**Disclaimer** Scarecrow and Mrs. King is copyrighted to Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Production Company. The story, however, is copyrighted to the author. This story is for entertainment purposes only and cannot be redistributed without the permission of the author.
Title: If Looks Could Kill
Author: Mary
Date Written: October - November-December 1999
Synopsis: Lee and Amanda deal with the ramifications of their new working relationship. Sequel to "With or Without You".
Rating: R
IF LOOKS COULD KILL
PART ONE
CHAPTER ONE
The man and woman pushed their way through the throng of busy travelers. The frenzied scene at Dulles International Airport was not unusual for the week before Christmas - the volume of traffic was increased nearly tenfold by the nearness of the holiday. They both smiled pleasantly to the harried customs official.
"Anything to declare?" the official inquired routinely, already thinking ahead to the next person in line.
"No." The man replied in a meek voice, extending their passports with a tentative hand.
The official quickly glanced at the documents. Pausing for only a fraction of a second, he passed them through the checkpoint, pleasantly telling them to have a nice stay.
The man and woman cast a sideways glance at the official before moving ahead in silent acquiescence. Pulling a single teacup rose from his pocket, the man fastidiously fastened it in his lapel as arm-in-arm they made their way through the busy terminal.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tiny flakes of snow began to fall as Amanda Stetson pulled into the driveway of her new Rockville home. She quickly slid out from behind the wheel of her Jeep Wagoneer, pausing for a moment to bask in the welcoming glow of the light streaming from the windows. The snow, combined with the twinkling red and green lights covering the bushes, lent a decidedly festive air to the late December evening. Filling her lungs with the brisk winter air, she sighed deeply as she took in the peaceful scene. The feeling of tranquility that permeated the atmosphere tonight contrasted sharply with the turmoil of her life only a few short months ago.
Last August, her happy vision of a future with her new husband and her children had splintered into a million pieces when Billy Melrose knocked on her door to tell her Lee was dead. Suddenly, the coming months loomed darkly before her, bereft of hope or happiness. Without Lee, the days ahead filled her with an ever-mounting feeling of dread. But the grim, forbidding future she'd envisioned dissolved instantly on that September morning at the train station when she felt Lee's familiar touch once again. Now, settled comfortably in her new home with Lee, her sons and her mother, she eagerly anticipated their first Christmas together as a family.
She leaned up against the car for a few minutes, her thoughts dwelling on the conspiracy at the Agency that was behind Lee's apparent "death" last fall. They were still feeling the aftershocks both at work and at home. She shuddered as she recalled Dr. Smyth's suicide and Jamie's kidnapping by agent Mason. The latter had resulted in the explosion that had destroyed her house on Maplewood Drive. Despite the horror of those bleak days, together she and Lee had put their life back on track. The joy of their reunion overshadowed the events that had darkened their days last fall. It was as if they had been given a precious gift - a second chance at a life together. This time, they would do it right. This time, there would be no more secrets and no more lies. It seemed that everything had worked out at last.
A small, involuntary shudder suddenly passed through her and she fought the uneasy feeling that accompanied it. Sometimes, despite everything, Amanda felt irrationally frightened, as if the pieces of her life had fallen too neatly into place. Now, standing here alone in her driveway, she fought the sensation once again. As long as she and Lee were together, they could face whatever curves life managed to throw them. With only the barest hint of a frown on her face, she shook off her gloomy reverie and entered the house.
"Mother, boys, I'm home." Amanda entered the kitchen where Dotty and the boys were just sitting down to dinner.
"You're just in time, dear." With a cheerful smile, Dotty ushered her to the kitchen table. "Did you have a good day?"
"A long day." Amanda looked at the table that was set for four. "Did Lee call?"
"Yes. I'm supposed to tell you that he won't be home until late. He has a dinner meeting with Colonel ...Hefer?"
"Holstein."
"Oh. I knew it was some kind of cow."
Amanda smiled as she sat down at the table. "How about you guys? Good day?"
"I made the junior varsity basketball team," Philip volunteered.
"Philip, that's wonderful. See, you didn't have anything to worry about."
Philip shrugged his shoulders. "It was just luck. Tim Michaels broke his ankle in Saturday's game."
"That doesn't seem too lucky for poor Tim," Dotty chimed in.
"Yeah, well, there was an opening on the team. The coach moved me up. He said I would have been on the JV team all along if I'd tried out with everyone else."
Amanda smiled at her eldest son. "I know it's been hard for you to change schools, Philip. I'm really proud of the way you've handled everything. Both of you." Amanda glanced over at Jamie, who seemed uncharacteristically quiet tonight. "Everything okay, sweetheart?"
Jamie stared at his plate, methodically rearranging his food with his fork.
"Jamie?"
"You were late for dinner. I was worried about you, that's all." He shrugged his shoulders as he stared down at his plate.
Amanda sighed. Ever since Jamie had been held hostage by Mason and discovered what his mother and stepfather really did for a living, he worried about her excessively. The psychologist assured her this was a normal reaction to the trauma he'd experienced and would lessen with time. The doctor suggested she encourage Jamie to express his feelings. Unfortunately, this was not as easy as it seemed. The problem was compounded by the very nature of Amanda's job. The secrecy that was part and parcel of working for the Agency precluded Jamie confiding in any of his old friends. And that didn't t even take into account the normal stress of adjusting his mother's 'new' marriage, the upheaval of their recent relocation to Rockville, and the strain of a new school and new friends. The combination had made for a difficult few months for her youngest son.
"I'm sorry, Jamie, I was held up at work."
"Were you catching a double agent?" Philip asked hopefully.
Amanda smiled at Philip's overdeveloped sense of drama. "Nothing that thrilling - just a mountain of files. When you get older, Philip, you'll discover it's really paperwork that keeps our government going."
"May I be excused?" Jamie asked.
"Is that all you're going to eat, Jamie?" Dotty inquired.
"I'm not that hungry."
Amanda sighed. "Sure, if you've had enough." She watched him clear his plate and head slowly up to his room.
"Mom, can I go out and shoot a few baskets?"
"It's snowing, Philip."
"I know. That's half the fun."
"Okay, but just for a little while," Amanda called to the retreating figure of her son. She turned to her mother. "I wish I had his energy."
Dotty looked at her daughter closely. "You seem tired, Amanda. Are you sure you're not doing too much? I mean between your job and this house..."
"I'm fine, Mother. Things are just a little stressful at work. It takes a while to adjust to working with someone new." She smiled sadly to herself. "I miss my old partner."
"We've all had a lot of things to adjust to lately."
Amanda chose to ignore the slight edge to Dotty's voice. She knew her mother was still working through some issues raised by the revelation of her 'secret life', as her mother fondly referred to her job these days.
"Mother, I'm worried about Jamie. He seems so sad lately. I was hoping the holidays might lift his spirits."
"He's going through a rough period right now, darling. It's going to take some time, but he'll be all right."
"I wish I could be as sure of that as you seem to be." Amanda shook her head sadly. "Have I told you how much Lee and I both appreciate your staying here for awhile?"
Dotty smiled at her daughter. "You know I'm happy to help you, dear. But when Jamie's feeling more secure about things, I'm going to get out of your hair. The last thing newlyweds need is a mother and a mother-in-law under foot."
"You're not under foot. And you've lived with the boys since they were both small. Jamie doesn't need any more changes in his life right now. It's gonna take his whole family to help him get over the trauma he went through last fall."
"He'll be fine. I'm a grandmother and a grandmother knows these things. And I also know what you need right now."
Amanda tilted her head questioningly.
"You need to take a long, hot bath and then crawl into bed and relax a little. I'll hold down the fort here."
"You make everything sound so easy."
"Amanda, I'm a mother and a mother..."
"...knows these things," they finished in unison. Smiling, Amanda headed up the stairs.
* * * * *
Amanda slowly closed the pages of her book and glanced one more time at the clock by the bed. It was after eleven. Suppressing a yawn, she pushed her book aside and leaned back against the pillows. The logs in the fireplace had burned down, leaving only a few red-hot embers, a silent testimony to how late Lee was again tonight. She left the warmth of her bed and walked over to the window. Outside, the snow was still falling steadily, a few inches already accumulating on the grass and in the driveway. There was nothing she'd like better than to be snowed in here in her new home with her husband until after the holidays, Amanda thought with a smile. She leaned her forehead against the window, closing her eyes and silently willing the snow to continue.
"What on earth are you doing?" Lee's voice called from the doorway.
Startled, Amanda spun around to face him, a guilty look on her face. "Gosh, Lee, you scared me. I didn't hear you come in. You shouldn't sneak up on me like that."
"I'm a spy - it's what I do." He sighed mournfully. "Or at least what I used to do. Glad to know my 'sneaking' skills haven't gotten too rusty sitting behind my new desk." He smiled sadly as he took off his jacket and tossed it haphazardly across the chair.
"Bad day?"
"Typical day. Meetings, meetings and more meetings." He flung himself down on the bed in exasperation. "There are days when I wonder why I'm doing what I'm doing, sitting there in another meeting, out of the action, trying to sort through the mess left by Dr. Smyth."
"You've got to give it some time. It's only been a few months - you can't expect to put things back together over night." She sat down beside him on the bed. "How was your meeting with Colonel Holstein?"
Lee shrugged. "Okay."
"Just okay? That doesn't sound very promising."
"I don't know, maybe I'm just tired. But there's something about him...I can't put my finger on it." His words hung in mid-air. "I miss Billy."
Amanda smiled wryly. "I'm sure Jeannie feels the same way. How much longer will he be in New York?"
"At least until after the first of the year. With all of Smyth's phoenix operatives dead or in jail, we're really short handed. That's one of the things we discussed tonight - speeding up the recruitment process to replace the people we lost. As it is now, I'm constantly juggling our people here in D.C. to fill in until we're up to full strength."
Amanda looked at him pointedly. "If you're so short on agents in the field, then why am I..."
Sensing that the conversation was heading into dangerous ground, Lee quickly interrupted her. "We said we weren't going to bring the Agency home with us, remember?" He reached out to tenderly stroke her cheek with his hand.
Amanda hesitated for a minute, torn between her desire to clear the air and the warm sensations created by the touch of his fingers on her skin. She knew exactly what he was up to - trying to distract her from continuing their earlier conversation about his overprotective tendencies. It had become an ongoing battle recently. When Lee assumed his new position as Chief of Field Operations a little over a month ago, Amanda suddenly found herself buried under a mountain of paperwork, "spring cleaning" file after file of insignificant cases. He seemed reluctant to assign her to a permanent partner, instead pairing her temporarily with Francine. She realized his actions stemmed from his irrational anxiety about losing her the way he'd lost his parents as a small boy.
Even though she understood it intellectually, it still drove her crazy. She had hoped that with a little time Lee would work through this fear on his own, but he seemed to be getting worse instead of better. With every day that passed, Amanda grew more and more tired of being kept "out of the line of fire". Like it or not, she knew they were heading for a confrontation on this issue. She turned to face her husband, sighing deeply. But not tonight. Looking into his eyes, she saw only his love for her and a reflection of her own mounting desire. She slowly let out the breath she'd been holding and settled back comfortably into his arms.
He held her tightly, brushing the top of her head with his lips. "How was Jamie tonight?"
"I was held up in traffic and a little late for dinner. He was worried again."
Lee held her closer, whispering in her ear. "Give him some time. That's what we all need, you know. Just a little time to adjust to all the changes."
Amanda turned to look at him closely, reading between the lines, her heart hearing what he was struggling to put into words. She could give him the time he needed to make his own adjustment. She ran her fingers slowly and sensuously over his lips. "Did I mention today how much I love you?"
Lee smiled as he gently kissed her fingertips. "Not that I recall. How about if I throw another log on that fire you started and you can show me, Mrs. Stetson?"
"Now that's the best idea you've had all day."
Smiling, Lee brushed her lips with his. "Keep my spot warm. I'll be right back."
Amanda watched him quickly place two small logs in the grate and expertly fan the flames. She closed her eyes and relaxed into the softness of the pillows, waiting expectantly for Lee to join her. Even though they had been together constantly since his miraculous return from the 'dead' in September, Amanda still marveled at how wonderful it felt to live openly as husband and wife. If it was possible, she loved Lee even more at this moment than she had when they were married last February. Now there were no more secrets to keep them apart. She heard him switch off the lamp by the bed and felt him silently slide in beside her. Instinctively, she turned towards him. He pulled her close, holding her tightly in his arms, his lips brushing against her forehead. Amanda rested against him, feeling his heartbeat through the thin fabric of his shirt.
An almost overpowering sensation of love washed over her and for a moment she felt the tears spring to her eyes. This same thing had happened the first time they made love after their ordeal last fall. Everything they'd both been through seemed to heighten every sensation and she'd shyly touched him as if she'd never felt skin before. It was as if their bodies had suddenly come back to life in a world where everything was fresh and new. She was certain Lee had felt it, too.
The firelight filled the room with a romantic glow and she let go of all the tensions of the day. The corners of her mouth turned up in a smile as she fingered the material of his shirt. "Aren't you a little over dressed?"
He smiled sheepishly. "I guess I was in a hurry." With an economy of movement, he quickly shed the unwanted garment. "Better?"
Amanda slid her hand over his smooth chest. "Uh-huh." She raised her eyes to meet his, seeing in them all the feelings Lee still sometimes had a hard time putting into words. He looked at her with the barest hint of a smile. "Amanda..." He whispered her name almost like a prayer and his mouth captured hers with an easy naturalness that still took her by surprise even after all this time. His touch flowed through her and electrified her even as his voice still murmured her name. Sighing, she closed her eyes and, for a time, the world and all its problems faded into the background.
Afterwards, when they lay contentedly in each other's arms, spent and happy, she quietly whispered, "I love you." Smiling, Lee leaned in to kiss her once more. Amanda ran her fingers slowly over his face, lightly tracing his eyebrows, down the straight line of his nose to his lips. He lightly kissed her fingers as they moved over his mouth, then reached out to take hold of her hand. Entwining his fingers with hers, he faintly replied, "I love you, too." With a happy smile, Amanda snuggled against him and closed her eyes.
CHAPTER TWO
The man emerged from the lobby of the Potomac Plaza Hotel and moved purposefully to the car. The snow that had been falling steadily for most of the night had tapered off to a few scattered flurries. They clung tenaciously to the petals of the sweetheart rose attached to the lapel of his overcoat. The woman waited impatiently in the front seat, oblivious to the beauty of the world of white surrounding her.
"What took you so long?" she snapped as the man slid into the driver's seat beside her.
"It took a few minutes to secure the correct accommodation," he answered in a faintly accented voice.
"You were successful?"
"Yes. The suite should suit our purpose." With a barely concealed smile, he handed her the key to room. He pointed to the rear of the hotel. "We can go in through the back."
The woman frowned slightly. "Good. Let's get going. This weather has put us behind schedule."
Without a word, the man started the engine and pulled slowly around to the back of the hotel.
*****************************
The persistent ringing of the telephone intruded jarringly on the peace and quiet of the early morning. Somewhere on the edges of consciousness, Amanda's sleep fogged mind heard Lee answer and ask for a status report. Reluctantly opening her eyes, she saw that it was not quite six o'clock. Groaning, she snuggled down deeper into the pillows, pulling the covers over her head. Normally a morning person, Amanda seemed to be finding it increasingly difficult to get out of bed lately. She dimly heard Lee end the conversation and rolled over to look at him.
"Problems?"
He frowned slightly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Possibly. That was Johnson. Intelligence reports the Chameleon may have entered the U.S. last night through Dulles."
"The Chameleon? The international hit-man?"
"That's the one. I've got to get to the Agency." Lee reluctantly pushed the covers aside and started to rise.
"Hang on a few minutes and I'll go with you."
Lee stopped and turned towards her. "There's no need, Amanda. It's early. Why don't you get a little more sleep?"
She hesitated for a fraction of a second before replying. "You're sure?"
"Believe me, I wouldn't be leaving this early unless I had to." He leaned over and kissed her. "I'd much rather stay here with you."
"Me, too," she murmured against his lips.
"I'll see you later at the staff meeting."
"Okay." She watched Lee head for the shower with a sigh. It was definitely too early in the morning to jump back into their running argument about work. She lay back, snuggling down under the covers. That nagging feeling of worry began to gnaw in the pit of her stomach again and she rolled over, hugging his pillow tightly against her body. She wished that she could put her finger on what was really bothering her. Maybe she just missed her husband. They seemed to have so little time together since Lee started this new job. The break-up of Dr. Smyth's organization had created a gaping hole in the very fabric of the Agency that they were now all struggling to close.
But sometimes Amanda felt that there might be more to it than this. Since his promotion, Lee seemed different somehow in a way that was difficult to define. That almost imperceptible change had begun to spill over into their intimate relationship as well. That's not to say that it wasn't good. Their sex life was still incredible, she thought with a smile, her mind dwelling pleasantly on the events of the previous evening. It was just different, in a way that was almost impossible to describe. Maybe she just needed to give things a little time. Lee had implied as much last night. She was worrying needlessly - everything would be fine. She closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep.
* * * * *
"Good morning, boss." Francine Desmond fell into step with Lee as he made his way through the bullpen to his office. "You're here bright and early. And I thought newlyweds were chronically late for work. Of course, you're not really newlyweds, are you? We all just think you are."
"Don't start, Francine."
"Hmm, crabby, too. Trouble in paradise?"
Lee ignored her, opening the door to his office and sitting down behind his
desk.
"I didn't get enough sleep last night."
Francine smirked at him from behind her pile of files.
"Don't say it, Francine."
Francine faced him with an expression of innocence. "I wasn't going to say a word."
"I had a late meeting with Colonel H and an early call this morning," Lee
stated irritably. He groaned as he indicated the stack of paperwork she was carrying. "Don't tell me those files are all for me."
"I'm afraid so."
"What happened to the administrative support Billy promised me?"
"You're looking at it."
Lee sighed in resignation. "Not really. We're too short handed. I'm going
to need you in the field."
Francine looked at him pointedly. "Speaking of the field, there's a problem
with my new partner."
Lee raised his eyebrows.
"Or should I say your old partner? Should I call her that? I guess it's all a matter of semantics."
"What problem?" Lee was beginning to be irritated by Francine's teasing banter.
"Dr. Kelford's department called. Amanda has canceled her agency physical twice this month. And you know, regulation twelve, subsection two clearly states, 'all field agents are required to submit to a yearly physical to be considered on active field duty. Failure to comply will result in suspension until...'"
"You don't have to quote the rules to me, Francine. I've read them."
"Sorry. I was just trying to…"
"I'll take care if it. Any other pressing business?"
Francine flipped through the stack of files, handing him a thick report. "The latest status reports on the Chameleon."
Lee reached for the file. "Thanks. I'll see you at the staff meeting at ten o'clock."
"I'll be in the Q-Bureau if you need me."
With a backwards glance at Lee who was already absorbed in the file, Francine headed out the door.
* * * * *
Amanda entered the room and took her place at the mahogany conference table. With a pleasant nod to the other agents already seated around the table, she leafed absently through the papers at her place. Francine came through the door in a rush, walking over to Amanda and sitting down beside her.
Amanda groaned inwardly as she saw her approach. Even though she had been partnered with Francine more and more lately, she feared they would never have the same easy working relationship she'd shared with Lee. With Francine, Amanda felt like she was back at square one, having to prove herself as an agent all over again. She sometimes thought Francine would never see her as anything more than the simple housewife from Arlington whom Lee had indulgently worked with from time to time. In reality, her life was far from simple. Amanda knew she had already proved herself in the field on more than one occasion and so did Francine.
That's what made this entire work situation so frustrating. They had forged the beginnings of a good working relationship when they were investigating the circumstances surrounding Lee's 'death'. Then, when she and Lee returned to work after their leave of absence, Francine had done an abrupt about face. Since then she had become more and more puzzled by Francine's reaction to her. She wondered briefly if something else was going on in Francine's life to cause this sudden animosity.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Lee's sudden entrance. She caught his eye as he took his place at the head of the table. Amanda thought he looked tired. He smiled over at her in brief acknowledgement before addressing the group.
"We have a top priority problem this morning so I'll get right to the point. We have reason to believe the international gun-for-hire known as the Chameleon came through Dulles International sometime last night. Our intelligence is good – it comes from a former associate who saw our target recently in Europe. I don't have to tell you what this means – he's presently number three on the Agency's most wanted list, with a bullet. Until he's apprehended or we have confirmation that he's left our area, I'm afraid all vacations and days off are canceled until further notice."
A murmur of disgruntled voices greeted this statement.
"I know - I am aware that the holidays are almost here, but that gives us all an added incentive to wrap this up as quickly as possible." Lee consulted his notes. "The problem is, there could be any number of targets right now in D. C. We need to figure out his game plan, get some idea of who he could be after – ASAP. All we really know right now is how much we don't know. The man is a master of disguise, able to assume many different identities to accomplish his job - hence the name 'Chameleon'. And once he's assumed a disguise, we might as well throw our description of him out the window. This man could literally be anyone. That's why he's proved so elusive to any number of international agencies, including this one."
Lee paused and looked out on the solemn faces of his agents. He really hated to have to do this just a few days before Christmas. He glanced briefly at his wife sitting next to Francine, her hands folded quietly in her lap. She'd been looking forward so much to their first holiday together. He had even promised to take a few days off to enjoy the season this year. And, for the first time, he'd really been looking forward to Christmas, too. He knew it wasn't fair to her, but then again, when had this business ever been fair? He reluctantly turned his attention back to his report.
"The man has a monumental ego. He marks his kills by leaving a sweetheart rose at the scene – that's his trademark. And we have reason to believe that the Rose Tuxedo Shop on M Street is one of the Chameleon's known drops here in D.C. We will have round the clock surveillance beginning now. Johnson, you'll coordinate the teams. Use everyone but Francine and Amanda." Francine began to protest, but Lee cut her off. "I need you both to run down a list of possible targets. Our first priority is to get an idea of who the Chameleon could be after." He turned back to Johnson. "You can use them as back-up, but only in an emergency. Okay, status reports as soon as you have them. That's all."
The other agents filed out, while Francine and Amanda lingered.
"Scarecrow, I thought you said you needed me in the field?" Francine demanded crossly.
"Right now, I need you to take care of this, Francine."
Francine looked over at Amanda. "Uh-uh," she said knowingly. "We'll be in the Q-Bureau if you need us for anything more than busy-work."
Francine left in a huff and Amanda wordlessly began to follow.
Lee's voice called her back. "Amanda, I need to see you for a minute."
She reluctantly turned to face him. Her latest assignment had left her in no mood to talk to him right now. After witnessing the exchange with Francine, she was beginning to suspect that the cause of her new partner's animosity was standing right in front of her.
"Yes?"
Lee waited until the room emptied before he spoke. He felt the anger simmering behinds her polite facade. "Don't start, Amanda. It's been a brutal morning."
She pursed her lips, struggling to keep her temper in check. "Maybe it wouldn't be quite so brutal if you would let me out from behind my computer screen."
Lee looked at her sharply. "Well, you're not really giving me much choice in the matter."
"Me?"
He ran his hand nervously through his hair. "Doc Kelford's department officially informed me that you've missed your last two appointments."
"Gosh, Lee, I've been so busy filing lately that I just haven't had a chance to get there."
Lee ignored the sarcasm in her voice. "You are now officially overdue for your agency physical. I have no choice except to suspend you if you miss the next one."
"Isn't that a little extreme? Or maybe that would solve all your problems – you wouldn't have to invent reasons to keep me at my desk."
"That's not what I'm trying to do."
"Really? You could have fooled me."
"Amanda, as agents we live with certain rules and regulations. And, unfortunately, as your chief, I'm now in the unenviable position of making sure they're followed."
"This from the man who taught me that rules were made to be broken."
"Yeah, well, the view seems a lot different from behind this desk."
"Lee…" She started to speak, then thought better of it. Looking away, she merely added, "Don't worry. This won't be a problem. I'll take care of it."
Lee glanced at her uncomfortably. "I know you will. I made an appointment for you at three o'clock this afternoon. You need to keep it or I'll be forced to ground you."
"Great," she replied stiffly. "Anything else, sir?"
"Amanda, honey…"
She rolled her eyes at his use of the endearment and walked quickly away. Lee started to follow her, then reconsidered. Instead, he remained by the podium and followed Amanda with his eyes, watching her unbending form move determinedly thought the bullpen and disappear down the hall. Abruptly, he sat down at the conference table and glared at the mountain of files piled in front of him. Sighing, he admitted that maybe Amanda had a point – he had always balked at regulations himself. Unfortunately, in his new position he seemed buried under a mountain of nit-picking little rules. 'Administration One', he thought in frustration. He'd always sworn it would never happen to him. After almost two months of being forced to walk in Billy's shoes, he had to admit that they were beginning to feel a little tight. Maybe he hadn't been entirely fair to Amanda. He'd give her a little time to cool off, then stop by the Q-Bureau and try to mend his fences. He quickly gathered his files and headed back to his office.
* * * * *
Amanda entered the Q-Bureau and sat down behind her desk with a sigh. She was still seething from her conversation with Lee. She glanced quickly over at Francine, who now occupied Lee's old desk by the window. Her new partner appeared to be having problems of her own. Her face to the wall, Francine was speaking heatedly into the telephone. Feeling the awkwardness of the situation, Amanda tactfully moved into the vault, pretending to pull some files. It didn't help, though, as Francine raised her voice, forcing her to be an unwilling witness to this latest fight with Jonathan.
She sighed involuntarily. This was just another example of the subtle little differences in her working environment these days. Lack of privacy had never been an issue when she and Lee had shared the Q-Bureau. The only thing they had to worry about were people walking in on them at an inopportune moment. Amanda smiled softly, remembering the day Lee had locked the Q-Bureau door and kissed her. This office had played a major role in furthering their relationship. It seemed strange now to see Francine's face whenever she looked up from her work. She missed Lee's presence in the office, missed the easy give-and-take of their partnership.
The sound of the receiver being slammed into its base broke into her reverie. She self-consciously emerged from the vault, settling herself behind her desk without a word. Francine turned her face away, staring aimlessly out of the window. Amanda nervously cleared her throat before speaking. "Everything all right, Francine?"
She took a few minutes before she answered. "Yes, I'm fine."
Amanda regarded her sympathetically. She knew first-hand what it felt like to be at odds with the special person in her life. She turned a friendly eye on Francine.
"I know we've never been the best of friends, but if you need to someone to talk to, I'll be happy to listen."
"Not really. Everything's great."
Amanda turned away, busying herself with the new computer sitting on her desk. She felt rather than saw Francine pacing up and down across the room.
"Jonathan's angry because I told him I may have to cancel our holiday plans," Francine blurted out suddenly. "He just doesn't make any effort to understand my work."
Amanda smiled at her kindly. "All relationships are complicated, Francine."
"At least Lee understands your job."
Amanda rested her chin on her hands. "Oh, yeah, he understands all right. He understands so well that he won't give me an assignment that requires anything more dangerous than typing."
Francine returned her smile. "I've noticed. As your new partner, I'm being tarred with the same brush. The only thing getting any exercise around here is our fingers on the keyboard." Francine looked at Amanda searchingly. "What are you planning to do about it? That is, if you still plan on having a career as a field agent and not a glorified secretary?"
"Don't worry, Francine, I intend to take care of it. In my own way."
"Well, I hope it's soon. My personal life may be on the rocks, but I've worked too long and too hard to let my career end up there, too."
"And I have no intention of either of them ending up there," Amanda muttered under her breath. With a final look at Francine that stated in no uncertain terns that the subject was closed, she turned her attention once again to her computer screen.
CHAPTER THREE
The clerk looked up from his book as the ringing bells signaled the arrival of new customers at the Rose Tuxedo Shop. He smiled congenially at the man and woman who entered the shop, acknowledging them with a nod. The man ignored him, glancing casually around the room, fingering the small flower in his lapel, while the woman began to flip through the racks of dress shirts.
Leaving a bookmark to note his place, the clerk closed the novel and politely addressed his new customers. "May I help you?"
"I'm looking for something in a burgundy silk," the woman replied, her voice rising as she spoke.
"Burgundy silk? I'm not sure if we have anything in that shade. If you could give me a minute…."
"I'll take care of this," his boss interjected, appearing suddenly at his side. With a solicitous smile at the couple, he motioned to the dressing rooms in the back. "If you'll step this way, I think I have exactly what you're looking for."
The man and woman followed the owner to the rear of the shop. The clerk started to return to his book, then suddenly snapped his fingers as he headed to a rack in the corner of the store. Retrieving a few samples, he followed the trio to the dressing rooms.
"Mr. Rose, you forgot these new…" The clerk stopped, puzzled. "What are you…?"
His words hung in midair as he stared wide-eyed at the body of his employer lying in a heap in the corner of the shop. He wore the same expression seconds later as the bullets caught him in the chest and the head.
The man looked at the woman with an air of detachment. "We won't be using this drop again," he said, his faint accent becoming slightly more pronounced. "Pity."
The woman smiled as she adroitly removed the silencer from the gun. "They were on to it anyway. Time to move on." Retrieving a packet of documents from beneath a bench in the dressing room, she expertly concealed it among her purchases and proceeded to deftly remove the small flower from her companion's lapel. She stepped over the clerk's body, dropping the flower, and headed nonchalantly out the front door.
****************************
Amanda absently rubbed her eyes as she stared at the computer screen. Sighing loudly, she glanced over at Francine.
"Any luck?"
"You know, Amanda, I never realized how many state functions, receptions and parties there were on the week before Christmas. Although I guess I should have remembered, since I've certainly attended a number of them in the past."
"Well, 'tis the season…"
"Yes, to be working overtime." Francine let out an exasperated sigh. "I'm getting nowhere with this. It's going to be next to impossible to cover every event – there are just too many of them."
"Let me take a look. Maybe we can narrow the list a little bit." Amanda walked over to her desk and peered over her shoulder. "Look at this, Francine – the reception for Colonel Holstein tomorrow night. There are any number of possible targets there."
"And that's only one of about ten parties and receptions in the next few days. I told you this is an impossible task."
Francine and Amanda both looked up from the screen as the door to the Q-Bureau opened. "What's impossible?" the familiar voice intoned from the door.
Amanda took one look at Lee leaning comfortably against the wall and then quickly turned away. Seeing him standing casually in the doorway filled her with mellow feelings and she wasn't ready to let go of her anger yet. She willed herself to focus her attention on the computer screen.
"Well, well," Francine smirked, casually glancing from one to the other. "A visit from our new Chief. And to what do we owe this pleasure?"
"I thought I'd see if your partner was free for lunch."
Amanda said nothing, her attention focused on the screen ahead of her. The air of tension reverberating in the room was too much even for Francine and she abruptly rose and headed for the door.
"That's my cue to check in with agent Johnson. I'll just use the phone at Mrs. Marsten's desk." Francine closed the door the to office with a bang.
Lee crossed the room and perched on the edge of his old desk. He stole a nervous glance at the tense figure of his wife bent stiffly over Francine's computer. He reached out and put a tentative hand on her arm. "So, what do you say, do you have time for lunch?"
Ignoring his touch, Amanda tenaciously continued to stare at the screen. "I've got a lot of work to do here."
"We need to talk."
"Is that an order from my boss?"
"No, it's an invitation from your husband."
She reluctantly looked up and caught his eye. As he shyly smiled at her, she began to relax, slowly letting go of her earlier animosity. She unconsciously released the breath she'd been holding. "Do we have time to go to Emelio's?"
"Anywhere you want."
"Okay, you've got yourself a date."
Relieved, Lee flashed her his most apologetic smile, catching her hand in his as they made their way to the door. Before he could open it, Francine burst in.
"We've got to hit the road," she said quickly to Amanda. "Johnson needs a relief at the tuxedo shop."
Lee immediately dropped her hand. "They had instructions not to use you except in an emergency," he stated irritably, his annoyance clearly apparent. "What's their status?"
"Priority One – Johnson needs to take Lemont to the hospital."
"The hospital? He's been injured?"
Francine smiled ironically. "Nothing that dramatic. A simple case of food poisoning. I gather something he ate for lunch didn't agree with him. Lucky for us, wasn't it, partner?"
The ringing of the telephone cut off Amanda's reply. She turned automatically to answer it as she grabbed her purse.
"Q-Bureau. Yes, he's right here."
She handed the phone to Lee. "For you. It's Billy, from New York. They're patching him through here. I'll take a rain check on that lunch." Purse in hand, she started after Francine.
"Amanda…"
"Got to go." She quickly followed Francine out the door, effectively cutting off Lee's protest. He started to follow when he realized he was still holding on to the receiver. Tempted to hang-up, he heard Billy's voice calling to him. With a worried frown, he reluctantly sat down at his old desk and took the call.
* * * * *
Amanda aimed her binoculars at the window of the Rose Tuxedo Shop on M Street. Adjusting the view piece, she methodically scanned the area from left to right. The street seemed unusually quiet for this time of day. Placing the binoculars to her lap, she absently rubbed the crick in her neck with her right hand. Twisting her head for a minute to work out the knots, she caught sight of Francine, who was staring at the rear view mirror.
"Got something?"
"I'm not sure," Francine answered, her eyes trained on a man making his way slowly towards the door of the shop. They watched in silence as the man bypassed the shop and continued down the street. Francine let out the breath she'd been holding. "Nothing. Let's give it a few more minutes, then do a routine check."
Amanda nodded, sweeping the area one more time with the binoculars. Placing them back in their case, she looked out the window, staring at nothing in particular. The store windows were liberally decorated with the signs of the season and Amanda suddenly found herself thinking about the approaching holiday. Lee had been so busy lately, he hadn't even found a spare fifteen minutes to do his usual one-stop Christmas shopping, she thought with a smile. After her experience last year, she'd given up trying to help him shop. But she had been hoping to steal him away for a few hours today or tomorrow to help her pick out some last minute items for the boys.
Now the Chameleon had interfered with all their plans. There were only a few days left until Christmas, she thought with a sigh. Strictly speaking they weren't working tomorrow night, but they still had to make an appearance at Colonel Holstein's reception. Amanda was not looking forward to it. There would be a number of important Washington figures there, another of the stuffy government events that Lee's new position required them to attend. They might be going to this party as invited guests and as not agents but to Amanda, it still felt like work.
Their new working relationship was fast becoming a point of contention in their marriage. She bristled as her thoughts drifted to the appointment Lee had arbitrarily made for her this afternoon with Dr. Kelford's office. This was yet one more example of his changing attitude. It was almost as if he didn't know exactly how to deal with her now that he was no longer her partner. Amanda knew that Lee had come to trust her instincts over the years that they had worked together. She had to find a way to make him realize that those instincts didn't just disappear because they were no longer working together.
She briefly wondered if part of the change she'd seen in Lee stemmed from going public with their personal relationship. They had both looked forward to the day when they could end their charade and live openly as husband and wife. But announcing their marriage brought with it a whole different set of problems. Amanda recognized that being Mrs. Stetson complicated things, which was one of the reasons she'd chosen to retain the name 'King' at work. But she hadn't expected it to be this difficult to strike a comfortable balance between their personal and professional relationship.
Amanda looked over at Francine, who seemed distracted herself. It was still a little disconcerting to see Francine sitting beside her in the car instead of Lee. Given the choice, she much preferred Lee's profile to Francine's, she thought wryly. She heard Francine sigh softly. Clearing her throat, she broke the uneasy silence that had sprung up between them.
"Everything okay, Francine?"
"Give it a few more minutes, and we'll go in." Francine caught Amanda's bemused expression. "Oh, I take it you weren't referring to the stakeout."
Amanda smiled. "You look like you need someone to talk to. Still thinking about your argument with Jonathan?"
Francine remained silent for a minute, then blurted out, "How do you do it, Amanda?"
"Do what?"
"Juggle your personal and professional relationship. I've tried, and it just doesn't seem to work."
Amanda looked away, trying to put her feelings into words. "It's not as easy as it seems. We seem to be having a little trouble adjusting to all the changes in both relationships at the moment."
Amanda hesitated for a minute before going on. Under normal circumstances, she would never have dreamed of talking to Francine about her personal life, but the cozy confines of the car seemed to encourage her to open up. "Lee and I had developed such a close working relationship in the past four years."
"Evidently."
Amanda overlooked this remark and forged ahead. "I know I haven't been the easiest person to work with lately and I'm sorry. It's hard to adjust to someone new now. It's like Lee and I have been forced to go through a professional divorce of sorts – I know he feels it, too. Plus the unresolved issues he seems to have about my new 'single' career appear to be spilling over onto you."
Francine smiled to herself. "He does seem to have lost sight of the fact that I've been a fully qualified agent for a number of years."
"And then there's our personal relationship. It's funny – we've been married for almost a year, but for most of that time it was a secret, something only Lee and I shared. Suddenly, everything is out in the open and we have to deal with all the ramifications of that." Amanda laughed bitterly. "You'd think it would be a relief, wouldn't you? But we'd gotten really good at hiding our relationship. We knew the rules, knew how that worked. This is unfamiliar territory."
Francine shook her head. "Lee Stetson, a married man. I still can't get over it." She glanced quickly at Amanda. "No offense."
She sighed in response. "None taken."
"Amanda, I'm sure his recent behavior is only a temporary aberration. Lee will come to his senses about all this sooner or later. I just hope for both our sakes it's sooner."
"That makes two of us."
Francine smiled at her partner. "It's been awfully quiet in there... What do you say we have a look-see?"
"Okay."
"You take the front, I'll go around back. Remember – you're just shopping."
"I know what to do, Francine."
"Then let's go."
They emerged from the car, looking over their shoulders before cautiously approaching the store. Francine motioned for Amanda to enter as she slowly worked her way around to the rear. Amanda nodded her assent and made her way into the shop. Silence greeted her as she glanced nervously around the room.
"Hello? Anyone here? Can somebody help me?"
"Back here, Amanda." Francine's voice called to her from one of the dressing rooms in back. She quickly headed toward the sound of her voice.
"I don't think they'll be waiting on anyone else today." Francine pointed to the bodies of the two men resting haphazardly on the floor. "I'll call it in."
With a grim face, Amanda nodded in silent reply, her eyes glued to the sweetheart rose lying on top of the bodies.
* * * * *
Amanda watched in silence as they wheeled the bodies out. She shivered unconsciously. This was a part of her job she would never get used to, no matter how hard she tried. She could never deal with death as if it were an everyday occurrence. So far, she'd never killed anyone in the line of duty. She knew that when push came to shove, she would do what she had to do to protect herself or her partner. She shook her head, forcing those thoughts out of her mind. She took solace from the realization that she would cross that bridge when and if she came to it.
Francine joined her at the counter, shaking her head sadly. "They've been doing a sweep, but so far, nothing. Except, of course, his fragrant calling card."
"I didn't expect to find anything, really," Amanda answered. "I don't think the Chameleon plans to use this drop again."
"You're probably right. Maybe, if we're lucky, we'll turn something up."
The sound of a car caught their attention and they both turned in time to see a familiar silver corvette come to a screeching halt outside the Tuxedo shop.
"Well, well – it looks like someone's in a hurry." Francine stifled her laugh as she caught sight of Amanda's face. Her new partner was definitely not amused.
Lee entered the shop in a rush, his eyes quickly searching the room. Seeing Amanda and Francine standing by the counter, he visibly relaxed and made his way quickly over to them.
Francine's attempt to control her smile was unsuccessful. "So, what brings our boss all the way across town to check out a routine crime scene? Let me guess – you just couldn't wait for our reports," she added with a sideways glance at Amanda, who was struggling to keep her anger in check. "I'll let Amanda fill you in."
Shooting Francine a scathing look, he turned his attention to his wife. "What have you got? Amanda?" he prodded.
She turned away, taking a deep breath and pretending to ignore his question.
"Amanda…"
"Lee, what are you doing here? Are you checking up on me? Because if you are, I really don't appreciate it."
"I'm not checking up on you," he replied with a look of chagrin. "Occasionally, they do let me out of my office."
"You certainly got here quickly. You must have set a new land speed record from the Agency to this shop." Amanda paused for a minute, the pieces of the puzzle suddenly falling into place. "You weren't following us, were you?"
Lee looked away, a guilty expression on his face.
"You were. I can't believe it. You don't even trust me to do a routine surveillance without looking over my shoulder."
As her voice began to rise, Lee cast a nervous eye on the other agents who were finishing up their routine sweep of the shop. "Let's take this outside." He abruptly turned on his heel and headed for the door. Wordlessly, Amanda followed him.
As the door clanged shut, she wheeled to confront him. "You going to beat me up, Scarecrow? Now that we've 'taken it outside'?"
"That is entirely inappropriate, Mrs. King. Believe me, the Chameleon is no joking matter."
"Believe me, I'm not laughing. I certainly see nothing funny in this situation."
"Would you please lower your voice? This is neither the time nor the place for this discussion."
"And what would be the right time and place?" she demanded, disregarding his plea for quiet. "At home, where you don't seem to want to discuss our jobs? Or at the Agency, where you're always too busy? Maybe I should make an appointment." Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she turned an angry eye on him.
"Believe it or not, I'm just doing my job. And at this moment I need you to do yours. For the last time – what's the status on the scene?"
"There's nothing to report. Francine and I were suspicious at the lack of activity and did a routine check. We found the bodies, complete with a sweetheart rose on top. But I'm not telling you anything you didn't already know, now am I? I mean, I'm sure you saw it all from your vantage point around the corner."
She turned abruptly and headed for the car. Lee caught her arm in an attempt to detain her. "This isn't a game, Amanda. You can at least behave like a professional. You are talking to your Operations Chief. Your personal observations have no place in your status report."
Amanda glanced down at the hand that was still clutching her arm. Looking up, she coldly met his eye. "Would you mind taking your hand off me, Chief? That's certainly not very professional of you."
Lee abruptly released his hold on her. "I'll expect your full report on my desk within the hour. And you have an appointment with Dr. Kelford at three o'clock that you need to keep or you will find yourself sitting permanently behind a desk." Without another word, he headed purposefully towards his car.
CHAPTER FOUR
The man and woman relaxed in the sitting room of their suite at the Potomac Plaza Hotel. Sitting comfortably on the striped couch, he casually inventoried the tools of his trade. An assortment of rifles, silencers and telescopic lenses were scattered innocuously on the small coffee table in front of him. A black bag filled with theatrical make-up lay at his feet.
"Have you made up your mind yet?" the woman asked absently, idly thumbing through the pages of a fashion magazine.
"Almost," he answered, his slightly accented tones falling melodically on her ears. "Don't worry - we should be on target for tomorrow."
"Good. I'd like to get home before Christmas."
He smiled smugly. "You will be. I've definitely decided who will make this hit. I just have a few details to work out and we're set to go." He indicated the make-up bag at his feet. "And this is for you." He casually tossed the black wig in her direction. "Now, let's get moving. We have a little more research to do tonight."
Abandoning her magazine, she picked up the wig and headed for the mirror. "What do you think?" she asked, making a few adjustments to her appearance.
His lips turned up in the faintest imitation of a smile. "It will do. Let's go."
*******************************
Lee sat at his desk, absently flipping through the report that lay in front of him, his stomach loudly reminding him that it was long past dinnertime. Glancing at his watch, he saw that it was almost eight o'clock. No wonder Billy had always put in such long hours – in the bowels of the Agency, there was no way to tell if it was day or night. Another thing he missed about being in the Q-Bureau – the ability to look out the window. A simple pleasure he had taken for granted in the last two years.
He pitched the report carelessly onto the desk, rubbing his fingers over his eyes. The view, or lack of one, wasn't really what was bothering him and he knew it. It was Amanda. He missed working with her, missed looking up and seeing her face, her lips tightly compressed as she concentrated on her task. After their earlier confrontation at the Rose Tuxedo Shop, she'd stopped by his office and efficiently placed her status report on his desk. She hadn't said a word, merely looked at him once before returning to her own office. The look on her face told him in no uncertain terms that she'd had her fill of his nonsense.
Lee hadn't been able to get that look out of his head all afternoon. He shouldn't have tailed her on her assignment this morning. He'd spent more than enough time as her partner to know that she could handle herself. He'd witnessed her metamorphosis from an untrained yet talented civilian into a first-rate agent. Knowing it intellectually was one thing – accepting it emotionally was turning out to be quite another. While he wouldn't hesitate for a minute to put his life in her hands and hold her life in his, it was difficult to relinquish that responsibility and trust to someone else. It was turning out to be much harder to let go of their professional partnership than he had ever imagined it would be when he'd accepted this job. In the final analysis, it all boiled down to one simple fact – fear. He was afraid of losing her the same way he'd lost everyone he'd ever really cared about.
He watched the night cleaning crew slowly move through the bullpen. It was more than time to call it a day. Instead of sitting alone in his office apologizing to the wall, he should be at home where he belonged, sharing these feelings with his wife. After what he'd pulled today, though, it would probably be easier to confront the Chameleon tonight than Amanda. Safer, too. He couldn't put it off any longer. He slowly and deliberately rose from his chair, closed his office door and headed for the elevator.
* * * * *
Dotty and the boys were just finishing dinner when Amanda entered the kitchen. Jamie's face was suffused with a smile, his relief evident as he watched his mother walk through the door. Catching his look, she returned his smile.
"I'm sorry I'm late, fellas." Amanda sat down in exhaustion at the table. "I meant to get home for dinner before you went to your Dad's."
"That's okay, Mom," Philip answered congenially. "Did you catch any bad guys today?"
"Not today," Amanda replied sadly.
Dotty observed her sharply, taking particular note of the haunted look in her eyes. "Boys, your Dad will be here any minute. Why don't you head upstairs and finish your packing."
"We're only going to be gone for two nights," Jamie whined. "There's not that much to pack."
"Go on, listen to your grandmother," Amanda answered, shooing them from the room.
The boys noisily cleared their plates, Jamie hanging back slightly to watch his mother before following Philip up the stairs.
Dotty waited until they'd left before speaking. "Is everything all right?"
"Of course. What could possibly be wrong?" Amanda answered sarcastically.
Dotty ignored her tone and continued. "Let's see, Lee's missed dinner again and you look like you've lost your best friend. These late night meetings are really become a habit."
Amanda turned away and looked out the window. Her eye fell on the small stable at the back of their property. They hadn't quite decided yet exactly what to do with that. She'd just have to add it to the growing list of things she needed to discuss with her husband. Her mother's voice cut into her reverie.
"Amanda?" Dotty repeated, unwilling to let her daughter skirt the issue as she'd done so many times in the past.
"Yes, Mother?"
"I asked if everything was okay."
She turned and smiled at her sadly. "I heard you. It's just kind of difficult to answer now that I can't tell you Lee's in the editing room."
"I would never try to pry into your job, Amanda. I do understand that there are things you can't tell me."
The hurt in her voice was easily apparent to Amanda, who walked over to Dotty and put her arm around her. "I know. I'm sorry. It's just been a long day."
Dotty eyed her daughter with concern. "Amanda, you are you feeling all right, aren't you? You've been so tired lately, and I'm not sure you've really recovered from everything you went through last fall. I worry about you."
Amanda sighed. "I'm fine. Actually, I had a physical this afternoon and you'll be happy to know that the Doctor said I was in perfect health. Just suffering from a little stress. I guess it goes with the job."
Dotty looked at her wisely. "That's not the news you were expecting to hear?"
Amanda brushed the tears from her eyes and shook head. "It's not that. I didn't really think I was pregnant. It's just…"
Dotty's put a comforting arm around her daughter's shoulder. "It's all right, darling. You still have of time to have a baby if that's what you and Lee want."
"That's just the problem. I don't know what I want. I mean, should I feel sad or relieved? We haven't had the time to discuss it." She blinked through her tears. "And this is just kind of a wake-up call that the biological clock is ticking…" The discordant chime of the doorbell interrupted their conversation.
Dotty sighed. "That must be Joe - right on time. I'll get it."
Amanda sighed, wiping the remaining tears from her eyes. She heard her mother greet Joe from the foyer and run upstairs to get the boys. She plastered a smile on her face as he headed into the kitchen.
"Hi, Joe. The boys are almost ready."
"Thanks. I appreciate your letting me have the boys for a few days. Carrie and I have been looking forward to spending some time with them – starting our own Christmas traditions."
"How are the wedding plans coming?"
"I think she has things under control. I'm trying to stay out of it as much as possible." He smiled over at her. "It's been hectic, though, and Carrie's been pretty stressed about the guest list. I never realized how many things could pop up at the last minute to derail the festivities."
Amanda smiled in spite of herself. At least Joe and Carrie didn't have to deal with theft, murder, and works of art valued in the millions. They only had to concern themselves with 'normal' problems, like seating arrangements and how many people to invite to the wedding. At this moment, Amanda had to admit that 'normal' problems had a certain appeal. She vaguely wondered if the veil of secrecy that had surrounded her marriage to Lee was partially responsible for some of their current difficulties.
Joe looked at her closely. "Is everything okay, Amanda? You seem a little…I don't know." He fumbled for the right words, coming up behind her as she quickly tuned to face the window.
"Everything's great."
Joe smiled sadly. "You always were a terrible liar, Amanda King." He looked at her sheepishly. "I'm sorry, I mean Amanda Stetson. I guess old habits die hard." He looked tenderly at her for a moment. "I hope Lee's smarter than I was and realizes what he has," he whispered softly.
Amanda blinked back the tears that were beginning to form again in her eyes. "Don't say anything nice to me right now, Joe, or I'm going to start crying." Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke.
Joe reached out to touch her with a tentative hand. "Amanda, you know I'll always be here for you. As a friend. You can always come to me if you need someone to talk to."
Amanda turned to Joe. "Thank you, sweetheart. I think I could use a friend right now." The tears she had been unsuccessfully trying to control momentarily overwhelmed her as she moved into Joe's embrace. They stood together in the bright kitchen, Joe holding her in his arms as her sobs subsided. Breaking the embrace, Amanda wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Thanks, Joe. I needed that. I…" Her words caught in her throat as she looked up to see Lee watching them from across the room.
Joe self-consciously stepped away from Amanda, nervously extending his hand. "Lee…it's good to see you."
With an almost imperceptible hesitation, Lee shook Joe's hand, coolly replying, "Joe…" The sound of their silence reverberated throughout the room as they each retreated to neutral corners.
"Philip and Jamie are all set," Dotty began as she entered the kitchen. She nervously glanced from one to the other, the tension in the air unmistakable. The boys followed closely upon her heels, the normal noise of their entrance magnified by the unnatural silence.
Joe moved quickly to his sons. "Let's go, fellas. Say goodbye to your mother and grandmother. And Lee."
Amanda kissed them each goodbye, giving Jamie an extra hug. "I'll see you on Christmas Eve. Don't give your Dad or Carrie any trouble."
"We won't, Mom," Philip answered.
The usual goodbyes filled the air as the boys left quickly with their father. The door closed with a bang and Lee, Amanda and Dotty were left standing alone in the kitchen. Dotty cleared her throat as she nervously studied the patterned texture of the ceiling. "Well, I think it's time to head upstairs and finish my novel. It's been a long day." She made a quick exit, heading for the safety of her room.
Amanda continued to watch Lee from across from the kitchen. "Do you want some dinner?" she asked quietly.
"I'm not hungry," he answered at last. "I'm going out for a drive."
"Lee…"
"I'll be back." Without another word, he turned and left the room.
* * * * *
Amanda looked up from her book as she heard Lee finally make his way up the stairs. The hands on the antique clock perched on the mantel of the fireplace told her it was well past midnight. Feigning an interest she really didn't feel in the latest Robert Ludlum novel, she pretended to study the page as Lee walked through the door. She surreptitiously watched him take off his suit coat and place it carefully over the arm of the chair. With a sigh, she closed the cover of her book and turned to face him.
"So, how's the car running?"
"Excuse me?"
"You were gone so long I thought you must have had car trouble."
Lee looked away, unwilling to meet her eye. "Let's drop it for tonight. I'm tired."
"I don't doubt it," she muttered under her breath. "It's after midnight."
Lee said nothing as he removed his tie and laid it methodically on top of his jacket.
"Would you care to tell me where you were all evening?"
"I went for a drive. Can't we just leave it at that?" He turned and looked towards the window.
She took a deep breath. "No, I can't. I really needed to talk to you tonight."
He religiously studied the view from the window. "I could tell."
The hint of sarcasm in his tone chilled her and she unconsciously rubbed her hands up and down her arms. "Yes - as you would have found out if you had bothered to stick around for a few minutes."
He pulled his gaze from the window and continued to get ready for bed. "You already had one husband to talk to," he rejoined testily.
Hot tears pricked her eyelids. "Just what is that supposed to mean?"
He shrugged in response.
"Lee, I'm tired of these games. They're exhausting me. After playing all day at work I can't do it at home, too. Would you just tell me what's going on?"
"That's what I was intending to do earlier tonight. I came home to try and talk to you, but you were otherwise occupied."
"Joe saw that I was upset and he was concerned. You know we're just friends."
"And you know that isn't always easy for me." Lee sighed as he turned once more to face the window.
"I can't change the fact that Joe and I have a history."
"It's not your past with him that bothers me. It's your present. It really hurts that you feel more comfortable confiding in him than you do in me."
"That's not true. I didn't go looking for Joe tonight - he just happened to be there when I needed a friend. Besides, Joe isn't the issue, and you know it." She paused momentarily before continuing. "Our problem is that you don't seem to trust me."
"That's ridiculous. You don't really believe I think you and Joe…"
"Of course not. You know, Lee, you stand there telling me that I don't seem able to confide in you. That goes both ways."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"I'm talking about our working relationship – or lack of one."
"Amanda, we're not partners anymore. There are things that…"
"That on a need to know basis, I don't need to know?" she intoned sarcastically.
"More than that – things you can't know."
"I'm not talking about national security, Scarecrow. I'm talking about the simple fact that you no longer trust me to do my job."
He swung around to face her. "It's not a matter of trust…"
"It most certainly is," she interrupted hotly, "even if you won't admit it. Every time you assign me to administrative duties, you tell me you don't trust me. Every time you hand me another Mickey-Mouse assignment, you tell me you don't trust me. And when you refused to confide in me about what you were really up to a few months ago - that really told me you didn't trust me."
Lee sighed in exasperation. "I explained why I didn't tell you the truth about the Phoenix investigation – it was too dangerous. I didn't want you to get hurt."
"There's more than one way to be hurt, Lee. How do you think it felt when Billy appeared on my doorstep and told me you were dead? Do you have any idea at all what that did to me?" The tears fell unbidden from her eyes. Lee moved towards her, but her hand warned him to keep his distance. "That won't solve anything. We both know you don't have any problems communicating your feelings like that. Talk to me."
Lee ran his hand nervously through his hair. "I don't know what you want me to say. I know you blame me for what happened last fall with Mason. Hell, Amanda, I blame myself. But you know what? I can't change the past, either."
"I never blamed you for what happened – I know circumstances spun out of control. Lee, that's not the issue. The problem is this crazy need you have to protect me. I don't know how much more of this I can take."
"I know better than anyone the dangers that go hand in hand with this job. I just don't want anything to happen to you. Is that so bad?"
"Yes – when it crosses the line and becomes obsessive. How can I make you understand that I don't need you to baby me anymore?"
"I'm not doing that…"
"That's right, you tail every agent team that goes out on a routine surveillance. No wonder you're working such late hours."
"Amanda…"
"And while we're on the subject," she continued, her anger rising once again, "you schedule all their medical appointments, too, I guess?"
"The regulations state…"
"Don't quote regulations to me. You're starting to sound like Dr. Smyth."
"Damn it, I'm trying not to let our personal relationship hamper my ability to do this job," Lee answered irritably. "You're the one who kept telling me I should have followed procedure in my investigation last fall. I'm just trying to do that now."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Look – I'm treading a fine line here. I can't let it look like the rules apply to everyone but you. Do you want your co-workers to think I'm giving you preferential treatment because you're sleeping with the boss?"
"I've never asked for preferential treatment and you know it, Stetson. And as for sleeping with the boss…" She picked up his pillow and threw it at him in a fit of anger. "Well, that's one less thing you have to worry about tonight."
"Fine." Retrieving his pillow from the floor, Lee turned and walked away, angrily slamming the door behind him.
"Fine," Amanda echoed, picking up her book and heaving it at the door. It connected with a thud and fell to the floor.
CHAPTER FIVE
"Is everything set for tonight?" the woman inquired as she handed a cup of steaming coffee to her compatriot. Gingerly sipping the scalding liquid, he nodded his head in affirmation.
"Good. I'll be glad when it's finished. This scenario makes me very nervous."
The man took her hand in reassurance. "We've done our research. Trust me - everything will go off without a hitch. By this time tomorrow we'll be enjoying breakfast on the terrace without a care in the world."
"And a million dollars richer."
"Exactly. That should make a lovely Christmas present." He inhaled the fragrant scent of the little flower fastened to the lapel of his coat. "Just a few more details and it's time to put the plan in motion."
***************************
Amanda stifled a yawn as she struggled to make the morning coffee. The clock by her bed read 4:27 a.m. when she'd finally closed her eyes. Sleep had proved almost impossible and the words she and Lee had exchanged echoed through her mind all night. She suspected that he hadn't fared much better, since she heard him pacing around downstairs until the wee hours of the morning. She debated going downstairs to talk to him, but her anger refused to let her capitulate. Besides, she thought stubbornly, the next move was up to him.
As she leaned sleepily on the breakfast bar, she caught sight of Lee's pillow and blanket in a heap on the family room sofa. She didn't feel up to facing her mother's inquisition this morning. The last thing she needed was to try and explain their fight to Dotty when she couldn't even explain it to herself. Sighing, she walked over to the sofa and methodically folded the blanket. As she finished, she looked up and saw Lee enter the kitchen.
He poured himself a cup of coffee without a word and sat at the kitchen table, retreating to the safety of the morning paper. He was obviously avoiding her, as it was apparent that he'd used the boys' bathroom to shave and shower.
Amanda procured her own cup of coffee and silently joined him. Taking a sip, she wrinkled her nose in disgust. She eyed Lee warily from her side of the table. "Could you pass me some sugar?"
Avoiding her gaze, he handed her the bowl.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." He slid once more behind his paper, trying unsuccessfully to concentrate on the words in front of him. After reading the same sentence three times, he tossed the newspaper disconsolately on the table. He looked up and met his wife's brown eyes. "Sleep well?"
"Not particularly. You?"
He stretched, trying to work out the painful kinks in his back. "I've slept better on stakeout."
Amanda fought the smile that played around the corners of her mouth. "Then maybe you should have come upstairs and talked to me."
"I didn't think you were in the mood to talk. I wasn't the one throwing pillows, you know."
Amanda sighed. "Well, we're both sitting here now."
Lee shook his head. "Amanda, I'm tired. My head hurts, my back hurts…I don't want to fight anymore."
"I don't want to fight, either." Amanda reached over and put a tentative hand on his arm. "But we have to try and work through this or it's going to tear us apart."
"I'm not sure I know how to do that."
"You could start by telling me what you're feeling."
Lee pushed back his chair and paced the room nervously. "This isn't easy for me, Amanda. I can't help worrying about you when I'm not there to keep an eye on things."
"'Keep an eye on things'? There you go again implying that I can't do my job without you."
"And there you go again flying off the handle. You tell me to explain my feelings, but you don't really want to hear it."
"That's not true. But when you keep saying you don't think I'm capable of doing my job without you there to protect me…Lee, I think on some level you still see me as the untrained civilian you handed that package to four years ago. I've come a long way since then."
"I'm aware of that. This is a dangerous business we're in and I've been doing it a lot longer than you. And I'm just not comfortable with you being in the line of fire."
"Lee, I'm aware of the dangers of the job, too. I had to deal with it first-hand when you went off on you on your own last fall."
"How many times can I say I'm sorry about that? I'm getting sick of apologizing for simply trying to protect you."
She looked him straight in the eye. "You're determined to keep me out of the field, aren't you?"
"I never said that. I just…" The ringing of the telephone cut him off mid-sentence. They both stood motionless in the kitchen, transfixed by the sound of the phone. On the fourth ring, Lee picked it up, speaking tersely into the receiver. "Yes?"
Amanda stared at him lost in thought, half-listening to the one-sided conversation. "Who is this…no…no…okay." She could tell by his body language the call was work related and she watched him scribble something on the pad by the phone. As he hung up, he folded the paper and put it in his pocket, momentarily lost in thought.
"Who was on the phone?"
Lee had a faraway look in his eyes. "No one important. I've got to go."
"Give me a minute and I'll go with you."
"No, Amanda, I'll take care of it."
"Damn it, Scarecrow, there you go again, flexing your overprotective muscles. Stop trying to shield me."
"That's not what I'm doing. Stop putting words in my mouth."
"You don't have to say it. I know what you're thinking."
"Then you're a step ahead of me, because I don't know what I'm thinking right now."
"You can't deny it. It's coming through loud and clear in everything you're not saying."
"Deny what? That doesn't make any sense." He paused for a minute before continuing. "Amanda, I'm exhausted. I don't even know what I said anymore. I've got to get going."
"Great. Just go off again on your little secret mission. Who said history doesn't repeat itself?"
"I need to take care of this alone. Just leave it at that." He paused for a moment. "I'll be in and out this morning, then tied up in meetings until late. I'll have to meet you tonight at Holstein's reception."
"I don't think so."
Halfway to the front door, Lee turned once more to face her. "I'm not going to have time to come home first."
"Don't worry about it. I'm not going to the reception."
"What?"
"I'm afraid it might be too dangerous for me to attend."
"Amanda, I need you there. This is a social obligation."
"That's all I'm good for these days? To fulfill my 'social obligations'?"
"I didn't mean…"
"Because you obviously think I'm incapable of fulfilling my work obligations…"
"Amanda…"
"…and if all you need is for someone to stand adoringly at your side, I'm sure that could be arranged. In fact, now that I think about it, why don't you give Leslie a call? She was always a pretty good substitute. If you hang on a minute and I'll even go get you my dress."
The silence in the room was almost palpable. Lee took a deep breath, turning to look out the kitchen window. "You never let anything go, do you? I don't have time to deal with this right now." He hesitated once more, running his left hand absently through his hair, then turned to leave. "Thanks for your understanding, " he called over his shoulder. "Do whatever you want about tonight."
"Lee…wait," Amanda whispered softly as she looked up and watched him walk out the door.
* * * * *
Francine looked up from her desk as her partner walked into the Q-Bureau. She grinned as she watched Amanda flop down in exhaustion behind her desk. "Not very energetic this morning, are we? Busy night?"
Amanda frowned. "Please, Francine, I'm not in the mood."
The tone of her voice put Francine on notice and she quietly mumbled an apology of sorts. "Sorry. I didn't realize you were so touchy this morning." She turned her attention to the report on her desk.
Amanda walked over to the coffee pot on the small table in the corner of the office. Fixing herself a mug, she sat down again behind her desk. The warm liquid soothed her jagged nerves and she could feel herself slowly begin to relax. She looked over at Francine who was sipping from her own mug. "I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't take my bad mood out on you."
"Must have been some fight," Francine muttered, her eyes glued to the papers in front of her.
"We were discussing my job." Amanda slowly sipped her coffee, debating whether to continue. "I guess you have a right to know this because it effects you, too. I think Lee's on the verge of asking me to give up working in the field. He doesn't seem to think much of my skills as an agent."
Francine looked up at her in astonishment, the report momentarily forgotten. "Really?"
"An opinion I'm sure you share."
Francine shook her head in denial. "That's not true. Although you have to admit that your introduction to this business was a bit unorthodox. I mean, how many of us were actually recruited in their nightgown in a train station?"
Amanda shot her a withering look.
"And I'll own that in the beginning I did think you were more suited to clean up after children than the KGB, but that was a long time ago. As much as it pains me to say it, you've become a first-rate agent."
"Thanks, I think. I only wish our new boss shared your opinion."
"He does. He's never given me reason to believe he's anything but proud of all you've accomplished."
Now it was Amanda's turn to be surprised.
"Do you remember when your little class "C" interrogation turned into a full scale scramble last year?" Francine continued. "Billy told me how Lee defended you to Beeman, told him that you shouldn't be treated like one of his rookies. That you had 'more experience in the field than half the operatives at the Agency' I believe was the way he put it. And when we were involved in that 'Trojan Horse' mess last spring, Lee told me you were one in a million." Francine smiled. "Although, I did think he might be a little prejudiced. I recall at the time I thought he was probably suffering from a love-induced form of temporary insanity."
Amanda didn't answer, but merely shrugged her shoulders.
Francine cleared her throat and continued. "Okay, as long as we're being honest here and I've actually complimented your work, I have something else to confess." She paused as she caught Amanda's eye. "I've been really jealous of your relationship."
"Jealous?" she said, her curiosity piqued.
"I don't mean jealous in the sense that I'm interested in Lee myself," she added quickly. "What I'm trying to say is that you two have the kind of relationship I've been looking for all my life."
Amanda looked across the room in amazement, not quite trusting what she was hearing. She vaguely wondered if the Agency's latest truth serum had somehow found its way into the coffee pot. It was absolutely out of character for Francine to be talking to her like this. Amanda could only watch in wonder as she continued to pour her heart out.
"Amanda, Lee and I have both been in this business a long time and our outlooks…on life...and love…are not…too dissimilar. We've both had major commitment issues to deal with. That's one of the reasons our relationship was just what it was…a brief distraction. But that's not what I'm talking about." She took a deep breath and forged ahead. "I think the main reason I didn't want to think Lee could be serious about you was because if I admitted that he could come to terms with his fear of commitment, I'd have to acknowledge that maybe I could, too. And that scares the hell out of me."
"Why? Francine, I think Jonathan really cares about you."
"You see to overlook the little fact that he left me standing at the altar."
Amanda paused for a moment, nodding in silent agreement. "I'm sure that must have been very painful. But if you love him, don't let the past stop you from trying again."
"That's easy for you to say."
Amanda shook her head. "No, it's not. I understand all about failure. After Joe and I divorced, it took me a long time to get to the point where I was ready to seriously try again. But believe me, it's worth it. Even on those mornings when you'd like to hit your husband over the head with a blunt object."
Francine smiled over at her. "I understand what he's going through. You see, when you decide to commit to someone the way Lee's finally allowed himself to, you have to relinquish your control over the relationship. And that opens the door to being hurt. And believe me, for people like us, that's the most frightening part of all."
Amanda seemed lost in thought. "So you're saying the job isn't the real issue with him at all."
Francine nodded. "I think he's using it as an excuse so he doesn't have to admit what really scares him - losing what he's found with you. It's what I'd do."
"Then why can't he just tell me that? I'd understand."
"I think we both know that verbal communication is not Lee's strong suit," Francine replied with a smile. "Amanda, he's afraid. And when people are afraid, they sometimes do really stupid things."
"And say really stupid things," Amanda muttered to herself. She glanced at Francine whose eyebrows were raised in a question mark. "I said something to him this morning that I shouldn't have. It was really low. I don't even know why I said it…I opened my mouth and it just came out. It was like I was standing there watching myself say this really hurtful thing…and after what you just said, I feel even worse."
She hesitated for a fraction of a second, then stood up. "I'll be right back. I need to run downstairs for a few minutes."
"Amanda, Lee's not there – when I spoke to him earlier he was on his way to a meeting with Colonel Holstein. He didn't expect to be back until after lunch."
"I know. I'm just going to leave him a note." She paused, her hand on the doorknob. "And Francine…thank you."
"Don't mention it. That's what partners are for," she answered, her mouth turned up in a smile.
* * * * *
Amanda yawned tiredly as she walked into the house, glad the day was finally over. The silence that greeted her was a little disconcerting for a minute until she remembered that the boys were still with their father. Joe and Carrie were scheduled to bring them home late tomorrow afternoon and they were supposed to all celebrate Christmas Eve together. She hoped that was still the plan. Lee's erratic behavior had finally gotten to her.
They had been unable to touch base all day, a fact that left Amanda feeling vaguely uncomfortable. He had just left his office this morning when she'd dropped in to try to apologize. She really didn't want to leave matters between them the way they had ended up this morning. Unable to talk to him in person, she'd left a brief note on his desk where he'd be sure to see it. As things stood, she'd found it difficult to concentrate on work with her scathing remark about calling Leslie still hanging between them. She thought he must probably still be pretty upset if he hadn't been able to find thirty seconds to pick up the phone, meetings or no meetings. In a last-ditch attempt to put things right, she'd stopped by his office later that afternoon, only to discover he'd just left the building for a late appointment. That had finally been the last straw. He evidently didn't want to talk to her. Guilt over their earlier conversation started to be replaced by anger. She may have crossed the line in their discussion that morning, but Lee could at least have the good grace to let her tell him that. Earlier in the day she had decided to go to Holstein's reception tonight, but now she was wavering once again.
Lost in thought, she didn't hear her mother enter the room. "Amanda, darling," Dotty repeated, trying one more time to get her attention.
"I'm sorry, Mother, I didn't hear you.'
"You seemed a million miles away."
Amanda smiled sadly. "Not really. What are you up to with those?" She pointed to the armload of videocassettes Dotty was carrying.
"Oh, these? Nothing…"
"Mother…"
"You'll think it's silly."
"Try me."
"They're Cary Grant movies. I was planning on having a marathon tonight." She sighed. "I've got all the really good ones. "Bringing Up Baby', ' 'My Favorite Wife", "An Affair to Remember' …"
Amanda smiled. "I never realized you were a closet Cary Grant fan."
"I guess you're not the only one who's kept a few secrets." Dotty sighed as she continued. "When you were little, your Daddy and I always went to a Cray Grant movie over the holidays. So every year I always watch a little Cary Grant – it's become a little ritual. I thought I'd do it tonight before your Aunt arrives tomorrow."
Amanda looked at her in wonder. "I had no idea you did this."
"There's no reason why you should. It was kind of a personal thing…between your Daddy and me. And you have been pretty wrapped up in your work the last few years."
Amanda smiled bitterly. While her mother was busy spending the holidays watching Cary Grant movies, she was otherwise occupied with the KGB or the current facsimile. Sighing, she put her arm around her mother. "You miss Daddy."
Dotty nodded sadly. "I know it's been a long time, but I just can't help it. The holidays make me think of him." She turned an inquisitive eye on her daughter. "Aren't you and Lee supposed to be going to a party tonight? You know, for that man who's named after a cow?"
"That was the plan."
"Then shouldn't you be getting dressed?"
Amanda said nothing, but turned her gaze to the window. She could see the holiday lights twinkling in the distance. The snowfall two nights ago clung to the ground, the blanket of white one more reminder of the season. She sighed softly.
This time Dotty put her arm around Amanda's shoulders. "Don't take what you have for granted, darling. Or before you know it, it can slip right through your fingers."
Amanda placed her hand on Dotty's, squeezing it tightly. "I know."
"Now, the way I see it, you have two choices. You can stay here with me and enjoy Cary's witty repartee all evening or you can change your clothes, go to that party and dance with your handsome husband."
Hesitating only for a second, Amanda turned to head upstairs. Dotty grinned appreciatively. "Tough choice, I see."
Amanda stopped and smiled at her mother. "Thank you."
"Get going. I have a date with Cary Grant."
* * * * *
Francine checked her watch as the party guests continued to file into the ballroom. The hands of her watch read eight fifteen – a little over two hours until Colonel Holstein was scheduled to make his speech. The tiny white lights lent the room a decidedly festive air and the guests seemed to be enjoying themselves, some more than others, she thought wryly. The crowded room was a veritable 'Who's Who' of important dignitaries in D.C. – she could even count a few of the guests as her past boyfriends. What had she ever seen in them? Now, all she wanted was for this night to end so she could relax in front of the fire with Jonathan and enjoy a nice Yule log.
Times had certainly changed. At least, they had for her. It appeared that some people found it harder to turn over a new leaf after all. She shook her head in silent disapproval. Lee was certainly enjoying himself tonight, flirting with every beautiful woman in the room. She should have known that his new role of devoted husband would be short lived. They say predators always revert to type. If that was the case, then the real Lee Stetson was back with a vengeance.
Francine sighed audibly as she surveyed the scene. She'd tried to talk to him all evening about his callous behavior, but she hadn't been able to get close enough. Instead, she was forced to witness the spectacle he was making of himself from a distance. There he was now, in a quiet tête-à-tête with a stunning dark haired woman. Well, at least Amanda should thank heaven for small favors, she thought with a rueful grin. Her husband still seemed to be attracted to brunettes. His beautiful companion apparently found his attentions very entertaining, because she laughingly stole a flower from one of the table arrangements and fastened it to his tux with a coquettish smile. Lee certainly seemed intrigued. Francine was disgusted.
And here she was this very morning envying Amanda and Lee's relationship. She should have realized that two such different people never really stood a chance of making it work. At least Amanda wasn't here to witness this debacle. Although, all things considered, she did think Lee would be more discreet than to cheat on Amanda in front of half the Agency. Well, okay, perhaps that was a slight exaggeration. He wasn't really cheating on her, not in the strictest sense of the word. And there were only a few well-placed security teams covering this party. There were a number of different events tonight in
D. C. that were also being covered. For a minute she questioned why this event was so short-staffed. Scarecrow must have figured he'd be on hand tonight to add to their numbers.
Although at present his mind didn't appear to be on business. What could Amanda have said to him this morning to produce such a drastic reaction? Their fight must have been one for the record books. But whatever she'd done, it certainly didn't merit this kind of treatment. Amanda should have taken her advice a year ago and broken up with Lee for good. Oh, she wanted to go over there and shake him. Did he have any idea what he was throwing away? Or were all relationships this fragile, unable to withstand the wear and tear of everyday problems? Sighing, Francine wondered if she'd ever be able to work up the courage to make the commitment she knew Jonathan wanted. From what she'd seen tonight, she didn't think it was worth it.
Sighing once more, Francine swept the room with her eyes one more time before heading to the door. As she turned to leave, Amanda suddenly appeared before her out of nowhere.
"Hi, Francine. Have you seen Lee?"
Startled, Francine was for the moment absolutely incapable of any attempt at clever parrying.
"What are you doing here?" Her voice rose as she struggled to hide her discomfort.
"I was invited." Amanda looked at Francine in bewilderment. "What's the matter? You look like you want to frisk me."
"Amanda, let's go outside. I need to talk to you."
"Later, Francine. I need to find my husband."
"Believe me, this can't wait. Let's go outside."
"Francine, I'm not working tonight, so, yes, it can wait." Amanda turned and headed into the party.
Francine followed close on her heels, trying desperately to detain her. "Amanda, please, don't go in there."
"Francine, what are you…" Her words caught in her throat as she caught sight of Lee arm-in arm with the striking brunette.
Francine followed her gaze. "That's what I didn't want you to see."
Amanda stood frozen in place, her eyes glued to Lee and his lady friend. She watched them disappear into a small, sheltered balcony.
Francine tried to pull her away. "Come on, Amanda. Let it go for now. It won't help to make a scene."
Amanda pushed off her partner's arm and made her way as if in a trance through the milling crowd. Her every instinct told her to follow Francine's advice, but instead she moved purposely towards the balcony. She rounded the corner in time to witness Lee's lips close on the woman's in an intimate kiss. Stifling a sob, she turned and quickly fled.
To be continued…
