Lost in thoughts about the kiss he had just shared with Amanda, Lee did not notice the man approaching him while he stood at the bar until he felt the tap on his shoulder. "You are friends with Valdmir Cosak," the man said by way of greeting.

Lee could hardly believe his luck. It was Glaktov's friend from the balcony. Sticking his hand out, he smiled congenially, "Hi. I'm Lee Sampson."

His companion shook Lee's hand introducing himself as Thomas Monk. The two chatted for a few moments, Lee trying to turn the conversation to Glaktov, but Monk was very quiet on the subject. As they talked, Monk moved further away from the bar and the crowd of people and Lee followed.

They had been talking for nearly ten minutes with no luck on Lee getting the man to talk about Glaktov, when he suddenly wondered why Amanda hadn't come back from the ladies' room. He started to excuse himself to look for his partner, when to his surprised Monk said, "Do you know my friend Obed Glaktov?"

Lee's eyes widened slightly in surprise, before he replied, "I've heard of him, although I've never met him in person."

"Oh, well he has heard of you," Monk said as if he were discussing the weather. "In fact, he has asked me to give this to you." At that, Monk passed a piece of paper to Lee, and turning around, disappeared into the crowd.

Shoving the paper into his pocket for the moment, Lee moved towards the restrooms hoping to find Amanda. When he didn't see her, he toured the ballroom, and when he still did not see her, he started to feel alarmed. Had she gotten so upset about the kiss that she had left without him? Straining to stay calm, Lee leaned against a wall, and decided to distract himself from thoughts of Amanda by reading the note from Glaktov.

"Scarecrow,

If you would like to see your lovely partner again, I suggest you go home and await further instruction.

OG"

Nearly instantly, sweat broke out over Lee's forehead. How had they gotten Amanda? And what had they done with her? Taking several deep breaths in an effort to stay calm, Lee moved toward a pay phone. Calling Billy at home, he had still not gotten a hold of his emotions when Jeannie answered.

"Hi, Jeannie," Lee started, struggling to sound calmer than he felt. "Is Billy there?"

Knowing better than to ask any questions, Jeannie passed the phone to her husband. "Lee? Where are you?" Billy asked, alarm already apparent in his voice.

"At the embassy party. They have Amanda, Billy."

Billy let out a long breath, "Who has her?"

"Glaktov. We saw him talking to a man earlier who approached me right after Amanda went to freshen up. He claimed to be Thomas Monk and after we chatted for a few minutes he passed me a note from Glaktov saying that he had Amanda and I should go home if I want to see her again."

There was a moment of silence while Billy pondered the best move, and Lee filled it with rambling, showcasing to his section chief how truly worried he was. "I'm afraid to leave. She could still be here, but now I don't know how many people at this party are working with Glaktov. I'm afraid if I begin snooping around, word will get to him. Billy, we found out today that Glaktov is involved with Donksy."

"Donksy!" Billy screamed.

Sounding completely crestfallen, Lee said, "Yeah, Valdmir Donsky. I wanted to talk to Cosak, but he left for a trip to visit his family in Czechoslovakia yesterday. He told me he'd contact me if he heard anything else, so I can only assume he doesn't know anything."

"Okay," Billy said, "I want you to leave and go home as the note says. I think you're right. If Amanda is still at the embassy, you're unlikely to find her without Glaktov knowing you're coming. And it's unlikely they'll hurt her during the party."

Lee nodded in response, then realizing Billy couldn't see him, he said, "Okay. I'll call you as soon as I hear anything."

Walking out the door towards his car, lost in thoughts about why he was suddenly too afraid for Amanda's safety to take use the reckless tactics that were normally his style, instead of minding Glaktov's instructions, he did not notice Menk watching him, or the man moving towards the phone himself so he could call Glaktov.

**************************************************************************** **

Driving towards home, Lee tried to stay focused, but he couldn't seem to get the image of her eyes, bright and full of laughter, out of his mind. He didn't know what he'd do if they didn't find her. What they'd tell her family. Actually, they would need to tell her family something soon if they didn't find her. Dotty would worry if Amanda didn't come home tonight.

Exiting the elevator, Lee nearly unlocked his door on autopilot. Walking inside, he would have missed the envelope sitting outside his door if he hadn't tripped on it. Ripping it open while he closed his door, he pulled out the piece of paper, dropping something on the floor. The note temporarily forgotten, Lee glanced at the item on the floor. Diamonds glistened at him from the platinum pendant, and bending down, Lee picked it up, holding it in his hand and staring at it nearly reverently. Suddenly feeling short of breath, he moved to the couch. Still holding the heart pendant in his hands tightly, he unfolded the note.

"Scarecrow,

You follow instruction well. I'm impressed. Hopefully, the present I have enclosed will remind you how serious I am. I do have your Mrs. King, and I will not hesitate to kill her if you get in my way. Although I may hold off a little. She is very beautiful woman."

Lee's breath caught, and squeezing his eyes shut he tried not to think about what Glaktov meant by that. Taking several deep, shaky breathes, he turned back to the note in his hand.

"I hope you understand that I could not keep her here in D.C. where so many of your colleagues are available. As you read this, we are on a plane to Kansas. Seems appropriate, doesn't it, Scarecrow? I suggest you make your way to Topeka as quickly as possible. I have taken the liberty of booking you a room at the Quality Inn. You will find further instructions there.

OG"

Continuing to take deep breaths until he was nearly certain he was going to cause himself to hyperventilate, Lee picked up the phone and called Billy. It was late, and Billy answered the phone in gravely voice.

"Sorry to wake you, Billy."

"Lee?" Billy asked, then immediately went on, not needing to hear the response, "Did you hear from Glaktov?"

"He left a note at my apartment telling me to go to Topeka. I'll get another message there."

Billy was suddenly wide awake. "Okay. Let's think this through. Why would he be in Topeka? Maybe it's a trap."

Lee's voice came through the phone laced with a hint of tears, "He said it seemed appropriate to go to Kansas. Billy, Amanda's necklace was with the note."

Even if Billy hadn't know, it would be apparent to him through Lee's voice that he was too close to this case. He hesitated before responding, trying to weigh the intelligence of telling Lee that he was taking him off the case. He decided it wasn't worth it. Glaktov may not deal with another agent, and Lee wouldn't stay put anyway.

"Okay, get yourself on the next flight to Topeka. But call me again before you leave and call again from the airport when you land." Billy said, a noticeably resigned sound to his voice.

"What's being done about the American embassy, Billy?" Lee asked.

Surprised by what seemed to Billy to be a non sequitur, he replied, "They are trying to determine the source of the bomb, but haven't yet. There's actually talk of them shutting the embassy tomorrow. It's unheard of, but may be necessary."

"Can you have someone watch for Amanda? Just in case this is a trick." Lee asked, his voice nearly pleading.

Billy smiled into the phone, "Sure thing. Don't worry, Lee. We'll get her back. I'll call her mother now and tell her Amanda was sent away unexpectedly, and you get yourself to the airport."

**************************************************************************** **

Sitting on a plane bound for Topeka, Kansas, Lee stared straight ahead. He couldn't seem to get his bodily functions under control. His breathing was fast and short, his heart beat erratic, and each time he wiped his brow a fresh layer of sweat would appear. He was considering reciting his mantra the whole plane flight, but couldn't seem to get himself to start. It was a little scary how often lately he'd been in situations where he'd thought of reciting his mantra. He wondered what was wrong with him that he felt the need to clear his head of thought so frequently.

Right now, he was completely and totally focused on how stupid this was. All his instincts were telling him that Amanda was not in Kansas and this was a trap. But he simply didn't have any other options. The FBI was in charge of the search of the American embassy in Paris and while he did not at all feel confident leaving Amanda to their care, without some proof that she was there, his showing up would do nothing but cause friction between the agencies. And if Amanda was there, the last thing he wanted was the FBI to resent Agency personnel. Plus, what if Amanda was in Topeka? He couldn't not go. Even if the chance was small.

He thought of the last time he had seen her, before she had left for the restroom. Her face had been flushed, her eyes shining, but reflecting some disappointment. Was she upset that he had kissed her? Or was she disappointed that he had apologized for doing so? Why had he apologized? Whatever else he might think, it had felt right. More right than anything had felt in a long time.

'I can't let anything happen to her,' Lee thought. 'I can't leave her boys without a mother.… Just keep telling yourself that, Stetson,' his inner voice laughed at him. 'Just keep thinking that this is all about Philip and Jamie and has nothing to do with the way your heart races when she walks into a room, or the way your hand seeks hers whenever you're together. This has nothing to do with the pleasure you get out of holding her in your arms, the way you go home and try to recall exactly what her hair smells like, imagine what it would feel like to press your lips against hers for any real length of time.'

Lee's breath caught in his throat as the thought he had been trying so hard not to have finally came to him in such clarity there was no point denying it. 'This has nothing to do with the fact that you are in love with her.' There, he'd thought it. Rolling the words around in his head, they didn't actually feel nearly as scary as he thought they would. In fact, compared to the thought that he may never see her again, may never get to see her beautiful smile, hear her sweet laugh, or hold her close while the danced, it was a rather comforting thought. He was in love with Amanda King. What was so scary about that anyway? What was so scary about being in love with a beautiful, caring woman who would do nearly anything for him? The more he thought it, the more Lee realized that the only scary thought about it at all was the thought that he may never get a chance to tell her how he felt. And he vowed that if he found her, he wouldn't hesitate. He would take her in his arms, tell her he loved her, and kiss her – no pulling away, no apologies, simply enjoy the sensations.



To Be Continued…