Jamie's Encore
Chapter 7 Moving West
A/N: The behavior of Danny & Erin in this chapter will be confusing if you haven't read "Jamie's Song", the antecedent story.
San Diego May 10
Jamie has been out here since Aoril 15. They sent 1 moving van with furniture etc. so it would meet him at the condo. He recruited help from the SDPD and the symphony and he moved in amidst a sea of boxes. He's been roughing it, and sorely missing his girl. Caitlin will be coming about June 15, along wit her grand piano. He must save room for that, or he's dead meat!
Caitlin and Olivia are here for a long weekend; Olivia will stay in their guest room until her 1-bed apartment is ready June 1. It is also on Coronado, about 4 blocks from the condo. Everyone is getting excited.
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RADY SHELL
Caitlin is doing a practice session, Jamie and Olivia are her audience. He is on an extended lunch break, so he is in uniform. Olivia has made a brown-bag lunch for herself, Caitlin and Jamie. The girls sure do spoil him!
Sitting 2 rows in front of Jamie are a group of 4 college girls; they are eating sack lunches and chatting. One of the girls turns around and looks at the police officer and the older lady. Jamie puts a finger to his lips, asking for a little less loud conversation. The girl nods, and passes his request on. The girls do quiet down; when another of the group turns around Jamie mouths 'thank you', smiles and nods. The girl nods in return.
After Caitlin finishes the Beethoven concerto that she will perform for the July 12 concert, she comes up and sits by Jamie. He gives her a kiss on the cheek and shares some lunch. The girls notice, and come up to introduce themselves.
Cathy, Julie, Amanda & Katy are introduced to the older trio.
"Are you practicing for something special," Katy asks.
"Yes, the July 12 concert with the symphony," Caitlin informs them. "Do you come to symphony concerts," she inquires.
"We've tried," Julie says. "But we can't get tickets. The only ones available are way out of our price range!"
"How much do available tickets cost," Olivia wonders.
"$250.00 a seat/concert!" Mandy snorts.
"Wow," Jamie mutters. "How do kids interested in music ever do that?" He looks at his girlfriend, puzzled.
She whispers to him, "I'll look into that." She turns to the girls, "If you will give me your contact info, I will see what I can do."
"You are really good! How long have you been playing the piano?" Cathy is interested.
"Well, I started when I was 3 y/o. I've been playing ever since."
"Do you work with the symphony," Katy chimes in.
"I will be. I'll be coming from NYC in June – to be their Pianist in Residence. My boyfriend here, Jamie, is a Lieutenant with the SDPD. And Olivia (she points) is coming with me to be one of my admin assistants. So there you have it!"
"Do you really think that you can get us tickets?" Mandy wonders.
"I certainly will try. Olivia or myself will let you know."
"Thank you," they all proclaim.
Lunch is over; Jamie heads back to work, Caitlin & Olivia head back to the condo.
The girls head back to afternoon classes.
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REAGAN SUNDAY DINNER
After grace is offered, food is passed and all start eating.
Sunday dinners have been a somber affair ever since Jamie moved to California. The family had done their utmost to dissuade son, brother and uncle from this drastic move. They recognized the truth to his statement that he never would have had this kind of an opportunity here with the NYPD. They also recognized the tremendous pull that a move in concert with Caitlin had. Though Danny and Erin remained dubious that she was 'right' for their little brother, or that she was hiding something terribly embarrassing or illegal; they grudgingly conceded that he was free to make his own choices. They just wished that the choice hadn't taken him so far away. None of them were happy about the current state of affairs.
They were flabbergasted when Caitlin called Pops, and asked for a few minutes at the next Sunday Dinner.
(Unknown to them, she had called Father Markham at St. Angelus and volunteered to play at that Sunday's Mass)
When the family took their seats in their regular pew, they were shocked to see Caitlin seated at the piano. She performed 15 minutes of prelude music, playing a medley of Great hymns of the Church. At the appropriate spot for special music, she played a Chopin etude. Then after Mass she played Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata fora postlude. Everyone stayed to the finish and gave her a standing ovation!
(Unknown to anyone, she had her phone on as she played so Jamie & Olivia could hear)
After Mass, Fr. Markham had her stand by his side as he & she greeted worshippers as they left the church. The Reagan family waited until all were gone, to welcome her; Erin & Nicky offered her a ride to the house.
(Fr. Markham had arranged her transportation to the church)
She hadn't intended to stay for the entire dinner, but Frank convinced her otherwise.
"Caitlin, thank you so much for the beautiful music," Pops started with. "And for joining us for dinner."
"When will you be moving to San Diego," Frank inquires.
"I start my job out there June 15; I will be joining Jamie the weekend before that."
"Have you been out and checked things out," Nicky asks.
"Yes, I 've been out twice. This last weekend I helped Olivia move out."
"Olivia?" Sean is puzzled.
"My admin assistant from Julliard. She will be one of two assistants for me in San Diego."
Danny looks askance at Caitlin, "Have you told my kid brother about Abigail Murray yet," he smirks.
Erin raises an eyebrow.
Caitlin freezes, then begins to tremble. She slowly gets up, stumbles toward the front door. She reaches for her coat, but Frank is there to steady her.
"I must go, please help me, Frank. Please," she is now whispering.
Frank helps her with the coat, and out the front door. "What do you need, my dear?"
"I thought it was safe. I thought Jamie was safe. I was wrong." She is sobbing now, leaning all her weight onto Frank.
"Please get me a cab." She chokes out.
"No, I'll call for my detail. I will wait right here with you; then I will take you wherever you want to go."
Pops has come out the front door; Frank asks for two chairs and to keep everyone inside. He does as he is asked.
Frank sits right by her side, holding her hand.
"I told Jamie about my darkest night. I never expected him to tell anyone. I was wrong! How stupid can I be?" She choked out between sobs.
"Caitlin, my dear. I know Jamie, my son. He would never betray you like that. I am sure of it!"
"Then what?"
"I don't know. There must be another explanation. Can I have some time to get to the bottom of this, please?"
"Ok."
Frank's detail pulls up, lights but no sirens. Frank helps her get in the back; he joins her.
"Wait here a moment, gentlemen."
Frank calls Pops. "The name Danny mentioned . . . yes, that's it. Find out how Danny knew that name! No Sunday dinners in this house until you and I know who did what . . . yes, I mean that. Put on your uniform, grab your baton, and go to work! I'm taking Caitlin home."
Frank puts an arm around her shoulders and pulls her to his side. "I'm sorry, my dear. Pops and I will straighten this out. I'm positive Jameson had nothing to do with this! I promise!"
"Can I call Jamie, please?" She has stopped the tears.
"Can you wait a bit? He will know something is wrong. I would prefer to wait until Pops finds out something; then he, and I, will know who to be angry with."
"Ok, I'll give it 3 hours. What if he calls?"
"Let it go to voice mail, please."
"Ok."
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REAGAN DINING ROOM
Henry dismisses the kids. They slink away, they know a hum-dinger is brewing.
Pops glares at Danny & Erin. He tells Linda she may go, she elects to stay.
"How did you know that name?" Pops asks.
"What name," Danny shrugs.
"DANIEL REAGAN! Fess up, or you won't know what hit you!" Henry is livid. His face is red, his neck veins bulging.
'OMG, he's going to have another heart attack or stroke!' Linda thinks. "Danny, please tell Pops what you know!"
"We were concerned our kid brother was going to get hurt," Erin mutters. "She is going to hurt him; I just know it!"
"Your brother isn't 6 years old anymore! He can make his own decisions." Linda shouts.
"Stay out of this Lin," Danny mumbles.
"No! Not this time! Daniel Reagan!" Linda shouts back.
"Erin, what did you do?" Henry growls.
"My boss, the DA, knows the Mississippi AG. He asked for some info."
"On Caitlin?"
"Yes." Erin hangs her head.
"Who else knows? Jamie?"
"No one, I swear."
"Daniel?"
"No one, I swear."
"Did you get more than the name?"
"We Didn't. I don't know if my boss did."
"FIND OUT!"
"Yes, sir."
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SUN ROOM
Henry steps out of the DR and calls Frank.
"Frank here."
"Pops here, put me on speaker, please."
"You're on speaker."
"Well, a sad story. Erin had her boss, the DA, ask the Mississippi AG, a friend, for some info. He gave her, thus Danny, the name. Nothing more. Erin doesn't know if her boss knows more, she will find out."
"Thanks, Pops; stay on top of this, please."
"Will do! Caitlin, my dear, I'm so sorry. Watch Jamie carefully, please. When he gets hit like this he tends to withdraw into his head. He needs those who love him to keep him from doing that, as well as we can. I know you love him, so do I. My prayers are with you, sweetheart!"
"Thank you Pops. I love you too." Caitlin sniffles.
The SUV continues on towards her home.
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TBC
A/N: College girls; Amanda, Cathy, Julie, Katy.