A.N. Sorry this chapter has taken me a while to write. I have been sick and also had a lot going on at home. So here it is now. This chapter is pretty procedural not alot of Sam and Andy moments in it.
A.N.1 Please, review. I love the reviews that I have received so far. Sorry not had a chance to reply to them. Reviews make my day.
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Rookie Blue.
Boyd - Sam
It was an early morning in Toronto, when Sam awoke. He reached across the bed to hug Andy to find that side of the bed empty and cold. Then he remembered that they had spent the night separately Andy at her apartment and Sam in his house. They came to an agreement that they would spend the night before the Boyd IA hearing in their respective homes, so they could get a good night sleep. Both of them knew if they spent the night together they would have done anything but sleep. They had spent the day off together but temptation to make love again was too high.
Sam dragged himself out of bed to put the coffee pot on. Once he had done that he stripped his bed and put it in the washing machine. That being done, he jumped into the shower; he stood there allowing the water to run all over his body. He felt really tense of what was to be coming early this afternoon. After he had showered he then shaved. He wanted to look his best for Andy and make a good show of himself in the hearing. He wasn't going to be seeing Andy till she had given her evidence. Sam was given a midday time slot for him and Andy was given 1400 time slot for hers.
So he pulled out his dress uniform out of the wardrobe for the second time in a month. He hated to wear his cap and the jacket, he felt like it was a straight jacket to him. Then he remembered in the locker room when Boyd came up to him when he was getting dressed to go out for the day. When Boyd mentioned that the uniform was a straight jacket for him, remembering that made the blood run cold in his veins. Then it was followed by anger towards Boyd, he wanted to punch something and sadly for him he was in his house. Normally it would have been his locker that would have taken the brunt of his frustration. He had punched or kicked it so many times in the last 2 years, from the first day he returned after Andy blew his cover, then the amount of times she screwed up or when he couldn't take it with Andy being with Luke.
Now he didn't have to worry about Luke anymore because he wasn't a problem anymore. He had Andy all to himself and would do anything in his power to keep her with him for the rest of his life. She was it for him. He pulled on his pants; dress shoes and walked to have a coffee shirtless. He was nervous about going in front of the IA board. He knew Boyd had it coming but he needed to give evidence so that he would be given the appropriate punishment. Sam hoped it would be that Boyd would be kicked out of the service for what he did to him and more importantly Andy. He pulled out a mug from the cupboard above the coffee pot and poured himself a very large mug. He leant against the counter top savouring the taste of the coffee and hoping that he would get the instant caffeine hit that he was in need of. His stomach began to growl so he pulled out some bread and flung it into the toaster. Once the bread was toasted he spread some peanut butter on it. He made quick work of the toast and peanut butter, he looked at the clock on the oven it said 10.46 meaning he had only just over one hour to get himself finished dressed and make his way to head quarters. So he cleaned up what had used before heading back towards his bedroom to finish getting changed. Once he had got his shirt and tie on he pulled on the jacket, grabbing his cap, then he grabbed his keys to the truck and phone.
He dialled a familiar number. It rang and rang then went to voicemail. He was wondering why it would go to voicemail. Then he thought that they could have been either a sleep or in the shower. So locked up his house and jumped into his truck and headed towards headquarters.
Just as he was arriving at headquarters his cell phone went off. He saw it was Andy calling him.
He hit the answer button "Good morning, beautiful."
"Good morning, babe." Andy replied.
"How are you?" Sam wanted to know how Andy was due to what they were both going through today.
"I am ok, nervous but I will be glad when this is all over." Andy sighed on the other end of the phone.
"You will be fine. I am just on my way into headquarters now." Sam said as he was pulling his truck into a parking space at headquarters. "Just tell them the truth and hopefully he will get what is coming to him."
"Yeah, I know. I am just hoping that I don't have to come face to face with him." Andy knew that if she saw Boyd that she would punch him.
"He won't be around. They wouldn't have him anywhere near the building when people were giving evidence on his case." Sam hoped that would be enough to reassure Andy. He also didn't want to see Boyd either but he didn't want to tell her that.
"Good." Andy gave an audible sigh that Sam heard it down the phone.
"Well as much as I would like to keep talking to you. I have got to get in to headquarters." Sam really wanted to blow this whole thing off and be with Andy.
"Huh? You blowing me out Officer Swarek." Andy teased in a nervous manner.
"I would never blow you out. I just have to get inside. So I can get this over and done with. I will see you at The Penny after you give evidence." They had come to an arrangement to meet at The Penny after they had given evidence. Hopefully to meet up with the rest of their friends after they had finished shift later on.
"Good luck babe." Andy wished Sam all the best for giving evidence.
"Good luck yourself." Sam wished Andy. "Possibly see you when I get out."
"Yeah, seeing you before going in will help me relax." Andy knew that if she saw Sam at any time would give her the strength to do anything. He was her rock.
"Just remember to breathe then you will be fine. Well I got to go now or I will be late."
"Ok, babe. See you later." Andy said in closing.
"See you later." Sam hit end call and put his phone in his pocket.
He excited his truck and hit the remote lock button on the keys. He walked through the parking lot of Headquarters towards the building. Headquarters was really busy today there were a lot of white shirts walking in and out of the building as well as the regular coppers. Sam recognised a few of the regular coppers as he walked nearer the building, saying hello to them as he passed.
Once inside the building, Sam felt a sense of déjà vu coming, remembering walking into this building more than once when he was coming to meet his own board of investigation. The building was a really smart office block; the flooring looked like it was black marble, which contained the crest of the police service in the middle. It also had exposed steel beams. He walked up to the young man on reception in the middle of the vast open space, with offices over 5 floors in a horseshoe style.
"Welcome to Metropolitan Police Service Headquarters. How may I help you officer?" The young man said in the speech he would have given over and over again.
"Officer Samuel Swarek to see Internal Affairs board in regards to Detective Donovan Boyd" Sam replied.
The young man looked through the computer system to find Sam name and where he had to report. "Officer Swarek, I have found you. Take the right hand elevators to the 4th floor and speak to the officer on duty. They will take you to the appropriate office."
"Thank you." Sam said to the young man.
"Your welcome, Officer" the young man politely replied.
Sam walked over to the bank of elevators on the right hand side of building; he pressed the button to call the elevator. Once the elevator doors opened Sam stepped in he pressed the button to take him to the 4th floor. On his arrival at the 4th floor a young female civilian officer greets him.
"Hello, how may I help you Officer?" The female officer spoke.
"I am here for the I.A. board of investigations in regards to Detective Boyd." Sam replied to the question from the civilian young officer.
"What is your name?" she enquired.
"Officer Samuel Swarek."
"Yes, Officer Swarek they are expecting you. Would you like to follow me to the waiting room, till they are ready for you." The civilian officer walked from behind the desk and proceeded to walk down the office-lined hallway to a small waiting area at the end of it. "You can wait here until someone from Internal Affairs comes and gets you."
"Thank you." Said Sam as he stepped into the room.
The young officer closed the door behind him. The room had no windows or doors in the room. It had 8 chairs lined up one side and the same on the other side. Sam sat down on the chair closest to the door, placing his cap on the chair next to him. He undid the bottom two buttons of his dress uniform jacket and then rested his head on the wall behind him, shutting his eyes.
A few minutes passed the door opened again, in walked Officer Durham the union rep.
"Hey Sam." Mark greeted Sam.
"Hey Mark. Good to see you again." Sam greeted Mark.
"It's good to see you again too. Are you ready for this?" Mark enquired.
"I will be glad when this is all over."
"Me too, the more I read the papers in regards to Boyd. The more I hate the guy. Plus I am here for the next week with all the officers from the 15th that have been called to give evidence." Mark was the union rep for Dov, Gail, Luke, Traci, Jerry, Noelle, Chris and Oliver. Frank had his own union rep for people in higher positions.
"Poor you having to sit in on all those evidence hearings. So you will be with Andy later?"
Mark nodded "Yeah I will be with Officer McNally later."
"Good to know that you will be with her later. Just try and keep her calm, when she gets nervous she starts to babble on." Sam warned Mark what Andy was like.
"Thanks for the information Sam." Mark was grateful for this information.
"Your welcome, just take care of my girl" Sam smiled that he was able to say to others that Andy was his.
"I promise you Sam, I will take care of her. Like I would do with my own partner. I will always have their back."
Sam smiled and nodded in acknowledgement.
The door of the small waiting room opened, the young officer came back into the room. "Officers Swarek and Durham, they are ready for you now. Would you follow me?"
Sam stood up picking up his cap placing it under his right arm and buttoning the bottom buttons of his jacket. Mark waived his hand to signal to Sam to exit the room first and then Mark followed.
They arrived at the door of the hearing room; the young woman opened the door, ushering Sam and Mark into it.
"Officer Samuel Swarek and Officer Mark Durham." She announced.
There were 3 white shirts (2 men and 1 woman) sitting around the conference table and another older woman sitting behind a computer.
"Thank you." One of the men spoke to the young girl.
She stepped out of the room closing the door.
"Would you like to take a seat?" The younger of the 2 men said to Mark and Sam.
Sam and Mark sat at the two empty chairs at the other end of the light wood conference table.
"Welcome Officers Swarek and Durham. I would like to introduce you to the members of this panel and myself. To my right." The younger man said. "This is Inspector George Ireland."
Inspector Ireland nodded. He was an older gentleman, with grey hair around the sides of his head, bald in the middle. He had small round glasses perched on the edge of his nose. He wasn't a slim man he looked like many of the older officers who had spend too many years behind a desk.
"To my left is Staff Inspector Elizabeth Davidson."
Staff Inspector Davidson nodded. She was a fairly young woman, Sam guessed that she could have been 5 years or so older than he. She had dark auburn hair cut to shoulder length.
"The lady at the computer is Mrs Cook is the stenographer. I am Staff Superintendent Lewis Hannah." Hannah appeared to be so much younger than Sam. Sam thought he was one of the graduate cops that climbed the ladder pretty quickly. He had bald head with piercing blue eyes.
Sam and Mark just nodded.
"I am just going to run through a few things with you to let you know how this is going to proceed this evidence hearing. Each of us is going to be asking you questions in regards to your dealings with Detective Donovan Boyd. To ascertain the facts behind Detective Boyd's handling of the Jamie Brennan case. So we can make a decision on what if any punishment to be handed out to Detective Boyd. Any information that is divulged in this hearing will not go any further than the 6 of us in this room. You may not discuss what we ask or what information you gave to anyone. Officer Swarek, I know you are in a relationship with Officer Andrea McNally; you can't discuss this with her. Do you understand?"
Sam replied in his serious tone, "Yes Sir I understand." Sam didn't want to keep anything from Andy but this was a direct order by a superior he knew he had to obey.
"Thank you, Officer Swarek. We will be calling each officer from the 15th in this week to speak to him or her. Now Officer Swarek, I am going start with the first question. When did Detective Boyd first make contact with you in regards to the Brennan case?"
Sam replied, "I was in the male locker room one day getting dressed to start my shift, when Boyd came up to me. He handed me a file and told me that Jamie Brennan was not doing well after his wife's alleged accident. So he was putting a task force together to see if they could work him, to get him on the alleged previous murders and attacks on people. He wanted people that already knew the case. I joked with him that I was just getting used to sleeping in my own bed. I asked him how long I had if I went under. He said 3 weeks, he had someone on the inside that could get me an introduction."
Hannah asked another question "Can you tell us what you remember that was contained in the file that Boyd gave you?"
"It was a very thin file nothing much was in it, just an accident report and some pictures of a burnt out car."
Davidson interjected "So there was nothing else in that file you saw?"
"No mam."
Davidson asked the next question. "So when was your next contact with Detective Boyd?"
"It was later that night. I had just come off shift and was at home. I was in the middle of going through my paperwork at home, when Boyd called. He asked me if I had plans for the night. I said I didn't, so he said he had moved up the date that he wanted me to go UC. He then came to my house, to speak to me. We went through the information I remembered from working a few of Brennan's old cases. Then I made my decision that I would go under for Boyd. He handed me my new cell phone, gave me the papers for my new identity and we drove away from my house. He then dropped me off at my cover apartment and called his inside guy."
Davidson continued, "Did you think it was suspicious at all that the operation was moved up from 3 weeks to a few hours?"
"M'am, I didn't think it was suspicious. Operations do get moved up and down all the time, as you know. So I went with what Boyd wanted."
Ireland then asked the next question. "How often did you get in contact with Boyd when you were on the op?"
"I didn't have much contact with Boyd during the operation. I spoke to his team mostly at Guns and Gangs."
Irelands then asked another question. "What were you reporting back to Boyd?"
"Mainly keeping him updated on what Jamie Brennan was up to. How much contact I had with him, what I had said and what Brennan had said to me. He also could access the wire and cameras from the UC apartment remotely."
Hannah had the next question "So your cover was completely intact as far as you knew?"
"Yes, sir. My cover was completely intact until near the operation."
Hannah continued with the questioning. "What do you mean, until near the operation?"
"Well, it didn't transpire that until Brennan had abducted me that some of my back story was flawed. Boyd had given me in my back-story that I had a boat called God's Good Grace. So when I mentioned the boat to Brennan, then it made him think it was a cop. Boyd didn't tell me that the boat had been confiscated by another police service in a drugs raid. Which Brennan knew about, so that Brennan put 2 and 2 together and made 4. How could I have a boat that was confiscated by the police unless I was a cop sent in to get him?"
"So you were sent in with a incomplete and flawed back-story?" Davidson asked.
"Yes, I was sent in with flawed back-story."
"So you believe this flawed back-story led to you being tortured by Brennan?"
"I do believe that. If I was given a complete back-story I would have not been, beaten and water boarded by Brennan." Sam shivered remembering back to that beating.
Davidson was about to ask another question when Ireland spoke up. "So how did you come in contact with Officer McNally while you were under?"
"Well, Brennan and myself were at the Alpine Motel to have a few drinks. Brennan approached the pool table and talked to who was there. He shouted to me "JD are you ready to play?" I turned around to find Officer McNally and Nash standing talking to Brennan. We played a game of pool, Officer McNally indicated in the chat we had with them that they were on Boyd's rookie scavenger hunt. When she said the "Bus token" I knew that they were UC too, so there was no way of them blowing my cover and me blowing theirs."
Ireland's next question regarded Sam and Andy again "From the information that we received in regards to Officer McNally's and your interaction. You invited her back to your UC apartment, is that correct?"
"Yes it is correct."
"We know that this wasn't the only time you invited Officer McNally to your UC apartment. Is this also correct?"
"Yes Sir it is."
Ireland was on a role in regards to the questioning. "So when was Officer McNally's next contact with Mr Brennan in your company?"
"The morning after the 2nd time she visited the apartment. The time I first mentioned my boat. Officer McNally was on the way out of the door when Brennan made an unplanned visit to the apartment. I spoke to Brennan for a few minutes then Officer McNally came out of the bathroom as she reverted to the Scavenger hunt character she created. As it was the only way that she could explain why she was in the apartment. We chatted for a while, Brennan exited the apartment, then I suggested to Officer McNally that we should give him 15 to 20 minutes to leave before she left. I didn't expect him to be waiting for her when she left. I know what Officer McNally said to Brennan but its better coming from her."
Davidson butted in with a question of her own, "So after your rescue, did you have any contact with Detective Boyd?"
"Yes, I did have contact with Boyd after Officers Diaz, Shaw, Nash, William, Epstein and McNally as well as the cadet Sun had come to my rescue. I had just returned from hospital for checks, I went straight into the locker room to get showered and changed. I was just putting on a t-shirt when Boyd came into the locker room. He came in saying he was glad that I was alive and trying to act like nothing was wrong and his fault. He then said that Brennan was in one of the interview rooms. He then said that Detective Barber earned it so that why he wasn't doing the interview. Then he then tried to blame Officer McNally and myself for what had happened. Its not the first time he has blamed Officer McNally for one of his screw ups."
That admission from Sam made the three senior officers turn around and look at each other.
"What, do you mean that it's not the first time he has blamed Officer McNally?" Hannah asked.
"This goes back about a year ago, I was no longer Officer McNally's TO at the time. So I was asked again by Boyd to work on the Bergan and Landry case in gathering intelligence and using my CI's to get as much information on them. So Officers McNally and Diaz were on patrol that day together. They responded to a call that Diaz got on his cell phone from Officer Epstein's former girlfriend Edie Larson who's door was being banged down by her former boyfriend Gabe. When McNally and Diaz responded to the call, they found in the back of the car that Gabe was a money counter and $2 million dollars in a duffle bag. So asked him some questions about the money and the counter. They didn't get answers that convinced them so they arrested Gabe to find out what the counter and the money were for. When they returned to the station, Boyd went off his head blaming Officer McNally and Diaz for ruining his case. I told him that if he runs his operations in the dark people would start to bump into each other. Gabe was the courier in the deal. Diaz and McNally didn't know about the operation that was going on."
"So what happened next?" Davidson asked. He was curious of what else Boyd had done to screw up.
"Well I spoke to Gabe and then found out he had not met any of the players in the case. So I took on the role of Gabe, spoke to a guy called Simon Torrance who went by the name of Angel. So we arranged a meet at The Mermaid Lounge. Detective Barber didn't want to me to go in alone. So Officer McNally offered to play my girlfriend to come with me to the meet, which didn't go down well with Boyd. He eventually relented after my insistence that McNally would be the best choice; he wanted someone else to do it. So McNally and I posed as Gabe and Edie for the meeting with Angel and another goon Ricky. I left with Angel as part of the deal we struck in The Mermaid. Officer Williams, Detective Callaghan and Boyd were our back up outside the Mermaid Lounge. Officer McNally stayed behind with Ricky and she found out one of the players had come into town. The player knew Gabe and when I turned up at the warehouse I would have been made. So she risked her own life with a gun being pointed at her to save my life. Boyd should have in my opinion at the time should have kept better tabs on his informants and the players in this deal. It ended up with the SRU and all available officers in full gear storming the warehouse to rescue me. Angel was killed in the cross fire."
"So Boyd has a history of running his operations in not a competent manner in your opinion?" Ireland asked.
"He is a good detective but he does have a way of running his operations like a crapshoot." Sam conceded.
Ireland asked another question, "If you thought that Detective Boyd's operations were run like you said a crapshoot. Why did you continue to work with him?"
"At the time I professionally wanted a position within the Guns and Gang unit. So I thought the more I worked with the unit I would have been offered a position within the unit. So I thought working with Boyd would give me the in road there." Sam was honest with the 3 white shirts.
"Officer Swarek, do you want to work with Detective Boyd again? Do you still want a position within the Guns and Gang unit?" Davidson asked.
"I do not want to work or see Boyd again. He put Andy McNally and myself through so much. Most of it our own doing which we paid for it ourselves with being suspended and being on report for 3 month and 6 months respectively. Officer McNally and myself bares the scars of what we did I am talking for myself in this instance not her. We just want to move on put this whole mess behind us and move forwards. In regards to your other question, I would like to work with the Guns and Gang unit in the future but not right now. My personal life has changed and I wouldn't want to walk away for months leaving my girlfriend behind." Sam put it all out there to 5 strangers. He would now have to admit this all to Andy.
Hannah began to wrap up the hearing. "What do you think would be the appropriate punishment for Detective Boyd, in your opinion?"
Sam was shocked when they asked that question, "My personal opinion would be that Boyd should be kicked out of the service for his systematic failures, in relation to the cases I have worked with him on. If he is found guilty of serious professional misconduct, if he isn't the next choice would be demotion and thrown back into uniform. With the condition that he would not be eligible for promotion for x amount of years, until he proved himself trustworthy again." Sam had thought what he would like to have happened to Boyd a lot during his suspension most of them would be him beating Boyd up so badly, just like he was at the hands of Brennan.
Hannah looked to his left and right, "Does anyone have any further questions for Officer Swarek?"
Both Davidson and Ireland shook their heads.
"Thank you Officer Swarek for your time coming to give your evidence in regards to Detective Donovan Boyd. Is there anything else you wish to say?"
"No, Sir." Sam wanted to get out of there quickly, so he just kept his mouth shut.
"You will be called back if we need anymore information. You will receive a copy of your statement to this enquiry board in a few days. You also will be notified in regards to what if anything that happens to Detective Boyd. You are dismissed. Thank you Officer Swarek."
"Thank you Sir." Sam picked up his cap and stood up from the table. He gave a gentle nod to the panel and walked to the door opening it and stepping through followed by Mark. Once the door was closed, he leaned against the nearest wall, raising his head to the ceiling and pressing the bridge of his nose, exhaling in relief that was over with.
With his eyes still closed, "Thank God that is now over with. Now I can get on with my life. Thanks Mark for being in there with me."
"Its part of my job as union rep. So you don't have to thank me." Mark smiled. "I have got to do it all again in a few minutes with Andy."
"Andy should be here soon, if she isn't running late as usual." Sam smiled as he looked down at his watch. Thinking about Andy made Sam smile and the though of seeing her later at the penny made him happy.
"Well I hope she isn't running late."
"She will be." Sam teased.
Mark looked at his watch it was getting close to 2pm. Andy should be here by now.
Sam caught out of the corner of his eye the young girl on reception walking towards them. He then noticed a flushed Andy following in the girl's wake she smiled. He nodded and whispered "Good luck, see you later."
A second or two later Andy disappeared from view into the waiting room. The girl then came back up the hallway.
"Well I better go and sit with Andy till they call for her." Mark said turning on his heels and walked towards the waiting room.
Sam walked up the hallway and gave a gentle nod to the young girl before stepping into the elevator. Once he had exited the building he pulled off his jacket and tie before walking towards his truck.
He was in need of a drink and something to eat. So he jumped into his truck, throwing his jacket, cap and tie in the back. He then headed home to change out of his uniform before going to the Penny to meet up with Andy later.
A.N. The next chapter will be Andy giving evidence. I hope to get it finished and up here at the weekend. Please review. Thanks.