"Clang!" Danny's fork reaching for the roast collided with Erin's knife, and the two glared at each other, igniting a bit of tension at the dinner table.
"Are you two planning to brawl like you did when you were kids? This is a family dinner, not an MMA match. Mind your table manners," Frank Reagan remarked coolly, casting a quick glance at both of them.
"Let's hear the Assistant District Attorney's high-minded take on things," Danny said sarcastically. "Are you going to climb up on your moral pedestal again and judge us lowly cops?"
Jack raised an eyebrow at Danny's remark. It was clear he was baiting his sister, practically digging a trap for her.
Unfazed, Erin rolled her eyes. "Are you really proud of shoving someone's head in a toilet? Or slapping people around?"
"Dad, Dad, did you really shove someone's head in the toilet?" Danny's younger son asked, his face lit with excitement and curiosity.
"Quiet," Danny snapped, glaring at his son with a silent warning before turning back to Erin with a scowl. "What's your point?"
"I think you should uphold the law, not just act on impulse. Your actions only complicate things," Erin replied, raising the piece of roast she'd snagged from her brother and taking a deliberate bite.
"You don't understand the circumstances. You're just assuming things," Danny retorted, taking the roast their father had passed him and glaring back at his sister.
"There are procedures for a reason. Laws exist to be followed," Erin insisted.
"To protect criminals," Henry interjected with a chuckle, voicing his old-school views. The perspective clearly irked him, and perhaps Danny's earlier comment had fueled his support for his grandson, effectively isolating Erin as the lone non-cop at the table.
"Grandpa!" Erin protested, astonished that he would side so openly with her brother, unaware she'd fallen into a verbal trap.
She turned to her father, looking for backup. "Dad, what do you think? If you allow police to abuse power, what kind of city will New York become?"
"Uh…" Frank hesitated for a moment, then replied, though his words did not support his daughter's stance.
"Nobody likes harsh tactics, honey, but some situations call for a judgment call. Let me give you an example: if there was a ticking time bomb outside and innocent lives were at stake, and you had a suspect who knew its location, are his rights more important than the safety of those people?"
Realizing he might be ganging up on his daughter, Frank's gaze shifted around the table, landing on his youngest son, Jamie. His eyes lit up, and he quickly directed the conversation toward him.
"Jamie, what's your take? You've got a law degree and now you're a patrol officer."
Like many youngest children, Jamie was both his parents' favorite and frequently subject to his older siblings' teasing. Despite his Harvard Law degree, he'd chosen to follow in the family's footsteps and join the NYPD—a decision that showed he wasn't lacking in backbone, though perhaps less so at home.
He knew he couldn't avoid it, but with both his older siblings involved in the argument, he genuinely didn't want to pick a side. He opted for a vague answer.
"When I picked up a badge and a gun, I realized just how significant discretion is. Mishandling it could have disastrous consequences, like Erin worries about."
Danny scoffed at Jamie's reluctance. "Just wait, little brother. Wait until the night you chase a suspect down a dark alley and can't tell if that little something in his hand is a gun…or not."
Jamie's allegiance shifted slightly toward his brother. "True. It's easy to talk in hypotheticals, but in the moment… I honestly don't know what I'd do."
Though nearly forty, Erin's independent, assertive demeanor softened at home, especially around her father. Finding herself without a single ally, she turned to Jack.
"Hey, Jack, right? What would you do if you were in Danny's position?"
"Jack was there at the time; he's obviously on my side," Danny cut in, only to be interrupted when Frank laid his knife down sharply, silencing both siblings.
"Erin, you crossed the line. Jack's a guest; don't drag him into this," Frank said sternly.
Realizing she'd overstepped, Erin quickly apologized to Jack. "I'm sorry, Jack, I didn't mean to—"
Seeing her apologize so directly and recalling the argument between the siblings in the parking lot yesterday, Jack decided to weigh in after all.
"Actually, Erin, you're not entirely wrong. Danny's actions did cause issues for the DA's office, and there's a real chance Donald Bens might walk free."
"Jack?" Danny looked wounded, as if betrayed by his friend.
"Let me finish." Jack gestured for him to stay calm. "In my view, you and Erin actually share the same goal: putting criminals behind bars. But your roles dictate how you approach things. In this case, both of you are mistaken—your viewpoints are both flawed."
He intentionally slowed his speech, allowing time for the others to reflect.
"Law enforcement and the prosecution are not opposing forces. The reason for your conflict is because each side is deflecting responsibility. Prosecutors expect the police to present airtight cases, often overlooking the real-world challenges that arise during investigations. On the other hand, police officers often see prosecutors as nit-picky, ignoring that their job is to make sure the criminals they arrest end up behind bars."
Jack's words left everyone silent. For a moment, the only sound was the kids' forks poking at their food as they watched the adults, oblivious to the deeper conversation.
Danny's wife, Linda, quietly shushed their children, then flashed Jack an apologetic smile.
"You're absolutely right, Jack," Frank sighed, looking at his two eldest with a mix of frustration and hope. "I hope what you said sticks with these two. And I know Erin isn't some idealist—she'd be the first to put a bullet in that creep's head if she had the chance."
Despite the dinner table tension, Jack enjoyed the Reagan family's dynamic. They obviously cared about each other, each person having a role and purpose, quite different from the backstabbing atmosphere of some upper-class families.
Maybe it was rooted in their Irish heritage, with its strong emphasis on family bonds, much like their Catholic faith, which sometimes made them stand out in a predominantly Protestant country like the United States.
After lunch, the women cleared the table while the men, including Jack, were invited to the living room. Frank Reagan pulled out a wooden box with six neatly arranged cigars.
"Wow, this one's mine," Danny quickly grabbed a cigar, clamping it between his teeth.
"Not in the house, and these are for celebrating," Frank said, handing a cigar to Jack. Noticing Jamie's eager expression, he hesitated but then gave him one too.
"When did you pick up the habit?" Frank asked, curious.
"I haven't, but if Danny tries to mess with me, this'll be my secret weapon." Jamie pocketed the cigar with exaggerated seriousness.
"You seem confident we'll get Donald Bens convicted," Jack remarked, pocketing his cigar with a grin.
"I've heard plenty about the BAU's reputation. I own every one of David Rossi's books," Frank said, giving Jack a knowing look.
Jack thought back to Castle's request and laughed. "Speaking of books, I happen to know a famous author who wanted me to ask you a favor."
He filled Frank in on Castle's audacious request, only to find that Frank seemed intrigued.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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