BLUE BLOODS: RETURN TO DUTY
CHAPTER 3
Las Vegas, Nevada
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
9:30 p.m. PDT
The Big Man entered his hotel room at New York, New York and promptly collapsed on the bed.
To say he was exhausted was putting it mildly.
He had arrived into Las Vegas 20 minutes ahead of his quarry, and then only because Las Vegas Approach had given All Nippon Flight 8 the runaround that Runway 25 Right had been closed for maintenance, and would take a few minutes to reopen for its emergency landing.
The big jet came in as slowly as she could, touching down at 164 knots, she used about 12,500 feet of the available 14,500 foot runway to stop, her big twin Rolls Royce engines screaming as the thrust reversers pushed against the forces of nature to slow her down as her emergency air brakes did their best to stop her.
As predicted by her pilot, a landing in San Francisco would have ended with a wrecked aircraft and multiple losses of life.
Abu Jawan Al-Zebiri tried to escape by opening the front right door and deploying the slide, but had been tackled by two burly passengers who were not too happy about missing their connection in San Francisco. They promptly deduced who must have been responsible for the diversion and quickly took out their frustration on the unsuspecting terrorist.
The Big Man promptly took custody of a well pummeled Al-Zebiri and transported him to a secluded location for further interrogation by his team.
After several hours of questions and answers, he had what he was looking for and has sent his team forward to wrap up the remainder of the small cell that was operating out of nearby Phoenix, Arizona, that was in the midst of planning another attack on an unsuspecting day care center.
After an hour of sleep, he awoke realizing he hadn't eaten since early that morning, so a stroll through the hotel-casino was in order.
He inwardly laughed at the concept of the place mimicking the famous buildings and landmarks of the world's greatest metorpolis, down to the yellow cab cashier carts which rolled their way through the casino floor, and the security guards with their NYPD shoulder patches and faux "shields".
For sure his old man and grandfather would get a kick out of this place let alone his older brother who he wouldn't be able to shut up from all the insults that would be coming out of his mouth.
Figuring a healthy meal was out of the question, he promptly hit a true New York City landmark, Nathan's Coney Island, which after consuming his meal, he decided wasn't too bad but was nothing like the food served at the original location on Surf Ave in Brooklyn to which his grandparents had often taken he and his siblings on those beautiful Saturday afternoons of their youth, his older brother running ahead, full of unrestrained energy and looking for something to get into, while his sister held his hand keeping him close to her.
He scratched his chin as he thought how carefree those days had been, no worries about terrorists, or so much of the danger which lurks about today, then again he figured it must have been an even better world in the days of his parent's youth.
He recalled how his Dad and grandfather would regale he and his brothers with stories of attending baseball games at Ebbets Field where their beloved Brooklyn Dodgers played before turning their noses west and abandoning the faithful for the lights of Los Angeles.
To this day, his grandfather would not watch a baseball game involving the Los Angeles Dodgers, who he still referred to as "Those Bums" but for different reasons than he had over 60 years ago. To his grandfather, it was a cardinal sin that those bums were allowed to play on New York soil when they returned to the Big Apple to face the hated Yankees, or their beloved Mets.
In fact, most of his family rooted for the Yankees when the Dodgers were in town, that's how much animosity for the Dodgers still carried over from the days of his grandfather and father's youth.
He checked his watch and realized he better hit the hay as he had an early flight back to San Diego in the morning where he had planned to take a couple days of R&R, not something he often allowed himself over the years, but as he grew older, he realized it was necessary.
He drank the last of his Coke, placed his refuse in the nearby container, and slowly began his walk to the elevator, taking in the sights and sounds around him.
"Yep, a semi-decent knockoff, but nothing like the real thing" he thought. "Nobody would ever truly or successfully imitate the real New York City, or more importantly, real New Yorkers."
New York City, New York
Friday, April 8, 2016
7:30 a.m. EDT
Maria Baez entered the squad to find her partner already digging into the files.
He addressed her without even looking up.
"We got another one, white male, 52, worked for a white shoe law firm on Park Ave. According to his business cards, he was criminal defense attorney." Danny summarized.
"Maybe he didn't get someone off." Baez commented.
All of a sudden, a light bulb went off in Danny's head.
"I have an idea what's going on, but first, we have to go see my sister. Grab your coat." He said as he stood up and holstered his service weapon.
"Are you going to share?" Maria asked.
"Not yet, but I think this also ties in to what happened with my niece the other night." He replied.
Danny was quiet the entire ride over to the Criminal Courts building. He believed he had a big part of the picture but he needed someone to help him confirm it.
He had just pulled up in front of 60 Centre Street when he saw Erin walking his way.
He and Maria exited their Dodge Charger and Danny waived down his sister.
"Hey, what brings you over here at this time of the morning?" She asked.
"I have something to bounce off of you and if I'm right, I think you can help me solve these killings I've been working on, as well as why Nicky was attacked." He replied.
"Of course I'll help you, what do you want to know?" She asked.
Before Danny could utter another word, something caught his attention, and on instinct, he turned around to face the direction of the perceived threat as his left hand went for his weapon.
Before he could clear his holster, gunfire rang out and three rounds struck him before he dropped like a stone.
Baez pulled her service weapon and fired at the retreating vehicle as Erin cradled her brother, frantically screaming.
"Erin"! Baez yelled, getting Erin's attention.
"Call 911 right now." She ordered.
Erin reached into her purse and grabbed her phone.
"911, how can I help you?"
By now other citizens had begun running up to see what happened. A young man addressed Baez indicating he was a doctor and he kneeled down and began to assess Danny's condition.
"My name is Erin Reagan, I'm an assistant district attorney and the Police Commissioner's daughter. My brother, Detective Daniel Reagan has been shot in front of 60 Centre Street. Please send EMS, hurry!" She pleaded.
"We are responding EMS and police Miss Reagan. Is there anything else you can tell us?" The operator asked?
Baez took the phone. "This is Detective Maria Baez, Five-Four detective squad. I'm Detective Reagan's partner. The shooter was a male in a 2009 or 2010 gray four door sedan, possibly a Toyota Camry, partial New York Plates Alan George William and ending with a 5." She reported.
In the meantime, Erin was holding Danny and crying. "Don't you dare leave me Danny, I am not going to lose another brother you hear me? You are the best pain in the ass brother a sister could have and Jamie and I need you, your boys and Linda need you, and Dad and Pops need you, so don't you even think of going anywhere. Joe and Mom are nowhere near ready to see your ugly face, you hear me?"
Danny just looked up at her with blood beginning to foam out of his mouth.
"Love you too." He smirked as his eyes closed.
"Danny!" Erin screamed as her brother went limp in her arms.
Just then, EMS pulled up and wheeled a stretcher to the scene. The doctor who had helped out provided them his assessment and offered to ride with the paramedics to the hospital.
Baez said she would take Erin with her.
At the same time, Frank and Garrett were in the middle of their morning briefing when Gormley and Baker entered his office.
Frank looked up and saw the looks on their faces and knew it was something bad.
"What?" He asked.
"We just had a report of a detective shot in front of 60 Centre Street." Gormley reported.
Frank closed his eyes. He didn't need to hear who it was.
"Danny?" Garrett asked
"Danny." Sid responded. "He was there with Baez to ask Erin some questions regarding his investigation. Someone drove by and fired at him."
Frank looked up. "Likely?" He asked.
"Doesn't look good boss. There was a doctor on the scene who immediately helped out until EMS arrived and went with the bus which is on its way to St. Victor's."
"Erin?" Frank asked.
"With Baez right behind the bus." He answered.
Frank took a deep breath. "Baker, please notify Jamie that I want him to pick Jack and Sean up from school and head to St. Victor's. Find out where Nicky is and have a unit pick her up and bring her there as well. I think Linda is on shift."
"And your father?" She asked?
"I'll go get him myself." Garrett offered.
"Thank you Garrett." Frank replied as he got up and put on his coat.
"Your detail is out front and ready." Baker announced. "My prayers are with you and Danny Sir." She stated.
"Thank you Baker, come on Sid, ride with me." Frank stated as he went out the door, hoping today would not wind up a replay of May 15, 2009.
Frank and Gormley rode the elevator down to the first floor in silence, for nothing needed to be said.
While Frank was Danny's father, Sid was his former commanding officer and had worked with Danny for over six years until he was promoted to lieutenant and reassigned as the Commissioner's de facto Chief of the Department.
They reached the ground floor and entered the rear of Frank's official vehicle, known as NYPD Car 1.
As the black Ford Excursion pulled away from the curb with its lights flashing and sirens wailing, Frank looked over to the man who also was hurting at that very moment.
Gormley nodded. "I remember the night Joe died. Danny was working the late shift and I decided to hang around with him, it was either that or go home to a nagging wife. When he got the call, I was standing right there, I had to catch him because his legs turned to rubber. I'd never seen Danny anything other than angry or kibitzing, but at that moment he began to cry. I thought maybe you or his grandpa you know, but it was worse. I think as much as Danny loves Linda and his boys, nothing can hurt him more than losing a brother or his sister, they are all so much a part of one another. A part of Danny died with Joe that night."
Frank nodded. "Danny always made life hell for anyone who hurt Erin, Joe or Jamie. He used to joke that it was his job and his job alone to make them miserable and nobody better try and do it for him or there would be hell to pay, and there was. Danny beat the hell out of many a boy who hurt one of his siblings, especially Erin or Jamie, but Joe was also his partner in crime, and his conscience. When Joe died, it ripped a hole in Danny that he's never tried to heal. I just pray that I don't have to lay him next to his brother, because neither Erin or Jamie would want to go on."
Linda was working her usual shift in the Emergency Room when the EMS unit pulled up. As nobody had reached her, she had no idea who its passenger was, so when she noticed both Maria and Erin running in behind the stretcher, her legs turned to rubber.
"Danny?" She started to cry as she ran up to her husband. "Oh Danny, what did you go and do?"
By then the doctor had come out and pulled Linda away as he ordered the other nurse to take over and get Danny into the operating room.
Both Maria and Erin enveloped Linda in a hug as they let her cry, which is how Frank and Gormley found them when they arrived five minutes later.
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