There are no such things as GHOSTS

I don't own these characters; I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had.

(Setting is season 1 around Halloween)

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"Scarecrow. In my office." Billy grumbled when Lee finally made it in.

With a groan and weary shake of his head, Lee, jacket over his shoulder and tie askew, trudged into Billy's office and closed the door. He really didn't want those out in the bull pen to hear his latest chewing out. "Billy, I know I'm late but…"

"Can it, Scarecrow." Billy cut him off. "This isn't about your consistent tardiness. I have a case for you. Priority one. Put whatever you're working on now, on the back burner."

"What is it?" Lee asked suddenly alert.

"Have you heard of the old Jenkins Mansion?" Billy asked as he picked up a thick folder and handed it to Lee.

Lee took the folder as he nodded. "Yeah, scary looking old place just south of the capital. Belonged to a Senator or something I think."

"Exactly." Billy nodded. "Senator Andrew Jenkins. He died about 5 years ago and since then his place has been tied up in court, while his relatives fight over who gets it."

"Yeah, yeah, I remember." Lee was looking through the file on Jenkins, Billy had given him. "So, what's so priority one about a dead Senator and his house?"

"It's what's in that house." Billy told him. "We got some information, through one of our sources, that the Senator kept some classified files in his basement. And when I say classified, I mean Classified with a capital C. From what we're told he had names and code names of all of our top agents at the time he was in the senate, as well those in the FBI, CIA and a few other organizations. He was also rumored to have information on the president as well others."

Lee still didn't understand why it was of such importance. "That was years ago, Billy. Wouldn't most of those files be out of date by now?"

Billy nodded as he reached in his drawer and pulled out a bottle of Tums. He was already feeling the heartburn begin. "Yeah, probably, but not all of them. We do have some agents still out there, who were active back then as do the other bureaus. I've got Francine working on a list, right now, of those that could be affected."

Lee glanced down at the folder again. "O-kay," he said a little warily. Right then it didn't seem like there was too much for him to do, but he knew Billy better than that. "So. What is it you want me to do that can't be done with a court order to turn those files over to us?"

Billy didn't reply for a moment. 'Bad sign', Lee thought. When Billy did finally answer, he didn't meet his eye. Worse sign. "Bil-ly?" Lee questioned.

Clearing his throat, Billy used his 'I'm the boss' voice and looked directly at Lee. "We can't get a court order for the information because we have no proof it's there. Only the word of an informant. We'll need to get the permission of one of the relatives. But there is only one relative who might help us."

Lee shrugged. "Okay, than let's do it. Who is it?"

"Elizabeth Hopkins. She's his niece and the only with a key to the house that might be willing to let us a take a look in that place. That is…" Billy paused. "If you will go and talk to her."

"Betsy Hopkins, the bride of Frankenstein?" Lee swallowed hard ignoring Billy's glare at his use of her nickname, given to her by the many men she had pursued over the years.

Including Lee.

Elizabeth June Hopkins was one of the wealthiest as well as one of the homeliest women of Washington society. She had turned the stomachs of many of Washington's most eligible bachelors.

Including Lee.

They had met at an embassy dinner and she had taken quite a liking to the dashing young agent. So much so, that she practically stalked him. Lee had gone out of his way to avoid her at all possible costs and thought he'd finally shook her.

"Ah, no, Billy." Lee protested. "Don't make me do that. I almost never got rid of her last time. Why not have Francine go and talk to her, or maybe even Fielder. Hey, how about Abernathy? He's in town and he can be quite charming when he wants to be."

"No, Scarecrow." Billy shook his head. "Francine has already talked to Elizabeth Hopkins and so have I. She has made it clear she will only speak with you about this matter."

"But, Billy, that woman is a barracuda." Lee voice held just a hint of desperation in it. "She will eat me alive. The last time I ran into her, she followed me into the men's room. If she gets me alone…"

"Then make sure she doesn't get you alone." Billy cut off his protests. "Look, Elizabeth June Hopkins is not likely to give us any help at all unless you play her game. So play it. Take her to a nice restaurant somewhere or a dance or something nice and public."

Lee looked up with dread. "Billy, come on. You're throwing me to the wolves here."

Billy stood and paced around the office, plowing his hands into his pockets. "You know how bad it could be if those files exist and they got in the wrong hands. We have to gain access to that place so we can look for them. And the only way to do that is through Elizabeth Hopkins."

"But, Billy…" Lee agitatedly raked his hand through his hair.

"NO 'buts', Scarecrow." Billy's voice rose. "You will go and see Elizabeth June Hopkins and you will do whatever it takes to get her permission to search that house. GOT IT?"

Lee glared at Billy and started to say something more when a thought came to him. A thought that just might get the job done and keep him out of the clutches of Betsy Hopkins, the bride of Frankenstein.

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"Amanda, Dear." Dotty called from the family room as Amanda carried in the groceries she'd just bought. "Did you remember to get matches?"

"Yes, Mother." Amanda called back. "I also got the chocolate and marshmallows and graham crackers to make smores.

"Oh, good." Dotty said as she came into the kitchen. "I know the boys love that."

"They sure do." Amanda said as she sat the bag on the counter and began to remove the items she'd bought.

"Gee, Amanda, I sure wish you were going with us. The Martindale's have plenty of room in their station wagon and I know the boys would love it." Dotty sighed.

"I know, Mother." Amanda finished emptying the bag and folded it up, placing it under the sink. "And I wish I could too, but I promised my boss I'd finish that typing for him, and there is a really big stack of it."

"I swear, Amanda, sometimes that boss of yours…" Dotty was cut off by the ringing of the phone.

Quickly Amanda grabbed it, before her mother could. "Hello."

With a shake of her head, Dotty left the room and went back to her packing in the family room.

"Uh, hi."

"Oh, hello." Amanda's voice held the same warmth it always did when she spoke to him. "How are you?"

"Well.." Lee sighed. "I'd be better if you'd agree to meet me in an hour."

Amanda took a peak into the family room to make sure her mother wasn't within ear shot. "Meet you?"

"Uh, yeah. Look I have a meet with someone and I really need my partner there to back me up."

Amanda smiled when he said partner, something he seldom did. "Uh, well, alright. Where do you want me to meet you?"

"Meet me in the Agency parking lot." Lee breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh, okay." Amanda agreed. "I can do that."

"Good." Lee said. "Oh and dress nice, will ya, something tight and sexy."

"Tight and sexy?" Amanda asked. Her brow shot to her hairline. She was certain she had misunderstood.

"Yeah, you know." Lee answered. "Something like… like…" He stopped and gave himself a mental shake. Amanda probably didn't have anything like that. "Okay, look, Amanda. Forget that. Just wear something nice and meet me in an hour."

"Alright," she said thoroughly confused. "I'll be…" But Lee had already hung up. "He can be so rude." She mumbled with an irritated shake of her head.

"Amanda." Dotty called again. "Who was that on the phone?"

"Uh…" Amanda hesitated. "It was for me, Mother." She finished putting up the groceries as she thought of an excuse to leave. "That was my boss, he has some more typing for me to do and I need to run to the office and pick it up."

"Oh, okay." Dotty answered as she watched Amanda head upstairs. "Amanda, your jacket and purse are down here."

"I know, Mother." Amanda answered as she rushed upstairs. "But I need to find something nice to wear."

"To pick up files?" Dotty questioned.

"Uhm, yes, Mother." Amanda responded before disappearing into her room. "Never know who you might see."

Dotty stopped and looked up the stairs before closing her eyes and shaking her head. "That girl never ceases to amaze me."

TBC