Chapter 50 – Positive ID

Lee began following the Police Officer to the morgue. "Oh Amanda. I'm so sorry. It should be me there, not you. As soon as Larisa changed the rules of the game, I should have stopped this. I can't believe that you are gone. How am I ever going to tell your Mother? Your boys? Damn it, I was supposed to keep you safe." Lee slammed his hand down onto the steering wheel and then continued "Some hotshot agent I turned out to be. First I let Eric down and now you. I'm so sorry." Lee said all of that out loud and found himself choking back the tears that were threatening to fall. If it was the last thing he did, he would make Carew and Larisa pay for this. Then if he didn't end up in jail, he would quit the agency. He knew Billy would be upset but maybe it was time for him to get out of this job. Maybe his prime time was done and he was a washout. Amanda's death would haunt him forever.

They pulled up to a brick building that read County Morgue on the front. The officer led him inside and asked him to sign in at the front desk. He then motioned for him to go through a metal detector. Lee pulled out his gun and car keys and laid them in a tray and then walked through with no issues. The officer gave him back his gun and keys and then led him to the basement where the new arrivals were brought. After speaking to the guard, he brought Lee into a cool, dark room.

"Sir, are you okay?" The officer noticed that Lee looked as white as a sheet.

"Not really but it has to be done."

The officer pulled the drawer out and Lee looked at the woman lying there. He felt his knees give way as he fell to the floor.

"Sir, do you need a moment?" The officer asked.

"No, I'm okay. I'm okay." Lee stood up and walked back to the young woman and said "I'm sorry Shelly. I hate that you are dead and I hope you forgive me but I'm so thankful that it isn't Amanda lying there."

"You know her sir?"

"Yes, she was a friend. She was an agent stationed in New York. She was a really good agent too. Her name was Shelly Glasglow. I don't think she even has any immediate family as her parents both passed away a few years ago from cancer and Shelly never married so there isn't a husband or any children. Can I use your phone so I can call Billy?"

"Yes Sir but you aren't done yet. We have enough body for you to id."

"What?!"

"Yes sir, your boss said you knew this person and could positively id the body."

Lee forgot to breathe as he found out there was a second body. Did Carew kill Amanda after all? He began shaking as the Officer stepped to a different area and pulled out the drawer. There laid Agent Carew. "You Bastard!" Lee exclaimed while at the same time being relieved that it was him. "You are lucky you are already dead because if you had killed Amanda, I would have killed you myself."

"Sir? Can you id him?"

"Oh yeah, this Bastard's name is Rob Carew and he is the scum of the earth and deserves to be there unlike that lovely young woman over there. Are we done here now?"

"Yes Sir. You can use the phone at the front desk to call your boss."

"Thank you." Lee slipped out of the room and leaned up against a wall. He had to take a minute to get his emotions under control. He had been so sure it was going to be Amanda's face that was revealed when the sheet was pulled back. The whole experience had been so emotional that Lee had a hard time holding back tears while the bodies were being revealed. His uncle's words were cut deep into his soul though; "grown men don't cry." The problem now was to find her. Where the hell was she? He took a deep breath and then headed for the front desk.

"I was told I could use the phone." Lee said to the secretary.

"Sure gorgeous" The young blonde girl said as she handed the phone to him. Normally he would have checked her out, but at that moment, his mind was far from thinking about another woman. He began dialing the phone and Billy answered almost immediately.

"Melrose" He said into the phone.

"Billy, it isn't Amanda" Lee sputtered out.

"Oh Thank God!" Billy said. "Did you know the woman?"

"Yes, it is Shelly."

"Oh No!"

"Yeah. She was shot Billy. It looks like Carew did it but someone shot him too. Have you heard anything from Amanda?"

"No, nothing."

"I'm going to tell this place that someone will be in touch to transport the bodies and then keep heading to the border. I wish I knew how far ahead they are. I'm going to get going Billy. I'll be in touch soon."

"Okay, be careful and bring Amanda home safe."

"I'll going to try!" Bye Billy.

"Good luck Lee!"

Lee hung up and gave the Agency's information to the secretary so they could make plans to bring the bodies back to D.C.. He then rushed out to his car. He needed to catch up with Larisa before she could get Amanda over the border or else the next body could be hers.

TBC