"Objection, your honor," Jimmy Riordan protested as he was speaking for his client in front of the court. "ADA Reagan calls for speculation."

"Sustained,"the judge agreed. "Ms. Reagan, you need to bring me more evidence, but for the moment the case is dismissed." The older man stated strictly.

"But your Honor, if you just give me more time, I will bring you the evidence that Mr. Romano is guilty not only of money laundering but also blackmailing." Erin insisted, however the judge wasn't willing to hear her arguments at the moment.

"That maybe, but for now the case is dismissed."

"You really are a piece of work," Erin hissed as she passed Jimmy Riordan by. She was angry that the judge ruled in Riordan's favor.

"Excuse me?" Jimmy inquired. "As far as I'm concerned, the judge did not find your evidence sufficient, so don't take your anger on me."

Erin just stopped in her tracks and turned around. This whole thing was just getting on her nerves.

"Why are you doing this?" She asked. "You know your client is a scumbag."

"Doesn't everyone have a right of defense?" Jimmy wondered.

"Oh, please," Erin replied in disgust. She was about to leave Jimmy added:

"What's your problem with me?" He wanted to know.

Erin looked at him in disbelief. "You serious?" She asked.

"I am." He replied. "You don't know me, but you don't like me." The young man continued.

"It's your clientele that makes me sick to my stomach, Mr. Riordan," Erin stated honestly.

"I think you live in a fantasy world, Miss Reagan. As lawyers, we often don't get to choose our clients. Besides, the world I live in is not just black and white, there is also a lot of grey, just so you know." Jimmy pointed out.

"Yeah, right," Erin laughed sarcastically. She was about to leave, but Jimmy stopped her.

"I guess, things must be pretty easy for you then," the young lawyer remarked.

"What that supposed to mean?" Erin questioned, not sure where he was going with this.

"I guess, it must be pretty easy for someone like you to say where the line between the right and wrong is, especially, when your father runs the entire NYPD."

"There is a fine line between that, Mr. Riordan. You want to play the devil's advocate, so be it. But just so you know, to me you are despicable." Erin told Mr. Riordan before she swiftly turned around and made her way out of the courtroom.

Jimmy just stood there and watched her leave before he shook his head and he too walked away.

***BB***

"Someone's grumpy today and it's not me," Danny stated cheerfully towards his sister at their regular Sunday dinner as he was taking the potatoes from Henry.

"Thanks, pops!"

The detective was glad that for once it was someone else who was the party pooper at the table, and not him.

"Could you just pass the potatoes," Erin asked irritated. She really wasn't in the mood for Danny's teasing.

"Come on, sis, what gives?" Her brother wanted to know.

"I just ran into that Cavazarris lawyer at the court," Erin explained as she took a sip from her glass. "Man, that guy really is a piece of work."

"You mean, Jimmy Riordan?" Danny wanted to make sure that they were talking about the same guy.

"And you are grumpy because he beat you up?" Her brother inquired with his mouth full of potatoes.

"I'm grumpy because that corrupted judge set his client free." Erin complained.

"So, basically you are grumpy because the other lawyer beat you up." Her nephew Sean added.

"If you want to put it that way, then yes. I'm grumpy because Mr. Riordan beat me up." Erin admitted her defeat.

"Come on, sis, from what I have heard that kid hasn't lost a case since he has finished law school," Danny tried to comfort his sister.

"I'm aware of that, you don't need to remind me of it," Erin hissed. "It's just that guy drives me crazy." She added angrily.

"You know what the problems is?" Her brother asked. "Riordan, he does everything by the book," the detective complained. "We can't really dig anything on him. But mind my words, he is how we get to the Sanfinos. He is their weak spot. Whether they know it or not."

"Careful, that might as well as end up with blood and tears," their grandfather Henry uttered suddenly from his side of the table.

"Come on, gramps, since when are you siding with a dirtbag like Riordan?" His grandson wanted to know.

"It was Confucius who said, "Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves," their grandfather pointed out what he had on mind.

"I thought it was really nice of him to safe that baby," Danny's wife Linda insisted.

"Oh, please, you're gonna make me cry," Her husband replied sarcastically.

Both Sean and Jack giggled at their father's words.

"Sorry about that. I had to take it. That was the mayor. What are you talking about?" Their father Commissioner Reagan apologized as he joined the family at the table.

"Jimmy Riordan," Linda informed her father in law. "Erin crossed path with him at the court this week."

"How did that go?" The commissioner asked his daughter as he digged into his lukewarm meal.

"I lost," Erin mumbled as she pierced her fork angrily into the meat on her plate. "There should be a law which would prevent mobsters to hire lawyers who attended Harvard Law School," she gritted through her teeth.

"Did you know your father just had a lunch with Mr. Riordan last week?" Her grandfather remarked towards his granddaughter.

"You're kidding me, right?" Erin gave her father a confused look. "Why on Earth would you do something like that?" She wanted to know.

"Well, once again, I thought it was really nice of him to save that kid's life and like I told your grandfather, it never hurts to have insight into the Cavazzerre crime family," the commissioner shrugged his shoulders, not really wanting to discuss his encounter with Jimmy Riordan with his family, because he still felt guilty that he was trying to use him.

"Did you find something that could help us bring the Cavazzerres down?" His son wanted to know.

"Well, not really, but I have learned a thing or two about Jimmy Riordan, and from I have seen I can tell that, in fact, Jimmy Riordan is a decent guy."

"Come on, dad, you can't be serious!" Erin cried out.

"I'm with Erin on that, we need to find a way how to bring that family down once for all," his son added.

"Could we, perhaps, get them for money laundering or conspiracy?" The detective turned to his sister.

"Well, not really, but maybe if you could trick them into thinking that we have got a solid case against them, then maybe they could confess," his sister told him her opinion.

"Trying to trick the Sanfinos?" Henry laughed doubtfully, but then he was old and wise enough to tell Erin and Danny how to do their jobs.

"Just do me a favor and leave Jimmy Riordan out of this," their father asked them.

"Come on, dad, since when are you on his side?" Danny questioned.

"I'm serious, leave him out!" The commissioner repeated calmly.

***BB***

"I was trying to find a report on that car crash in which the parents of Jimmy Riordan lost their lives, but I haven't been able to find any. Well, technically, I asked Baker to find it for me, but she didn't find anything. Not even a mention of it, and she always finds something." Frank complained to his friend DCPI Garret Moore.

"You sure that car crash happened in our jurisdiction?" Garrett questioned.

"Well, I'm not. That's why I asked Baker to dig into it and look beyond our archives. And nothing. Actually, I asked her to look at Jimmy's birth certificate, but the hospital it states he was born in doesn't have any record of his birth." The commissioner continued.

"Frank, it has been more than twenty-five years, perhaps, those files got lost," Garrett tried to reason with his friend.

"Or, perhaps, Jimmy Riordan doesn't even exist," the commissioner answered for himself.

***BB***

It was late at night and Jimmy Riordan was just about to get into his car and go home after a long day at the court. He was thinking about stopping by at Noble's and, perhaps, get a beer or two with his friend when suddenly, he heard behind his back:

"James Riordan, you are under arrest. Put your hands behind your back, and do me a favor, try not to do anything stupid." Danny told to the young lawyer as he was about to put his handcuffs on.

"You got to be kidding me," Jimmy uttered irritated.

"I'm not gonna repeat it! Put your hands behind your back so I can see them," Danny told him sharply.

"May I at least ask what are you charges against me, detective?" Jimmy wanted to know. He wasn't in a mood to go anywhere with detective Reagan, especially, when he knew that he will be out in few hours. He just found it a waste of time and completely unnecessary.

"Money laundering and conspiracy for starters, and second I don't like scumbags like you!"

"You really got to be kidding me!" Jimmy protested. "Is that what you and your sister came up with?" He was getting more and more irritated. He was looking forward to go me home and chill, and now he was facing several hours spend at the precinct. Maybe, he should play the commissioner's card? He thought for a moment. But what if it was Frank Reagan who sent his son to arrest him. He hardly didn't know about this.

"Hands behind your back," Danny repeated impatiently.

"Ok, ok, Just give me a second." Jimmy tried negotiating with Danny.

He just wanted to take his cell out and call uncle Phil to let him know what happened, but unfortunately he moved too quickly and made Danny believe that he might potentially pull out a gun or so. Danny didn't hesitate even for a moment and knocked Jimmy down to the grown.

"Ouch," Jimmy cried with pain as he landed on the ground. He most likely sprained his wrist. "What the hell is your problem? I just wanted to make a phone call." Jimmy told Danny before he threw him a punch. He was done being polite so he tried to speak the language he believed detective Reagan would understand.

But Danny was trained to fight not only at the Academy, but mainly in the Army. He Twisted Jimmy's hands behind his back a threw him a punch. And then another and another, until the young lawyer was begging him to stop. He was now bleeding from his nose and mouth. His left eye already forming a dark bruise.

"Jimmy Riordan, you are under arrest for money laundering and conspiracy. Everything you say from now on can be used against you. You have the right to remain silent." Danny read Jimmy his rights before he took him to the precinct.

TBC

AN:

Ok, guys, you asked for longer chapters, so I tried to give that to you. Let me know what you thought of that and where do you think this story is heading. I always love reading your comments and ideas, they are very inspiring and make me think even harder about story's development. Also, I got really good idea for a new story where Frank would be a single dad (after Mary has passed away) to teenage Jamie who would have hard time adjusting to his life without his mother. To make things even more complicated Jamie will be diagnosed with asthma and soon after he will get kidnapped. What do you think of that?

I hope you are all safe and I pray this craziness will soon be over. Special thoughts and prayers to our friends in US, Italy, Spain, UK, France and from other badly affected countries. We are relatively safe in my country, around 3200 active cases out of overall 8200, 288 dead.

Stay healthy and keep your heads up!