Agent Amelia Baylock

I couldn't believe it. I had done it! I felt like leaping for joy as I received my badge and ID. My best friend, Kathleen Herrera, was sitting in the front row in front of the podium applauding wildly. My father stood in the back, looking snappy in his dress blues of the Pennsylvania State Troopers, a proud smile on his face. And even then, I could feel my mother's presence. She was smiling too. I had my doctorate in Criminal psychology and I was all set to go work for the FBI in the Behavioral Analysis Unit in Quantico. I shook hands with my instructor and smiled as my name was announced. I smiled back at him and returned to my seat. The rest of my classmates received their badges and we all graduated from the FBI Academy. At the reception, my dad came up to me and gave me a huge hug.

"I'm so proud of you, Amelia," he said.

"Thanks, Dad," I replied. I didn't have time to actually say anything else because Kathleen came from behind me in an attack hug.

"Amelia this is so awesome! I can't believe you graduated top of the class! Well, okay, I can believe it but still IT'S SO AWESOME!" Kathleen rambled at a mile a minute. "I wish I could go with you to Quantico."

"Calm down, Kathleen! You graduated too, didn't you? Besides, you're going to be an awesome field agent," I said.

"Aww, thanks!" she said, giving me another squeeze. "I have to go and see my parents. I just wanted to say bye before I headed to DC."

"Bye Kathleen, and good luck," I replied, returning her hug. She gave me one more hug and took off to find her parents. With that, I turned back to my dad, who pulled me into a bear hug.

"Lia, you're going to be amazing," he said, his voice cracking slightly. I pulled back and smiled, wiping the tears from my face.

"Maybe I'll be able to come home at some point soon," I said. He smiled back at me and wiped a tear off of his own face.

"Don't rush it, hun," he said. "You do what you have to do and only take time off if you really need it. But know that you can always come home when you have to. I should probably get going. My flight back to Pittsburgh is going to leave in 4 hours and you know how traffic is at this time of day."

"Yeah," I replied. "I love you, Dad."

"I love you too, kiddo," he said. We hugged one last time and he left. I watched him go before heading to the green room and picking up my coat and belongings.

"Agent Baylock," came a voice behind me. I turned around to face my director.

"Yes sir?"

"I just wanted to give you this," he said, handing me a brown file folder with the FBI logo on it. I opened it and gave it a once over before closing it and placing it in my blue messenger bag that was hanging across my body from my left shoulder.

"I'll read the details when I get home, sir," I said. He nodded and held out his hand.

"Congratulations, Baylock. You're going to make a hell of an agent," he said.

"Thank you, sir," I said, taking his hand and shaking it. He bid me good night and returned to the other guests who were sticking around a bit longer. I nodded to a few other new agents and headed for the garage. I hopped into my Ford F150 and drove to my apartment, which was about 5 miles past the FBI Headquarters. The reception had been at a local hotel about 2 miles away. I drove past Headquarters on the way to my apartment and I couldn't help but stop and look. The building stood like a beacon in the night, a symbol of the men and women who worked tirelessly to catch the criminals who were a danger to the citizens of the United States. I was more than proud to be a member of this fine organization. Tomorrow, I was going to give my service to my country in the best way that I knew how: finding the sickos that made neighborhoods unsafe for citizens before they caused more trouble.