Day four found Eddie. Sleeping peacefully during her torturous detox had been hard physically and mentally. Her restraints had just been removed, and she had suffered some prolonged—violent episodes after some vivid flashbacks.
Jamie had strayed from her room only a few times to use the bathroom. He was exhausted physically and mentally. Watching Eddie fighting her demons had been hard for him.
"How is she doing?" Maria asked, handing Jamie a fruit smoothie.
"She is finally resting peacefully, and she hasn't had any nightmares for the past few hours," said a tired but very relieved Jamie.
"She is strong, Jamie; come with me. We need to talk with you outside. We can listen out for any noise," Maria asked.
Reluctantly, he glanced at his sleeping wife, ensuring she was still fast asleep. He nodded and followed Maria.
His heart dropped when he saw his father standing outside, flanked by Garrett and Sid. The looks on their faces told him he wasn't going to like what came next.
"Jamie, this appeared online this morning. It was filmed sometime over the last 48 hours. We are trying to find out how a photograph got into her room," announced Frank
Garrett handed over his iPad, and Jamie watched the clip. "Bastards, she has been through enough. He watched the clip again, paused the playback, and examined the perspective." He concentrated on zooming in and out of various scenes as he scanned the scene. "Their camera was on top of a trolley, and I am guessing they camouflaged it between equipment to hide it while filming. This isn't too bad, an invasion of her privacy, but overall, It could be much worse." Announced Jamie, handing Garrett his iPad back.
Catching his father's and Sid's looks, Jamie knew there was more to this than just this video. "Tell me," he coaxed. He was beyond tired and didn't have the energy to play nice. Garrett returned his iPad after opening X.
Jamie watched Eddie pull the rubber tubing tight around her arm with her teeth, tapping her forearm to find the vein. She slipped the needle into her arm and depressed the plunger. He gripped the iPad so hard his fingers felt numb, his knuckles white, the anger radiating from his body as he watched his wife fall back onto the bed with a look of bliss on her face. He glanced at the views and saw over 400,000 views. After reading a few comments, he tossed the iPad back in disgust to Garrett.
"What aren't you telling me?" He demanded.
Frank nodded to Sid, " After Captain McNichols briefed the 29th about Officer Reagan's undercover op, she was approached by one of her sergeants. They have seen all the social media footage of Officer Reagan injecting herself with heroin. 80% of the 29th precinct do not want her back. We held back the fact that Eddie was forcibly addicted to Heroin. Unfortunately, this edited footage was released and has been trending since it gathered momentum around the NYPD. Consensus is split. Some believe the footage is authentic. Her return to work will be difficult for her. Some of her fellow officers will shun her. The commissioner tried to set the record straight, but it looked like damage control." Sid explained, looking guilty.
"She needs to know about this now. This new clip will make it open season on her." Frank explained.
"This is not on you, Dad. Do we know where this footage came from?" Jamie asked
"Margaret Barry filmed what she did to Eddie on that barge; we are looking to find who she sent the footage to. We don't know if this photographer has anything to do with the clips released on social media. We will find them, Jamie," announced Frank.
Jamie dropped his head and didn't know how many more knocks Eddie could take. Turning to his father, he nodded and looked at his sleeping wife. "Once she wakes up, I will tell her. She asked about her partner. Has he said anything to Kasey?" He asked
"No, He started at the 12th precinct a few days ago; he is getting to know his new partner. Kasey said he is still pissed at her. It will take time, let's hope. He comes around." Explained Frank.
Jamie mutters something under his breath and returns to his wife's side.
"Sir, What do you intend to do with Eddie when she is fit to return to work?" Asked Maria
He pondered her question momentarily, "I don't know Maria, she doesn't deserve any of this. I do not want her stubbornness to set her recovery back, and I remember the problems I caused Kara Walsh. I know how vindictive they can be. Allowing Eddie to be ostracised could be disastrous. I will have to think about what to do with Eddie carefully." Frank answered
Maria started to say something but stopped, not sure if she should.
"Maria? Out with it," chided Frank
Maria smiled, "I know I am not a Reagan yet." Maria started, pausing to breathe, unsure if she should talk with Frank about this; this Reagan thing was new and intimidating to her. "For what she has done for the NYPD and this city, she deserves a promotion and the opportunity to pick her next posting. Forget her surname for one minute and ask yourself what you would do for any other member of the NYPD. That woman deserves a medal for what she has done; if I hear anyone saying otherwise, I will be decking them…Sir," she added so as not to sound too disrespectful.
A smirk appeared on Frank's face as Maria didn't sugarcoat her answer.
"Noted Maria, thank you for your honesty. You are a Reagan; you just have not been named yet. Sunday dinner will be interesting, with you sitting beside Danny, keeping him calm. Erin might find her Sundays more peaceful." Laughed Frank. Her comments made him think about his rule about no hooks for family.
BB
"Hey, Ed, how are you feeling?" He asked
"Hungry. What time is it?" Eddie sleepily asked
This was the first time in a week she felt hungry; she had lost weight since her arrest at the precinct.
Jamie smiled; that sounded like his Eddie. He had missed his soul mate. "What do you feel like a salad?" He smirked
"Yeah, as long as I get a nice juicy burger next to it," she smirked.
The sight of his wife's smile brought him immense joy after enduring days of listening to her screams and pleas that had deeply hurt him. He had no intention of spoiling the moment he would enjoy a meal with his wife before he told her about the videos. He sent a request for the food to Henry, who promised he would fetch Eddie's favourite double cheeseburger from her favourite diner.
"Pops said you will have your favourite double cheeseburger within the hour." Smiled Jamie.
"Thank you," she smiled.
Her craving for that high was alleviated for the moment, and Her fight was far from over. After eating, Her next goal was to get out of the hospital and back home. She watched Jamie as he sat beside her.
"Just ask me, Jamie," Eddie eventually asked.
Jamie looked surprised and shook his head. "Not yet, Ed. Let's get you home, and we can talk about it then. I don't need to know what she did to you. I am happy to have you back. You can tell me when you feel ready." He smiled; he honestly didn't care. He had her back.
"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" Henry asked as he walked in bearing her food.
Eddie smiled, "Better thanks Henry, you are an angel,"
"One double cheeseburger from your favourite diner with curly fries and onion rings," Henry announced as he passed the bag.
Her eyes lit up as she grabbed Henry's food bag. Greedily, she opened her cheeseburger and took a satisfying bite. "Wow, this is so good…..thank you, Henry," she muttered as she enjoyed her food.
Both Reagan men smiled as they watched Eddie inhaling her burger. This was their old Eddie back. No one enjoyed their food as much as Eddie.
After finishing her burger, she groaned in delight and turned to Henry, "Thank you for that, Henry. Did you happen to get dessert?" she cheekily asked.
Henry laughed and placed a slice of her favourite cheesecake on the table. The Reagan family patriarch was ecstatic to have his Eddie back. He handed her a fork to eat her cheesecake and kissed her on the forehead.
Jamie gave his grandfather a slight nod. He had asked him to stay while he told Eddie about the videos and her precinct.
"Whenever you're ready, Jamie," Smiled Eddie. "I know you, Jameson Reagan, out with it,"
"Told you," Henry smiled.
Jamie passed his cell phone to Eddie and played the video clips. Eddie watched in shock as the high-definition and stereo sound videos played. Eddie noticed that Jamie's hand tightly gripped the phone, indicating that he was also disturbed by what they were watching.
"Bitch!" Eddie snarled as she pushed the phone away in disgust.
"What else is there?" Asked an angry woman, dreading the answer.
" There is a lot, Eddie; I am sorry, sweetheart," Jamie answered, raining in his anger.
"Have you watched it, Henry?" Asked an embarrassed Eddie.
Henry took hold of her hand, " Look at me, please, Eddie," he asked, waiting for her to look at him. " Yes, we have all watched the footage. You were addicted to heroin by that evil woman. We all know what the need for that next fix will make a person with an addiction do. You have nothing to be ashamed of, Eddie," Henry comforted Eddie.
"Pops is right, Ed," Confirmed Jamie
Eddie groaned. "What are the guys at the precinct going to say?" she asked, catching her husband's grimace. "Jamie!" She prompted
" After McNichols briefed the precinct she was approached by one of the sargeants, 80% of the rank and file at the 29th don't want you to return. Consensus is split on the footage, but the majority think you are an addict and refuse to work with you." Jamie explained.
Eddie looked shocked, tears starting to fall as she heard how her own house had shunned her. "Is that why Luis hasn't visited?" She sniffed
"No, Luis is still mad about how he was treated. He transferred to the 12th." Answered Jamie
Eddie pushed her bedside table aside and lowered her bed, turning towards the wall. "I am tired," she sniffed as she turned away from Jamie and Henry.
To be continued