A/N: Everyone remember Eddie's big yellow sunhat? Well it's back! LOL (And if you don't remember it see Chapter 18: Socks Gone and Chapter 20: Not Your Usual Style of TMCC)
Chapter 31: Tattling on the Tail
Jamie and Eddie sit in an unmarked cruiser outside Rosa and Mia's apartment building waiting.
Eddie's phone buzzes with a text from Rosa.
Just left
"Okay. She's on her way." Eddie states so Jamie reaches over and picks up a baseball cap and pair of sunglasses on the seat next to him and puts them on while Eddie reaches into the backseat to grab her big yellow sunhat.
"Did you really have to pick that thing to wear?" Jamie questions as he watches his wife put it on her head.
Eddie briefly glances at her husband as she slips a pair of sunglasses on as well "I never get to wear it anywhere!" She defends causing Jamie to shake his head at her and even though they are both wearing disguises, they both still duck low in their seats to be sure Mia doesn't see them when she comes out but they can see her.
A moment later they see the young girl step out of her building. She takes a second to just stand on the stoop adjusting her backpack straps around her shoulders before taking in her surroundings. They see a big proud smile grace her face in honor of the momentous occasion of her first walk to school all alone. She walks down the steps and turns away from Jamie and Eddie's direction so they slowly sit up and watch. They see her get to her first corner.
Jamie and Eddie both hold their breath.
Mia stops, checks traffic twice then safely crosses the street.
Jamie and Eddie both let out a breath of air in relief then Jamie starts the car and slowly pulls out to follow a safe distance behind.
"Why do I suddenly feel like what we are doing is wrong?" Eddie inquires out of the blue.
"Because she thinks we trust her to do this herself." Jamie replies.
"Yeah." Eddie agrees with a frown.
"But it's not about trust." Jamie points out "It's about her safety. As long as everything goes as planned, she'll never know we were here so she gains the confidence and we all gain some peace of mind that she's okay."
"I suppose." Eddie relents.
Silence as they continue to follow.
"Did you guys do this with Nicky, Jack and Sean?" Eddie suddenly inquires.
"No." Jamie replies as he turns a corner.
"Really?" Eddie counters in surprise "Why not?"
"Well none of them were within walking distance to their schools." Jamie answers.
"They weren't?" Eddie queries.
"Um, no. They all went to private catholic school." Jamie explains.
"Oh." Eddie breathes out in realization "Right."
Silence.
"Is…is that something we should be talking about?" Eddie slowly inquires.
Jamie sighs "Probably."
"Oh." Eddie repeats again.
More silence.
"Which schools?" Eddie finally prompts.
"Well, lets see…Nicky went to Blessed Heart Academy for high school…" Jamie begins to explain but his voice trails off when he notices Mia deviate from her predesignated route "What is she doing?" he questions in concern as he and Eddie focus their attention on watching Mia cross the street headed in the opposite direction of the school "Hang on." Jamie mutters as he pulls into a parking space on the street so they can watch.
They watch as she approaches the passenger's side window of an RMP parked up the block on the opposite side of the street from them.
Jamie and Eddie strain to see.
"Did she just knock on the window?" Eddie questions.
"I think so." Jamie replies "But the RMP is blocking most of my view so I can't quite see what's going on."
"Me too." Eddie admits. "Seriously what is she doing though?"
Jamie shrugs in equal confusion so they just wait. A minute or so later they see Mia come clearly back into view as she heads back in the direction she came from. She again checks for traffic to cross the street and continues on her route to school.
"Am I the only one that thought that was weird?" Eddie questions as Jamie pulls out to follow her again.
"No that was definitely weird." Jamie agrees.
"The number on that RMP was 2427." Eddie notes as she checks the time "You should inquire later what she just talked to those officers about. I'm curious."
"I will." Jamie agrees.
"Other then that one little blip though…" Jamie points out "…she seemed to be doing okay."
"She is." Eddie agrees "She's following all the rules perfectly."
Suddenly Jamie notices in the rearview mirror RMP lights flashing behind them "Um Eddie…" he slowly begins "… we could probably just ask them now."
"What?" Eddie questions.
"Look behind us." Jamie instructs.
Eddie looks behind her to see RMP 2427 right behind them signalling for them to pull over. A look of awe appears on Eddie's face and her mouth drops open slightly as she turns her head to look back at her husband "You think she saw us?" She questions as Jamie pulls over.
In response, Jamie can't stop an impressed little grin from crossing his face "We have always reiterated to her to be aware of her surrounding."
"But for her to notice we were tailing her?" Eddie questions as they watch the uniformed officers walk towards them.
Jamie shrugs as he lowers his driver's side window. He and Eddie then both remove their sunglasses, pull out their shields and hold them up.
"License and Reg…" One officer begins before noticing Jamie's Sergeant shield "Oh um Sergeant…"
"The young brunette girl you were just talking too..." Jamie inquires "…what did she say to you?"
"That today was her first day being allowed to walk to school by herself and her aunt and uncle who are cops told her to always be aware of her surroundings and she thought she was being followed by you. Then she produced a courtesy card belonging to one of the Commissioner's sons but asked us not to contact him if it was nothing but to contact him if we discovered it was something."
Eddie lightly swats at Jamie's arm in triumph "See! She was paying attention! Hi…" Eddie then warmly greets the officers "We're the Aunt and Uncle – Sergeant Jamie Reagan – Commissioner's son…" She explains "…and Detective Eddie Reagan."
"Ah doing the whole follow them to school without them knowing you are following them to school thing huh?" The uniformed officer notes with a knowing chuckle himself "Well you taught her well! We'll just let you be on your way then."
"Thank you, Officers." Jamie returns as he and Eddie watch them walk back to their RMP before turning to look at one another and the second they do, they both burst out laughing.
Jamie shakes his head in amusement as he pulls out his cell phone and dials Rosa.
"Well?" Rosa immediately and anxiously greets "Did she arrive okay? Any problems?"
"Oh Rosa, she's going to be just fine." Jamie promises with a laugh.
"Why are you laughing?" Rosa questions in confusion.
"Because your daughter just sicked a couple of uniformed officers on us." Jamie chuckles.
"She what?"
"Let me explain."
...
Jamie pulls the unmarked cruiser into the parking garage of the 5-4 and he and Eddie get out. Eddie immediately begins to head for the stairs when Jamie stops her "Um Eddie?" he questions "Aren't you forgetting something?"
Eddie stops walking and looks back at Jamie "What?" She questions in confusion.
Jamie points to his head and gives his wife a pointed look.
Eddie looks at her husband then her eyes drift upward to see the brim of her yellow hat "Oh geez!" She rushes out as she quickly removes it from her head as both she and Jamie move towards the Chevelle.
Jamie opens the truck for his wife and Eddie tosses the hat inside "Not that I think Danny would remember it." Eddie reasons out.
"You really want to take that chance?" Jamie tosses back.
"No." Eddie admits.
"Thank you." Jamie states as he shuts the trunk and the couple starts for the stairs.
...
"Oh looks who's back!" Danny states as he watches his brother and sister in law walk into the bullpen "And how was our little off the book tailing expedition this morning?" He adds as Maria, from her desk, looks up and over.
Jamie and Eddie chuckle.
"She called the cops on us!" Eddie quips as the couple walk over to their teammates.
"She what?" Maria questions.
"She noticed we were following her…" Jamie begins "…so she saw an RMP – headed over…"
"And basically tattled on us!" Eddie laughs.
"So she knew you were following her?" Maria questions.
"She didn't know it was us." Jamie clarifies "But she knew someone was."
"See!" Danny triumphantly points out "What did I tell you!"
"She's going to make one hell of a cop one day." Eddie adds in awe "Might even be the first female Commissioner!"
Jamie turns to look at his wife "No pressure." he deadpans knowing the weight of those expectations.
"No, no of course not." Eddie immediately agrees.
Suddenly Erin walks into the bullpen "There's my favorite foursome!"
For a moment, all eyes turn to look at her before Jamie and Eddie steal a quick glance at one another – both now REALLY thankful they left the hat in the trunk.
Erin smiles brightly at all of them.
Danny turns to look at his brother "She wants something."
Jamie turns to meet his look "You noticed that too huh?"
"I think we all noticed that." Eddie laughs.
In response, Erin holds up a file in her hands.
"Four Reagans and file folder." Maria notes "I should just take the rest of the day off."
"But I'm on desk duty." Eddie points out "So three Reagans and a Baez will do just fine."
"I really thought she was going to say three Reagans and a Baby." Danny admits.
"Oh then technically it's five Reagans and a Baez." Eddie notes.
"Will this conversation take long?" Erin interrupts "I have court this afternoon."
"Come on." Jamie instructs as he turns and heads for his office with everyone following.
"We have a string of break and enters, hold ups and vandalism on a particular block." Erin states as she holds the file out to Jamie.
"Any idea why?" Danny queries.
Erin sighs "A real estate mogul wants to redevelop the area – tear the whole block down and rebuild but some shops are hold outs so…"
"He's looking to force their hands…" Jamie deduces.
Erin nods.
"So you need us to catch them in the act." Maria tacks on.
Again, Erin nods.
Eddie looks back and forth between everyone with a slight pout on her face "Can I at least sit in the van?"
"Oooo!" Danny giddily exclaims "She gets to be Ops now!"
Jamie turns to look at his wife "You went on an op this morning. Wasn't that enough?"
Erin, Danny and Maria all turn to look at Jamie with wide eyes while Eddie glares at her husband.
"I'm kidding." He laughs "Yes you can sit in the van. Although they might not be happy about it." he adds as he gestures back out into the bullpen towards Eddie's desk.
Everyone turns to see a Detective hold up a take out cup and file folder in his hands before he places both items down on Eddie's desk.
A wide smile graces Eddie's face "Excuse me everyone!" She quips as she moves to leave the office "Duty calls!"
…..
At the end of the day, Mia walks into her apartment safe and sound "MOM!" she calls "I'm home!"
"Hey Baby!" Rosa calls from the kitchen as she hands a little toddler in her care a snack "How was your day?"
"It was great!" Mia happily replies.
"Any problems or anything walking to or from school?" Rosa presses.
Mia shakes her head "Nope! All good!" she proudly declares.
"MeMe!" The toddler greets "I got me snack!"
Mia smiles at him "Good job Sammy, why don't you sit down at your table and eat okay?"
Nodding, Sammy walks to sit down at his preschool style table.
Rosa smiles at her daughter from the kitchen. She really is ten going on thirty she can't help but think.
From a bassinet in the corner a baby starts to cry and a foul aroma fills the air.
Mia makes a disgusting face "Ewww. Mom I think Ben needs a diaper change."
"Coming." Rosa calls before getting an idea "You know Mia now that you're ten, I think it's time you learnt how to change a diaper."
"Really?" Mia questions unsure.
"Yes." Rosa replies as she heads over to the bassinet "Your Aunt and Uncle are having baby." She reminds her "As self proclaimed big sister, don't you want to be able to help if needed?"
Mia thinks a moment then shrugs her shoulders "Okay." She agrees as she moves to follow her Mother and the baby out of the room.
"Get Sammy would you." Rosa asks her daughter "Never leave toddlers unattended."
"Got it." Mia accepts as she turns and heads back towards the little boy "Come on Sammy." She prompts as she picks up his hand and leads him with her as she heads to follow her Mother.
...
