While Danny arranged for the prison to gather Dick Reed's fan mail, he personally visited Reed's mother's house again. He insisted on knocking on the door and seeing Reed in person to ensure the man was home.
Despite his reputation as a hotheaded firecracker ready to blow at any moment, Danny showed remarkable intelligence and determination when it came to police work. Beneath his rough, macho exterior was a surprisingly perceptive and meticulous mind.
If it weren't for his police lineage and the fact that he was a bit too old, Jack might have considered inviting Danny to join his FBI task force.
Sure, Danny's shooting skills were mediocre, and his physical fitness and hand-to-hand combat were only average. But his ability to think outside the box and his unshakeable sense of justice made him the kind of partner you could trust with your life.
As night fell and Danny promised to meet him the next day, Jack left for the courthouse to pick up Eileen. From there, they drove to a small alley at the intersection of Chinatown and Little Italy.
The alley was quiet, with only a few shops open. But one shop stood out—a white sign with red letters beneath a massive wooden revolver hanging as its centerpiece.
This was John Jovino Gun Shop, one of New York's most famous gun stores and one of the last few remaining within city limits. Founded in 1906, it was established by the infamous Mafia boss John Jovino himself.
Five years later, in 1911, the shop was sold to the Imperato family, though the name remained unchanged and continues to this day.
In a city with some of the strictest gun control laws in the country, this Mafia-owned gun shop had survived for over a century. Its secret? One of its biggest clients was the NYPD itself.
According to Henry Reagan, back when he was the commissioner, the NYPD headquarters used to be located directly across the street from the gun shop. There was even a tunnel connecting the two. Back then, officers could buy their weapons by simply walking through the tunnel.
Jack was there to pick up some firearms. The business card Frank had given him listed this shop as the contact. Jack had always been curious about the legendary Jovino Gun Shop, so he decided to visit in person.
The shop's manager was a sixty-something Chinese man with white hair. He carried an antique .380 Beretta 84FS holstered on his belt, which Jack noticed was positioned on the left side, marking him as a lefty.
When the manager, known as Uncle Charlie, saw Eileen, his face lit up, and he greeted her warmly. It was clear they were well-acquainted, as Eileen called him "Uncle Charlie" without hesitation.
If Jack had been an ordinary customer buying a gun for personal use, even with the commissioner's daughter accompanying him, he wouldn't have been able to complete the process in a single day. New York State's gun control laws are notoriously strict, and the paperwork is infamously convoluted.
However, since this was for official use, things moved much faster. Jack presented his credentials, and Uncle Charlie made a quick call using the shop's desk intercom. After confirming the details, he promptly pulled out the necessary forms for Jack to sign.
With the paperwork out of the way, Jack took a moment to inspect the shop. On the surface, it looked like a typical gun store, but closer examination revealed its unique features. All the glass doors were made of thick, bulletproof glass with motion sensors connected to an alarm system.
The display cases were similarly reinforced, and each wall was outfitted with multiple cameras that left no blind spots. Even the intercom system on Uncle Charlie's desk was intriguing—it was directly connected to NYPD headquarters. The more Jack looked, the more he realized this was no ordinary gun shop.
Jack wasn't just picking up the SIG Sauer P320-XTen pistols Frank had arranged for him. He also purchased a batch of 10mm Auto ammunition and a Beretta BU9 Nano, a compact semi-automatic pistol.
The Nano was for Eileen's personal protection. Although she had a gun permit, she had never carried a firearm before. After Jack explained the risks, she finally agreed to carry the small pistol for self-defense, at least for the time being.
Uncle Charlie enthusiastically invited them to the indoor shooting range at the back of the store to test the guns. After firing a few magazines, Jack was pleasantly surprised by Eileen's shooting skills. She was at least as good as Danny, if not better. It seemed that even if she hadn't joined the NYPD, the Reagan bloodline still ran strong in her.
The next morning, as planned, Jack and Dana Moser met with Frank in his office. To Jack's surprise, they found themselves face-to-face with someone familiar—if not personally, then professionally.
When Frank's secretary, Baker, ushered them in, the commissioner was in the middle of a heated exchange with none other than Councilwoman Collins, the same woman who had publicly criticized him at the press conference.
"So you called me here just to rehash old grievances? That was nothing more than political posturing—nothing personal," Collins said, her voice strained as she glanced nervously at Jack and Dana. Though she didn't recognize them, their professional attire and demeanor made her uneasy.
"In fact, Councilwoman Collins," Frank said, ignoring her protests as he rose from his desk and gestured for Jack and Dana to take seats on the guest sofa, "I found your remarks about old-school police methods quite enlightening."
Frank removed his reading glasses and leaned casually against his desk, resting one hand on a thick stack of files. From his elevated position, he stared down at the visibly uncomfortable councilwoman.
"Here's the thing," Frank continued, his voice calm but sharp. "I recently came across some old files. You were once investigated for signing a municipal contract without a bidding process. Though the case was dismissed as a 'shocking misunderstanding,' I wonder if you remember it?"
Collins shifted in her seat, visibly uneasy. She stole a glance at Jack and Dana, as if seeking support, but they remained silent. Gritting her teeth, she suppressed her anger and kept her voice low. "That's ancient history. I've been cleared of all wrongdoing."
"True, you've been cleared," Frank conceded. "But your conduct during that investigation inspired me to look into the company that caused all this trouble for New York City—White Tip Cotton Industries. Imagine my surprise when I found your husband's name listed among its stakeholders."
Collins' face twisted with fury. She stood abruptly, grabbing her bag. "I don't have to sit here and listen to this nonsense."
She made to leave, but Frank stepped forward, blocking her path. "I'm not finished, Councilwoman."
He nodded to Baker, who stepped forward and laid several files on the desk in front of Collins. Despite the dark circles under her eyes, Baker looked energized as she spread the documents out, pointing to highlighted sections.
"In reviewing the special appropriations granted to NYPD's various departments—particularly the forensic labs—I discovered that a significant portion of the funds are unaccounted for. Interestingly, these missing amounts align with figures found in your campaign contributions."
"I've heard enough! I don't know when the NYPD decided to moonlight as the Department of Investigation!" Collins snapped, her voice rising as she grabbed her things again.
This time, Baker stepped in front of her. Though she was Frank's secretary, she was also an NYPD detective.
"Embezzling public funds carries serious consequences," Frank said, his smile fading. "Of course, the NYPD doesn't have jurisdiction over this matter. That's why I invited Ms. Moser, the head of the FBI's New York office, to join us today. My apologies for not introducing you earlier."
Frank's smile vanished completely as he motioned toward Jack and Dana. It was clear the councilwoman was no longer in control of the room. The ball was now firmly in Frank Reagan's court.
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Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1418)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1422)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1452)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1504)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld!(Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 703)
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