Bugs
Chandler still couldn't work out what was going on. He and Monica had stayed up late discussing it the night before. They'd stayed up far too late and hadn't gotten any answers. The only thing they could think of was some kind burglary racket — a very widespread one if it covered the areas they all lived in.
But what do we have to steal? And if we had anything to steal, why wouldn't it have been stolen already?' Monica asked. And, thought Chandler, if it was a widespread racket of some sort, it was still an amazing coincidence it was all of them
He brought up the issue of the telephone noises, nothing more, at work with his workmate Dave. He just wanted to run parts of the story by other people.
The reason for the clicking might be because you've got a bug,' said Dave, his workmate.
Why would anyone want to bug me?' Chandler asked. He wasn't as shocked as he should have been at this suggestion. He knew it was going to be something crazy or outlandish.
Search me. Your ideas aren't that good,' Dave said. He waited for Chandler, the best man in the advertising department to fake a punch at him but nothing happened. Er your ideas are kind of good,' Dave said.
So you think it could be a bug?' Chandler asked.
Well I don't know, I'm not an expert or anything.'
You like reading spy type stuff,' Chandler said. Even now on Dave's desk there was a dog eared thriller.
Well that's like, fiction. I don't know if any of that stuff is true. Writers make up all kinds of things.'
But sometimes they research,' Chandler said, That's why I'm wondering what you know.' Of course now that the possibility had been raised, he knew that he could do the research.
Apparently you can get a noise, if there's a problem with the bug, that's why I thought of it. Some bugs are virtually undetectable though.'
So how would I find out?' Chandler asked.
You really think you've got one?' Dave asked nervously.
I don't know what I've got,' Chandler said. But he was certain that it was something like that. Something that affected him, Ross, Rachel and Phoebe. Something deliberate and purposeful by someone who could get phones to stop working, a fake telephone repairman and bugs. And somewhere to listen.
Suddenly he felt invaded. All those special calls to Monica, overheard by someone. Someone who didn't like him, who didn't like Monica. Who hated them in fact? Who could that possibly be?
So, any ideas?' Chandler asked, demanded, of Dave.
I don't know, you could get the room swept. That's what they do with bugs. I guess there'd be someone in the phone book' Dave looked at him nervously.
They would and they were. He arranged for someone to visit his house, over Monica's protestations of disbelief. Monica was the only one who was disbelieving. The security people he called were almost scarily matter of fact. Secretly he wanted them to tell him that what he suspected was quite impossible but instead they just asked routine questions. Since it drove him crazy to think that anyone could be bugging their home, their practically new home, he insisted on getting it done the same day.
Monica didn't call him back at work so he had assumed that nothing had been found. Overreacting to a chain of coincidence, perhaps but at least they had got a worry out of their minds, so it didn't matter that he'd wasted money getting the sweep done. Dave might think he was nuts but if he settled his own and Monica's worries then he'd put up with that.
Monica face at the door was serious. He kissed her cheek.
Hi honey,' he said, feeling apprehensive.
They found this.' In the palm of her hand lay a small object.
That's a bug?'
That's a bug.'
Where was it?'
Inside the receiver. That man, that imposter just undid it and popped it in,' Monica said.
Was that all they found?' Chandler asked. Monica nodded. So they think they're all gone?'
They're pretty sure —Pretty sure!' Chandler exclaimed.
Don't,' Monica said at the noise.
I'm sorry,' he said, taking her by the shoulders. I just expected that they would find everything.'
They wouldn't give a one hundred percent guarantee. They told me that what they did wouldn't stop someone else replacing the bug.'
But no-one's going to get in,' Chandler said. But the kind of person who could plant a bug could break in. The phone thing had been convenient but it may not have been necessary. Who could be spying on us? All we ever talk about on the phone is the kids,' Chandler said. I can't think anyone is that interested in whether or not they've got a temperature or something.'
It's only that or the wedding,' Monica agreed. Hardly that interesting.' She paused. Although Julie seemed interested.'
She was at the shop when we were getting Rachel's dress. She was really interested.'
So interested that she'd bug our house?' That seemed too weird but someone was bugging them. What if the others have got bugs?'
Maybe we'd better talk to them.'
Not over the phone.'
