Chapter SEVEN - I know what I owe and I will pay it back with my own blood

Amanda Stetson rubbed the back of her neck as she read another report regarding Efrim Beamon. She sighed as she thought of her children. She silently prayed that they were okay. The past few hours were a blur as she and Lee scrambled to get Phillips' family safely at the Stetson's home as well as Matthew home from his interrupted honeymoon. Her thoughts went to Jennifer and the babies. She knew the boys would protect their sister at all costs. It still didn't stop her from worrying. She went back to reading the files. She needed something to keep herself busy.

She heard Lee and Sam walking in the little hallway outside the office. Lee's voice was booming and she could tell he was angry. The door flew open and Lee stormed into the room. Sam was following behind and he caught Amanda's eye. She rolled her eyes at him and mouthed "I'm sorry" to him. Sam nodded and smiled at her.

"Sam, where the hell is Francine? I want full access to everything you have so I can go get my children. I don't care if you have to get on the phone to the President! I will go find my kids, damn it! I want Beamon brought here…today! I want to look at the bastard as I talk to him. I mean it Sam. I want him here….NOW!"

Amanda stood up and walked over to Lee. She put her hand on his arm. "Sweetheart, yelling and barking orders isn't going to solve the problem. We have to be calm and think. Francine is already on her way to Lewisburg and she's personally bringing Efrim here. We need to dig deep into these records and find out who else he was working with. We need to get his sister here as well. Now, I can talk to Mary Ellen and you, Sam and Francine can talk to Efrim. We will find the kids…I know you will." She reached over and put her hand on his face. "In all the years I have known you, Lee Stetson. You have never let me down. I need my babies back. I am so worried about them." She started getting emotional and wiped a tear from her eye. Lee pulled her into a hug.

"I know 'Manda. I am sorry my temper got the better of me. I just….its our kids. I know."

"Jennifer and the babies…Lee…what if she's being tortured. She could lose them…I just can't even think about it."

Sam looked at the couple. He opened his mouth in shock. Lee chuckled as he noticed Sam's reaction. He smiled at Sam "Yeah, sorry about that Sam. Jennifer hasn't told that secret to everyone here yet. She's pregnant….with twins."

Sam smiled at them and cleared his throat. "Wow…Our Princess is gonna be a Mom. That's wonderful news. Congratulations! I know you are excited about it." He walked around the tiny office. He slammed his hand on the corner of the desk. "DAMN! How the hell did he do all of this? I just don't understand. This whole vendetta he had against you. This is just ….."

Lee looked at his wife and then back at Sam. He sighed. "I am so sorry Sam. This is all my fault. I should have seen all of this coming. We never knew how Beamon really felt when we announced our marriage. I cost you two of your agents….that just happened to be my children, because of this." He stood a bit taller and straightened his shoulders. He looked at Sam and thru gritted teeth said "I WILL get them back. Nothing will stop me. I know what I owe….to my children and this Agency…and if I have to pay it back with my own blood. I will."

Amanda wrapped her arms around Lee and held him. She knew he was serious. He tightened his arm around her and looked down at her
"I mean it, 'Manda. Those are our kids. I will get them back." He reached up and wiped the tear falling down her face. "I am so sorry honey."

Amanda smiled at him. "I know Sweetheart. Well, let's get back to looking at these reports and wait for Francine to get back. We have to keep ourselves busy."

Lee and Sam agreed and they headed back down to the bullpen as Amanda sat back down at Jennifer's desk. She waited until she heard the outside door slam shut before she burst into tears and held her face in her hands as she cried for her children.

************* Francine Desmond walked into the Lewisburg Penitentiary along with four other agents. They showed their badges and checked in their weapons with the guards. The warden was waiting for them along with a couple of guards. Warden Taylor smiled at Francine as she walked towards him. He reached out his hand to shake hers.

"Hello Ms. Desmond. Thank you for coming. I am sorry to hear about your agents. I certainly hope that Mr. Beamon will cooperate with you and give you the information that you need."

Francine smiled at the warden and shook his hand. She was in prime Francine form as she charmed him.

"Oh thank you so much for this Warden Taylor. I know this isn't usual protocol but getting my agents back is my top priority. It helps having the White House backing me up. Well, shall we go collect what I came for?"

The warden and guards escorted Francine and her agents down a long hallway. They stopped at the end and went into one of the interrogation rooms. The Warden told the guard to bring Beamon in and the rest of the group sat down at the table. The door in the corner of the room opened and Beamon walked through the door along with a guard. Francine sat up straighter in her chair and glared at Efrim. He smirked at her as the guard sat him down in one of the chairs. They handcuffed him to the table and floor. Efrim shifted in his chair and continued to smirk. Francine tried her hardest to keep her cool.

"Well, Efrim. I assume you know why I am here?"

He laughed out loud. It was a cackle that Francine had never heard from him. It gave her chills if she was being honest with herself. Efrim glared at her and said "It seems my silent partner accomplished their mission. Am I correct in stating that both Jamie and Phillip King as well as Jennifer Stetson are nowhere to be found?"

Francine stood up and slammed her hands on the table. She had already had enough. "Damn it Efrim! Where are they? Do you have any idea what you are doing? Tell me where they are! NOW!"

Beamon continued to laugh as he sat back in his chair. He shook his head. "No can do, Frannie. Unless I am released from this fine establishment the precious Stetson/King munchkins will stay where they are. So…with that being said…do I get to leave here?"

Francine nodded to the guards and the Warden. She gave Efrim her best smile and said. "Efrim you will certainly be leaving here with me today. But I won't be the one dealing with you."

"What do you mean by that? Where am I going?" Francine could see that Beamon was getting nervous. His eyes were darting back and forth between her and the guards.

Francine walked towards the door. She opened it and stood in the doorway. She whispered to the Warden to have Beamon ready to leave within the next thirty minutes. The Warden nodded and the guards unhooked Beamon. He started fighting with the guards and began yelling at Francine.

"Francine! Tell me where am I going? Who is going to deal with me? You better tell me! NOW! Come on!"

Francine looked at him. "I am going to let Scarecrow deal with you, Efrim. So good luck. I will see you in Washington." She walked out of the room and listened to Beamon yelling for her as she walked down the hallway. .