Chapter 12

Maria read the report from the Marshals concerning the adoption ring. Single mothers with estranged families are pressured into signing their children over to the state for adoption. Within weeks of signing the documents, they died in prison.

"How on earth did the prison authorities not red flag this?" asked a shocked sergeant.

"They had assistance; it appears they have others on hand to help obscure or manage the facts," Danny added.

"Do we investigate this?" asked Maria. "I can't see how this would help Eddie. Splitting our focus isn't a good idea."

Erin glanced up from her book. "We must investigate this. My instincts suggest there is more to uncover; we must delve deeper. Revealing these layers may expose other parties involved."

From the outset, Maria started jotting down notes as she revisited the report. Leaning back in her chair, she quietly gazed at her notes, trying to consolidate everything. She sensed something significant, yet she could not clarify it.

"What does the Investigative Services of the Department of Corrections say regarding Chief Guard Ritch?" asked Danny after reading the report.

"Officially, she oversees operations with great care. Although there have been a few complaints, this is to be expected. There are suspicions that she has concealed much, not entering it into the system and managing it internally. Several unannounced inspections have taken place, but nothing has been uncovered." Henry paraphrased

The room fell deathly silent as they pondered over things.

"How many of her staff have been implicated?" Jack asked. "Before we proceed, we must think carefully…" he raised his hand to pause questions while organising his thoughts.

Erin observed Jack's expression as he pondered his thoughts. "Jamie, please allow me to finish before you interject," Jack said, awaiting Jamie's acknowledgement.

Jamie nodded his consent and indicated for Jack to continue.

"We must not inform Eddie about what we know or may discover in the future. We must keep it compartmentalised; my instinct tells me that Chief Guard Edna Ritch's little empire resembles an iceberg, largely hidden from view. The adoption scheme alone is worth millions, and orchestrating a fatal attack by fellow inmates is not difficult," Jack announced.

Jamie sighed, "I agree, Jack; I don't like it either, but keeping Eddie safe is the most important thing right now. She is far too vulnerable locked away; we can't protect her." He sighed again, "She won't accept protective custody. She has told me she would hurt me if Dad or I forced her hand, and that threat applies to you as well, Dad," Jamie chuckled.

Maria looked up from her notes, smiling. "I agree; Eddie was assaulted while confined in an exercise room under protective custody. The prison guards allowed her attacker to enter." She paused, smirking at Jack. "Moreover, when she learns of this, she'll be quite furious with Jamie and Jack, not us."

"Well?" Henry asked, frustrated by her avoidance.

Maria passed her notes over and indicated a paragraph.

Henry took the time to read the appropriate paragraph. Looking up, he looked puzzled. " Forger?"

Maria flicked through a few pages and pointed to additional highlighted sections. The retired commissioner smiled; his mind remained as sharp as a tack. "Good work, Sergeant,"

"A forger, Jason Cunningham, employed by Ritch and her associates, asserted he had access to clean identities from a trustworthy source within the NYPD. Cunningham specialises in black-market, security-grade cloning devices." Maria paused to allow everyone a moment to process.

Danny was the first to understand Maria's intentions. "Cloning an NYPD mobile phone to obtain login details for the police computer system is possible. The high-end units the military and intelligence services use can replicate the entire SIM card from thirty metres. The phone's owner would be oblivious to the breach. Good job, sweetheart," announced a proud man.

Frank narrowed his eyes as the realisation dawned on him. "Do you have a plan, Sergeant Reagan?" Frank asked his daughter-in-law.

Maria smiled, "I need to answer the door; please excuse me."

The room fell silent as Maria walked out.

"Rachel, welcome," Frank smiled.

Rachel Witten strolled into the room and smiled. "Maria asked me to help," she said, hugging Maria.

"Thank you, Rachel,"

"Maria?" Erin prompted

"We're enlisting Cunningham in a sting operation to identify our identity thief within the NYPD. We aren't giving him a choice," announced Maria, an evil smirk on her face.

Frank now understood why Rachel was here. "Thank you for your help; Eddie would appreciate it," Frank told her honestly.

As she wiped away her tears, she smiled at her old boss. "I would do anything to free her from that hellhole and prove she's innocent." It had torn her apart to see her friend, shackled and defeated, during their recent visit through the plexiglass. Her friend seemed utterly shattered.

"Luis, Detective Reagan, shall we apprehend Mr Cunningham?" Maria asked.

Luis smiled at Danny and nodded, "Hell yes, partner, shotgun!"

BB

Jason Cunningham glared at Maria Reagan, "What do you want?" He snarled

Danny kicked the chair away from the forger and shrugged his shoulders. "Whoops." He felt annoyed at the sight of Cunningham's spit dangling from Maria's hair. Even the new and improved Daniel Reagan would not tolerate such blatant disrespect towards Maria in his presence.

"Now, Jason, I suggest you start listening to me," Maria placed down three evidence bags. "These will earn you five years each. This hardware is not available to civilians. As I was explaining before you did this…that's assaulting a police officer,"

"That's strike three, four, five, and six. You know what that means," Luis asked.

The three detectives understood that he had concluded his little display of bravado. His downcast eyes suggested he realised he had no option if he wanted to evade a lengthy prison sentence.

"What exactly do you want me to do?" Cunningham asked dejectedly

"I want your NYPD contact; you will need her assistance for Kirsty. She requires a complete clean set of documents." Maria explained

Cunningham glared at Maria, his shoulders slumped, his capitulation complete.

"I need my phone, detective," he whispered gently.

Luis slid his phone across the table. Cunningham typed a message on an electronic noticeboard. "We wait for a response." He warned

"Do you remember our deal, Mr Cunningham?" asked Danny.

"Yes!" He growled

Maria narrowed her eyes at his response and waited. "My deal is forfeited if I disclose this sting to anyone…. I don't suppose I can keep them, " Cunningham said, pointing to the evidence bags.

"Hell No, they are evidence," smiled Danny

BB

" Back again, Reagan?" mused the prison nurse.

She nodded cautiously. "Yes, Ma'am, the others are on their way; they seem in worse condition than I am." Eddie attempted to smile but stopped when pain shot through her cheek.

Her weapon of choice for self-defence was a bar of soap issued in prison, placed inside a long sock. Although it was not as lethal as other makeshift weapons, she refused to use a shank again. She only defended herself and wouldn't allow her inner monster to surface ever again.

"Sorry, Eddie. I need to secure your hands," Candice said. Candice Williams was the only guard who treated her fairly and the only corrections officer she trusted.

"Yes, Ma'am," Replied Eddie, positioning her hands ready to be cuffed.

She lowered her voice as the cuffs clicked shut. "Did you manage to remove three women with a soap bar?"

Eddie grimaced as she smiled. Her jaw was beginning to ache, and she hadn't emerged unscathed. "Yeah, it is the only way to prove I am not an easy mark. It's the only way to survive my time here, Ma'am."

Candice nodded her head slightly. " Just watch your back, Reagan. They won't use a bar of soap; you will need three sets of eyes in the back of your head."

"Out, Reagan. I don't want another scene. Officer Williams takes her back to the interview room, where her lawyer is waiting to speak with her," Chief Guard Ritch orders with a sinister grin. She knew why Jack Boyle was here today- a further nail in her coffin.

Catching the evil grin as she was escorted past, the chief guard concerned Eddie; Jack wasn't due for another few days.

BB

"Eddie, I understand; I know it's not as bad as it seems," Jack was becoming accustomed to her usual reply.

Scanning Jack's face as she was secured to the interview room table, she sarcastically asked, "Not here to take me home then, Jack, by the look on your face?"

"Sorry, no, Eddie, it's bad news, I'm afraid. Don't shoot the messenger," joked Jack

"You're safe, Jack," she said, raising her cuffed hands. "Might as well just tell me; it's not as if it can get any worse,"

His expression indicated that she was wrong. "Jack," scolded Eddie. Her face was starting to hurt.

"Vanessa's adoptive parents have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against you. They want $5,000,000.00." Jack explained carefully, watching Eddie

"$5,000,000.00, what! good look with that," she scoffed at the amount.

"Eddie, this is serious; we must act before they try to access Jamie's finances. A friend who specialises in this area of law advised me that with some legal manoeuvring, they could file for bankruptcy and access his savings and NYPD pension," he explained, waiting for the explosion of fury from across the table.

"What? There's no way you can't do something to protect Jamie?" Demanded Eddie a little too loud.

Jack nodded, pulled some papers from his attache case, and slid them across the table. Eddie

"Petition for Bankruptcy"

" Yes, Eddie, you file for bankruptcy, and we sell everything you own that has value." He paused, waiting for Eddie to absorb what that meant.

"My baby?" whispered Eddie, tears streaming down her cheeks as she realised what it would entail. "If I do this, they can't touch Jamie's money. "

"Aside from his share of your apartment, everything he owns and his finances are secure; they can't touch those. Jamie mentioned that he will move back to Bay Ridge."

Eddie took the pen offered and signed as indicated. " It will be filled out in Texas by the end of the day. My friend promised to expedite it for me, "Jack explained as he returned the signed forms.

Looking dejected, Eddie looked up " Anything new on my case?"

"Not yet, Eddie, they are working hard," he answered.

"Guard!" She shouted, " Tell Jamie I love him and I am so sorry,"

"Reagan,"

"Can I go back to my cell, please, Ma'am? We are done here," she asked, trying to keep it together until she was in her cell.

To be continued.