2nd Chapter of our mini-stories of Tales of a Father

Solving a Problem

23rd February 2005

35th Precinct, Manhattan, New York

Henry was sitting at his desk in the 3-5, he was doing paperwork. If there was one thing that Henry hated, it was paperwork.

But lately, he was behind on his paperwork and for the lack of there being no cases around, he just decided to do some paperwork so that he could go home and continue to read more of his Dad's journal.

Mark was looking at his long-time good friend and his partner, he was looking intensively at his friend who was staring blankly at the piece of paper in front of him as he said, "Trouble?" "Tryin' to think of what to write." "You always know what to say, good buddy." "Yeah, I know. Just wish I had been more up to date before I left for Iraq and Afghanistan."

Mark chuckles and says, "Preachin' to the choir, brother." "How'd you think Danny's doin'?" Henry asks thinking of their fellow Marine vet.

"Probably havin' as much as fun as we are." Mark theorizes.

Henry nods as he sees a dark-colored patrolman walking towards them as he says, "Somethin' wrong, Officer?" "Yeah, got a guy, who wants to talk to a detective?" "Okay. What about?" Henry asks collecting his gun from his drawer but stopping short of putting it in his holster.

The patrolman says, "He hasn't said, but he wants a deal in return."

Mark shakes his head and says, "He wants a deal, he tells us what it's 'bout." "He's in the box." The patrolman named Harris says.

Henry nods placing his gun back in his drawer and heading straight to the interview room where the patrolman had indicated to.

Both detectives had entered the room to see a shaggy-haired man sitting at the table, he had a full beard that had joined all around his face, dark brown eyes that looked hollow.

Henry then sat down in the chair folding his arms across his chest opposite the shaggy-haired man whilst Mark stood at the door blocking the window arms folded as well.

"You wanted to talk to us?" Henry asked.

"I wanna deal in return for the information I give to you…" the shaggy-haired man says, his voice sounded like he was from somewhere mid-west, Henry couldn't identify the accent however.

Mark then walks slamming his fist on the table and shouts, "TELL US WHAT WE WANNA KNOW OR I LEAVE YOU AND MY PARTNER IN HERE, NOW!"

Henry smirks seeing the man's bravado fall as he cracks his knuckles before saying, "It's the easy or the hard way, what's it goin' be?"

The man gulps as he says, "I have information, on a cop that was shot."

Mark's eyebrows raised as he said, "We ain't had a cop shot, so you must be high." "No, it was a cop back in '92."

Henry laughed and smacked the guy saying, "How do I know this is accurate?" "You don't believe me?" "No, because you might have bullshit comin' outta that mouth of yours trying to drag a cop's name through the mud." Henry replies with sarcasm.

Henry heads out of the room, coming back momentarily with a notepad and pen as he said, "I want the date of when this cop was shot. The address, who the cop was and whether it was blind luck or somethin' more? If you bullshit me, I will tear your head off and shit down your throat, got me?" "Crystal."

The man takes the pen and thinks about what to write, Mark looks over at Henry wondering what is being written. Henry and Mark found out that the man's name was Richie Anderson.

Mark left to run the name, whilst he did that, he noticed that Richie was a convicted man back in his home state of Chicago, Illinois down in Cicero. Mark remembered an old class trip to Chicago, but he didn't think much of it after that.

Mark began to look up known associates of Richie Anderson and to his shock he found something. He left the room heading for the interview room as he said to Henry, "He done with the intel?"

Richie replied, "Yeah, I just finished now." "Alright. Would you like anythin' to drink… or eat for that matter?" Henry asked.

Richie nodded and asked for a burger, Henry nodded as he said, "Alright." The two detectives exited the room as Mark said, "Now that you think 'bout it is lunchtime. I'll go get us some chow." "Thanks." Henry replied.

10 minutes later, Mark returns as he gives Richie his lunch as they sit to eat their own bit of lunch themselves.

Mark looked over the information as he stared at the date that had said, 'July 9th 1992.' The address had also been located outside the Manhattan D.A.'s office as he said, "Somethin' 'bout this date is familiar but I can't put my finger on it. Any theories?"

Henry had finished eating his burger as he wiped his hands taking a look at the date as he said to himself, "Son of a bitch."

Mark looked at him weirdly before asking, "What is it?" "July 9th 1992. It's the day, Dad got shot."

Mark looked at him as he said, "Oh shit, Hank. I forgot…" "Don't apologize, it's a sign of weakness." "Still remember the day Uncle Charlie and Lieutenant O'Mara came to haul our asses down to NY Presbyterian."

Henry nodded, "That was a pisser for everybody. Still remember the look on Dad's face when he was told he couldn't be a cop anymore."

Mark then added, "Remember your mother's expression." "That bitch wasn't my mother or Matt's mother to begin with." Henry remarked coldly thinking about his step-mother.

Lindsey Anderson was Paul O'Mara's second wife, she was born in Chicago, she was a girl who didn't understand the job and life of being a cop's wife, it was down-heartening for his family. She tried to fit in with the O'Mara family but to their displeasure found it difficult to adjust to Paul's second wife.

There had been a lot of unpleasant rumours about Lindsey and nobody wanted to address them in any seriousness. On the other hand, only one thing came good from the relationship which had been Lindsey and Paul's young daughter Leah. Both Matt and Henry had taken Leah in and helped to raise her.

After Leah was born, Lindsey seemed to drift away from her daughter and the O'Mara's for unknown reasons.

Henry then said, "Only one good thing came out of it and Leah was that." "You and Matt did everythin' right. So did your grandparents and your Dad." "Uncle Hank and Aunt Maria too." Henry's voice broke.

Henry looked up clearing his throat saying, "What'd we get on Richie Anderson?" "Yeah, I made the call down to the Chicago P.D., this guy's a sociopath. Killed 5 people and promoted prostitution, known member of a supremacist crew." "How in the name of the almighty, did that redneck asswipe skate on those charges?"

Mark shrugged saying, "If I had answers, none of 'em woulda made sense, I guess it had somethin' to do with a pile of cash and plea bargains made."

Henry nodded as he said, "That asshole ain't goin' to be let loose in my city. I'm headed for the DA's office."

Mark nodded and asked, "Need me to do anythin'?" "Talk to somebody in the other squads, Vice, Narcotics, Organised Crime…" "Homicide and Burglary, you got it." "Try and see if this pissant is on their radars." Henry replied picking his gun up from the drawer.

Henry walked down the steps heading to the car and he got inside driving to the Manhattan DA's office.

He walked inside the building as he said, "Excuse me, Detective Henry O'Mara. Is DA Erin Reagan here? Or another ADA I can talk to?"

The man at the desk looked and said, "Councillor Reagan's in her office, but she's leavin' in 20 minutes." "Thank you."

Henry walked up the steps of the DA's office as he walked down to Erin's office, he knocked on the door and said, "Councillor, is there a chance I can talk." "I always have time, Detective O'Mara, how are you?"

Henry replied with his usual grin, "I'm alright, it's the others."

Erin rolled her eyes and said, "Quit tryin' to be a wiseass." "Well your brother rolled off on me plus me and him were best friends until I moved to Manhattan." "Your Mom was an amazing woman." "She had it all." Henry said remembering his dear mother.

Erin then asked, "Obviously, you didn't come down to reminisce, so what's up?" "Richie Anderson, you obviously got Mark's text." "He alerted me that he had information on a cop who was shot in '92, your old man outside this very courthouse."

Henry nodded and added, "9mm, in his left leg, shoulda been a simple return to duty. Instead he got hauled outta the NYPD on his ass."

Erin folded her arms and asked, "What does your brother know 'bout your Dad?" "Only that Dad became a radio engineer when he was in fact… a private eye working outta Manhattan."

Erin then asked, "Does Matthew know that?" "I don't know. But if I know my brother, he's a sharp kid, but he ain't stupid." "I know what your family is. They're Irish Blue Bloods. Your family is the whole deal, served in the Marines and the Army and made their bones in the NYPD but they have trigger fingers and a quicker draw."

"O'Mara rule number 3: Always have your gun close and a round chambered." Henry recited.

Erin laughed as she said, "O'Mara's and their rules." "Honor, Courage and Commitment and Family." Henry said.

Erin nodded and said, "Richie Anderson, she was your step-mother's brother." "She or that asswipe ain't our family. If that witch was behind our own Pop gettin' shot… She owes my lil' brother a damn explanation."

Erin nods and replies, "I get that. This is personal to you and your family. Don't go down the path that'll get you killed." "I've risked my life for God, City and Country, this time… I'm doin' this to help my brother." Henry replied as he walked out of the room and back to his precinct.

By the end of shift, Henry had gotten into his car, it was a 1958 Black Chevrolet Impala given to him by his Maternal Grandfather Peter Kelly for his 16th birthday.

Henry had dearly loved classic cars, like his own brother. Mark was more technological deciding to drive a Pickup truck which he saved up using his pension from when he had gotten back from the Marines. Matt had been heavily tempted by Mark, and Henry jokingly threatened to kick Mark's ass if Matt was converted.

Henry had arrived at the apartment as he walked up the steps. His own brother was working tonight with Ray in the soup kitchen as part of volunteering. Henry had the apartment to himself, he would have gone over to Abbie's for dinner but she was working all night.

Henry had ordered some pizza from the shop across the street from his apartment and had eaten his half of the pizza saving the other half for his kid brother, he spied his father's journal and began to look for the correct journal entry to which he had found which was dated 1 year later after July 13th 1992.

"Certain words come to mind of the present situation that I find myself in, Betrayal, distrust, disloyal and dishonesty. In the O'Mara family, there is only honor, loyalty, integrity and respect. Ever since we immigrated from Dublin, Ireland, those are the values we've held to the highest expectations and standards.

I've made some mistakes in my life, the only that I can think of describes what I will tell you:

My 'wife' Lindsey betrayed the very trust that I kept to her, she screwed her own cousin, told her brother to shoot me in the leg and made the doctor lie to me that I couldn't return to duty. What type of person would do that to the person they swore to love forever?

I couldn't breathe nor could I focus. I asked Mom, Dad, Hank and Maria to look after the boys and Leah for me. I headed out to the Hamptons going to a hotel by the sea. It was the only place in New York that I'd be able to recuperate and try to bring stability to the world that is now crashing down all around me.

I ask myself what I'll do now, now that I'm not a cop. I'm not goin' back to the Army. I've given enough for God and Country. I've regularly thought about it and I guess bein' a Private Eye is a second choice, plus it keeps me close to being a cop. I've got a lotta training.

Dad's still tryin' to fight to get me reinstated so too is my brother Hank, so is Henry Reagan as well. I'm grateful that they're doin' everything they can. Even if it might be a lost cause for me. They won't give up. Failure is not an option in the O'Mara creed."

Henry takes a look at the beer next to him as he slowly drinks from it, his own 'step-mother' betrayed his own father and stabbed him in the back ordering a hit out on him. It made his heart break knowing the truth that had been concealed from him about the fact his father's shooting was hidden in mystery.

He had known all along about his father's work as a private eye, he knew it was dangerous work, he knew his Dad wanted to stay close to investigative work even though he weren't a detective.

Soon the door opened as he saw Matt who said, "Hey." "Hey, you alright?"

Henry nodded, "Yeah. Pizza's in the microwave, all you gotta do is heat it up." "Whaddya order?" "Deep-Dish." "Thanks brother." Matt fist-bumped Henry.

Matt had put his half of the pizza slices on the plate as he put it in for a minute, it was soon done as he began to eat it as he saw Henry reading his father's journal as he said, "Dad's journal?" "Yeah, thought I'd find some answers to somethin'." "Like what?"

Henry hesitantly took a breath before he said, "Dad's shooting in '92." "When he got kicked off the force." "Yeah." "What was Pop like… when he couldn't be a cop again?" Matt asked with the same hesitance in his voice.

Henry replied, "He was angry, he denied it a lot, it mattered to him, so did being a soldier, his family, Mom and Leah too."

Matt nodded, "I remember, he was just angry. A year later, he just up and left us with Nonna and Grandpa, Uncle Hank and Aunt Maria, not that I was disappointed, I loved Nonna and Grandpa, just wished that Pop was there when I needed it."

Matt loved Serafina and Maria when he was growing up, even when his mother died, Serafina and Maria had become mother-figures towards him, he had especially loved that fact.

Matt then asked, "What did Dad do after he couldn't be a cop again?" "You know he was a radio engineer." Henry explained.

Matt rolled his eyes and replied, "Quit pullin' wool over my eyes, I knew he was a detective."

Henry was shocked as he said, "How long did you know?!" "I'm an O'Mara, Henry. I wasn't born goddamn yesterday. I've known since I was 7." Matt replied with anger.

Henry was taken aback as he said, "Look, I didn't wanna worry you, okay?" "I get that, you didn't wanna worry me over the fact that Dad coulda gotten killed doin' PI work. I get that." "Glad you're understanding."

Matt laughed as he said, "So who did really order Dad's shootin'?" "Turns out, it was the wicked witch herself."

Matt scoffed before saying, "Why don't that surprise me? She's hated the fact that Dad was a cop. She never fitted in with us." "Cold fact. She never really did." Henry replied.

Soon the phone rang as Henry walked over to answer it, "Hello, who is this, please?" Henry listened to the other end of the phone as he nodded forming a serious face, he nodded a few more times before saying, "Thank you, very much. I owe ya." He ended the call and walked back to Matt before saying, "Turns out Richie Anderson is being sent back to Cicero." "He shot our Dad, what the hell?" "Not enough evidence to convict him, trust me, they tried but it was out of their hands, DA expedited him back to Chicago."

Matt muttered before saying, "Crying out loud. Why do this to us?" "I don't know." "Now what?" "Still don't mean, we get a little payback of our own."

Henry formed a little grin on his face as Matt said, "Oh no, why do I get the feelin' we're goin' to need a lotta guns?" "Anderson family has got their usual reunion party this weekend, right?"

Matt nodded, "Yeah, down at a strip club of all places. All because that family was a bunch of violent criminals." "Wanna take a ride to Chicago?" "Only if we promise ourselves never to go there again." "I can live with that." Henry replied.

Henry and Matt head for Cicero, Chicago for the weekend but they have an agenda of their own to find answers to their father's shooting.