The FBI's urgent efforts to trace Linda's phone were unsuccessful. The signal was lost after passing through the Roosevelt Towers in Harlem, suggesting the phone's battery had been removed.
For the first time, Danny found himself frustrated by Jack's driving speed. Although he had called his father to confirm that his two children were safe and sound at the Reagan family home, his mind was racing with worst-case scenarios.
What if Frank had lied to keep him calm? What if the commissioner himself had been targeted?
Jack's Dodge Hellcat tore through the streets, weaving aggressively through traffic. Before the car came to a complete stop outside the Reagan family's suburban home, Danny flung the door open and stumbled toward the front door in a near panic.
Jack hurried after him, closing the car door and catching up just in time to grab Danny's arm. "Don't scare the kids. Stay calm. The Elmar gang won't do anything to her before the hearing. We still have time."
Though Jack wasn't entirely sure of his own words, he needed Danny to maintain his composure. Acting impulsively now would only make matters worse.
Inside the house, Frank Reagan and his father, Henry, were in the kitchen. Both were wearing glasses and chatting about old times as they prepared dinner.
The sound of the door bursting open startled them. Danny's frantic entrance made Henry nearly drop a mixing bowl.
"Where are Sean and Jack?" Danny demanded, his voice edged with desperation.
Frank, used to his eldest son's fiery temperament, squinted at Danny through his reading glasses. He was about to answer when he noticed Jack entering behind Danny. Frank's stern expression softened slightly into a smile.
"The kids are working on their homework. Don't worry—they have no idea what's going on. They think they're just here for an early weekend visit."
Danny exhaled in relief. Before he could respond, two lively boys ran out of the next room, shouting, "Daddy!"
"Hey, guys!" Danny knelt and hugged his sons tightly, his voice trembling despite his effort to stay composed.
"Hi, Uncle Jack!"
"Daddy, Grandpa and another officer came in a police car to pick us up!" Sean, Danny's younger son, exclaimed excitedly.
"Really? That's amazing," Danny replied distractedly, his words barely coherent. His response caused both older men to exchange worried glances.
Frank shot a questioning look at Jack, who stood silently nearby, his face grim. Seeing Danny stumble over explanations about Linda being at a spa, Frank cleared his throat and interrupted.
"Sean, Jack, I'm betting you know where I hid the gaming console," Frank said, addressing the boys.
Sean, Danny's older son, froze in nervous anticipation. "Yes, Grandpa."
Frank pointed toward the next room. "Well, tonight I'll be generous. You can play for an hour. Go on, have fun!"
"Yeah!" The boys cheered as they dashed back to their room, leaving Danny visibly relieved.
Frank waited until they were out of earshot, then turned to Danny and Jack, his expression stern. "Now, someone tell me what's going on."
"They took Linda, Dad," Danny croaked, his voice raw. Tears streamed down his face as he spoke, his composure shattered.
---
"What happened?" Irene and Jamie, Frank's youngest son, arrived in response to a late-night call. Their unease grew as they saw the solemn faces in the living room.
"Linda's been kidnapped," Frank announced, keeping his outward calm as the head of the family. Yet his trembling hands, as he added sugar to his coffee, betrayed his inner turmoil.
"Oh, my God!" Irene gasped, covering her mouth to stifle a sob.
Jamie, slower to connect the dots, finally pieced together the situation. "And the kids?" he asked urgently.
"They're safe. I just put them to bed. They think their mom went to a spa," Henry Reagan said as he shuffled into the room, leaning heavily on his cane.
"What's our plan? FBI involvement?" Irene looked at Jack, but her question was cut short by Frank raising his hand.
"I've thought this through. If the media gets wind of this, Linda has no chance of survival."
The logic was grim but clear. If news of Linda's abduction broke, public attention would immediately shift to whether Danny would still testify against Salazar. Public pressure would mount, and no one would care about Linda's fate—they would only focus on whether the Reagans would yield.
Regardless of the outcome, the family would lose. If Danny didn't testify, his career would be over, and Frank might face demands to resign for yielding to a criminal gang. But if Danny testified and Linda was killed, the family—and the NYPD—would still be seen as failing to protect her.
This was why Jack and Danny had left the precinct discreetly, ensuring no one else knew. As long as the situation remained secret, they had options—time to either rescue Linda before the hearing or find a way to delay Danny's testimony without tipping off the gang.
The latter option, however, was fraught with risks. There was no guarantee the gang wouldn't harm Linda or use footage of her captivity for future blackmail.
Everyone in the room understood this without needing it spelled out. The only viable plan was to find where the Elmar gang was holding Linda as quickly as possible.
"Jamie," Frank addressed his youngest son, "I need you to track down George Lupino, Salazar's right-hand man. If we find him, we'll find Linda. But keep this quiet—no one from the Elmar gang can know."
Jamie nodded, though he hesitated before glancing at Danny, who sat slumped in his chair, staring blankly into space.
"He'll be fine," Frank assured Jamie, motioning for him to go.
"Jack, the FBI…" Frank began, but stopped, trusting Jack to understand.
"I'll handle it. Only my boss and I will know the details," Jack replied. He had already coordinated with Jubal earlier for the phone trace. His supervisor, Dana Mosier, would back his discretion.
Frank turned his attention back to Jack. "What's your take on this?"
Jack didn't hesitate. "There's a mole. The gang's response was too fast. They knew Danny led the arrest, had details of last night's shootout, and abducted Linda before your officers could pick her up. If the Elmar gang had this level of influence, they'd control more than just Harlem."
Frank's eyes narrowed. "What's your suggestion?"
"Surveil him. If we catch even a thread of evidence, we'll act decisively."
Frank nodded, his expression hardening. In the Reagan household, there was no room for hesitation. Time was running out.
------------------
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