Lizaveta

Lizaveta - Part Two

Disclaimers - See Part 1

Chapter Four

Thursday, March 13th - Late evening - The 'Steadman' campsite

Amanda settled herself into her sleeping bag quickly enough, but she was still trembling from the after-effects of her encounter with Lee. Lord knows she had wanted his kiss. No, it was more than a want; it was a need. She'd always been attracted to Lee, and she couldn't really tell when or how that magnetism had transformed itself into yearning.

She was definitely not Lee's type. She'd seen him with a few of his girlfriends, and she knew better than to think he was interested in them for the fascinating conversations they brought to the relationships, or whatever he called his one-night stands. If she'd had any doubts about that, the way the Scarecrow looked when he dragged in late on so many 'mornings after' would have convinced her.

But his notorious 'mornings after' had come less and less frequently; the last one she remembered was when he'd been seeing Leslie. That had been really hard for her to handle. His attraction to Leslie had shown her that he could be drawn to a 'normal' woman. 'Just not to me,' she thought with a sigh.

Then things had gotten really confusing. Lee had suddenly announced that he wanted to take her to dinner, alone, without 'shop talk'. Since that time, they'd been out together at least once or twice each week; nothing fancy, just dinner or maybe a movie. The evenings out had been pleasant, and she certainly enjoyed his company, but for the most part, he'd still had his mask up, the shield that Scarecrow hid behind to keep anyone from getting too close to a look at the 'real' Lee Stetson, and she'd learned not to let him know about her growing feelings for him.

Over the past two and a half years, she'd seen glimpses of the man behind the self-erected barricades, and it was that man who was so dangerously attractive to her. The only question was, who was asking her out? Was it Scarecrow, whose cool detachment and indifference held her at bay and whose lifestyle she could never accept, or even understand? Or was it Lee, the elusive reality who could warm her with a smile and touch her heart with his vulnerability?

She sighed again and turned to face the side of the tent, leaving the sleeping bag unzipped as a concession to her restlessness. She couldn't even trust her own judgment where he was concerned. Could she trust his? She didn't want to become just one more in the long line of women who paraded in and out of his life, and his bed, but she couldn't bear the thought that she might be giving up the best thing that had ever happened to her. The two of them were standing at a line in the sand, and she wasn't at all sure if she was ready to cross it. She'd come so close tonight, and it had frightened her. Maybe just maintaining the status quo was the best option for the time being.

'You know the status quo will never do. It's time to decide what you want.' It was her last thought before she closed her eyes and drifted into a restless sleep.

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Outside, Lee stood in the secluded silence, staring longingly at the tent that shielded Amanda from him. The emptiness that had formed inside him when she walked away echoed inside his chest like a scream in a cavern. 'This has gone on long enough,' he told himself. 'I'm different when she's around, and I don't know what it means . . . or what to do about it,' he added with a resigned sigh.

"I want her." His head came up with a slight jerk. He'd worked so hard to keep the disturbing thoughts from his subconscious under control, but that one had forced its way out with such force that he had actually spoken the words out loud.

"I want her." He whispered it again, a conscious thought this time. "I think I've wanted her for a long time."

He felt the thought begin to meander through his brain, finding himself unable to stop its progress. He was amazed by the warmth the idea generated as it worked its way past the barriers he had erected around his heart. Before he realized it, the concept of wanting Amanda, of having wanted her, suffused his very being, as though it belonged within him, as if it were something that had been missing from deep inside his soul for a very long time. It felt familiar.

He wanted her. He coveted her. He ached for her. And yet it was different from any desire he had experienced before. There had been many other women in his life, probably far too many. He had wanted each of them, but the feelings that were starting to define themselves within him were completely new.

Part of it he recognized as lust. Always before, his libido had been the primary, if not the only, source of attraction, but this time it was only a fragment, a fraction of all that he felt for Amanda. Certainly he'd dreamed of holding her close, of burying his fingers in her hair and kissing her until her knees buckled, but she was too important for just that. As much as he wanted things to progress, he didn't want to take the chance of losing her. Having her in his life, on any level, was preferable to any other alternative. He suddenly realized that he couldn't imagine his life without her in it.

That was it. What he really wanted, no, what he needed, with her was a relationship. And more than just the business relationship that he'd so often insisted was all that was between them, more than the friendship that they'd recently started to explore. He wanted a connection with her on every level imaginable: emotional, spiritual, and, someday, physical.

'That's what's been bothering me,' he realized, with more than a little dismay. 'Part of me has known what I wanted all along, but I couldn't even admit it to myself.' The idea made him uncomfortable. He sat heavily on a large rock, his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. He'd had little experience with forging a bond between himself and another human being. Since his parents' deaths, he'd been close to only a few people. There were people whom he considered his friends: Billy, Francine, T.P., Emily, and a handful of others.

There had been even fewer times when he'd let himself care about a woman, to dare a serious romantic involvement. Dorothy, of course, was the first, and her death had only strengthened the fortifications behind which he hid his heart. It had been several years before he'd dared to let himself feel something like that again; and when he learned that Eva was to marry Angelo, he retreated back behind the safety of his walls. And then, when she'd come back and the feelings started to surface again, only to be dashed to pieces when he learned what she really was, Amanda had helped him through.

Amanda was always there, helping him whether he wanted it or not, whether he'd needed it or not. He'd been able to talk with her, to confide in her, ever since that first time, when he'd instinctively picked her - a housewife in a nightgown and trench coat - from all the people at the train station. His head snapped up again as he realized that the one person in all the world who knew him the best, far better than Eva, better even than Dorothy, was Amanda. And it scared the devil out of him.

'So what do I do now?' he asked himself. 'What if she doesn't feel the same way about me? What if I tell her how I feel, and it drives her away?'

He sat for a long time, staring into the night and wondering what he should do. He knew now that he had to make a decision, and make it soon. The on-again, off-again approach he'd fallen into with Amanda wasn't fair to her. And he wasn't being fair to himself, either. Swinging between treating her like a business associate and reacting to her as the embodiment of womanhood was driving him crazy and tearing him up inside. He had to decide what he was going to do, and the sooner the better.

Just admitting that there was a decision to be made eased the tension that had been building inside him for the past weeks and months. Now he could finally rest. He entered the tent and crawled into his sleeping bag, taking care not to disturb Amanda. She had her back turned to his side of the tent, but her deep, even breathing told him that she was asleep. He resisted the urge to reach out and stroke her hair, content instead to face her and to mirror the shape of her body, curled in sleep. Only a few inches separated them, and he could almost feel her snuggled up against him as he sank into a tranquil sleep.

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He awoke with a start. Amanda was leaning over him, shaking him. He blinked to bring himself more fully awake and tried to understand what she was saying.

"Lee, wake up," she whispered, her lips nearly brushing his ear. "There's somebody out there."

He threw off the last cobwebs of sleep. "Where, Amanda? How do you know?"

"I heard something outside," she answered. "I think it was footsteps."

He shook his head slightly. "Amanda, it was probably just an animal, looking for some food."

"Well, maybe so, but this animal carried a flashlight. It was just for a moment, but I saw the light shining right there." She pointed to the corner of the tent, near Lee's feet. "And I saw the tent move a little in the light. Then the light was gone and the noises faded."

He shook his head again. She'd been right earlier; maybe there really was someone snooping around outside. He watched and listened for a few moments. The night was as quiet and dark as it had been when he had joined her in the tent a short time earlier. He cautiously flipped on his flashlight and shone it into the corner Amanda had indicated. A small slit had been cut in the back of the tent, and there was a folded piece of paper sticking out of his left boot. He retrieved the note and opened it.

Friday Five PM At the cars

AB

"What does it say, Lee? Aren't you going to go see who was out there?" Amanda was understandably concerned.

"No, there's no point in it," Lee answered. "It's from Balanchev, and he'll be long gone by now. He's set the meet for tomorrow afternoon, down where we left the Bronco."

"So he really is here," Amanda whispered.

"Yeah, he is," Lee responded. "And tomorrow, I'll finally find out what this is all about. For now, though, let's get back to sleep. This whole assignment falls into place." Lying back down and pulling the top of the sleeping bag loosely over himself, he quickly fell back asleep. Amanda followed his example, and soon the campsite returned to its lonely stillness.

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Chapter Five

Friday, March 14th - Sunrise - The parking area

Karel Korvinski leaned against the Jeep and watched for his hirelings to come down the trail. It was insufferable, having to deal with such imbeciles, but here, in this country, it had seemed to be the only way. If he got too close, he'd scare away his prey. His people wanted Balanchev, and he had followed the man halfway around the world to this damned wilderness.

He'd been watching the American, too. That infernal Scarecrow had always seemed to be in the same area as Balanchev shortly before something went wrong. Korvinski and his people had always suspected that Balanchev was the source of the leaks and that Scarecrow was the recipient, but he'd never been able to catch up with either of the two at the right time, and so the game had continued.

Until a few years ago, that was the way things had been. Balanchev had many friends at high levels within the KGB and had enjoyed the protection that such contacts afforded him. Korvinski and his comrades had little patience for the old crowd in the KGB, the ones who were getting soft, like Balanchev and his friends. Those fools had worked together too long and had so forgotten the importance of suspicion that they didn't realize their colleague had started to go astray.

There'd been nothing Korvinski's group could do about it but watch and wait. Their patience eventually paid off, and one of their number had gained access to the inner circle, where he was able to keep a watch on Balanchev and to keep him from any more of his traitorous mischief. It had worked for nearly three years, but then the transgressor had given them the slip. They'd only recently found his trail and had tracked him here last week.

Something was up, and it was big, otherwise Balanchev would never have risked a trip to America. When they'd learned that the Scarecrow would also be in the area, they'd known they had to strike. Their sources had informed them that the agent would be camping in the mountains this weekend, and from there it had been simple to draw the guides into their service. Korvinski would see to the details himself, but he needed his two - what did the Americans call it? - ah, yes, he needed his two snitches to help him keep an eye on things. The dullards had no idea how important they were to his plans.

A noise from up the mountain drew his eyes to the spot where the trail emerged from the trees, and he watched as his two lackeys neared. Beau, who seemed to have at least half a brain underneath his baseball cap, approached him with a cautious smile.

"Mornin', Mr. Korvinski," he said with a nod. "See you made it up the mountain okay."

"Of course I did, you idiot," Korvinski snapped. "What have you found out for me?"'

"We haven't seen that other guy you wanted to know about. And Steadman, well, it's pretty much like I told you before," Beau returned, trying not to let his annoyance at the foreigner's arrogance show. "They're just another lovey-dovey couple lookin' for a little fresh air and a whole lot of privacy, if you know what I mean." He started to wink but covered it by rubbing the corner of his eye when he saw the stony look the Russian was giving him. 'This guy doesn't have much of a sense of humor,' he thought. 'Good thing the job's only for the weekend.'

"They went nowhere, talked with no one?" Korvinski asked.

"No sir," Beau replied. "At least nowhere unusual. They took a hike around the area yesterday afternoon. Seemed to be gettin' their bearin's. You know, finding out where the others were camped and all. After that, they just went back to their own spot." He nodded toward his large companion. "Big Ernie and I looked over their campsite while Mr. Steadman was asleep, but we didn't find anything but what you'd expect."

"You idiot! Why did you take the risk to get so close?" The Russian's eyes narrowed threateningly.

"It wasn't a risk," Beau protested. "I told you the guy was asleep under a tree."

"And the woman, where was she while you were on your fool's errand?"

"She was in the camp shower," Beau stammered. "Come on. You're not worried that she'd have seen us? A woman who looks like that isn't any more than just a bed toy. No way would she be smart enough to catch on to us."

"You'd better be right," Korvinski sneered. "If anything goes wrong because of your bumbling, you'll be very, very sorry."

Big Ernie took a half step toward the Russian, scowling at the man who was threatening his friend. Beau annoyed even him at times, but they were partners, and Ernie didn't want to see him hurt.

"It's all right, Ernie," Beau said, placing a hand to block the big man's way. "Our 'benefactor' here is payin' us plenty to keep an eye on 'em. I guess he's bought the right to have us do it his way." He looked back at the Russian. "So what do you want us to do now?"

"Just keep watching and keep me informed. I want you to be close to him at all times, but do not take any more chances. He must not know that he is being watched. I have other business to take care of now, but I must know what he is doing. Send your big friend down to me at 12 o'clock so that he can tell me what you have seen and what you have learned. Send him here again at 5 o'clock this afternoon. It will soon be dark by that time, and I will follow him back so that I can pay my own visit to Mr. 'Steadman'."

With that, he turned and walked back to his Jeep. Starting the engine, he began the slow trip back down the side of the mountain.

"How'd you ever get mixed up with that guy?" Ernie asked Beau, his disgust barely concealed. He seems like nothing but trouble to me.

"Don't worry about it," Beau replied, with a sneer in the general direction the Russian had headed. "All you have to do is keep the other campers happy. I'll deal with the Commie so we can collect the rest of our dough."

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Friday, March 14th - Shortly after sunrise - The 'Steadman' campsite

The sun had already risen above the peaks of the mountains, bringing morning to the campsite with a crisp brightness. Amanda woke first, lazily taking her time about opening her eyes for the first peek at the day. She stretched gently within her sleeping bag, smiling as the arm draped casually across her waist tightened slightly, drawing her closer. She snuggled into his warm form and started to doze off again.

Her eyes flew open with a start. 'Oh, no! How did I wind up cuddled up against Lee? What was I thinking?' It was a point for consideration. She hadn't been thinking at all; she'd been sleeping. She had a chance of maintaining her resolve when she was awake, but what was she supposed to do while she was asleep? She lay there for a few minutes, unable to force herself to move from the comfort of his embrace. Finally, afraid of what she might do if he woke up while he held her in his arms, she slowly eased her way onto her back, trying not to disturb the man whose presence filled the small tent. He mumbled something when she gently slipped from under his arm but did not awaken as she moved back a few inches so that she could watch him while he slept.

He looked so peaceful lying there. Not even the 'mighty Scarecrow' could hide all of the time; his guard was down now and she could see through his mask. She thought back to the night before, when she'd been too unsure of herself to accept his kiss.

She couldn't say when her feelings had turned from the admiration that she'd had for Scarecrow, the hero, to the affection she now felt for Lee, the man. She supposed she'd always trusted him, but there'd been many times, particularly at first, when she'd have been hard-put to say that she liked him. That had begun slowly but had become easier and easier as she learned to look beyond the show he presented to the world.

It had taken them two years to make the passage from being total strangers to the friendship that she now treasured. Sometimes they had moved forward, sometimes they slid backwards, but overall, they continued to progress. Up to this point it would have been impossible to trace their progress from one day to the next, but expressing their affection with a kiss would be a milestone, an unmistakable signal that things had changed. It could only get more complicated if they passed that marker; but she felt sure that it would happen sooner or later. If it were inevitable, what better time to take the next step than now, while they were away from the friends and family who might inadvertently distract them as they tried to deal with this new phase in their relationship?

It didn't really matter now why she have been so apprehensive last night. She realized now that the only choice she could make was to follow her heart. She wouldn't rush things, but she wouldn't resist, either. If Lee was ready, then she was ready also.

Smiling again, she reached out and gently stroked her fingers across his forehead, smoothing back the stray strands of hair that had fallen over it during the night. She kissed her fingertips, then laid them gently on his lips, drawing back when he began to stir.

"Good morning," she said quietly as his eyes opened and looked into hers. "Did you sleep well?"

"Surprisingly well," he responded easily. He loved seeing her in the early morning, when she was still slightly soft from sleep, not yet ready to face the rest of the world. At moments like this, he felt that she was his alone. "And you?"

"Not too bad," she replied. "After our midnight visitor, I was out like a light." She glanced at her watch, unwilling to make the first move. "But we'd better get up now, or we'll miss breakfast."

"Can't let that happen," he answered with a grin. "We have a lot to do before this afternoon. You go on and wash up first. It'll only take me a few minutes, and I'll be ready anytime you are."

"Sounds like a plan." She pulled on a fresh pair of socks and her hiking boots and grabbed her towel and the soap before exiting the tent.

'It could be a very interesting weekend,' his thoughts whispered to him as he watched her leave. This time he had to agree. "That it could," he said aloud. "That it could."

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"We have to watch out for Beau and Ernie," Lee told Amanda quietly on their way back to their campsite. "Beau had his eyes on us all during breakfast." His arm was around her shoulders, and he gave a gentle squeeze to reassure her.

"I know what you mean," Amanda agreed, her own arm tightening slightly around his waist. "Big Ernie seems like a nice enough fellow, but Beau gives me the creeps. It's like I can feel him watching me."

"Well, he's watching us right now," Lee told her. "He's been following us since we left the others."

Amanda suppressed a shudder with difficulty. "What are we going to do?"

"We're going to be perfectly normal, perfectly boring campers," Lee replied as they arrived back at the tent. "First, I want him to think we're headed back to the main campsite." He turned Amanda to face him, kissed her forehead, and asked, "It's a great morning. How about a little walk?"

"Anything you say, sweetheart. Let me get our things." Emerging from the tent, she handed Lee his canteen. "We need to go by the main campsite first and refill these," she said.

"It'll be our first stop," he agreed. "Wait here a minute; there's something I need to get before we leave."

From his hiding place a short distance away, Beau watched Lee enter the tent. He swore softly under his breath, remembering Korvinski's warning not to get too close. "Damn, that means they'll be coming back this way; I've gotta get back. I'll catch them after they've gotten their water." With a last glance over his shoulder, he hurried back up the trail.

Sure that he had given Beau enough time to get on his way, Lee came out of the tent and joined Amanda. He took her hand and started in the opposite direction.

"Lee," she asked. "What are we going to do now?"

"Just come with me, Amanda. It's our turn to watch Beau for a while." With a grin, he led her into the woods.

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Chapter Six

Friday, March 14th - Late morning - The main campsite

Beau paced anxiously in front of his tent. He looked at his watch; it was time for Big Ernie to head down with a report for Korvinski. He wasn't going to admit that he'd lost them; for the moment Ernie could just tell the Russian that they hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary. Ernie had a good head on his shoulders. He'd be able to convince Korvinski that everything was all right. Beau would make sure that things were back under control by afternoon. For now, all he could do was to go back to their campsite and wait for them to return from wherever the hell they'd gone.

Soon, Ernie was on his way. With a final nervous look around the area, Beau headed towards to the Steadmans' campsite. He didn't know why Korvinski was so interested in the guy, but he guessed it didn't really matter. He was getting paid for watching, and he'd just have to put up with the annoyances that came along with the job. They were only on the second day of the retreat. It was going to be a long weekend.

A few minutes after the two guides had disappeared down their separate trails, Lee and Amanda came out from their vantage point on a rise to the north of the main campsite. Satisfied that no one else was nearby, Lee left Amanda as a lookout while he searched the two men's tents.

He materialized at her side a short time later with a grim look on his face. "They're up to something, that's for sure."

"What did you find?" Amanda asked, worried.

"Not really that much," Lee admitted. "But Beau has an envelope in his footlocker with my picture in it." He paused. "And Balanchev's."

"How did anyone find out about him?" she asked in alarm. "It was only a few days ago that Billy told us that he'd be here."

"Balanchev is an important player, Amanda," Lee responded. "He must be in trouble to have come here in the first place. Anyone who could get him on the run would have to be very powerful indeed."

"So what does that mean for your meeting with him this afternoon?"

"It means that our plans have changed," he replied. "We'll keep our appointment with Balanchev, but we can't stay any longer than that. If someone is on to us, we have to get out of here." He thought for a moment. "Come on, we're going back to the tent."

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Friday, March 14th - Early afternoon, The 'Steadman' campsite

Beau shifted slightly to relieve his aching muscles, then turned his attention back to the empty campsite. 'Where the hell are they?' was his ill tempered thought. 'They've been gone for nearly two hours.' Still, he was determined to stay and watch. He remembered the look in Korvinski's eyes this morning, and he wasn't anxious to cross the man. Hearing voices, he looked back up the trail. At last, they were returning.

"So, you didn't like my 'shortcut', huh?" Lee joked as they approached the tent.

"Some shortcut!" Amanda exclaimed. "You dragged me through the underbrush forever before we finally found the main campsite. I thought we'd never get there." She was enjoying the playful banter with Lee and understood how important it was to provide a reasonable excuse for their long absence to the man who was surely watching and listening.

"Well, we're back now," Lee said with a grin, "and I'm starved. What's for lunch?"

Laughing, Amanda retrieved the box lunches they had brought back after breakfast. "Here you go," she said, handing one to Lee and heading to sit on a log lying not too far from the tent.

Beau watched, his own hunger making itself known. He hadn't expected to be out here for so long. He wished he could slip away and get Ernie to take over for a while, but he didn't dare leave now.

They ate in companionable silence. When they were finished, Lee drew Amanda into his arms. "Wonderful lunch," he said, looking deeply into her eyes. He dipped his head and placed a gentle kiss on her upturned lips, trying his best to ignore the sensations generated by her touch. "Go with me on this," he whispered, a slight quiver noticeable in his voice. He stood and helped her to her feet, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "Now, how about some 'dessert'?"

A chill ran through Amanda as he moved away from her. Only the knowledge that Beau was out there somewhere, watching, made it possible for her to resist throwing her arms around his neck and returning the kiss with all her being. "I can't think of anything I'd like better," she answered, bringing one hand up to stroke his cheek before taking his hand and following him into the tent.

Beau watched them disappear behind the tent flap, his hunger now taking a different form. 'What I wouldn't give to be that lucky son of a bitch right now,' he thought. 'They won't be going anywhere for the rest of the afternoon." With a leering grin, he rose from his cramped position and headed back to his tent.

Lee gave her a hug when they were safely out of Beau's sight. "You were great, Amanda," he whispered. "Beau's not likely to spend the rest of the afternoon waiting around here for us. We'll give him time to get bored, and then we can start getting out of here."

Amanda was too unsure of her voice to speak. Playing that scene with Lee was one of the hardest things she'd ever had to do, not because it was a stretch, but because it fit so well with some of her recent fantasies. She took a deep breath and found her voice. "How are we going to get out, Lee? What if he's still out there?"

"Just get your things packed, Amanda," he replied. "From where he is, the back of the tent is hidden. Even if he's still there, we should be able to sneak out without being seen. Then we'll circle around and make our way down to the Bronco. I want to have everything stowed away before Balanchev arrives, in case we have to beat a hasty retreat."

She nodded and quickly repacked her backpack and duffle, then rolled up her sleeping bag and fastened it and her jacket to the top of her pack. Ready to go, she looked at Lee. After he had packed his own gear, he used his pocketknife to expand the opening Balanchev had cut in the back of the tent. He helped her on with her pack and gestured toward the new 'back door'.

"Stay low, Amanda, and get as far back into the underbrush as fast as you can without making too much noise."

She crawled out of the tent and into the woods, feeling rather than hearing him follow close behind her. After a few minutes, she felt his hand on her leg, stopping her.

"That should be far enough," he said, relief evident in his voice. "If no one's stopped us yet, we have a good chance of making it down to the Bronco." He helped her up and started into the woods. "Follow me."

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Friday, March 14th - Mid-afternoon - The main campsite

Big Ernie had returned by the time Beau got back. As he quickly ate his lunch, Beau filled Ernie in on what had happened while he was gone.

"Good thing you found them," the big man said. "I don't think Mr. Korvinski would take it too well if you hadn't. He doesn't seem to be the patient type."

"That's an understatement," Beau muttered under his breath. He looked up and spoke to Ernie. "Look, the rest of the campers are on their own until suppertime. Why don't you come back with me to Steadman's tent? At least I'll have some company while I wait for him to finish with his 'dessert'. There's only about an hour before you're supposed to head down to meet Korvinski again, anyway. I'll just go instead, and you can watch them until dinnertime."

He headed back down the now-familiar trail with Big Ernie behind him. They settled down in Beau's usual spot to watch.

"Somethin's not right, Ernie," Beau said after a few minutes. "It's way too quiet down there." He hesitated, remembering what Korvinski had said about keeping his distance before he made his decision. "I'm going to go a little closer and check things out. He rose and started to make his way to the other side of the campsite. "You keep your eye on the tent, okay?"

Working his way around the perimeter of the campsite, Beau reached the back of the tent. His stomach dropped at what he saw there. It had been cut open, and it was empty! They must have snuck out while he was back feeding his face. "Damn!"

There was no need for stealth now. He raced through the clearing, yelling for Ernie to come with him, back to the main campsite. If the Steadmans were making a run for it, he knew that they'd have to be stopped, or Korvinski would have his hide. On the way, he explained the plan. Ernie would have to stay and take care of the other campers. With any luck, Beau would be able to hold the Steadman's up long enough for Korvinski to arrive and take care of things himself. He only hoped that he'd be able to catch up with them before they reached the parking area.

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Friday, March 14th - Late afternoon - Somewhere in the mountains of Virginia

Lee and Amanda made the descent to the parking area at breakneck speed. They knew they had a head start, but Lee felt certain that it wouldn't take Beau long to figure out that he'd been fooled, and then one or both of their guides would likely be hot on their trail.

He looked back at Amanda. She had stayed right behind him all the way down, never questioning as he led her over unfamiliar terrain in an attempt to stay off the normal trail.

Damn! It wasn't supposed to have happened this way. This assignment shouldn't have been so hazardous. He hadn't wanted to put her in any danger. 'You've never wanted to,' his thoughts came back at him. 'But it seems to turn out that way more often than not. You've made it through in the past, so stay calm and focused, Stetson, and you'll get her out of this one, too.'

He slowed as they neared the open space where the Bronco was parked, then stood for a moment, catching his breath as he looked around the area. There was no sign that anyone else was there. He watched a little longer before turning to Amanda.

"I think we're okay for now," he said, "but we still have to be careful. Let's get our gear stowed, and we'll take it from there."

She nodded and followed him to the Bronco, keeping a watch while he loaded their things into the back compartment and fastened them down with the cargo net. Closing the rear door as quietly as he could, he guided her into the woods at the edge of the clearing nearest the truck. From there, they'd be hidden while they kept watch. Balanchev was due to arrive in less than an hour, and Lee could only hope that nothing else would go wrong before then.

His hopes crumbled a few minutes later with Beau's appearance at the edge of the clearing.

Beau's tension was obvious as he scanned the cars parked there, easing when he spotted the Bronco where it had been parked afternoon before. 'Thank God,' he thought. 'They haven't left yet.'

Not sure what he should do, he looked at his watch. 4:43. Korvinski would be here any minute, and then it would be his problem. Beau walked to the road, watching for the Russian as he paced back and forth.

It wasn't long before he saw the Jeep winding its way around the narrow, convoluted path that served as their road to the camping area. A few moments later, Korvinski pulled into the clearing and got out of his vehicle with a scowl on his face.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded. "Your friend is to be the messenger; your job is to keep an eye on 'Steadman'."

"Well, that's what I'm doing," Beau said, his voice unsteady with apprehension. "This afternoon, they packed up all their gear and disappeared. I figure they're trying to sneak away . . ."

"You imbecile!" Korvinski roared. "How could you let them get away from you?!"

"I guess I let my guard down for a minute," Beau admitted nervously. "They snuck out the back of the tent. But as soon as I realized what had happened, I got right down here. And they haven't left yet," he added gesturing toward the Bronco.

Korvinski glanced in the direction Beau had indicated before turning the full force of his wrath on the smaller man.

Lee watched their interchange with growing apprehension. "Amanda, we're out of time," he said quietly. "That's Karel Korvinski Beau's talking to. He's KGB, and one of the nastiest of the bunch. I want you to sneak down to the truck. I'll cover you, and when you're safely inside, I'll be right behind you. We have to get out of here, and the sooner the better."

"Lee, what about Balanchev?" she asked. "What will he do?"

"I know that old fox too well," he replied. "He's probably here now, watching. He'll have to be on his own for a while longer, until we can get this new wrinkle ironed out, but he'll be all right."

He looked down at the Bronco and at the two men across the clearing. "Are you ready?" he asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be," she answered, trying without much success to sound confident. She started to rise, but Lee reached out and held her back. She looked at him in surprise, barely comprehending what was happening when he lifted her face to his and kissed her tenderly.

The kiss was as full of hope and promise as the green shoots that would soon poke their heads through the late winter snow, and it filled her with a gentle warmth that made her believe that they could do anything together. Before she could respond, he broke away and smiled down at her. "For luck," he whispered. "Now go ahead, and be careful."

She made her way down without difficulty. Beau and Korvinski were arguing a dozen yards away and did not notice her slim form as she reached the Bronco, quietly opened the door, and slipped into the passenger seat. With a quick glance back in Lee's direction, she buckled her seat belt and hunkered down as low as possible.

In less than a minute, the door opened again and Lee was beside her. Not looking forward to driving down the treacherous road in the early dusk, he fastened his own belt, then inserted the key in the ignition and brought the engine to life. He pulled out of the parking area and onto the road as quickly as he dared, slamming his door shut as he rounded the corner and sped past the pair, the Russian cursing under his breath as his quarry got away.

"Quickly!" Korvinski barked at the startled Beau, "Follow them."

Beau turned to object and found himself looking down the barrel of Korvinski's pistol. He nodded his head and gestured to the Russian to come along as he ran to his truck and started the motor. He wasn't happy about chasing anyone down the hazardous road, even in broad daylight, but he'd rather take his chances in his truck than to bet that the crazy foreigner wouldn't shoot him down where he stood.

Amanda clung to the handle above the door as Lee pushed the Bronco around the sharp curves and down the mountain. His hands held the steering wheel tightly, and his concentration on the road ahead was broken only by quick glances into the rearview mirror to see if they were being followed. Damn this poor excuse for a road! In any other situation, he'd match his driving skills with anyone's, but this was unfamiliar territory, and one wrong move could send them over the edge of the steep embankments along which they traveled.

He took another look in the mirror. "Damn!" He spat the word out in frustration.

"Lee, what is it?" Amanda was as frightened as she'd ever been, and her words expressed that fear.

"They're right behind us," he replied soberly. "I don't see how we'll get away from them." He looked back again to see the truck coming up behind them and pushed the accelerator down further. "I'm sorry, Amanda," he said between clenched teeth. "I never should have brought you here."

"It's not your fault, Lee," she said quietly. Her voice was steady now. She couldn't let herself fall apart. They were in one hell of a mess, and she needed to be strong enough to help him, however she could, to get them out of it.

The front window shattered at the same time they heard the first report from Korvinski's pistol. "Get down," Lee hissed at Amanda. Could things get any worse?

His answer came a few moments and several gunshots later, when he felt something slam into the back of his right shoulder, causing him to lose control of the Bronco and begin the horrifying plunge off the road and down the side of the mountain.

To Be Continued . . .