The Amanda Effect

Chapter 2

Lee was thoroughly frustrated that he had been in charge of an operation that resulted in the death of the person he was handpicked to protect.

By now the situation with the traffic had progressed. The police had now deemed it safe to open one lane so at least the traffic could start to flow. A traffic cop was waving cars through to help ease the gridlock. In addition, a tow truck had been dispatched and had hauled the Mercedes off to one side while the coroner collected the bodies of the driver and Varushkin to take to the morgue.

Agent Duncan , the agent in charge, was now coordinating efforts with the police, leaving Lee alone with his own thoughts.

Lee stood glued to his spot, staring at the intersection where the puzzling murders had taken place. He kept replaying in his mind how at the red light, he sat in his car watching the Mercedes in front of him. Everything up to that point followed operational procedures. Then the light had turned green.

What could have happened during those three short minutes at the red light?

It had already been a lousy week, Lee thought, and to end it this way was baffling and disconcerting. And not only that, he knew later he would be bombarded with questions from Internal Affairs. He shook his head; there was no way it could get any worse.

"Lee!"

Somewhere in the depressing fog of his thoughts, above the noisy fray, he could have sworn he heard Amanda's voice.

"LEE!"

The hairs on the back of his head stood up, which could only mean one thing. Amanda was here. Here in the middle of his botched mission.

It just got worse.

Lee turned his head slowly to his left. Through a break in the traffic mess, he saw Amanda walking towards him, a smile seeming to light her entire face. She appeared to be slightly more dressed up than usual . Although she wore her typical sweater over a white blouse, this time she finished her ensemble with a flowing skirt and heels.

Then he berated himself for even noticing what she wore.

When she had reached him at last, his pulse quickened and his throat suddenly became constricted in her presence, which totally surprised him.

"Amanda?" Lee seemed to question her presence even though she was standing directly in front of him.

"Lee, hello, Lee," she still smiled, forever being Amanda.

He hadn't seen her for a week, but he was still surprised at his reaction to her. Instead of feeling aggravated as he thought he would be, her smile made him return one back to her. He actually felt more calm. Her cheeriness was almost contagious. Almost.

It felt so good to be talking to Lee again, Amanda thought. A week seemed so long. Somehow looking at him now, she could swear Lee seemed taller, broader and more attractive than she remembered. There was a moment where they stood staring at one another, long enough for both to have strange feelings in the pits of their stomachs.

Amanda managed to break the gaze first to take note of the street chaos.

"What is going on here?" she questioned, an unexpected scowl appearing on her usual happy face.

As Lee gave an account of what had happened, he saw a myriad of emotions cross her face, from interest, to trepidation, to panic, to terror.

She leaned in, "I'm just glad you're okay," Amanda stated, her eyes wide and sincerity overflowing in her voice.

Lee cleared his throat. He couldn't believe he felt...touched by her concern. Then his face became hard again as he recalled his failure of his mission.

"Didn't you hear what I said, Amanda?" Lee's tone was almost accusing, the initial pleased thoughts upon seeing her now gone, "I blew it! My charge was murdered right under my watch, and dammit! I can't figure out how that happened even though I was witness to it the entire time!"

For once, Amanda knew not to over-talk. She somehow sensed that Lee didn't need words of comfort, at least not yet. She figured the best way to handle this is just to be near him.

"It's tragic, but you'll figure it out," she stated confidently, "You always do."

She did it again. Made his insides soften, cooled his raging emotions. His gaze clung to her, grateful for her caring ways. Lee touched her arm in appreciation, "Thank you, Amanda."

He hadn't meant to, but his fingertips continued running down her arm, as he felt its feminine softness. Amanda always loved how protected she felt at any contact from him. A dizzying warmth spread throughout her body.

Meanwhile chills sprang up on the back of his neck, making Lee withdraw his hand from her arm and awkwardly shoving them in the pockets of his pants . Looking down, he slightly shuffled his feet.

"I...uh..." Lee stumbled, "...soooo...traffic was bad for you, hmm?"

Seeing that Lee was more relaxed now, Amanda gave him a mischievous smile.

"Yes, really bad, Lee. The traffic was so bad that the only way I was able to change lanes was to buy the car next to me."

Amanda was kidding, of course, but it worked, for Lee squeezed out a smile, which helped to dispel the uncomfortable situation. Lee couldn't believe it. Amanda was able to make him think about something else besides his own dilemma.

"So, Amanda, what brings you way out here at this hour?"

"I was actually on my way to the bookstore to get Lady Greenwich's new book personally signed, " she explained as her forehead slightly wrinkled, "until I got snarled in all this traffic, that is."

Amanda didn't need to say anymore. From the time she went undercover as 'Lady Victoria Greenwich', Lee knew Amanda had an affinity for Victorian romance. He didn't understand what held her interest in those kind of books, but he actually found her choice of archaic and virtuous stories refreshing. Whatever her reason for being here, he was grateful for her presence, for making him feel better.

"Well," Lee stated, attempting some lightness, "We can't have you missing something as monumental as a book signing event of Lady Greenwich's latest book, can we?"

Amanda perked up as she then watched Lee turn and signal Agent John Duncan over and introductions were made.

"Agent Duncan," announced Lee after the introductions, "Would you mind escorting Mrs. King to Arlington's finest bookstore and waiting for her there? She has an appointment at that location that she simply cannot miss."

Agent Duncan nodded.

"It would be my pleasure to come to the aid of such a lovely lady," the agent said gallantly "but I must warn you, Mrs. King, it's quite a walk to my car. I parked it two blocks from here."

"I don't mind the walk at all!" Amanda said appreciatively, "Thank you, Agent Duncan."

"Not at all, Mrs. King," he smiled, "AND, to ensure I don't make you late, why don't we put on the sirens and lights so you can arrive there in style?"

Amanda's entire face lit up, as she first looked at the agent, "Really?" and then gushed at Lee, "Oh, Lee, did you hear that? I'll be riding up in style! Thank you for arranging it for me," she then turned back to Agent Duncan, " and thank you so much, too, Agent Duncan!"

With Amanda's smile showering down on him, Lee felt his day suddenly got better.

"Have fun, Amanda," Lee stated cheerily, "just be sure to show me later what special words she wrote in your book!"

Amanda gave an appreciative smile, which was followed up with a solemn look.

"Lee, I just feel so bad about you..."

"Nothing to feel bad about!" Lee forced a smile, "I promise I'll feel better once you get your book signed! "he encouraged her, "Go on, Amanda, go..."

She still looked hesitant, not wanting to leave Lee.

"Come on, Mrs. King," prodded Agent Duncan, "we still have a walk to go to the car..."

"Alright, and thank you, Agent Duncan, " her eyes were dancing merrily as she turned to Lee, "Good bye, Lee, and remember: every goodbye makes the next hello closer."

Yes, it was corny, but Lee couldn't help giving her a gracious nod of his head. Why did he always act so differently with her? Perhaps it was because he appreciated sincerity. Being around her made him say and do unexpected things. The Amanda Effect.

As Lee watched her backside alongside Duncan's, he saw her turn around one time to look back at him and a smile formed on his lips. As she turned back, he shook his head in his usual amazement at Amanda's ability for making him feel so much better than before she had arrived.

.

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Two days later, Amanda was doing her usual dusting around the house. It was one of those days where she did not feel like doing housework. If only the Agency had some work for her to do! She had called a couple of times to find out about Lee, but he always seemed out of the office. Her musings were interrupted with a knock on the door. She went to answer it, glad for the short respite.

Upon opening the door, she gasped as the familiar person spoke.

"Special delivery, Ma'am."

The grinning postman in uniform was Lee Stetson, carrying a prop package, "I saw your mother and boys being picked up by your neighbor," he explained, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Amanda felt both pleased and shocked as she stuck her head out and looked to her neighbors to the left and to the right.

"We shouldn't talk out in the open like this, Lee," she said covertly, "so meet me out back!"

And then as he was about to say something, she slammed the door in his face.

.

Going around in the back, Lee noticed Amanda's backyard was, as always, well maintained with lovely plants and flowers. She was already waiting for him by the time he arrived.

"Lee, why did you show up at my front door this time?" Amanda asked, hands on hips. She tried to look perturbed, but in reality she was still trying to recover from when her heart gave a lurch at seeing him on her front porch.

"And a hello to you, too, Amanda," he said, as both of his index fingers playfully pointed at his outfit, "I thought you'd be impressed with a man in uniform."

"You thought the same thing when you dressed up as a pirate, and it didn't work that time, either!" she teased.

He laughed at that long ago memory. And despite dreading the news he was about to deliver, he was once more enjoying her company. At last his face grew solemn again as he looked at her in earnest.

Did I catch you at a good time?" he asked.

"Oh yes!" she nodded happily," I was just doing some dusting, but really, it's awfully boring. I was even thinking that maybe I won't dust... Let the furniture get dusty! I said to myself, and if a guest visiting complains about the dust, why, I'll just make up the excuse that this dust is a protective coating for my furniture..."

Lee grinned, looks like Amanda was in full Amanda mode, he thought, to himself.

But he needed to tell her important, "A-man-da..."

"Oh, I'm rambling again, aren't I?" said Amanda, her voice lowered as she ended quickly with, " ...hello, and it's nice to see you again, too, Lee."

A little warmth spread throughout his body at her words. Despite his slight impatience with her ramblings, he hadn't realized that how much he missed not seeing her for a week. She was able to catch her off guard more times than any other enemy agent.

"Anyway, Amanda, we're getting off the topic about why I'm here," Lee said, trying to bring the conversation around.

"I do realize that, Lee," she responded, knowing Lee hated sentimentality of any kind, "I guess I'm overtalking because I'm trying to delay the inevitable. I know whatever reason for this call, it's going to be bad news, so I'll keep quiet," she promised. Her hand came up to 'zip' her mouth and she became very quiet.

He had to work at not smiling at her impish act, "How did you know I was here to deliver bad news?" he wondered.

She leaned slightly in, as if she were revealing a secret, "Because I know you." she declared.

Her words not only surprised him, it truthfully alarmed him. Wasn't the spy business all about keeping secrets and he was considered one of the best because others were unable to read him? Well, he would think about that implication later. Right now, it was Amanda he was worried about.

Lee gave out a calming breath and Amanda braced herself.

"Amanda," he asked, "do you remember the other day meeting Agent John Duncan?"

She nodded, relieved to have an answer for him, "Of course, Lee! He's the nice man who drove me to the book signing! That was so very kind of h-" Amanda stopped herself, knowing she was supposed to be listening, "Uh...Agent Duncan is alright, isn't he?" she asked, concerned.

"No, Amanda, I'm afraid not."

Her heart constricted with a knot of trepidation as her eyes became round.

"Lee, don't tell me..."

His eyes were filled with anguish.

" Amanda...he's dead," Lee wanted to get it over with so he did not mince words, "Agent Duncan was found murdered."

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