AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Sorry for the delay in posting, but I wanted to watch the most recent episodes to see what the official storyline would be and whether it affected my piece.
Suffice to say, that the writers and producers of Blue Bloods have failed to create a foundation upon which the characters are based, particularly, the four children.
In Season 8, Episode 7, Frank names Joe (age 9) as his oldest, and that his oldest and second oldest were born 19 months apart, and they had a kid sister who they picked on. This makes Danny the second eldest and Erin third. He also states that Mary was at the market with the baby (Jamie).
Frank previously stated Joe was his first born to the female officer the family consented to wearing Joe's old shield number.
Fact: Joe's headstone states that he was born June 6, 1977. That puts his current age at 40.
Fact: Season 6, Episode 7, "The Bullitt Mustang", (Aired Nov 6, 2015) Erin celebrates her 40th Birthday. (Season 3, Episode 17 "Protest Too Much", (Aired March 8, 2013) Whitney Robshaw reminds Frank they had previously met at Erin's 40th Birthday.
Fact: At the time Season 8, Episode 7 "Common Ground" aired on November 10, 2017, Erin was either 42 or 45, depending on whether her 40th birthday occurred prior to March 2013, or occurred on November 6, 2015.
Fact: Jamie is the youngest.
Based on the factual foundation set forth above, Joe cannot be the eldest and as the series consistently refers to Danny as Erin's big brother, or Erin as Danny's kid sister, and, based on Erin being 42 and Joe only 40, there is no way that Joe can be older than Danny, nor can Erin be Joe's kid sister as stated by Frank in "Common Ground"
Fact: Mary Reagan was born April 28, 1955 and died September 14, 2005. (Gravestone shot "The Blue Templar" Season 1, Episode 24) This would have made her 22 when Joe was born and 20 when Erin was born, and likely 18 for Danny.
If Erin's 40th B'day was prior to March 2013, (assume Oct/Nov 2012) then using April 28, 1955 as Mary's birthdate, she would have been 17 when Erin was born and 15 for Danny. The math doesn't work.
Finally, in Common Ground, Frank states that at the time in question, Joe is 9 and Danny is 19 months younger. Based on Joe's birthdate of June 6, 1977, this story likely occurs in the fall of 1986 or the spring of 1987. Jamie is referenced as the baby who went to the market with Mary. Erin is the kid sister which puts her at 4 or 5 years old.
If this timeline is followed then in November 2017, Joe is 40, Danny is 38, Erin is somewhere between 34 and 36, and Jamie is 31. Again, the math doesn't work.
This confusion needlessly arises due the failure of the show's producers and creators, and their successors, from establishing a written timeline that must be adhered to.
In the Godfather trilogy, you knew that Sonny was the eldest, followed by Fredo, Michael, and then Connie however if BB's creative/production team were making a TV series based on those characters, one-week Sonny may be the eldest and a month later it may be Fredo.
Considering this is a procedural that revolves around the family, I would think that it would be a crucial element to establish a factual order of the siblings, what their ages actually are based on factual birthdates created for each character as it was for Joe, and to hold true to these facts as stories are developed that incorporate that information.
As far as this writer is concerned the following applies:
Daniel Fitzgerald Reagan – Born between January and August 1973 – Current Age 44
Erin Reagan – Born October/November 1975 – Current Age 42
Joseph Conor Reagan - Born June 6, 1977 – Current Age 40
Jamison Reagan - Likely born in the second half of 1985 – Current Age 32
The timeframe of Jamie's birth can be extrapolated by working backward from when he graduated the Academy.
He would have to have graduated the academy so that he could be part of the ceremony in the pilot, which was September 2010. The Academy application and course process can take several months, so let's presume that he went to the Academy right out of Harvard Law School which he would have graduated March 2010. Law school is three years meaning he started in the fall of 2007. Before that would have been 4 years of college which he began in the fall of 2003. This means that he graduated high school in the spring of 2003 at age 18, which puts his birthdate between July 1985 and June 1986.
Having been born in 1955, Mary would have given birth to Danny at 18, Erin at 20, Joe at 22, and Jamie at 30.
You would think that after 8 years that the show may begin filling in some of these blanks such as Erin and Jamie's middle names, and Danny's and Jamie's birthdates.
The same would hold true for Nicky, Jack, and Sean.
And now, to our story:
Wednesday, June 14, 2017:
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY.
10:07 p.m.
Danny stood in his childhood bedroom staring at the large Marine Corps flag which graced one of the two large side walls. He had always been proud of his service and of the Corps and it felt good to finally tell his family something about his second tour which he usually refused to share with anyone.
He was so engrossed with his thoughts that he failed to hear his father knock and enter.
"Danny"? Frank had inquired three times before it finally registered.
"Sorry Dad, just lost in thought I guess" He stated while still looking at the flag.
"Today took a lot out of you" Frank stated.
"Also got somethings out in the open that have stayed buried too long" Danny responded.
"Yeah" Frank nodded.
"Makes me wonder if I am going to have the same strained relationship with my sons as they get older, as you and I have always had". He stated while looking at his father.
"I've heard it said that the best relationships are between fathers and daughters, and the most difficult are those between fathers and sons" Frank opined.
"You never had that problem with Joe or Jamie" Danny stated.
"First of all, you're the oldest and as you should know by now, unlike cars, computers, and appliances, children do not come with an owner's manual. Therefore, as imperfect parents we tend to make our trial errors on our eldest. Secondly, unlike your brothers, you were always independent and as I alluded to in Court, you had to make your own decisions and discover your own truths, even if that meant going against the rules which were put in place to protect you. Frank replied.
"If your brother had lived, I wonder what it would have been like for you, with Pops putting all the pressure on him. Would you have turned out differently than you have" Danny stated.
"It's possible but I was always more my mother's son than my father's, just like Joe was definitely more his mother's than mine and conversely, Erin was my more my daughter than your mom's. As for Jamie, I think he's more Erin's than either your mother's or mine" Frank smiled.
"Yeah, he does tend to listen to her more than anyone else, even Joe" Danny commented.
"She spent a lot of time with him from when he was a baby until she got married and moved out and even then, she still kept an eye on him" Frank recalled. "As for you Danny, you've always been a chip off of Pop's shoulder so if you can't be like me, at least you're like the man I admire most in this world".
Danny nodded: "I've always felt closer to him than to you".
"Maybe it's because you two have more in common than you and me. Other than our service in the Marines and our police work, unlike your siblings, you and I don't share much else" Frank sadly noted.
"I wonder if Jack feels the same way about me". Danny inquired.
Frank considered his answer: "Why don't you ask him. Maybe we should have had this talk thirty years ago but now that we are, let me ask you something, and you can be honest" Frank hesitated because in part, he was afraid of what the answer may be. "Do you hate me?"
Danny was bewildered. "How can you ask me that Dad, of course I don't hate you. I love you, I just don't want to disappoint you or maybe I'm just tired of feeling that no matter what I do, it winds up that way" He replied.
"Son, I place a higher burden on you because I know what your capabilities are. You are the same dogmatic, determined person who licked a steel pole in the middle of winter, just to prove to yourself whether or not your tongue would stick to it, even though you were warned that it would. It's why you deliberately went against Special Agent Molina, your sister, even your own common sense to seize that cash because letting that money fund the cartel upset your moral compass. Is it frustrating as a father to watch his son repeating a process that is harmful to him, yes, but don't ever think for a second, that I'm disappointed in you Danny, because that couldn't be further from the truth" Frank stated.
"Jack's high school graduation ceremony is Saturday" Danny stated as his mind drifted off to thoughts about the relationship they had. Jack was very much Linda's son in temperament. He had her patience, grace, and sense of innocence. On the other hand, Sean was a chip off of his shoulder and had the same Reagan temper.
Frank noted that Danny was fading. "Why don't you get some sleep Danny" He suggested as he exited the room, closing the door behind him.
Once Frank had left, Danny began looking through boxes of Linda's things which Erin and Jamie had packed up for him. At the top of the second box, was an old trinket box large enough to hold some smaller pieces of jewelry, but when Danny opened it the only thing he found inside was the key to their safety deposit box.
Thinking back, the only things Danny could recall that they kept in it were the titles to their cars, the deed to their house, and their family birth certificates. Linda had handled all of that, in fact, Danny had never seen the box itself having only signed as a joint owner and a person authorized to access it. He placed the key in his wallet made a note that if he had the time the following day, he'd head by the bank to see what was in the box.
Thursday, June 15, 2017:
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY.
6:40 a.m.
As Sean Reagan made his way into the kitchen, Danny looked up from the table.
"Morning" He bade.
"Hi Dad" Sean replied.
"Where's your brother?" Danny inquired.
"Sound asleep" Sean replied.
"I better go get him up, he'll be late for school" Danny stated.
Sean shook his head as he poured cereal into the waiting bowl. "Better get with the program Dad"
"What program is that?" Danny inquired.
"His last day was yesterday, remember? I still have to put in a half day though I have no idea why they make us do that" Sean replied.
"Because you have to school for 186 days and today is day number 186" Danny replied.
"Yeah, but why half a day, that makes no sense, it's not like we're going to do anything but sit around and play video games" Sean responded.
"What time does your first class start?" Danny asked as he recalled how excited he used to become each year on his last day of school.
"Seven Twenty-Five" Sean answered.
"And you get out when? Danny asked.
"Normally, at Two-Twenty-Five but today we're done at Eleven" Sean responded.
"Figure it out Einstein" Danny quipped.
"It's a three-and-a-half-hour day instead of seven hours" Sean replied.
"It's a three-hour and thirty-five-minute day" Danny informed Sean.
"So what?" Sean replied.
"It's five minutes past the half way point of the full seven-hour day which under state law, makes it count as a full day so that the teachers can boot you kids early and get a jump on their summer vacations" Danny answered.
"Sweet" Sean replied.
Danny rolled his eyes "Finish your breakfast" He ordered.
Thursday, June 15, 2017:
U.S. District Court For the Southern District of New York
Thurgood Marshall Courthouse
40 Foley Square
Manhattan, NY
1:50 p.m.
Danny had spent the morning and early afternoon working a case with Baez before she reminded him that he had to be in Court. She drove him to the Courthouse and had offered to stay but he told her that he'd catch a ride back to the Five-Four with his father or have an RMP drop him.
When he entered the courtroom, everyone else associated with the trial was present except for the Judge who Danny knew would bolt through the back door of the courtroom as soon as the clock struck two p.m.
He sat down at the defense table between Jack Boyle and his father with Jack McCoy to Frank's left.
"Nice of you to join us" Frank quipped.
"I do have ongoing investigations to conduct, and a Lieutenant to report to" Danny replied.
"Which you are currently absolved from doing during the course of this trial" Frank stated.
"That would look like the School Board Superintendent giving his son a hall pass for the day, no thank you Commissioner, Sir" Danny vehemently replied with an emphasis on "Sir".
"As you wish, Detective" Frank sternly responded with an emphasis on "Detective".
What only they and their attorneys knew was that this was a continuation of the act they were putting on for Dominic Forshett's benefit, to further water the seeds of disagreement they had planted the day before.
At exactly 2:00 p.m. the back door opened and Judge Denning stepped out.
"All rise" the bailiff began before the Judge waived him off.
"This is the date and time set by the Court for the rendering of its ruling in Case No: 17-198849, United States Drug Enforcement Agency v New York City Police Department, and Case No. 17-198861, Samuel M. Phillips v The New York City Police Department, New York City Commissioner of Police Francis X. Reagan, New York City Police Detective Daniel F. Reagan, and the United States Drug Enforcement Agency. Please note for the record, that counsel for all parties are present" The Judge concluded before continuing:
"I have read counsels' briefs and accompanying arguments, and I will be issuing a written opinion in support of my oral ruling which I should have for counsel by tomorrow afternoon, but as all parties have requested an expedited proceeding, I am prepared to put the key points of my ruling on the record at this time, unless there are any objections" The Judge stated.
"No objection" McCoy stated, followed by the remaining three attorneys.
"Very well. At the beginning of these proceedings I stated that the crux of these combined cases focused on one issue and the testimony taken of the witnesses examined before the court, would be weighed solely as it applied to that issue, which is a question of law to be decided by the Court, that being, did the actions of Detective Daniel Reagan on May third, 2017, whether independently, or in the course of his sworn duty as a detective employed by the New York City Police Department, violate Mr. Jose Peña's lawful rights against an unlawful search and subsequent seizure of property in Mr. Peña's custody, as set forth in the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. It is hereby the ruling of this Court, that Detective Reagan's actions of May 3, 2017 as attested to in these proceedings, did in fact violate Mr. Peña's Fourth Amendment rights, to wit: That Detective Reagan without probable cause, and without a warrant issued by a Court of competent jurisdiction to act, did in violation of Mr. Peña's Fourth Amendment rights, unlawfully board and search the subject naval vessel, and, did unlawfully seize and transfer to the custody of the New York City Police Department, the sum of 18 million dollars in United States currency.
As to the lawful owner of the seized property. No evidence has been brought before this Court that would either refute, or support the claim brought by Plaintiff Samuel M. Phillips' as the lawful owner of the subject 18 million dollars, nor has any evidence been presented that would support that such funds were the proceeds of an unlawful act committed by Mr. Phillips, Mr. Peña, or any person or entity acting as the agent or employee of either Mr. Phillips or Mr. Peña.
Wherefore, it is the Order of this Court, that the seized property be returned forthwith to Plaintiff Samuel M. Phillips" the Judge said as he wrapped his gavel.
"Your honor?" Forshett asked as he rose from his chair.
"Mr. Forshett?" The Judge inquired.
"In line with your order, we have a wrinkle that we need to iron out".
"A wrinkle you say? Why am I not surprised. Would this be a SNAFU wrinkle, or is it more of a FUBAR wrinkle?" He sarcastically inquired.
Frank, Danny, and Saperstein all began to laugh while doing their best to hold it in.
"Sir?" Forshett inquired.
"Military acronyms counselor. Sierra November Alpha Foxtrot Uniform, Situation Normal All Fouled Up, meaning, par for the course, or Foxtrot Uniform Bravo Alpha Romeo, Fouled Up Beyond All Repair, meaning, it's a whopper of a wrinkle".
By now Frank, Danny, and Saperstein couldn't hold back and the laughs were clearly audible up on the bench.
"It's clear that you three in the peanut gallery know what I'm talking about so enlighten me as to which branch you served in" The Judge inquired, knowing that it was likely that only those who had served in the U.S. military would understand what he had just alluded to, and that his description of the F in FUBAR was a civilian word used to describe the acronym.
"United States Marine Corps your Honor" Frank replied.
"United States Marine Corps your Honor" Danny replied.
"United States Air Force your Honor" Saperstein replied.
"Two Jarheads and a Flyboy. I'm an old salt myself" the former naval officer replied from the bench before turning his attention back to Forshett.
"So Mr. Forshett, which is it, a SNAFU or a FUBAR" he inquired, deliberately drawing the "U" in the latter acronym so that it came out FUUUUUUUUUBAR.
"Your Honor, my client is currently experiencing some difficulties and would not be able to come to New York City to retrieve his property" Forshett explained.
"And you would like me to have the NYPD what, ship it to him? I'm not sure that FEDEX or UPS would courier 18 million in cash, would they?" He inquired of the attorneys who all tried to keep from busting out in laughter.
"Your honor, if it please the Court" McCoy stated as he rose.
"It would very much please the Court if you were to explain just what is going on here Mr. former District Attorney" the Judge stated with a gleam in his eye as he leaned forward and rested his chin on his steepled fingertips.
"Simply put your Honor, Mr. Phillips is wanted by the United States Navy for desertion. He currently resides in Mexico and under penalty of arrest, Courts-Martial, and confinement, cannot enter the jurisdiction of the United States" McCoy pompously stated.
"Mr. Forshett" The Judge stated.
"Yes your Honor?" Forshett inquired.
"For both the record and your professional edification, your client's present circumstances would qualify as a colossus FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUBAR" He stated which again brought everyone else present to tears from laughter.
Jack Boyle stood up as he wiped the tears out of his eyes. "Your honor, perhaps I may offer a solution"
"Make it a good one Mr. Boyle" The judge dared.
"The seized property could be transported to a point on the southern border where Mr. Phillips could take possession without having to physically enter the United States".
"I have no authority to demand that the funds be delivered outside of the United States" the Judge countered.
"Correct your Honor, the funds could be placed on a pallet or whatever, and deposited so that they were right up against the U.S. side of the border on a major crossing, such as a bridge." Boyle stated.
"That Mr. Boyle is a very logical solution" the Judge replied.
Frank leaned over and whispered something to McCoy, who then stood up. "Your Honor".
"Mr. McCoy" the Judge acknowledged.
"Your Honor, the New York City Police Department is not equipped, nor does it have the jurisdictional authority to transport the seized property to the southern border" McCoy stated.
"But the DEA does Your Honor" Boyle quickly replied.
"Indeed it does" the Judge stated as he looked directly at Saperstein.
Saperstein stood up. "Your Honor, the NYPD has custody of the seized property".
"That Mr. Saperstein, is something that I can remedy so, I am placing the following addendum to my Order. The New York City Police Department, shall within 24 hours subsequent to its receipt of the Court's written Order, surrender the seized property into the custody of the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, who shall with the aid, support, and assistance of such federal agency or agencies as it may elect for such purpose, transport such seized property to a point contiguous to, but in no instance beyond, the International boundary line between the United States and the Country of Mexico, at a point to be determined in the sole discretion of the United States Drug Enforcement Agency" The Judge ordered.
"Your Honor" Forshett inquired.
"Yes Mr. Forshett" He replied.
"Would the Court be so kind as to place a deadline as to when this must transpire, otherwise the DEA could hold onto my client's property ad infinitum" Forshett stated.
The Judge shot Forshett a slitty eyed stare before continuing. "It is further Ordered that the United States Drug Enforcement Agency shall execute the Order of this Court no later than 10 days from the issuance of this Court's written Order, which for the record, the Court will draft and publish to counsel tomorrow. Now, is there anything else that we need to cover?" He inquired.
"No your Honor" Forshett stated.
"Then this Court stands in recess" The judge stated before flying off the bench and out the back door and this time, the bailiff didn't even bother to order all to rise.
Danny caught a ride with Jack Boyle back to the Five-Four. As his tour was almost for the day, he decided to forego heading in and went directly to the parking lot to retrieve his jeep. At this time of day, he would just about make it out to Long Island City before 5:00 p.m.
Liberty Commerce Bank
42-25 Queens Blvd.
Long Island City
Queens, NY
4:40 p.m.
Danny pulled up to the corner of 43rd Street and Queens Blvd. Fortunately, there was a parking spot only two spaces from the front door of his destination.
Linda did all the family banking so he rarely if ever went to a bank unless he needed change, which he could get at any financial institution in Manhattan, or at any bodega for that matter. This particular bank was where Linda had established her accounts prior to meeting Danny and once married, he agreed it was best for her to continue that relationship.
He got of his Jeep and slowly walked up to the bank before he stopped. The last time he entered this branch was in January of 2015 when he and Linda went to refinance their mortgage, and while they argued with the manager who had declined their refinance, the bank was robbed by four former members of a United States Army striker team who were going to use the money to pay for an operation for their fifth member, because the Veterans Administration had dropped the ball and the poor guy wasn't being taken care of. As a veteran himself, this pissed Danny off but he still had a job to do so as a cop he solved the case and as a Marine, he went above and beyond and arranged for the damaged veteran to receive the medical care he required.
Danny slowly entered the bank and was greeted by the same officious manager who had declined his refi two and a half years before.
"Detective Reagan, how are you?" He inquired.
"Just great, thanks" Danny replied.
"And Mrs. Reagan?" He inquired.
Danny hesitated a moment before continuing. "My wife died in a helicopter accident last month" He replied.
"My God, I'm so sorry to hear that" he replied and if it weren't for the genuine look of shock on his face, Danny would have given him a verbal tune up.
"Are you here about your refinance?" He inquired
"No, our house was fire bombed by a drug cartel three weeks before my wife was killed so I don't exactly have a house to refinance" Danny dug deeper.
By now, the man knew to keep his mouth shut.
"What I do need, is access to our safety deposit box" Danny said as he presented the key.
"Of course, please, come this way" the now humbled manager replied.
"Linda would so chew me out for treating him this way but the prick deserves it" Danny smiled inwardly because even after Danny solved the robbery and the money was returned, the bank still denied their refinance application.
Danny was led into the vault where he signed the requisite documents which matched the signature he had previously provided by way of Linda. The manager inserted the master key into one of the two locks and Danny's key into the other. He then lifted the box out and walked with Danny to a cubicle located just outside the vault.
"Please, take your time and just let me know when you're ready to replace the box, and again, my condolences, your wife was a lovely woman" He stated.
"Thanks" Danny replied. "Just not lovely enough for you to approve our application you prick" He said to himself.
Once the manager left, Danny looked at the box. He never knew why Linda had rented such a large box when all they needed was something to hold a few pieces of paper but he had given up a long time ago trying to figure her out. He opened the lid and reached in expecting for his hand to go to the bottom and the documents he expected to find but when it grabbed onto a gun holster instead, Danny pulled out his portable flashlight and shined the beam inside and what he saw rocked him to his core.