"You look like hell, Scarecrow."
"Gee, thanks, Billy. It's nice to see you too."
Billy surveyed the man in front of him carefully. It was hard to assess any damage from yesterday's plane crash when Lee was in his usual three-piece suit, but there was no mistaking the dark shadows under his eyes and the vivid bruise across his cheek that he must have gotten during the impact.
"It is nice to see you, Lee," he said gruffly. "We've lost enough agents lately – it's good to see you back in one piece."
"I'll admit it was a pretty close-run thing," said Lee, running his hand over the back of his head as he dropped into a chair opposite Billy's desk. "Volkov almost had me on a plane to God knows where. I'm still not sure if he really wanted to use me for a trade for his brother. I had the feeling he was just as likely to push me out an open door at 15,000 feet."
"But he didn't" replied Billy. "So you want to tell me the whole story – including this mysterious wife you seem to have acquired along the way?"
Lee winced slightly and shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Ah, well, that was all a bit of a misunderstanding…"
"Really?" Billy was enjoying watching Lee's discomfort. "Would that misunderstanding have anything to do with why you needed to take an extra few days off work?"
"A little bit, yeah." Lee leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, staring at his hands, steepled in front of him
Billy watched as Lee gathered his thoughts, obviously trying to put the best possible spin on what had no doubt been a typical Vegas one-night stand.
"Ah, see… Amanda and I met in a bar a few nights ago and we got to talking and somehow the conversation just kept going, all the way back to my room." Lee looked up at Billy's knowing snort and grimaced. "And we fell asleep and when she left in the morning, she accidentally left some important paperwork behind, so I had to miss my flight to try and find her to return it."
"Very conscientious of you," remarked Billy, lips twitching.
Lee shot him a look, then shifted again and continued. "Anyway she wasn't staying at the same hotel, so it took me a while to track her down."
"Uh huh. Good thing you're a trained intelligence agent or you might still be there."
"Yeah. So she came to collect it and that's why she was in my room when Volkov showed up. She really was just an innocent bystander."
Billy gestured to the file in front of him. "And yet, this all seems to suggest that she's the one who saved you both."
To his amusement, Lee's face lit up. "She really did, Billy. She had a chance to run and you know what she did? Ran straight at the plane and tried to fight off Volkov to pull me out of there."
"Sounds like quite a woman."
"She is."
"And she did all that on the basis of two days' acquaintance?" Billy could sense there was more to the story than Lee was telling him, but couldn't quite place his finger on it. "And why do all the police reports say she's your wife?"
"Who knows?" Lee shrugged. "Volkov assumed she was, for some reason- maybe he's seen too many Vegas movies. And then the cops did the same thing. And as for her rushing in to help? Well you know how it is, Billy. You just act on instinct sometimes... fools rush in, that kind of thing."
"Well I'm looking forward to meeting her. When is she coming in to make her statement?"
"I, uh, told her we didn't need it until tomorrow," Lee hedged. "I mean, you have all the reports and hers is just extra right? She was so tired from everything and the overnight flight home…"
Billy glanced at the file. "Yes, I'm sure that will be fine since we have a preliminary statement anyway. In fact, once you're medically cleared, why don't you head home and get some sleep too? I'm going to need you back in shape to help with the current case."
"Oh come on, Billy! I just got home, for crying out loud! What's so urgent that you need me back at it already?"
Billy picked up a file and held it out. "Sam Fielding was killed last night – that's two agents in two days."
"Seriously?" Lee was all business now as he took the file and flipped through it. "And we have no idea who made the hit?"
"None." Billy sighed. "I want you on this, but I need you at 100%. Go down to Medical and get yourself checked out." He held up a hand as Lee began to protest. "That's an order. We have enough agents on this for now – I want to see you get an all-clear before I put you on this – and that means an actual report from downstairs, not just your say-so, am I clear?"
Lee opened and closed his mouth a few times, trying to come up with a good argument before finally sagging and giving in. "Fine." He stood up and started to leave, stopping only when Billy began to speak again, laughter audible in his voice.
"And tomorrow, I'll personally conduct Amanda King's statement interview."
"Personally? Why?" asked Lee, nervously.
Billy leaned back in his chair, hands resting on his chest. "Because I want to meet the woman that you described – and I quote – as 'amazing and I'm going to love her'."
"Oh come on, Billy, I was tired! I was just exaggerating so you'd get us out of there faster."
"Oh I don't know – the police sergeant at the scene was pretty complimentary too. She sounds fascinating."
"She's…" Lee searched for a word that wasn't insulting but would make Billy lose interest. "Just someone who was in the wrong place at the right time," he finished lamely. "You'll see when we interview her tomorrow – just a regular civilian."
"When we interview her? Oh no, you won't be there," said Billy, working hard to keep his face straight at the flash of panic on Lee's face. "Internal Affairs would have my head if it looked like the agent involved was in the room coaching the witness."
"IA is involved?" asked Lee in a strangled voice.
"Of course they are – an agent was involved in a very mysterious kidnapping attempt in a city he should no longer have been in. Dirk is rubbing his little hands together with glee."
"But I captured Volkov!" complained Lee
"Well, I'm sure that will all be taken into consideration," replied Billy, idly wondering how long he could keep yanking this chain before Lee snapped. "Okay, Scarecrow, Medical. Now." He pointed at the door.
"Yes, Sir," said Lee, trudging out as if he was going to his own execution.
