AND LOVE CHAP 138
Stepping up!
ON THE ISLAND
Nicky is taking all the kids for a jaunt on the LI trail system. She is riding Betsy, Eddie's mare; Mary Rose is holding the reins as Joseph pulls the cart. Jamie and Eddie have asked for at least 2 hours of freedom. They have an important meeting and a talk between themselves. The meeting 1st.
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FAMILY ROOM
Jamie and Eddie are joined by captains Espinoza, Wells, McNichols and Jackson. Lieutenants Gormley, Baker and Wilson. And DCPI Garrett.
"Sorry, we don't have comfy chairs for all," Eddie apologizes.
"That's ok," Sid says as he plops down in the bean bag. He crosses bis arms behind his head and smiles.
"Teenager," McNichols snorts.
His smile grows. "Yup."
"We have 2 hours before the kids blow the back door off-
"Lock it-
"They all have the code on their phones. Anyway, GO!"
Wells starts, "We are here at the request of the mayor-
"PC not working?" Jamie surmises.
"Yes," Sid huffs. "We need, desperately, you to reconsider."
"Sid, you ass," Sally McNichols snorts. "NEVER say desperate!" She glowers.
"True to form," Eddie mutters.
"What?" Now Sally scowls at Eddie.
"2" and I knew you were a dumb, hard ass!" Eddie glares right back.
"Ladies, claws?" Baker attempts to still the waters.
"Easy folks," Jamie looks to Eddie. "Maybe we should have the kids here?"
She shakes her head, but an idea dawns. Later.
"You all know the major reason I said no. My family! I have a proposal. I have grown up watching a PC at work. Two excellent PCs. But those are only 2 ways to do the job."
Eddie holds her breath, she knows what is coming.
All in the room are paying attention.
"If I were PC, we would have an administrative call schedule. I would be on the schedule, of course. So would several of you. When high level admin support is needed, the top name would be called; and that person would handle the situation."
Surprised looks all around. Some heads nod. One frown.
"If someone proves not comfortable with that, or doesn't make good decisions, s/he will be replaced. They will NOT lose rank. Under that scenario, when I leave work and go home, I AM GONE! Unless I am #1 on the call schedule."
He pauses and looks around.
Only Sally doesn't mod. "So, I would do PC work, without PC pay? NO THANKS!" She glares, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"You could think of it as an audition for PC. No one serves forever."
"Right, you are younger than anyone of us!"
"Good thought, Sally."
She catches her breath, eyes surprised.
"What about this?"
Jamie and Eddie had discussed options. He kept her in-the-loop all the way. She remembered another case.
"One – I accept for 10 years. Two – after that time I step down. Three – I remain a captain. Four – I can select my next NYPD role. Subject to approval, of course. And five – the current executive team stays on."
He pauses.
"SOLD!" Espinoza declares. He stands, asking "Who is with me?"
All but McNichols stand.
"Sally?" Captain Wells asks.
"I just don't agree with the job vs. pay part."
"And knowing that, I wouldn't propose you for that job, Sally."
"You've been vocal that Jamie was the man for the job," Sid adds.
"Yeah. So, if a yes vote doesn't commit me to that part-
Sally McNichol stands, smiling.
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When the kids get back, the meeting is just over.
Eddie pulls Mary Rose aside and whispers in her ear. Her daughter nods and addresses the group.
"If you all have a few minutes, I'd like to show you our barn and animals."
They look at each other and shrug.
"Follow me."
She leads the way to the barn. AJ sees the parade and hurries to catch up.
"This is my brother AJ. These people work with daddy, AJ."
"Policemen?"
"Yes," she doesn't want to get into the complexities.
IN THE BARN
"This is Joseph, my donkey. I always greet him first. I started riding lessons with him. We were going to try a horseback camping trip. Didn't happen. Life got in the way – like my twin brothers." She rolls her eyes.
"I love you, sissy," AJ whispers.
"I love you too!"
They move on. "This is Betsy, my mommy's mare. Here is Hero, my daddy's stallion. And here is Maddie-
"She is special!" AJ exclaims.
"Yes. I met her when I went with our vet Donna, when Maddie was about to foal."
Some eyebrows raise at her use of that word.
"She had a really hard labor. I sat on the barn floor, and held her head in my lap."
AJ grasps her hand, and starts to hum and sway.
The group notices.
"Well . . . Maddie lost her foal." Mary Rose turns away and sniffles. She turns back-
"The ranch where Maddie lived kept mares only to breed and sell their babies. Now her uterus was shot – as they said!" She scowls. "So, Donna and daddy worked out a deal and got Maddie for us."
At that she opened Maddie's stall and entered. She wrapped her arms around Maddie's neck. The horse softly nickered, and pawed with her right hoof.
Several in the group turned and swiped at their eyes.
"Anyone want to give her some loving?" Mary Rose asks.
Baker steps in and softly caresses Maddie's neck. Garrett follows as does Espinoza.
Afterwards they depart.
IN THE SUV
"You guys really support all of that?" Sally frowns.
"Are you opposed to anything else," Baker asks.
"You are a short straw here," Sally snaps back.
"Wait just a damn minute!" Cap'n Wells snaps back. "You rack up high level experience, and your straw doesn't even reach the drink!"
Sally is taken aback. She keeps quiet.
"What about that family!"
"I can see why it's so important to him."
"Amen to that."
"But, distracting, maybe?"
"NO, he's a Reagan. If he accepts, he will do the job."
"Yes, he will!"
"Sally, you going to campaign against him."
Silence.
"Sally?"
"No."
Baker sends Jameson a TXT: McNichol wimpy yes. All others YES!
JR: THX
Jamie and Eddie share some sparkling Martinelli's with the family.
2 WEEKS LATER – 1-PP
Jameson approaches Abigail Baker's desk on a sunny Monday morning. Gormley and Garrett are also there. When they see him, they snap to attention and salute.
Jamie smirks, stops and snaps to attention. He returns the salute, drops his arm to his side and says "That is the last and only time we do that. Understood?"
"Yes, SIR!" X3 is returned.
"In my office, now." 'Damn it feels good to say that!'
They assemble and day 1 of the Jameson Reagan administration begins.
Job 1? The administrative call schedule. He looks at Abigail. "How would you like me to address you?"
"In this office, just the 4 of us or less, Abby is preferred. More people, or other places, use rank please."
"So, captain, correct?"
"Correct. Can you do that?" She winces at the promoted title.
"Yes. Now – I want you to consider. being on the on-call list."
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
"May I think about it?"
"Yes, 10 seconds. 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. Well?"
She is nonplussed. "Boss-
"Is that a yes?"
"I supp-
"Good. Now Sid-
"Yes!"
"Good. I need suggestions from the three of you as to 2-3 other names."
"Sally-
"NO!" They descend into laughter.
"Let me say this. I don't mind a dose of informality between the 4 of us. But don't let it become so commonplace that it slips out of this office. Understood?"
"Yes, boss!" X3
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ON THE ISLAND
Jamie slips in the front door. He hangs up his coat just in time to be ambushed by family. "Daddy, dad, sweetheart" warm his soul.
"Man, I need this! I need you all!"
"We need you too, daddy!"
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