beyond the boundaries*
chapter 13
Amanda walked into the station holding her shoulder with a shirt.
"I hate my job!" She said announcing it to everyone. She got a laugh from everyone. After the nurse fixed up her shoulder she went to talk to Josh.
He was sitting in the front on one of the chairs in the waiting area. He was slouched leaning back against the chair with his eyes closed. She sat next to him resting her hand on his leg.
"Hey."
He opened his eyes sitting up. He grabbed her hand.
"Hi." He kissed her on the cheek. "How are you? How's you shoulder?"
"Fine. I'm tired as hell. I haven't slept in a week."
"You didn't sleep at all this week?"
"Not really, no enough at least. He had me tied up and I was in the middle of nowhere. I was too scared to sleep."
"I'm so sorry sweetie...I can't believe he'd do something like this. And to make it worse all we while he kept you hostage I was hanging out with him...and I told him everything about us. I'm a fucking idiot." He buried his face in his hands. Ready to cry.
Amanda leaned over setting her head on his shoulder. She kissed his neck.
"It's ok Josh...I'm here, I'm fine...It wasn't your fault. You don't need to put yourself down...look at me." He looked up at her. "Okay?"
"Okay." He smiled. She kissed his forehead.
Edward and Murphy watched JC and Amanda as they talked together, catching up on things.
"He treats her so well." Murphy said
"Yeah he does. He's what she's always wanted. And I like him." Edward chuckled.
Murphy looked at him. "You think she'll get in trouble?"
"I don't know? I can't help her th is time because Matthews got mad that I was always covering for my girls."
Just thent the phone rang.
"Agent Murphy." He said
"Hello John. It's Matthews, may I talk with Amanda please?" Agent Matthews said.
"Yes sir...it's Matthews." He said to Edward.
"Hey Junior...phone. It's Matthews." Murphy said
"Shit! I'm in big trouble now." Amanda said
"Who's Matthews?" Josh asked
"He's my boss."
"I thought your dad was your boss?"
"He is, but Matthews is the boss of everyone."
She walked over to the desk where Murphy was standing. She took the phone from him.
"Good luck."
"Thanks I'll need it." He patted her back and left her alone.
"Hello sir, it's Junior." She said
"Jones I am very proud of you, you've done a wonderful job on this case. One of your best."
"Thank you sir."
"But at the same time I'm disappointed in you. You've always been one to follow all the rules, do your best work...I've heard that you are having a relationship with one of your clients, is this true?"
'Damnit!' She thought. She closed her eyes tightly. "Yes sir it is." She confessed.
"Amanda why? Why this time and not others? What's different?"
"Sir I apologize, but I just-...lov-"
"You are supposed to keep it professional. You could of held yourself back, you have to. If you get too emotionally involved you can ruin the case. But good for you, you didn't. You stayed focused."
"I'm sorry sir, I slipped up."
"Yes you did, and I'm sorry that I have to say this but you will be suspended for 3 months. Turn in your badge and gun until then. When that time is over I will then decide what to do from then."
Tears came from Amanda's eyes. She wiped them away.
"I will sir, it's only fair." She said trying to hold back her tears.
"Amanda I'm sorry that this is the way things are happening but I have to ask you to leave. You are being transfered to Seattle, Washington, the academy there. You will be there for the time being. You leave tonight. Don't tell anyone where you're going. Your father, Murphy and Eve will be the only ones to allowed to know...I'm sorry that your father couldn't cover you up this time but you need to make up you own consequences for your actions. I know you can handle it. You're tough.
"I agree."
"I have to go. But as soon as you finish this case turn in you badge and gun, your flight is leaving at 9 PM tonight. Someone will be waiting for you."
"Ok."
"And Amanda?"
"Yes?"
"Don't do it again."
"Yes sir....Thank you goodbye." She hung up the phone. Setting her head on the desk letting the tears fall freely.
Her father walked over to her. He rubbed her back softly. Kneeling down next to his daughter.
"Sweetheart what did he say?"
"I'm suspended for 3 months and I have to leave tonight. I'm being transfered. I have to give you my badge." She told him, crying while she talked to him.
"You'll be fine Junior. Where are you leaving to?"
"Only you, Eve and Murphy can know. Matthews will contact you later today to talk."
"Ok."
"Daddy, I'm so sorry."
"It's ok Junior." He pulled her into his arms holding her. "I forgive you. I know you love him. I know you couldn't help your feelings..."
"What am I going to tell him? I have to act like he no longer exists. I can't do that."
"Junior, there I can't help you...I can just tell you to have faith. If it's meant to be he'll always come back."
She smiled. "Thanks."
"You'll be alright kid. You'll be back in no time." John Murphy said
"3 months is a long time though."
"It will fly by."
She chuckled.
"Hey Junior, can we talk?" Eve asked
"Sure." She got up from her desk. They walked into the conference room in the back. Closing the door for privacy.
"I'm leaving to Seattle tonight at 9 for 3 months....or longer." Amanda said
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah. I still can't believe this."
"I should have stopped you."
"From what?"
"When you told me you were falling in love with Josh. You should have ended it there and now you're leaving."
"Jo don't blame yourself for something I chose to do."
"WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU JUST FOLLOW THE RULES AMANDA!?" Eve shouted getting angry.
"GOD EVE! Chill!...I'm sorry. Why are you so angry?"
"Because my sister, my best friend, is leaving me and you shouldn't have to. I don't want you to. I need you here." Eve sat down in one of the chair leaning over. Amanda sat next to her.
"Jo, I'm so sorry. I don't want to leave either...If I could have done something different I would have stopped Josh."
"Really? Even if you knew you were falling in love with him?"
"...Yes. Because I choose this as my life, my career way before I met him. He;s just someone who came along and stole my heart away." She began to cry.
Eve held her hand. "What are you going to tell him?"
"I don't know? He can never know where I'm leaving to. I feel bad for him. I'm scared because I always thought he'd be there. Now I have to say goodbye to him." The tears fell even more. "...It's going to be the hardest thing ever."
Eve put her arms around her sister, hugging her. "I'm so sorry Manda. I wish I could do something for you."
"Don't ever leave me."
"I won't, as long as you don't leave me."
"Deal."
Their father walked into the room after knocking.
"Amanda, phone call." He said
"Okay." She wiped her tears away and stood up.
She sat down at her desk picking up the phone. "This is Agent Jones." She said
"Hello Amanda. Tired? It's not over yet."
"Who is this?"
"I want half a million by nine 'o clock tonight. Drop it off at the diner down the street on the corner. Give it to the cashier and leave...I'll leave them alone when I get my money, all of it."
"How can I believe that?"
"Believe it. Come alone."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Don't ask questions...bring the money." The person hung up the phone.
Amanda stood up from her desk. A questioning look on her face.
"What's wrong Junior? Who was that?" Murphy asked
"I'm not sure...where'd you take Ryan?" She asked
"Downstairs in custody..."
Murphy took her downstairs. Ryan was behind bars sitting on the cot.
"Ryan who else was apart of this? Who was that guy that first got me at the gad station?"
He was quiet.
"Ryan!"
"He's a cab driver."
"And the girl on the phone that just called me."
"JC's ex-girlfriend. Bobbie."
"And?..."
"She's mad because he broke up with her and now she's out of the spotlight. So she started to scare them and send threatening letters. Then the FBI came in and she found out, and that you and JC ended up together and that pissed her off even more."
"Wait Bobbie...Bobbie Thomas? That editor?"
"That's right."
"Why does she want the money?"
"She recently lost her house. She wants it back."
"Oh god...do you know if she'll be at the diner?"
"She works there part time. I think she'll be there or at least working there."
"She's pretty dumb if she is but...is she armed at all?"
"No, she just wants the money and Josh back."
"Ok thank you for telling me Ryan, I appericate it."
"No problem."
Amanda and Murphy walked back upstairs.
"What happens now?" Murphy asked
"She wants me to take the money to her by nine 'o clock but I have a flight at nine. So it's kind of up to all of you now. What time is it now?"
"Six."
"Shit, I have to go home and pack. Can you handle this? You heard everything he said." She told Murphy.
He nodded.
"Yes, you can go home and pack. Talk to Josh." Eve said
"Ok, I'll call before I leave and see what's going on."
"Ok, bye." Eve gave her a hug. "I'll miss you."
"Me too." Amanda hugged her father and Murphy before she left.
"Don't be a stranger Junior." Murphy said
"Ok." She laughed. Walking over to Josh. "Let's go."
"Where are we going?" Josh asked
"To my place. We need to talk."
"Okay."