CHAPTER 03

It was a mistake. Amy knew that in her head but, she could not make herself believe it. She certainly could not make herself feel it. She had made a promise to Tony and, that was how she rationalized it but, deep down Amy knew she was lying to herself. That part was not just a feeling either. She was thinking it as she laid in her bed and watched Tony sleep. She finally rolled over on her side, gently reached over, and began running her fingers behind his ear. The only reaction, that she got, looked like Tony was trying to shoo away a pesky insect. It made Amy want to giggle and, that was good. She figured she needed to enjoy this moment for all it was worth. That was because of another lie, that Amy had kept telling herself, and it was that this would not be the last time, even if she knew that it really was. Life was closing in on her and there was nothing left she could do about it now.

The knock at the door came not moments after that depressing thought and, it was almost as if life had read her mind and come calling. That was why she squealed, almost jumped out of bed, and was in a near state of panic. Fortunately, as Tony woke and looked towards her bedroom door, like it was the door being knocked on, he thought Amy's panic was about something else. As he watched her quickly find her clothes, and get dressed, Amy reinforced his beliefs, “nobody can know about this Tony. You need too... um, oh shit, I don't know what you need to do.”

Tony grumbled as he slid out of the bed and began feeling around on the floor for his shorts, “would you calm down. For all you know, it's your gang banging neighbors looking for more Moosehead.”

Amy slipped into her shirt, thought about what he said, and then had to inform Tony, “you know, when you don't specify beer, that is a disgusting picture to think about.” Amy wasted no time peeking out the bedroom window and was frustrated by the fact that you could not really see the front door, of her townhouse, from this vantage point. Fortunately, this time at least, she did not have too. She almost squealed after seeing the car parked next to her own, “shit! It's Garcia! He can't know your here.”

As Tony finished getting dressed, his lack of any urgency seemed to spell out his attitude. He did not care who knew he was here. Amy noticed even if she kept staring out the window, “he knows I'm here, he's parked right next to me. Wait a minute, he might be leav... Who the hell is that?”

Tony seemed to have missed the last part, “maybe he thinks you went out with Danni again. You know the way things have been going, somebody might think you have a thing for handcuffs.”

That did draw Amy's stare from the window and, even if it was dark in the room, she was pretty sure he could see her displeasure at the last comment. Then Tony's phone went off. He pulled it out of the pocket of his jeans and showed the screen to Amy, “you were saying? He's calling me and not you.”

“Answer it,” Amy said in a panicked tone. She kept peeking out the window as Tony carried on a conversation and then finally hung up. Amy had to practically pry it out of Tony.

He remained quite easy going about all of it, “he wanted to know if I knew where you were.”

Amy was still nervous, “what was all that about Foo King?”

When Amy growled at Tony, he just nodded towards the bathroom door and, obviously meant the shower. Amy huffed, walked that way, and never stopped ranting as she even got in the shower, “I thought he was on vacation! He never drops by here! The only reason he knows where I live is because of that day I forgot my stuff.”

Tony was, surprisingly, still standing in the exact same spot when Amy walked out and began looking for clean clothes. He was even chuckling after she commanded him to get in the shower. He finally did and when they were both ready to leave, Tony picked up her keys from the dresser and smugly dropped them in the red heads hand, “don't forget these.”

“Why would I,” Amy stopped herself and then palmed her forehead, “duh stupid me. Ok, yeah it would look suspicious if...”

“You first,” Tony interrupted with. “I'm supposed to be across town, remember? You'll get there first. Not the main one over by the L-5. Go over to that sit in place they got on Maple Leaf Avenue. He's waiting there.”

Amy hesitated, “he's got somebody with him Tony. What if it's Danni?”

Tony actually did sound like that mattered when he had been so disinterested in everything else, “so? Who was I here sleeping with tonight?”

Amy bit her bottom lip, thought about it, and then said, “it's not that simple Tony.”

“I know,” Tony replied, “I saw the change on the duty roster. You've got a long ride with her tomorrow and....” Tony took a deep breath and now, his easy going manner was a bit more serious, “I wish you two could get past this. I don't understand, you broke up with me Amy. Why are you holding it against....”

“I'm not,” Amy injected quickly and seriously. “I don't hate her Tony. Ok, maybe I'm a little jealous but that's not my main concern.”

“I see,” now Tony was definitely less than easy going. If anything, he was turning on that wounded puppy dog routine, “you don't care if the station finds out, well, with the exception of maybe Barbara. It's really just that you don't want Danni to know.”

She put her hand on his chest and tried to sound warm as she admitted, “yes Tony. That is exactly it but, it's not what you think.” He did not handle that all too well because he did not reply. Amy knew every expression he had. Tony could not hide those things from her. She moved closer and put her arms around him as she said, “I don't want to hurt ether one of you Tony. That girl loves you. She's head over heels in love with you and...”

“And I'm in love with you,” Tony blurted out.

Tony did not understand the reaction that Amy gave him. She became quite hostile, slapped his chest, and then growled, “you fucker! You wait till now to tell me that!” Tony tried to back pedal but, all Amy did was stomp off towards the door. Just before she walked out she yelled back up, in the same hostile manner, “wait twenty minutes and then come on. Don't fuck this up too, Tony!”

Amy had to collect herself in the parking lot of the Foo King. She did not do a good enough job because Gar definitely noticed some tear stains. The girl with him, most definitely did as well because, she even said as much. It was then that Amy realized who the girl was, “on my god. What are you doing with Betsy Ross?”

Betsy was not happy about her nickname, “FRY! My name is Fry!”

Amy ignored the skinny little American Marine, “Gar? Are you that stupid?”

Garcia looked both happy and smug, “tell me Amy, why didn't you and Tony just ride over here together?”

Amy slid down just slightly in the booth and, not making eye contact, she replied quickly, “I don't know what you're talking about.”

Garcia rolled his eyes and then looked to Betsy. They exchanged a laugh and then Garcia told her, “cause dumb ass parked his car at the corner of your street. What Amy? You don't think I don't know Tony's car when I see it?”

Amy became very disgusted now, “I see, so that's why you stopped by.”

“Actually,” Garcia acted like that was all over with now. He continued in a jovial like manner, “I came by looking for him. Cal told me he wasn't at the station and his Uncle Blake ain't seen him. I know he didn't go back to his Dad's place cause they got his cousin back in the basement now.”

Amy winced, “the Guitar Hero dude? Really?”

Garcia ignored the tangent, “and, despite what you might think, you two ain't that hard to figure out. Goddamn it Amy, what did I tell you about the dragon?”

Betsy added, “we shared our secret, Hiller. I guess the on you got is safe with us.”

Now the confusion returned and Amy pointed, back and forth, between the two, “how the hell did this happen? I distinctly remember that Garcia hates you.” No answer was forth coming and, maybe that was for the best, because, it did not appear as if Gar was willing to give one. Tony spared everyone of that confrontation as he sat down, still pretending as if he had driven from across town. Embarrassed, Amy mumbled in a cute little voice to Tony, “they already know.”

“Oh,” Tony waived it off and then got right to the next topic by pointing to this stranger and asking, “who are you?” When Betsy introduced herself his eyes got big and he asked, “as in Betsy Ross?”

That drew a sneer from the American and an explanation from Amy who tried not to be embarrassed by pointing out, “that's a nickname Tony. It's not her real name.” Amy tried to laugh it off.

Tony didn't get it, “how is that a nickname?”

Betsy tried to explain, “you know Betsy.. Betsy Ross? The flag sewer?”

Tony just shrugged and Amy pointed out, “we're not Americans, Betsy.”

That caused the girl to just shrug and Garcia to interrupt, “yeah, enough with the stupid shit, ok? Tony, I need your help with something. We're going to be out of town for a few days and...”

Amy blinked, “you're going to Princess Island with Bob and Donna?”

“Hell no,” Garcia replied. “Do I look like I can afford a ticket to that damn place?”

Betsy put her hands around Garcia's arm and she smiled as she said, “I think he has other ideas. Look, Tony, I can call you that, right?”

Tony, not having been one of her victims, was easy going enough when he nodded that she could. Amy was not so happy about it but, Betsy ignored her, “look, the favor is really for me.” The girl pulled out her phone and scrolled through some screens till she found the email she was looking for. She slid her phone across the table and let Tony read it. Amy joined in as well and she was down right disgusted. Tony was more confused and just asked, “I don't get it. What is this?”

Betsy became very self conscious and told him, “that's the problem. I don't really know.”

Garcia simply commented, “that's some pretty sick shit, bro.”

“Yeah, I get that.” Tony agreed but, was still unconvinced, “what I don't get is, Betsy, you're an American. You work at their damn consulate. Don't you guys have your own people for stuff like this? I'm pretty sure the American Government has more resources than we do. Did you tell anybody over there?”

Betsy became nervous and even quite meek now. Tony got the impression that this girl was not used to doing that. She took a deep breath and then answered, “I can't. Look guys, I think all that stuff I did for Jake, well, it might have gotten me in some trouble with work. After what happened at the car wash. Well stuff started happening and I don't know what to make of it.”

Tony was not sure he understood so Garcia mentioned, “vacation ain't the main reason we going off island for a few days. I mean, we was... never mind that. The point is, I figured we just get away for a few days, till things calm down a little. Know what I mean?”

It suddenly occurred to Amy. She pointed to the phone with the email, “this is why you really put in for leave, isn't it?”

Garcia mulled it over, “a little. I mean Bob's going to be gone and I don't feel like spending twelve hours a day listening to Leslie so....”

Amy was a bit concerned, “Gar, if she won't go to the Americans and we make this a case, we're going to have to tell Barbara.”

Tony sounded logical, “only she'll be gone.”

“Norm then,” Amy said with some concern, “or at least Jake.”

“No,” Tony ruled it out. Amy pouted and Tony told her, “this isn't a case. This is doing a favor a friend.” When Amy looked unconvinced, Tony just blurted out, “we're just looking into an email here Amy. It's not like we're taking on the Wehrmacht,” Tony paused and then added, “again.”