BLUE BLOODS: RETURN TO DUTY
CHAPTER 4
41,000 feet over Lebanon, Kansas
Friday April 8, 2016
7:30 p.m. EDT (4:30 p.m. PDT)
When the Big Man had called his office demanding an immediate flight to New York City, warning bells had gone off and an immediate call was placed to his supervisor, who made his own telephone call to inquire as to the nature of the emergency.
After the explanation had been given, he had personally put one of the agency's Gulfstream 550 jets at the Big Man's disposal, assigning him a co-pilot, as he knew flying the aircraft would help calm the Big Man down.
A flight plan was filed direct from San Diego's Lindbergh field to Teterboro airport in New Jersey, where a helicopter would ferry the Big Man directly to the Wall Street Heliport at the foot of Manhattan Island.
He looked over at the Co-pilot who was verifying their location, fuel burn, and remaining flight plan.
"Did you know that we are directly over the exact center of the Continental United States?" He inquired.
"No Sir, though the GPS unit seems to indicate we are somewhere in the middle." The co-pilot replied.
"We are slightly past the halfway point to Teterboro. Should be landing in about one hour and forty-five minutes." He remarked to the co-pilot.
"We have a tailwind of 9 knots and a forecast to pick up another 6 knots south of Chicago. Computer puts us in at 9:08 p.m. eastern time." The co-pilot advised.
The big man picked up the microphone and keyed it. "Kansas City Center, November 2 Romeo, can you patch me through to operations at Teterboro airport?" He inquired.
"November 2 Romeo, Kansas City Center, stand by." Came the reply.
"November 2 Romeo, patch complete. Go ahead."
"Teterboro, this is November 2 Romeo. Expect arrival Teterboro 9:08 p.m. Please have helicopter ready to depart to the Wall Street Heliport immediately upon my arrival." He directed.
"November 2 Romeo, Teterboro Operations. Acknowledged. Bird is being prepped and fueled."
"Teterboro from November 2 Romeo, thank you. Out." He stated, concluding the patch.
"November 2 Romeo, Kansas City Center. Contact Chicago Center on 132.8"
The co-pilot acknowledged the transmission and executed the handoff to Chicago Center.
The big man sat back in his seat, fighting off the urge to sleep for it would bring dreams he was not presently prepared to experience.
ONE POLICE PLAZA
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
Friday, April 8, 2016
9:00 p.m. EDT
Frank, Garrett, Gormley, and Baker had all returned back to headquarters earlier that evening all feeling the need to do something to catch Danny's assailant.
Frank savored that word, "assailant" because it meant they were not looking for his killer.
He knew that his eldest son was strong and at times, mean, which is what most likely got him through two tours of hell as a United States Marine in Fallujah, but most of all, Danny was a down and dirty street fighter, and he fought like hell to live.
After six hours of surgery, the doctor finally came out and as she did, Frank flashed back to a night almost seven years earlier when that same doctor….
ST. VICTOR'S HOSPITAL
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
Friday, May 15, 2009
11:54 p.m. EDT
Frank stared at the double doors which separated the Emergency Room from the waiting area. The hospital staff had offered he and his family the VIP waiting lounge, but Frank had refused. He wanted to be right where he was so that when there was news of his son, he would be right there to receive it.
He looked over to see Danny snuggled into Linda, their baby Sean between them, and their eldest Jack, leaning into his cousin Nicky. His daughter Erin was sitting alone, her arms wrapped around herself, soft sobs still coming. His father sat by himself, praying. And then there was his youngest, who was at Harvard University, blissfully unaware of what had transpired that night, because nobody knew what to tell him, or how to do so.
Finally, the doors opened and Dr. Keller came forward as she removed her surgical mask and gloves.
"Commissioner Reagan, I'm Dr. Keller, the Chief of Emergency Medicine."
Frank nodded. "How's my boy?" He inquired.
Dr. Keller nodded in acknowledgement. "I'm sorry Commissioner, we did everything we could. There was too much damage and he had lost too much blood. We pronounced him at 11:50 p.m." She replied.
Erin let out a scream which caused Danny to jump up and run to his sister, who began pummeling him with closed fists while shouting "no no no", as he held her tightly.
Nicky and Jack began to cry as well, and Henry let out a curse.
Frank maintained his best professional demeanor.
"Thank you and your staff for all their efforts. We appreciate all they did." He stated.
"I wish we could have saved him Commissioner." Dr. Keller responded.
"So do I." Frank nodded.
ONE POLICE PLAZA
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
Friday, April 8, 2016
9:20 p.m. EDT
Frank looked up at Sid, Garrett, and Abigail.
"The only thing that went through my mind at that moment, was how were we going to tell Jamie, that his best friend and big brother was dead?
"Thank God we don't have to think about that scenario tonight." Garrett stated as he went over and poured them all a stiff scotch.
"Amen to that" Sid replied.
Frank thought back to earlier that afternoon.
ST. VICTOR'S HOSPITAL
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
Friday, April 8, 2016
2:24 p.m. EDT
Frank looked around the waiting area. It seemed as if nothing had changed in almost seven years other than a couple of the participants. This time Danny was gone, replaced by Jamie, who held his sister while she sobbed, still bathed in her older brother's blood.
Linda sat with Jack and Sean, praying for Danny.
Henry sat by himself in prayer.
Nicky paced the hall, tears continually flowing.
Frank stared at the double doors waiting for the inevitable news to flow through like a sewer backing up.
Finally, the doors opened and a familiar face appeared.
"Commissioner Reagan, I'm" She began.
"Doctor Keller, Chief of Emergency Medicine, we met nearly seven years ago the night my son Joseph died." Frank concluded.
"This time, I'm happy to be the bearer of much better news. Your son Daniel is one heck of a fighter and he's pulled through." She smiled.
Linda perked up. "Danny's going to be okay?" She asked.
Dr. Keller knew Linda very well from the hospital so she went over and sat down next to her.
"He sustained three hits, all from a .22 caliber weapon. Fortunately, the .22 doesn't do much damage from a distance." She continued.
"He was hit in the left shoulder, no real damage, and in the left side below the spleen, minor intestinal damage. The third round hit however partially collapsed his left lung and did some internal damage which we repaired. The major problem we faced is that when he fell, he struck the back of his head and has sustained some swelling of his brain." She concluded.
Linda's medical training kicked in. "Have you placed him in a medically induced coma?" She inquired.
"Yes we have in order to allow both the brain and his lung to heal. We have him on a ventilator and he appears to be resting comfortably. We'll keep this coma induced for at least 72 hours at which time, we'll run another full EEG on his brain and a full CT on his lung." She replied.
"Can we see him?" Erin asked.
"Yes, two at a time and just for a few moments. After that, I want you all to go home and rest. He's in the best of hands." Dr. Keller advised.
"Let me take our sons first" Linda pleaded.
"Of course, he's in ICU, you know the way." She gently replied.
"Thank you Doctor Keller, from all of us." Frank nodded.
"I owed you one." She smiled back.
"Yes you did." Frank nodded, returning the smile.
ONE POLICE PLAZA
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
Friday, April 8, 2016
9:24 p.m. EDT
Frank looked out his window and noticed the sleek dark blue AgustaWestland helicopter heading towards the Wall Street heliport. He wondered who would be landing this late on a Friday night. Probably someone looking forward to spending a weekend in his city.
He watched as Gormley worked the phones, seeing what progress had been made by detectives currently assigned to Danny's shooting. It was getting late and he would most likely send everyone home at 10:00 p.m. so they could begin fresh in the morning.
Baker had returned to her desk and Garrett was working on the latest press release.
Frank decided he needed some privacy. "I'll be in my private office" he stated before heading into the sanctum sanctorum.
Baker was wrapping up for the evening when she heard the elevator bell ring. Nobody was supposed to be on the 14th floor this late and she had cancelled the cleaning staff until after 11:00 p.m.
She heard the elevator doors open and stood up to see who was approaching her boss's office.
When he came into view Baker could not believe her eyes and she literally collapsed into her chair, too stunned to move.
He continued past her like she didn't exist, and pushed open the frosted glass door that led to the Office of the Police Commissioner of New York City.
Sid was on his cell phone and looked up to see who had entered. When his brain synapse fired as to who it was he dropped the phone and froze.
Garrett heard the phone drop and looked over at Sid to see him staring blankly across the room, so he looked up and couldn't believe what he saw.
"Oh my God." He stated as he stood. "Frank" he yelled. "Frank, get out here now!"
Frank heard Garrett shouting and couldn't figure out what the hell was going on.
He opened the door to his private office and entered his official office looking towards the couch and Garrett Moore.
"What are you yelling about? He asked.
Garrett pointed towards the main door to his office at which point Frank turned and received the shock of his life.
"Hello Dad." Came the greeting.
"Joe?" He asked, not believing that the person standing before him could be the same son he had buried almost seven years ago.
"I know this is a shock, and I'll explain it all to everyone, but right now, I want my shield back and I want lead on finding Danny's shooter." He replied.
Frank couldn't believe what he was hearing and seeing. "You leave us for seven years, believing you were dead, and you just come back demanding your shield?" He inquired.
"I left to go deep undercover to protect my family, this city, and our country. I have no further explanation at this time. I've come home to seek justice for my brother, and hopefully reunite with my family. You can reinstate me or not, either way I have the authority to investigate my brother's shooting. I would rather do so as an NYPD detective and with your blessing, but my credentials as a Federal Agent will also work." Joe concluded.
Frank nodded as he went into his private office and returned with Joe's shield.
"It's retired. I'll have it reissued to you with new identification first thing in the morning." He frostily stated.
Joe walked over and hugged his father. "I'm sorry Dad, but it was the only way. Now, if you don't mind, I want to see my brother."
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