Chapter 9:

Mid-afternoon - September 24, 1991 - Richmond, VA - Along the I-95.

Turning onto I-64 from I-95, Amanda frowned at the heavy rain beating against her windshield. The Weather Channel's optimistic prediction of a few passing showers for the Virginia beaches and the North Carolina Outer Banks was giving way to something more ominous. The further south she drove, the worse the weather got.

Ejecting the cassette from the tape player, she tuned in the radio to try to catch the latest forecast. To her astonishment, the announcer was directing travelers to the Emergency Broadcast System for weather alerts along the eastern seaboard.

Listening to the radio announcer, Amanda braced herself for bad news. "Tropical Storm Alfredo took an unexpected turn this morning. It is now blowing inland in a northeast path from the Gulf coast, bringing 65 mile per hour winds and heavy rain to the southeastern states. Combining with the low pressure system of stalled thunderstorms along the Carolinas, the weather system threatens the low-lying coastal region and barrier islands with heavy rainfall of six to ten inches. People residing in these areas face torrential rain, flooding, high winds and possible tornadoes. Evacuation is recommended and could change to mandatory at any time. Stay tune for further updates."

Shocked by the report, Amanda kept a careful watch for the next community where she might find a pay phone to call Maude. The death grip she held on the steering wheel made it impossible to drive and think at the same time. Just as she exhaled a calming breath, the dread of every driver became a reality.

Reacting to the sudden red glare of taillights, she touched the brake, only to feel the slippage of the Honda's tires on the road surface. She was helpless as the car skidded sideways, hydroplaning across two lanes of traffic and barely missing a tractor trailer loaded with logs. Sailing erratically over the standing water, the out-of-control vehicle finally jolted to a stop in the middle of the grassy median.

Trembling with alarm, she reminded herself to breathe as she opened her eyes to the conclusion of her wild ride. A tapping on the driver's side window alerted her to help.

"Are you okay, lady?" The broad shoulders on the logger's body were a testimony to the sizable assistance that had arrived.

"Ah, I'm fine, I think. Thank God, I didn't hit anyone." Amanda offered him a feeble smile as she fought to bring her frazzled emotions under control.

"Just hang on, ma'am, and I'll see about getting you back on the road." The strapping, six footer gave her car a mighty push, but with spinning tires, the vehicle only dug itself deeper into the soggy ground.

"I guess we need to call for a tow truck. Don't worry, lady. Your car looks okay. You sit tight until help arrives."

Sighing in frustration, Amanda settled her seat in the reclining position, hoping the break from driving would ease her headache. Closing her eyes, she soon found herself pulled back into time by more unsettling memories.


*****Flashback***** September 24 1987, Maplewood Drive

Amanda paced the perimeter of the family room with her arms folded tightly against her body. It had been almost thirty hours since Lee left their bed, with nothing more than a brush of his lips through her hair as she lay snuggled in his arms. She'd barely been awake when she felt his warmth leave her side. By the time she rolled over and called his name, he was gone. No one else had noted his departure, but there had been all hell to pay when the security team found him missing at daybreak.

The banging of several car doors startled Amanda from her worries. Something was happening, right outside the house. Peering through the sheer curtains of her living room windows, she saw a half-dozen suited agents exiting the standard, motor pool vehicles. In seconds they surrounded the large black limousine that pulled into the driveway.

Joined by her mother and Joe, the trio watched with bated breath as the doors were pulled open. Billy Melrose exited first, keeping his eyes turned toward the inside of the vehicle, waiting for someone to appear from the shadows.

"It's them," Joe shouted. "It's Phillip and Jamie." The family heaved a collective sigh of relief as the blue jean-clad legs of first one son and then the other pushed themselves from the limo. Looking tired and forlorn, the boys politely allowed themselves to be escorted toward the front door.

Resting her head against the cool pane of glass, Amanda said a silent prayer of thanks for the return of her sons, but she added a petition that her husband might still exit the large limo, too. Opening her eyes, she saw Agent Duffy forcefully close the door of the limousine. There was certainly no Lee Stetson present and accounted for in this successful recovery.

Hearing joyous shouts as the boys were greeted by their father and grandmother, Amanda swallowed her personal pain and hurried to receive her sons into her aching arms. Catching their eyes, she saw them release themselves from their dad and run like lost little boys into her familiar embrace.

"Mom, Mom," they cried, not embarrassed by the tears of relief that streak their young faces.

Amanda held them tightly against her slender frame, breathing in the scent of their hair and necks. Rocking them in a triple embrace, she listened as they choked out their anguished words. Pulling back a little, she whispered to the boys. "Tell me, guys, one at a time."

"Mom," Jamie said, finally managing to make himself heard. "Lee saved us."

Phillip nodded in agreement. "He switched himself for us, but we think he's gone. Mom, Lee didn't make it back."

Shaking her head in sadness, Amanda held them closer as the three clung to each other in wordless sorrow. For a few brief moments, their silent tears paid tribute to the man who sacrificed himself to save his family.

"Uh-hum." Billy Melrose made his presence known from the doorway. "Excuse me, Amanda, but we need to talk in private."

Beckoning to her mother to take the boys, Amanda silently offered her boss a chair, while she closed the double doors to the living room. Seating herself on the edge of the sofa cushion, she waited with trepidation to learn the fate of her husband.

Billy ran his finger over the brim of his hat, as if searching for the right words to say. "I'm sorry, Amanda, but as you have certainly observed, Lee didn't return."

"Sir, I've been left totally in the dark about my husband for almost a day and half. Where did he go? How did he get the boys released? Where do you think he is? Is anyone trying to help him?" Amanda searched Billy's face for any shred of evidence. "I'm his wife and partner. I believe I have a need to know."

The agency supervisor lowered his gaze to the floor, nodding his understanding. "Amanda, please, if it were up to me I'd give you total access to all intelligence. Unfortunately, Dr. Smyth has thrown a blanket over the entire case. He even took me out of the loop."

Amanda's whole body trembled with fear and frustration. It was just the scenario she had envisioned. Lee had warned her, before their marriage, that someday one of them might fail to come home for dinner, and the other one would be left trying to figure out what had happened. Talk about self-fulfilling prophecies. "Mr. Melrose, just exactly what can you tell me?"

Billy's dark eyes glistened with his own private pain. The last couple of days had obviously taken a heavy toll on him, too. Taking a breath, he finally met her gaze with a look of profound sorrow. "I wish I had more to give you, Amanda. It's inexcusable, but Dr. Smyth won't let me know Lee's final fate, either."

"Sir, please." Amanda leaned forward and reached to touch his arm. "You must have something you can share with me."

The field supervisor was silent for a long moment. Sighing heavily, he spoke quietly. "Amanda, I wasn't a part of whatever went down. I gather Scarecrow managed to work out an exchange with the Soviets, and he recruited T.P. Aquinas to help him. Obviously, Lee was successful in obtaining release of the boys. Aquinas delivered them to the Agency just after dawn."

"Then T.P. must know what happened to Lee."

"He doesn't, Amanda. He's been debriefed and even took a polygraph test. His involvement didn't go beyond covering Lee's back and escorting Phillip and Jamie to safety. Since T.P. isn't officially associated with the Agency, there are no charges being brought against him. And now that Lee has resigned . . ."

"Lee resigned?"

"Yes, I found his handwritten resignation on my desk, dated September 23rd. I don't know how he got it passed the guards, unless Francine put it there for him. Whatever, she denies it."

"Then, Lee hoped to walk away after the trade. He must still be out there, somewhere."

Billy hesitated, clearly reluctant to say more. Leaning forward, he took Amanda's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before continuing. "Maybe not, Amanda. After the boys made it to safety, gunfire was heard."

"You think, Lee was shot . . . .?" She closed her eyes at the vision of her husband riding into an ambush.

"I don't know, Amanda. Scarecrow may have been shot or may have done the shooting. Whatever happened, the bottom line is clear. Lee's gone, and I don't know if he's dead or alive. Dr. Smyth unofficially labeled him a traitor and sealed his file."

Amanda felt her whole body sag under the weight of despair. Teetering on the precipice of hopelessness, she wiped at the tears that escaped under their own volition. The nightmare showed no signs of ending. All her questions about her husband could go unanswered indefinitely. In truth, Lee may never be coming home again.

Billy eased himself from the chair and quietly moved to the sofa to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Amanda, I promise, if there is any hint of Lee's whereabouts, I will let you know."

"Thank you, sir." Summoning all her courage, Amanda rose to her feet and, with majestic grief, prepared to face her family and the future.

****End of Flashback****


To Be Continued