Loves Journey: Chapter 12

Lee's Apartment

Lee stretched his legs out in front of him on top of his coffee table, switched the television on and laid his head against the couch cushions. He had popcorn in one hand and the remote in the other. Good thing Amanda wasn't there. She'd have a fit if she knew what he was having for dinner. It was half her fault anyway; he was too tired from their Friday night and Saturday time together to have much else. He thought, a smile spreading wide across his face. He'd left her house late that morning, came home and went back to bed. Amanda and her mom were going to run some errands once she got home from her weekend away. They were probably back by now. He half expected Amanda to call before the evening was over, but so far, no call.

Lee was halfway through his bowl of popcorn and in the middle of a western movie when a headline broke across the screen; Breaking News! Two dead bodies and a kidnapping. What the hell? Lee thought to himself. Sounds like me and Amanda's everyday lives. Lee thought as he watched the camera pan the streets that were just a few blocks from Daffy Dogs'. Daffy Dogs! Oh, how interesting. Amanda and I go there from time to time; one of our favorite places and has fond sad and some fond memories. Lee reminisced as he placed a few more kernels of corn in his mouth.

"A woman in her early thirties," The newscaster began, "and her mother were running errands for her upcoming wedding and had just left Milo's Daffy Dogs when their car was almost sideswiped. In the process of chasing the car down to obtain a license plate number, they saw two bodies being pushed out of the car. The most incredible part to this story is that not only did the two women stay in hot pursuit of the car, they saw a hostage situation and the younger woman assisted the police in getting the hostage, a young girl in her late teens, away from her captor."

Daffy Dogs? Two women picking up items for a wedding? Oh hell! Lee began coughing and gagging on the handful of popcorn he'd placed in his mouth. He quickly spit out the last few bites and grabbed for the glass of water that was on the table. He coughed a few more times; then settled back down to hear the rest of the story. "The two wish to remain anonymous, but we've since found out that the woman is an off-duty federal agent." Lee's program came back on; Lee sat straight up, his mind whirling around as he tried to process the information from the news. He reached for the phone. The phone vibrated in his hands as it began ringing just as he picked up the receiver.

"Hello!" Lee belted.

"Lee, did you see the news?" Francine questioned.

"Yes, I saw the news!"

"It's Amanda, you know!"

"Yes, it has to be Amanda!"

"No, it is Amanda for sure; I just called the police headquarters in the district where everything happened. Amanda and her mother are there for questioning, just to get all the facts as they know it."

"Leave it to Amanda to just happen to see a kidnapping! Have you spoken to Billy yet?"

"No, it is Sunday evening; he's probably busy with Jeanie and the family and hasn't seen the news. I just thought I'd phone you first."

"Thanks. Yeah, I just saw it on the news. I'll call the station then go down there. Can you give me the number?"

"Sure."

Lee slowly shook his head as he wrote down the digits Francine rattled off. "Can you do me a favor?"

"Call Billy?"

"Yeah, sure!"

"I've already spoken to them about how they reported the story. I could have the station retract the part about Amanda being an agent, but that might do more damage."

"Yeah!" Lee paused. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. Anytime. Lee, please call me and let me know how Amanda and her mother are doing."

Lee put on his shoes and then dialed the number Francine gave him.

After a short wait, Amanda was put on the phone.

"Amanda?"

"Hi, Lee!"

"What happened? Are you alright? What about your Mother?"

"Too much to go into details now, over the phone. We are both fine just a little tired. "Look I'm almost done here, I'll call you…"

"No, you are to wait there, and I'll come and swing by and get the two of you."

"We're almost done. I can call you from the car phone and let you know when we're on our way home. You can stop by then if…"

"Amanda!"

"Lee, it doesn't make sense to come and get us."

"I'll meet you at your house; I'm leaving now."

"Okay, see you in a few," Amanda said and hung up the phone.

Whatever am I going to do with this woman? Lee thought as he put his shoes on, grabbed his keys and left his apartment, shaking his head and smiling at the same time.