Truth Be Told

Chapter 7

By the time Amanda arrived at the Agency and gave the password, Mrs. Marston stated to her giving her the I.D.,"I wouldn't try the traffic excuse today, Mrs. King. Mr. Melrose doesn't want to hear it."

Amanda nodded and remarked, "Yes, I understand. Is Lee already in Dr. Smyth's office? I'll just head there-"

Mrs. Marston commented, "No, they're both in Mr. Melrose's office."

Amanda thanked her, and getting on the elevator, thought, Probably just a new case we have to go over...Wait. Didn't Lee say it sounded like Dr. Smyth was in a bit of a mood this morning?

Shrugging, Amanda thought, Dr. Smyth always seems difficult for one reason or another. I won't worry about it. He'll huff and puff for a bit, and then it'll blow over. It'll be fine...

But when Amanda reached Billy's office, the mood was somber. She knocked and coming in, sat down answering to Billy and Dr. Smyth, "I'm terribly sorry I'm late. I was getting my children to school. They usually take the bus you see, but today-"

Dr. Smyth cut her off stating:

"Jack and Jill went up the hill,

To fetch a pail of water,

Jack fell down and broke his crown,

And Jill came tumbling after."

When Dr. Smyth finished, Billy, Lee, and Amanda all looked at one another confusedly and then at Dr. Smyth with bewilderment, and Lee asked clearing his throat, "Excuse me, Sir. What is it you're trying to say?"

Dr. Smyth took a puff of his cigarette answering with a gesture towards Lee and Amanda as he looked at Billy, "William... Scarecrow and Mrs. King here are scarcely seen separately as of late. Work is one thing, but after hours is another. Care to explain?"

Before an astounded Lee or a surprised Billy could respond however, Amanda swallowing, replied in a controlled voice, "I beg your pardon, Sir, but there's nothing to explain that is any of your business unless it happens here."

As Lee and Billy quickly gave a look to one another and silently cheered Amanda's boldness, Dr. Smyth nodded and with a gesture to Amanda, and then Billy, commented in kind, "I see. Well then, let me tell you of the phone call I received before Stetson arrived. It was from one Dotty West, who demanded to know why we keep you, her daughter, on such a tight leash where the work schedules are concerned. I told her the scheduling is not of my concern, but of the Unit head here and she should direct her complaint to him!"

Looking directly at Amanda, Dr. Smyth gestured towards the door answering in a no nonsense manner, " Now, if you find your work too constricting, Mrs. King, we could always put you on desk duty like the old days, filing and such. Nine to five or whatever your home life will allow. Otherwise, I suggest you take whatever toys you brought with you to the sandbox here years ago, and find another place to play. That clear?"

As a stunned Amanda wordlessly nodded, Dr. Smyth went towards the door to leave answering, "Fine. Oh, and now that your entire family has been let in on your position here, we'll have to readjust your status anyway...Toodles, Children."

The room was quiet as Dr. Smyth strode out, and then Billy got on his phone, dialing Francine's extension. When she answered, he stated, "Come in for a moment, will you, Desmond?"

When he hung up the phone, Amanda swallowed and shook her head commenting, "I'm so sorry about my mother, Sir. I had no idea she was going to call! I'll have a talk with her later about it."

But Billy put up a hand replying, "It's alright, Amanda. I have a feeling the phone call was supposed to be put through to me to begin with."

Francine knocked and came in saying, "Everything okay?"

Billy asked, "The new Steno hire, Marlena, is it? Did she take a phone call for me close to 8 this morning?"

Francine responded going to the door, "Let me get her..."

Opening the door, she stated to a tall red haired woman near the copy machine, "Marlena? Mr. Melrose wants to see you for a moment?"

As Marlena came in after Francine, she queried to Billy, "Yes, Sir?"

Billy queried, "Marlena, who was the phone call from at 8 this morning, and who was it for originally?"

Marlena stated with a gesture, "It was Dotty West, and she asked to speak to the "head honcho". Her words, not mine, Sir. Anyway, I thought she meant Dr. Smyth, so I naturally directed the call to his line. Is there a problem?"

Lee sighed, "Oh, boy," and Amanda shook her head answering, "Oh, my gosh!"

As Marlena noticed Lee and Amanda's reaction to the news, Billy then replied shaking his head, "No, Marlena. Thank you. You can get back to work now..."

Marlena nodded, "Yes, Sir," and left the office, and as the door closed, Francine began laughing!

Billy responded curtly, "Desmond! Get a hold of yourself! What's so amusing?"

Francine gulped, and then clearing her throat answered gesturing excitedly, "O-Oh, c'mon, Billy! It was Amanda's mother, giving what for to Smyth with both barrels?! His blood pressure alone must have been off the charts! Oh, to be a fly on the wall in that office then! That man deserves to be brought down a peg or two once in a while! Bravo to Dotty West!"

Amanda commented quickly, "Fr-Francine! She was upset with me about something last night! I'm-I'm sure she didn't mean to be that way with him at all!"

Billy remarked to Amanda intently, "Oh, really? Then maybe you can explain what Smyth meant by your entire family now knowing about your career? I thought it was only Jamie and Joe that knew, because of the kidnapping situation you, Jamie, and Scarecrow all went through recently?"

Amanda nodded, stating, "Well, it was, Sir, and then-"

Lee glancing at Amanda and then Billy as he responded, "Uh, yeah, Billy...About that..."

TBC