AND LOVE CHAP 150
Under construction
BAY RIDGE
Frank Reagan wakes up at 05:30. He has been tossing and turning for the last 3 hours. Kelly is about to kick him out of bed. But he's so warm and comfy to cuddle up next to, she can't do it. She can complain though, a little.
He sits up and swings his legs over the side of the bed. She loses her personal comforter.
"Frank, where are you going so early? It's cold in here now."
"I can't sleep."
"I know. But-
"I'll make coffee, and bring you a mug. Your usual?"
"Yes please. Hurry." She rolls over, pulling all the covers to her side of the bed. "Hm . . . better."
He pads to the kitchen and starts the coffee maker. Soon he hears Erin coming downstairs.
"Dad, why are you up so early?"
"I should be asking you that."
"Huge trial starts today." She yawns.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that." The coffee maker chimes; he pulls 2 mugs from the cupboard and fixes 2 early morning beverages.
"Are you two still headed for Jamie and Eddie's today?"
"Yes, construction starts at 10:00."
"So late?"
"Well, Jamie and Eddie wanted the kids to be off to school before things started."
"What about Joseph and the other animals?" Erin wonders.
"They will be let out into the pasture next door."
"What? I hadn't heard about that."
"Yes, about 6-months ago-
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FLASHBACK
CHIME
"Jamie, I think it's Ralph. Our next-door neighbor at the back door," Eddie calls out.
"Got it," Jamie answers the back door. He steps out and greets Ralph Gregory. "Ralph, I'm Jamie." He steps outside and shakes their neighbor's hand. "What can I do for you?"
"Jamie, can we walk to your barn and talk"?
"Surely, follow me."
They walk to the barn, Jamie shows Ralph their animals. He explains Maddie's story, and what plans they are thinking about. They walk back outside and Ralph begins.
"Alice and I have always wanted animals; you see the acreage we have. But it just never worked out. It would be a lot of work for the two of us. We've been watching your fine family, the animals and all. And we're wondering if you would consider leasing some pasture. A place to let the donkey and horses out of the barn. For exercise, grazing and such."
"Wow; actually, I have looked at your land and thought the very same thing. I would need to do some research, then Eddie and I meet with you and Alice. Have you approached anyone else?"
"No, we haven't."
"What would it take for us to secure the right of first refusal?"
"Oh, don't worry about that. If we just shake, indicating your interest; we won't pull the rug out from under you."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
They shake hands.
Jamie and Eddie sign 10 days later. After another 10 days to repair and add fencing – and a gate allowing access, Joseph and friends have next-door pasture.
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ON THE ISLAND
Jamie is taking the week off, from work at 1-PP. He will be available for Baker to call, and can break away for urgent business. Eddie will be working in the home office all week.
The kids are in school, rushing home as fast as they can to add their input.
Mary Rose had lobbied vehemently to be allowed to take the week off. TWO VETOES stymied her. She is not a happy camper. Eddie writes a note to MR's teacher, explaining her mood. She gives the note to Mal, to safely deliver.
Frank and Kelly pack a lunch, then catch a cab to Penn station. They take the LIRR to Jamie and Eddie's stop and walk the 4 blocks to the REAGAN RANCH. The name holds, so far.
Frank and Kelly both have the video doorbell control on their phones. Frank unlocks the front door; his personal tone sounds throughout the house. "Grandpa is here," Eddie calls out. F/K put their lunch in the fridge; Kell goes to the office, to check on Eddie and Nicky. Frank heads for the barn, securing a hard hat on his head.
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NYPD 1-PP
Abigail Baker sits at her desk, looking at a request from training detective Daniel Reagan. He is appealing to PC Jameson Reagan (His younger brother! This sticks in his craw!). He wants to be designated chief of training for detectives. His written petition hit Baker's desk first thing Monday morning. She immediately informed captain Espinoza (on-call) and chief of detectives & her assistant – Maria Baez and Jacqui Curatola. She expects them momentarily.
Her dilemma is – do I call Jameson or not? She elects to let captain Espinoza decide that. But her TXT tone goes off:
PC: anything I need to know, Abby?
Damn. He isn't supposed to do this! She knows that he is still a 'rookie' PC, and some uncertainty hangs around his psyche. He has been preaching 'trust your partners', i.e. those on the call schedule with you. She waits for Espinoza, Baez & Curatola. They slip into the PC's office in 5". Espinoza sits behind the desk.
"Sir, before the petition, may I read a TXT I received 7 minutes ago?"
"Go ahead, Abby."
She reads: "PC: anything I need to know, Abby?"
"Have you responded?"
"No, sir. I decided to wait for you all."
"Good thinking, I agree. Let's sit on that. Why were we called to meet?"
"A request from detective trainer, Daniel Reagan." Abby distributes copies to all in attendance. They read, in silence.
"Maria, is there such a position now?" Espinoza asks.
"No, sir. Never has been."
"Have you been planning for such?"
"No, sir. Neither do we need that position, sir."
"Jacqui?" He looks to Maria's asst.
"I concur." Detective Curatola shakes her head.
"So, this is solely his idea?"
Everyone nods.
"I don't see any rationale, here. No need statement, nothing. Is this SOP?"
"For Danny, yes," Maria states. Jacqui nods, and hangs her head.
"Ok," he sighs. "Ladies, please tell me if you disagree; I am assigning a presentation to the 2 of you. At next admin team, present any and all rationale to back up this request to the team."
"And if there is no rationale?" Maria inquires.
"Then you will so state."
"And detective Reagan?" Abby pushes.
"Type up a response from me, please – on call for admin. His request received, forwarded to admin team at its next meeting, date etc. When ready inform me; I will stop by and sign."
Silence.
"Where does Danny work from-
"The 5-4; our old house."
"Ok. That's on my way back; I will drop the letter off. Please make copies for the team."
"Of course, sir." Abby smirks.
"What?"
Silence.
"Oh . . . of course, you know what to do. Sorry, Abby. No disrespect-
"None taken. Carry on."
"Yes, ma'am."
Captain Espinoza stands and salutes.
They break out into laughter.
"And Jameson, sir?"
"Reply – all is well. I'll back you up."
"Thank you, sir."
Adjourned.
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DANNY & LINDA'S HOME
"Danny, you are under a storm cloud. What's the matter, hon?"
"Work."
"What happened? You lose a perp?" she's concerned; this training position had been going so well.
"No, a promotion." He's rooting around in the fridge. "Lin, where's the beer?"
"We ran out. I forgot to get more, sorry."
Danny grabs her by the shoulder, "Well, go get some more damnit!"
"Danny, you're hurting me. It's 10 PM, for god's sake." She pulls away, her shoulder hurting.
"The 7/11 is open. Go!" He storms out of the kitchen, into the FR. He plops into 'his' recliner and grabs the TV remote. He starts channel surfing, muttering all the while.
Linda shuffles to the car, gets in and sits there. Thinking, rubbing her shoulder. 'What brought this on'?
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Frank drifts out to the barn, passing 2 workers digging a trench from the south side of the house to the barn. He watches for a moment then carries on. He passes the fence to the adjacent pasture and pauses.
"I thought that Joseph and the horses were going to be let out of the barn," he whispers to himself.
The pasture is empty, as far as he can see. He sends Jamie a TXT:
FR: pasture empty?
JR: animals let out this AM.
FR: don't see them.
JR: coming.
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Jamie is in the office with the ladies; Eddie, Kelly & Nicky.
"Dad doesn't see the animals in the pasture. Ed, please turn the chips on." (4 months ago, their vet had come across a special GPS transmitting chip for animals. At the urging [begging, pleading, asking nicely] of Mary Rose, they 'chipped' all 4.)
Eddie activates the chips on her computer. "Hm . . . they are all four down by the shore. Isn't there a grove of cottonwood trees there, Jamie?"
He looks closely at the screen; "Yes, that's the place."
He looks closer, "Wait a minute. The signals are color coded, right?"
"Yes, let me get the chart." She pulls out a 5x7 laminated card. "Let's see. There is Joseph; there is Maddie; Hero and Betsy . . . are . . . close, O GOD! Do you suppose-
Jamie turns beet red; he turns and bolts for the door, shouting over his shoulder "GPS coordinates to my phone!"
"Privacy, Jamie. Privacy," Eddie shouts after him.
"Privacy my ass!" He retorts.
Eddie breaks out into laughter; "We should give Hero a red cord. To tie around his neck, for those . . . ah, special occasions."
Nicky and Kelly look at each other, then they laugh too.
"Oh, I get it," Kelly observes.
"Yeah, HEAT." The younger lady shouts.
Eddie keeps the app running, observing the 'action'. Feeling guilty – not really.
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Jamie runs to the barn, "Dad, with me."
He dashes into the tack room; he grabs bit, bridle, reins, blanket & saddle. Handing Dad the light stuff, he leads the way to the Honda. They throw things into the back and are off.
"Where are they," a breathless dad asks.
"By LI sound, in a grove of trees."
"You know this how?"
"GPS chips." Jamie is driving, holding his phone.
"Son, may I suggest that I do one of those things? Drive or navigate."
"What? Oh yeah," he hands dad the phone.
HOME OFFICE
"That's neat aunt Eddie. Hey, what's in that other window?"
"Jamie's find-a-phone app. I can tell if he is getting near them."
Kelly looks on in wonder.
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COTTONWOOD GROVE
Approaching slowly, Jamie parks 20 yards away. He takes the bit, bridle and reins. He walks slowly toward Hero, talking softly all the while. "Hey, how's my Hero? Are you watching over your friends, huh? They need a leader, don't they. Good boy; I knew you could do it. Did you and Betsy have a good time?"
Hero nodded his head and lightly stamped his right hoof. Jamie could swear that his stallion grinned!
When he reached Hero, he put his arms around his neck and gave him a hug. He slipped the bit in his mouth and attached bridle and reins. "Let's get your saddle, and lead our friends back home. Shall we?"
Frank had lugged the saddle & blanket down to where Jamie and Hero were. After he was ready, Jamie mounted. He tossed the keys to his dad, whistled and slowly led his menagerie home. Frank followed in the Honda, making sure that no stragglers were lost.
SHEEP DOG FRANK!
Jamie will not breathe that!
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HOME ON THE RANGE
When they got back, it was discovered that the back gate was open. Had one of the animals opened it? Kids having fun? They probably will never know.
Security cameras for the pasture seemed like overkill. The chips worked beautifully, as designed. Their range? Unknown at present.
"Babe, do we tell Mary Rose?" Dad wondered.
"We should. If our neighbor saw all this, and mentioned it to her . . . she will be very disappointed in us. Don't you think?"
"Yup. And she will be reassured, as are we all, that the chips really work."
"Good point. So, mister Reagan, will we be having a foal in a few months?"
"We should tell Donna, see what she advises. This will be very special for Mary Rose!" Dad admits.
"Oh, I hadn't thought of that. Wow! She will have the chance to follow a pregnancy all the way through!" Mom gushes.
"Then the birth, and care of a foal. We couldn't have written a better script if we tried." Dad slaps his head.
"Hero is my HERO!" Eddie wraps her husband up in her arms.
"Your only hero?" He smirks.
"No, he's in 2nd place." She grins.
"Right answer." He kisses her.
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A/N: My most sincere gratitude to patrickpopp and skyross19! Your continued support, and especially your ideas are very much appreciated. Keep 'em coming! Zesgles15, you can say more! Kidding, thanks for following along!
TBC