Chapter One-Remembrance of Things Past
By: CodedMessage
Lee was getting edgy. They knew Tinman's brother was in town, but they didn't have anything to go on. He knew that it was only a matter of time before the inevitable happened. Had this happened even a year before, Lee would not be worried, but now he had someone he loved-yet another person Tinman could have killed. His mind flashed back to many years before-the roses-guns-Dorothy. His thoughts were interrupted by Billy. "Scarecrow, I have some good, and some bad, news." "Good first." "Serdyich is dead. He died yesterday morning in jail. The bad thing is, his brother may now decide to make his move. I think I should put you in a safe house." "No!" Lee said, a little louder and more forcefully than he had meant to. "I can take care of myself-I've done it before." He didn't tell the real reason. Last time, Amanda's windshield had been blow out-this time it could be a lot worse. He had to stay close to her, and he might not be able to do that in a safehouse. "Lee, I'm calling in the Wizard on this one. He might be able to shed some light on this for us." "Billy, Paul Barnes is retired. Don't forget, I thought it was him last time and almost killed him." "I haven't forgotten, Scarecrow. At least we know it's not him this time."
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Paul Barnes arrived a few days later and it was arranged for him to meet Lee that night. Amanda was to tag along also. At three in the afternoon, the phone in Lee's office rang. Amanda was in the vault, so Lee picked it up. "Scarecrow here." "Lee, it's Billy-Paul Barnes' wife is dead. It looks like an apparent suicide. The Wizard is still meeting you tonight, but maybe you shouldn't take Amanda. Paul's wife hasn't been the only woman killed in the last couple of months." Lee's mind went twenty directions at once as he sank down slowly into a chair. It was happening again. "Did I know any of the women?" There was silence and that gave Lee his answer as he slowly hung up the phone. Amanda stood in the doorway of the vault, gazing at her husband with worry. "I heard your end of the conversation. It's happening again, isn't it?" Lee nodded with a sigh and walked over to her, "Billy suggested that I not bring you with me tonight." "I'm going Lee. You know I won't stay put-I'd be too worried about you-and besides, you and Paul will need some backup-I'll be fine. This mad man is after you, not me-plus, I'm with you." Scarecrow wasn't so sure, but he knew better than to argue with Amanda.
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Paul Barnes stood waiting for them in front of the abandoned warehouse. He looked terrible, but both Lee and Amanda had the good sense to keep their comments to theirselves. "I would normally say that it was nice to see the both of you, but under the circumstances." "I know," Lee replied, "Do you have any ideas?" "Actually, I do. I am fairly certain that Serdyich's brother now goes by the name of." He didn't have time to finish his sentence. Behind him, the condemned warehouse suddenly burst into a ball of flames. The force threw everyone to their knees. Lee grabbed Amanda as they were thrown forward, trying, in vain-it seemed, to protect her from the force of the explosion.
By: CodedMessage
Lee was getting edgy. They knew Tinman's brother was in town, but they didn't have anything to go on. He knew that it was only a matter of time before the inevitable happened. Had this happened even a year before, Lee would not be worried, but now he had someone he loved-yet another person Tinman could have killed. His mind flashed back to many years before-the roses-guns-Dorothy. His thoughts were interrupted by Billy. "Scarecrow, I have some good, and some bad, news." "Good first." "Serdyich is dead. He died yesterday morning in jail. The bad thing is, his brother may now decide to make his move. I think I should put you in a safe house." "No!" Lee said, a little louder and more forcefully than he had meant to. "I can take care of myself-I've done it before." He didn't tell the real reason. Last time, Amanda's windshield had been blow out-this time it could be a lot worse. He had to stay close to her, and he might not be able to do that in a safehouse. "Lee, I'm calling in the Wizard on this one. He might be able to shed some light on this for us." "Billy, Paul Barnes is retired. Don't forget, I thought it was him last time and almost killed him." "I haven't forgotten, Scarecrow. At least we know it's not him this time."
SMK-SMK-SMK-SMK
Paul Barnes arrived a few days later and it was arranged for him to meet Lee that night. Amanda was to tag along also. At three in the afternoon, the phone in Lee's office rang. Amanda was in the vault, so Lee picked it up. "Scarecrow here." "Lee, it's Billy-Paul Barnes' wife is dead. It looks like an apparent suicide. The Wizard is still meeting you tonight, but maybe you shouldn't take Amanda. Paul's wife hasn't been the only woman killed in the last couple of months." Lee's mind went twenty directions at once as he sank down slowly into a chair. It was happening again. "Did I know any of the women?" There was silence and that gave Lee his answer as he slowly hung up the phone. Amanda stood in the doorway of the vault, gazing at her husband with worry. "I heard your end of the conversation. It's happening again, isn't it?" Lee nodded with a sigh and walked over to her, "Billy suggested that I not bring you with me tonight." "I'm going Lee. You know I won't stay put-I'd be too worried about you-and besides, you and Paul will need some backup-I'll be fine. This mad man is after you, not me-plus, I'm with you." Scarecrow wasn't so sure, but he knew better than to argue with Amanda.
SMK-SMK-SMK-SMK
Paul Barnes stood waiting for them in front of the abandoned warehouse. He looked terrible, but both Lee and Amanda had the good sense to keep their comments to theirselves. "I would normally say that it was nice to see the both of you, but under the circumstances." "I know," Lee replied, "Do you have any ideas?" "Actually, I do. I am fairly certain that Serdyich's brother now goes by the name of." He didn't have time to finish his sentence. Behind him, the condemned warehouse suddenly burst into a ball of flames. The force threw everyone to their knees. Lee grabbed Amanda as they were thrown forward, trying, in vain-it seemed, to protect her from the force of the explosion.