Beyond all limits (closed for Angelus)

[DeliciousMaiden]

Samantha Rimmington

Samantha could not distinguish what was going on above her.
She decided it was best not to know.
Burrowing down she shivered holding herself tense until finally she heard it … footsteps … coming down the cellar towards her.
She gave a single whimper of fear then pressed her eyes totally shut and focused on holding her breath.

She could hear the foot steps … one pair of feet … moving down the stairs … into the basement room.
She sensed that he paused at the monitors … then advanced towards where Josh had his weapons and then over closely beside where she was hiding.
Any minute she was sure he would fire.
She’d feel the sting of bullets and it would be over.
She heard him move away … pace around … and then retreat back up the stairway once more.

Exhaling, overcome with relief, Samantha opened her eyes and peeked out.
They might come back, but … all seemed strangely quiet now.
It was a ruse … a trap she was sure …
How long she remained crouched in indecision she was unsure, but finally she crept out and keeping herself low, just in case, made her way stealthily towards the monitors.

Easing upwards she looked at the screens.
Police officers …walking around the house … indistinguishable forms… bodies?
She shuddered.
Then why had Josh not come down to tell her all was safe … unless…?

Turning she staggered pulling herself quickly up the steps and ran pushed her way out through the blasted doorway.
Stepping forward, she kicked something soft.
She looked down and squealed.
A body!
Looking upwards she found herself looking down the barrel off a gun and then into the eyes of a young uniformed officer beyond that.

”Thank God …. “

She murmured, then seeing he still held the gun, she regained her composure and continued.

”Kindly lower your weapon officer. I am Samantha Rimmington.
I demand to be taken to your commanding officer.”

She smiled as the weapon was indeed lowered.

”Sir! There’s a lady says …”

Moving past him, Samantha walked into the room.
It looked like full scale warfare had taken place there.

”Good God …”

How could Josh have survived such random fire?

”Miss Rimmington?”

Samantha spun round.

”Yes … “

Many questions were forming in her head, but somehow nothing coherent would come out.

”We have a … gentleman … here … claims he’s your body guard …”

Samantha gasped.

”Josh?!? Where…?”

She moved to the doorway of the lodge and was stunned to discover that dawn was breaking outside.
She looked around hopefully, but it was not until the officer pointed out a man who was handcuffed and being made to lay on the floor that she realised that he was there and that he appeared uninjured.
Instinct told her to rush to him and hug him and tell him how happy she was that he was unhurt, but … appearances dictated another line of action.

”Could you tell me why Josh Reilly has been handcuffed in such a manner?
He’s the only reason I’m alive right now.
I insist you release him at once!”

She instructed and was gratified to see her instructions carried out immediately.

Yes … she had been attacked, had to run for her life, had her home shot up and her body guard almost killed but …
She was still “Samantha Rimmington”.
No matter how much people hated her, nothing could alter THAT fact!

 

[Angelus]

Josh was surprised by the elation that he felt as soon as he heard Samantha's voice and turned his head to look in her direction. He was surprised by the tone of her voice but as soon as she had told the cops to let him go the handcuffs were taken off his wrists and he was helped to his feet. He walked over to where Samantha stood and looked at the sergeant.
"Sergeant, there is something that I need to tell you. It is most important."

The sergeant looked at him sceptically but then both of them walked away from the rest of the cops, straight into Josh's home. As soon as Josh walked into his home he let out a sigh as the intruders had left his home looking like a war zone. He turned to the sergeant,
"Sergeant, what I am about to tell you is of the upmost secrecy. Even that young woman out there does not know of it. Her father has been threatened with death by a group that neither of us know about. We were told that either him or his daughter out there were going to be killed by them but neither of us believed it until strange things started happening, somebody started taking shots at her father."

The sergeant gave him the same sceptical look but when he saw the serious look on Josh's face he knew that he was telling him the truth.
"Okay, we'll take you to our station and you can tell my superiors what you just told me."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Samantha Rimmington

Samantha caught Josh’s eye watching as the police officer uncuffed him. She saw him looking at her, but rather than walk over in her direction, he turned to speak urgently to the man beside him.
…so be it …

She addressed the police officer nearest to her and asked about her house.

”There’s been some shooting and the damage to your bedroom Ma’am, but we can’t tell if anything has gone missing … perhaps you could verify that if we took you over there…”

Samantha shivered, being reluctant to enter the place again without Josh at her side.

”My father … daddy must be contacted … he’d know if there were papers missing … or anything from the safe … I’m afraid I’d only be able to tell you about my personal property …”

She turned around as Josh came back out of the Lodge once more.

”Josh, I’d like you to come with us back to the house.
The officer wishes to check if anything has been taken.
Would you know anything about daddy’s papers?”

She turned and spoke to the officer once more.

”My body guard will be able to give you details of the threats made against me. I never saw the letters or took the calls … “

She told him walking over to where Josh was standing.
As long as he was around, then at least she was confident that she would be safe.
It was unbelieveable after all the gunplay that neither of them had even been seriously hurt!

 

[Angelus]

Josh stood there is shock- he had just saved he life twice and still she treated him as though he were nothing more that hired help. He shook his head and started to walk with her as she and the police began to move towards the large main home. As they walked over the grounds towards the home Josh slowly began to move away from Samantha, to create some distance between them until he was bringing up the rear of the small group.

As soon as they walked into the main hom they all saw the two prone figures of the intruders laying on the floor. Two of the police officers walked over to the unconscious pair and quickly hand cuffed them. They then half dragged, half carried the two out of the building. Josh stood there and watched the two being dragged out with one thought Who the hell hired you?

Just then he heard his name being called and slowly made his way over to where the group stood.
"Seeming as you are the security around here you must know where the safe containing all your employers valuable documents would be. Is it possible for you to show us where it is?"
Josh looked at the sergeant skeptically, wondering what he wanted to see the safe for but then he realized that the sergeant just wanted to see if everything was secure. But Josh had been told by him employer not to trust anyone and he led them to the library where he knew a false safe was.

As soon as they entered the room he walked over to one of the chairs and pushed a button on the arm rest, listening for the familiar click. As soon as he heard it he walked over to one of the bookcases and pulled it open, being greeted by the sight of the safe. It had been undisturbed and he smiled as he turned around, pushing the bookcase back in place with a click.

He looked at the police sergeant.
"Everything is in order here sergeant. I think I disturbed them before they had a chance to search for the safe."
"That is good to hear. Now we have to get to the station as there are a lot of questions you have to answer."

Josh took a deep breath as he knew that this would be coming, especially after being involved in a small firefight on the grounds. He nodded and the two of them walked out of the library. As soon as they walked out of the room the first thing that Josh noticed was that Samantha wasn't there.

The sergeant turned to the officer standing there,
"When you see Miss Rimmington tell her that her bodyguard has been taken to the station to answer a few questions and that I would like her presence there as well."
"Yes, at once sar-"
Josh cut the police officer off, "I am not going anywhere without Miss Rimmington. It is my job to protect her."
"She will be safe Mr Reilly. We must get going though- I think that we will have a lot to cover."
Josh didn't say a word as he knew it would be best not to argue.

Without saying another word Josh and the sergeant left the Rimmington home and straight to the police car. After they buckled up the sergeant started up the car and they drove down the long driveway. As soon as they reached the gates Josh was surprised to see that they were opened and wondered again who these intruders had been as it would have taken professionals to cut the security alert to the gate.

He shook his head as the police car move through the open gates and into the street. The sergeant turned the car in the direction of the city and pushed down the accelerator pedal.

In what seemed like no time at all the sergeant drove the police car in the underground parking area of the police station. They both got out and made their way to the elevator which took them to the tenth floor. As soon as the doors opened they were greeted by two men wearing suits.
"Mr Reilly?"
"That's me."
"Good. My name is Lieutenant Peter London and this is Special Agent Michael Stevens of the FBI. We need to ask you a few questions about last night if you a will to answer them."
"Sure, I will answer them as best as I can."
"That is all that we ask Mr Reilly. Can I call you Josh?"
"Knock yourself out."
"Good, now if you can follow us. Oh, and Sergeant Johnson I want your report about this incident as quickly as possible."
"I will start on it now sir, " Sergeant Johnson said before he walked off.

Josh followed the two men into a small room and when they all sat down the lieutenant started a video and they began the questioning.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Samantha Rimmington

Samantha walked at the front of the group as they crossed over to the main house. Her steps faltered as they drew near, the horrors of the previous night crashing back into her memory. She looked around for Josh, but saw that he seemed in deep conversation with one of the police officers, so had no choice but to brace herself and walk into the main hallway.

The two figures lay on the floor at the foot of the stairs. She watched as they were examined, declared unconscious and summarily removed from her home. She wondered at the cuffs, but having seen how dangerous these men could be, she was reassured that the police weren’t going to take any chances.

She hovered uncertainly watching as Josh and the Officer in charge went off to her father’s study to check on the valuables.

”Perhaps you’d like to check your own things, Ma’am..?”

The young officer prompted gently.
Samantha did not want to go up there, but she had no choice.
With a regretful look back towards the room Josh had entered, she squared her shoulders and climbed slowly up the stairs.

In the bright light of day, the scene looked bizarre.
The glass, the bloodstains where she had staggered across to her bathroom and the gaping hole in her French windows.
Whispered instructions were given and in seconds it seemed a photographer arrived and began taking pictures of every angle of her room.
Samantha stood, watching blankly, the police activity making her feel almost as violated as she had felt the night before.

”Soo… the rock came through the window … and then …?”

Samantha blinked and tried to focus.

”Umm… and then … I thought I heard someone downstairs… but I couldn’t be sure … I telephoned Mr Reilly … I someone at the window, trying to get in … I … I panicked … walked across the glass cutting my feet and managed to lock myself in the bathroom …”

She watched the young man taking notes.

”So he was in here … is anything disturbed … does this room look any different from when you left it …?”

Samantha shook her head.

”No … it looks just the same … “

She crossed to her dressing table and flipped open her drawers and jewellery box giving a quick inspection.

”No Officer, it’s all as it was … look … my diamond ring was laid here on the top and it’s still there … “

She turned and intercepted a meaningful glance passing between the officer and photographer. He moved across and began snapping pictures of her dressing table.

”So they were in here and …”

Samantha gasped in sudden recognition.

”My dressing room! I was sure they were in there … I thought I heard … “

With a nod the Officer deployed one of his uniformed men to enter the room.

”You heard …?”

Samantha paled.

”It sounded as if they were … pulling out drawers … throwing stuff around … I …”

Her eyes moved to the man who re-emerged from the room.

”In here Mike …”

He instructed the photographer and met Samantha’s questioning look, stepping in front of her as she strode across to see what had happened.

”Not yet, Miss …”

The Officer gently eased her away.

”You don’t want to see it Ma’am,”

The uniformed man told her gently.
The young man however, continued to question her.

”And you have no idea why a gang of men would break into your house, try to kill both you and your body guard and yet, as far as we can tell, take nothing?”

Samantha sat wearily on her vanity chair.

”I’ve already told you that.
I know something was going on. That’s why daddy hired Josh – Mr Reilly, but to be honest, I never took the threats seriously.”

She looked up as the photographer came out of the room.
With a look at the men who were questioning her she stood and walked towards the entrance to the dressing room.
Clinging to the door frame, she looked around shocked:
Many of her dresses had been wrenched off the hangers and slashed with a knife!
Her shoes had been pulled off the shelves and scattered around the floor, her drawers had been pulled out and her underwear likewise thrown about the room.
So much damage and chaos!
Thank God Josh had interrupted the man when he did.

Feeling sick, Samantha turned and spoke to the Officer, her voice shaky.

”Could you get Josh up here, please.
I want him to see this …”

She allowed herself to be guided to the chair and sank into it thankfully.
She put her head into her hands and took a steadying breath.
God! This was worse than any nightmare she could imagine!

 

[Angelus]

Josh sat back on the chair, looking at the lieutenant and FBI agent and answered every question that was thrown at him. Just then the phone on the wall rang and Lieutenant London got up off his chair to walk to the phone. He picked it up and listened to the voice on the other end, his eyes widening as he did.
"She wants what..... can you tell her no as he is here being questioned right now..... oh, for fuck sake if we have to then we have to."

He practically slammed the receiver down and turned to Josh, an exasperated look on his face.
"It seems that your employer wants you back at her home. She wants you there as soon as possible."
Josh smiled at the lieutenant, "Don't worry, she has that effect on everyone that she comes in contact with but I should get back to there before she gets nasty."

Without saying another word the three of them left the room and walked down the hallway to the elevator. When they reached the parking garage they got into an unmarked car and the lieutenant started the engine. As soon as the engine started up Josh heard the lieutenant say something under his breath and smiled. He knew that Samantha now had another adoring fan.

The drive back to the home seemed to take longer and when they parked in front of the house all three of them got out and went straight inside. The uniformed police officer who had been told by the sergeant that Josh was going to the station looked surprised to see him again so soon and was about to say a word but before he could Josh and the other two rushed past him, not giving him a chance.

They all made it to Samantha's room and the first thing that Josh saw was Samantha sitting on the edge of her bed still wearing the clothing that he had given her with her head in her hands.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Samantha Rimmington

Samantha did not realise that Josh was answering the agent’s questions, nor did she know of the telephone conversation that went on behind her back.

”Look … daddy is important … and if she wants him here it might be “politic” to do as she wants … after all her old man’ll go ballistic when he discovers she was almost shot to bits…”

She stared out of the window wondering what was taking so damned long.

”If you want to get …err… dressed Ma’am … “

The young officer suggested tentatively.

”I’m fine as I am …”

Samantha snapped then flashed him an apologetic smile.

”I just think that daddy would want Josh to see what went on here … I’m not touching anything until he’s seen it …”

She ignored the expression of the photographer as he went on his way. Sure Josh could look at photographs, but it wouldn’t be quite the same ...
She sighed and put her head in her hands once more.
Why did she get the sudden feeling that the world hated her?

The noise on the stairs caught Samantha’s attention.
… finally …

Looking up she couldn’t help the feeling of relief when she saw Josh standing in the doorway. Without thinking, she rose and crossed the room, moving towards him with a smile.

”Thank goodness … I wondered what they were doing with you.
Is everything OK downstairs… you took so long…?”

Her eyes met his in worried enquiry.
The young officer interrupted.

”Miss Rimmington insisted that you see the dressing room before the site was disturbed, Sir.”

He informed Josh.

Josh looked at Samantha, puzzlement on his face.
” … dressing room … “

In her insistence, Samantha laid her hand on his arm as she explained.

”Josh … it’s horrible… before you interrupted him, the intruder was in my dressing room … he …
Lord knows what else he’d have done if you’d not disturbed him.”

Her voice broke thinking of that man just the other side of the wall to where she had hidden out in the bathroom.

”He obviously had a knife … my dresses are in shreds … everything's been thrown all over the place ..
How can anyone be so hateful?”

She looked up at him, tears springing to her eyes suddenly.
Blinking and turning away quickly she left Josh to investigate himself.

 

[Angelus]

As soon as Josh walked into Samantha's dressing room and saw the destruction two things went through his head. Either the man who did this or a madman or he is extremely smart. I think he did this so that he could put Samantha on edge- to get her looking over her shoulder and it is working. He looked at everything, the way that it seemed to be arranged and walked out.

He walked straight up to Samantha as he knew she needed to hear this first and she needed something to help her calm down.
"I don't think that this was the work of a madman. I'm sorry to say this though but I think that someone is after you- not to kill you but to kidnap you. That is what the deal with the dresses was all about at least I hope that's all that was about."

He looked back at the dressing room, God, I hope that's all that was about because if it isn't then we are facing a madman here- something that scares even me.

He turned to Lieutenant London and Agent Stevens, "I think we need to get her out of here as soon as possible, she is still a target. Please gentlemen, don't think I am trying to tell you how to do your jobs but if you look into that dressing room you will know what I am talking about."

The pair walked straight into the dressing room, not knowing what to expect but when they came out Agent Stevens said, "We are getting Miss Rimmington out of here."

He then turned to Josh, "The only place I know that is safe at the moment is the police station and we do need to finish our questioning so I'm afraid to say that is the only option we have."

"It is the best one that I can think of. But we do need to get out of here quickly."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Samantha Rimmington

Samantha turned round when Josh emerged from her dressing room. His face looked grim, which didn’t encourage her. She looked up at him as he moved to her side.

"I don't think that this was the work of a madman. I'm sorry to say this though but I think that someone is after you- not to kill you but to kidnap you. That is what the deal with the dresses was all about at least I hope that's all that was about."

Samantha shuddered.
It was personal and they were after HER.
She looked back towards the dressing room door then back to Josh, the police officers suddenly forgotten. For some reason, she did not care to analyse, it was to Josh she turned for instruction.

"I think we need to get her out of here as soon as possible, she is still a target. Please gentlemen, don't think I am trying to tell you how to do your jobs but if you look into that dressing room you will know what I am talking about."

Samantha met Josh’s eyes as the two men went into the dressing room, only to come out shortly after and nod in agreement.

"We are getting Miss Rimmington out of here."

Samantha looked around her bedroom and realised that she really didn’t want to be under this room a minute longer than necessary.
Her home no longer felt safe at all!

"The only place I know that is safe at the moment is the police station and we do need to finish our questioning so I'm afraid to say that is the only option we have."[/I]

Samantha began to walk around the room, her mind racing.
She had to pack some things … she had to get her valuables …

"It is the best one that I can think of. But we do need to get out of here quickly."

Samantha turned and eyed the men.

”I understand we have to be quick gentlemen, but I need to pack a few things … perhaps if you let Mr Reilly assist me? It shouldn’t take very long to get organised.”

Her brusque manner reassured them. It was the only way she knew of coping. Nodding the police officers moved to the stair way.
”We’ll be down here as soon as you’re ready Ma’am …”

The agent told her.

”Thank you … I assure you, I’ll be quick.”

Turning to Josh, her eyes implored him.

”Josh … I need your help. Would you please take my valuables and put them in the safe…? I’ll pack a holdall … “

She saw his hard expression.

”Please … I realise how serious this is … I’ll be quick …”

Crossing the bedroom, she took out a velvet pouch and started filling it with jewels and various items.

”These are the only thing my mom left me, Josh.
They’re very precious to me. They can take what they want of my stuff … but mummy’s things … they’re all I have left …”

She turned and handed him a relatively modest bundle.

”Please make sure they’re as safe as possible, Josh..”

She pleaded with him, then turned as he took the collection from her and moved to her wardrobe to pull out a holdall.

True to her word, it was merely ten minutes later when Samantha descended the stair case a sizeable handbag slung over her shoulder and the holdall now filled with only the most necessary items that she would need if she were to reside at the police station for any length of time.

”Thank you for being patient, gentlemen,”

She told them softly.

”I’m ready to go …”

She looked wistfully around the hallway and prepared to follow the directions of those who had determined to protect her.

 

[Angelus]

Josh walked off to his home and sighed when he saw all the bullet holes in his walls. He was annoyed by what had happened but he was also grateful that he was still alive. He looked around, to see if there was anyone about and walked to his room then moved his bed, lifted up his carpet and dialed in the combination to the real safe. He placed Samantha's valuables inside before he closed the safe again and moved everything back to the way it was.

He then went over his wardrobe and grabbed some clothes, a bag and his wallet. He placed everything into the bag and slung it over his shoulder then looked around the bedroom again before he walked out of the home. As he walked to the main house he wondered what else could happen to him this long and arduous day.

As soon as he entered the building he saw Samantha standing in the hallway holding two bags. He knew that she, that they both had had what could be considered a long day by no stretch of the imagination but he knew that it was not yet over. Both of them still had to go to the police station for the interviews and they would wear them both down but Josh knew one thing, whoever had ordered the attack was still out there.

He moved over to where Lieutenant London stood, "What are you going to do with us. I mean you can't keep us at the station indefinitely and we can't come back here."
"Hmmm, you do have a point there. Let me think about that while we make our way back."
"That is good enough for me. But we should get going and get this questioning finished."

Josh moved out of the building without saying another word and walked straight to the car that had brought him here. He put his bag into the now open boot and moved to sit in the back but stopped when he tried to think of where Samantha was going to sit but he shrugged his shoulders as he knew that was not his concern, got into the back of the car and closed his eyes.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Samantha Rimmington

Samantha followed the police officers out of the house. She watched as the Agent gave orders for the place to be made secure. More police cars had arrived and uniformed officers seemed to be swarming around the estate suddenly.

”Has anyone contacted my father yet?”

She enquired suddenly. Turning she looked for Josh, but found that he had already seated himself in a police car.

”My father needs to know I’m alive and well …”

She insisted.

”And he needs to be warned … just in case he’s a target too..”

She saw the Agent give a curt nod.

”We’re dealing with all that, Miss Rimmington … now if you don’t mind …”

He moved to a different police car to the one Josh was seated in and opened the back door. Samantha hesitated uncertainly, but allowed a young officer to take her holdall and put it in the boot of the car before she eased herself into the seat and fastened her seat belt. If Josh was supposed to be protecting her, then why had he not waited to see if she wanted him to accompany her. Intercepting her frown as she glanced across at the other car, the Officer who was sat in the front passenger seat caught her eye and smiled. With a deliberately casual tone, he enquired.

”So … how long has Mr Reilly worked for you, Miss?”

Samantha looked up thinking that he must already have been told that fact.

”About five years … daddy hired him when the threats … letters and calls started … “

Another officer slipped into the car and turned the key to start the engine.

”And he’s been a loyal employee …?”

Samantha wasn’t sure she liked the line of questioning.

”Yes. Of course.”

She responded shortly.

”And how would you describe your relationship?”

Samantha’s eyes hardened.
She wasn’t sure what the man was trying to get at, but much as she disliked Josh, she wasn’t going to let this man know.

”He’s my bodyguard.”

She stated firmly then turned her head to look out of the window as they drew out of the gateway of her home.
As far as she was concerned that particular topic was closed.

 

[Angelus]

As soon as he felt the car begin moving Josh opened his eyes and was surprised to see that it was the same three people in this car. He wondered where Samantha was and knew that if she was in a different car then she would be pissed off at him and he didn't care. He looked out the window as the car began to move down the driveway and was surprised when he heard Agent Michaels's voice.

"So, tell me one thing Mr Reilly. How long have you been working for the Rimmington family?"

Josh knew that he was being questioned right now but he also knew that he had to tell the truth.

"Far too long."
"How many years Mr Reilly?"
"Five long, arduous years. I was brought it after the princess's daddy received the first of the threats."
"I'm sorry, who?"
"Princess, it is what I called Miss Rimmington. It is the name I call her to really annoy her."
"I see; and how would you discribe your relationship with Miss Rimmington?"

Josh's eyes widened at that question, "My what?! The only relationship that I have between Miss Rimmington is a working one and that is enough. I can't stand her."

Agent Michaels smiled and turned around again as the car began to move down the road towards the city and the police station.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Samantha Rimmington

Samantha settled into the comfortable armchair and sipped at the coffee she had been handed. It wasn’t “real” coffee, but at least this instant stuff had been served up in crockery rather than plastic.

”Miss Rimmington …?”

Samantha looked up.

”I’m Agent Mathews. We haven’t been able to contact your father as yet, but we do know that he’s safe.”

Samantha gave a tremulous smile, put down her cup and reached out to shake the man’s hand.

”Thank you. I know you’re doing your best.
This is just … a nightmare …”

The Agent sat down opposite her, his eyes ever alert, watching her.
Nervously Samantha picked up her cup and sipped once more.

”It’s amazing that you survived the attack, Miss Rimmington, considering the professionalism of your assailants.”

Samantha held her cup on the saucer and nodded.

”Yes. Josh is good, no argument about that.”

She commented shortly.

”But there’s no love lost between you?”

With an exasperated sigh, Samantha drained her cup and put it on the table.

”Agent Matthews, we don’t get on. That’s no secret.
I never took the threats seriously and resented having him around.
He’s arrogant, obnoxious, rude … but he’s been loyal to daddy and he’s always done his job.”

She turned away to glance around the room.
Although the surroundings were comfortable, she felt as if she was being interrogated.

”You were alone in the house last night, Miss Rimmington?
Was that usual? Surely Mr Reilly was … ill advised … to retire to the Lodge House considering the nature of the threats … and his job … “

Samantha shrugged.

”We’d had words. He walked out.”

She was tired and fed up of trying to fend off what sounded like insinuations about Josh.

”Look … nothing makes sense right now.
All I know is that he kept me alive last night.
And right now he’s the only person I trust.”

She met his eye steadily wishing that all this were over and that daddy were there with her!

 

[Angelus]

Josh sat back on his chair and looked at Agent Michaels and Lieutenant London. Up to now they had acted if they had been his friends but now things had taken a completely different turn and they were insinuating that he had set this up.

"Look- if you think that I set this attack on Miss Rimmington up just tell me."
"We are not insinuating anything Josh. It just seems strange that her body guard slept in a building on the far ends of the grounds, knowing that there had been threats against her and her father."
Josh let out a sigh. He was getting thoroughly sick of this.

"The only reason that I was sleeping there was because Miss Rimmington and I had had a disagreement that morning and she threatened to fire me. She and I said some very harsh things that morning."
"And the attack happened that night. That is a very big coincidence Josh."
"Lieutenant, if we are going to go around in circles then we are not going to solve anything here. I did not plan this attack if you are thinking that and the only time I knew that the intruders were in the main house was the phone call from Miss Rimmigton."
"We are not thinking anything. Why do you keep bringing it up Mr Reilly."

Josh took a deep breath and looked at the two of them.

"Gentlemen. There is no way that I would ever do that to them. Even though I don't like who I work for it does not mean I will violate their trust by organizing an attack like last night's."
"Okay. So the facts are your employers family had been receiving threats and brought you in to protect them. You and Miss Rimmington are not a happy couple and she threatened to fire you and this attack happened that night."
"And I saved her life, twice. If I had organized this why did I save her life- why did I just not stand back so to say and do nothing."
Agent Michaels leaned forward in his chair.
"So that you could get back into her good graces, be alone with her and finish the job yourself."

Josh took another deep breath- this was going no where and he knew it was just the beginning.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Samantha Rimmington

Samantha replaced the receiver and groped for a handkerchief to dab at her eyes. Daddy had been distraught. Over and over he had asked her if she was alright, if she was sure she hadn’t been injured. Samantha had asked him to come home and as soon as possible, but he had said that he was “in discussion” with Agent Matthews and would take his advice. He did not tell her that the Agent had told him that if he returned to be with his daughter it was likely that he would be tracked and lead her potential killers/abductors straight to her.

Samantha took out a mirror and checked her eyes automatically. Seeing her reflection she gave a wry smile.
Checking to see if her mascara had run was automatic and pointless. She hadn’t had time to put on any makeup and in fact she was still wearing Josh’s clothes.

… Josh …

She had told daddy about the insinuations she thought were being made about him, but her father had dismissed them telling her it was routine. Again he hadn’t told her the whole truth: He hadn’t Sam that he hadn’t been allowed to speak directly to Josh, nor that this actually … concerned him.

Samantha looked up as the door opened.
She wondered fleetingly if they’d been watching her. These places had two-way mirrors, didn’t they? Perhaps they’d been listening in.

”Agent Matthews, I wish to see Mr Reilly, “

She saw the man open his mouth as if to object.

”I need to tell him that I’ve spoken to daddy.
I want to see Josh now!”

Her voice brooked no argument.
Resignedly, the man nodded and responded tightly.

”Of course Miss Rimmington.
I hope you know what you’re doing.”

 

[Angelus]

The questioning had been going for over an hour and still the two people that were doing the questioning believed that he had something to do with the attack. Nothing he had told them had changed their minds and he was getting more than a little annoyed with it.

"For the last time I had nothing to do with the attack. The time I learned about it was when Samantha- Miss Reilly called me so how the fuck am I meant to know who those people were. Surely you know more than me from the two that you have in custody; which I helped you with I might add. Wouldn't you think that I would have let them go free or helped them if I had of been a part of it? All this questioning is fucking pointless if you think I did it. I came here to help you- not get interrogated."

"There is no need to swear Mr Reilly."

"So we are back to Mr Reilly now.... and there is a reason for the swearing. I have been sitting here for over a fucking hour answering the same damn questions. You seem to have already made up your mind about me."

"No- we haven't. We actually do believe you but we just had to make sure and we believe that Miss Rimmington is still in danger and the only person that she seems to trust is you so we are going to send the two of you somewhere, a place where they wouldn't think of looking for you."

"We are going to a safe house? Who else is going to be there with us?"

Lieutenant London and Agent Michaels looked at each other without saying a word then turned to look at Josh.

"Ummm, nobody will be in there in the cabin but yourselves. Do not worry- we will set you up with everything you need and it is a nice place to live in- all modern commodities and everything and it is by a lake but the two of you will be there alone."

They handed Josh a folder and he opened it, looking at the place they were going to and the two of them were right- it was going to be a nice place to live but there was only one thing wrong with it- he had to share it with the princess and he knew what that was going to be like- he would have to do all the work and she would complain about everything that he did.

It was going to be pure hell.

Just as he let out a sigh there was a knock on the door and a uniformed officer walked into the room. He walked straight up to Lieutenant London and whispered something in his ear for which the lieutenant said, "Awww fuck."

Josh smiled, That could only mean something to do with Samantha. I wonder what she wants this time.

Lieutenant Londown looked at him.
"It seems that Miss Rimmington wants to see you right now."

Josh got up off his chair and walked to the door.

"Which room is she in."

"This one," the officer said before he pointed to the next door down and Josh walked straight into that room.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Samantha Rimmington

Samantha looked up as Josh entered the room. She had been stood near the window, the glass obviously protected by wire and bars.

"Thank you."

She said shortly to the man who accompanied him and wasted no more words of dismissal. With a meaningful glance at Josh he closed the door. Samantha met Josh's eyes and summoned him over to the window with a jerk of the head. She glanced around the room then turned towards the glass. She saw Josh was angry by her manner, but she knew also that he understood. Neither of them wanted their conversation overheard or taped and this was the best bet. Turned away from any two-way mirrors and speaking in low voices in the place she thought least likely to hold microphones.

"I spoke to daddy. He's safe. He told me that I'm still safest with you."

She told him without preamble, her voice soft as her eyes focused blankly outside the walls.

"I know you hate me Josh."

The statement was said in the same manner, but her head turned and her eyes met his.

"And I think you're an arrogant bastard."

She told him levelly and without malice.

"But you are the best and - God help me - you're all I have right now."

Her mouth twitched in mirthless humour.

She glanced around the room suspiciously and then back at Josh.

"Even though I can't stand you, I trust you. I don't know why."

She shrugged, then continued in the quietest voice possible.

"We have to get out of here. Just the two of us.
I think the authorities are a risk.
If we don't know who's after me, then it is more than possible that they have this place in their pockets, or some of the personel."

Her mind had been working overtime, though there was no reason not to expect conspiracy and threat around every corner.

"Can we do it?"

She asked, enquiring after the practical details, rather than whether he was in agreement.

 

[Angelus]

Josh looked at her and wonder how the hell he had gotten himself into this situation. Less than twelve hours ago he had been fired and he was going to leave the employ of the princess for good but now she wanted to leave this police station with him as she trusted no one else. He didn't know what had brought this about and he wasn't happy about what he had to do to help her but he knew that he had a job to do and he wasn't going to fuck that up.

"Okay, I will help you all that I can but we won't be able to go off on our own. If we did that then every one would be wondering just where we are and I know that these cops would be after me in a second as they think that I had something to do with this. But they have a plan for the two of us. The lieutenant and the special agent that have been questioning me have set up a safe house, just the two of us and no cops."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Samantha Rimmington

"Okay, I will help you all that I can but we won't be able to go off on our own.”

Samantha frowned in annoyance.
Why could he never do as she asked him!?!?

”If we did that then every one would be wondering just where we are and I know that these cops would be after me in a second as they think that I had something to do with this.”

They thought Josh? But that was crazy!
The incredulity took over from her anger.

”But they have a plan for the two of us. The lieutenant and the special agent that have been questioning me have set up a safe house, just the two of us and no cops."

Samantha considered his statement.

”A safe house … how safe?
And … if there’s just the two of us … what if we run into trouble?
No … it all sounds a bit too cosy … too convenient to me … “

She paced the room and then turned to look at him.

”Soo.. the cops know where we are … but they’re not around right? … so if.. no WHEN something happens … and I get taken down … you’re the scapegoat Josh… YOU … sounds like a set up to me ... no way am I playing their little game.”

She looked around and moved closer to Josh.

”With or without you, I’m getting the hell out of here … “

She told him and sat down once more, her mind racing and grasping at a plan …

 

[Angelus]

Josh sat there and thought through everything that he had been told and seen in the past twelve hours and thought that it was too damn convenient. There was no way that these people in this particular station were in league with the people who had tried to capture Samantha this night just to set them up in a place where they could be caught again. How could that even be possible? He looked at Samantha and knew that she wanted to get out of this place.

"It's a mistake princess. What makes you think that they will let us out of here when we want to get out of here and if we get out of here what are we going to do when we do and where are we going to go. I mean if we get out of here we leave the protection of the police that are maybe trying to help us just to go out in the open where we can be made to disappear by whoever is up here. I told your father that I was here to protect you and I will do that to the best of my abilty but I will not do something that will put you in danger and this idea that you have will do so. So I am going to stay here as are you and we are going to think things through more clearly and maybe we will figure out that this safe house is the best idea. Do you get what I am saying?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Samantha Rimmington

"It's a mistake princess. "

Samantha's eyes flashed.
How bloody typical! How bloody Josh!
She opened her mouth to argue.

"What makes you think that they will let us out of here when we want to get out of here and if we get out of here what are we going to do when we do and where are we going to go."

She turned her back on him.
He had a point, but she wasn't going to tell him that!
But if she decided to go, they would have to let her go.
SHE wasn't going to be a prisoner here.
He seemed to sense her attention and continued calmly.

"I mean if we get out of here we leave the protection of the police that are maybe trying to help us just to go out in the open where we can be made to disappear by whoever is up here. I told your father that I was here to protect you and I will do that to the best of my abilty ..."

She turned to face him. She no longer knew what was the best thing to do, but she did know that he was determined to do as her father had instructed and daddy had told her to stick with Josh ....

" ... but I will not do something that will put you in danger and this idea that you have will do so."

She sighed.

"So I am going to stay here as are you and we are going to think things through more clearly and maybe we will figure out that this safe house is the best idea."

Samantha bristled. How dare he tell her what to do, that she was to stay here ... but he had said that they would think things through together ... to consider the safe house...

"Do you get what I am saying?"

Samantha nodded, the ready retort vanishing.
Wearily she sat down and put her head in her hands.
She didn't know anything anymore.
Apart from the fact that there were people after her.

"Do ... do you think they're out to kill or kidnap Josh?"

She asked tremulously before glancing in his direction as he seemed to consider.

"I'm scared ... "

She admitted with a shiver.

"I wish daddy was here ... "

But he was never around when she needed him.
It was typical ... ironic even ...
She shook her head with a wry smile.

"If they do get me, try and make sure he at least shows to the funeral OK?"

The joke was a poor one, her voice strained, hurt, frightened ...
She blinked at the tears that pricked her eyes.
She was tired ... but tense as a wound up spring.
She braced herself for Josh's sardonic comment.
He hated her she knew ... and if it weren't for his damned job description, she knew he'd happily wave her coffin off.

She dropped her head in her hands again and struggled for composure.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Thread closed

Apologies to those reading along.
Given up waiting for a response from "Josh".

DM x


(Feel free to PM any comments, ideas or offers to explore a similar - or different - storyline)