Residue Part 2

Chapter 3

After his phone conversation with Francine that afternoon Lee bought a few groceries he was in need of at his place and thought he should then call Amanda.

Looking at the time he guessed she had gotten the boys from school and would be home by now.

He dialed and waited while in the supermarket parking lot.

A voice answered, "Hello?"

Lee was about to respond to Amanda, but then realized it was Dotty.

He replied, "Mrs. West? Hello. It's Lee Stetson calling. May I please speak to Amanda if she's there?"

He heard her sigh deeply and respond, "I'm sorry, Mr. Stetson. She's gone to pick the boys up from their ball practice...I'll tell her you called."

Lee nodded and commented, "I see. Well, thank you. Just tell her to please call me back at the office. I'll be in a meeting shortly, but-"

Dotty cut him off suddenly by remarking, "While I have you on the phone Young Man, I feel we should talk about the incident where my daughter ran off with you recently. Now, Amanda doesn't just take off. You must have talked her into helping you some way. From what I gather from that Mr. Melrose that was here, it was an extremely dangerous situation that you put her in! She could've been killed, Mr. Stetson! Do you realize how frightened her sons and I were?! Not to mention her ex-husband, who happens to be the boys father! How dare you and those people use her that way-"

Lee was beginning to get a headache as she droned on endlessly and pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers stopped her by answering sharply, "Mrs. West, please! I'm not allowed to discuss any government matters! You see, we work for IFF which is run by the government. There are matters of national security that they deal with every day and for the safety of the public, cannot be disclosed! Now, you'll have to excuse me. I've got a meeting to get to. Goodbye."

He hung up and with a fist pounded his steering wheel growling,"Can this day get any better?!"

Deciding to head home with his groceries he dialed Billy stating when the man answered, " It's me, Lee. I've got to take care of some things at home, but I'll be there soon."

Billy nodded and swallowing commented, "All right. And Lee?'

Lee answered, "Yeah?"

Billy responded calmly, "Look. Whatever this is about Son, I'm sure we can work it out hmm? You're a damn fine agent. And the last person I ever want Amanda King working with is Fred Fielder! And after talking to Dr. Smyth a while, he also agrees he was a bit too hasty in making that decision...See you soon."

With a light smile creeping across his face Lee replied chuckling, "All right...Thanks, Billy. Bye."

Hanging up he started his car and as he pulled out of the parking lot he grumbled shaking his head, "Fred Fielder? Gimme a break!"

Later as Lee made his way back to the Agency Amanda had come into the house with the boys who were arguing about a missed play during practice.

Phillip shook his head remarking to Jamie angrily, "If you just tapped Rick, you woulda had him out! That's what Coach Tyler was trying to tell you, Doofus!"

Jamie retorted tersely, "Well, if someone had slid into the base when they were supposed to-"

Amanda put a hand between them when it looked like they were about to strike one another and yelled, "Okay, Guys! No more arguing. Go upstairs and change and then come back down and get started on your homework! Move it!"

The boys muttered on their way up with Dotty answering to Amanda, "How did they do?"

Amanda shrugged responding, "It was a missed play because a pop fly got by Jamie. But it's all right. That's what practice is for anyway, right?"

Dotty nodded and remarked," Right. By the way, your Mr. Stetson called and asked if you'd call him back. He was off to a meeting but said you could reach him at the office..."

Amanda groaned commenting, "Oh, Mother. He's not "my" Mr. Stetson. I work with the man, okay?"

Dotty narrowed her eyes at her daughter and replied crisply, "Yes, so you've told me. Anyway, while I was on the phone with him he and I had a very nice chat of sorts-"

Amanda sighed querying, "All right. What, if I may ask was it about?"

Dotty stated, "Your running off with him, basically...Oh and about Mr. Melrose, too. And..."

Amanda rolled her eyes as her mother went on about how things were done abnormally by IFF and that Amanda should tell her boss that changes should be made regarding employees and their schedules, seeing as how Amanda wasn't home enough and they didn't allow for much personal time, etc...

It was then that Amanda wished she were anywhere else but there at that moment...

TBC