Chapter 1

Prologue

Officer Luis Badillo sighed and glanced at his new partner, Officer Kasey Cato, as they searched for their perp. He missed Eddie, his partner of two years; his grip on the steering tightened as his eyes scanned the sidewalk.

"How is Jamie doing?" Luis asked his rear-seat passenger

"The Kid is broken," sighed Detective Danny Reagan. " Apartment, Gym and Precinct, that's all he does now. The commissioner had to drag him to Sunday dinner last week. He made it an order. He knew the Boy Scout would follow his order."

"An intervention?" Badillo asked, looking at Danny through his rearview mirror

Danny just nodded, his attention unwavering. He was scanning the sidewalk like a bird of prey hunting for its prey. The senior detective hated seeing his little brother like this. He might like pushing his buttons as often as possible; he had watched his younger brother falling apart over the last month. His soul mate was gone. He didn't know if the family could put him back together again. The mighty Reagan dynasty had been ripped apart, and there was no circling of the wagons to repel the danger. Erin had buried herself in her work at the DA's office. The Reagan family patriarch, Henry, had become withdrawn and started comfort baking. Frank had been trying hard to unite his family while dealing with the media storm. The loss of Eddie from the family dynamic had ripped the foundations from under the NYPD's first family.

The media vultures had not wasted time attacking the New York police commissioner. Frank Reagan had made many enemies at the helm of the NYPD. Once again, his job was threatened by the governor and the mayor. He loved his career and wanted the best for his city and his 35,000 or 34,999 officers with the loss of his daughter-in-law. He didn't know if he had the strength to fight on all fronts without the full support of his family.

" Coming out of that bodega," announced Officer Cato

Officer Badillo turned on the RMP lights and sirens.

Noticing the approaching RMP, the redhead started running away. Turning down the narrow alley, trying to evade capture.

"Go around and cut her off at the end of the alley, Badillo. And do not lose her." Danny warned as he started to chase after the fleeing woman.

The RMP screamed off to cut off the fleeing woman as Danny and Officer Cato ran into the alley.

"Call it in Cato; she does not get away, understand me?" Barked Danny

The fleeing woman might have been younger than Danny, but his sheer determination to catch her drove the senior detective forward. This was personal; no one messed with his family and got away with it. The gap closed as they approached the end of the alley.

Officer Kasey Cato flicked open her hasp and tossed it at the fleeing woman's ankles. Catching her right ankle, the impact unbalanced the fleeing woman, and she lost her footing and collided with the brick wall.

Approaching the struggling woman carefully, Danny nodded to Officer Cato as he placed his knee into the woman's back to control her as he wrenched her arms behind her back to apply his cuffs.

Officer Cato Merandised their suspect and patted her down. Official orders had reached Captain Paula McNichols at the 29 precinct and Lieutenant Gee at the 54 precinct that everything was to be by the book and recorded on body camera, not giving this woman any chance in court. Lieutenant Sid Gormley had issued the order, but everyone knew this had come from the commissioner himself.

"She is high detective. Look at her pupils." Officer Cato told Danny

Danny looked at her face. Her pupils were both like large dinner plates. Her nose was running, a sure sign that she had very recently snorted some coke. Crusting was evident around her nose; she had been snorting cocaine heavily for a protracted time.

"Check the bodega's bathroom for evidence of drug use. I think she has only just had her fix…" Danny is cut off as he. is kicked in his testicles. In his slight lapse of concentration, while he talked with Officer Cato, his prisoner had used the heel of her boot and kicked him between his legs as hard as she could.

"Bullseye.." Screamed a delighted woman

Danny crumpled to the floor, holding his groin.

"Arghh, you bitch…my eyes," screamed the prisoner as she was pepper sprayed by Officer Cato.

Officer Badillo arrived in the RMP just in time to see Detective Reagan crumple to the floor. His lips turned up at the sight of the mighty Daniel Reagan floored by the prisoner's well-aimed kick to his family jewels. Sad soon replaced his moment of pleasure at the detective's misfortune as he was reminded of what his old partner would say about her brother-in-law's misfortune. Luis Badillo was filled with rage. The seasoned patrol officer was struggling to rain in his emotions.

"I'll put her in the RMP. Let's get her back to the precinct." Announced an angry officer. "Don't even think of kicking me," he instructed the perp as he grabbed her arm; knowing she liked to kick out, he carefully watched her feet.

Opening the rear door of his RMP, he took his eyes off his prisoner's feet. With that minor lapse of concentration, the prisoner spat in his face.

"Partner! Don't you dare," screamed Kasey Cato at her partner, trying to stop him from crossing that line. Kasey knew Reagan and her partner were both guisers waiting to explode. Kasey physically pushed her partner away from their RMP and pushed the prisoner onto the bench seat.

"You're not spitting on me, you filthy animal," Smirked Kasey as she pulled the anti-spit hood over her head.

"Detective Reagan, you upfront with Badillo. I will sit back here with the perp." Kasey warned both men, daring either of them to complain. She glared at Danny, warning him not to think about pulling rank. She watched as Danny struggled with his emotions, wanting to pull rank on the patrol officer. He was a first-grade detective with three decades of service behind him.

"2-9 Sargeant on the air?" Kasey spoke into her radio, only pretending to press the send button.

"Fine," growled an irritated first-grade detective

Pleased she had managed to de-escalate the situation, she climbed into the back of their RMP.

BB

The ride back to the 2-9 precinct was made in an uncomfortable silence. Danny and Badillo glanced at Officer Cato and their prisoner through their mirrors. They were averting their eyes when they received an annoyed glare from Kasey.

Pulling up outside the front of the precinct, they noticed a few fellow officers waiting for their arrival. Kasey smirked when she saw Captain McNichols walk out the main doors to watch their arrival.

"Just Great, don't they trust me?" Danny groaned when he noticed the 2-9's C.O watching their arrival

Luis Badillo shook his head in disbelief. Captain McNichols had pulled him into her office to give him a RIP over his attitude. He was most definitely on her naughty list, which had surprised him when she had agreed to his participation in this hunt. He had been playing house mouse for the past two weeks, something Luis Badillo hated. You can only say, '2-9 Precinct Officer Badillo speaking, how can I help?' So many times a day before you want to gouge your own eyes out.

"Out, behave. Your fan club has come out to watch your arrival," Kasey told her prisoner as she carefully guided her out of their RMP, ensuring she didn't trip or fall.

"By the book Officers, Detective." Captain McNichols warned.

She checked to see if the three had their body cameras activated. She watched as they escorted the cuffed woman into the station. Paula McNichols was a by-the-book leader. She didn't allow her officers to bend the rules. She had warned her entire precinct that she expected them to treat this perp with kid gloves, with no accidental slips, trips or falls.

She had stepped out momentarily to allow her officers to make this particular perp's arrival as uncomfortable as possible. McNichols thought Sargeant Jameson Reagan had a stick stuck up his ass. The man was a pain in her ass, but he had repeatedly proved what a fine officer he was. He had single-handedly improved this house. She hoped, in time, he would heal and be himself again; the loss of Eddie had destroyed the confident man he was merely surviving.

BB

"Detective Reagan and officers Badillo and Cato picked the perp up, walking out of a bodega. They are taking her to the 2-9 for processing." Lieutenant Sid Gormley told the commissioner as he walked into his boss's office

"I will get a press release ready," Garrett announced as he stood. "Who do you want to do it?" He asked

Frank looked at his DCPI, his face emotionless. He looked exhausted, and even the police commissioner couldn't hide the signs of his sleep deprivation. He had been on a personal and professional Roller coaster the last month. The famous Reagan family bond had been devastated, and the Reagan family stood as individuals for the first time.

"Frank?" Asked Garrett

Sid, Abigail and Garrett watched their boss as he zoned out. They had been worried about him. They were all concerned about the attacks on multiple fronts. Frank Reagan had repelled many attacks over the years, personal and professional. The current firestorm seemed to his inner circle to be the one that finally broke him.

"Yes?"

"You can do it," Frank answered.

"The CO of the 2-9 will keep me updated…" Frank raised his hand to stop Sid from continuing

"Chain of command! Just because this relates to Sergeant Reagan…I wouldn't get personal updates…" Frank interrupted him, not able to hide his irritation

"Copy that. Won't happen again," Sid answered. He raised his eyebrows as he looked across at Baker.

Abigail shrugged her shoulders. She was about to open her mouth.

"Detective Reagan?" Answered Frank when he answered his ringing cell phone. He waited for his office to clear before he continued.

BB

Mayor Chase watched the flat screen on his office wall, enjoying the disastrous media coverage of Frank Reagan. Unlike anything they have endured, his beloved NYPD and Family are under equal media scrutiny. Frank Reagan had butted heads with the governor and mayor on many occasions, causing them both to lose face and political standing. The two politicians had combined forces to oust the New York City police commissioner.

"Not so popular now. Have you rubber-stamped his replacement?" Asked Governor Mendez from his office in Albany over the video link

"Yes, once Frank Reagan has finally thrown in the towel. His replacement knows what is required. We will have no further issues with the NYPD. Russo didn't know what he was doing thirteen years ago, appointing Frank Reagan as his new police commissioner. The Reagan family's reign as the NYPD's first family will come to a sudden end." Smirked Mayor Chase, raising his brandy glass in a toast

"Good riddance," agreed Governor Mendez, raising his glass.

BB

Jamison Reagan watched his older brother walking into his precinct with Badillo and Cato escorting their prisoner. The youngest Reagan looked worse than his father. He was a broken man. He had withdrawn into himself when he lost his life partner; his wife completed him. That beautiful blonde rookie who descended those steps at the 12th had stolen his heart.

" Are you Reagan?"

He remembers those three life-altering words like it was just last night. Hate fills his heart now; Sergeant Jameson Reagan wants to yank the stick out of his arse and beat the patrol guide within an inch of his life. Forget all the rules and go all medieval on that woman; shelve sensible Jamie and become more like his older brother Danny.