Newport Beach
The condos Hetty had for them were 2 penthouses atop a luxury living center in Newport Beach, CA. Located on the coast just south of Los Angeles. The surf wasn't the best for surfing, but it was fine for other water activities, perfect for this family.
Jamie and Eddie had left their sliding glass door open a bit, so they enjoyed the cool night time breeze and the soft sounds of the surf. Warm? They kept each other warm. They had the 2-bedroom unit (#1) – mom and dad in one bedroom, the twins in the other.
Nicky was in charge of the 3-bedroom unit (#2). They only used 2 bedrooms. Mary Rose slept with her cousin; Cassie and Mal took the other bedroom. This unit was in charge of meals.
When they looked inside the cupboards and fridge in unit #2, they were amazed. Everything they would need for meals was already there. Though he didn't do much cooking, he knew what was cooked. He gave Hetty a shopping list when they talked. He did amazingly well. The other unit did have sodas and snacks stocked. Everyone was happy.
The balcony of #2 had a charcoal grill. Dad was made to promise that he would grill burgers at least once. He didn't really mind!
The balcony of #1 had a hot tub. Jamie and Eddie arbitrarily named themselves in charge of that. In return for some unnamed favors, they extracted the promise of 1 kid-free evening and night. The kids pestered incessantly, trying to find out why mom and dad needed that. That info was never forthcoming. Even Nicky closed her lips on that one.
8888888888
DAY 1 FRIDAY ARRIVAL & MALIBU INCIDENT
See chapter 101.
88888888888
DAY 2 SATURDAY
Mal and helpers kept bkfst simple: eggs, toast, OJ, coffee, mini muffins.
Jamie called Marty to check on Kensi. She was awake and doing well. Probably going home Monday. After discussing with Nicky, Jamie and Eddie decided to go to the hospital and visit her and Marty. Nicky would be in charge of pool time. The parents decided against only Nicky supervising ocean time. She agreed. The pool it was.
PACIFIC BEACH MED CTR – MALIBU
Jamie and Eddie walked into room #331. Marty was sitting by the bed, holding Kensi's hand. She brightened up when she saw her visitors.
"Hi guys, I hear that I have a ton to thank you for!"
"Now, now," Eddie walked to the other side of the bed and grasped her hand; being careful of the IV. "We just did what any red-blooded American would do."
"Now, that's not what my shaggy said." She looked at Marty and grinned.
"Well, he may have used a little hyperbole," Jamie added.
"No, he doesn't know that word!" Kensi let out her famous cackle!
Everyone joined in. It felt so good.
"I hear that Hetty found you better accommodations than the Malibu Motel," Kens added.
"So we hear," Jamie put in. "That brochure looked pretty good, though."
"Public relations," Deeks added.
"How are you feeling," Eddie asked.
"Really tired of being asked that!"
"I bet," Jamie smiled and nodded.
"How long are you here for?"
"We fly back early Thursday," Eddie scrunches up her nose.
"Would you like to join forces on a joint outing one of these days?" Marty inquires.
"To see which part of So Cal we can destroy?" Eddie smirks.
"Yup," Kensi cackles again.
"Well, you know the area and what goes on when. What would you recommend?" Jamie puts out there.
"Mary Rose wants to see the San Diego Zoo," Eddie throws on the table.
They all look at each other. Light bulbs pop.
"Wait just a minute," Jamie cautions.
"Well, if we had a coach," Kensi thinks out loud.
"Wait a damn minute!" Eddie bursts out.
"I'll call Hetty," Marty pulls out his phone and exits the room.
"Just like that?" Eddie is flabbergasted.
"Just like that," Kensi nods.
"Wednesday," Marty says as he walks back into the room.
Jamie and Eddie look at each other and shake their heads. They say good-bye and leave, back to the condo.
After Jamie and Eddie leave Kensi looks to Marty; "I love those two!" She says with a huge smile.
"It seems like we've known each other forever," he agrees.
"Yup."
88888888888
MALIBU PRECINCT, SATURDAY
Jamie and Eddie with Nicky present themselves at 12:55. They find Kensi and Marty waiting for them.
"Hey guys, didn't expect to see you here," Eddie was surprised.
"Character witnesses," Marty winks. That earns him an elbow.
"We were witnesses," Kensi explains.
They were each soon escorted into a small office by a member of the shooting team.
JAMIE: "An NYPD Lieutenant?"
"Yes, sir."
"You know better than to allow civilians to have weapons in public places, don't you?"
"My wife and niece are trained and certified, sir. With reciprocity to California."
"Your daddy rigged that. Correct?"
"My father, NYPD PC Frank Reagan, advocated for us, yes."
"Did you intend to interfere in law enforcement activities while on vacation?"
"No, sir."
"Why did you give the command to DRAW?"
"When a perp grabbed a small child and ran, I thought that our assistance would be helpful."
"Hmpf."
88888888888
EDDIE: "Wife of a police officer, NYPD academy graduate, dropped out partway through your training year, now paralegal."
Pause.
"Correct, sir."
"Why a dropout?"
"Family decision, sir."
"Husband said no?"
"No, looking down at my nursing baby, I realized that I needed safer work, sir."
"I see, so you trained to get a CCW?"
"Family protection, sir."
He looks at her folder. "When you were ordered to draw your weapon . . . any doubts?"
"We have a family protocol. As a police officer, my husband is in charge during an incident. He gives an order, we implement it."
"If it's a wrong order?"
"Any doubts or disagreement are discussed during debrief. Never during an event. Never."
He looks long at Eddie. Then down at her folder. "You are a marksman?"
"Correct, sir."
"Proud of that, ma'am?"
"I don't see what-
"Answer the question, ma'am." He frowns.
"To a certain degree, yes."
"A certain degree. Which means?"
"Satisfied would be a better qualifier, sir." Eddie's voice hardens.
His demeanor hardens.
'Easy, here.'
"Your 13 y/o daughter took chase after-
"I thought this was a shooting hearing, sir."
"I'll take this hearing where it needs to go, understand?"
"Yes, sir, sorry, sir."
"Your daughter. You let her do that? Why?"
"Cassandra was trained in the use of the asp by her cousin, Joe Hill – an NYPD officer. She is proficient and levelheaded. Jamie and I decided, on the spot – to assist the fallen lady and her family."
"The fallen agent you mean."
"Unknown to us at the time, sir."
"You didn't see her badge, her weapon?"
"No, sir."
"Well, I see many questionable decisions here." He scowls, looks down at his material and sighs. He slams his folder shut, "Dismissed!"
He stands and motions to the door.
Eddie stands, pushes her chair under the table, turns and exits. She sees Jamie sitting on a bench in the hallway. She shuffles over and sits beside him, elbows on knees & head in hands. "Bastard!"
Jamie rubs her back, gently.
"I have no idea how Nicky will handle this! Damnit!"
NICKY: "Nicole Reagan-Boyle?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Not in school at present?"
"Correct."
"Why not? You only finished 2 years at NYU."
"I wasn't certain of my career path. I felt that I needed to take some time off, ma'am."
"And now, what?" The officer frowns.
"I am living with my uncle Jameson and his family out on Long Island."
"Have you found some clarity, Nicole?"
"I think so. Aunt Eddie does paralegal work, mostly from home. I've observed her a lot, and I like what she does."
"Is she helping you decide?"
"When I am watching her, she will often talk to me about what she is doing."
"I see. And your CCW permit, why?"
"Well, there was talk at first . . . about me being a nanny for them. So, I pursued it then. When we decided that my being an employee was weird, I just kept at it."
"Have you ever traveled with a weapon before?"
"No, ma'am."
"Did it feel right . . . to do that?" The lady officer raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, it felt ok."
The officer looked down at her papers. "And, did your uncles order to draw down bother you?"
"Not at all. I trust Uncle Jamie implicitly."
"At all times?"
"Absolutely." Nicky is starting to tremble. The female officer notices.
"If your uncle had ordered you to fire, would you have fired?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Really, Nicole?"
"If uncle Jamie ordered it, it was a good order." She calms some.
The officer hides a small smile, looks down at her papers . . . then back up at Nicky. "Thank you for talking with me, Nicole. You may go."
They both stand, shake hands and Nicky leaves the room. She sees Jamie and Eddie on the bench, walks over and plops own beside her uncle.
"Whew, I was petrified! How do you do this uncle Jamie?"
"Nick, this is one of the hardest parts of the job. You survived this, you can survive almost anything."
The officer that questioned Jamie approaches them. "We will be ready with our report in 1 hour. You are free to walk about until then. Please return in 50 minutes." He nods and goes back into the conference room he came from.
"Walk about where?" Eddie mutters.
"I saw a little park across the street," Nicky mentions. They walk over there, rest & relax, then return. Jamie had told the ladies that unless they were specifically asked, he would answer the question.
8888888888
SHOOTING TEAM REPORT
Jamie, Eddie and Nicky are escorted into a larger conference room. They take seats at a large wooden table. An LAPD Lieutenant was seated facing them.
"I am Lieutenant Brooks. I have the report of the team that questioned you. Before I give you the report, do you have any questions?"
Nicky raises her hand.
"Yes, miss?"
"Yes, the lady who questioned me, asked many non-incident related questions. Is that standard procedure, sir?"
"Yes, the questioner has much leeway. They can go where they feel is necessary, to gather information that they feel is needed."
"Others?"
None.
"Very well, the report:
NICOLE: There was no fault found in your behavior. You behaved in an exemplary manner, in a highly stressful situation. Your firearm and documentation will be returned to you. You are free to go."
"I would like to stay, if I may?"
The Lieutenant nods.
Jamie frowns at his niece – she stays.
EDDIE: There were no issues regarding your firearm, and use thereof. Your allowance of your daughter, Cassandra, to pursue a perp who may have been armed, was deemed negligent. A letter of reprimand will be forwarded to the NYPD along with your firearm and documentation. You should contact that agency regarding further steps, and those items.
JAMESON: The committee, of which I am a voting member, was split 2:2 regarding your report and status. The 2 partial reports, along with your weapon and documentation will be sent to the NYPD. You may pick those things up when you return home.
"Questions?"
"Are you serious?" Nicky asks.
"Quite. The care and handling of firearms, is a business we here at the LAPD take very seriously. I assume you have learned a lesson, at a quite low cost. Good day." He stands and leaves.
"I recorded that," Eddie whispered.
"Good, let's go." He replies in a whisper.
They collect Nicky's things, exit and drive to their condo.
On the way she sends Marty & Kensi TXT messages.
ER: Condo in 30?
KBD: K
MD: K
88888888888
TBC