"Ames! Where are those bleach wipes? Reina puked all over our bathroom!" Jake was trying not to gag as he cleaned up after his one-year old daughter who was now asleep on the floor next to their bed.
"Jake, I've got them, I'll bring them over in a minute, Carmen threw up in the other bathroom," Amy called out from the other bathroom. "How's your leg?"
Jake yelled back, "It's fine!"
After a few minutes, Amy came in looking exhausted and grossed out, the girls had both gotten sick, Amy thought it was stomach flu, Jake thought it was food poisoning, they had eaten some of Charles' cooking that night, but Amy pointed out they weren't sick, only the girls.
"Thanks," Jake grabbed the wipes and kissed Amy on the cheek, "This is gross, I mean strip club bathroom nasty, how does a little girl have so much puke?"
"I was thinking the same about Carmen. Are you sure your leg is okay?" Jake had his brace taken off a week ago, and the screws removed, just yesterday he was given the okay to start walking around, Amy worried about him overdoing it after nine weeks without walking.
"I'm fine, sadly, the exercises Yanick made me do worked. I still don't believe in exercise or physical therapy though, this is a fluke. Where's Carmen?"
"She's sleeping in her bed, I'll take Reina up to her room in a minute. I don't think it was a fluke, but I'm glad you're doing okay."
Jake smiled at her, "Yeah, me too. Are Charles and Rosa still coming over tonight?"
Amy nodded while picking up vomit clothing, "Yes, we have a case to discuss, I don't want to talk about it until they get here though, so even you have to wait."
Jake gave her his indignant look, "What happened to no secrets, we are husband and wife, Ames, I feel so betrayed, you're a regular Lando."
"I'm not Lando, and he turned out to be good."
"I'm still not sure, I don't forgive betrayal to Han that easy, but it still seems like you should share, I'm your husband, for better or for worse, remember?"
"No, Jake, I've forgotten we are married. Look, this is my decision as a captain, not as your wife, I want fresh opinions and discussion, I don't' want you to come in biased, you'll see soon enough."
After wiping down every surface they possibly could with bleach wipes, the house met Amy's lowest standards. Charles and Rosa arrived and sat down at the dining room table. Amy brought in about ten large folders, filled with papers and photos. "This is our case, it is big, it has been worked on before, some of us have worked on parts of it before, and it might be impossible. Doug Judy is out of prison."
Jake slammed his fists on the table, Doug Judy, the Pontiac Bandit, his friend and nemesis, he truly did like Judy as a person, mostly, but he was also a seasoned criminal with a rap sheet as long as Jake had ever seen. "How the hell is he out?"
Amy sighed, knowing Jake would not like what she was about to say, "He cut a deal, like he has many times before. He said he would give evidence against a drug operation that is also tied to at least five murders. The commissioner did not approve it, they went over his head and Judy was released. Holt fired Assistant Commissioner Clark for his part in it, Clark wanted a bust, but now Judy is out, and the evidence didn't stick, Judy fooled them, and warned the drug dealers about the cops. It was a debacle and is making the NYPD look foolish. Holt needs us on this, but it might not lead anywhere."
Rosa looked scarier than normal, "How does he keep getting out? Why do these people not look at his history, look how many times he screwed over Jake."
"Thanks, Rosa, nothing like acid in my wounds. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I don't know if I should be on the case. I want him arrested, but then I get taken in, I'm a lible."
Amy shook her head quickly, "you mean liability, but no, you're not. When Holt gave me this case, he predicted you would want to separate yourself, because of past mistakes, but he was insistent that you be on the case, you know Judy, you know his lies, you have lived his deceptions, you have caught him more than anyone else. We need you."
Jake sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "Okay, but I do not want to be lead or make decisions, captain, do not let me make decisions unless you approve them, yes I've gotten close, but that man gets in my brain and we turn into Bill and Ted, but cooler."
Charles and Rosa laughed, but Amy kept looking at him, "okay, that's fair, but you need to not hold back your opinion, that's normally not a problem, but you get quiet when you doubt yourself, so don't, we need cocky, crazy Jake, deal?"
Jake nodded, but still had a hint of doubt in his eyes, "deal. I can't believe he's out and that he didn't give the help he promised. At least when I dealt with him I caught other criminals."
Rosa looked at the files and slammed them down, "Any idea where he could be? I'm sure Holt already has all precincts aware of his old hangouts and garages."
Amy nodded and stood up, "he does, but he's sure Judy won't go back to those, he's been out of the game for a while, and I think that the reason he didn't turn on the drug dealers, who he knows and probably could have turned them in, is because he will need contacts and friends to survive this time. He knows the cops will be looking for him, he has to know Jake will be involved. He never really leaves New York, and from what we know, he might not even leave Brooklyn."
The squad spent the next three hours going over locations that Judy might retreat to that weren't on Holt's list and making a list of known associates and accomplices to Judy. Hold had let Amy know when she took the case that she was to use all resources on this, she was in the lead, her squad was in charge, but the entire NYPD and its resources would be needed to bring in the infamous Pontiac Bandit.
The next morning, Jake and Amy were holding Carmen and Reina, who while not throwing up were both weakened and docile, when Rosa and Charles arrived. All of the squad looked tired, but they all realized the importance of this case, and what it meant to Holt and Jake, who had both been fooled by Judy before.
For this case, Amy made the decision to have officers from other precincts follow up on the majority of the leads, Judy would be on the look out for Jake and Rosa specifically, so, the squad would hang back and wait until they were truly needed. The dining room table was their headquarters, pictures were placed on the wall next to it, maps of Brooklyn with notes and marks were placed over the windows, and papers were strewn all over the table, floor, and chairs. Rosa was checking in with all the precincts they had assigned to follow leads, Charles was getting ready to go conduct interviews at the prison where Judy had been, Holt had gotten permission to promise shortened sentences to any prisoner whose information led to his arrest, except for murderers and rapists, their sentences would have to shortened by the governor.
Jake and Amy were only half working as the girls were ill and they didn't want to pawn them off after having been away for over a month due to their injuries from a different case. Jake was singing songs to get Carmen to sleep and Amy was cuddling Reina, who clung to her and cried if she stopped, even for a second. Jake's leg was stiff, and he had to rest a lot, but he was glad to be up and useful, he was trying to clear his mind and not obsess about the Judy case, he knew that if he waited, something would come to him, he knew Judy, and Judy would make a mistake at some point.
Amy had a giant whiteboard brought in, they kept it in the dining room, and on the side, where there was still a lot of blank space, Jake wrote, weaknesses. Underneath this word, he started listing names and other weaknesses. Mom, Rosa, Pontiacs, Glory Hog, glowter (which Amy changed to gloater when Jake's back was turned), and Jake Peralta.
Jake kept returning to his list in between his different chores for the case and caring for the sick but still active Carmen and Reina. It was nearly four o clock, and he was staring at the list again, his mind kept fixating on a few of the weaknesses. Police had been watching his mom's house non-stop and tailing her, no Pontiacs had gone missing, and Jake felt the strong possibility that he would be the weakness to draw him out.
"Ames, sorry, Captain, come in here for second, please, I have a thought."
"Babe, we're watching our girls and still cleaning puke we find, the captain thing can just be implied, what's your thought?"
"I think we need to concentrate a lot of manpower on this house, I think he will come. He has in the past, he's come to us, even though we're cops, he didn't count on me being ready, but he is beyond careful about his mom's visits, he somehow does it without us catching on, but I'm different, he is obsessed with being friends, or at least gloating to 'bout his big old head and many crimes to me."
Amy looked at his list, and then she considered Jake for a second, she trusted him more than anyone, she had always trusted his instinct as a detective, for him to suggest surrounding his own house, something in his head was speaking to his gut, and he would probably be right. "Okay, I'll cut down the watch on some of his old spots, they have been fruitless and empty, we'll need everyone to be out of uniform, we can pay off some local shops and get out people in to pose as workers."
Jake nodded and smiled proudly, "that's some good thinkin' cap'n, we don't want to scare him."
"We also need to be prepared to close off the street in a second's notice. Do you really think he'll come here, after all that's happened?"
Jake nodded without facing her and pulled out his phone, "yeah, look what Charles just texted, I don't think he wanted to upset you."
Amy took his phone from him and looked at it, she scrolled through a series of pictures Charles had taken at the prison from Judy's cell, it was covered with pictures of Jake, all them with different things written on them, how could you? traitor, ex-best friend. Jake was right, Doug Judy was still obsessed with him, but now to hurt him, not just brag, in addition to the pictures, they had found a letter in possession of an inmate who was friends with Judy, the letter asked for help once he was out of prison to find Jake and pay him back for his prison time.
Amy had to present their newest findings to Holt, Jake was afraid he would take down their local watch and instead scour the city looking for him, but Holt was calm, he called Jake to discuss the matter.
"Detective, I want you to be careful, the one thing I worry about is if Judy outsources the revenge to one his friends, he is notorious for having others do his dirty work."
"Sometimes, sir, but I think in this case, he will want to do it in person, it's part of his obsession, this thing of us being best friends, I think he will want to be involved in whatever happens personally. That's what my gut keeps telling me."
"Well, detective, your gut, aside from being poisoned with orange soda and now being smaller, has reputation for being correct. I just ask that you use extreme caution, your life and the lives of your team and family are far more valuable than catching a criminal."
"Understood, sir, and I agree, also, you love me."
"Detective, do not be crass, but yes, I love my friends."
Jake smiled, "you admit we're friends?"
"Detective, I am far too busy to play games, of course we are friends, now get to work and be careful."
"Yes sir, and I love you too."
The next day, plain clothes detectives and cops were infiltrating the local businesses, the regular homeless men and women who took up residence near by were moved and given food and shelter and replaced by detectives and officers who looked similar and set up in the same places. Amy was given up to date reports by everyone involved, she felt confident, she doubted that Doug Judy could hurt Jake, but the biggest mistake any cop can make is underestimate a situation.
The next day, Charles came by early, he had been contacted by the warden of Judy's former prison that there was inmate who wanted to talk in exchange for a reduced sentence. The prisoner was serving a fifteen-year sentence for armed robbery, and he said his evidence wouldn't necessarily result in Judy's capture, but he knew his plans. Amy got on the phone to get permission from Holt and was soon given it and Charles was off to talk to the inmate.
Jake was getting the girls down for naps in his room, they were staying close to the girls with the possible threat of a known criminal and possible murderer coming to their house, when Charles called. Jake quickly left the bedroom and answered the call, "tell me what you got Charles."
"Well, Jake, it's not good. According to Andre, our snitch, Judy is serious about killing you, which is bad enough by itself, but he also bragged about it and talked to others about how to do away with a cop. Every person he talked to was told that he wanted to do it in person. Andre the snitch also said Judy was talking to several guys who were involved in kidnappings, taking notes and getting locations. He's looking for you, Jake, but he's also looking to do it away from your house, and he got help from his prison connections."
"Yeah, prison is great, treated poorly and lifelong connections with other criminals, the system works, for no one. Thanks, Charles, I have to let Amy know."
"Okay, Jake, and just so you know, Terry, Rosa, and I are all sleeping at your house until this is over, don't bother arguing Jakey, it's happening. Do not do this on your own, we are a team and I have a bad feeling about this."
"Thanks, Charles." Jake walked to the dining room, Amy was at the table writing in one of her notebooks for the case. "Amy, things appear to be going the normal amount of bad, Charles found out that Judy talked to his prison pals about kidnapping, so he might be planning that. Charles also said he Rosa and Terry were all sleeping here tonight, extra protection."
"I'm okay with that, I worry about the girls, part of me wants to take us out of here, but I don't want to live in fear and let someone drive me from my home, this is part of working from home, I guess?"
"Yeah, but don't get down, we'll be fine. Judy's not wasteful, he won't hurt you guys, he wants me, he's not going to go through all this just to possibly get caught for crimes he didn't need to commit."
The rest of the afternoon was slow and without incident, as the afternoon turned into evening, Amy and Jake could hear sirens going off nearby, Amy radioed a nearby officer, "What's with the sirens?"
"There was an accident, two blocks down, an ambulance hit a delivery truck, a few injuries it looks like. The delivery truck is weird, it says Songs to Smoosh By on it."
Jake locked eyes with Amy, this was Judy. "Alert everyone, this is Judy, that's a phrase of his, be alert, be careful, I want everyone to stay put, I think it's a diversion or trap. Have any officers moved from their post?"
"No, sir, everyone, wait, two of them are helping, but not taking out badges, just helping."
"Radio a uniformed officer and get them to help out and get everyone back to their posts."
Just then, Jake and Amy's SUV alarm went blaring off, Jake used the fob, but it didn't work, it wouldn't stop. "Amy, watch me, I'm going out to turn it off, this feels like Judy."
Amy had he gun drawn, a uniformed officer in the house watched the girls. "I've got you covered."
Jake walked out and as soon as he did, smoke came out of nowhere, thick smoke, he had walked into Judy's plan. Jake turned to retreat from the smoke when he was grabbed from behind. He was shoved into a car, that took off and nearly ran over a few officers trying to block the road. Jake was headed to meet Doug Judy.
Inside the house, Amy knew something was wrong, she could the car leaving, she radioed for the streets to be closed, but someone was away and it didn't happen, the car got away, Amy didn't know for certain, but her instincts told her that Jake had just been kidnapped.
