DENSI HOME – LOS ANGELES
Marty's cell rings, "Marty here, Stan? Stan Schultz?"
"Yes Marty, great to hear your voice. We need to connect more often. My little Sissy, huh she's now 12 y/o, misses her uncle Marty."
"12 y/o – no, that can't be. Listen, you and Cheryl haven't brought my little peanut down to Disneyland yet!"
"DO NOT SAY THAT TOO LOUD!"
"You promised, Stan."
"No, no, you mentioned it. I heard. Anyway, I hear that you recently met Jameson Reagan and family. Correct?"
"Yes, so?" Fear clutches Marty's gut.
"Well, we got a tip, through a CI. Marty, you won't believe this. We flipped Lenny!"
"NO! Stan, you can't trust that scum!"
"Marty, we've checked him every which way, he comes out clean as a whistle every time. I swear."
"Stan, it's only because it is you that I'm still on the phone. Go ahead."
"There is some kind of a hit out on Jameson & Edit, and maybe their oldest daughter. Some radical Islamic group, little guys. Not Taliban, ISSIS or those kinds of orgs. Something about disrespect for Islamic culture. I wanted you to know."
"Thanks, buddy. I'll run it up the proverbial flag pole, and see what happens. Say, about Disney-
"What . . . we're losing . . .-
Call disconnected!
LOL both ends.
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NCIS-OSP
"Hetty, we got a call last evening-
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ON THE ISLAND
STALL BARN
AJ is helping Mary Rose with chores; he does this at least half the time. He loves the peace and quiet, being around the animals, and his sister just lets him help without talking so much. And tolerating what little her brother can actually do. He and Mary Rose are growing close as siblings.
"AJ, do you really like Joseph?"
"Joseph, Joseph. Yes, I do."
"Why do you say his name twice like that?"
"I don't . . . is that bad. I sorry Mary Rose."
AJ drops his little pitch fork and runs outside, stopping by the pile of hay bales. He sits down on the ground. He starts to rock to and fro, humming a tune.
Mary Rose is soon sitting by his side. "AJ, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." She drapes her arms around his little shoulders and rocks with her beloved little brother. After a few minutes, "Shall we go in and finish?" She voices gently.
He nods, she helps him up and they go back in the barn to finish the chores.
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ON THE ISLAND BREAKFAST
After the blessing, Cassie speaks. "Eli told me that Ibrahim, his brother, went back to Iraq to live with his uncle Raoul."
Silence.
"How is that affecting Eli, and the family?" Mom inquires.
"He says his mom is devastated. His dad just ignores the situation."
"And Eli?" Mal wonders out loud.
"He's very quiet, not his usual self. I don't know how to interact with him now. What do I do mom, dad?"
Jamie responds, "Just be your usual self, sweetie. You can't force anything on him."
"I know, but it's frustrating."
"I'm sure it is. Just be there for him. He really needs a good friend now," mom encourages.
"Yeah, I will." Cassie picks up her toast, and takes a bite.
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BAY RIDGE
Frank, Erin and Jack are relaxing after supper in the sitting room. Erin has brought her own power recliner from her apartment to add to dad and Pops old chairs.
"Erin, I heard that Rob (the current Manhattan DA) is thinking of not running for re-election. Is that true?" Frank queries.
Erin looks askance at her dad. "And you heard this where?"
"The 1-PP grapevine, of course."
"Garrett?"
"Maybe."
Erin snorts, "Maybe, my ass!"
"Have you decided to run, babe?" Jack sneaks that in. This is obviously not news to her husband.
Frank's head jerks to Jack, "Oh?"
Erin huffs, "That's a closely held secret, bucko!"
Frank smiles at his only daughter.
"Like I hold you sweetheart," Jack tacks on.
Erin smiles slyly, and takes another sip of her scotch. 'Danny better not get wind of this.'
"Dad, let's talk Sunday dinner," Erin proposes.
"What about it," Frank is puzzled.
Jack steps in, "Erin and I have talked about it. With only her and Linda to do the cooking, it's really a chore. The 3 of us are making really good money; can we hire a caterer to provide the Sunday dinners? Maybe supplemented by a special family recipe from time to time. Or by times when Jamie and crew join us?"
"We could work out a schedule – for when Jamie's family will join in, what do you think?"
"Have you spoken with Linda?"
"Not yet."
"Well, I'll go along with what you, Linda and Eddie think is best. After all I just eat what I'm served."
"Eddie?" Jack raises an eyebrow.
"Yes, Eddie. Jamie's wife." Frank scowls. "Last I knew, Eddie was a Reagan wife and mother."
"But they rarely show up-
"And we encourage them to come more by excluding them from a decision like this?" Frank's scowl deepens.
"I will check with the other ladies," Erin muses.
"Good, you do that."
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Saddle Rock Ranch
"Jamie and Eddie, thanks so much for coming! We don't see enough of your family these days. How is our little Mary Rose doing?" Aunt Deborah effuses.
"She is great," Eddie assures them. "Her love of animals grows day by day. What can we do for you folks? Other than letting me take some whole wheat rolls home?"
Eddie and Deborah chuckle!
"Carroll takes over, "We have more requests to house and care for horses than we can handle. You have unused stalls in your barn. We have under-used manpower – my son, Timmy. That looks to us like a solution in the making." He pauses.
Silence.
Jamie and Eddie look at each other. They nod, "It does, doesn't it. Do you have a proposal to present?"
"I do," Carroll asserts.
Thegroup listen and discuss Carroll's idea. Jamie and Eddie take a copy of the proposal home – plus 2 dozen just-baked whole wheat rolls. The Porsche has such a delicious aroma by the time they are half way home – Jamie and Eddie almost stop and eat. Almost.
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Porsche Huntington, Huntington Station, NY
Eddie has had her baby in for service. It has been running roughly for a few weeks. This is the 1st time she has used this shop, affiliated with a Porsche dealer. She really liked the lead mechanic when she dropped the car off. He was very personable, seemed like he would take extra good care of her baby. Now she is responding to a call saying the work is done, and she can pick her car up.
Gregg Wells meets her at the service counter. "Hi, Mrs. Reagan. There were two minor parts that we replaced; we did a complete diagnostic and full tune-up. I love these older Boxter models, they don't have all those fancy computers – just fine-tuned mechanicals."
"That's what my husband says, about his '71 Chevelle SS."
"WHAT! A '71 Chevelle SS! Oh, baby would I ever love to get my hands on that car! Does he need a mechanic?"
"He has one, but I'll ask if he's happy. Say what are these brochures here?"
"Oh, you mean for Christmas Karaoke?"
"Yeah, we do karaoke once in a while. Is this a good place?"
"I would hope so! My girlfriend and I are one-third owners. Once we bought in, Annie really spiffed up the place. We're open Thursday thru Saturday. You should come on by sometime. Here, show my card and get the best seat in the house." Gregg signed his card and handed it to Eddie along with a brochure.
"They finished up business, Eddie thanked him and drove off. Wow, her baby hadn't driven this nicely since . . . she couldn't remember when. She will definitely tell Jamie about this guy!
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GREGG / ANNIE* HOME ON THE ATLANTIC SHORE
"Annie babe, I'm home!" His girlfriend comes out of the kitchen, apron still on. She wraps her arms around his neck and welcomes him home with a proper kiss.
"How was court?" He asks.
"It was short, sweet and deadly!" She grinned.
"Just like you, babe! Ah . . . except the short part."
"That's more like it, lover boy!" Annie smirked.
She was mid-height. But her long, shapely legs were what caught his eyes the 1st time he saw her. And they still do.
"So, the shop? Anything special?"
"Yes! My customer, Eddie, with the Porsche Boxster? Her husband has a 1971 Chevelle SS!"
"Whoa. My ex had one of those, what are the odds?"
"NO! You mean Jamie?"
"Yeah," a far away look in her eyes.
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TBC
Annie = Sydney Ann Davenport. Google has no middle name for Syd, so I chose one.
Virtually nobody writes a good, kind, respectable Sydney. Read on!
Yes, this is complicated. But necessary for upcoming arcs to function. Trust me.
This is still NOT a crossover! And yes, I know what a crossover is.