CHAPTER 10
Cursing the traffic as they drove toward their destination, Lee reached for the car phone to contact their people at the archives. Amanda's fingernails dug into her palms as the Corvette slid around a corner.
"Lee, let me make the call and you concentrate on getting us there in one piece," she said, calmly taking the phone from him. To her surprise, he did not protest. When the call went through, she talked to Fred Fielder, who reported that the bomb crew had just arrived and was ready to move into place. The exhibit area had been cleared of tourists a few minutes earlier.
The exhibits were accessed via the rotunda entrance on Constitution Avenue. This was where the mock explosion would take place. As the car approached the area, Lee and Amanda heard a noise resembling a sonic boom and realized the 'explosion' had just occurred. Pulling into the private drive behind the building, Lee once again reached for the phone and called for an agent to meet them. Mere seconds later, a figure materialized from the shadows and approached the car. It was Don Cheever, a young agent who had been part of the first team sent out that morning.
"Mr. Stetson? Agent Fielder said you needed help," the young man said.
"What's our status, Don?" Lee asked as he helped Amanda from the car. "Any reports yet?"
Shaking his head, Cheever shrugged. "Nothing to report so far. You can barely walk ten paces without crossing one of our people or an FBI agent. It's set up just like you ordered this morning, sir. Most of them are undercover as tourists, we've got a couple of cab drivers cruising, but you know the problem with this area as well as anyone."
Lee and Amanda exchanged a meaningful glance. This was something they had discussed earlier when going over the blueprints. The area did not exactly offer a plethora of hiding places. There were no abandoned buildings or dark alleys to offer easy cover. The Justice Department and FBI were just a stone's throw away, as were the museums of the Smithsonian.
The wail of approaching sirens could be heard in the distance as emergency crews headed their way. The window of opportunity would not remain open long.
"I don't guess you could be persuaded to wait in the car?" Lee asked Amanda with little hope.
She crossed her arms in front of her, an incredulous expression on her face. "Not a chance."
"I didn't think so. Well, come on." He took her by the arm. "We'll do better on foot. We've got to put ourselves in Donati's place. What do you think?"
"A car? The Metro station?" Amanda offered doubtfully. "The Sculpture Garden of the National Gallery would be a great vantage point to watch."
"Maybe too good. He'd be pretty open there. There's just no place to really hide and observe. That could work to our advantage."
They rounded the corner and looked up at the imposing edifice of the National Archives. There was frantic activity at the Rotunda entrance as people were herded out of the building. As they watched, a fire truck pulled up, closely followed by an ambulance and a second fire truck. Paramedics and firemen rushed up the steps amid the shouts of the people exiting. Had they not known otherwise, Lee and Amanda would have been convinced that a disaster had truly occurred.
"Let's cross over," Lee said, motioning to indicate the other side of the street. "If I were watching the action, that would be a better vantage point."
They crossed and began to walk toward 7th Street, looking back toward the Archives as police cars screeched to the curb. They tried to appear interested in the action as any spectators would be, pausing to gawk with other passers by. A policeman moved to re-route the traffic from around the Constitution Avenue entrance. Continuing to walk and search for anything that might seem suspicious, Lee and Amanda moved down 7th toward Pennsylvania Avenue and the Metro station. Scanning the area, they spotted two agents -- one at a newsstand, another posing as a cab driver.
"We'd be a little out of place in the Metro station, don't you think?" Amanda asked, gesturing at their formal attire.
"Yeah, you're probably right," Lee said, displaying a wry grin. "Formal wear isn't exactly inappropriate around here this time of the evening, but we might stick out like sore thumbs in the Metro. Let's cross to the Research Entrance."
On Pennsylvania Avenue was the entrance used for the research facilities at the Archives. Normally, this part of the building stayed open later than the exhibit area, but because of the emergency situation, everyone was being evacuated from the building. They joined the flow and found themselves headed back toward Constitution.
Amanda suddenly squeezed her companion's arm. "Lee! Look across there -- that limousine."
Slowing their pace, Lee looked to where she indicated. As the car drew nearer, the government license plates became visible, and he let out a breath, shaking his head. "Not that one, but you may be on the right track."
By now, quite a crowd had gathered with everyone clamoring to know what was going on. Comments about 'an explosion' rippled through the spectators. Police had cordoned off the walkway leading to the Rotunda Entrance, and the people were craning to see what was going on. Spotting Don Cheever again, Lee maneuvered in his direction.
"Anything?" he asked the young man.
Before he could answer, there was a buzz of static from the radio the other agent held. Lee and Amanda could not hear the transmission for all the noise around them, and watched anxiously as Cheever's eyes widened.
"What? What'd they say?" Lee demanded.
"A man matching the description of Alberto Danati was just spotted leaving a car in the next block of Constitution. The suspect's on foot headed this way. We've got a tail on him."
Without a word, Lee turned to head in the direction from which the suspect was coming. Amanda had to run a step or two to catch up with him, and she grabbed his arm.
They were searching … searching each face in the crowd that milled around the barricaded area, watching each figure that approached in the twilight. Where was he? Where was Donati? Amanda could feel the tension rising in Lee.
A television news crew had arrived, and a reporter was interviewing a fire fighter who said it was "too early to know the extent of the damage" in the National Archives. The crowd of onlookers had grown, and Lee desperately pushed through, determined to find the man he was seeking.
Amanda heard his sharp intake of breath and nearly stumbled as Lee came to a sudden halt, eyes fixed on a figure approaching from about forty feet away. She followed his line of sight and felt a shiver of apprehension run through her. It was almost completely dark now, and Lee had steered her into the shadows, but the streetlights provided enough illumination of the crowd for Amanda to recognize the man who had haunted Lee's dreams.
Had they not been specifically looking for him, Donati would have blended in perfectly with the throng. He was dressed conservatively, with a dark overcoat, suitable for the winter evening, topping his street clothes. His demeanor matched that of the other onlookers, giving the impression of interest tinged with concern about what might be happening.
"Lee," Amanda said softly, gently shaking his arm. His eyes remained fixed on Donati. "Lee, we can't just stand here!"
Coming out from the trance-like state that had enveloped him, Lee looked down at her. "This way," he motioned. "Let's go around until we're behind him. Don't take your eyes off of him."
Slowly, they eased their way back through the crowd, circling around. They were within ten feet of him, slightly behind him and to his right when a spectator standing next to Donati dropped a shopping bag and jostled him in the process of retrieving it. The action caused him to turn slightly, and looking in their direction he suddenly locked eyes with Lee Stetson. Recognition flickered briefly across the face of their quarry, and a faint smile appeared. Both men were motionless for a moment, then Donati slowly began to edge his way back through the crowd. Another noisy TV crew chose that moment to arrive, scattering the onlookers as they pulled their news van up to the barricade. In the ensuing confusion, Donati was lost from view. They had been so close!
"Why didn't I get a radio?" Lee groaned in frustration. "Maybe the agent who was on his tail still has him in sight." Grabbing once again for Amanda's hand, he pushed through the throng. "Come on, Donati," he said through clenched teeth. "Where are you?"
Breaking through the edge of the crowd, they scanned the vicinity.
"There!" Amanda suddenly cried out, pointing to a dark-clad figure vanishing up 7th Street toward the National Gallery of Art.
Due to the blockade in front of the National Archives, the evening traffic on the surrounding streets was more congested than usual. Threading their way through the cars, Lee and Amanda crossed the street to keep their man in sight.
The temperature had been dropping steadily, and Amanda shivered as she hurried along. A few snow flurries drifted down in the evening sky, and she found herself wondering incongruously if they were in for a winter storm.
"He made a mistake!" Lee said softly, and Amanda could hear the note of triumph in his voice. "There was no way he could get close enough to the action by car, and he couldn't resist the temptation! He's bound to have a car waiting for him someplace nearby. We can't lose him, Amanda!"
Shivering again, Amanda glanced behind her apprehensively. "Lee, what about backup? Where's the agent who was tailing him in the first place?"
Patting her arm, Lee tried to reassure her. "You heard what Cheever said. There are agents all around here."
As they continued their trek, freezing rain joined the wisps of snow circling around them. Amanda pulled the collar of her coat up higher, wishing she had on something other than high heels and an evening gown. The pavement was becoming slippery, and she had to steady herself more than once on Lee's arm.
"Damn!"
Lee's quiet exclamation brought Amanda's attention from her feet back up to the street before them. They had come to the Mall side of the National Gallery of Art, and suddenly Donati was nowhere in sight. Before them lay the broad expanse of the Mall.
"He's cutting through here," Lee motioned to the front of the Gallery. "There's nowhere else he could be. He's taking cover where the building juts out. My best guess would be that he has a car waiting for him on 3rd or 4th. That would make for an easy getaway." Lee shook his head, and muttered again his wish for a radio.
They proceeded slowly along the front of the building. When they came to an area where a portion of the building jutted out, Lee carefully peered around the corner. As he straightened to look ahead again, a dark figure could be seen at the far end of the building passing by a security light.
"Amanda," Lee grasped both of her hands in his, turning her to face him, "I need you to call for backup. He's headed across 4th Street. I'm going after him. I can't let him get away."
He was right, and she knew it. It was foolish to proceed without backup, and there was no way he could let Donati slip through their fingers.
Stoically she nodded. "You be careful!" she cautioned.
"You be careful!" he said in return, then, without further hesitation, he was off down the drive.
Amanda watched for a moment, saying a silent prayer that he would be all right. Now she had to get to a phone. The National Gallery loomed beside her and she knew that although the building was closed to visitors, she could find a security guard and make her call from there. She turned to go back toward the entrance and rummaged in her evening bag for her Agency credentials which might give her quicker access to the telephone. Forgetting the slick pavement, she felt one foot slip out from beneath her.
A pair of strong arms caught her, and she breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank you!" she began, breathless from the near fall. "It's getting so slick out here and I have on these silly high heels --"
Her voice faded as she realized her rescuer had tightened his grip on her arms. Looking up, she couldn't stop the gasp of panic that escaped her. The name was lost to her, but the brooding face that looked down at her was one she had seen numerous times over the last few days in the files on Red February.
"Uh, thank you so much," she began again. "I really must be going. My husband is waiting around the corner for me."
"I don't think so." The heavily accented English caused her to think of Calvin Burkhalter's description of his contact. Her captor let go of one arm so that he could grab the purse and credentials from her hands.
"Well, yes … I mean, he's waiting, and I really have to -- Please, may I have my bag?"
"We both know the man in question just went that way," he gestured toward the cross street, "and we're going to follow … um," he glanced down at the ID he held and turned it so the streetlight shone on it, "Amanda King."
Her captor pulled a gun from beneath his jacket, and Amanda willed herself to remain calm. If she screamed for help, Lee would immediately come, she knew. But then the opportunity to catch Donati would be lost. Besides, she thought, sneaking another glimpse at the man looming over her, this guy would have no compunctions about using his weapon. No, she decided, she would have to go along with him for now.
Half dragging her, the gun pressed uncomfortably against her side, the man hurried them along the path that Donati and Lee had taken a short time before.
~~~~~
Lee reached the 4th Street side of the building and cautiously looked around the corner to see if Donati was in sight. He saw no one, only a few cars parked nearby which appeared to be empty. Emerging onto the street, he turned a slow circle trying to sense which direction the man might have taken. Deciding at last to head across the street toward the East Building of the Gallery, he paused to extract his weapon from the holster beneath his jacket.
There were few pedestrians tonight. Apparently those who were willing to brave the icy weather on foot had been drawn to the commotion at the National Archives.
The backup would most likely arrive from the direction of the Archives, so if Donati had headed back that direction, they could cut him off. Lee allowed himself a brief thought for Amanda. He hated to leave her alone, but he felt there was no alternative. Surely she was safer calling for backup than she would be here with him.
As he approached 3rd Street, Lee rounded the corner to head back toward Pennsylvania Avenue. There were parked cars on the street and Lee slowed his pace, carefully checking for occupants. No one there. Nevertheless, he felt the hair on the back of his neck begin to rise and sensed rather than saw the presence to his left. Whirling around, gun drawn, Lee felt his heart begin to race.
A chuckle came from the shadows of the building. "Very good instincts! So, we meet again, Lee Stetson." Alberto Donati emerged from the shadows.
As a gentle snow fell around them, beads of sweat began to form on Lee's forehead. He still held the gun out in front of him, and focused all his energy on holding it steady.
"Donati," he said at last.
"You've changed, Lee. Or should I call you 'Agent Stetson', hmm?" Donati stepped closer. "Yes you are definitely much older, although I suspect you were older than you appeared six years ago. I commend you on playing the role of the playboy student so well." Shaking his head, Donati sighed. "How foolish of me to have been so careless! Imagine my surprise to learn that you were the one who caused me all that trouble."
Lee struggled against the encroaching images at the corners of his mind … Donati with Carla … Birol with Amanda … He gave his head a shake trying to clear his mind.
"What's the matter, Lee?" Donati asked with mock solicitousness. "Are you feeling ill? I was hoping we could reminisce about old times! We had some great parties in those days and you always had quite an eye for the ladies. Who was that little bitch who gave me such pleasure? I think you had your eye on her too. What was her name? Carol? Carly?"
"Her name was Carla!" Lee cried out, trying, but failing to hold the gun steady … Carla and Donati … Serdeytch and Dorothy … Blackthorn and his parents … Birol and Amanda …
"Ah, yes. Carla." There was a pause, and Lee was vaguely aware of Donati looking past him back in the direction from which he had come. An expression of wariness crossed his face only to be replaced a moment later with a smirk of satisfaction.
"Well, well," Donati laughed, "it seems we have company!"
Hearing approaching steps, Lee mustered his wits and cast a careful glance behind him. His heart sank.
"Amanda!" He wasn't even aware he had uttered her name.
"Hmm. It seems we have a matched set," Donati said, his eyes shifting from one to the other. "You weren't by any chance on your way to a gala at the Hotel Monroe, were you?" He was obviously taking great pleasure in the situation. "I must admit, I had assumed you would already be there. What an unexpected bonus to have the pleasure of your company this evening! You and -- Amanda, was it?"
Lee felt a rage build inside him just hearing her name on Donati's lips. The tremor in his hands increased, and he tried to calm the pounding of his heart.
Donati had moved to stand before Amanda. "Very nice, Ricco," he said to her captor. "Well, I must say, Lee, your taste in female companions is exquisite!" His eyes raked appreciatively over Amanda. He reached out and ran his hand along her cheek and she recoiled.
"Don't touch her! Get your filthy hands off her!" Lee cried out.
"Or what?" Donati shrugged. "Forgive me for pointing out the obvious, Lee, but you don't really seem to be in control of this situation. In case you haven't noticed, Ricco has a gun pointed at the lady. You have a gun pointed at me, but somehow, I don't think you'll use it. You seem a bit unsteady. What's the matter, Lee?"
Blinded by the images rushing through his mind, Lee gasped for breath …Donati … Birol … Birol had Amanda -- no, no! It was Donati, and he had Amanda! Amanda was in the hands of Donati and that hulking brute Ricco. He lowered the gun to his side and struggled to grasp what was truly happening.
"Lee!"
It was barely more than a hoarse whisper, but it served to penetrate the fog that surrounded him. That was Amanda's voice. She needed him, and he couldn't let her down. He couldn't lose her!
"I fear this is not your night, Lee," Donati was saying. "Tonight is my night to win. I'm sure you know what happened at the Archives, otherwise you wouldn't be here now." He laughed again, smug in his victory.
Amanda's eyes remained steadily fixed on Lee's. Coming out of the shadow of his visions, he took a deep breath and was able to focus on her at last. Lee saw the relief in her eyes. He was back.
"Well, Ricco, it's fortunate that you followed me," Donati continued. "It looks like we will have extra passengers tonight. You know, Lee, much as I'd like to share the back seat with your charming lady," his eyes once more swept over Amanda, "I think it would be better if I kept my eye on you for now. I'll take the gun." He held his hand out for the gun, which was still by Lee's side. He was obviously secure that the agent would not risk Amanda's life.
Eyes still on Amanda's, Lee gave an almost imperceptible nod and she sighed in answer.
"I don't think this is your night to win after all, Alberto," Lee said at last. "The explosion? It was a fake. We set you up."
"You're bluffing!" Donati chuckled, but for the briefest of instances, a flicker of doubt crossed his face.
"We know all about Burkhalter," Lee continued.
Startled, Ricco's head shot up and he looked wide-eyed at Donati. That was all the invitation Amanda needed. She stomped his foot as hard as she could with her heel and twisting away, dropped to the ground. Ricco let out a surprised yelp and spun to target her once more with his weapon.
Lee raised his own gun, and with a cool, steady aim pulled the trigger. Ricco dropped his weapon as he staggered from the bullet in his knee. Amanda swiftly retrieved the gun and rose to stand guard over him.
It had all happened in an instant, and Donati stood slack-jawed as Lee, gun in hand, turned to face him.
"No, Alberto," Lee said, a grim smile of satisfaction on his face, "I'd say this isn't your night at all!"
Donati had quickly replaced the shocked expression with one of suave coolness. "Well, you do seem to have me at a disadvantage now, Lee. So, how does this end?"
"If you're asking whether I'm going to kill you, the answer is no. But," Lee hastened to add, "I won't hesitate to dish out the same treatment your pal Ricco got if I need to. No, Alberto, you didn't win tonight at the National Archives, and you're not going to win over me here and now."
Looking past Donati Lee saw relief coming at last. "Over here!" he called out to the two approaching figures. "We've got our man!"
"We heard a shot," Don Cheever explained, jogging up to the scene and pulling out his radio to call for reinforcements.
Agent Westmoreland, close on his heels, went to Amanda's side. "I'll take over if you'd like, Mrs. King." She gratefully handed Ricco's gun to the agent as he bent down to examine the writhing man. "Hey, Cheever, we're going to need an ambulance here!"
Amanda stumbled over to Lee's side, and he pulled her to him with one arm, the other still training the gun on Donati. As Cheever finished his second transmission, Lee motioned with his head toward Donati for the other agent to take his place. Releasing Amanda momentarily, Lee moved in to place handcuffs on their captive.
"You see, Alberto," he said softly leaning into his ear, "You lose … again!"
A screech of tires heralded the arrival of Fred Fielder and two other agents. An ambulance pulled in as well, and two paramedics jumped down to attend to Ricco. Donati was led to the awaiting car.
At last, Lee turned to Amanda and without a word, enveloped her in his arms. Sighing with relief, he was content to remain there, holding her close in his embrace.
Pulling away just enough so that he could look into her eyes, Lee finally spoke. "Are you all right?"
"Oh, yeah!" she said huskily. "You?"
With his eyes still fixed on hers, he nodded. "Me, too. Thanks to you."
"Oh, Lee," she rested her head against his chest, "It's finally over!"