Time to Heal Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Lee sat on the edge of the bed watching his daughter sleep. They were in one of the small rooms used by agents for rest when they had to pull an all-nighter. It was decided the family would remain at the agency for the evening and be transported to a safe-house in the morning.
Lee took his hand and pushed back a single curl of Emily's brown hair that had fallen in her face. Dotty had once showed him a picture of Amanda when she was about that age. He marveled at how much she looked like her mother. Clutched protectively in her arms was the stuffed teddy she won at the fair that day. She had been so excited to tell him about her day – the games, the food, the exhibits, and then hide-and-seek with mother and Uncle Dean. To her the day had been full of fun. She was completely unaware of the danger that surrounded her.
He stood to leave the room but paused first to look at Jamie who slept next to Emily. He thought of his conversation with Jamie earlier, all he'd done and heard over the past few weeks. He began to wonder if Jamie was really sleeping or just pretending. He'd become so good at fooling them … so good at lying … so good at spying. He felt partly proud and partly terrified.
"Are the kids alright?" Amanda asked Lee as he exited the room closing the door behind him. She had been standing in the doorway watching them.
"Yeah, they're fine." He placed his hand on her back and gently led her away from the door. "How are you?"
"I keep thinking about Phillip."
"Amanda, we're going to find him."
"We have no idea where they're holding him."
He stopped walking and pulled her into his arms, holding her reassuringly. "I know but we're working on a few leads. Something's going to turn up, I promise."
"There may be a way to get an agent in with Birol," she stated hesitantly.
Lee pulled back and looked at her. "What do you have in mind?"
Amanda took a deep breath before speaking. "We can let Birol capture me."
"WHAT? NO WAY!"
"You heard what he said on the phone. He said 'when he and I are reunited'. Lee, he still plans to come after me; he was practically giving us an angle."
"I DON'T CARE WHAT HE SAID."
"Lee, please keep your voice down," Amanda cautioned trying to calm him fearful he may awaken the kids.
He turned and took a couple of steps away from her trying to get his anger under control. "You're not doing this," he stated finally.
"I just can't stand by and do nothing; not when Phillip's life is on the line."
"You think this isn't killing me. I'm worried about him too, but I'm not going to just hand you over to Birol."
"Lee, it won't be like last time," she pleaded. "I could wear a tracking device and …"
"I said NO!" he yelled. He couldn't believe they we're having this conversation.
"Lee if I were any other agent …"
"But you're not any other agent … You never have been. That's why you were the perfect target for Birol six years ago. I refuse to let him get anywhere near you or anyone else I care about ever again." They both stared silently for a moment. Amanda bowed her head in defeat; aware that there was no way she would win this argument.
Lee moved his right hand alone her cheek and down to her chin lifting her head until she looked at him. When he spoke again his voice was much calmer. "I will find Phillip and I'll make sure he gets home, even if it means trading my life for his."
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"You and Lee aren't coming with us?" Jamie asked his mom watching her kiss Emily goodbye while she lay sleeping in her grandmother's arms. It was nearly 6 a.m. and they were in the agency's garage waiting to leave for the safe house. Lee wanted them to leave early before traffic got too heavy and while there were few prying eyes.
"No honey, we need to stay here and try to see if we could finally put an end to all this mess." The look on her mother's face as she stepped into the backseat of the car with Emily showed her disapproval of the situation.
"Mom, what about Phillip? Wouldn't it be safer if he stayed at the 'safe house' with us this time instead of at the dorm?"
"Well," she began, suddenly feeling a little queasy. She glanced over at Lee. He was busy giving security instructions to the agents assigned to the 'safe house' as well as a little warning about what would happen if they failed to protect his family.
"Mom?"
"Yes, we're working on getting Phillip here," she responded her voice cracking at the end.
"Mom, are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"Are you sure? Maybe I should stay here. I could help look through the film I took from our trip."
"Thanks honey but we already have someone at the agency to do that." She could see that he was still a little hesitant to leave. "Jamie, I talked to Lee. I know that you are aware of some things that happened in the past with Birol … about what happened to me, and I know this may frighten you a little but I want you to know that I'm okay. Once all this is over, I think we need to sit down and talk about it. But right now if you want to help I need you to go with your grandmother and sister to the 'safe house'."
"Okay, I'll go."
"Thank you," she said hugging him.
"Mom, just be careful."
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The day dragged on slowly. At least that's how it seemed to a mother who was worried about her son. None of the leads they thought they had proved productive. The agency had captured Birol's young assistant that Amanda knocked out on the roof of the Exhibit Hall. They questioned him extensively, even threatened him at times, yet he refused to give any information. They had expected Birol to call back with some demands, but he never called. What that could possibly mean caused Amanda to worry more. They worked all night and when morning came, they found themselves no closer to Birol then they had been the day before.
Amanda leaned against the wall in the Bullpen sipping a cup of coffee. Lee had just returned from another interrogation on their prisoner. He had finally managed to break the young man, scare him into cooperating, only to learn that he actually knew nothing at all. He was never privy to the details of their assignment. Looking through the blinds into Lee's office she could see the frustration on his face as he conversed with Billy. Taking another sip of coffee, Amanda glanced at the clock. It was 10 a.m. – Over 36 hours since Phillip's abduction. Time was running out. Why hadn't Birol called? Finishing the last sip of her coffee she discarded the cup into the trash and walked into Lee's office.
"Excuse me Lee … Sir," she stated from inside the doorway.
Lee walked over to the door entrance, "Everything okay?"
"Yes, I'm going up to the Q-Bureau. I need to rest my eyes for a moment?"
"That's a good idea. You've been up all night. I'll come get you when we get something."
Amanda closed the door behind her and walked out of the bullpen toward the elevator speaking to a few agents she passed along the way. She raised her hand to push the button on the elevator than glanced around. Seeing no one was watching her, she turned and continued down the hall. Ten minutes later she entered the elevator, but instead of heading up to the Q-Bureau she headed for the exit. She knew Lee would be angry but she had to do it. Birol wasn't going to call. She knew that now. He wasn't coming to them because he knew she would do what any mother would do. She was coming for her son.
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She arrived home twenty minutes later and quickly made her way up the stairs and into her bedroom. Reaching in the back of her closet, she removed the locked silver box that contained her revolver. She'd never cared much for guns. Over the years she came to accept them as a part of her job. Since she was taken out of the field she hadn't touched it at all, but now, for the sake of her son's life she felt she had to. Placing the revolver in her purse, Amanda headed down the stairs not exactly sure of where she was going. Something Birol had said on the phone about them being reunited made her think of the place where he held her years ago so that's where she was headed first.
Amanda was almost at the door when she stopped and glanced in the family room. A picture on the mantle caught her attention. She placed her purse on the couch inside and walked over for a closer look. She smiled at the memory of the day the family picture was taken. It was their last family barbeque before Phillip left for college. 'This has to work,' she thought. She raised her hand and stroked the silver butterfly pin on her sweater. It was actually a tracking device. She acquired it from the Communications Office before she left the agency. Lee should be happy to learn she took some precautions.
The knock at the door took her by surprise. For a second she thought that it was Lee, that she had miscalculated how long it would take him to discover she had left the agency but then she realized he wouldn't knock at his own house.
"Hello Mrs. Stetson," Debbie Stevens said when Amanda opened the door. She was dressed in one of her very form fitting jogging suits. Amanda wondered if she ever wore anything else. "Is Lee home?" she asked using his first name in that irritating manner.
"Debbie, this really isn't a good time." Amanda tried to close the door but Debbie stopped it with her hand.
"I just want to know if he thought any more about my interview for that documentary."
"I don't know but I'll let him know you stopped by."
Amanda was about to close the door again when the young woman quickly slipped through the door into the house and past her.
"Perhaps I could speak to him myself?" She stood just outside the family room glancing around the house for some sign of where he may be.
"Debbie …" Amanda began walking behind her.
"It won't take long."
Amanda had had enough. "Well, he's not here right now," she turned to walk back towards the door, "so if you'd please excuse me."
"Good! That's all I needed to know," Debbie said in a cold accented voice Amanda had never heard before.
"What …" She turned back to find a 36 mm revolver staring her in the face.
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Francine rushed into Lee's office carrying a fax she'd just pulled off the machine. "I think we have it," she yelled to Lee and Billy with a smile on her face.
"What is it?" Billy asked anxiously.
"The New York office just faxed over the sketch of the man and woman who visited Birol in prison based on the guard's description. Look?" Francine handed Lee the sketch of the woman.
"Debbie Stevens?"
"Who?" Billy asked confused.
"My neighbor, the exercise instructor, although I'm sure that's not her real name. She moved into the neighborhood about six months ago."
"Francine, run a check through the computer and let's see if we can find out who she really is."
"I'm already on it."
"I should have known Birol would use a woman," Lee stated in frustration.
"That's not all." Francine handed them the second picture.
"Oh my god!" Lee stared at the picture in disbelief. "Dr. Craig Sorenson."
"The plastic surgeon they found in the Potomac that tried to contact you?"
"Of course! He met Debbie, or whatever her name is, at that gym - Goldbar. They had an affair, she blackmailed him into working for Birol; he found out what they were up to and tried to warn me so they killed him." Lee slammed his fist on the desk. "Amanda wanted to have that sketch done weeks ago," he yelled, "if we had just listened to her maybe we could have stopped Birol from taking Phillip."
"Lee, right now we need to focus on how we can use this information to find Phillip and get Birol."
Lee took a deep breathe, "Yeah, you're right. Amanda's in the Q-Bureau getting some rest. I need to tell her what we found."
"No Lee, she's not there," Francine stated stopping Lee as he turned to leave.
"What do you mean?"
"I was just there. I wanted to check in with the hospital on Dean's condition so I went there for a little privacy. I was on the phone with them when the fax came in. Amanda wasn't there."
"Then where is she?"
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"Mrs. Stetson … may I call you Amanda?"
Amanda nodded than glanced toward the couch at her purse.
"Amanda, I believe we have a mutual friend who is very anxious to see you again."
"It's been you all this time," she took a slight step closer to the couch. "You moved into this neighborhood to spy on my family for Birol"
"I would apologize for being so deceitful but that is the nature of our business after all."
"Where's my son?"
"Phillip's fine, well at least he was the last time I saw him." She took a step towards Amanda. "If you want to keep it that way I suggest you come with me."
While Debbie was talking, Amanda was slowly inching her hand toward one of the pillows on the couch. Suddenly she grabbed it and flung it at the woman then lunged at her. The two women struggled intensely for control of the gun. Determined not to lose the battle, Debbie pushed Amanda backward while jerking the gun in the other direction. She managed to free herself from Amanda, however, she lost her balance and she and the gun came crashing to the floor. Amanda was about to rush for the gun but realizing Debbie would get to it first, she turned and ran back to the couch for her purse. She had just removed the gun and was about to turn around when she heard the click of Debbie's gun behind her.
"Don't even think about it," Debbie stated between breathes. "Now toss the gun to the side and slowly turn around."
Amanda did as she was told.
"Well Amanda, it seems I underestimated you, but don't try that again. Adi wants you alive. I'll hate to have to disappoint him. Let's go."
There was a black sedan waiting outside her home. Amanda recognized the gentleman driving as the one who shot Dean at the fair. She sat quietly in the backseat of the black sedan thinking about Phillip and whether he was alright. Debbie sat in the front passenger seat.
Though she had been surprised to learn of Debbie connection to Birol, her overall plan had worked – she had been captured. Now all she had to do was find Phillip and wait for Lee to find them, she thought stroking the pin on her sweater
The black sedan slowed as it entered an area with several warehouses and bars. It eventually came to a stop in front of a building Amanda recognized instantly. It was where Birol had out-smarted the agency and kidnapped her. Debbie escorted her from the vehicle and led her inside to a room in the back. When she stepped inside, she saw the bearded man from the fair's Exhibition Hall standing to her left, and then she saw Birol. Her heartbeat began to quicken. It was the first time she had been this close to him since Lee rescued her. She didn't even have to attend the trial. Forever her protector, Lee pulled some favors and she was allowed to testify by video. She knew he would be angry at her for taking this risk but she hoped he understood why she had to.
"Welcome Amanda," Birol stated walking toward her, "I'm pleased you were finally able to join us. We're reunited at last."
Amanda said nothing afraid of revealing how rattled she was at seeing him.
He stood in front of her now. "I hope this occasion is as happy for you as it is for me. You remember Adnan from the other day at the fair." Amanda looked at the bearded man and nodded.
"Leave us," he said addressing his accomplishes.
Adnan left the room immediately but Debbie lingered. She walked over to Birol and kissed him on the cheek. "I'd watch her carefully if I were you. She already tried to escape once." She glared at Amanda then left the room.
"She's really something isn't she?"
"Is that why you sent her to my neighborhood, to befriend my son?"
"Actually, no, I didn't send her after your son at all. That was just a fortunate coincidence for us, one for which you really should blame your husband since he was the intended mark. Our research indicated that she was exactly the type of woman Scarecrow would be interested in, well … at least, before you came along I guess. I can't say I blame him."
Birol leered at her in that way that always made her a bit queasy.
"You know every day for the first year of my imprisonment I expected to see Scarecrow come into my cell and try to kill me for touching his precious Amanda." He circled her slowly as he spoke, an intimidation tactic, at times moving so close he brushed against her hair; his mouth so close that she could feel the warmth of his breathe against her ear and neck. "Then I realized that he didn't know about our night together. That you hadn't told him."
"I guess some moments are more memorable for some than for others."
He stood in front of her now, staring in her face. "Maybe this time, we can create some new memories."
"Where's my son?" Amanda asked firmly refusing to let him rattle her.
"I was hoping we could spend a little more time catching up," he snickered, "but if you insist." He walked past her to the door and left the room."
Amanda exhaled sharply. She hadn't even realized she was holding her breathe. Birol returned a few moments later with Phillip. She saw the look of surprise and relief on his face as she rushed over and hugged him. Birol turned and walked back out the room, leaving them some time to themselves.
"Are you alright?" Amanda asked finally releasing him.
"I'm okay. Mom, what are you doing here?"
"I was looking for you. How'd you get here?"
"Debbie showed up at the university the other day. She said she was in the area and wanted to stop by to see me. She wanted to hangout so I left the campus with her and then the next thing I know I was waking up here. Mom what's going on? Who are these people?"
"Well, let's just say they're not friends?"
"Is he the one you and Lee were worried about?"
"Yes."
"I thought they said he was dead."
"Well, they were wrong."
"What are they going to do to us?"
"Nothing … Phillip, I know you must be a little confused and worried but I want you to know that we will get out of here. Lee is going to find us."
"It's amazing to see how much confidence you have in him." Amanda and Phillip turned to see Birol had returned with the gentleman in the leather jacket. "Always sure that Scarecrow would be there to find you, save you from whatever danger lies in your way. Well, I guess you're right. He won't stop looking until he finds you. Unfortunately, he won't find you here. Sorry, to break up your little reunion so quickly," he stated walking toward them, "but we have a plane to catch."
"Where are we going?"
"I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise by telling you. Before we leave, however, I think I need to make one change to your wardrobe." He walked over to Amanda and yanked the pin from her sweater, ripping it.
Phillip, worried about he was planning to do, jumped at him grabbing his hand. "Don't touch my mother," he threatened.
"Phillip, I'm alright," Amanda stated pulling him back.
Birol stared at Phillip as if amused. "So much like a young Scarecrow. Amanda you must be proud." He held the pin up to Amanda's face. "Did you really think I would believe you would return to that house alone and allow yourself to be captured without any assurance that Scarecrow would be able to find you? You may have fooled the young Debbie with your feign attempt to escape but we both know your goal was to get in here and find your son. Unfortunately for you both, your plan has backfired."
"Okay, Birol you win. Now let my son go."
"What?" Phillip turned in surprise and looked at her.
"You have me now, you don't need him."
"Mom, NO! I won't leave without you."
"I don't know. Perhaps, knowing I'm holding a gun to you son's head will help keep you in line."
"I'll be much more willing to cooperate if I know my son is safe. Let him go and I'll do as you ask."
"You certainly will." Birol raised his hand to Amanda's face and stroke her cheek.
"I said don't touch her," Phillip yelled again angered by Birol's treatment of his mother. He jumped at Birol again this time more forcefully.
"Phillip, NO! PHILLIP!" He heard his mother yell just before the room went black.
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Matt Connelly knocked on Billy's office door once then turned the knob to enter. Billy was on the phone yelling at an agent on security detail for not informing them when Amanda Stetson had left the building. He exhaled sharply. "Excuse me Mr. Melrose I need to speak to you," he stated wondering just how much trouble he was really in.
A weapons and technical expert recruited from the navy, Matt began his career with the Chicago office. He met Lee and Amanda in 1988 when he and his partner were sent to Washington to work with them on an assignment. His partner and Lee had worked together previously and had reprised an old cover leaving him and Amanda to work surveillance. He rather enjoyed this assignment as it gave him a chance to get to know the lovely Mrs. King he had heard so much about.
Despite rumors that Mrs. King was off-limits, which was facilitated by the glaring looks he received from Scarecrow, he decided to make his move at the end of their assignment. He asked her to dinner which she politely rejected. A few weeks after returning to Chicago, he volunteered for a lengthy assignment oversees. Just before his departure, the agency grapevine was abuzz with news that Scarecrow and Mrs. King were secretly married and were expecting a child. 'She's going to regret it,' he had thought at the time aware Scarecrow was not known for his commitment to relationships.
Matt returned to the states the previous year and was assigned to the Washington office as the technical expert following Leatherneck's retirement. Ironically, he had to work with Lee and Amanda on his first assignment. He and Amanda had worked together since and had become friends, although he was certain Lee still didn't care much for him which could prove to be a problem as Lee was now his boss.
He had heard of Birol's escape from prison and the threats on Amanda's family which led to rumors that Amanda was having some sort of breakdown; rumors that were laid to rest when Birol, once again resurfaced and tried to kidnap she and her daughter and had succeeded in kidnapping her son. When Amanda walked into his office earlier that day looking for assistance, he had gladly given her what she wanted – no questions asked. He wanted to help her anyway he could. It wasn't until he had heard that she had left the agency and possibly went after Birol on her on own that he realized his mistake.
"Whatever you need to talk about has to wait," Billy yelled back at him.
Matt swallowed hard before continuing, "I may have some news about Amanda."
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The silver corvette roared to a stop in front of the Stetson home. Lee was out of the car and up to the door before Francine could undo her seatbelt.
"AMANDA," he yelled rushing up the stairs. He quickly glanced around the bedroom and bathroom and was about to leave when he spotted her gun box case lying on the floor. "Amanda" he yelled again quickly checking the other upstairs rooms.
"She's not here," Francine said to Lee as he descended the staircase. Having searched the downstairs she had just left the kitchen and was entering the family room.
"No, but she was here. She took her gun."
Looking toward the corner just inside the family room, Francine spotted the gun. "No … she didn't." Francine picked up the gun and handed it to Lee.
"It's Amanda's," he sighed. They were both startled by the ringing of the phone. Lee picked it up quickly. "Amanda," he answered hopefully.
"No it's me," Billy answered. "I take it that she isn't there."
"No. We found her gun on the floor and it looks like there may have been a small struggle. We think Birol may have taken her."
"Lee, there may be a way to track her down. I have Matt Connelly here with me. It seems Amanda went to see him before she left the agency and convinced him to give her a tracking device."
"He did what?"
"I'm sorry Scarecrow," Matt answered through the speaker, "She said she wanted to use it to help find Birol but I didn't know what she had planned."
"Okay, can we use it to find her?"
"It's transmitting but the signal's very faint. Matt and I are going to head out and she if we could get a better handle on where she is."
"Great, in the meantime Francine and I are going to check Debbie's house. Maybe we could find some clues there.
Lee and Francine quickly made their way down the street towards Debbie's house at the end of the next block. As they entered her yard, Lee signaled to Francine to go around the back. He inched his way toward her front door and had just reached inside his jacket for his gun when he heard someone calling him from behind.
"Mr. Stetson … Mr. Stetson!"
"Mrs. Henley" Lee pushed his gun back in his jacket and moved down to the sidewalk toward her.
"Mr. Stetson where is my interview. You told me your people would contact me and I haven't heard anything from them."
"Mrs. Henley I'm sure there's been some sort of mix-up. We can't do this documentary without your interview. I'll be certain to check on it but right now … I'm a little busy," he stated glancing back at the house.
"She's not there."
"Who isn't there?"
"Debbie! This is her house. She drove off from your house about 30 minutes ago. Your wife was with her."
"You saw them leave," Francine asked walking up behind Lee.
"Yes, I was just coming back from the post office. Mrs. Stetson didn't look too happy but I guess I wouldn't be either if my son was ditching school to get drunk and hang out with some aerobics instructor."
"What are you talking about?"
"Well there's no sense in denying it. I know your oldest son, Phillip, is supposed to be away at school but I saw him with her the other night in the warehouse district near the boulevard, probably coming from some club."
"What makes you think that?"
"He was drunk! His friends had to practically carry him. I think they were going into that gym of hers."
"Now, wait a minute. You said they went into her gym – Goldbar? That's on the other end of town."
"Not that one, the new location. I saw Debbie over there a few weeks ago and asked what she was doing there. She told me it was the new location of the gym she was going to open. She wanted to keep it a secret, as if I would be anxious to tell anyone about that."
Lee and Francine exchanged looks. "Mrs. Henley, exactly where is this building?"
"I told you - the warehouse district. I can't tell you which one, they all look alike. Now, about my interview …. Mr. Stetson," she called out as Lee and Francine ran back down the street toward his car. "Mr. Stetson what about my interview?"
Francine barely had time to close her door before Lee pulled the car away from the curve. He picked up the receiver of his car phone and punched in the number to Billy's agency issued cell phone.
"Melrose …"
"Billy its Lee," he interrupted, "Meet us in the warehouse district. I think that's where Birol's holding Amanda and Phillip."
Lee drove slowly through the area in search of some indication as to which building Birol may be holding them. He was about to make a left turn down one street when Francine yelled out drawing his attention in the other direction. "Of course," he stated recognizing the building.
He parked the car at the side of the building and then moved quietly up to the side entrance. They eased the door open carefully and moved inside. Although there seemed to be no one inside the building now, empty food containers and cigarette buds told them someone had been there. Moving to the back of the building they came upon a closed door. Lee slowly turned the knob, eased the door open and gasped when he stepped inside and saw Phillip lying faced down and motionless in the middle of the floor.
"PHILLIP," Lee yelled out moving quickly to him. Turning him over he noticed a gash on the side of his head that was bleeding. "Phillip!" Lee breathed a sigh of relief when he began to groan and move.
"Lee?" he asked opening his eyes.
"Yes, Phillip it's me. Francine, get an ambulance."
"No, I'm okay. Where's mom?"
Lee glanced at Francine. "We don't know. You're the only one here."
"Lee, we've got to find her," he stated this time more alert. "They have a plane … they're going to take her with them."
"Take it easy," Lee stated as Phillip tried to stand. "Do you know where this plane is leaving from and where it is headed?"
"No, he didn't say."
"Francine we need to find Billy and Matt. We're going to need to get a signal off that tracking device to find her."
"Lee look," Francine called picking up the silver pin from the floor and handing it to Lee, "I don't think that's going to be possible. It's a tracking device, I think its Amanda's."
"He snatched it off of her blouse. He wanted to make sure you wouldn't be able to find us. That's when mom asked him to leave me behind. I didn't like the way he touched her so I jumped at him but someone hit me from behind. Lee," he looked up at his stepfather finally, "how are we going to find her now."
"I don't know but we will," he responded reassuringly wishing he was as confident as he sounded.
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