Thursday, June 15, 2017:
Ciudad, Juarez, Mexico
3:25 p.m.
Sam hung up the phone, hiked his 6'4" frame from behind his desk, and walked over to speak with El Jefe.
"Just got off the phone with the Abogato. Court ruled in our favor. DEA has to return the entire 18 million dollars no later than 10 days from tomorrow" Sam announced.
"Ten days, why do we wait 10 days" Espinoza complained.
"Renaldo, the Court ruled your way so take your victory lap" Sam stated
"So where are they bringing the money to?" Espinoza inquired.
"The Abogato said that the Court ordered the DEA to bring the money up to the international boundary, but not to cross over into Mexico, so most likely, at one of the border crossings".
"I want the money delivered in Mexico" Espinoza demanded.
"Not going to happen, the DEA will not cross the border, that's why the Court ordered them to put it right up against the international boundary line which is on all the bridges" Sam replied. "We will know more once the shipment is on its way" Sam concluded.
"Okay, I'll do what you say, just get me my money back" Espinoza responded.
"Aye Aye El Jefe" Sam stated as he snapped out a crisp U.S. Navy salute and executed a perfect 180 degree about face before marching out of El Jefe's office.
"And knock off the sarcasm or you may find yourself back in the Navy saluting your jailers" Espinoza shouted out to Sam's broad retreating back.
"And not too long from now you may find my size 13 boot so far up your ass you'll have my toes for teeth" Sam smiled to himself.
Thursday, June 15, 2017:
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY.
5:42 p.m.
Danny walked into the house, his right hand gripping a large canvas bank bag. "Dad home yet?" he inquired of his two siblings who were sitting at the dining room table.
"Probably on his way by now" Erin answered. "Pops took the boys and Nicky out for dinner, said he needed some GG time before they got to the point where they no longer had time for him"
"Like that would ever happen, they all adore that old tank too much" Danny responded.
"What'd you do, rob a bank?" Jamie inquired in reference to the bag.
"Emptied the safety deposit box" Danny replied as he placed the bag on the table and sat down.
"Looks kind of heavy, what did you two store in it?" Erin inquired.
"First of all, I never saw it until today. Linda's the one who handled the banking and what I expected to find was what you usually keep in a bank box, such as birth certificates, deed to the house, car titles" Danny replied.
"I don't think those documents would be that bulky" Jamie replied.
Danny reached into the bag and withdrew the holstered gun. "My Glock 26 off duty" he began.
"I thought you kept that in your lock box at home" Erin inquired.
"Didn't you report that to IA as lost in the fire?" Jamie inquired.
Next Danny began pulling out small box after small box and placing them in a particular order on the table. Then he withdrew official looking folders which he laid on the table. Finally, he pulled out the documents he has originally hoped to find including the title to the now destroyed family house.
"Go ahead kid, open the top one" Danny said while pointing to the largest box at the top.
Jamie opened it and his mouth dropped. "The Navy Cross" he stated in awe at the import of what that medal meant and what Danny had done to earn it. The pride he felt for his brother was immeasurable.
Erin reached for a smaller box in the middle of the pile and opened it. "The NYPD Medal of Honor" she similarly stated.
"Every medal that I ever earned in the Corps or on the force, I kept them in a box in the spare bedroom closet, along with those" Danny stated while pointing to the pile of official looking documents.
Erin picked up the top one and opened it:
The bold letterhead immediately caught her eye:
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
Washington, D.C.
"Its dated 25NOV04" Erin began.
"To Gunnery Sergeant Daniel Fitzgerald Reagan, United States Marine Corps.
"For your actions during Operation Phantom Fury, 24NOV04 at which time you exhibited conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, in combat with the enemy, that best exemplify the traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States of America. Wherefore, you have been nominated by the Commandant of the Marine Corps to receive the Medal of Honor on such date and at such time to be determined by the President of the United States. Congratulations Gunnery Sergeant Reagan, and then it is signed by the Secretary" Erin proudly concluded.
"My God" Frank stated from behind them, causing all three to turn to him.
"Yeah" Danny replied.
"Danny, if you had all of this stored in your closet, then when and why did Linda put it in your safety deposit box?" Erin inquired.
"I can answer the when" Danny stated. "According to the bank, she last accessed the box at 1:55 p.m. on the afternoon our house was firebombed.
"And the answer to why is because Joe had warned her what would happen that night so she removed your most important and precious items from the house before hand" Frank stated.
"My most important and precious items were her and the boys, I never cared about this, stuff" Danny replied as he swung his arm above his medals.
"You may not have, but to Linda, the actions that earned you this 'stuff' as you call it, is what molded you into the man she loved" Erin reminded him.
"Linda held onto all of this because if one day it was you who never came home, this would be all that she had left to show Jack and Sean the man their father was" Jamie stated.
"And what kind of a man is that?" Henry stated as he, Nicky, Jack, and Sean entered the dining room, having just returned from dinner.
Frank looked directly into Danny's deep dark eyes. "A true American hero, in every sense of the word" he stated with pride.
"Dad, what's all this stuff?" Sean asked.
"This isn't 'stuff' Sean, these are medals awarded your father both as a Marine and a cop and tonight is probably a good time for him to tell you what each one means and how he earned them" Jamie noted while looking directly at Danny who nodded back.
"I want to hear about them too" Henry stated but Erin pulled him away from the table before he could take a seat.
"Later Pops, right now Danny needs some time with his sons" She insisted.