Chapter 8
Frank's jaw was clenched tightly as he listened to his daughter-in-law recount her encounter with Noble Sanfino yesterday afternoon. It was the last thing he expected to hear and had him on edge ever since he received an early morning phone call from Jamie as he got ready for what he hoped would be another uneventful day at the office, something he was learning to cherish more and more every day . Jamie had tried his best to remain calm while they spoke on the phone, but he could hear the tremor in his son's voice as he explained what happened. And Frank knew that his son was more concerned for his wife's well being than his own.
Before leaving his house, Frank had ordered his new Special Assistant, Lieutenant Sydney Gormley, to pull everything they had on the Sanfino/Cavazerre operation and arrange a meeting in his office with the current Bureau Chief for OCCB, the Marshals Office and his best detectives from Major Crimes. There was no way he'd be able to keep Danny out of this anyway he reasoned and he wanted his best people on this case so that they could get Noble Sanfino off the streets. They needed to figure out what he wanted before he had a chance to pull some crazy stunt - it was not knowing what he wanted that had them most concerned.
Frank still remembered how he felt each and every time Jamie went undercover with Sanfino. He'd wait with bated breath until Jamie was cleared and back in the safe confines of the department for debriefing. But the worry didn't end there, it would extend into his daily life while on patrol where anything could happen and Frank often worried Jamie would be spotted by the same people he was running with under the Jimmy Riordan cover.
"That was it. That was the last thing he said," Eddie finished her account as she pushed the photo of Eric Weller/Noble Sanfino to the center of the table and sat back in her chair. The only difference between the man in the photo and the man she met on the street yesterday was the hair color - it wasn't as dark now - but they were definitely the same person.
Jamie's hands were folded in his lap, out of view of the others in the room, where they'd clenched repeatedly, his wife's retelling of her run-in with Sanfino angered him just as much as it did the first time around.
Frank took a deep breath before nodding to his Bureau Chief. "Lieutenant Reynoso," he prompted.
"Yes, sir. We have OCCB working the wire taps. So far there is no chatter about the nephew among those that stepped in when Sanfino and Cavazerre were taken down. Some in that organization still have loyalties to the old guard and would certainly be interested to know he was back. I've brought my team up to date on the original case and the subsequent hits that were put out on Sanfino and Sergeant Reagan's cover. We'll continue to work those taps for any new threats. We're also checking with our contacts and CIs at the prisons where Sanfino, Cavazerre and his people are locked up to see if they know anything."
Eddie fought to keep her face neutral but couldn't help reacting slightly when she heard the Bureau Chief mention a possible price on Jamie's head. Her reaction didn't go unnoticed by her husband and he reached out to hold her hand under the table, the only reassurance he could offer her right now.
"I want OCCB scouring every file on the Sanfino operation. He's bound to use old contacts here in the city, anything to help find where he's hiding," Frank ordered.
"Yes, sir."
"Agent Peters. What have your people been able to find out?" Frank asked the head of the New York office of the U.S. Marshals.
"Sir, Noble Sanfino was relocated to a small town outside of Denver after testifying against the families under the new identity of Eric Weller and set up with a restaurant manager job and an apartment. For all intents and purposes, the agent assigned to him reports that he managed to keep his nose pretty clean from the checks they conduct once a year as per procedure. The agent suspects he might have kept some of his old addiction habits, but overall works hard and raised no red flags. There are no signs that anyone knows where he was moved to. Agents found his place empty this morning and his assistant manager at the restaurant told them he requested a leave of absence, but did not specify a date of return. The last time they saw him was two weeks ago. We've even checked in with his sister who was relocated to the same part of the country. She denies any contact with him since he took off. In fact, she claims it's been well over a year since they have even spoken. He'll easy draw attention to himself just by returning to the city."
Danny snorted at the obviousness of Agent Peters' statement. "You think?"
Frank ignored Danny's remark but repeated the same sentiment. "That goes without saying, Agent Peters. Have you been able to track his movements after he requested leave?"
"Yes, sir. He used his new identity to board a commercial flight to LaGuardia, purchased the ticket at the Denver airport and paid in cash. He arrived here two weeks ago, just a day after he got leave from work. So far, there has been no activity on the one credit card he has in his new name."
"He's flying under the radar and doing God knows what else. My concern right now is his attempt to make contact with Sergeant Reagan and it's bad enough that he knows where he and Officer Reagan live. I want people sitting outside their building in case he returns."
"It would be better if we handled that ourselves, Commissioner," Danny suggested. If the Marshals couldn't keep tabs on their own witnesses, he wasn't going to let them take charge of catching this guy, not while it meant his brother and sister-in-law could be in danger.
Frank agreed with his son one hundred percent and nodded toward Gormley to make it happen.
"Yes, sir. I'll oversee it myself," Lt. Gormley responded.
Jamie and Eddie remained quiet as the discussion continued, Eddie because this was all new to her and she had no idea what to expect next, but Jamie knew from experience that, like the last time word had gone out about the hit, his father would step in to take charge of the situation with little to no input from him. He was in Commissioner mode now, but the father in him would also make sure he didn't lose another son to this job.
"For now, Sergeant Reagan and Officer Reagan will be on modified assignment -"
Hearing that caused Jamie to frown and he opened his mouth to protest, but Frank was quick to send a pointed look his way.
"- until we have a better handle on this situation," he finished.
Danny looked from one end of the table to the other, seeing the determination in his father's eyes to keep Jamie safe and his brother's clear disagreement to playing house mouse. But he agreed with his old man wholeheartedly, especially if it kept Jamie and Eddie safe.
Jamie clamped his mouth shut, knowing now was not the time to argue the matter.
"I'll reach out to their COs," Gormley said as he jotted down some notes.
"Then let's get to it, gentlemen," Frank dismissed the group, while Eddie, Jamie and Danny stayed behind.
Frank could see the worry on Eddie's face and a whole slew of other emotions crossing Jamie's and he silently led them back to his office where they could speak more privately.
Danny was the last one into his father's office and was closing the door to the conference room when Jamie voiced his disagreement with their assignment.
Jamie crossed his arms and watched as his father stared out through the window. "What's the point of grounding us? Noble's not stupid enough to come at armed cops," he argued.
"Jamie," Eddie whispered from where she was perched against an arm chair in the sitting area. She didn't like the idea of being stuck at the precinct either, but would be more at ease knowing they'd be safe while Frank had people look into this. Part of her thought the guy seemed like a screwball, but they all appeared worried enough over the situation to take them off patrol.
Frank slid his hands into his pockets as he turned to face his youngest. It was like dealing with Jamie all those years ago when he forced him to move back home. "He was stupid enough to set foot back in this city," he countered.
"And stupid enough to approach Eddie who he knows is also an armed officer even while off duty," Danny pointed out.
"Until we know what he's up to, that will be your assignment," Frank said firmly.
"Great," he conceded with a sigh as he stood next to Eddie and brought an arm over her shoulders. Jamie knew there was no point in fighting his father and brother, he most definitely wouldn't win. Atleast he wouldn't have to worry about Eddie being safe while on duty, but he felt like he could be of better use by helping draw Noble out of hiding like he had done the last time. The difference now was that it wasn't just about him anymore.
Frank was relieved that Jamie was on board for the time being, even if it was more out of concern for his wife. "Look at the bright side," Frank said, waiting for Jamie to meet his eyes.
"Yeah? What's that? 'Cause I'm not seeing one right now," Jamie mumbled.
"At least I'm not having you move in with me," Frank joked, hoping to lighten the mood for a moment.
Jamie couldn't help smirking. "Funny."
"Might not be a bad idea, dad," Danny added, but he was only half kidding. They'd be safe at the precinct during the day and safer at their father's house when off duty.
Frank agreed with Danny; it would certainly help him sleep better at night, but he knew his son would be totally against it, even more so than being confined to the precinct. "Let's just see what OCCB can come up with. Until then, you'll work out of your precincts. You two are not to go anywhere alone and we'll have two officers posted outside your building in case he comes back. And we'll put out a BOLO for Noble with his new identity. We'll have every officer out there looking for him."
"Alright," Jamie sighed.
A knock interrupted their conversation and Detective Abigail Baker appeared in the doorway. "Sir? Your one o'clock is here," she announced.
"Send him in, Baker," Frank said as he came around to the front of his desk.
"We'll get out of your hair, dad," Danny said as Jamie and Eddie both went to leave the office.
"Don't go anywhere," Frank told the trio. "This involves Sanfino as well."
Jamie, Eddie and Danny traded looks, but it was the Reagan boys that were most shocked when their father's one o'clock appointment walked through the door.
Disgraced former Chief of Department Dino Arbogast smiled tightly as he came into the room. He had not been thrilled to get a call from his former boss that morning asking for a meeting. The last thing he needed was a face to face with Frank Reagan after everything that had gone down, but he also owed him for preventing more serious repercussions for his actions than just his job resignation. Dino certainly didn't expect to see Danny and Jamie Reagan here too, but he really shouldn't have been so surprised either considering the situation.
"Dino," Frank greeted as he extended his hand. "Thank you for coming in."
"Sir," Dino said as his eyes went to Frank.
Danny crossed his arms and eyed Arbogast suspiciously, the man had messed with his career after all.
Jamie knew right away why Arbogast was here - no one knew the Sanfino case better than the former Bureau Chief of OCCB.
"Dino, you know Danny and Jamie and this is Jamie's wife, Edit," Frank said.
Dino was sweating under the glare coming from the eldest Reagan son and focused instead on his more personable, younger brother and his new wife.
"Nice to meet you," Dino directed to Eddie, "and congratulations to you both."
"Thank you," Eddie said.
"Let's have a seat," Frank instructed and moved the group to the sitting area. After they were all settled, he continued, "I asked Dino here to see if there was any insight he could provide on the Sanfino operation. No one knew that case better than him."
Dino nodded before starting. "Everything there is to know about the families is in the file, but Noble was always the one unknown, a bit of a loose cannon and the reason we had to jump when he went looking for Jamie after he OD'ed in that bar."
"I could have told you that," Jamie commented.
Dino nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure you could have," he said, pausing to take a breath. "Noble was always on the periphery of the action whether it was his own doing or his uncle's to keep him clean or to keep him from screwing things up, but he was impulsive, like a spoiled rich kid, and that's what always got him into trouble. Philly eventually got tired of it. Anyway, after everything went down and he testified, we kept the wire taps going for over a year to investigate everyone that stepped up to try and run things for the families."
"I take it they were quickly replaced?" Danny asked.
"The bottom feeders were like vultures. We watched for anything indicating that they were still after Jimmy Riordan, but we heard nothing. There was no indication they even made him out as cop."
"They must not get the Post in prison," Danny muttered.
"Thank God for that," Eddie whispered.
"He seemed to be forgotten completely after Noble and Bianca testified against them. They were the new focus of the families' wrath. With them hidden away, that should have been it," Dino said.
"It'll be Noble that ruins that depending on how far he decides to take this," Jamie stated. And with Noble, you never knew what you were going to get.
So now everyone knows Noble is back but they aren't any closer to knowing wha he wants.