You Take the High Road Chapter Two
Scarecrow's brow creased in thought as he worked his way against the tide of humanity up the narrow streets of Fez. He kept close to the walled sides of the streets, subtly checking now and again to see if he was being followed. He doubled back and took a detour through the Leather Souk just to shake a tail if there happened to be one.
As he approached the virtually unmarked entrance to the Blue Riad, he marveled once again at the difference between home and life in Morocco. There would be no outward ostentation for this haven for the weary traveler. Yet, as he entered the Riad and went into the quiet courtyard around which all the rooms faced, he could hear the gurgle of water in the central fountain and the cooling sight of the blue tiled foyer with pillars supporting delicate arches all around. Home – at least for tonight. He murmured a few words in Arabic with the owner, securing his room for the night.
The quiet tranquility was a welcome respite from the dust and noise of the streets outside. Now he had only to wait until Mamoon came to him tonight. His palms itched. Waiting never came easy. He took the stairs two at a time up to his room which was modest though clean. He peered through the shuttered window, but saw no obvious signs of surveillance. His mouth tightened. In this city of secrets, he was bound to be spied on and yet never see the one watching him. He ran a hand over his face, as if to wipe away the exhaustion he felt.
"Mr. Stetson! Mr. Stetson!" He heard the owner call urgently from below.
He walked quickly to the balcony above the courtyard, before a crashing blow came to the back of his head, and he knew no more.
* * * * * *
"He went where?!" Amanda's voice rose incredulously as she stared in disbelief at her boss.
"Amanda, I'm sorry. I thought he would have told you." Billy leaned forward empathically across his desk.
"He told me!" Francine joined in smugly, settling herself into the chair next to Amanda. Amanda did not so much as dignify her response with a glance.
"But the bottom line now is that he's missed his last two check-in calls." Billy's forehead was creased with worry. "This was supposed to be a milk run – just information only." He exhaled sharply.
"And Cyclone is missing too?" Francine's face was a mask of professionalism, but her fingers grasped her pen a little too tightly.
"Vanished. The both of them." Billy slapped his desk sharply. "And we have no idea why or who would have done this. None." His voice leaked his frustration.
Amanda's fingers twisted together. "We are going after him, sir. Aren't we?" she asked with a tremor in her voice.
"We don't even know where to start, Amanda." Billy rejoined, "And I'm too short-staffed to be sending more field agents off on a wild-goose chase." He rubbed his forehead wearily.
Francine and Amanda shared a tight, worried glance. Whatever the cost, they could not sit and do nothing.
"Well...," Amanda began slowly as she thought out loud, "we do know Ian suddenly resigned. If the two are linked then it would make sense to investigate what he was doing and why he went to Morocco. It's the only lead we have."
Billy sighed. "Even if I agreed, Amanda, I don't have enough field agents to send. We'll have to hope that he makes the next check-in call and hope for the best."
Francine shook her head. "Lee deserves better than that, Billy. And so does Ian. What about us?" She quickly looked over at Amanda. "Amanda could be spared from the Q Bureau. Though I know I am indispensable around here, I'm sure you could manage just a few days without me."
Amanda nodded silently. Despite her recent difficulties with Lee, she could never leave him stranded in Morocco, of all places. After all, he was still her partner. Her gut twisted with acid certainty that Lee was really in trouble this time. She closed her eyes in sudden pain, she couldn't bear it if the parting words they had last had were the last she ever said to him.
Billy let out a long breath of relief. He could borrow these agents from their duties and not pull anyone else of their cases. It wasn't in him to strand one of his own either. "Agreed. Check if there's been any chatter about Ian and anything he's done in the last six months. He pushed forward the manila file in front of him toward Francine. "This is all I have – he sold his home in London and he purchased a home on the east coast of Scotland two months ago under an assumed name. MI-5 were as surprised by his resignation as I was. No complaints about his performance. No obvious reason why he left and he refused to give one. He simply said it was time."
Amanda and Francine looked at one another. Ian Fraser had his demons to wrestle and they could well imagine that he would have had enough of the life that had cost him his wife.
* * * * * * *
"Scotland, dear? Isn't this rather sudden?" Dottie West followed her about the bedroom as she hurriedly packed.
"They just had a sighting of the Loch Ness Monster, or they think they have, anyway. They're rushing a documentary team there just in case." Amanda found the lies about her profession rolling off her tongue coming a little too easily and she winced at having to lie to her mother.
Dottie sniffed. "I don't know about this film company, Amanda, I really don't. Rushing you here and there for movies I don't think anyone will actually ever want to see. Dragonfly nymphs, bowling ball manufacturing, the Loch Ness Monster! Really!"
"It pays the bills, Mother," Amanda replied snapping her suitcase closed. "I should be back in a week. Jamie has a book report due Tuesday and Philip needs to complete his science project…"
"Oh we'll muddle through just fine, dear. I just wish you didn't have to go to and fro at the whim of this IFF. They send you off helter skelter and one of these days you could get into some kind of trouble with all the traveling you do…" Dottie continued.
Amanda leaned forward to kiss her mother on the cheek. "Oh Mother really, what kind of trouble could I ever get into?" She then bit her lip at her prevarication as she carried her suitcase downstairs.
"Amanda?" her mother called as she jogged down the stairs behind her, "what do I tell the boys about the boy scout trip?"
"We already talked about this, Mother. They're not going. Trips to see Nessie don't cover all the bills." Amanda replied firmly.
"But Joe is willing…" Dottie began.
Amanda cut her off. "The answer is still no." Her mouth was set in a firm line as she searched her purse to check once again that her passport was intact.
Dottie shook her head. "So like your father sometimes, Amanda dear. Too stubborn for your own good."
"I am not stubborn!" Amanda replied emphatically. She looked out the window to see Francine pull up in an agency car. "I have to go, Mother. Give the boys a kiss from me and I'll call you when I get there." She leaned forward to give her mother a parting kiss on the cheek before dashing out the door.
Dottie closed the door behind her, resting her hands on her hips. "So like her father!" She shook her head once again and then briskly headed for the kitchen to begin her day.
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