Chapter 12 - Window Knocking
Amanda was happy to be home and back to doing her normal routines. After dinner, she had sent the boys upstairs to work on their homework while her Mother had gone to the Living room to enjoy her current romance novel. Amanda couldn't wait to finish the dishes so she could get settled with her own romance novel. She had just gotten to the chapter where Victoria Greenich's husband had been captured and placed in a tower to await execution. Amanda couldn't wait to read further to see how Victoria was going to come to her husband's rescue. She hadn't been able to read much since the agency had kept her so busy lately but she really wasn't complaining.
At this moment, her priority was the sink full of dirty dishes that needed to be cleaned. Suddenly she thought she heard a tapping noise. It took a minute to realize that someone was tapping on her kitchen window. It startled her until she realized it was Lee. She looked to make sure her family was still busy and then quietly went out the back door. "What are you doing here?" Amanda asked.
"Well you know how much I hate talking on the phone so I figured I would just come over." Lee explained.
"Lee, you can't just come over here. What if Mother or the boys saw you?" Amanda scolded.
"Oh I have been waiting to make sure the coast is clear. Remember I was the one who suggested that you not tell them anything about me so I will never put you in a situation to explain why I'm here. Believe me Amanda; it is for both our best interests to stay discrete. Besides, don't forget, I'm a spy. I'm used to sneaking around." Lee said with a wink.
Amanda laughed and said "Okay, I believe you. You didn't answer my question though, why are you here?"
"Billy asked me to contact you. He wants you to help out with a security assignment if you feel up to it." Lee said as he kept an eye on her to judge her reaction.
"We just got home and I still haven't had those training lessons that Mr. Melrose promised me." Amanda reminded him.
"Well I can just tell Billy that you said no. I'm sure Francine will do it instead."
"Now wait a minute. I didn't say no, Lee. I was just talking out loud. What exactly will I have to do?" Amanda asked.
"A really simple assignment. You just have to pretend to be a girlfriend of a man who is competing in a chess tournament so that you can be my eyes and ears."
"Who is this man and why is he important to the agency?" Amanda asked.
"This man's name is now Maurice but about 5 years ago, he defected from the Soviet Union. I helped him while he was on a trip to Istanbul. He's been in this country since that time and has enjoyed the luxury of making many very influential friends. Now he is bored and wants a new challenge so he intends to compete in the world's Chess Tournament and put himself at risk of the Russians recognizing him. I think the whole idea is stupid but the man isn't going to listen to me. So as a favor to President Reagan, the agency has been asked to provide security for him. Since the preliminary games to determine semi-finalists of the tournament are in D.C., I pulled the short straw to start that security detail."
Amanda looked confused and asked "So why do you need me?"
Lee stared at her for a second before replying and then said "Well apparently the man wants to be safe but doesn't like security people being too near him. Billy felt that you might be able to change his mind and let you stay with him since you seem to have a way with charming people."
Amanda smiled and asked "Mr. Melrose said that about me?"
"Yes, I believe his exact words were that you could charm a toad."
"Okay, I'll do it" Amanda said.
"So if you need some time to think about it, you can take time tonight and then call me early tomorrow." Lee started
"I'll do it." Amanda repeated.
"I can't let you have any more time than that to think about it as we still have to work something out so you can meet him and….. "
"LEE! I said I would do it." Amanda repeated again.
"You will?"
"Yes, I will. When do we start?" Amanda asked.
"Okay, meet me in front of Ford's Theater at 9am tomorrow. Maurice doesn't live far from there and he has agreed to meet with us."
"Okay, I'll see you at 9am tomorrow. Can you find your way back out of here?" Amanda asked.
Lee smiled and showed his dimples as he said "I think I can manage."
As Amanda watched him go, she couldn't help but be excited that she got to work with him again. Penny was right, he was kind of cute.
TBC
