Chapter 55 – Enlisting Help
The ride home was quiet. Everyone seemed lost in their own thoughts. As Amanda pulled up to the curb in front of Angelo's house, she asked, "Do you need me for anything more today? I should probably be getting home to my family."
"Amanda? Can we talk?" Angelo inquired.
"Ok? About what?" Amanda asked while pretending to be unconcerned with the events of the day. She turned off the ignition and after letting out a sigh, she turned around to face him. He had graciously let Francesca have the front seat and was sitting directly behind her. Amanda couldn't help but notice that Francesca seemed concerned about whatever her uncle wanted to talk about and turned around to hear what he had to say too.
"Amanda, you are a very special woman," Angelo began. "I can't tell you how much all your help has meant to me."
"This sounds like you are saying goodbye," Amanda interrupted him.
"Amanda, things could get dangerous. I don't want you to be in harm's way," Angelo continued to tread lightly to see her reaction.
"Dangerous? What are you talking about Angelo? What exactly did you talk to Eva about?" Amanda demanded.
"Eva is a very deceptive woman. She knows things that she is not sharing with me. Amanda, I fear that the KGB is not done with me. I do not wish to put you at risk also," Angelo stated.
"Angelo, that is why you should not be sneaking past the Agency's guards. Promise me that you won't do that anymore. You need…" Amanda continued lecturing him, but was suddenly interrupted by Angelo.
"I need your help. If you are willing to help me, that is," Angelo continued. "Amanda, there are things that you do not know. Someone close to me was killed while I was in Russia. I think I'm to blame for his death. I need to find out who did it and why. I need to make that person pay for what he or she has done!" Angelo exclaimed.
"Oh my gosh, we need to tell Lee. Let's go call him," Amanda declared as she started to open her car door.
"NO!" Angelo said loudly. Amanda hesitated as she saw a flash of anger in Angelo's eyes. "No! Lee knew about this and chose not to tell me. Don't you see Amanda? It doesn't matter which side you are on, you must obey the orders of your superiors. Lee and his boss don't really care about me personally; they just care about obtaining my knowledge. He has done nothing but keep me a prisoner since I have been in this country. It is no different than being in Russia other than there are no bars on the windows in this house."
"Oh, Angelo, I think you have Lee all wrong. He has done everything he could to keep you safe. You know those bad guys still want you. It is for your own protection that he has posted guards and tried to limit where you go. It won't be like this forever though. Besides, I don't think he realizes that this person was a friend of yours. Even if he knew about the death, how would he know that the person meant anything to you? Surely he would have told you if he had known. Let's call and ask him. I'm sure we can get this all straightened out?" Amanda begged.
"You are very blind to anything but the good in others, Amanda," Angelo observed. "I know that you have worked with him for awhile now. I would guess that it is hard for you to imagine him ever doing anything wrong. Perhaps, I should tell you the truth?"
"Uncle Angelo!" Francesca warned.
"No, no, I think she needs to hear it," Angelo asserted and continued on while ignoring his niece's warning. "Amanda, you are such a sweet woman. I really hate to change that about you, but there comes a time when you need to stop being so naïve. You see, there is no way that Lee could have any doubts that this person was close to me because…"
"Uncle Angelo, don't!" Francesca tried one more time.
"Frankie was my brother." Angelo finished his sentence.
Amanda stared at Angelo in disbelief. Could Lee have known that Angelo's brother had been murdered and not told Angelo? How was that possible? The Lee she knew wouldn't do that, or would he? It felt like she had been punched in the stomach and suddenly lost her ability to breathe as she searched for a reason in her mind as to why Lee would keep this from Angelo. Was it Billy's idea? Someone over Billy? How long had they known and how could they be so heartless as to not tell Angelo?
Angelo watched Amanda's face as her mind raced through her thoughts. Finally, he asked quietly, "Will you help me?"
"What do you want me to do?" Amanda reluctantly answered.
TBC
