Chapter 1

Major Case Squad

54th Precinct.

Danny Reagan walked into his squad room with a huff realizing that this particular case was going to be one of those cases. Walking over to his desk he sat down in his chair with a little bit of force.

"Canvass didn't go well Reagan." Baez asked without even looking up from the paperwork that is on her desk.

"No. This guy was killed in the one blind spot of all of New York's surveillance cameras." Danny in a sarcastic tone. He looked over to his partner. "What's that?"

"Preliminary autopsy on John Doe. Cause of death was a 45 caliber to the head. No marks indicating drug use or tattoos." Baez replied handing over the report. "They are running fingerprints through the system. Coroner also places the time of death between 4 and 5 this morning."

"Great, and if the prints don't come up in the system, this one may turn into a cold case." Danny answered handing the report back over. He hated cold cases, because it felt to him that the victim was not getting justice. He needed a reassuring voice and called a number. "Hey hon."

"Hey Danny, are you ok?" Linda Reagan ask from home. She was still on medical leave from the shooting. Despite the incident, she remained upbeat, and the energy became infectious for her family and friends. Danny and Linda had volunteers from Linda's hospital willing to help out around the house for them, and they appreciated all the help they got.

"Yeah babe, just needed to hear your voice." Danny answered his wife's question.

"One of those cases?"

"One of those cases."

"You'll crack it Danny, most of the time you do." Linda reassured her husband. She knew what happens when cases that are particularly tough for Danny, she always did her best to help ease his mind.

"Thanks babe, I need that." Danny replied. He saw Baez get handed a folder. "Hey got to go. Love you."

"Love you more."

"Love you most." Danny said finishing the call as Baez opened the folder. "What you got there partner?"

"Fingerprints came back on our John Doe. Name is Trevor Williams and lives in the area of 121st street." Baez told Danny.

"What was he in the system for?" Danny asked.

"Armed Forces data base." Baez replied handing over the file. "Air Force, got out ten years ago, and moved back to his mom's apartment."

"Great. Let's go pay a visit to dear old mom and break the bad news." Danny answered grabbing the file and moving towards the exit with Baez right behind him.

It took them 20 minutes to get to the complex and another five to walk up the 6 flights to the floor on which the apartment was located. Danny and Baez took opposite sides of the door. Baez covered the peephole while Danny knocked.

"NYPD open up." Danny said loud enough so he could be heard. He heard the locks open on the door and a male face appear in the doorway. "Detectives Reagan and Baez sir, can we please come in."

The door opened wide and the white male let the detectives in. Baez motion for the male to lead on. "Isn't is this Trevor Williams mom's address?"

"It was her apartment until she died of cancer five years ago." The male said sitting down.

"So who are you sir?" Danny asked taking a seat on a chair.

"Fred Nicholson."

"What is your relation to Trevor Williams if you don't mind me asking?" Baez asked.

"He's my boyfriend. We live together." Fred answered. "Can I ask what this is about?"

"We found a body in Riverside Park, and fingerprints match your boyfriend." Danny told Fred. He saw the shock on Fred's face.

"Oh God." Fred said in shock. He got up and walked around for a minute. "He gets up early in the mornings for a run before beginning a 6am shift at a nursing home."

"Do you have something like a brush or toothbrush that we can just confirm with DNA?" Baez asked politely.

"Sure I will be right back." Fred said going towards one of the rooms.

Danny walked around the apartment looking at some of pictures on the wall. One caught his attention and he pulled it down to look at it. It was a picture of a Middle Eastern female with the victim. Danny saw Fred come back in and hand Baez a toothbrush. "Mr. Nicholson, who is this?"

"That is Adara Hassan. She's Trevor's best friends since grade school." Fred replied. "I don't know her all that well."

"Where were you this morning Fred?" Baez asked?

"At my law firm till about 3 I guess. We were going on vacation as soon as Trevor got home. So I was wrapping up some last minute work." Fred replied to the question handing over a card.

"Okay, Thank you for your time, and sorry for your loss." Danny said shaking Fred's hand. Baez did the same and led them out of the apartment. As soon as he heard the door close. "Do you believe any of that partner?"

"Nope." Baez replied.

"Me neither."

Little Italy.

Eddie and Jamie were on their second leg on their designated area of patrol. Jamie looked out across the neighbor looking for any signs of the robbery crew. Eddie looked over at her partner.

"Jamie what is with you?" Eddie asked while driving.

"What do you mean?" Jamie replied still looking out the window.

"You haven't said five words in the last hour and half." Eddie told him pulling the cruiser to the stop at a red light. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, just got a lot on my mind." Jamie replied. He looked over towards his partner. "I'm fine."

"Well if you say so, but you are definitely are less talkative." Eddie replied moving the car forward.

A minute later, Jamie turned his head. "Whoa Jenko, pull over to the side of the over there. Something is going on in the alley we just past."

"You see something?" Eddie asked pulling the car over to the side.

"Maybe. Go up and block the alley from the street opposite from this end." Jamie said to Eddie who nodded. Jamie got out of the cruiser and reached for his radio. "12-David to Central."

"Central to 12-David go ahead." Dispatcher replied.

"Possible 10-10 November my location." Jamie told dispatch giving the name of the street. "Request two additional units to assist. Have one contact 12-David Juliet for position."

"10-4"

Jamie peeked around the corner of the alley and observed 4 males and a blue Chevy van. Two of the males where standing outside the van, while two were inside the van showing what appeared to be narcotics. One of the additional units arrived and to his surprise it was Kira Walsh and her partner Daniel Banks. They parked their cruiser just on the other side of the alley.

"Reagan what do we have?" Walsh asked as they took up positions on the opposite side of Jamie.

"Four suspects and a blue Chevy van that appears to have narcotics inside." Jamie replied. He peeked around the corner again.

"12-David Romeo, we are all set on this side." Eddie called on the radio to Jamie.

"10-4, come on in the alley in about five seconds with the vehicles." Jamie called on the radio.

"10-4"

"Walsh you and your partner follow me down the alley." Jamie told the duo who nodded. A small crowd was gathering nearby in response to the police being there. "Now."

The trio moved quickly down the alley weapons at the ready. "NYPD nobody move."

Two of the four men hit the ground at the response while the people in the van tried to drive out the other end of the alley, but found their path blocked by Eddie, Rigatti, and Sanchez. They put their hands up.

"Reach outside with your hand, and open the door." Eddie ordered. As soon the door opened, she ordered them out of the van and proceeded to cuff them. She then walked over to Jamie. "Pretty ballsy Reagan. What made you suspicious?"

"No restaurants, or regular stores. Just a hunch." Jamie replied as they picked up one of the men off the ground and placed him in a cruiser. Additional units had arrived to set up a peritimer while crime scene began to process the van and surrounding area. "Come on Janko, let's go gets guys booked."

They arrived back at the precinct 20 minutes after leaving the scene and led their arrest inside. They found Sergeant Renzullli inside waiting for them.

"Good job you two, and to Walsh, Banks, Regatti, and Sanchez." Sgt. Renzulli told Eddie and Jamie. He handed over a print out. "These jokers have a record of small time dealing, but with what you caught them with them, they are looking at major time."

"Good instinct Reagan." Eddie said punching Jamie in the shoulder. She walked towards the desk to begin filling out the paperwork. "First rounds on you tonight."

"I'm going to give you the money to buy it, but I'm heading home after tour." Jamie announced to her.

"Why?" Eddie asked coming back towards Jamie.

"Just have to have a night of clear thinking." Jamie told her passing over a couple twenties to her. He would have loved to go out with her, but he really needed the night. "Trust me."

"I do, you just shocked me again today." Eddie replied taking the money from Jamie and placing it in her uniform. "Come on Reagan, let's do the paperwork and get back out there."

One Police Plaza

Manhattan, New York

Erin Reagan walked into her father's office with a brown bag in her hand. She saw that Baker and her father were sitting down across from each other at the desk. "Hey Dad."

"Hey sweetie. What brings you by?" Frank asked as he got out from behind his desk and gave his only daughter a kiss on the cheek.

"Lunch from Remy's." Erin replied holding up the bag.

"I'll give you two sometime." Baker replied with a smile on her face walking out of the office.

"What's up Erin?" Frank asked his daughter who was setting out the sandwich and salad on the coffee table. He unwrapped his turkey club and set it on the plate. "Is something on your mind?"

"I can't have lunch with my father and the police commissioner." Erin stated taking a bit out of her salad. She saw the look on her father's face. "Okay, that stare still gets me every time."

"Whatever works, use it." Frank stated with a smile on his face. He shifted in his seat. "You only bring Remy's when you are having a crisis."

"I have a case that is on the verge being dismissed because the evidence for it is not ready." Erin replied playing with her salad. She set the fork down and looked at her father. "The lab still hasn't process it yet because of the Chief Kent priority trial."

"I will look into it, but the trial has been made a priority by me, the mayor and the Feds." Frank said setting down his sandwich on the plate to look at his daughter. "Any chance that you can get a continuance?"

"Judge gave me 48 hours to get some of the evidence and log it in or he will dismiss the case, and we will have to refile." Erin said looking down at her salad.

"And everything that has been collected gets thrown out." Frank said with a nod. He looked at his daughter. "Law is experience developed by reason and applied continually to further experience."

"Roscoe Pound." Erin said taking a bit out of her salad. Then it dawned on her. "Yet that quote still baffles me every time."

"You always figure out something out based on your experience." Frank replied with a smile as Erin smiled back. "I'll see what I can do as soon as I finish my lunch."