Chapter 1

Two days passed after Lee's sentencing in federal court. Judge Hamilton didn't hesitate when he sentenced Lee to thirty years to life without parole. He was transported to the closest federal prison which ironically was located in Lee County, Virginia. Lee United States Penitentiary was the high-security penitentiary and the same location many of the Agency's political enemies were sent.

Lee knew the instant he stepped onto the tier into Block Three, he was going to be a target. He slowly followed the guard until he stopped in front of an empty cell. "In here, Stetson. Your roomie will be back from Medical in a few minutes. Play nice," the stern-faced guard instructed with a sneer. He gave Lee a shove into the open cell before he jerked the sliding door closed with a bang. Lee jumped but remained silent as he carefully surveyed his surroundings.

The small six by eight-foot cell was claustrophobic, to say the least, although, Lee had to admit he had been in worst places before and survived. Beside him were two bunks, suspended from the wall. Tucked into the corner of the cell sat a toilet which offered no privacy. In the opposite corner was a small metal sink on which rested a single toothbrush and a plastic cup. Across from the bunks, attached to the wall, was a small stool with a shelf that doubled as a writing desk. He stepped deeper into the cell and tossed his small bundle of prison-issued items onto the top, unmade bunk. He tried to ignore the catcalls and shouts he heard behind him as he carefully unwrapped the sheet and blanket folded at the end of the bed and began making the bed.

Lee had just finished when a clanging sound behind him startled him. He turned slowly and found himself face to face with his new cellmate. The man stood approximately the same height as Lee, although, he easily outweighed Lee by fifty pounds. Lee inhaled sharply as the larger man twitched his head as he sized up Lee. The man didn't offer his name, he simply stared at Lee, while he worked his jaw side to side. Lee watched as the bulging muscles in the man's arms flexed and strained as he folded his arms and shifted slightly closer to the bunks. "I… um… I'm…. My name is…." Lee stuttered, completely unsure of how to introduce himself.

"I don't care," the man spat. He pushed Lee aside before he stretched out onto his bunk. He closed his eyes and stated, "My meds haven't kicked in yet, so if you wake me up, I'll break you. Got it?"

Lee shifted his shoulders uncomfortably, nodded and replied softly, "I got it." He carefully climbed onto his own bunk and pulled the small picture of Amanda and the boys from his prison-issued scrub's pocket. He stared at the image until it blurred from the unshed tears in his eyes.

Time passed slowly for Lee. Each day, he felt he was in a constant battle for survival. To his dismay, several inmates recognized him and his worst fears began to come true. His first week, he spent learning to navigate the complicated schedule forced upon him. He found himself getting pushed to the end of the line in the cafeteria which he quickly learned was referred to as the chow hall. His guard was constantly up, especially after his first experience in the showers when one inmate surprised him. He took three punches to his left kidney before he could react. Lee spent the remainder of the afternoon in medical on what the other inmates referred to as a sick call. His only ray of light came in the handwritten letters from Amanda.

As his first thirty days came to a close, Lee waited anxiously for his first visitor. He was shuffled down to a large, open room where inmates and visitors moved freely around the room or sat huddled together at small tables. He couldn't hide his surprise when he saw Billy standing uncomfortably near the vending machine. He approached his friend and mentor, offering him a tentative smile. "Hey. I didn't expect to see you here," Lee stated.

Billy nodded, "I know."

"Where's Amanda? She said she was going to try to come last night… but now, you're here, so what the hell is going on?" Lee asked, his mind racing.

"Amanda's fine. She would have been here but she got hung up with Fielder on a case," Billy stated softly.

"Fielder? What in the world is she doing with him?" Lee snapped, his anger immediately rising.

"Not my idea, I can assure you. I think Smith's replacement is flexing his new status if you know what I mean. Actually, Masters was supposed to be with Fielder for surveillance but he got busted on an DUI, so since Amanda was the only available agent..." Billy explained.

"They stuck her with him. I get it. What's the case?" Lee asked as he scanned the room for anyone who may be listening in on their conversation.

Billy leaned closer and whispered, "Gutierrez is reported to have a hit out on that physicist, Dr. Ramirez. They're watching his every move."

Lee shook his head, "For how long?"

"Another day or two at the most," Billy replied.

"Yeah, just long enough for her to miss the first weekend I could possibly see her," Lee snapped angrily.

Billy reached out and placed his hand on Lee's forearm as he assured him, "I told you it wasn't my idea. I'll do everything in my power to make sure she's here next weekend. In the meantime, how are you doing?"

Lee rolled his eyes, "Just fine. It's better than the Taj Mahal." He glared at Billy before he added, "How do you think?"

Billy pressed his lips together firmly, "I think you're learning the hard way. But let me tell you this, we've reopened the case, unofficially. I've had Francine going back over everything."

"I didn't kill Dr. Smyth, Billy. Yes, I hated the man. Yes, I can't say I'm unhappy he's gone but I didn't do it," Lee reminded him. "You know as well as I do, somebody set me up," he added in a low tone.

"I believe you. I have always believed you but the facts state otherwise," Billy stated. He dropped his voice lower and added, "I had a meeting with your lawyer to go over his notes."

"Oh, I can't wait to hear what Mr. Incompetant had to say," Lee groaned.

Billy motioned toward a table not far from where they were standing, "Let's take a seat and talk about this." Lee nodded and they settled themselves in the hard plastic chairs. Billy reached into his jacket and pulled a small notebook out of his pocket. A nearby guard immediately moved to their table and held out his hand. "It was cleared. They stamped it and everything," Billy assured him. The guard examined the small book and handed it back without a word.

"Welcome to my every move," Lee joked with a half-laugh. They spent the next hour going over the notes Billy had gotten from Lee's lawyer and it wasn't long before Billy realized why Lee had very little faith in his lawyer winning any appeals. "I'll talk to legal and see what we can do about getting you a new lawyer. You're right, he missed too many opportunities to disprove the prosecutor. He let you down, Lee. I'm sorry."

Lee reached out and squeezed Billy's shoulder to reassure him, "It wasn't your fault. I didn't know how bad he was until it was too late. But you'll get me out of here, I know you will."

From the entrance doorway, a guard announced visiting hours were ending. "I'll be sure Amanda is off duty next weekend."

Lee stared at the grooves and cracks on the Formica tabletop before he asked, "How is she, Billy?"

"She's strong. She's keeping herself busy," Billy began.

"That's not what I mean," Lee stated firmly.

"I know what you mean. But this is Amanda, she's smart, resilient," Billy continued.

Lee slapped his hand down and added, "And it's Amanda. She's emotional, Billy. She lives her life by what her heart tells her. She relies on her instincts, so what are her instincts telling her?"

Billy stood, glanced at the guard, and said, "Her instincts say you're innocent and she's going to help prove it. Now, I better get going before they throw me out of here. I'll give her a full report, don't you worry."

Lee stood and thrust his hand into Billy's, "Take care of my family. Please. I can't protect them from in here."

"I will, like my own," Billy clapped his hand over Lee's before he released it and headed to the exit.

Lee moved to the opposite end of the room where he was immediately shoved into the wall by another inmate, "Wait your turn, Fish."

Lee groaned softly at the impact and immediately tensed his hands to fight back until he spotted one of the guards watching them. He forced himself to relax. "Sorry," he mumbled before he moved to the end of the line. He watched Billy leave and his heart sank slightly.

Once back in his cell, he reread Amanda's last letter several times. She wrote to him about the boys' upcoming schedules and games and went into great detail about how Philip made the decision to join the mock trial club at school because he was so angry about Lee's trial all while finishing up the fall baseball season. She explained the boys were working on their letters too but Jamie was struggling with what to say as he felt his entire trust with Lee was broken. "We'll get through this, Sweetheart. Somehow. Just know we all love you," Amanda had written.

"I love you, too," Lee whispered softly to the lined paper in his hands. "Don't lose that faith, Amanda."