And Love
Chapter 6 Ghost
DINNER AT MALINA'S WITH JOE
Eddie and Jamie have gone round and round about this dinner. Not in a disagreeable way, but in a what exactly should we do sort of way. They discussed: having a picture of Joe and Jamie on display; having a picture of Joe, Angela & Jamie on display; having a picture of all the family on display; how to get a DNA sample; should they try to get a DNA sample; and more.
They decided that a picture of just Jamie and Joe would be too obvious. They put out a whole family picture. They were sure to have it out several days in advance and show it to Mal so she wouldn't say "Where did that come from?"
They appeased Mal with Eddie's mother's lasagna; otherwise, it would have been pizza. While Joe might love pizza, it didn't sound like a 'company coming to dinner' type of meal.
Eddie and Mal answered the door. "Hey partner, this is Malina, my daughter." Eddie shakes Joe's hand as does Mal.
"Hi, partner Joe." Mal smiles.
"Hi Mal, I've heard lots about you."
"You have?" The little girl looks back and forth between partners.
"Yup, all good stuff."
Mal giggles and looks down at her shoes.
"Come on in and meet Jamie." Eddie motions for them to advance to the LR; Jamie and Joe shake hands, then sit in comfy chairs. Mal hops up into Jamie's lap while Eddie returns to the kitchen to finish preparing dinner.
Joe starts "You did a great job getting Eddie started with her training."
"Thanks, I think she will be a very good officer. She should be an easy trainee."
"I agree. You met sometime in the past, right?"
"Yes. Mal here is proof of that. I couldn't hope for a better result than Eddie and Mal! Unknowingly, I hit the jackpot!" They both chuckle.
"And your dad's the PC? Wow!"
"Yeah, the entire family is in law enforcement or justice. What about your family?" (Jamie is thankful for this opening)
"Mom is an ICU nurse in Warwick, Rhode Island. Dad is an unknown, at least to me."
"To you? What does that mean, sorry for asking. You don't have to answer."
"No, it's ok. I've asked my mom over the years – she always deflects."
"Have you ever tried . . . I mean DNA testing?"
"No. It seems that there is some deep, dark secret that my mother doesn't want me to know. I thought about it, but decided not to go that route. I'm hoping that someday she will let me in on that."
Jamie walks to a bookcase and picks up his family picture. "Here is my family: oldest brother Danny, detective 1st grade NYPD; sister Erin, Manhattan ADA; dad Frank, NYPD PC; mom Mary, RN; grandpa Henry, prior NYPD PC; brother Joeseph, detective 1st grade NYPD; myself, patrol sergeant NYPD."
Joe Hill reaches for the picture, Jamie hands it to him.
He looks at it carefully, looks at Jamie then back at the picture. "Brother Joseph," he whispers.
Eddie is holding her breath, as she listens carefully from the kitchen.
Jamie speaks, "Yeah, Joe and I were best buddies. It was him and me against our older siblings almost every time there was an argument. When he died in the line of duty, I lost that. It took me a long time to get over his death."
"I'm sure it did," Joe whispers again. He shakes his body, like a shiver.
Eddie steps up beside Joe, "You ok, partner? You had a little shiver there, I think."
"Yeah, I'm not feeling well. I better go, I'm really sorry. Maybe we can do this another time?" He has a troubling look on his face as he looks at Jamie then Eddie.
Eddie speaks, "Sure, we'll talk about it in the car. See you tomorrow?"
"Yeah, tomorrow." He quickly shakes hands with Eddie and Jamie, and tousles Mal's hair, then lets himself out.
"I'm hungry," Mal announces.
"Yes, let's eat snookums," Jamie announces.
They sit, offer the blessing and eat. Jamie and Eddie pass looks between themselves; they know there is a talk coming after Mal is in bed.
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LATER
Mal has been put to bed; her parents are snuggling on the LR couch.
"Joe is your nephew, Jamie."
"Yeah, but what's the story?"
"I did some detective work," Eddie admits.
"You don't have a gold shield!"
"Not yet, maybe I want sergeant stripes like you!"
Jamie looks at her, "Really?"
"I don't know yet. We'll see. Anyway, Joe's mom, Paula Hill, was in the NYPD academy with Joe Reagan."
"And?"
"She dropped out suddenly, disappeared. A couple classmates remember that Joe and Paula had a thing going."
"And 9 months later?" Jamie raises an eyebrow.
"Baby boy! Bingo!" Eddie smirks.
"Damn!"
"Yup!" Eddie smirks. "So, what do we do?" She wonders.
"Nothing."
"Nothing? Surely you jest!"
"No, listen . . . you talk with him about a redo of dinner. See what he says, how he reacts. Do not tip our hand; let him pursue this in his own way, on his own time."
"And if he drops it like a hot rock?"
"We'll strategize."
"Yes, sarge." She grins, she loves this man!
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12-DAVID, NEXT DAY
Joe drives today.
"Have I lost my driving privileges?" Eddie puts on her best big girl pout.
"No, straighten up that pout over there. I told you not to get used to it."
"Is there a formula or a sequence here that I'm missing?"
"Nope. Just keeping you on your toes."
"Ok . . . so, what about that makeup dinner? Any thoughts?"
"Not yet. I'll let you know."
"Central, 12-David on the air."
"12-David responding. Go ahead," Eddie answers.
"12-David, silent alarm at the bodega, 3 blocks ahead, 2 blocks right."
"Central, show 12-David responding." Joe speeds up, Eddie hits the lights but no sirens.
In front of the bodega Joe squeals to a stop. The partners hop out, "Janko, follow my lead!"
"Copy that!" Eddie responds.
Joe cautiously enters the front door, Eddie right behind him. They see 2 perps holding a pharmacist at gunpoint in the back of the store. The cops split up, advancing down separate aisles with guns drawn. When they reach the end of their aisles Joe yells, "POLICE, FREEZE!"
Both perps whirl around, firing at where they see blue uniforms. Before the perps can be neutralized, Eddie takes a GSW to her right thigh. Both perps are taken out, but Eddie's wound begins to bleed significantly.
Joe leaps to her side, applying pressure to her wound. Joe keys his shoulder mic "Central, 10-13 officer down! We need a bus STAT at 12-David's location! GSW officer Janko right thigh."
A pharmacy tech appears with a rubber tourniquet and applies it above where Joe is holding pressure.
"Janko, stay with me!" Joe screams at her.
Soon sirens are heard; a bus and back-up officers appear. EMT personnel take over, load Eddie on a stretcher and are off to St. Victor's hospital.
A vascular surgical team is waiting. Linda is among those rushing a barely conscious Eddie toward surgery.
"Mal . . . Jamie!" Eddie croaks out.
"Linda, here, I will call Jamie. He will be here when you wake up after surgery."
Eddie disappears through the double doors, into the surgical suite. Linda goes back to her desk and calls Frank. "Detective Baker, how may I help you?"
"Abby, it's Linda Reagan. Can I speak with the commissioner?"
"Just a moment."
"Linda, what's up?" A distressed PC answers.
"Eddie Janko is in surgery at St. Vic's. GSW right thigh. She was conscious, lost a lot of blood, was calling for Mal and Jamie. I thought it best to let you track down Jamie and notify him."
"Good thinking, I'm on it. Please call my cell with updates, thanks Linda."
"Baker!" Frank shouts and barks out orders. Baker responds, as she always does.
Jamie is called off his tour. He rushes home to pick up Mal and a bag of supplies and toys for her. They reach the hospital while Eddie is still in surgery. Jamie settles himself and Mal in the surgical waiting room. He makes sure the nurses know that he is here for Edit Janko. The waiting game begins.
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2.5 HOURS LATER
Joe has joined Jamie in the waiting room; he sits beside the distraught young sergeant.
A young Asian doctor appears; "The family of Edit Janko, please."
Jamie rises, with Mal on his hip; Joe rises also.
"We are Edit's family, and her partner."
Daddy, is mommy, ok?" Mal whispers.
Jamie shushes her, "Just listen, baby."
The doctor begins, "The surgery was a success. We successfully repaired the artery. Thankfully, it was a secondary blood vessel; if it had been her femoral artery she probably would have bled out."
Everyone let out a sigh of relief, Jamie held Mal a little bit tighter.
"She lost a lot of blood; fortunately, those assisting her at the scene did a good job and blood loss was ameliorated. She has received 3 units of blood, and is in recovery. When she is back in her private room, a nurse will come and escort you to see her. Any questions?"
"Any permanent damage?" Joe asks.
"None anticipated. But she will probably be off work for 3-4 weeks." Dr. Cheng voices.
"Thank you," Jamie and Joe whisper in unison.
Mal reaches out to give the doctor a hug. She doesn't know exactly what happened; she does know that her daddy is relieved and happy. She and Dr. Cheng hug briefly. His eyes are moist!
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POST-OP
Eddie wakes up and looks around. 'Where am I? I was at that pharmacy, my partner yelled FREEZE! Then . . . here I am. What the hell?'
"Edit, so good to see you awake."
Eddie turns toward the voice; she sees a pretty woman in dark blue pajamas.
"Where . . . who are you?"
"I am Katelyn, your recovery nurse."
"Recovery?"
"Yes, you had surgery. You were shot in your right leg. Everything is ok now."
"Mal . . . Jamie?" She can't believe this!
"Your family is waiting for you, your partner also, I believe."
"My par . . . Joe! Is he ok? Was he shot too?"
"No, he wasn't shot. He is fine."
"That's good. Can I see Mal . . . and Jamie?"
"As soon as your vital signs stabilize, and the anesthesia is all gone from your system. Just relax Eddie, I'll check another blood pressure in a minute. How is your pain level, 1-10?"
"4."
"Would you like some pain med for that?"
"Yes, a little please."
"Coming right up."
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15 MINUTES LATER
Eddie has been medicated for pain; her level is down to 2. The anesthetic has worn off, she is awake and alert. Vitals are back to normal.
Katelyn unlocks the bed and starts to push Eddie back to her private room where her family awaits.
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TBC