Brinkman Blues

Chapter 2

Amanda was currently at the D.C. police station in the chief's office waiting for Lee to arrive as she knew that's who would be sent after the chief explained that he spoke to someone about the situation that she'd been found in by one of his officers.

She knew from experience that he meant that Billy had been informed and he in turn had called Lee to go get her as she was his partner. In other words, she was his problem to deal with!

The chief looked at Amanda and said, "Mrs. King you're not being arrested, but you must help me to understand why you felt the need to go traipsing around that area at this ungodly hour of the morning? Was that dead woman your "cousin? "

Just then there was a knock at the door. Officer Paul came in with Lee right behind him. Amanda looked fearfully at Lee's face but was surprised when he didn't appear to be angry at all. In fact, she had a hard time reading his expression at all which worried her more.

Lee shook the chief's hand saying, "Lee Stetson, Chief Randall. Is Mrs. King in any trouble with you at all or may I take her home now? "

The chief shrugged. "Not at all, Mr. Stetson. But as I explained to your boss William Melrose, she was found wandering around the construction area and told Officer Paul here that she was looking for someone. Now, is there a connection between her and the deceased? "

Lee sighed and said, "It ties in with a case we worked on recently. Mr. Melrose sends his regrets for the trouble and will contact you soon with the information you'll need for the morgue. "

Chief Randall nodded and said, "All right. Thank you. Mrs. King, You're free to go. "

Lee led her out after she apologized for the trouble she caused them. As they got to the parking lot, Amanda looked around and said, "Did they bring my car here? I can take myself home now. "

Lee chuckled sardonically. "Oh, really? Well, that would be awfully hard to do at this moment since it's at the impound lot-! "

Amanda was floored! "Why? I told them I hadn't done anything wrong! "

Lee said, "You go out in the middle of the night to a dangerous part of town and trespass on private property and get caught and you think you've done nothing wrong?! "

Amanda was about to respond when Lee put up a hand and said, " They didn't arrest you which made Billy very happy! However, now we have another mess because you decided to go looking for a woman who I told you was dead! Why? Just clue me in a little as to what was in that stupid head of yours that made me suddenly untrustworthy to you all of a sudden, huh?! "

Amanda gulped as tears came to her eyes and said softly, " I trust you but my nightmare had me convinced that she was still alive, Lee! Have you ever had your home broken into? It's the worst kind of violation outside of rape that you can imagine! It's going to take a while before I can truly feel safe again in that house! She destroyed it with cigarette smoke and she went through my mail and you should have seen all the liquor bottles! I just thank God that my family wasn't harmed by her at all! If you had a family, you'd understand what I'm going through right now! "

Lee swallowed hard. Aw hell! Why did he go off on her like that?! He sighed and took her hand and said, "I-I'm sorry. Really. If it wasn't for me, you'd be safe today and every day. But why didn't you at least trust me with this-? "

Amanda shot him an angry look! "Oh, like you trusted me during the Spiderweb case?! Oh that's rich, Lee! You were ready to search my house-! "

Lee yelled, "I was ordered to by Billy! How many times to I have to explain that?! Besides, I've apologized about that already dozens of times! "

He then crossed his arms over his chest as Amanda pulled her hand away from him and she said, "So. What happens now? "

Lee cleared his throat and sighed saying, "Well, we have an important stop to make before I take you home. Then in the morning, I'll pick you up at your house and we'll go get your car and then we're going to the office where Billy will talk to you and decide whether you need to see Pfaff-."

Amanda said angrily, "Whatever for?! I'm perfectly sane, Lee! Considering everything I've been through since meeting you people that is! "

Lee gestured to the car. "Let's go, huh? "

Amanda got in the car fuming! How dare they treat her like a common criminal! She said crisply to Lee, "Where are we going if I may ask? "

Lee started the car and pulled out of the parking lot saying, "Someplace I should have brought you when the case was finished to really have it be over with!"

Amanda knew of only one place that could be! Chief Randall mentioned the morgue! She gulped saying, "L-Lee, that's all right! We-We don't have to go to that awful place! I believe you. Really. Please just take me home now, huh? "

Lee shook his head angrily and said, "No! Until you see Karen with your own eyes, we're not gonna get past this! "

TBC