Chapter 103: Operation Surprise

In what is now the new morning routine, Jamie exits his bedroom dressed for his run and heads to Mia's room. He cracks the door open just a little and right on cue, Jamko slips out. The duo head down the stairs.

Jamko sits his butt down by the door and simply waits as Jamie heads to the study to grab his gun and his shield before returning. Jamko watches as Jamie deactivates the alarm, grabs his leash and affixes it to his collar. Knowing that's the cue, Jamko gets up and the duo head out the door. They stop for a bathroom break on the lawn for Jamko then head out onto the sidewalk and as they run, a huff of a laugh and a smile can't help but escape Jamie.

He really is living the American dream he notes as he glances down at Jamko happily running next to him "So Jamko, what kind of trouble are you going to get us into today?"

Jamko let's out a happy bark in reply…

…..

"Uncle Jamie." Mia whines as she, her Mom, Jamie and Eddie sit at the table eating "Can we go to Donovan's again on Saturday?"

"Mia we have a bag downstairs in the gym." Jamie points out.

"But it's not the same!" She pouts "And I asked Mom! Mom said it was okay! Right Mom?"

Rosa shrugs "Sure."

Jamie slowly turns to look at Rosa in surprise.

"I have an online course upgrade I plan on taking Saturday morning." Rosa explains "It would help if I didn't have to listen to the punching bag in the background as I try to concentrate on the test."

"Oh. Okay." Jamie accepts "Guess we'll go to Donovan's Saturday morning then."

"YAY!" Mia happily quips as Eddie silently sits there bringing her cup of herbal tea to her lips to hide her smug, triumphant smile.

….

"Now remember Mia." Eddie instructs as she glances further into the house to be sure Jamie isn't within earshot "We need you to keep him out of the house until 2pm so once you finish at Donovan's make sure you two stop for food – but nothing too filling okay because we'll have plenty food here at the party."

Mia nods in complete understanding "I know. Don't worry, I got it covered."

….

"Oh geez." Jamie breathes out as he and Mia enter the crowded ice cream shop "This could take a while." he warns Mia.

"That's okay." Mia promises "I don't mind waiting."

Jamie looks a bit sideways at the usually very impatient girl.

"What?" Mia deflects "I want ice cream."

"Okay." Jamie relents as they stand in line to wait.

….

Eddie stands in her backyard looking at the tracker app for Mia's necklace on her phone "I think she got him to stop for ice cream." She laughs.

"Oh nice." Erin notes as she helps set up for the party "On a day like today, a place like that will be crowded!"

….

"Okay Mia…" Jamie prompts as he and Mia finally get close to the front of the line "What do you want?"

Mia looks up at the menu board "I haven't decided yet." She announces still trying to stall.

Jamie looks down at her in disbelief "Mia we've been standing in this line for 20 minutes. Pick something because the people behind us will NOT be happy if you stand at the till wasting yet more time!"

Mia looks behind her to see a whole lot of piercing eyes staring at her "Fine." She relents "I'll take a…"

But suddenly the door whips open and three people enter in masks with guns "OKAY NOBODY MOVE!" one barks as the other two fan out and panic starts to ensue as everyone realizes what is happening.

On instinct, Jamie grabs Mia and pulls her behind him. He reaches for his gun but quickly changes his mind when he realizes at that moment there is no way he could be able to use force in a three on one situation with so many people around so instead he starts absorbing details as he waits for an opportunity…

"Gimme the money!" One perp barks to the ice cream shop employee behind the till as he slams a bag on the counter while another one starts going from customer to customer "Wallets and jewelry! Let's go! NOW!"

Frantically all the customers comply as they drop the requested items in the bag.

"Uncle Jamie." Mia lowly hisses out in fear as she watches one of the perps come close to them.

"Just do what they say Mia." Jamie lowly instructs as his eyes drift to Mia's tracking necklace around her neck and he realizes using that instead of a confrontation would be the safest option for everyone involved "Give them your necklace." he prompts as he moves to unclasp it from around her neck right as the perp walks up to them.

"Drop!" The robber barks to Jamie so Jamie simply raises his hand and drops Mia's necklace in the bag "Ring too!" the perp demands to Jamie as he gestures to his left hand.

Sighing, Jamie silently removes his wedding ring and drops it in the bag.

"Wallet!"

So again, Jamie takes out his wallet and drops it in the bag.

"WE GOTTA MOVE!" The first perp still by the door acting as look out calls out to his two accomplices "NOW!"

Complying the two perps gathering the money and valuables head for the exit. All three rush out the door just as quick as they entered and the second they are gone, everyone breathes out in relief and yet panic all at the same time.

"Uncle Jamie!" Mia urgently rushes out "You have to do something!"

"I am." Jamie reassures her as he pulls out his phone with one hand and his shield with his other as he heads to look out the door to see the perps rush into a vehicle and drive away "Okay I need everyone to stay calm!" He calls out as he holds up his shield while dialing his phone with the other "Everything is under control but no one can leave until the area is secure and statements have been taken okay? Hi this is Lieutenant Jameson Reagan…" he then greets into his phone "I'm off duty and we have a 10-30 in progress Milky Way Ice Cream Bar on 34th. I need unies down here for containment. There are three suspects - all caucasian male - all three with a cross tattoo on their left inside wrist. One approx. 5' 7" wearing blue jeans and black tshirt - the other two 6 feet – also both blue jeans but one has a white tshirt the other grey – they had masks on so no facial features visible. They left in a brown 4 door sedan license plate…"

Mia stares at her Uncle in awe as he rattles off all these details.

"And I need TARU to track necklace 3659 Alpha Bravo Zulu." Jamie continues "The perps have it with them."

A look of surprise appears on Mia's face and her mouth drops slightly open...

"When TARU locates the necklace…" Jamie continues "…dispatch tactical to that address. I'll stay on scene here as incident commander – please update me with any details as they come in. Great. Thank you." he accepts before hanging up the phone "Okay is anybody hurt?" he calls out into the shop while quickly glancing at his phone to tap open the necklace tracker app but he sighs in relief as he again looks out over the sea of customers when all he receives in return is nothing but mumbled out 'no's' and shaking heads.

Mia walks up to Jamie, places her hands on her hips and looks up at him very unimpressed "What do you mean you need them to 'track a necklace'." She demands "Do you mean MY necklace?"

Jamie cringes slightly knowing the jig is up "We'll talk about this later Mia." Jamie promises "But right now I need to work so I need you to go sit down over here…" he instructs as he guides the young girl into a booth, then turns to walk away "…and NOT MOVE."

"Why because YOU CAN'T TRACK ME ANYMORE!" Mia calls out in a challenge as the sounds of approaching RMP sirens are heard.

Jamie stops walking, sighs and turns back to face his god daughter "Not now Mia." Jamie warns before turning to head out the ice cream shop door holding up his shield to greet the incoming officers.

….

Eddie walks out into the backyard and sets a tray of snacks down on the food table. She absently pulls out her phone to check up on Jamie and Mia's status as she walks back to the house but she suddenly stops short "What the… why are they headed that way?"

Hearing the confusion in his sister in law's voice as he tries to help his son hang the extra large Happy Birthday banner onto the fence, Danny looks over "What?" he prompts.

"Um…" Eddie hesitates "…the tracker shows Jamie and Mia headed for… Harlem…"

"What?" Danny breathes out in concern and he just drops the banner from his hands as he moves towards Eddie.

"HEY!" Sean protests as he now scrambles to hold up the entire banner himself.

Noticing Sean's struggles, Rosa quickly moves to pick up the end Danny dropped and help Sean out.

"Thank you." Sean appreciatively states to Rosa while shooting his father a disgruntled glare.

"Look." Eddie states as she shows her phone to Danny both completely ignoring Sean and Rosa.

Danny looks at the app and his face scrunches up in equal confusion "Why would they be going there?"

….

Still sitting at the table Jamie put her at, Mia silently takes in the scene around her. She sees some people distraught and crying while others try to comfort them. She sees multiple officers going around the room gathering statements and a list of items from each person that were stolen. She sees other officers outside the shop directing potential new customers away and in the middle of it all is her Uncle in command and she had to admit, he was darn good at his job.

Suddenly Jamie's cellphone rings "Reagan!" he answers.

Jamie listens and then a smile grace's his face "Excellent. Thank you." he commends before hanging up "Okay listen up everyone!" he calls out into the ice cream shop. The suspects have been detained and we believe all items stolen have been recovered. Now we have been collecting all your information with a description of the items that were taken and we do need to log everything we've recovered as evidence but it shouldn't be too long before we can have all your items returned to you."

So when huge sighs of relief fill the air along with a round of applause and cheering, Mia leans back against her seat seriously pondering the fact that all these people who only a minute ago were crying in anguish were now happy and elated – all on account that HER necklace led the police to the perps and stolen items…

"Thank you for sitting here like I asked." Jamie offers as he walks up to his god daughter breaking her out of her thoughts.

"So you really caught the bad guys and will be getting everything back because of my necklace?" Mia prompts.

Jamie sighs as he slides into the seat across from her "Yes." He confirms.

"Hmmm." Mia ponders.

"You do have a tendency to be attracted to trouble." Jamie points out "It was just a safety precaution."

"One that clearly came in handy." Mia notes as she again looks around the room before looking at Jamie across from her "I'll have to remember that from now on. Maybe I can slip it onto the next shoplifter I catch." she offers before leaning forward on the table "Is there a pet version I can put on Reagan so he doesn't get lost again?"

For a moment, Jamie hangs his head and laughs before looking up at his god daughter "Um what do you think the new tag on his collar is?"

Mia's mouth drops open in surprise "NICE!"

"So…" Jamie hesitantly inquires "You'll still wear yours?"

Mia shrugs in deflection "I do attract trouble."

"Thank you." Jamie accepts "But just so you know, this was completely your Aunt's idea."

Mia looks at her Uncle in a bit of amazed awe "Wow. Throwing Aunt Eddie under the bus. Nice."

Jamie shrugs.

Silence.

"What time is it?" Mia suddenly inquires

Jamie looks at his watch "1:00pm."

Mia shifts uncomfortably "Um how much longer are we going to be here?"

"A while why?" Jamie questions "You hungry? I can see if the kitchen can make some food."

"No its not that." Mia waves off "It's… it's…" She waivers.

"It's what?"

"It's nothing." Mia sighs "Can I borrow your phone?"

"Sorry Mia no." Jamie rejects "You can't play games." He mistakenly assumes "I need to keep it because…"

Jamie cellphone rings "Because of that…" he adds before again pulling it out and standing "Reagan." he answers as he walks away and back into the thick of it.

Mia heavily sighs wondering how she's supposed to let everyone know she and Jamie will not be back in time for the 2pm surprise party.

...