"Check the surveillance footage from every store on this block. I want all the cameras you can find. Search the entirety of 135th Street. I need to know if anyone caught the full license plate—I only managed to note the last three digits."
When Jack arrived at the scene, he immediately spotted Danny issuing orders to nearby officers. Both ends of the sidewalk were cordoned off with police tape, and a crowd of onlookers had gathered to watch.
In the middle of the sidewalk lay the body of a tall young Black man, blood pooling beneath him from three gunshot wounds to the chest. Danny's shirt and sleeves were stained with blood.
Linda stood at the entrance of a nearby convenience store, visibly shaken.
Jack waved at Linda from a distance, then flashed his badge to approach Danny. "What happened? What were you two doing in this neighborhood?"
Harlem was notorious for its poor safety, with only a few streets benefiting from wealthier Black residents to maintain order. Most areas, especially at night, were no-go zones—even for someone like Jack, who wasn't prone to fear but had no interest in playing vigilante.
"I came here for a reason: the almond biscotti from this Lewis convenience store—'poporoni.' My family loves them. We were passing by, so we decided to grab a pound for the kids," Danny explained, nodding toward the store where Linda stood.
"I know this area isn't safe, so I had Linda come in with me while we grabbed some snacks and milk. Just as we were paying, a guy with a gun walked past the door. I told Linda to call the cops, but by the time I chased him outside, it was too late.
That guy—a heavyset Latino with a Glock—shot the kid three times in the chest. When I yelled at him to stop, he fired an entire magazine at me before escaping in a car. I couldn't keep up."
Jack crouched to examine the scene. "You were about 15 yards away when it happened. You were smart not to try returning fire. The bullet holes are concentrated near the column you used for cover, and not a single convenience store window was shattered. That guy had decent aim."
Danny scowled. "My aim's pretty decent too. I should've shot back the moment I identified myself."
"Yeah, well, Linda was terrified for you. Did you get a good look at his face? What kind of car was it?" Jack glanced around the filthy, run-down street. With its lack of visible cameras, getting useful surveillance footage seemed unlikely.
"I got a clear look. If I see a photo of him, I'll know instantly. The getaway vehicle was a Mercedes G-Wagon—shouldn't be hard to trace. But that kid…" Danny's gaze fell on the lifeless body, his expression dark with anger. "He couldn't have been more than 20. He died in my arms."
Jack noticed the fire in Danny's eyes and knew the no-nonsense detective was seething. "I'll take Linda back to the kids. Be careful out here."
After a brief farewell, Jack drove Linda home. She remained quiet during the ride, her worry palpable. After some time, she finally spoke.
"You know about Danny's brother, Joe, right?"
Jack nodded. "I've heard of him. He was an NYPD officer too, killed in the line of duty two years ago."
A shadow of sadness crossed Linda's face. "Ever since then, I've been terrified for Danny. He's always been headstrong, never backing down from a challenge. That's part of what drew me to him when we were young.
But now, with two kids… I've never worried about him more than I do now, especially after Joe's death."
Jack didn't know what to say. His own work was just as dangerous, if not more so, but he had certain advantages Danny didn't. "Danny served in the military. His instincts for danger are sharper than most. And honestly, he's more thoughtful than he lets on—he knows how to keep people around him happy, doesn't he?"
Linda smiled faintly, touched by the reassurance. "He does. Before he met me, he was quite the ladies' man—kind of like you, actually."
Jack's smile froze. Was this a compliment or a jab? Before he could respond, they arrived at their destination. Conversation over.
At the Reagan family home, Danny's father Frank and grandfather Henry were waiting with Danny and Linda's two boys.
"Mommy! Mommy! Where's Daddy?" The boys rushed up, hugging their mother tightly.
Jack stepped out of the car to greet the two elder Reagans, shaking their hands. Both men already seemed aware of the incident.
"Danny's fine," Jack assured them. "The shooter wasn't targeting him. He stayed behind to handle the scene."
Frank Reagan nodded. "I spoke with him already. Thank you, Jack. Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?"
Though Frank's composure was unwavering, his subtle worry for his son and daughter-in-law was evident. Jack politely declined, explaining he had guests at home, and took his leave.
---
The next morning, as Jack was gearing up for a morning run with Hannah, his phone rang. It was Dana Morse.
"Raymundo Salazar. Does that name ring a bell?"
"The Peruvian leader of the El Mar cartel?" Jack was surprised. Since when did the FBI's New York office deal with South American drug lords?
Jack recalled the name from previous operations against Mexican cartels like Sonora and Matamoros. El Mar wasn't particularly significant—just a small player in cocaine trafficking compared to the big leagues.
"A year ago, El Mar established a foothold in Harlem. Salazar even donated $1 million to Harlem's revitalization project. Last night, NYPD Detective Danny Reagan witnessed Salazar gun down a young Black man on the street."
Jack was stunned. How was last night's incident tied to a drug lord?
"That doesn't add up. El Mar isn't some street gang. Salazar has plenty of lackeys for dirty work. Why would he act personally?"
"That's what you need to figure out," Dana said, handing him a thick dossier. "This is everything we have on El Mar. You'll be handling this one solo. Hannah's heading to Florida for procedural work on the copper smelting pervert case—it's going to trial."
Dana waved Jack off, already engrossed in another report.
---
Today's chapter ran slightly shorter due to errands, but I'll make up for it tomorrow!
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Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
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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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