to keep his mouth shut. In the end, it was his backchat that got him killed." They sat and observed the pub in silence for a few seconds before Danny said in a tight voice, "One of the things that scare me the most is, that could've been Jamie. Out of the three of them – my brother seems like the one who would've talked back to Bachman, stood up for himself and his friends."

"But he didn't, and that's what saved his life," Sorenson said with reassurance, "It was a smart move on your kid brother's part."

"Yeah and look at the price he's had to pay for it," Danny replied grimly. "Look where he is now. A friggin psych hospital!"

"Better than the alternative," Sorenson said softly.

Danny nodded, his throat hoarse, "I know that. But he doesn't. In reality it's killing him emotionally cause he's beating himself up over it. Wishing he could trade places with Jared. And I am so grateful that he kept quiet and that he's alive. I watched Jared's brother Jake at his funeral, he's only a couple of years older than him. He was walking around like a zombie, lost because he's lost his little brother forever and I came so close to knowing what that was like."

They continued to watch the pub while Danny surreptitiously wiped a tiny tear from the corner of his eye. "It's smoky in here huh?" he joked.

Detective Sorenson laughed, "You don't have to pretend with me Reagan, I've seen it all."

Danny was just about to answer when the pub door opened quickly and the undercover cop stepped out. Sorenson and Danny straightened up, laid their drinks aside and cocked their guns, ready. The cop tipped his hat towards them, giving them the signal that McCredie was on his way out.

They waited. The door stayed shut and not an inkling of movement was to be seen.

"Come on, come on, come on," Danny whispered menacingly, stroking his gun gently with his thumb, his eyes on the pub door.

The door opened and the man whom Danny recognized from the Nintendo store, Freddie McCredie stepped out.

"Okay, on three," Sorenson said with determination. Freddie took out a cigarette and lit it.

"One."

Danny caressed the door handle, ready to push it open.

"Two,"

Danny gripped the door handle tightly.

"Three!"

Danny lifted the handle, thrust the door open, swiftly exited the car, and started striding towards Freddie who's face was hidden behind a cloud of smoke.

"Freddie McCredie?" Danny said cautiously, edging closer to him.

Freddie took one look at Danny and Sorenson, dropped his cigarette and took off running in the opposite direction.

"Hey!" Danny instinctively took off after him screaming, "I got him boss!" He didn't even wait for a reply, he just sprinted off after McCredie, his eyes focused on the grey hood tearing off down the street.

Freddie galloped through the roads amongst the mass of traffic, angry cars and cabs screeched to a halt to let him pass. Danny took advantage of this opportunity and leaped over the stationary cars, trying to keep Freddie in his sight and at the same time avoid getting himself killed or injured in the process.

Freddie barged through a group of kids. "Hey watch it!" One of girls yelled angrily.

Two seconds later Danny surged past them, "Out of my way!" He snarled, knocking the hot dogs out of their hands.

"Oi you're gonna pay for that!" One of the boys shouted.

"Kiss my ass!" Danny hollered back, racing after Freddie who was running down the street, all the while throwing frantic glances over his shoulder at Danny who was chasing him headlong.

Freddie started to slow down, ducking into an alleyway and leaning against the wall to catch his breath. Danny, seizing this opportunity, put on a spurt of energy and dashed straight for the alleyway. Freddie saw Danny charging right at him, prompting him to carry on running.

"Damn it!" Danny growled as he chased McCredie through the alleyway. Freddie tripped and grabbed onto a staircase for support, Danny hurtled closer, a look of intense determination and rage etched upon his face. Freddie scrambled up the fire escape, getting closer to the top. Danny raced up the fire escape taking three steps at a time, Freddie just made it to the top when Danny jumped on him and slammed him against the staircase.

Freddie let out a cry of pain as Danny's large frame collided with his and buckled him to the ground, his head hitting the top step. Danny sat on top of him and twisted his hands behind his back. He turned around to appeal for help and saw to his immense relief, Joe and Renzulli sprinting up the stairs.

"Someone, get over here and cuff this son-of a bitch!" Danny gasped. Joe took over from his brother and tried to restrain Freddie who had a thick ribbon of blood flowing freely from the side of his head. Danny stumbled back and clutched onto the railings for support. Detective Sorenson jogged up the stairs to his charge.

"Hey, Reagan! Are you okay, are you hurt?" he asked in concern.

"No boss I'm fine," Danny panted. "I chased him all the way down the street, over traffic, through a bunch of kids, down and alley and up a fire escape… I think I deserve a drink!"

Detective Sorenson laughed, "After what you just did, you deserve two – On me!"

Joe roughly pulled Freddie to his feet and marched him down the stairs with Danny, Renzulli and Sorenson following close behind.

9:16pm

Danny watched Freddie sitting stoically in the interrogation room, through observation.

Sorenson sauntered up to him, peering at Freddie through the window. "How long has he been like that?"

"Since we got here." Danny picked up Freddie's file and flipped through it, "Do you want me to take him?"

Sorenson nodded, "You should probably take a tape recorder in with you just in case he says something that could prove useful in court."

"But what if he doesn't say it with the recorder present?"

Sorenson grinned, "Use your initiative Reagan." He attached a tiny tape microphone into Danny's pocket. "The FBI isn't the only one with fancy equipment. Now go get him!"

Danny didn't need to be told twice. As soon as he was given the order, he headed straight into the interrogation room, shutting the door firmly behind him so it was just him and Freddie.

Freddie glanced at Danny as he sat down opposite him but he didn't say anything. Instead he just smirked.

"Something funny?" Danny asked sharply, flexing his fingers under the table while they were wishing to wrap themselves around McCredie's throat.

Freddie just shrugged, "I don't know Detective, you brought me in here. You gonna tell me what this is all about."

Danny narrowed his eyes, "I'm sure you know exactly what this is all about – Freddie. You and your best friend, I believe he goes by the name of Steve Bachman."

Freddie raised one eyebrow in mild surprise, "Oh. So you know who I am. Well, tell me – Detective – how is it you know so much about me when I know jack shit about you?"

"You wanna drop the jackass attitude McCredie!" Danny said angrily, "You're looking at accessory to murder!"

Freddie snorted, "Murder? I've never murdered anyone."

"Hence the word 'accessory,'" Danny muttered in irritation, "Let's just cut straight to the chase cause I'm done playing games, I wanna hear about your pal Steve Bachman and I wanna hear about him right now."

"Why?" Freddie asked lazily, "I haven't seen him since high school."

Danny laughed, "Now I know you know that's a lie!"

Freddie's nose twitched but he kept his composure.

"So," Danny continued, "Tell us about Operation Annihilation."

Freddie's look of carelessness suddenly vanished to be replaced by a look of cold hatred. "I don't have a clue what you're talking about!"

It was Danny's turn to raise his brow, "You seem upset Freddie. Do you wanna talk about it?"

"To a cop? Not a chance!" Freddie spat.

"Well from where I'm sitting it doesn't really look like you have much chances left!" Danny counteracted. "Now, do the decent thing and tell us what we need to know. Then we can figure something out."

"What is this?" Freddie scoffed, "I scratch your back you scratch mine?"

"Not quite," Danny replied coolly, "More of a… you tell us where Steve Bachman is and we won't send you away for twenty years without the possibility of parole."

Freddie shifted in his seat, "Twenty years huh?"

Danny nodded, "Don't forget the -without a possibility of parole." He leaned closer, dropping his voice to mere whisper. "And from what I heard. Prison ain't no picnic for a guy like you. Imagine the jocks in high school… but even worse. And you'll have to relive your high school days over and over again without the luxury of drugs and alcohol to numb the pain. Without your pal Bachman to stick up for you – I give it twenty days before you're hanging from the ceiling."

Freddie recoiled in embarrassment, "Well maybe you shouldn't believe everything you hear!" He murmured, his voice wavering on thin anger.

"Oh I dunno," Danny leant back casually, "It all seems pretty clear to me. Two friends, one's more dominant over the other, the other's too weak to stand on his own two feet. What else did he do for you? Tie your shoes? Wipe your nose?"

"You don't know anything about me and Steve!" Freddie stated aggressively, "And if you know what's good for you, you'll shut up right now!"

Danny just nodded, unfazed by the threats. "And if you know what's good for you, you'll start talking right now!" Danny raised his voice, "Tell us where Bachman is!"

Freddie crossed his arms over his chest, "Lawyer," he said smugly.

Danny was seconds away from decking the guy in the face. He was spared by his boss knocking on the door and entering.

"Reagan," Sorenson eyed Freddie with dislike before turning to Danny, "I need you to step out for a minute."

Danny slowly rose to his feet. "Wait right here," He ordered McCredie.

"Not very many places I can go while I'm handcuffed to a chair Detective," Freddie answered with a conceited grin.

Danny turned towards him, his hand curling into fists. Before he did something he regretted, he seized the door open and left.

"Please give me some good news," Danny begged Sorenson, leaning against the wall.

"I'm afraid not Reagan," Sorenson said with disappointment. "Brian McCredie was found dead outside his house twenty minutes ago."

To Be Continued...