One or two more chapters at the least.
Disclaimer: I do not own Friends.
With Chandler's job, it was easy enough to pick a house that met their criteria. Wealth: a fair amount of money or other valuables. Logistics: an easy way to get in and out. And also in a neighborhood no one would think of repairmen coming and going. Finally: no alarm systems.
That was where Chandler's job came in handy. Since he had knowledge of which homes where on the security network, they could tell which ones were not.
Chandler did his job well, he found a home owner who got fed up with paying the security company for something that she did not need. So they found a home for them to rob. The homeowner was an artist. The home was right by a main road in a small town. Along a street whose houses were busy having repairs done. So no one would pay any attention to them.
They arrived at the house at one in the afternoon. Did not see the car in the driveway and figured that the homeowner had left to go into the city to a meeting or something of that sort.
So when they broke in, they began in the living room and started to make a pile of goods in the hall. Nothing unusual. All was going according to plan. And Chandler was mentally adding up all they were getting.
Furs, jewelry, silver, important papers, electronics, and so much more. This looked to be their greatest haul. Particularly when they went into the storage area besides their studio and started to take as many paintings out as they could. Those paintings would sell for at least $5000 each.
Everything was going according to plan. Then the unthinkable happened. They went to the studio to see if there were any more paintings. And much toothier horror, they found the homeowner in a pool of her own blood with her head bashed in.
Chandler checked her pulse. "She is still alive. We better call the police." "But, we will be caught."
"I would rather go down for burglary than murder." Chandler then dialed 911 on his cell phone.
Ten minutes later, they were being interrogated by some police officers. And a corner was there.
"You mean to tell me that you called us after you found her while robbing the place."
Chandler looked hard at the officer. "We may be thieves, but we are NOT murders."
"Fine. Officer Edmonds. Read these two their rights." Then turning to Joey and Chandler. "Charge of attempted robbery and murder."
Officer Edmonds and another officer went over and handcuffed them after reading their rights. At the station they were given one phone call each.
Across town, Monica, Rachel and Phoebe walked in the apartment carrying boxes. All chatting happily.
"This sis going to be so awesome the both of you moving in together." Rachel was happy. For Chandler and for herself. She would not have to pay rent for three months.
Just then the phone rang. Monica answered. "Hello. Geller and soon to be Bing residence." "Uh, Monica. Can I talk to Phoebe?"
"Sure, babe. Hey, Phoebe. It's Chandler." Monica handed the phone to her.
"Hey, what is up?"
"Phoebe, You know that savings account for emergencies that I have? Well I need you to come down to the jail and bail me and Joey out." "I see. When?"
"Now."
"How much?"
"We are waiting for the judge to determine."
"Since it is your first time, it won't be much." "Phoebe, they got us on attempted burglary charges. And also they seem to think that we killed a person." "I see." Phoebe smiled at Monica and Rachel who were in a heated argument about silver candlesticks. "I will be at the courthouse in a bit."
Once arriving there, she went straight into the courtroom. She sat down as she waited for her friends to make an appearance. Right behind the defendants chair sat Mr. And Mrs. Tribbianni. They knew she was there but did not pay any attention since they could not stand her. Just then the prisoners were led in. Fortunately, Joey and Chandler were first. The name of Bing came in handy for once. Since it was done alphabetically.
"All rise. The honorable Judge Collins presiding." Phoebe ducked low in her seat. She was no stranger to that judge. And not in the good way. She would have to admit though. He was at least fair.
"So who is up first?"
"The state calls case 5433768 of Chandler M. Bing and Joseph F. Tribbianni versus the state."
"What is the charge?"
"Attempted burglary in the first and murder in the second." The assistant prosecutor read from his notes.
"Your honor while the clients are burglars, they are not murders. As soon as they found the victim out cold, yet still alive, they called the police and paramedics." The public defender countered with while doing his job.
"I see. And how do they plead?" "Not guilty, on the count of murder." Chandler replied. And Joey echoed the same sentiments.
"I see. But attempted burglary?" "Guilty." Both Chandler and Joey mumbled.
"Alright. Prosecutor?" "Seeing as how they are being charged with murder…the state asks for them to be held with out bail."
"Your honor, they have ties to the community and both clients are especially keen on restoring their reputations. And neither one has been arrested except Mr. Tribbianni and it was a minor infraction."
"What was he charged on?"
"Failure to pay on speeding and parking tickets."
The judge chuckled. "Alright, bail set at $50,000."
"Together?" The public defender asked.
"Each. And that includes the attempted burglary charge. I went easy on them since it is their first time of being charged. Next case."
"But your honor. The police believe that it another first time of them breaking into a home and they succeeded the other times. We could not connect them with the other crimes. And they are being tried for murder."
"Alright how is this, they will turn over their passports. Does that now satisfy you?"
"But the charges…"
"You said there is no there evidence. The charges are flimsy, to say the least."
"Yes, your honor."
"And one more thing, the charges for murder are not worth even bringing them forward. If this is all, I would suggest you look closer at the evidence or clear the gentlemen."
Forty minutes later, Phoebe had paid the bail. And they were walking out of the courthouse. The Tribbiani's were throwing dirty looks to Chandler and Phoebe. Joey and Chandler would still have to go through trial and since it was their first time to appear before a judge, get sentenced for the attempted burglary charge.
Joey could take it no longer. "Alright, that is it. Chandler did not want to do this last job but I talked him into it. And Phoebe no longer is in this business. She only came here to help get us out of jail. So please stop with the looks. IF you are going to be mad at someone, then be mad at me." They did not say anything, but they were still angry.
For Chandler, if only life was that simple. He had to now tell the woman that he loved that he was a thief. And of course she knew that he was the one that robbed her family. How it was going to turn out he did not know.
Later that night, Chandler decided to tell Monica first. Then Rachel in person and then Ross, via letter from China. He waited while the others were gone. Then he decided to ease it on to her.
"Monica? Uh, I have something to tell you."
"Yes." She put down her magazine she was reading while waiting for the cake to get done baking.
"I really do not know how to tell you this."
"You are not gay are you?" "MONICA!"
"Just kidding. Now seriously, what is it?"
"Uh, remember how we met?"
"Yeah, you brought my stuff back to me after the robbery." Monica smiled at the memory.
"What if I could tell you I know who robbed you."
"You do? Who?" Monica narrowed her eyes.
"Well, it is someone close to me."
"Who?" The thoughts went wildly through her head of who it could be.
"I see him everyday."
"It is Joey, isn't it? I knew he made far too much money for those two bit parts he got."
"Well, he is one." Chandler muttered.
"One?" Monica gritted her teeth. "I thought you said that there is only one."
"The other person is the one that I see in the mirror every morning."
"What?"
Chandler took a deep breath. "Namely me."
How will Monica take this news? Will she dump Chandler or what do you think will happen?