Where are They Now? (Spoilers)

[Robbie C.]

For the few who might follow the Task Force stories, you'll notice I have never said if the Task Force disbanded or not. This little 'Where are they now?' assumes Pete was reassigned and the TF disbanded. Just figured I'd put it out there for anyone who's interested. And if there are no more TF stories you won't wonder what happened to them once the lights went up and the curtain fell....

Martin and Trudy Castillo: After Chief Deputy Pete Washington was promoted and reassigned, the incoming Chief Deputy began an overhaul of the Task Force system and assignments. When he said he was reducing support and reassigning the three deputies currently assigned, Martin Castillo dropped his badge on the man’s desk and retired the next day. Trudy turned in her paperwork five minutes later. They retired to his house near the beach, and Trudy discovered a second talent as an in-demand pianist at Downbeat, playing both jazz standards and her own compositions. The slightly-retitled “Suite for Jess and Andre” is especially popular. She also plays on occasion at The Sanctuary. She still writes most of her original pieces at the piano in their home, with Martin as her first audience and only critic she pays attention to. Castillo’s time is his own for the first time in almost forty years, and he spends the first few weeks making little improvements to the house and just sitting and listening to the waves. He’s still approached from time to time for “special jobs” by old contacts. Still, neither of them need to work again thanks to his wise investments over the years.

Stan and Gina Switek: With the demise of the Task Force, Stan was as good as his word and resigned the same day as Trudy and Martin. Gina remained in her dual position with Victims’ Services for a time, but within a year transitioned to a staff position with Caitlin’s House. As Director of Engagement she works with a number of local groups and law enforcement to make sure girls got placed correctly and to coordinate outreach and program expansion. The program is so successful they’re conducting fundraising to build a second unit, mostly at Jenny and Angie’s insistence they don’t draw down the endowment. Stan works independently in communications security, contracting out to sweep offices for bugs and consults from time to time with various agencies. But he’s mostly settled into being a “house husband,” something he enjoys a great deal. They’re planning on starting a family; just not yet. They’re still having too much fun.

Lester Franz: Unlike the others, Lester stuck it out with Metro-Dade for a few years before finally giving up and joining Stan in his freelance consulting operation. Some said the only reason he’d stayed was to date the pretty new girl in the communications section, and his marriage three weeks after resigning confirmed their suspicions. In his spare time he’s a trance DJ at a number of clubs in the Metro Dade area, and has something of a cult following as DJ Tango Foxtrot - his name a homage to the unit that gave him his big break.

Dave Blair and Randy Mather: Unwilling to return to regular marshal duties after the Task Force was disbanded, Dave and Randy both resigned within six months of the team being dissolved. Soon after they moved back to Montana because, in Dave’s words, “It’s too damned hot and too damned flat in Florida.” Back with the Butte-Silver Bow police force, they stay in touch with all the members of the Task Force, especially Sonny. They still call him ‘Boss’ when they talk. Dave still carries on a long-distance relationship with Debbie, who’s now thinking of moving out West. Randy reconnected with an old flame, and they’re thinking of moving in together.

Ricardo Tubbs and Mindy O’Laughlin: The end of the Task Force hit Mindy especially hard, and she resigned within days of the announcement. It had been the first place she’d been accepted for what she could do and allowed to expand to her full potential, and she told Tubbs she just couldn’t go back after that. She drifted for a time, not really sure what she wanted to do or where she wanted to be. But then one morning she woke up and realized Rico had been there for her the whole time and that was where she wanted to be. When Rico came home she asked him to marry her. Rico tried to stick in out after the TF dissolved, but found Crockett had been right about what Metro-Dade would do with them. Shuffled from dead-end desk to dead-end desk, he exploded one day and slugged the former homicide lieutenant who’d somehow managed to retain control of OCB after the Gorman incident. He resigned two hours later and came home to Mindy’s proposal. They were married six weeks later in a quiet ceremony with Sonny as Rico’s best man and Trudy as the maid of honor. Castillo walked Mindy down the aisle. Although he never made a big deal about it, Sonny’s wedding present to the couple was forgiving the loan he’d made so Tubbs could buy Casa Cooper. Rico knocked around for a few weeks after resigning, and then got a job as chief of security at Caitlin’s House. Mindy works part-time there as well, although she’s cut back her hours after learning she was pregnant. They’re expecting their first child, a boy they’ve already named Rafael, in the next few weeks.

James “Sonny” Crockett and Jenny Walker: It took Crockett all of two seconds to decide to walk away from Metro-Dade this time, leaving the Ferrari and Scarab behind without a second glance. He and Jenny spent weeks cleaning and refitting Monaele’s sailboat, their first purchase as a couple, and renamed it Tranquility. Sonny learned later Pete had pulled a number strings to make sure he got the boat and at the lowest price possible. Jenny works with Angie as a sort of part-time CFO for Caitlin’s House, and takes a hand in many of the therapy cruises done on Vellamo, which she continues to rent to the House at the rate of a dollar a year. Once Tranquility was finished, Sonny did the same with the St Vitus Dance, expanding the program offerings tremendously. Although they’ve never formally married, Sonny and Jenny are inseparable, both finding peace and security with each other in a way most don’t understand. He dabbles in the management of Caitlin’s House, mostly in overseeing the messaging and checking backgrounds on potential hires and clients. But he and Jenny will also disappear across the waves for days or even weeks at a time. It’s a good life…better than either of them had ever realized they’d have.

 

The Task Force alumni still in Miami get together every week or so at The Sanctuary to catch up and generally enjoy each others’ company. They remain close, an unbreakable bond formed by facing the same dangers and counting on each other when there was nothing else to count on.

There is talk from time to time of putting together an investigation firm, but no one knows if that will ever come to pass. And if anyone gets any ideas, they still have the documents from their various cases stashed away; a full set with each former member of the Task Force. Castillo always believed in insurance.

[mjcmmv]

This is great. Looking forward to see whether they disband or not, but at least this gives me a direction, unlike the show's heart-wrenching ending!

There was no hint of what was going to happen to our heroes or even OCB's fate, for that matter.

"Free Fall" made me want to punch someone! 

Edited September 29, 2019 by mjcmmv

[Robbie C.]

I hate loose ends. That should be kinda obvious by now...

[Robbie C.]

I just realized I forgot someone. And I hate loose ends...

Izzy Moreno: Though not part of the TF or even law enforcement, Izzy was a part of their lives and should be included. He got a job with his uncle, but it didn’t last. Back hustling on the streets, Izzy managed to attract the attention of a car dealer who claimed to be a fourth cousin to Hemingway. Pappa’s Porsches had a new spokesman. Izzy’s tagline - “Joo need thees car. Pappa has thees car. Women love ‘Emingway." became a fixture on late-night TV and Izzy was a local celebrity for a time. At least until the real Hemingway family noticed and had the Feds look into the dealership. When the owner was busted for fraud, tax evasion, and hiring illegal aliens, Izzy was out of a job again. But, as Tubbs would say, the little chump managed to land on his feet. He’d made some fans during his tour as the “face of Pappa’s Porsches,” and one of them was Esmirelda Krantz, a pert little Cubana and the widow of the late and not lamented Hubert Krantz. Esi fell head over heels for Izzy, swooping him up to her condo in Boca and keeping him in a style to which he quickly became accustomed. Living off the proceeds of Hubert’s stock portfolio, the couple is often seen dancing in clubs and generally living the good life. Esi also has a bit of a temper, which works to keep Izzy in line. As they often say, “she is his queen and he is her king.” And she loves Hemingway.

Edited September 29, 2019 by Robbie C.

[mjcmmv]

Love it!!! A fitting end for our little con artist!

 

[Robbie C.]

Obviously this has changed a bit since I did two novels after this, but it still holds pretty close. I might updated it at some point. Who knows?