Chapter 10 - Picking Up a Tail

Lee and Amanda checked out of the hotel and walked across the parking lot to the RV. Amanda noticed that Lee was limping a lot again. When she questioned him about it, he claimed that he just slept on his leg wrong but he did relent and agreed to let her drive. He made himself comfortable in the co-pilot chair and unfolded the map so he could see their route. As Amanda started out, they both realized what a beautiful day it was. The weather was very comfortable and the sky was full of beautiful clouds. The clouds made Amanda think of Dean and her thoughts again turned to where she wanted this relationship to go. Lee interrupted those thoughts by telling her that they would be in Amarillo, TX in time to have lunch there. He had always heard that Texas had the best steaks and he couldn't wait to sink his teeth into one. Amanda laughed and said that it helped that the Government would be picking up the tab. Lee gave her a scorning type look and then laughed with her. They spent the morning drive talking about different things while trying to keep the conversation light between them.

Amanda said "I haven't gone skiing in years but I used to love to go. Once the boys were born, I just never seemed to have the time. I love to camp and fish of course. I try to volunteer whenever the Boy Scouts are going on one of their hiking/camping trips because I do love going. I love that the boys get to experience all the beauty of nature and learn to appreciate it. What about you Lee?"

"I don't know. I never have much time for fun. I do love skiing and have skied in the Alps. I also don't mind running as it is good exercise. I don't think I have ever gone camping so I don't know if I would like it or not."

"Your parents never took you camping?"

"Amanda, that's a subject that I'm not ready to talk with you about, okay?"

Amanda noticed that he had his jaw set like he did when he is determined to have the last word so she dropped it for now and quickly changed the subject.

"How difficult do you think it is going to be to blow up this town that we are going to?"

"I'm not sure. It is supposed to look like a real town though so I'm sure there will be your standard buildings like the Post Office, a bank, a grocery store, Hardware store, etc. I don't think it will take too long to finish our mission and then you can fly home. Is that why you were wondering?"

"That's part of it. I also can't help but wonder what happened to Janet and I might rent a car and come back this way and see if I can find her. I could always drive us back instead of flying back myself."

Lee rolled his eyes and shook his head. That was Amanda, always worried about others instead of worrying about herself. At that moment, he happened to look in his rearview mirror and noticed a blue sedan traveling fairly close to the Bus. As they continued down the road, Lee continued to watch and noticed that the car was glued to them.

"Amanda, do me a favor and take the next exit" Lee said.

"Is there a problem?"

"There might be. I think we are being tailed."

"Is it the Agency?"

"No, Billy would have told me last night when I checked in. The fake bus had headed out just before we did and he felt sure this one was safe. That is why he sent the guards with the other one so that it would look legit and make this one look like it was the fake one."

"Who do you think it is then?"

"I'm not sure Amanda. Just keep driving."

"Okay, I am. I am." Amanda took the next exit off and took a right off the exit. The sedan followed right behind. Lee then instructed Amanda to take several turns and each time the car continued to follow them. He finally directed her back on the highway because it was likely safer than being in these small towns. They were definitely being tailed. Lee had Amanda continue driving until they got to Amarillo and then they picked a steakhouse and pulled off in the parking lot. Lee told Amanda to get out and call Billy while he kept an eye on the Bus. Amanda got out and began walking across the parking lot. Lee noticed that the man in the Sedan stayed in the car.

Amanda entered the restaurant and allowed her eyes to adjust to the dim lights. She then spotted a payphone in corner and went over to it. She called collect and told the agency switchboard who she was and that it was important that she speak to Billy immediately. They soon patched her to Billy's office and she told him about where they were and about the blue Sedan. Billy told her to tell Lee to sit tight and he would alert the Police Department.

Meanwhile, Lee sat in the bus waiting to see what this guy was going to do. He didn't have long to wait as the guy ambled up and knocked on the door. Lee pulled out his gun and asked "What do you want?"

"I just want to talk. You have something of mine and I want it back."

"Look Pal, I don't know who you are but I don't have anything of yours. Now why don't you do us both a favor and get back in your car and drive away?"

"Oh I can't do that until I get her back."

"Her? Amanda? Is this Dean?"

"Huh? No, I'm talking about Janet."

Lee was even more confused than before. "Janet? I don't know anyone named Janet."

"Oh stop lying. I saw your wife with her in the restaurant last night. I'm sure she was telling you her sob stories but trust me, she isn't worth getting killed over. Now let me in and let me collect my trash."

"Pal, the only trash I see is you. Now please get away from this RV and go about your business."

At that moment, a gun went off several times outside and Lee could tell that he was trying to get the door open by shooting at it. He could only hope that Amanda noticed what was going on and stayed inside the Restaurant. It was not to be though since at that moment, she came back outside. The RV had been parked so Amanda couldn't see the man standing by the door until it was too late and found herself with the man's arm wrapped around her neck and gun pointed at her head.

"Okay Mister, you have something of mine and now I have something of yours."

Lee's heart sank as he realized that this bad man had just grabbed Amanda. "What do you want? I don't know any Janet."

Amanda heard the name Janet and said "Are you Roy?"

"Well yes I am. Did Janet tell you all about her loving boyfriend? Well it appears that she got your soft heart to let her hitch a ride with you. That was very sweet but now I want her back."

"Roy, she's not with us. I haven't seen her since we saw each other in the Restaurant last night."

"Well I know for a fact she is on this bus." Roy raised his voice so that Lee could hear him. "You better open this door if you expect to see your wife alive again."

Lee realized that he had no choice and unlocked the door and let Roy in. As he pushed Amanda ahead of him so he could make sure Lee didn't try to shoot him, he noticed right away all the computer equipment in the RV.

"Wow, would you look at this. This is one of those Government vehicles isn't it? What does it do?"

No one answered him so he asked again and said that the lady would pay if he didn't get an answer.

Amanda said "This is my boyfriend's vehicle. He is part of the weather bureau and this is an experimentation vehicle for predicting the weather."

"Boyfriend? Isn't he your husband?"

Amanda gulped when she realized that their cover was of man and wife. Lee tried to distract him by acting angry and saying "Wait a minute; that is your boyfriend? I thought he was just an old school chum? Are you cheating on me?"

"Nice try Hot Shot," Roy said to Lee. "Why don't you have a seat over there and be quiet." Roy pointed to the passenger seat.

Lee sat down and tried to figure out a way out of this mess. If he could delay long enough, Billy might be able to get them help. Hopefully Amanda was able to contact him. A few moments later, 2 squad cars pulled up and blocked the bus in. Roy looked out and saw that he was going to end up with company and said "Oh, look, the little lady called the cops on me huh?"

Amanda said "Yes I did so you better turn yourself in."

Roy looked at her and grabbed her again around the neck while pointing the gun at her and then opened the front door so that the cops could see that he had her hostage. "Now officers, I'm sure you can see that there seems to be a misunderstanding. Me and the Pretty Lady are going to go for a nice drive and you are going to let us unless you want to see some brains get splattered all over this RV."

This was more than they expected so they quickly got back into their vehicles and moved them so that the RV could leave. The Sargent got on the radio and alerted the Agency what they had just witnessed. Billy was immediately tracked down and told the Sargent to let them go but to follow them at a safe distance. In the meantime, he would send a team out from the Arizona office to try to stop them.

Amanda looked at Roy and said "Janet told me you were a law enforcement officer. Is this the way you behave in your job?"

Roy laughed and said "I also told her that I had a huge bank account, a great paying job and would take care of her for life. She was such an easy target. I was just going to steal her blind and leave her but she was so pretty that I thought maybe we could have some fun together, if you know what I mean. I didn't expect her to run away from me. It's okay because I have you now."

As Roy pushed Amanda into the driver's seat and told her to start the RV moving; Lee quietly grumbled "So much for my Texas steak."

TBC