AND LOVE CHAP 111

Crisis at home

BAY RIDGE, SUNDAY DINNER

"No, I've always been Sydney Ann Davenport." Annie smiles sweetly.

Gregg grins, 'sock it to 'em baby!'

Frank is flabbergasted.

Erin is overwhelmed.

Jack Boyle is speechless.

Danny is pissed. Highly!

Linda is pleasantly surprised.

Jack & Sean don't know what to think.

Nicky is highly amused.

Jamie and Eddie's kids look on with wonderment.

Frank breaks the log jam. "What . . . how . . . –

Eddie steps up to the plate, "Gregg is the new mechanic for my baby. That started the ball rolling."

Annie picks up the ball, "Gregg and I offered our home as a staging point for Marty and Kensi in their rescue of Eddie and Cassie."

"Then Jamie and I played with the girls-

"At karaoke, no less," Eddie quips.

"So, kid, are you ok with . . . her," Danny huffs, pointing at Annie.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Jamie huffs right back.

"Well, she walked out on you, remember?" Danny crosses his arms on his chest.

"Oh, I remember. While it was painful, Annie (some wince at the name) had the guts to call a spade a spade. We weren't working – a lot of that was my fault – and she walked out."

Annie adds, "Now I admit that may not have been the best way to end it-

"You think?" Danny snorts.

"Where is GG to urge civility?" Eddie snorts herself.

AMEN from around the table.

Frank applies the brakes, "Gregg, where do you work?"

"Porsche Huntington. I own and manage the parts and service portion of the dealership."

"Good for you," Jack Boyle declares.

"Wow, you work on Porsches?" Sean lights up.

"Every day, bud." Gregg grins.

"How?"

"You learn to be an excellent mechanic, get lots of experience and call me. Bud, that's at least 15 years down the line. Get to work!" He smiles and fist bumps Sean.

Linda squeezes her son's shoulder.

"Sy . . . er Annie, still a lawyer," Erin inquires.

"Yes, Erin. I'm a senior partner at 'Davenport, Erickson and Jackson' in Manhattan. Mother says dad is retiring and leaving me his corner office. I haven't boxed my things yet."

Several chuckles are heard.

"So, you live on the Atlantic shore?" Linda asks.

"Yes, they do!" Mal bursts out.

"We were there last Sunday." Mary Rose adds. "We rode kayaks on the ocean, it was awesome."

Some frowns occur.

"An adult with every child," Jamie hastened to add.

"Reckless!" Danny muttered.

"Well, I see nothing has changed here," Annie muses.

"Pretty much," Jack B agrees.

"Pass me another roll, please," Frank tries to put some pressure on the brakes.

88888888

They talk as they walk to their cars.

"I thought that went ok," Eddie opines.

"I agree. I didn't know what to expect, really." Annie puts out there.

"I was ok," Gregg places an arm around Annie's shoulders.

"Dad, why was uncle Danny so mad?" Mal speaks up.

"Well, honey, he can't get over Annie walking out on his kid brother." Eddie explains.

"Is he going to call you kid forever, Jamie?" Annie raises an eyebrow.

"I think so."

"Grrr!"

"Yeah."

"FROZEN!"

"No! That's our favorite movie!" 3 girls explode.

88888888

DRIVING HOME, TO THE SHORE

"Well, babe. I don't see us attending those dinners with any regularity." Gregg huffs.

"No? I am disappointed." Annie says as she looks out her side window.

Gregg snorts, and keeps on driving.

ON THE ISLAND

"Mommy, I like Annie and Gregg. Can we have them come and go riding with us?" Mary Rose offers.

"I can ask."

"Can I help you with chores tonight?" Dad pipes up.

"Sure," Mary Rose agrees. "Can AJ come too?"

"Of course, always."

IN THE BARN

"Mary Rose," dad starts as they gather their tools.

"Yes, daddy. No, AJ – your pitchfork is over there. What, daddy?"

"Mom and I are doing some research, then we will be ready to talk with you about school."

"Ok . . . home school too?"

"Yes, all of it, sweetie."

"Thank you, daddy."

888888888

ABDUL HOUSEHOLD

"Mohammed, what are these people doing!" Sarah Abdul is frantic. 4 women in maid uniforms are systematically going through the house and packing up the belongings of the family. Each box is being well labeled. As a room is cleared, the boxes are loaded onto a truck; as a truck is filled, it drives away to points unclear. (They actually are headed to an NYC port and loaded onto a ship). Destination? Iraq.

"My dear, settle down. We are moving home. You and Eli are coming with me."

"Where is Eli, I haven't seen him for hours!"

"His flight leaves in-

He looks at his watch.

"45 minutes."

"Flight to where?" Mother is growing hysterical!

"Baghdad. Then home to Mosul."

"Nonoo!" She wails. "Both my sons are gone!"

"You will see them again soon, my dear. You and I leave in 2 days."

She is sobbing as she goes to her room. As she enters, 2 maids exit with 2 boxes labeled SARAH BR. She looks around, about half of her room is gone. A maid comes up to her, "Tell me what you need for the next 2 days. We will leave that for the last."

Sarah sniffles, then starts to point things out.

8888888888

THE NEXT DAY

Cassie bolts in the front door after school. She is obviously crying as she dashes upstairs. Her sisters are hot on her heels. AJ sees this and races to find mommy.

"Mommy, mommy, sissy crying. Feel bad." He grasps his mother's legs.

"Where are they, baby?"

"Up, up the stairs, fast!"

"You stay with Patrick, ok?"

"Ok, mommy, ok."

Eddie takes AJ by the hand and they find Patrick in the FR playing with Legos. "Pat, can AJ build with you, please?"

"Yes, mommy. AJ, sit here with me." She sees AJ settle, then heads upstairs.

She knocks then enters. She finds the girls sitting in a circle. "May I join you, please?"

"Of course, mommy," the girls scoot to make room for her.

"What's the matter?"

Cassie speaks, "Eli wasn't in school today." Cass sniffles.

"Is he sick?"

"No, my teacher said he won't be coming back to school."

"Ever? Is he transferring schools?"

"I don't know. Nobody will say."

"I'll be right back. Stay here and support each other. Mal, why don't you go down and get some snacks and sodas. Anything you can find, sweetie."

"Thanks mommy," she joins mom as they descend the stairs. Mal heads for the kitchen, Eddie to the office. On her way she peeks into the FR and sees her boys building quietly. Smiling, she continues on.

"Jamie, can you call the sheriff, please?"

"Why babe? What's up?"

"Cassie is in a tizzy. Eli wasn't in school today, and the teacher said that he isn't coming back. With all that is going on I am concerned."

"Yeah, me too. I'll see what I can find out."

88888888

"Suffolk county sheriff's office. May I help you?"

"Yes, this is NYPD Lieutenant Reagan. My I talk with the sheriff, please?"

"He is not in, sir."

"When would be a good time to reach him?"

"Ah . . . he has resigned, sir."

"Resigned? When?"

"First thing this morning, sir."

Jamie is now appalled. He hangs up and calls Mohammed's cell; OUT OF SERVICE!

Jamie tells Eddie what he has found.

"Jamie, he is cutting all ties to America! We must find Eli! Please, babe."

"On it, stay close to Cassie, love you."

"Love you too, babe."

Jamie enlists TARU, on a personal favor. They find Eli on a flight manifest – he is already out of the country. Headed to the middle east.

When Jamie tells her what he found out, Eddie is distraught, and goes back upstairs. She sits next to Cassie and embraces her daughter. All 3 girls know bad news is coming.

"I'm so sorry, Cass. Eli left on a plane for the middle east today."

"He wouldn't do that, mommy!"

"I don't think he had any choice, baby. I am sure that his dad forced him to go."

"That's kidnapping! We must help him!"

"He's a child, in age. The sheriff is his father."

"Can he do that?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

The group huddles close, hugging each other.

888888888