Truth Aftermath
Chapter 19
It was after the boys headed off to school on the bus the next morning, when Amanda and Dotty, finishing up the breakfast dishes, decided to go shopping at Ballston Quarter.
Dotty stated while wiping down the kitchen table, "We can check out the new Ladies spring items they have at Macy's, and then check the Boys Department there-I swear, our boys are growing faster by the minute!"
Amanda chuckled while wiping down the sink, and shaking her head answered, "I know, and I have to keep after them not to mess up their jeans too much- the constant tears in their pockets alone! Oh, and Mother, I do have that checkup with Dr. Goodman at 2:00 today as well..."
Dotty, writing a short list on her notepad, added that to her list, and putting it in her purse on the counter next to the car keys remarked with a nod , "Thank you. I'd almost forgotten. Alright, let's go get changed, and we'll leave. And Sweetheart? Let me know if you get too tired and we'll take a break, okay?"
Amanda responded as they went to the stairs to head up, "Yes, Mother. And I do want to thank you for helping me out while I recover. Maybe I can get the all-clear to drive soon, huh?"
Dotty kissing her cheek, stated, "I'm happy to help you with anything, Darling, but please be patient? You know it will be a few more weeks at least, hmm?"
Amanda nodded with a sigh as the two went upstairs to get ready to head out...
That afternoon. around 1:00, as Lee was meeting with T.P. Aquinas at Milo's during lunch, a call came in on T.P's phone in his briefcase.
Answering, "Hello?", and listening a few moments, stated, "Just a moment," as he handed the receiver to Lee, commenting, "You better take this..."
Lee, puzzled, said into the phone, "Stetson."
It was Francine in a serious tone, "Hey, glad I found you...There's a situation here at Dulles and you need to come now, because we couldn't locate Amanda-"
Lee quickly asked, "What? Why would you need Amanda? She's not due back for-"
Francine cut him off stating, "The suspect, Daryl Holden, that Jefferys and I were tailing? He wound up at the ticket counter, right behind Phillip King, who had just purchased a one way airline ticket, and was on his way to the TWA plane-"
Lee, incredulous, queried urgently, "Ho-Hold it! Phillip? What the hell was he doing there?! Is he hurt?"
Francine answered quickly, "No, in fact, he tackled the man to the ground when he felt something at his back. The suspect definitely had a piece...Phillip was very lucky-"
Lee groaned irritatedly, "That's not how I would look at it, Francine! Where's Phillip now?"
Francine replied, "In the airport security office, being questioned. Don't worry. He's not going anywhere anytime soon-"
Lee sighed commenting, "Damn right he's not! Look, you tell the ticket people to refund the money to you, and then tell Phillip that I'm on my way!"
Without waiting for Francine to respond, Lee hung up angrily, and T.P. questioned, "Trouble?"
Lee shook his head, and stated drily, "With a capital T, and that rhymes with P, and that stands for Phillip!"
Getting up from the table, Lee remarked disdainfully, "Sorry about lunch being cut short! You know, just once, I wanted someone to enjoy Milo's, without a hassle! See you later..."
-SMK-
Lee made it to Dulles within a half hour, and seeing Francine at the entrance answered to her, "Thanks for the heads up."
Francine replied, "Good luck...What are you going to say to him?"
Lee threw up his hands stating, "Hell if I know!"
Then, showing his I.D. to the Gate security at the TWA counter, was taken into the office, where he saw Phillip in a chair adjacent to the Dulles TSA Security Officer, Max Webb's desk.
Shaking Max's hand in greeting, Lee asked, "Are you through questioning him now, because I'm gonna need some time with him if you don't mind?"
Max, looking at Phillip's irritated slouch and demeanor, shrugged to Lee, answering with an aside of amusement, "Fine with me. We got all the info we needed, but he says he's still planning to fly on outta here."
Lee chuckling, calmly responded as he shook his head, "Ohh, he's going somewhere alright, but it's not going to be on any airplane, trust me!"
They shook hands, with Lee stating, "Thanks for keeping an eye on him, anyway."
Max, nodded, answering, "No problem."
And as Max went towards the door, he looked back at Phillip, and while gesturing to Lee, commented in a grave tone, "You know, you were very lucky that guy didn't shoot you! I've seen too much senseless loss in my years here, by kids just like you, thinking they knew it all and could handle anything out there! Do me a favor, please? Enjoy the time as a kid! Because once you're grown like your friend here, you're gonna remember this moment, and you're gonna thank God that you listened, and had somebody who cared..."
The door closed, and as Lee pulled a chair over to place his chair directly in front of Phillip to face him, he sat down, and clearing his throat, queried sternly, "Okay, what the hell is this about, Phillip? I talked to you and Jamie last night, and I thought I made it clear that I wasn't going anywhere! So, if this is your way of testing me, I'd say you're going about it the wrong way-"
Phillip belligerently answered, "This is none of your business! Besides, I left Mom a note-"
Lee nodded, and then with a gesture, replied, "Okay, let me have your wallet-"
Phillip shrugged asking, "Why? That lady took my money! I don't have it!"
Lee nodded replying, "That lady? She works with your mom and me at the Agency-IFF-her name is Francine Desmond, and you're lucky it wasn't someone that didn't know me! Now, hand over the wallet, please..."
Phillip groaned, and pulling it out of his backpack, gave it to Lee, querying, "What's the big deal?! I was just gonna go see Dad-"
Lee, going through Phillip's wallet, immediately took out the passport and his state I.D., and the remainder of cash-a few bills-and putting the items in his jacket pocket, handed the now empty wallet back to him answering, "These will be in my posession, until I get you home, where your mom will take them and put them away for safe keeping...Now, you mentioned going to see your dad? Where are your innoculation papers?"
Phillip puzzled, asked, "What do you mean?"
Lee sighed responding, "The airlines usually require that you have documented verification of all the shots you've received before flying to that part of the world. Didn't the ticket counter employee tell you that?"
Phillip shook his head remarking, "She said I wouldn't need them here, but when I got there, I'd have to let the people there know."
Lee answered with a groan, "Must be a new employee...Okay, so, did you call your dad and tell him you were coming, or were you just gonna surprise him?"
Phillip shrugged lightly replying, "I know he lives in Estoccia, so I can just hang out there until he comes back from-"
Lee put up a hand and getting up from the chair, went to the door, and opening it, called to Max across the hall, and queried, "Mind if I use the phone? Agency business."
Max answered, "Go ahead. How's it going with the kid in there?"
Lee chuckled lightly stating, "Not a picnic by a long shot, but we'll be out of here soon. Thanks again."
Closing the door, he got on the phone, dialing the Agency, and Billy's extension.
Billy picked up stating, "Melrose."
Lee answered, "Hey, Billy. It's Scarecrow...Do me a favor, please, and run a line on Joe King's whereabouts? I understand he went to St. Thomas, but I wasn't sure for how long."
Billy responded, "Alright, give me a moment...Is there trouble?"
Lee sighed deeply, looking at Phillip's forlorned expression, and remarked lightly, "N-Not there, but I'm handling things here at Dulles. You spoke to Francine?"
Billy said evenly, "She gave me the highlights...Let me put you on hold for a minute."
Lee heard a click, and Phillip commented with a sigh, "Look, I told Mom where I'd be, and told her not to worry. Besides, she still has Jamie."
Lee swallowing hard, retorted, "Oh-Oh, my God! You actually think that your family wouldn't miss you or worry about you if you went that far away?!"
Phillip didn't answer, and when Lee was about to say something else, Billy was back on with him, replying, "Lee, our sources tell us that he's already on his way to Uraguay for the next three months. Do you need us to get him back here?"
Lee answered sadly, "No, no! It's nothing urgent. Thanks for checking, Billy. See you in a while. I'm gonna take Phillip home, first. Bye..."
They hung up, and Lee gestured to Phillip and stated, "C'mon. We're outta here. Let's go home..."
And as Phillip lifted his backpack, Lee asked bewilderedly, "So, wait...That's all you were going to take?"
Phillip shrugged replying, "Yeah, I had a change of clothes for tomorrow, and my toothbrush and stuff, then I thought Dad could spot me for extra clothes when I got there."
As Lee and Phillip then left the building to head for Lee's car in the Dulles parking lot, Lee thought, How could a smart kid like this be so mixed up about things?!
In any case, Lee was not looking forward to having Phillip face Amanda, but like it or not, Phillip was going to have to deal with it, and maybe, between the two of them, they could straighten him out finally...
TBC
