**Disclaimer** Scarecrow and Mrs. King is copyrighted to Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Production Company. The story, however, is copyrighted to the author. This story is for entertainment purposes only and cannot be redistributed without the permission of the author.
Title: With or Without You
Author: Mary
Date Written: August/September 1999
Synopsis: Six months after their marriage, Lee and Amanda deal with the reality of their secret relationship and a conspiracy that
threatens to destroy what they have built.
Rating: PG-13
WITH OR WITHOUT YOU
PART THREE
"TROUBLE DEAF HEAVEN"
CHAPTER NINE
The man lay unobtrusively among the discarded boxes, just another homeless person searching for a brief respite from the night. The constant pain in his side made it difficult to find a comfortable resting-place. He pushed this new torment to the back of his mind, in a place with the other things too painful to deal with.
He felt confident that he could lie here undisturbed for a time. It had taken all his strength to make it this far. The throbbing in his head punctuated by waves of dizziness made it impossible to concentrate for very long. He had been moving on autopilot for the last few days, pushing himself to do what needed to be done. Now, there was nothing left to do but wait.
He closed his eyes and finally allowed his thoughts to drift to her. She had been his touchstone throughout the ordeal. When he had been tempted to give up, to let the cool blackness take him, she had always pulled him back again. He hadn't let himself think of her often in that place; he couldn't let them turn her into a weapon to be used against him. But now he could indulge himself for a few minutes; he didn't have to move again until morning.
The pain washed over him without warning, drowning his thoughts and carrying her away with it. He wanted to surrender to the merciful hands of oblivion but instead he fought once more to stay conscious. He had to hold it together a little longer. Once contact had been made, he could let go, retreat back into himself and heal. Just a few more hours…he would endure a little longer. He had no choice. He settled back, gritted his teeth, and waited for the dawn.
Amanda pushed her way through the throng of Monday morning commuters crowding the train station. Her emotions had been in turmoil ever since her mother delivered her bombshell twelve hours ago. She endured a sleepless night, impatiently waiting for the first hint of morning, not knowing what to think. Her heart whispered that only one person could have sent a package with that particular message, but her mind refused to let her believe. Nevertheless, she decided not to call Francine for back up and go to the train station alone, even though it was a serious violation of all her training. If this turned out to be a trap, then she would walk into it. But if not…then she needed to be there alone.
She scanned the faces of the crowd, businessmen impatiently waiting for the train. She tried to calm her nerves by pacing up and down the platform, but she kept craning her neck for a glimpse of his familiar form. As the 7:30 express pulled slowly into the station, the crowd pushed forward. The surge of bodies pressed in on all sides and carried Amanda along with them. As she struggled to break free, someone grabbed her by the arm.
"Keep walking straight ahead and don't look around," the familiar voice said, pulling her away from the crowd. "I don't know if we're being watched."
Amanda felt her heart pounding and something between a sob and a laugh caught in her throat. She closed her eyes and prayed this wasn't a dream. No, the strong arm that held hers felt real enough. Her voice filled with emotion, the word sounded more like a sob than a name. "Lee."
"Is your car in the parking lot?" he asked through clenched teeth, the strain evident in his voice.
"Right over here." Her own lips were tightly compressed, trying to keep her feelings from spilling out all over the asphalt.
They reached the car and slid quickly inside. "Drive," was all Lee managed to say before passing out in the seat beside her.
* * * * *
Amanda watched Lee's unconscious form sprawled unceremoniously on the bed. After leaving the train station, she'd driven through the busy streets in a state of shock, traveling in circles. Even though her thoughts were turning upside down, she still had the presence of mind to make certain they didn't have a tail. She racked her brain trying to decide what to do next. Judging from the looks of things, Lee was in bad shape, but she didn't dare risk a trip to the hospital until she had a better idea of what was going on. She needed a safe haven; somewhere they could both hide without arousing suspicion. She hadn't wanted to do it, but she was out of options. She'd headed for Joe King's Washington apartment.
With Joe's help, they had gotten Lee upstairs. Luck was finally on their side – no one saw them drag Lee inside. If he hadn't lost so much weight, Amanda would never have been able to manage it, even with Joe's help. She studied her husband's motionless form with a worried frown. He hadn't fully regained consciousness after collapsing in her car, but his intermittent moaning at least assured her he was still alive.
"My God, Amanda," Joe said, watching in shock from the doorway. "He needs a Doctor."
Amanda looked from Joe's anxious face to the pale visage of her husband resting on the bed. "I know. But I can't take him to the hospital. Joe, I don't have any idea what Lee was mixed up in - until I do, until he can tell me, I don't know who I can trust."
Joe sighed fretfully, pacing the room. Seeing his distress, Amanda stammered an apology. "I'm sorry for involving you in all this. I just didn't know where else to go…"
Joe tried to reassure her. "You know I'll do anything I can to help you, sweetheart, but no matter what you say about not going to the hospital, Lee needs medical attention." He paused a moment, considering their options. "My next door neighbor is a doctor…at least let me call him and have him take a look."
Amanda hesitated, torn between the risk and her concern for her husband. She looked at Joe with tears in her eyes. "You trust him not to say anything?"
"Yeah, he owes me a favor. I helped him out with a sticky legal problem last month. He won't say anything if I ask him not to. Of course, showing him your federal I.D. couldn't hurt," Joe added, a smile playing across his face.
She took a deep breath…she had to do something. "Okay. Call him."
Joe picked up the phone. Amanda heard his hushed tones and then the louder click of the receiver.
"He'll be right over. Try not to worry." Amanda smiled wanly, her thoughts on Lee. She smoothed her hand over his forehead and down his cheek. "Oh, Lee," she whispered softly, a solitary tear running down her face. Joe King watched the scene in silence wondering how he could ever have imagined their relationship a 'passing fancy'. She looked at Lee Stetson in a way she'd never looked at him.
The doorbell rang and Joe answered it, greeting his neighbor. "Dan, we really appreciate this."
"Glad I could be of assistance. You helped me out of a tight spot – now I can return the favor. Where's your friend?"
"Right in here." Joe ushered his neighbor into the bedroom. Amanda sat silently at Lee's side, lovingly holding his hand in hers.
"Amanda, this is my neighbor, Dr. Dan Roberts. Dan, this is Amanda King, my ex-wife."
Dr. Roberts nodded hello, but his attention was focused on Lee. "Our friend here was mugged," Joe continued.
Dr. Roberts took one look at Lee, automatically reaching over to take his pulse, then looked back at Joe and Amanda skeptically.
"Will he be all right, Doctor?" she whispered.
"I can tell you right now this man belongs in a hospital," Dr. Roberts said tersely. He turned to look at the solemn faces of Amanda and Joe. "I take it that's out of the question or you wouldn't have called me. Joe, I think you're the one who's going to owe me after this. In fact, I should probably get free legal advice for the next year. Why don't you both wait in the other room and let me examine him?"
Joe pried Amanda from Lee's side. "Come on, let Dan take a look."
She reluctantly allowed Joe to lead her into the other room. Joe sat her down on the couch, his protective arms holding her close. Amanda's eyes stayed focused on the bedroom, wanting with every fiber of her being to be in there with Lee. She rested her head in her hands, murmuring to herself. "He's got to be okay. I can't lose him all over again."
Feeling helpless, Joe simply sat with his arms still around her while they waited for the Doctor to finish his examination. After what seemed like an eternity to Amanda, Dr. Roberts entered the room.
"How is he?" She sprang from the couch, pushing Joe aside.
"I'd feel better if he was in a hospital. There are tests I'd like to run. This was no mugging." Roberts' tone was accusatory.
Amanda retrieved her Agency I.D. from her purse. "I'm afraid a hospital is not an option right now," she stated authoritatively. "We're going to have to treat him here."
"I thought you people had your own Doctors?"
"I'm afraid that's not an option, either. Please, Dr. Roberts. I need to know my partner's condition."
Dan hesitated, looking from Amanda to Joe. Joe shot him a pleading look. "Okay, I'll do what I can for him here. Your partner's been worked over pretty thoroughly and by the looks of it, I'd say by someone who knew what they were doing. Of course, I can't tell without x-rays, but my best guess is he's bruised, maybe cracked, a few ribs. He doesn't seem to be having any difficulty breathing and doesn't appear to be in shock, so I don't think he's punctured a lung. That's a good sign." His voice was calmly reassuring
"Why isn't he conscious? He seemed okay at first, then he passed out in my car and we haven't been able to bring him around."
Roberts frowned. "Any nausea of vomiting?"
"No," Amanda answered.
"He seems to have sustained a pretty nasty bump on the head, so it's likely he has a concussion. What I'd really like is a CAT-scan," he mumbled to himself. He turned to Amanda cautiously. "I think there's more going on here than just the head injury, though. He's responsive to pain, so he's not deeply unconscious. There's evidence of restraint marks on his wrists and legs, needle marks on his arms. My gut feeling – whatever he still has in his system is complicating things. Without a blood work up, I can't even begin to tell you what drugs were used, but it's fair to say somebody pushed him - and hard." He smiled grimly. "I take it that's not unusual in your line work?"
Amanda said nothing, but walked over to the window. Joe again followed her and put his arms around her, offering her a supportive shoulder.
Roberts continued. "You say he was conscious earlier?"
"That's what Amanda said."
"Then let's hope for the best. I've got some medical supplies next door at my place. We'll see what we can do. There are some signs you should watch for. You'll want to check his level of consciousness — his reaction to stimuli, ability to move, persistent vomiting. And I think it's pretty safe to say when he does regain consciousness, he'll have quite a nasty little headache." He smiled thinly, taking Amanda's hands in his. "Right now we have to watch and wait. It's all I have to offer at the moment. Sometimes, in cases like this, a person's will makes all the difference. I'd say your partner must be a pretty determined guy to have been on his feet at all."
"You have no idea, Doctor," Amanda replied with a smile.
CHAPTER TEN
The dark haired man read the dinner menu with gusto. "I'm hungry tonight," he stated jovially. His partner regarded him silently, absently playing with his tie.
"What's the matter with you…lost your appetite?" The sarcasm in his voice was impossible to miss.
His partner said nothing.
"Know what I think your problem is? I think you've lost more than your appetite for dinner. I think you've lost your appetite for this entire line of work."
Again, his partner declined to comment. Instead, he glanced furtively around the room at the other diners.
"I hope Phoenix One doesn't find out about your change of heart. This job doesn't come with a retirement plan," the dark haired man goaded him.
His partner had finally had enough. "I don't have to like my job to do it," he hissed. "Phoenix One knows I've been loyal. I've done everything he's asked…and more. After all, I'm the one that's been doing your dirty work all along now, haven't I?" He glared ominously across the table at the dark haired man.
It was now his companion's turn to be silent as they both took refuge behind their menus. Catching his partner's uneasy mood, the dark haired man began to squirm nervously in his seat. After a few minutes, he spoke in a low voice. "She didn't report for work today. I checked."
"Is that supposed to mean something?"
"I guess I'm just wondering if you took care of business the way you were supposed to."
"I did what I had to do."
"She's probably just shacking up with the ex again," the dark haired man grunted in response. "But maybe, just to be sure, we should check it out after dinner."
"Suit yourself. I'm going home."
"If you want something done right, do it yourself," the dark haired man muttered ominously. "I'll take care of it."
They silently returned to their menus.
"You've been sitting here all day, Amanda," Joe King gently chided. "Why don't you come into the kitchen and let me get you something to eat."
Amanda shook her head. "I'm not hungry." Her eyes lingered on Lee, resting fitfully on the bed. He still hadn't regained consciousness, but every once in a while he groaned and tensed, as if fighting invisible monsters only he could see.
"Dan said it could be a while before we know anything. You need to keep up your strength."
"I can't leave him, Joe."
Joe King sighed, realizing he couldn't change her mind. Her stubbornness had always been one of the main stumbling blocks in their relationship. "I'll be in the other room if you need anything."
Amanda looked up tentatively. "There is something you could do. I told Mother I'd be tied up with work for a few days. It would help if I didn't have to worry about the boys…"
"No problem. I'll check on them."
"Jamie has that photography project due. I promised to help him with it," she added as an afterthought.
"I'll take care of it."
Amanda watched Joe disappear into the other room. She knew she wasn't being fair to him. He was such a good man – he didn't deserve this. After their confrontation over the weekend, she had been determined to put some distance between them, for Joe's sake and Jamie's. Now circumstances were forcing them together once more. If they got out of this one, she and Lee would both owe him a great deal. Amanda sighed. Lee had been right about a lot of things, including their "mystery" relationship. She hoped they would get the opportunity to put things right. They needed to finally tell everyone the truth so Joe could get on with his life. As things stood now, they were all caught in this spider web of lies, however well intentioned.
"If we get out of this one," Amanda said softly. She sighed once more and put her head down on the bed next to Lee. With her face buried in the covers where no one could see, she allowed her tears to finally fall unheeded.
"Don't cry, Amanda," groaned the all too familiar voice she longed to hear. "You'll shake the bed and I've got one hell of a headache."
She looked up through her tears. "Lee."
"Don't cry. I'm here." He weakly took her hand in his.
She held on as if as if she'd never let go. "Oh, Lee. They told me you were dead." Smiling through her tears, she laid her head gingerly on his chest.
With his free hand, Lee tenderly ran his fingers through her hair. "Believe me, it's as close as I ever want to come."
"I love you so much. I never thought I'd have a chance to say those words again."
Lee brought her hand to his lips, kissing her fingers. "I love you, too." He stirred slightly. "How long have I been out?"
"Since this morning. You passed out in the car. Do you remember?"
"Everything's still a little foggy." He looked over at the I.V. drip attached to his right arm. "What's in that?" he asked sharply, struggling to sit up. "Where are we?"
"Only I.V. fluids," Amanda reassured him, pushing him back down on the bed. "You're dehydrated. Just rest. It's okay…we're at Joe's."
"Joe's?" he asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically.
"Yeah, I know. It was a spur of the moment decision. I couldn't think of anywhere else go. Under the circumstances, your place and my place were both out of the question," she added with a forced laugh. "I didn't think you'd want me to take you to the hospital. His neighbor is a Doctor," she answered, following his gaze to the I.V. drip in his arm. "You were in pretty bad shape when we got here. Don't worry, he owed Joe a favor. He won't say anything."
Once more, Lee tried to get up and failed. Groaning, he rubbed his head with his good hand. "I don't suppose he left you an aspirin."
"He didn't want to mask your symptoms. I can go call him, though." She stared to leave but his hand pulled her back.
"No, don't go. I don't need a Doctor…I just need you."
"Just try and get rid of me."
"Amanda…"
"It's okay." She gently stroked the beard that had started to grow in on his face. "Don't try to talk right now. We have time. Close your eyes. I'm not going anywhere."
Sighing, Lee complied, allowing her to take charge for now. He was so tired. "Amanda," he said groggily, as sleep claimed him once again, "Got to be careful. Can't trust anyone…at the Agency. Don't - let – them suspect…can't know I'm alive."
"Shhh. It'll be all right. Just rest."
He fell into a troubled sleep.
* * * * *
Lee woke abruptly from the nightmare, breathing heavily, uncertain of his surroundings. The darkness closed in around him as it had done so many times since the explosion. He called out automatically.
"Amanda."
To his surprise, she answered quickly, turning the light on low. "I'm right here."
He eased himself back down on the pillows, holding her hand tightly as if it was a lifeline. He never wanted to let it go again. "I'm okay," he said in response to her unasked question. "I just didn't remember where I was for a minute."
She continued to hold him in her steady gaze, her expression telling him she wasn't buying any of it. Sometimes, when she looked at him like that, Lee thought she could see right into his soul, to the place where he kept all those hidden secrets he'd never been able to share before knowing her.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Lee took a deep breath, looking at the ceiling. "I can't right now. It's too soon. I need a little time." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. Looking deeply into her eyes, he said, "Trust me."
"You know I do."
Lee looked at her sitting stiffly in the chair next to the bed. "What time is it?" he asked, still slightly disoriented.
Amanda checked the clock on the nightstand. "It's early – not quite 4:30 in the morning."
"You look exhausted. That chair can't be very comfortable. Why don't you come over here and lie down?" He indicated the space next to him on the bed.
"I don't want to disturb you."
"You won't," he replied with a smile that lit up his face, beard and all.
Amanda quickly shed her skirt and blouse and carefully crawled in next to him. She accidentally brushed his tender ribs with her hand. "I'm sorry," she said with a quick intake of breath.
"It's okay, I'll live."
"Don't joke about that."
He smiled, putting his arm tenderly around her. "Now that's better. I can't tell you how many times I've dreamed about just holding you." He stifled a yawn. "I wish I could stay awake for more than a few minutes," he complained as sleep caught up with him once again.
"Your body needs the rest. You should listen to it. I'll be here when you wake up."
"Okay. But leave the light on." He closed his eyes and snuggled closer, the sound of her even breathing lulling him back to sleep.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The blue sedan was parked unobtrusively under a tree by the upscale apartment building. In this spot, the dark haired man could observe subjects entering and leaving the building, while keeping a low profile himself.
He took a deep breath, absently rubbing his chest with his left hand. He should have known better than to order the chicken oriental at dinner – way too spicy for tonight's festivities. He reached into the glove compartment of his car and retrieved his 'Tums', quickly downing a handful.
Damn his partner anyway. Probably stretched out in bed right now relaxing, while he was stuck here waiting in the cramped confines of his car. For that matter, the object of his surveillance was probably stretched out in bed, too, he thought ruefully - with the ex.
He shifted uncomfortably in the seat. He could feel that damn spicy pepper he'd accidentally swallowed at dinner slowly working its way down into his stomach. The dark haired man popped another 'Tums'. It was going to be a long night.
Amanda surfaced slowly through layers of sleep, enveloped by an aura of warmth. It had been a long time since she'd felt like this. She fought against awakening. She didn't want this feeling to end; she wanted to stay right here in this imaginary place she visited in her dreams, safe in the protected comfort of her husband's arms.
The full force of memory suddenly hit her like a sledgehammer and she jerked herself awake. The dream hadn't ended - Lee was right beside her, quietly watching her sleep. "It wasn't a dream, it wasn't a dream," she murmured over and over to herself.
"Definitely not. This headache is real enough."
He groaned as he struggled to achieve a sitting position. Amanda reached for an extra pillow, gently placing it behind his back.
"Better?"
He nodded affirmatively.
"You took out your I.V." She glared at him accusingly.
"I've had enough needles to last a lifetime." He looked down ruefully at his attire. "I take it these belong to your ex?"
"Well, your clothes were a mess. We had to do something."
"This is certainly one for the books – I never dreamed I'd ever be lying here in bed with you in Joe's pajamas."
"You're making jokes, you must feel better."
He cupped her face with his hands. "I'm really okay. Oh, Amanda, I missed you so much," he added in a quiet, intense voice, slowly drawing her to him for a kiss. Before their lips could meet, they were interrupted by the sound of Joe's voice.
"Amanda, Dan's here to look at Lee…sorry," he mumbled apologetically, looking quickly down at the floor.
Amanda quickly pulled the covers around her. "It's okay - just give me a minute." Interrupted again, she thought wryly. Things were definitely getting back to normal.
* * * * *
"Here's your breakfast." Amanda set a tray with a small serving of oatmeal,
Jell-o and weak tea in front of Lee.
"What is this stuff? You know, I spend the last six months trying to convince you not to cook me a big breakfast and the one morning I'm starving, you come up with this."
"It's called a bland diet and that's all you get for a few days. You must be feeling better, you're starting to sound like the Lee we all know and love," she added in a teasing voice. "The one who's such a model patient."
Lee toyed with his oatmeal, letting it drip off the spoon in big globs, a sour expression on his face. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm already getting antsy. It's hard to lie in here when I need to be out there getting some answers."
Amanda sat down on the bed beside him, absently rubbing his leg. "Do you feel up to filling in some of the blanks for me?"
Lee exhaled sharply, twisting on the bed to find a comfortable position. He pushed the breakfast tray to one side. "I can try. How much do you know?"
"Not a lot. Francine and I have been trying to piece things together."
Lee raised an eyebrow skeptically.
"Yeah, I know, who'd have thought it – Francine and I, partners," she said in response to his look. "The trail is pretty cold. We talked to T.P. – he told us about this 'Phoenix' code word you'd asked him to check on. And of course, Francine knew about the paper trail you'd been following at the agency. Other than that..."
Lee sighed. "I inadvertently stumbled onto a covert operation the extent of which I've never seen before. A secret organization operating on a level so deep…this Phoenix Group has given new meaning to the Agency motto 'Service in the Shadows'. There's evidence they've infiltrated the entire intelligence community… FBI, CIA, you name it. A hidden department operating across bureaucratic lines."
"An Agency within the Agency," Amanda intoned solemnly.
"Yeah…and believe me, these guys have taken inter-departmental cooperation to a new level. According to my source, they're into everything - the destabilization of foreign currency, arms deals, the assassination of foreign dignitaries, you name it."
"T.P. said they're very dangerous."
He nodded in agreement. "And they've been around for a long time. Hell, one report even places them on the grassy knoll in Dallas."
"Who tipped you off?"
"You remember, I went to Senator Holstein's party to meet my old buddy Tom? He was my source. It seems the good Senator had gotten in over his head and wanted out. He figured I could help. Somehow, he found out I'd been nosing around. Holstein was going to name names. We were supposed to talk that night, but the meet turned sour. Then, later, there was the explosion and fire." His mouth dry, Lee paused for a moment to take a sip of tea. "We agreed to try again the next night in Georgetown. Tom promised Holstein would give me all the details. I know, I should have had back-up. I didn't want to drag you or Francine into this until I had a better idea of the reach of the Phoenix Group. And I couldn't involve Billy until I knew for sure how badly the Agency had been compromised. In retrospect, pretty stupid."
"Go on," Amanda prodded.
"I thought I'd take the preliminary meet and then decide how best to proceed." Lee's voice became low and intense as he was drawn back to the events of that night. "I was supposed to meet with Tom and Holstein in the basement of the house in Georgetown. I went in through the window as planned. Tom was waiting, along with Senator Holstein. It was a trap." He hesitated for a minute, trying to pull himself out of that basement and back to the present. He shook his head in an attempt expel the shadows still clouding his mind.
Amanda held his hand tightly, gently encouraging him to continue. "What then?"
"It happened so fast - it's still a little hazy. They struck without warning. We were surrounded before we knew what hit us. Before I could react, we were all cuffed, hoods thrown over our heads, and stood against the wall. I had a sense of eight, maybe ten men in the room. I know at least two of them had me. I couldn't move. I tried to get them to talk but no one said a word. Looking back, it was their silence that made it all seem so surreal. Holstein started blubbering like a baby, crying over and over that it was all a mistake. It didn't do any good. They shot him and then Tom – two bullets each, in the head. I heard the silencer. It was professional, quick – no hesitation. Then they put the gun to my head. I knew I was next. I can still feel the cold steel against my temple," he said, absently running his hand over his forehead. "I tensed, waiting for the bullet. Instead, someone hit me on the back of the head. Then everything went black. When I woke up, I was in hell."
Amanda leaned forward and took him in her arms. "It's over. You're here, we're together…it'll be all right."
"I know." He held her tightly, burying his head in her shoulder. A twinge in his side forced him to break the embrace and he collapsed back against the pillows in a cold sweat, still clutching her hand. He breathed slowly in and out, trying to quiet his thoughts. He looked at his wife's face, the worry lines etched plainly across it. "Amanda, I'm so sorry you had to go through this. I know should have confided in you. It's just…"
"Just…what?"
Lee looked away uncomfortably. "When you were shot on our honeymoon, it scared me. I didn't want to put you in danger again. I couldn't risk losing you. I never stopped to consider that maybe you felt the same way."
"You know, I thought you were dead," she answered in a small voice. "Billy came to the house to tell me. He said there'd been an explosion and you'd been killed. A positive identification – absolutely no doubt."
"They must have falsified the evidence. The reach of this group is very long." He seemed momentarily lost in thought. Rousing himself, he looked at Amanda tenderly. "I knew I had to find away to let you know I was okay without putting you in danger. And I was still in pretty bad shape from whatever they'd pumped into me."
"I liked your present," Amanda said with a smile.
"I managed to get word to one of my 'family' – he delivered the package. I tried to hit on something only the two of us would understand. I didn't dare risk contacting you myself. In case they were watching. We've got to play this very carefully. The people who 'debriefed' me were Agency, Amanda. I'm sure I've known them, worked with them. I just can't put faces to the voices. It's all a haze," he said in frustration.
"We'll put it together – you know there's nothing the two of us can't do, partner."
He smiled at her uncertainly. "Amanda, someone inside this operation wanted me to unravel it. Why am I still alive? My instinct says they should have finished the job they started. But instead of a bullet in the head, I was dumped from the backseat of a speeding blue sedan. It's amazing the little details that stick in your mind when you think you're about to die." He rubbed his ribs gingerly. "That's where I got this. I think I must have hit a rock or something. I don't know, maybe they expected the fall to take care of things--but that doesn't jibe with the way Tom and Holstein were executed. You don't leave witnesses."
"Lee, I think we should bring Billy in on this."
"Not quite yet. I need a little more time to figure this out."
She eyed him thoughtfully. "Current police theory connects the series of explosions to organized crime. But you think they're tied in with the group that held you?"
"Yeah. But I'm convinced these incidents are just a smokescreen for the real objective. Organized crime is just a red herring. Amanda, you've got to get me the Agency files on those explosions."
"They've been sealed and turned over to Miller at CIA."
"CIA?"
"Yeah. Dr. Smyth implied that you may have been implicated somehow in the incidents and yanked the Agency off the investigation. The police suspect you and Senator Holstein were involved in some sort of drug deal."
"On what grounds?"
"Evidently some hefty deposits were made in your checking account and the dates correspond to the dates of the explosions. Dr. Smyth felt the Agency had been compromised and it would be handled more impartially by another department."
"Typical," Lee replied in exasperation. "I guess that's about par for the course with our fearless leader."
"Dr. Smyth may not have had a vested interest in solving this case," Amanda said, smiling cryptically, "But I did. I made copies of the files before we turned them over."
"You didn't take them home?"
"You trained me better than that. There're in the vault in the Q-Bureau, misfiled under an old case heading."
"Good thinking. You'll have to go to the Agency and retrieve them," Lee said thoughtfully. "You should report in anyway, we don't want the wrong people getting suspicious. Where did you say you were yesterday?"
"I'm not myself," Amanda replied sadly. "I'm still upset over my partner's death. I need some personal time. Billy was very understanding."
Lee shook his head guiltily. "I hate keeping him in the dark. He's a good friend. I just can't be sure yet how far up this goes." He leaned forward with an effort and brushed his lips against Amanda's. "Tread very carefully at the Agency. In case you're being watched."
She nodded. "I'll go as soon as Joe gets back. He had to check in with his office this morning, but he promised to be back by noon."
"I don't need a babysitter," Lee said testily.
"Dr. Roberts said you're supposed to be on bed rest for at least a couple of days. I know you, Stetson. As soon as my back is turned, you'll be out of that bed. So don't try anything. In your present condition, I think it's safe to say Joe can take you," she finished with a laugh.
He shot her a withering look. "Very funny." He considered for a moment. "You know, maybe you should let everyone at the Agency think you're seeing Joe again. It's a good cover," he added with a touch of regret.
She sighed sadly. "I hate it that we're using him like this."
"I know. But better we do this than risk bringing the Phoenix Group down on our heads."
"Lee, when this is over, I want to stop all this deceit. I want to tell everyone the truth about us. Mother, the boys – even the Agency. It doesn't matter anymore what their 'unwritten policy' is…if I've learned anything this past month, it's that I want a full time husband more than a partner."
Lee leaned forward and looked deeply into her eyes. "The Agency be damned. I don't care what they think. When this is over, I'm ready to walk away from all of it. The only thing that matters is us—you and me and our family."
They held each other in silence.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The dark haired man blinked a few times in the bright sun. His eyes felt grainy from lack of sleep. All the stress of the past few months was catching up with him. He'd been tempted to call it quits last night but he couldn't ignore the persistent little voice in the back of his head, the voice that kept telling him things didn't add up. His partner may have felt secure in the belief that all the loose ends were tied up tightly, but he was far from satisfied. His every instinct screamed that something just didn't jibe. And he hadn't survived this long by ignoring his instincts.
His thoughts lingered appreciatively on her. Pretty soon he'd know all there was to know about her. The idea made him smile. This was almost too simple. He hoped they were planning another rendezvous for tonight. The dark haired man almost envied him. Lucky guy - he was certainly seeing enough action this week. Should prove to be some interesting listening, he thought with a leering grin.
A quick glance at his watch told him he was running late for his appointment. His partner was probably furious by now. Well, let him fume. He wasn't the one who'd spent the night in the narrow confines of this car. Just a few more minutes should do it. Then tonight…
Lee stood rigidly in the small shower stall letting the hot water cascade over him. Standing in the spray, he tried to rinse the last remnants of the past week from his body. It felt wonderful to finally feel clean. He ruefully catalogued his assorted bumps and bruises, starting with the knot on the back of his head to the now colorful hues of blue and yellow on his shoulders, back and rib cage.
Too bad the shower couldn't wash away his thoughts. It would take more than soap and water to expunge the memories of that Georgetown basement. He had been in this business for over ten years, in and out of more than his share of tight spots, but he really had never given much thought to what he stood to lose until now. Since Amanda, life had become a precious commodity. Now he had a reason to be more cautious, a reason to look forward to the coming years. He wasn't alone anymore – he finally had a family. That one small fact cast everything in a different light.
Toweling off, he put on Joe's pajama bottoms and robe. The simple act of bathing had been exhausting and painful. Still, it was well worth the effort-it had been too long between showers to suit him. The aftereffects of the drugs his interrogators used on him had sapped his strength. He still wasn't thinking clearly. Fighting the temptation to crawl back into bed and sleep for a week, he instead moved stiffly into the living room. Joe King sat comfortably on the sofa scanning some legal files. Lee held his breath as he cautiously eased himself down into the chair. Wincing, he propped some pillows on either side of his tender ribs as he shifted to find a comfortable position.
"You certainly look better than when you arrived," Joe grinned from behind a legal pad.
"Thanks for the loan of the razor."
Joe smiled ruefully. "Yeah, well Amanda will probably skin me alive for letting you get out of bed."
"I've tangled with her temper a time or two myself," Lee answered with a laugh. "But believe me, I appreciate it. I think I'm finally starting to feel human again."
An awkward pause followed this brief exchange. Lee broke the silence. "I appreciate everything else you've done, too."
Joe shrugged. "Well, I couldn't leave my sons' stepfather twisting in the wind."
Lee shot him a quizzical look.
"Amanda told me. Let me be the first to congratulate you."
"Thank you," Lee answered haltingly, uncertain of what to make of his words. There was a small edge to Joe's voice as he spoke. "I get the feeling there's a 'but' coming in here somewhere."
"No…I'm sincerely happy for you both. Amanda was devastated when she thought you were dead. All I want is for her to find the happiness she deserves. And I realize now that means you."
Lee didn't know how to respond to this. Deep down, he'd always been a little jealous of Amanda's relationship with Joe. Their open affection sometimes made him mildly uncomfortable. He understood logically that he couldn't change the fact that Amanda and Joe had been married any more than he could erase the parade of women in his past. But Philip and Jamie would always be a tangible reminder of that past, two ties that bound her inexorably to Joe King. He knew this was something he had to come to terms with if they were ever going to be a family.
Joe looked over at Lee a moment, debating whether or not to continue. Deciding there would never be a better opportunity to clear the air, he plunged ahead. "I guess any reservations I do have concern the boys' welfare."
Lee glanced uncomfortably at Joe.
"As long as I've started, I might as well finish. I guess I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about Amanda as well. But she's an adult and she's always made her own decisions. She chose this life. The boys didn't."
"I understand what you're saying, Joe. But you have to know how much Amanda loves Philip and Jamie. They've been her whole life. And I care about them, too. Neither one of us would do anything to put them in danger. That's one of the reasons we've kept our relationship a secret."
"Your relationship is none of my business," Joe answered testily. "But my sons' welfare is. And I can't help but worry about them."
Lee's reply was cut short by the buzzer. "Are you expecting anyone?"
"I ordered some groceries. I told Amanda I'd pick up a few things, but I was held up at the office this morning and didn't have time to get to the store. That's probably them now."
Lee cautiously made his way back to the bedroom as Joe buzzed the delivery boy up. 'Amateurs,' he thought in annoyance. Joe King really didn't have a clue about what they were up against.
* * * * *
Amanda briskly entered the Q-Bureau, heading for the vault. Deep in thought, she didn't see Francine until it was too late to avoid a collision. She sent her armload of files scattering across the room.
"I'm sorry, Francine," she muttered, stooping to help her retrieve the files. She skimmed the folders quickly as she gathered them into her arms. "What do you want with these old cases?"
"I'm supposed to turn these over to agents Mason and Thomas. Orders from Dr. Smyth himself." Francine wrinkled her nose in distaste. "They're our new Agency liaisons with CIA."
"The CIA is checking on Lee's closed cases?"
"Yeah, go figure. Mason and Thomas are on their way to pick these up, but they're late."
"I'll sort this mess out for you," Amanda offered kindly. "It's the least I can do after practically knocking you over." Before Francine could stop her, Amanda quickly scooped up the remaining papers and returned to the vault. While pretending to straighten out the mass of files, she quickly extracted the information Lee needed.
The door to the Q-Bureau opened and Mason greeted Francine with a leering grin. "Hey, beautiful, got what I need?"
His partner shook his head in disgust. His disapproval of his Mason's breezy manner was clearly apparent.
Francine bestowed her most contemptuous glance on Mason. The man was really such a slob – he looked like he'd slept in his clothes. "Mr. Mason, if you are referring to the files Dr. Smyth requested, Mrs. King is compiling them now."
"Here you are." Amanda handed the files to Thomas in a businesslike manner. "I believe that's everything you need."
"Thank you," he replied kindly.
"I didn't realize you were back, Mrs. King," Mason put in.
Amanda walked over to her desk and sat down. "I'm not back officially – I'm only in part-time to tie up a few loose ends."
"Tommy and I were both sorry about Scarecrow," Mason responded sympathetically. Thomas silently nodded his head in agreement. "He was one hell of an agent. For the record, neither of us are happy about this fishing expedition Dr. Smyth has us on with the boys at Langley."
"Thank you."
"Do you have everything you came for, Mason?" Francine asked coldly.
"Never have everything I came for with you Francine." He winked at her with a smirk. "At least, not yet. But these files will do for now."
He paused momentarily at Amanda's desk. "I am sorry about Scarecrow," he reiterated. He slowly stooped to retrieve a paper that had slid partially underneath her desk. "You really ought to brush up on your filing skills, Francine," he goaded, handing the paper to her with a flourish. He looked over at his partner. "C'mon, Tommy, let's hit the road. We've got a meet with Miller at CIA." He absently ran his hand through his dark hair. "It's show time."
To be continued…