Chapter 17

Lee fired off several clips in frustration before Billy found him. "Amanda said you were down here," Billy stated. He rubbed the edge of his jaw with one finger as he waited for Lee to respond.

Lee squeezed off several more rounds in rapid succession. Without facing Billy he snapped, "What am I going to do with her?"

"Francine? She didn't mean anything, I'm sure," Billy immediately replied.

Lee shook his head and fired off another round, "Not Francine. Amanda. I just don't know what to do anymore. It's like, every time I tell her something, she does the complete opposite." He angrily ejected the empty clip before he snapped in a full one. Aiming at the target he continued, "I mean, I know she isn't trying to get hurt and I know she wouldn't willingly put herself in danger but, dammit." Lee cursed again and pulled the trigger once more. "I just want her to stay put where she's safe. Why is that so hard?" Lee groaned and hung his head, frustrated.

"Lee, I know this is tough but you have to trust her, man. She did what she thought was the right thing to do. She went with Francine to help get information, that's all," Billy tried to reason with him.

"And what if something went wrong, huh? What if… what if it's someone that works at one of those places that's kidnapping these women?" Lee suggested through clenched teeth. "We've made enough enemies over the years, I just don't know how to shake this feeling something is going to happen."

Billy pursed his lips tightly before he replied, "You've got a point. I understand." Sensing he needed to calm Lee a little he teased, "What if we could keep an eye on her for you a little? You know, give her a babysitter of sorts. If she needs to run an errand we have one of the new kids go with her. And if she's heading home, give her an escort… a subtle one of course."

"No, thanks. I don't think that's necessary." Lee chuckled as he pointed out, "Pretty soon she's not going to be able to fit behind the wheel, so she'll need a chauffeur." He exhaled loudly and asked, "I'm not overreacting, am I?"

Billy reached out and touched his shoulder, "Maybe just a little, but with good reason. We'll get through this. After all, she only has, what, three more months left?"

"Thirteen weeks, two days to be exact," Lee smiled, "That is if the girls come right on time."

Billy returned his smile, "And what does the doctor think?"

Lee relaxed slightly, tucked his weapon into the holster on his belt, and stated, "It's anyone's guess right now." He checked his watch and announced, "I better get back upstairs. Amanda must be getting tired by now, so I'm sure she's going to want to head home soon. And I think I owe her an apology."

"Do what you have to do, but remember one thing," Billy advised.

"What's that?" Lee gave him a nervous half-smile.

"No matter what you say, you're still going to be wrong," Billy laughed loudly as he clapped Lee on the shoulder.

While Lee and Billy laughed their way to the elevators, Amanda was flipping through the colorful pamphlets and pages they received earlier from the two adoption agencies. She stifled a yawn and turned back to her meticulous notes. She turned another page and noticed a face that looked slightly familiar. "That's odd," she commented aloud to the empty room. She stared at the small image for several seconds before she reached onto the desk and retrieved a trifold paper from the stack. "It is the same doctor!" she confirmed. She lifted the phone receiver and dialed Francine's extension. "I think I found something," Amanda stated.

Francine leaned back in her chair and pinched the bridge of her nose, "I hope it's the winning ticket to the lottery, so I can take a vacation. I've been staring at this journal translation for the last hour and I'm getting a headache."

"Would you think it was strange if the same doctor worked or volunteered at both facilities?" Amanda questioned.

Francine leaned forward in her seat, "Very. How did you find that?"

Amanda tapped her fingers on one of the pages, "I was just comparing the flyers the agencies gave us. I was looking at the Support Medical Staff on one of them and I recognized him. Dr. Stanley Schuster, according to his biography."

Francine frowned, "Maybe he's just a good Samaritan and helps out at both agencies."

"No, no I don't think so. It says here he's the head of the health and welfare department at the Happy Family Agency and at the other one he is listed as the only obstetrician on staff," Amanda pointed out.

"Well, maybe we need to look into Dr. Schuster a little bit more," Francine commented. "Well done, Amanda. What would I do without you?"

Before Amanda could reply, she heard the rattling of the doorknob turning. She looked up to see Lee stepping inside, his shoulders slumped. "Francine, I'll see you tomorrow. Lee just got here and I'm going to have him bring me home. I'm a little tired after our outing this morning." She hung up the phone and sighed quietly as Lee sat on the edge of his desk, facing her. "Lee, I'm sorry about this morning. I was just trying to help Francine," she tried.

"I know," Lee nodded solemnly.

"And If I thought it was even remotely dangerous, I wouldn't have gone," Amanda continued.

Lee nodded again, "I know."

Amanda held up the pamphlet, "I did find something though."

"Oh really," Lee replied in the same monotone.

"Yeah, I found the same doctor works at both agencies," Amanda informed him. She handed him the tri-folded paper. "Francine's going to do some more research on him to see what she can find. It's a start."

Lee glanced at the flyer before handing it back to her. "Amanda, I'm sorry about this morning. I just can't help worrying about you, that's all," he explained.

Amanda stood and closed the gap between them, "You don't have to worry so much, you know that." She reached out and caressed his cheek with the back of her fingers.

Lee captured her hand in his and pulled her close. He tucked his chin on the top of her head and whispered, "Promise me you won't go back there."

"Lee," she sighed.

"Just promise me. Promise you won't go back out into the field unless I'm with you. Please, Amanda," Lee begged softly.

Amanda tilted her head back to look into his worried hazel eyes. "Only if you're with me," she agreed. Lee pressed his lips to her forehead. "Now, will you take me home? I'm exhausted," Amanda requested.

"Anything you wish," Lee smiled tentatively before he released her from his embrace.

During the ride home, Amanda dozed in the car, drawing a grin from Lee. He gently shook her awake when he pulled into the driveway. "I guess I was more tired than I thought," Amanda admitted sheepishly.

"Why don't you head up and lay down for a while. I'll get the boys from school before I head back to the Agency. I have another meeting with the new task force Dr. Smyth is forming," Lee stated.

They both were surprised when Dotty appeared at Amanda's door, holding a muddy, squirming Charlie in her hands. "Mother!" Amanda gasped. She opened her car door and reached out to wipe a smudge of dirt off Charlie's cheek. "What are you doing out here?"

"Well, the weather was nice, so I thought I'd bring Mr. Wigglepants outside for some fresh air. You know, a nice walk around the neighborhood, then maybe get him down for a nap until he decided to find the only muddy patch in the front yard. He jerked right out of my hands and before I could catch him, he crawled over and slapped in it," Dotty exclaimed.

Lee took the happy toddler from Dotty and held him at arm's length, drawing loud giggles from the child. "He looks pretty happy to me though. What does Amanda always say? A little dirt won't hurt," Lee teased.

"I suppose," Dotty groaned. She took stock of the mud on her shirt as well as Charlie's pants and added, "They invented washing machines and tubs for a reason, I guess."

Lee twisted Charlie from side to side gently, smiling wider as the giggles quickly transformed to deep baby belly laughs punctuated with a line of drool hanging off his bottom lip and chin. Lee gagged slightly as the drool dripped down onto his hand. "I can't get used to that," he admitted before he handed Charlie back to Dotty.

"Come with me, little man. Into the sink for a tubby you go," she informed the baby as she carried him into the garage.

Lee checked his hands for any mud before he guided Amanda into the house behind Dotty. "Our girls are going to be in good hands with your mother," he declared.

"Yeah, I think so, too," Amanda agreed with a sleepy smile.