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Conference Room
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
2401 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Access Rd,
Arlington, VA 22202
"I suggest you keep that little hypothesis to yourself," Rick replies, "You never know who or what devices are listening."
"Paranoid much?" Kate scoffs.
"Your place is bugged," he says flatly, "As is your dad's, Kevin's, Javi's, Lanie's, the morgue, and precinct. Someone's also monitoring your phones and computers."
"You're serious," she looks dumbfounded.
"After Alexis' kidnapping," he explains, "Dad's CIA friends did a security sweep of my life and found a few presents Volkov.
"As a precaution, I had a friend secure all my places and electronics against any more gifts from dad's old friends. Dad was actually impressed.
"At first, I didn't have my guy sweep you guys, but I thought it might be a good idea now. My stuff is still clean, you guys, not so much."
"Maybe it was left over from Volkov," Kate suggests, trying to focus.
"Maybe," he concedes, "But dad told me what Volkov used was all from Mother Russia. The other stuff is all American made, high-end CIA level stuff.
"Also, my guy says no one's attempted to bug me since Volkov. I guess I'm not considered much of a treat. I think I'm insulted."
"My heart breaks for you," She snarks, "Was your guy able to trace who put it in?"
"Stuff's too advanced to just trace the signals," Rick explains, "He'd have to remove and examine them to have a chance."
"You left them in!" she realizes.
"And tip them off, Sun Tzu, Chapter 9," he then quotes, "Get hold of the enemy's spies and use them for our own purposes."
"Since when do you quote Sun Tzu?" Kate looks at him, confused, again.
"An old affliction, dormant until recently," Rick confesses, "Anyway, it's not like you were all working out any grand plans, were you?"
"You're unbelievable!" she seethes then sighs, "This is all so unbelievable."
"That's because you're a homicide cop," he states, "It's something on which you've always put too much reliance, I think."
"This again?"
"In homicide investigations," he continues, "You're the one investigating people, running surveillance on them. How often do the bad guys do it to you?
"You're not used to dealing with someone with his legal and illegal resources. It's a badge Kate, not a Green Lantern Power Ring."
"You make it sound like I'm dealing with a supervillain," Kate argues.
"Aren't you?" he counters, "Think about everyone who knew his identity and why they wouldn't tell you. Forget it. You'll never touch them, Coogan.
"Somebody you'll never touch, they'll bury you, McCallister. I might as well shoot you where you stand…Roy. Hell, Lockwood treated you like a joke."
"I'm tired of you constantly telling me how out of my depth I am!" she seethes, again.
"So am I Kate," Rick says gently, "I tried to point it out before, but you just scoffed pointing out that Coonan and Lockwood were dead but you're still here, and ready.
"Then, you followed up by saying, if they want a war, then I will bring them a war. Straight to their doorsteps. Remember how that went?"
"I remember," she admits grudgingly.
"Sun Tzu, again, never let the enemy chose the ground." Rick adds, "You survived because of dumb luck and Roy's sacrifice.
"Some might call it fate, but you don't believe in fate, and this isn't some TV show where writers can discard logic to have you win. You're not ready."
"And I suppose you are?" Kate says angrily and sarcastically, "Like using us as bait by letting us still be being surveilled?"
"We'll soon see won't we," he says simply, "As to the surveillance it'll, likely end once you get the job since you will no longer be much of a threat."
"What are you talking about," she snaps, "I'll be a Federal Agent."
"Yes, you will," he smiles, "While you're NYPD, his official reach is limited because of that pesky State's Right business.
"But Federal law enforcement has to go hat in hand to the United States Senate for funding and guess who always in their corner."
"You think Bracken set all this up, so I'd get this job?" she suggests not believing it.
"He's not that smart," he scoffs, "But once you're in, he just makes a call and saying he owes you his life, and you get a nice important assignment in L.A.
"You'll be alone and isolated as the new kid without Lanie, Javi, Kevin, or me to help. He'll neutralize you with breaking a single law."
"That's quite a reach," she tries scoffs unconvincingly, "Even for you."
"It's what I would do," he says in seriousness, "Because when your enemy is making a mistake, it's bad manners to interrupt them."
"More Sun Tzu?"
"Napoleon," Rick smirks.
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Office of Dr. Kelly Nieman, M.D.
Mount Sinai-Union Square, Plastic Surgery
10 Union Square E #2l,
New York, NY 10003
The attractive redheaded Plastic Surgeon stood motionless as a team of IRS agents secured her files, computers, her entire office.
She has an expressionless, emotionless look as her lawyer and accountant are speaking with the agents.
About 50 and dressed in an expensive dark suit, her lawyer, about 5' 9" with an average build and receding salt and pepper curly hair with matching neatly trimmed beard, shakes hands with the lead agent.
"I guess even a shark like Daniel is afraid of the IRS," Dr. Kelly Nieman thinks.
Said shark then starts heading her way as the last of her staff is just leaving after giving agents her contact information.
"Kelly is there someplace we can talk in private?" Daniel asks in his trademark Soft, gentle voice which he uses to great effect to hide his shark nature.
"In the consultation room," Nieman directs, "They're already done there."
"What's this all about?" Nieman asks, stealthily activating the voice recorder hidden in her pen, "What is the IRS Enterprise Corruption Division."
"Well, they aren't your ordinary IRS auditors," Daniel explains, "All of them have a GS-11 positions which gives them badges, guns, and powers of arrest.
"On top of that, this group is the ones the IRS sends to work on big stuff, like RICO cases. They like to describe themselves as the Cool Kids."
"How charming," she says dryly, "So, these Cool Kids thinkI'm Al Capone?"
"Actually, the agents didn't give me much," he explains, "But I made some calls on the way here and I think I have a picture of what's happening.
"I don't have to tell you the hit Plastic Surgeons took during the downturn between because insurance doesn't cover most procedures."
"I recall," she responds, "Dozens of my peers folded up shop."
"As with many cash businesses in trouble," David explains, "They got creative to survive and turned to money laundering.
"They'd claim payment for procedures that were never performed, equipment that was never purchased, and non-existent support staff."
"I get the idea David," Nieman raises a hand as a stop sign and says coldly, "I know they can't have any evidence against me, so why are they here?"
"You're right," he agrees, "If they had any hard evidence, it would be the FBI out there right now."
"Again, why chose me?"
"Something in their system flagged you," he recounts, "The agents won't tell me what and my neither can my contacts, likely some computer program.
"They will go through your financials trying to find any tax violations along with any evidence of malfeasance they can turn over to law enforcement."
"Is this what lawyers on TV call, a fishing expedition?" Nieman scoffs.
"But a legal one," David replies, "All their paperwork is in order."
"How long will this ridiculousness take?" she asks.
"A week, two at the most," he shrugs, "My contacts tell me they've gotten a lot of what you doctors call false positives from their system.
"And the agents have become adept at spotting them quickly. In the meantime, you'll still be able to operate your practice.
"Well, that is something," she replies.
"In the meantime," he continues, "I advise we cooperate, but don't answer any questions without me."
"Oh, don't worry Daniel," she replies, "I shall be on my very best behavior."
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Conference Room
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
"So, do you think I should take this job or not?" Kate gives a quizzical look, "Because I'm getting some mixed signals here."
"I guess it's unfamiliar territory for you," Rick replies, "You're usually giving them."
She just looks at him with a hurt a look.
"I'm sorry," he says genuinely penitent.
"Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned," she quotes this time.
"William Cosgrave," he sites, "But I'm not hate-driven. You're considering a life altering decision, and I just want you to go in with your eyes open."
"My eyes are open," she responds, "All you have is wild conjecture."
"True," Rick concedes, "It's likely Stack gave you the boilerplate recruitment pitch, but how much research have you done on this job? "
"For instance, have you asked Sorenson, Shaw, Avery, or any Fed you know about the Task Force or dug deep at all."
"Why do you even care?" she deflects, "You just said you wanted me out the way."
"No, that's what you assumed," Rick argues, "Still, I will admit it would be easier if I didn't have to worry about you. A man in love can easily lose focus."
"So, you still love me?" she jumps on the comment.
Rick says nothing.
"What no, snappy comeback?" she pushes.
"Of course, I still love you," Rick admits, "I loved you at the first Kate. I've loved you ever since. I will love you always. How's that for a snappy comeback?"
"Then, why are you breaking up with me?" she keeps pushing.
"You tell me first," he counters, "What's so appealing about this job."
"It's a great opportunity," she responds, "It's a chance to do more, be more."
"Remember what I said earlier," he then repeats, "Good police officers make lousy liars except when it came to bad guys…and too often, themselves."
"I'd think I'd know why I would want it," she argues
"Maybe," he counters, "Buy you're not saying the real reason you'd jump in so impetuously. That's me, not you."
"Since you think you know it all," Kate says frustrated, "Why don't you tell me?"
"It's not really complicated," he replies, "You can't get over your mother's death, and you think this job will give you what you need to take down Bracken."
"How dare you," she snaps, "This opportunity has nothing to do with my mother!"
"When it comes to you, Kate," he counters, "Everything has to do with your mother, but I understand. Now, I can't let go of survivor's guilt either."
"Survivor's guilt?" she asks, more confused than ever.
"When your mom was murdered," Rick replies calm but darkly, "Where you a few feet away? Did you see it happen? Did you see her take her last breath."
"Roy…" she says softly.
"Roy Montgomery helped raise me," Rick forces himself to stay in control, "But I let him go out alone to die because all I could think of was protecting you."
"And you blame me for that?" Kate struggles with what he just said.
"No, I blame me," he replies gently.
"There was nothing you could've done," she argues.
"I could have taken your gun," Rick argues back, "There was a supply closet there. I could've locked you in and gone out with him."
"And you could've died with him!"
"Roy took all of them out without me," Rick scoffs, "You've seen me shoot Kate, on the range and at people. I don't miss."
"And I then I saved his life," Kate recounts, "And just when Bracken was about be destroyed by his own sins, with no help from either of us."
"I don't blame you for that either," Rick smiles, "It's in your nature to save lives no matter who, and I was there, I could've stopped you.
"Now, he's a threat not only to us but to Alexis, my mother, Lanie, Kevin, Javier, your dad, and everyone one I care about…hell, my entire country.
"But unlike you for all those years, I know who, I now know why, and I know how to cut out the pounds of flesh he owes me and so many others."
Kate can't think of anything to say and just thinks. At that moment, Special Agent Diana Barrigan sticks her head through the door.
"Dee, excellent timing," Rick observes.
"Sorry to interrupt," Diana says in her Manchester accident, "But Detective Beckett really should get going. I'll be outside."
"Thanks Dee," Rick acknowledges, "Please give us one more minute then, you can drive Detective Beckett to the interview."
Diana nods, pulls her head back out and closes the door.
"You want me to go, with her?" Kate asks suspiciously.
"She knows the best and fastest way," he explains, "Besides, I'm sure you have plenty of questions and can't wait to interrogate her."
"That's not funny!"
"Oh, I think it will be," Rick begins to leave, "I hate to miss it, but I have to get back to New York."
"You're leaving, just like that?" Kate objects angrily.
"Patterson loaned me his jet." he explains, "I need to get it back, check in with 1PP, and catch up to an old friend."
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Author's Note:
William Cosgrave (1670-1729) was an English playwright. His 1697 tragedy, The Mourning Bride, has two famous lines though often misquoted.
"Music has charms to soothe a savage breast" (often misquoted as "beast").
"Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned," (usually misquoted as "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned")
There is something I should have mentioned earlier. Some reviewers seem to be to be too concerned with not knowing characters I pull from shows they aren't familiar with.
They are too focused on who is speaking rather than what is being said. I could have fabricated original characters, but this was easier for me.
I guess that's what's got me frustrated. Too many readers are focusing too much on who is speaking rather that what is being said.
In any story, there's a lot of supporting information that has to be given to the reader especially in a complex Fan Fiction where the writer has to account for divergences.
Some writers just give the information, laying it out plainly.
Instead, I prefer to provide the information through dialogue like a TV show.
And to anonymous reviewer, Blue Bloods fan: I'm sorry if my information was misleading. I was just pointing out some plot holes in Blue Bloods for fun.
There is no 54th Precinct in real life. Show runners use it and other non-existent precincts so they have the flexibility to put them anywhere in the city as needed.
In the show, Blue Bloods, the 54th Precinct is located in Manhattan for story purposes.
I only meant that given the sequence of number the NYPD uses, a 54th Precinct, if it did exist would likely be in the Bronx. You can go on Wikipedia and search for "Organization of the NYPD" they give list and the Burroughs where precincts are located. There is no 54th, 29th, or 12th.
Precincts 40 to 52 are in the Bronx. There is also no 51st. Manhattan is Precincts 1 through 34 except aren't precincts 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th, 11th, 12th, 15th, 16th, 21st, 27th, 29th, and 31st.
I also pointed out that Danny Reagan is repeatedly mentioned to be part of the Major Case Squad. That unit is only based at Police Headquarters (1PP) not at any precinct.
Sorry for rambling off like that before and now. 😊