The O'Mara brothers take a ride to Chicago. Title explains it all for you.
Road Trip to Chicago
25th February 2005
Manhattan, New York
It was Friday after school, Matt was walking out and noticed his brother Henry standing by his black 1958 Chevrolet Impala as he said, "Hey kid. How's school?" "It was good. You mind tellin' me why you're here pickin' me up like it's kindergarten all over?"
Henry grinned, "I figured you'd wanna get on the move to crash a reunion up in Cicero?" "I wouldn't mind to do that, what 'bout work?" Matt asked curiously
"I already had 3 days off. Don't worry, we'll be back just in time for Monday." Hank replied.
Matt shot a playful glare, "Better be." "I packed fresh clothin' in the back." "You armed?" "I am." Henry replied.
Matt hopped into the car as Henry added, "There's a piece for you in the carry-on." "Good enough, let's crash a re-union." "Let's crash."
Henry started up the car as they began to drive out of Manhattan. They drove through Pennsylvania and continued on through to Cicero, Chicago.
They checked into the closest Hotel as they arrived after 4am. They had to swap over so Matt could drive whilst on the road trip.
They hadn't been stopped so that was good news. The reunion for the Anderson family was happening on Saturday late at night at a strip club that the Anderson family owned.
They checked into the hotel under false names which were Joe Simpson and Giorgi Marcano. Joe being Matt and Giorgi being Henry.
Henry had complained, "Why'd you have to get Joe Simpson and not me?" "You look like Giorgi…" Matt teased.
"Wiseass." Henry replied before continuing, "You look like an Italian, because you've got Nonna Serafina's cheekbones."
Matt looked at his cheekbones before saying, "Thought I had Grandpa's cheekbones…" "Mixture of both, I think, I was able to compare 'em in their wedding photo."
Henry passed down their grandparent's wedding photo to Matt. The photo was of Matt and Serafina on their wedding day in December 1945, the pair had met each other during the war. Matt had been wounded during combat with the 2nd Ranger Battalion, Serafina was a nurse at the hospital in Paris, Matt had used his old Irish charm to woo the Nurse. To his surprise the jet black haired, blue eyed Italian-American beauty was attracted to the Irish boy.
He looked at the picture, Serafina was wearing the O'Mara wedding dress that every girl who was getting married into the O'Mara family would wear. It was a nice princess length wedding dress; it was very beautiful.
Matt I was wearing his dress uniform of the US Army, all his ribbons were in order, his best men were his best friends as well as his brother Mike who dressed in his Marine Dress Blues, Serafina had a brother who was a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne through Sicily till Operation Varsity named Giuseppe.
Matt grinned at the picture before replying, "You must be drunk to think I look like a mixture of our dear grandparents." "Am I? Or am I right?" Henry asked.
Matt took a second look at the picture before replying, "Dammit, you got me. But damn, they look cute." "They sure did, kiddo." Henry replied.
Matt chuckles as Henry cleans his pistol which was a Glock 17.
Later on, Matt was now cleaning his own gun which was a M1911 that his grandfather used, he was deep in thinking as he asked Henry, "Hank, do you still think about Dad's death?"
Henry sat up on the bed as he replied, "Not somethin' I think 'bout a lot, why?" "Somethin' had me thinkin'."
Henry looked at Matt and asked, "What?" "Outta everybody that had a grudge against Pop, I always had a gut feeling that bitch ordered Pop to be killed." "That's a helluva long shot." Henry replied.
"What if it was 'em though, Lindsey never wanted Leah, Dad loved her like he loved us. What if she ordered her to be killed because she saw us as a family that had stick up our ass, because we were better than 'em?" Matt asked. Henry had never thought about it so much, but in truth, he always suspected it.
"Not too sure, but I always had a feelin' that she'd woulda done somethin' like that. Plus, we're better than 'em, all they are is just a bunch of jailhouse assholes." Henry responded.
Matt nodded as he stood by the window, looking out into the distance, he looked at the pistol magazine in his hand he slowly loaded it into the gun pulling the slide back and it released, he put it down on the bedside cabinet as he stayed awake in his chair, he folded his arms across his chest.
The next morning came slowly, it was 0930, Henry and Matt had gotten up did some pre-breakfast exercising and decided to eat in the Hotel canteen, a hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, hash-browns as well as a pancake each.
Matt had picked up a bagel, as he stared at it before saying, "Bagels are crap, don't make 'em like they do in Manhattan or Brooklyn."
Henry chuckled, "Don't worry kid, when we get back, I'll treat ya to some bagels. Could use some of the good stuff." Matt chuckled as he said, "Henry O'Mara treatin' me to bagels?" "One-time deal, lil' brother." Henry replied.
Matt nodded, "Don't forget I'm in charge of your bachelor party." "As long as no strip clubs are involved, it's all good." Henry responded.
Matt nodded, "Deal, when do you want to go this reunion?" "Reunion don't start until 0630, it's only a 30-minute walk from here. We leave the car here and we drive outta here tonight, should make it back to New York tomorrow afternoon, hopefully." Henry detailed.
Matt nodded, "Good enough for me." "Better shit, shower and shave, kid." Henry finished the conversation. Matt nodded as he continued to eat in silence with his brother.
Afterwards, Matt headed upstairs to the room as he did some post-breakfast exercising, he started to punch the wall his boxing gloves as well as some sit-ups and push-ups, he did all of that for a solid 3 hours.
By 0350 hours in the afternoon, Henry was showered and shaved, he was wearing a vest, plaid shirt, blue jeans along with a pair of boots and a black cotton jacket.
Matt was dressed in a short-sleeved shirt, plaid shirt on top, blue jeans and black boots he even put on a black leather jacket as Henry looked at him and said, "You ready for this?"
Matt looked at him in all seriousness before replying, "Not really. Walking into a place that's goin' to be armed to the teeth. How'd you prepare for somethin' like that?"
Henry nodded, "I know how that feels. Baghdad and Fallujah, they weren't no picnics in the park." "Nor should they be." Matt said with content.
Henry nodded as the pair walked down to the car as they carried their carry-ons to Henry's car, they had put them in the boot as the brothers walked all the way to the building where the reunion was going to happen.
They walked up to the entrance as one of the bouncers stopped them, "Sorry fellas, private event goin' on tonight." "We're part of the event, I suggest you let us in, we're invited guests of the Anderson family." Matt replied.
"Why should I?" The bouncer asked bored.
Henry looked at Matt who grinned as he kneed the bouncer in the groin causing intense pain and discomfort for the man. Matt leaned in and said, "I suggest you let us in, or I chop you into little dog-treats, understand?"
"Head on in." the bouncer groaned out.
Matt patted his cheek, "Smart boy. Now, get outta here."
The man had taken off as Henry and Matt walked into the building as Henry put a sign over the door signalling that the building was closed.
"Way to be subtle." Henry replied.
Matt gave a half-smirk, "I'm persuasive." "I can tell." Henry replied.
The pair walked further into the building as they came up to main area and the bar-room. They headed for the bar as they turned to find the entire Anderson family celebrating and talking.
Matt laid eyes on Lindsey Anderson; she was a blonde with pink highlights in her hair for cancer. Matt admired her courage for wanting to do something in the fight for cancer and it had earned praise from him everything else about her, Matt was disgusted with.
Henry looked at Matt and said, "Looks like everyone's armed to the teeth, only handguns and some shotguns…" "No heavy stuff like automatics, then again in a family like this… Maybe they aren't all bad…"
Matt got smacked up the head as he said, "Alright, I might be goin' soft." "Don't worry, kid. We're gonna do this right…" Henry replied.
Matt nodded, until he saw Richie walking towards him as he said, "Hello Richie, you still hopped up on dope…?" "What are you two doin' here?" Richie replied in horror.
"Followed the yellow brick road. You and that bitch owe us some goddamned answers…" Henry snarled.
"Hey Richie, what's taking so long…?" Lindsey spoke and saw the brothers as she said, "Matt?!"
"You're lookin' awfully well for someone that looks like the cat got her tongue…" Matt replied with a smirk.
"What are you doin' here?!" Lindsey asked in fear.
Matt put his hands in his trouser pockets as he said, "You owe us a damn explanation behind my Dad, you and that coke-snorting prick of your brother Richie."
Lindsey's eyes widened in fear, the truth was going to come out and now her ex-stepsons were at her doorstep, she went to her back pocket where she kept a small gun hidden there as Matt pulled out his gun and levelled it pointing it at Lindsey, "You move an inch closer to the gun and you'll be breathin' through a hole out of your head."
Henry pulled out his gun and levelled it at Richie, "Same goes for Richie, ain't that right?!"
Lindsey bowed her head in shame as she picked up a shotgun and levelled it at Matt, "You always were so damn smart, you little bastard!" "Lady, you've got no idea." Matt chuckled.
Matt fired first hitting one of the guests as everyone pulled out their guns and started shooting, Matt climbed onto one of the tables and kicked a guy in the head picking up his Winchester shotgun blowing people away.
Henry grabbed another pistol and used his Marine Corps training to take down targets quickly.
The firefight was over several minutes later, Matt and Henry as well as Lindsey survived, she came out from behind the bar with her hands up as she said, "Don't shoot, I'm unarmed."
Henry then said, "Take the gun out of your back pocket."
"You were always the smart ones. Lot smarter than us all." Lindsey nodded in respect taking out a revolver placing it on the floor.
Matt picked up the revolver on the ground and walked back next to Henry and asked, "Why'd you do it, Lindsey? Why'd you hurt Dad?"
Lindsey looked in tears, "I just wanted him to leave the job. All it would do was get people killed. People like me." "Criminals. You coulda been somebody else. Instead, you follow the path you chose. There was no place in your world for a family like us." Henry said.
"Your father was always God's gift. He wanted to protect people and I couldn't let him just be that guy who believed in goodness." Lindsey replied.
"He kept Leah safe from assholes like Richie. Criminals like your family and liars…just like you." Matt reminded her.
"Your father wasn't the saint or hero, you thought him to be." Lindsey growled out.
Henry looked at Lindsey and asked, "What do you mean?" Lindsey cocked her head to the side and let out a laugh, "He didn't tell you boys? I'm surprised, yet shocked."
"What didn't he tell us?" Henry raised his gun angrily asking.
Lindsey just laughed, "He was a dirty cop, he had been in his patrol uniform…" she was cut off by Matt who began to strangle her.
Henry struggled to pull his brother off Lindsey and prevent him from killing her as he said, "Enough, Matt enough, stand down soldier."
Matt was pried from strangling Lindsey as he snarled breathing heavily, "You're lying, you goddamn bitch. You lie, he wasn't a dirty cop." "It's the truth, son." Lindsey smirked evilly.
Matt growled and tried to strangle her again as Henry held him back as he said, "Walk." "Hank…" Matt pleaded.
"Matthew walk now!" Henry angrily said.
Matt walked out of the room as Henry turned to his former step-mother and asked, "What the hell do you mean he was on the take?" "He was hanging around drug cartel bosses. Richie saw it with his own eyes." Lindsey replied.
"Too bad I can't ask him now; I know Dad wouldn't do somethin' like that." Henry replied thinking about his own honest to god father.
Lindsey shook her head, "Someone else knew, Reagan somebody. I don't know who it was."
Henry looked in confusion, was one of the Reagan family members really involved in something concerning his father? If so, which one was involved? Henry thought to himself, "Couldn't have been Danny or Joe. It had to have been Chief Reagan or former PC Henry Reagan."
While Henry was distracted, Lindsey took the opportunity to reach into 2nd back pocket where she pulled out a snub-nosed 38. Fitz Special revolver unknown to Henry's knowledge as she pulled it out of Henry's line of sight.
Suddenly, a gunshot rang through the air as Lindsey fell to the floor dropping the revolver, Henry turned around to see Matt with a smoking M1911 in one hand still raised as Henry saw the revolver in her hand as he was shocked, "I never saw that."
"Don't hit where the target is. Hit where's it's goin' to be." Matt recited.
Henry grinned, "You have learnt well, young one." Matt grinned in response.
Lindsey looked to see Matt as she said, "You learnt much. Your more criminal than myself." "Don't compare me to you or I will put a hole in your head." Matt threatened.
"Let me shoot myself, I've done horrible things to leave me scared for a lifetime." Lindsey asked.
Matt and Henry shared a look, "Why should we?"
Lindsey let a tear fall down before saying, "I never deserved to be a mother, you boys and Paul deserved to be good men, Leah was much safer with you than with us…"
"You know… for once you're absolutely right about that." Matt replied.
Lindsey took the revolver in her bad arm and shot herself in the mouth, instantly killing her as Matt looked shocked. Henry was surprised at the fact she killed herself. Matt closed her eyes as a sign of respect as they laid a towel over her body as Matt said, "Rest in peace, Lindsey."
"Rest in peace, Lindsey." Henry replied. The pair crossed each other and stayed with her for a minute.
The brothers walked out and headed out the back entrance as Henry said, "Ready to go home?" "Let's go, I'll drive home." Matt replied.
Henry handed Matt the keys as they walked back to the hotel parking lot and drove off in Henry's car.
The silence was uncomfortable for both brothers as Henry said, "Lindsey said that a Reagan might have known somethin' about Dad. What he might have been up to."
"You don't think Danny knew somethin'?" Matt asked.
Henry shook his head, "Honestly, I don't exactly know what's goin' on." "Dad wouldn't betray the badge, nor would he sell out his family in blue for drug lords." Matt theorised.
"We know as well as he does. Punishment would have been a bullet in the head." Matt added as well.
Henry nodded, "Disgrace to the uniform, criminal trial, wrath of the O'Mara family and our friends and a lack of respect from everyone."
Both nodded knowing full well of the punishment.
They had arrived in New York City after under 13-hours of driving. Matt had unpacked everything, whilst Henry went to go to sleep in the bedroom. But secretly, Henry had pulled out their father's journal and decided to look for some information.
He turned through the journal finding an unfinished log at the end. This one had then said.
"The only people that know this secret, Dad, Henry, Ma, the Reagans, the Cross's and the Miller's. I don't think God will forgive me for keepin' this from my boys, especially my young daughter.
There's been a lotta secrets in our family, any one of those secrets are ever revealed, it'd shake the very foundations of our family and beyond.
The secret is…"
There was nothing else there. What was the secret?
Henry didn't sleep a wink at all that night, by the morning's rise, he had hopped out of bed and changed into his red plaid shirt, blue jeans and a cotton jacket. He walked out the bedroom and made himself some coffee before driving, he still had some time before work.
So, he stopped off at the 12th Precinct as he saw Danny in the bullpen as he said, "Danny."
Danny looked up and said, "Hey Master Guns, what brings you here?" Danny shook Henry's hand as Henry said, "I need to talk about somethin' in private?"
Danny looked puzzled, "What about?" "As I said in private." Henry replied in his Marine voice.
Danny nodded, "Interview room."
The pair walked into the interview room as Henry said, "Took a trip up to Chicago for the weekend." "How was it?" Danny asked.
"Alright, we didn't get to see any views, but I found out some interesting info regarding my Dad." Henry answered.
Danny looked up as he said, "What about him?"
"Did you know about my Dad being involved with drug lords or had at least gone dirty?" Henry asked trying for an answer.
"Whatever you're asking, Hank. I don't know anything, your Dad was an incredible cop. Great police wouldn't even think about goin' dirty, he loved the job like he loved his kids." Danny replied.
Henry slammed his fist on the table, "Then why was he in uniform, they give him a reinstatement into the force. What don't I know, Danny?" "This all happened while I was a detective and you were a patrolman; I don't know what happened. All of that was above my paygrade of need to know." Danny replied pointing his finger at Henry.
"You don't think your Dad or your Grandpa knew about it?" Henry asked curiously. "Not that I know off, even though my Dad and your Dad were best friends growing up, I still don't know if they did." Danny replied.
Henry looked to be running out of questions as he said, "Thanks for your help, Danny, thank you." "I'm sorry I couldn't be much help." Danny replied.
"No need to worry yourself." Henry said as he walked out of the interview room.
Soon as Henry was out of hearing range, Danny pulled out his phone and called his Dad who answered, "What's up Detective?" "Henry knows, he's onto our knowledge behind his father's death and the circumstances behind his shooting in '92." Danny replied bluntly to his father's question.
There was a sigh on the other end as Frank asked, "How much does he know?" "He knows that we reinstated him and that he was playing dirty with drug lords." Danny reported.
"Does he know about her?" Frank asked putting emphasis on the word 'Her'.
"Unknown, but he didn't mention her, I think we might hafta to somethin' drastic, Chief." Danny asked.
Frank grunted on the other end, "We might still be in the clear, for a while, but I don't know how much time we may have." "Copy that, I'll talk later." Danny said ending the call.
So what secrets were hidden? Did the Reagans know something the O'Mara Brothers didn't, if so? What was it?
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