A/N: FYI: For those that have been asking there is probably about 8ish chapters to this story left. ...ish...
Chapter 23: The Take Down
Using Walker's information, highly coordinated and simultaneous FBI, ATF and Albany Police raids on multiple locations including of course a raid on the Meretti estate itself are being planned so knowing they will now be pulling an all nighter plus some, Jamie and Eddie stand at the coffee station in the precinct fueling up as they wait for a few more pieces of the puzzle to fall into place.
"I knew Larissa was involved." Eddie admits as she watches Jamie pour coffee into the cup in her hands "Thank you." She offers her husband when he finishes before continuing on "But I didn't think she was THAT involved."
Jamie sighs as he moves to pour the hot liquid into his own cup "Partners through and through I guess."
"I guess." Eddie absently agrees before sighing "This is still a bit of a mess though." She admits as Jamie puts the coffee pot back on the burner "As far as the outside world is concerned, we still need to be murderers on the run."
"For a little longer." Jamie agrees.
"And you just made a deal to protect Walker from Meretti finding out it was him that turned on him." Eddie points out.
"I know." Jamie admits.
"So you want to explain to me how we are doing that?"
At that moment Jamie catches sight of Caitlin heading to the water cooler so he scrubs a hand over his face and sighs "Carefully." He replies while focusing his eyes on Caitlin.
Following his look, Eddie too sees Caitlin "She did good tonight."
"Except for the bit where she hurt you by lunging at Walker." Jamie disagrees.
"I'm fine." Eddie dismisses.
"Now." Jamie counters "But at the time, I saw the pain on your face no matter how much you tried to hide it."
"Okay fine." Eddie relents "She may have accidentally grabbed my arm over my wound but it wasn't intentional. It was just in the heat of the moment."
"That is exactly my point." Jamie states.
"Because you've never lunged at anyone?" Eddie challenges her husband knowing full well he has "She's a Reagan, just like you and just like Danny."
"Yeah…" Jamie mumbles "…that's what I'm afraid of."
"You should talk to her." Eddie suggests.
"And say what?" Jamie counters.
"That she did good tonight." Eddie reiterates.
"So that can go to her head and encourages her to do more stupid things in the future?" Jamie challenges.
Eddie takes a deep calming breath at his stubbornness while Jamie looks at his wife trying to figure out why she doesn't understand that all he is doing is just trying to look out for, and protect Caitlin.
"We would not have been able to pull off half of what we did tonight without her." Eddie reminds him "She was the one that sold Walker on the fact that I wasn't real AND programed that cellphone with my haunting voice."
"I know that." Jamie tosses at his wife in slight frustration.
"So then maybe a 'that a girl' in appreciation wouldn't kill you." Eddie pointedly instructs with a knock of her head in Caitlin's direction and a look in her eyes that says she isn't about to take no for an answer.
"You know you could go." He tosses as his wife in one last ditch effort to avoid doing this.
"Won't mean as much coming from me." Eddie dismisses.
Jamie's face scrunches up "Why not?" he challenges.
"Because I'm not the blood relative." Eddie reminds him "You are. Now go."
"But..."
"Go!" Eddie growls.
Again, Jamie's face scrunches up in displeasure but when Eddie throws him one more pointed look Jamie mumbles "Fine." in defeat as he puts his coffee cup down then heads for Caitlin.
"Hey." He a bit awkwardly greets when he reaches her.
Caitlin looks up.
"So um… listen…" Jamie continues as he rubs the back of his neck "Just wanted to say, you did good tonight - all but that one hotheaded move when you lunged at Walker."
"Sorry." Caitlin apologetically mutters.
"You're a good cop." Jamie admits "But those impulses you have to do things like that…"
"I know." Caitlin interrupts "It's just…"
"He killed your parents?" Jamie finishes "I get that. Believe me I do but that's when you need to focus and think more than ever because in our line of work, if you don't and you let your emotions cloud your judgement – that can literally be the difference between life and death." he continues before pausing "And I just found you guys…" he tacks on a moment later "So I'd really like it if everyone stayed in the alive category." He finishes before just turning and walking away and as he goes, ever so slowly a smile spreads across Caitlin's face.
A second later Caitlin turns to walk in the opposite direction "Was that a compliment?" she questions of herself "That was totally a compliment." She giddily decides.
….
Having received word from Jamie, Joe is back in the Meretti house waiting for Tony and Larissa to 'resurface' but as he checks his watch yet again, he sighs in frustration. He was running out of time for them to come out on their own in order make the plan work – timing was crucial so taking in a deep breath of air he is just about to go wake his 'boss' and wife up when the door opens and Meretti appears.
"Boss." Joe immediately greets a surprised looking Meretti at the sight of his body guard standing RIGHT there "You need to see this." Joe prompts as he pulls his phone out and turns it around to display a news article about the manhunt for Jamie and Eddie.
Now slightly confused and curious, Meretti takes the phone and looks at it "Oh what the hell." He breathes out unimpressed.
"What?" Larissa prompts as she appears behind her husband tying her robe.
Sighing, Meretti cringes and moves Joe's phone slightly so his wife behind him can see.
Larissa looks at the screen and her eyes go wide in pure unhappiness "Fix this Tony!" She demands of her husband "I want my friends back!"
….
"Detective Hill will already be inside." Jamie informs the other leaders of the raids as they gather in a secure location already dressed in their bullet proof vests and corresponding agency jackets "But to ensure Meretti and his wife don't slip through our fingers, Officer Janko and I will resume our UC roles and be on the estate - hopefully right next to them, as the other raids begin."
"Wait that's it?" Another leader pipes up "Just three of you?"
"To start..." Jamie confirms "Yes. Anything more than just us and it could tip them off. Like I said, the last thing we need is Meretti himself slipping through our fingers - besides, there is a child and a civilian nanny on site. We need to protect them. Once the location is secure, swat can move in and execute the search warrant. Any more questions?" Jamie then prompts.
Everyone shakes their heads no.
"Okay then let's get ready to move out." Jamie instructs so as the others in the room begin to file out the door, Eddie approaches the room already wearing her bullet proof vest with just a regular nondescript half zipped up jacket covering it while carrying a 2nd vest and jacket in her hands.
She waits for everyone except Jamie to leave then enters and holds the items in her hands out to him "Here you go."
"Thanks." Jamie states as he takes the items and starts to put the vest on first "You sure you're up for this?" he asks concerned about her arm.
"No way in hell I'm letting you do this without me." Eddie tosses back as she reaches with purpose to finish zipping her own jacket up to now completely hide her vest from view.
Suddenly Caitlin sticks her head in the door "I think Meretti is calling Walker." She announces as she lifts her hand and waves a cell phone in it at the couple.
Eddie glances at Jamie as he moves to take the phone from Caitlin and walk out of the room "Right on time." She notes as she and Caitlin move to follow.
Jamie walks down the hall then suddenly opens a door and enters a room Walker is in. "Here." He instructs as he lifts the phone showing Walker the unknown caller display "Remember what we agreed to."
"I know." Walker sneers back so Jamie sets the phone on the table, answers it and puts it on speaker.
"Hello?" Walker greets.
"What the hell did you do?" An unhappy Meretti greets.
"I'm taking care of my problem." Walker simply defends.
"By throwing my people under the bus?" Meretti spits out ""You've made the Mrs. very angry."
"Well sorry but it couldn't be helped."
Meretti takes in a deep unhappy breath "Do you know where they are?"
Walker lifts his head to lock eyes with Jamie "As a matter of fact I do, I just apprehended them."
"Is anyone else around?" Meretti presses "Any other cops?"
"No." Walker replies.
"Then you bring them here." Meretti instructs "We will sort this out ourselves."
"Whatever you say." Walker easily agrees before Jamie reaches over and ends the call.
…
Charlotte is walking down the hall in the Meretti house when suddenly she feels someone grab her "WHAT THE…!" She begins to cry out but Joe reaches over and covers her mouth as he pulls her into a side room with him.
"Shhhhhh." He begs as he turns her around to face him "Please." He urgently whispers out "Don't scream, it's just me." He begs before motioning to indicate he's going to release her from his grasp.
He slowly does and Charlotte takes a step back to look at him "What are you doing?" She unhappily chides.
"I don't have a lot of time to explain." Joe lowly rushes out "The important things you need to know right now is I'm a cop, Jamie is a cop and Eddie is a cop."
Charlotte's eyes go wide "What?"
"If you can…" Joe prompts "…get off the estate now because all hell is about to break loose but if you can't, trust them – and only them..." he adds before just taking off leaving Charlotte standing there stunned but at that moment, out the window, her eyes catch sight of a car she doesn't recognize driving up to the house and she sees Jamie behind the wheel so with growing wide eyes Charlotte turns and runs for her room. She enters, swings the door shut and locks it. She surveys her room taking stock then hurries to the closet, swings the door open and pulls out a suitcase.
….
Jamie drives up to the Meretti house in a nondescript 4 door car with Eddie in the passenger's seat and Walker in the back seat holding an unloaded gun on them. The car doesn't even come to a stop and Meretti and Joe are coming out of the house.
"Call him off!" Jamie unhappily demands of Meretti.
"Okay everybody out!" Meretti demands in annoyance and once everyone is out, Meretti gestures for Joe to move towards Walker "For everyone's safety here, hand over all weapons." He instructs.
Begrudgingly Walker hands his gun over.
"You too." Meretti prompts Jamie and Eddie.
Jamie looks at Meretti unimpressed "You think if we had guns we would have let him hold one on us?"
"Gotta check anyway." Joe pipes up as he moves to pat down both his uncle and aunt and even though both are indeed carrying, Joe pretends they aren't "They're clean Boss."
"Good." Meretti accepts "Now let's sort this out…" he begins but suddenly his phone dings with a message and then another and another and another. He pulls out his phone to read and at first his brow furrows but then it furrows more and as he continues to read his expression changes to disbelief, confusion, anger, and then panic all rolled into one.
Watching Meretti, Jamie, Eddie and Joe all realize Meretti had been tipped off early so out of time, Jamie starts to remove this jacket while prompting "Eddie go." to his wife.
Immediately Eddie starts for the house in search of Larissa.
Looking up Meretti sees Jamie standing there in a Police issued bullet proof vest pulling a set of hand cuffs out from his waist "Lieutenant Timothy Walker…" Jamie begins as he moves to cuff Walker "You are under arrest for the murder of Sergeant Thomas Reagan and Kathleen Reagan as well as obstruction of justice in a federal investigation and.."
"JOEY!" Meretti demands as he gestures at Jamie "KILL HIM!"
….
Larissa is on her way through the kitchen to head out the door when her eyes catch sight of the scene outside and Jamie in a police vest.
"Son of a Bitch." Larissa breathes out as she bolts for a wall, flings a hinged painting away to reveal a hidden safe, enters the code, pops the door open and swipes up a gun. She flings the safe door and painting closed then turns to head outside but before she can even take a step. Larissa comes face to face with Eddie now standing there with her police bullet proof vest visible.
"Don't." Eddie warns but it's too late as both woman simultaneous raise their weapons in a stand off…
….
"JOEY." Meretti again demands as he gestures at Jamie "I SAID KILL HIM!"
Joe sucks in a breath of air in mock regret "Can't do that." He rejects as he instead takes a step away from Meretti and forward towards his uncle before turning and aiming his gun at Meretti.
"What the hell are you doing?" Meretti demands.
"He's covering you…" Jamie explains as he again reaches around his waist to pull out a 2nd pair of cuffs "…while I place you under arrest." He adds as he steps towards Meretti "Hands behind your back."
Meretti looks at Joe with wide eyes.
Joe shrugs and offers an insincere "Sorry – and it's Joe…" He finally corrects "Not Joey."
….
It's a complete stand off with Eddie pointing her gun at Larissa and Larissa pointing her gun at Eddie.
"I thought we were friends?" Larissa seethes as she takes a step away from the wall.
"Sorry." Eddie apologizes in a tone that says she doesn't really mean that as she steps with Larissa.
Larissa scoffs "There is no way you are getting off the estate alive."
"Well that's your opinion." Eddie accepts as this time she takes a step "But I have a different one." She continues as Larissa takes a counter step "See I think we're both leaving the estate – it's just when we do, you'll be in handcuffs."
"Over my dead body." Larissa growls.
Eddie sighs "Why do mobsters always say things like that?" She wonders before suddenly behind Larissa Eddie sees Charlotte about to hurry into the kitchen with a suitcase in hand but then freeze at the sight of the stand off.
Eddie tilts her head in thought and Joe's voice rings in her ears 'She's great under pressure' so she takes a chance…
"Actually…" Eddie continues as she starts to form a plan "I've always been fascinated with euphemisms like that…" She begins to ramble "You know ones like 'out of the pan…" She emphasizes as she tilts her head ever so slightly towards a cast iron frying pan lying on the counter behind Larissa and next to the entrance within Charlotte's reach "…and into the fire."
Watching Eddie, Charlotte's eyes on instinct drift over to the pan too.
"Or hitting someone over the head with a frying pan." Eddie tacks on.
Charlotte's eyes immediately dart to Eddie to see her shrug a little and that's when realization hits Charlotte of what Eddie wants her to do so Charlotte's eyes go super wide and she profusely shakes her head back and forth no.
Getting frustrated with Eddie's off topic ramblings Larissa demands "What the hell are you talking about already?"
In response to both Charlotte and Larissa, Eddie again just shrugs and continues on "I mean think about it, why over the head?" She philosophically prompts "Why not just 'hit them in the arm?" she offers Charlotte as an alternative.
For a moment Charlotte ponders that.
"Just one good quick quack on the arm would be enough…" Eddie prods.
Still completely oblivious to what is happening behind her Larissa looks at Eddie like she's nuts "Seriously what are you rambling on about?"
"But we don't have time to ponder these types of things do we?" Eddie much more urgently prompts Charlotte.
Taking in a silent breath, Charlotte carefully reaches for the frying pan while Eddie continues on making sure Larissa's focus stays on her "It's better to act quickly don't you think? Because the longer we wait…" She continues as Charlotte lifts the frying pan "… the greater the chance of being discovered."
"You're nuts." Larissa decides right as Charlotte brings the pan down hard on Larissa's hand holding the gun.
"AH!" Larissa cries out as her arms drops, her hand releases it's grip on the gun and the gun goes crashing to the floor.
"Hands behind your back!" Eddie demands as she springs into action moving to kick Larissa's gun away while Larissa grabs at her now throbbing in pain arm.
Still standing there holding the frying pan in her hands, Charlotte starts to heavily breath in and out as the adrenaline pumps through her.
"I said hands behind your back!" Eddie instructs as she reaches for her cuffs but Larissa continues to just stand there clutching at her arm "Oh is your arm in pain?" Eddie mocks "Well now you know how I feel." She growls as she reaches to grab Larissa's arms and pull them behind her back anyway.
"OW!" Larissa cries out.
"Oh look at us." Eddie then mocks "We're arm pain twins." She offers before again turning serious "You are under arrest." She adds and once Larissa is securely in cuffs, Eddie looks over at Charlotte to see her still just standing there frozen "You okay?"
"I… I can't believe I did that." Charlotte shakily admits.
Eddie smiles at her "You did good." She commends before looking back at Larissa "Okay let's go. You have a date with a jail cell and let me tell you, you are going to LOVE the outfits they provide." So Eddie walks Larissa out the door and as she does it hits Charlotte that both Tony and Larissa are about to be carted away by the police leaving Nathan alone so she frowns. A moment later, she looks down at her suitcase then back into the house pondering what to do...
Outside Jamie looks up at the sight of his wife escorting Larissa "You good?"
"I'm good." Eddie confirms as she looks at Walker and Meretti both in cuffs "I see you're good too."
"Yup." Jamie confirms before reaching one more time around to the back of his waist and pulling out a radio. He turns it on then speaks into it "Merettis are in custody." He announces before looking around "Wait where's Nathan and Charlotte?"
Eddie turns back towards the house and her brow furrows "Charlotte was right behind me."
Immediately Joe starts for the house. He cautiously enters with gun drawn and in the distance he hears the entertainment system blaring with what sounds like a video game being played so he makes his way in that direction. He cautiously pokes his head in the room and there he sees Charlotte playing a video game with Nathan and he realizes she purposefully did not heed his warning and instead made her priority making sure Nathan was safe, distracted and away from seeing, or hearing his parents get arrested.
He holsters his gun as Charlotte glances in his direction and he nods his head at her in understanding so Charlotte turns her attention back to Nathan and the game.
…..