Chapter 4
They had the evidence they had the eye witnesses linking Swit's security guards with the bomb now all they had to do was pick the guy himself up and bring him in. Not as easy as it looked. He was lean and effiminate looking but his security were a rough bunch of nightclub bouncers. Amanda was on the receiving end of a punch to the nose which had her bleeding. Lee broke his cast on the guys face. After a battle they bundled the culprit into their car and drove him over to headquarters for questioning. He complained all the way talking about ruining both of them and his legal team and his influence within the fashion world. Eventually they handed him off to their security team and headed back into the office. When the others heard there was much cheering and high fives for Amanda and Lee. Amanda smiled and thanked everyone even though her nose was still red and smarting. As the cheers and happiness died down they all then heard the crying. They looked with horror at Ashley in the corner. She had her head in her hands and she was crying bitterly.
Oh my God, poor Ashley. A group of women including Amanda and Francine surrounded her. The men didn't know what to do. Lee felt so bad for her.
"Please Francine, will you get my inhaler, it's in my locker." Ashley said in near convulsions.
Francine immediately disappeared to get it. Amanda held on to her hand.
"I'm so sorry," she said.
"When I heard you all talking about him and the purse, it just brought it all back to me. I just can't cope. It's all so hard. "
One of the ladies brought her a cup of water and she drank it down noisily
"Where is Francine with my inhaler. I need it."
Francine appeared shortly after and handed it to her.
"Oh God thank you." She took a good few puffs on it.
Amanda was about to say you're only supposed to take two but left it. Now was not the time.
Billy came out of his office just then.
"Amanda, Lee, I want to speak to you."
Amanda gave Ashley a reassuring smile as she got up and followed Lee int o the office.
"What the hell was that?" Billy began when the door was closed.
They both looked at each other and down at the floor.
"You don't come in here parading your wins that was highly unprofessional. It's all supposed to be covert operations. I do not want to see a display like that again do you hear me?"
"Yes sir," Amanda said as she swallowed hard.
Lee just nodded.
"Now get out of here, Lee you might want to take Ashley out to lunch. She needs a break from this place. Bring Francine, you can drive them to that fancy new place on the corner. Tell Francine to charge it to the account.'
And so they went to lunch. Amanda went to the vending machine downstairs and got a sandwich which had lettuce that tasted like a burst balloon and she had a cup of watery hot chocolate. Her nose was hurting and she felt like crap.
They got back from the restaurant about an hour and a half later. Ashley looked much better. She walked carefully to her place and sat down looking refreshed. Amanda gave her a smile and she smiled in return.
Amanda was busy typing up her report on the change purse bomber. She was behind already and wanted to get home at a decent hour.
Ashley held out some pages to her, "Amanda, will you look over this. I typed out this report. I hope it's ok. I did it from memory."
It wasn't ok, there were many mistakes. Amanda smiled. "You did great on this Ashley. Leave it with me and I'll just touch it up."
"Thank you Amanda, that's so nice of you. I'm sorry about earlier. I feel better now."
"No it's fine Ashley. We should have been more thoughtful. I'm sorry."
"That's ok Amanda, I know you didn't mean it."
Billy came up to her desk just then. "Ashley I have to go across town. My driver will be passing by your place. Do you want to come with me now?"
"But sir, it's only just gone 4.00pm. I've all this paperwork to do."
"Don't worry, Amanda can do some can't you Amanda."
"Of course sir," Amanda smiled.
"Come my lady, your carriage awaits," Billy extended his hand to her.
Ashley giggled as she got her bag and coat.
When they had gone out the door Amanda made a phone call.
"Mother, I'm gonna have to work late. Can you fix the boys some supper
There's a pizza in the freezer. I know it's not good for them but I can't work and be Julia Child at the same time. I know I am, just give them the damn pizza mother."
Amanda put the phone down. She hated arguing with her mother but she was so tired and her nose was beginning to swell. How would she explain that when she got home.
"Amanda , will you come to the bathroom with me please?" Francine asked.
Amanda looked at her mounds of paper work. Ah hell maybe she needed a bathroom break. She followed Francine into the bathroom hoping it wouldn't be a lecture on her previous behaviour. She already had a flea in her ear from Billy over that. When they got to the bathroom Francine immediately began fixing her makeup. With nothing else to do Amanda began touching up her hair. A lady came out of one of the cubicles and washed her hands. She used the dryer and was gone. Seconds later another cubicle opened and Lee stepped out. Amanda looked at him with wide eyes.
"Lee, you're not suppose to be in here,"
"It's the only place that is safe to talk," Francine explained to her.
Amanda looked at each of them in turn.
"What's this about, am I in some kind of trouble?"
Francine shook her head,
"Amanda Ashley is not blind,"
"What are you talking about,"
"Amanda, Ashley asked me to go into her locker to get her spare inhaler. While there I found some books she had been reading. There was one about a girl who had lost her sight. She liked that book so much she bought the sequel. I also found another book, same subject except it was an old woman who had been blind all her life."
"Maybe she is trying to learn how to cope with it."
Francine huffed in frustration.
"They weren't in Brail Amanda she bought them before she lost her sight."
Amanda felt foolish but she was surprised when Francine suddenly took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly.
"Theres' more," she lowered her voice as she spoke. "I talked to a guy down in records. I wont even give you his name. He fancies the pants off me and gave me some very confidential information. Ashley has been moved around from several departments. She doesn't seem to be the type that settles anywhere and she has had multiple visits to the emergency room for various unexplained pains and aches."
"She's an attention seeker," Lee said.
Francine nodded.
The enormity of this news suddenly hit Amanda. "She's not blind."
"No, she's not blind," Francine affirmed.
"Aw Amanda, come on,' Lee said as Amanda bowed her head and started to cry.
"Shut up Lee," Francine said.
She moved forward and put arms around Amanda. "You didn't cause anything. She made it all up. I know I'm sorry. I believed her too. It's ok Amanda."
Francine rubbed circles on her back as Amanda cried out her relief at the news.
After that Francine took over like a mother hen. She helped Amanda type up the paperwork. Together they got it done in half the time. Lee tried to type with one hand but he was useless. They were laughing at his puppy dog face as he tried.
Then once the work was finished Francine ushered them both to her Mercedes' car. She drove them over to the local clinic. Francine knew how to work a situation like that she had Amanda bumped up in the queue given her pain. Amanda had a x-ray done which showed a small hair lined fracture to her nose. They gave her plenty of pain medication that made her feel instantly better. At the same time Francine made sure Lee had a fresh new cast on his arm as the other had been broken in the fight. They both felt better after getting sorted. She drove them over to her house and cooked a lovely steak dinner with apple cob and ice cream for dessert. They all three enjoyed the food but most of all they had a laugh around the table. It was a long time since Lee heard Amanda laughing. They were talking an old cases and all that had gone wrong.
Amanda's mother had a choice lecture for her daughter when she got home, especially when she saw the small metal brace on her nose but Amanda went to bed happy that night and feeling so relieved. She slept like a baby.
