Chapter 4
His Detail pulled the SUV up outside his Bay Ridge home, where Frank had summoned the Reagan clan for a family meeting; he wanted to brief his family on Eddie's current situation—having spent most of the afternoon in deep thought trying to figure out what to do. Occasionally, watching his officers from IAB interview her.
"Keep a watch out for any press. Keep them away from the house." Frank asked for his details. Garrett had told him that local news stations knew about Eddie's arrest for theft and snorting cocaine.
The revelations during her interview had sent shockwaves through his inner circle and the internal affairs bureau. The warning given to Garrett by his friend troubled Frank; what did the journalist know? His gut told him. he knew about his Daughter-in-Law. Stealing himself for the meeting, he walked to his house. He couldn't put this off any longer.
"Francis, what the hell? Tell me it's not true," demanded Henry, "It must be a mistake, Eddie a junkie?"
"How did you know?" He asked as he placed his briefcase on the kitchen table
Henry pointed to Jamie, sitting at the dining table holding a scotch glass filled to the brim, surrounded by Erin and Danny, providing silent support. "Jameson was sent home by his CO; he opened that bottle of scotch." Answered Henry.
"How much has he had to drink?" Frank asked in concern
"Nothing yet; he keeps topping up his glass. He has hardly spoken a word since he turned up. It took me nearly an hour to get the basics out of him, and he was distraught. True then?" Henry replied
Frank nodded his head in confirmation.
Henry handed a glass of scotch to his son. "Take this. You look like you'll need it, Francis," he sighed.
Frank held his hand up to Forstall, the question from his assembled family. Taking his seat, he took a long pull on his scotch.
"Cameras witnessed Officer Eddie Reagan at the 29th snorting cocaine in a switchboard room. Her CO detained her, and a locker search was conducted. Stolen property from the house was found hidden in her car and locker. Internal Affairs arrested her and transported her to 1PP for questioning." Frank paused to take a drink of his scotch. The following revelations would destroy his youngest, and Frank didn't know if Jamie could take any more.
"What aren't you telling us," Asked Erin, recognising her father's stalling tactic
Taking a deep breath, Frank ripped the lid of the hornet's nest, " She admitted to being an addict for around ten months; when she could, she skimmed from her seizures without the knowledge of her partner. He has been modified while under investigation…at this stage, we are unsure if he knew anything. She confessed to stealing from lockers at the precinct so she could fund her addiction without tipping off Jamie." Frank paused, glancing across at Jamie. He silently prayed to Mary to give their youngest the strength to overcome this hardship. " She has been protecting her dealer by advising him on any police interest in his business, keeping his street dealers safe. They worked out a buy a baggie, get one free….. The district attorney is considering whether she can be charged with conspiracy to supply. They intend to charge her with 20 counts of petit larceny, Tampering with Evidence and misconduct in public office. She asked for an attorney as I was leaving to come home," He carefully watched his shocked family after finishing.
Jamie drained his drink in one long swallow and flung his empty glass down, storming away through the back door into the garden.
Danny was angry; how could he have misjudged his sister-in-law? The first-grade detective wanted to destroy the woman hurting his little brother; Jamie loved his wife unconditionally. This was going to kill him.
Erin was beyond shocked; she loved her sister-in-law and how she had made her younger brother come to life again. She had complimented Jamie. They were indeed soul mates, or so she thought; how could she have been so wrong?
"Anyone home?" Asked a voice through the open back door
Recognising the voice, Erin looked up in shock. "Jack? What the hell are you doing here?" Asked a perplexed woman
Jack smiled and kissed Erin on her cheek. "I am here at the behest of my client." He answered, holding up his hands and waiting for the Reagans to fit the pieces together
"Eddie?" Gasped a shocked Erin in disbelief. "How could you, Jack? Is this to get back at me?" An angry woman asked
"No, Erin, I took her case because she asked me. This has nothing to do with your dislike for me and me or your family. I am a defence attorney, and she needed my help. Where is Jamie? She would like to talk to him out on the sidewalk." Jack asked
Erin entered her ex-husband's face, furious at the man's nerve. " After what she has done, she has a snowball's chance of getting anywhere near my brother." Snarled Erin in full big sister mode.
"I will go and see my Sister-in-law. Jamie is going nowhere near that woman." An angry older brother told Jack, "Not even got the balls to come herself," Danny stormed out the door.
BB
The commissioner's protection detail had made sure they kept Eddie on the sidewalk as per instructions from 1PP. Eddie nervously paced along the sidewalk, unsure this was a good idea. She needed to see Jamie.
Hearing someone approach, she turned around. "Jamie?"
"Wrong brother; what do you want, Eddie?" Snapped Danny Reagan
"To talk to Jamie, Please, Danny," begged Eddie.
"Not happening. Haven't you done enough, Eddie?" Snapped Danny
"Please," She pleaded.
Danny just shook his head, "Just go, Eddie, leave. You are not welcome here,"
Defeated, Eddie slid her wedding and engagement rings from her finger and handed them to Danny. " Tell Jamie I am genuinely sorry."
"Counsolour, I think you should take your client away from here before I have her arrested," Frank told Jack Boyle, having listened to his daughter-in-law.
"Commissioner,"
Jack ushered Eddie to his car, "Let's go, Eddie,"
Jameson Reagan watched his wife walk away with Jack Boyle's tears rolling down his cheeks.
BB
"That reporter's information checked out. My sources tell me Sargeant Reagan is not handling the news about his wife well; he will be distracted. Knowing he is no danger to us, there is no need to kill him." Deputy Superintendent Edward Nutter told his breakfast companion
His breakfast companion nodded as she finished her mouthful of pancakes. " What about the other brother and sister?" She asked after finishing chewing.
" Not sure yet; we must let this play out for a while. Erin Reagan, I am not overly concerned. The eldest, Reagan, is the one we must watch; he is renowned for disrespecting the chain of command and rules." He answered as he contemplated the
The solution to their Daniel Reagan problem was, "Kill him; I suppose now Jameason Reagan has been removed from the board,"
His breakfast companion smiled, handing over a file. Opening the NYPD personnel folder, he glanced at the picture and looked up, confused.
" Detective Maria Baez, long-term partner of the oldest Reagan, a good detective. I have already read her jacket. What is your point?" He asked, a little annoyed
"I want you to meet Elena Baez, the detective's adopted daughter. According to my sources, Detective Reagan's kryptonite," She slid a picture across the table into his view.
"I am not killing a child," he warned
"No, not kill; Detective Baez and her daughter disappear one day. The detective can have her padded cell at the asylum; we admit her under an assumed name and have her overmedicated. No one will believe a drug addict who murdered her child. Not that she will ever be able to make coherent conversation. After a few years, she can disappear. Elena is a beautiful baby. She can be sold to be adopted. She won't know she can have a great life with a loving family." She explained
"Tracy, you are a terrifying person considering your chosen profession. How long will it take to set up?" He asked
Doctor Tracy Needham considered that for a moment, a few days to get the back story, I will need your help with the law enforcement side. I will arrange to transfer our new guest in three to four days; coming from out of state makes it easier for me. All the trial and sentence paperwork will already be completed. We will make it look like she tried to cut her wrists in her last unit and keep her in restraints. The staff will not interact with her too much; they hate child killers." Smirked the Doctor
Deputy Superintendent Nutter smiled as he brushed the crumbs from his state police uniform. "Don't be long. You don't want to miss the news." He laughed as he walked away
Dr Needham just smiled and followed him out.
BB
Garrett finished his call and nodded to the commissioner. " Ten minutes, all the affiliates are broadcasting it." Sorry Frank
After Eddie and Jack had gone, Frank Reagan didn't sleep well last night. He had to referee a family argument and watched his three kids start the biggest sibling argument the family had ever seen. Pop would have customarily been the peacemaker; instead, he became withdrawn and started comfort baking. Sending his oldest two home, he had to pour a drunken Jamie into his childhood bed in the early hours.
Tv News Footage
"Hi Manny, watch your street dealers tomorrow; the 12th is planning a raid. Designed for 08:00, they plan on taking your underage dealers and taking them all back to school. Keep them off the streets, and you can cash in when other dealers have their products confiscated and dealers are in the cells." Eddie smiled
Manny passed across a small black pouch, "I have put extra in as a thank you for tip last week,"
"Thank you. Would you care to join me?" Eddie asked; she removed two baggies from her pouch and proceeded to tip the contents on a glass tile. Expertly, she broke the powder up using her credit card and skillfully divided the cocaine into four individual lines.
"Ladies first, Officer Reagan," Manny told her as he handed over the metal straw.
Eddie hoovered both lines, passed the tile over, and rubbed her nose. "See you next week, Manny; I have an hour to get to the precinct." Smirked Eddie
"Are you taking your stash to work with you? You know, to the precinct?" Asked a curious man
"Yeah, although we do have a thief. I feel confident it is in a very safe place, not exactly as if I can take it home with my husband being so OCD; no safe place to hide it. Can't exactly put it in our gun safe," smirked Eddie
" Officer Eddie Reagan, you are one crazy woman. Thanks for the tip," Manny smirked as he watched her walk away.
End clip
The dream team all sat stunned after watching the news segment.
BB
Eddie cringed as she watched the news. The last strands of her red hair fell to the carpet of her flea-bag hotel room. Checking her reflection in the cracked mirror, she didn't recognise herself. Her long blonde hair was now red and cut to hang just below her ears.
Flashback meeting three months ago
Eddie had been surprised when Frank, her father-in-law, asked her to meet him in a coffee shop a little out of the way. She arrived and was surprised to see him without his details in attendance. He had taken the subway, which had piqued her interest.
"Eddie, this meeting never happened. I need you to read this, and then we will talk," Frank asked, handing over an envelope.
Taking it, she started to read.
After twenty minutes, she had finished her coffee, which had gone cold long ago, forgotten as she read.
Eddie looked puzzled, "This can't be true, Frank. Is this journalist on the up and up, or is he just trying to fabricate a story?" She asked
"My exact thoughts. I tried to confirm what I could with limited success, so I contacted him again for a second face-to-face. He has disappeared from the face of the earth. That tells me there is something behind his allegations. I can not order you to do this, Eddie. It has to be your decision," Frank explained.
Eddie pondered what she had just learned; she nodded, accepting.
"Just to reiterate, Eddie, No one else in the NYPD will know about this operation. You will be alone." He warned his daughter-in-law
"I am unwilling to risk Jamie's or anyone else's life. I do have two concerns, though, Frank." Frank nodded for her to continue. " You promise me you will make sure you look after Jamie. If this plays out like you want, it will hit him hard; you know he will blame himself for not noticing. I will do anything to protect the man I love and this family. But I still want my loving Jamie in one piece at the end." Eddie warned her glare, warning enough to the commissioner.
"Copy that,"
"Are you suggesting I take drugs?" Eddie asked
Frank smiled. "Not precisely; you will use a synthetic powder that looks and feels like cocaine powder. It can be snorted and will cause nose irritation and even dilate your pupils. It contains a legal stimulant to simulate the narcotic effect of the cocaine." He explained
She smiled. "Looks like I am about to become the black sheep of the family and the first drug addict." She laughed
End flashback
"Earth to Eddie!" Danny waved, trying to get her attention
She snapped out of her thoughts and smiled at Danny.
"That was Maria; after your little news feature, an arrest warrant has been issued. The warrant squad from the 2-9 are en route to your hotel room to arrest you. Good job, you moved," Danny explained after ending his call.
Eddie's face paled, the realisation striking her that she was about to become a fugitive from the law on the run in New York City.
"I am proud of what you are doing, Eddie," Danny told her as he hugged her.
She appreciated what Danny tried to do but still felt horrible. Removing her rings last night felt like she had been stabbed in her heart. She sniffed and tried to pull herself together.
"Dad has arranged for misleading sightings to be phoned into the police call centre to help muddy the waters. The two real baggies of coke have an ink stain on the front, and Narcan patches and a burner phone are in the bag as well. Good luck," He told her.
"How is Jamie?" Eddie asked
"Sleeping it off, he went on a bit of a bender after you left the house," he reluctantly answered, not wanting to lie to her.
"Make sure you are there for your brother, Daniel Reagan. Don't make me hurt you when I get back," Eddie warned him.
"Copy that; I have to go now, Eddie. I need to catch a fleeing dirty cop." Smirked Danny
"Don't forget drug addict and thief." Smiled Eddie as she hugged him
"Be careful,"