Part Seven
The same day 10:00 A.M.
"Mrs. Marston, did you get next
month's password list?" Billy asked the receptionist in the Georgetown
foyer.
"Yes, Mr. Melrose, but we've
already used one of the passwords. Mrs. King had trouble trying to remember
'rosebud' when she first started out." Mrs. Marston replied.
"Okay, I'll have to send you an
amended list..." Before Billy could finish, a frantic Lee and Amanda
rushed in.
Not noticing Mrs. Marston, Amanda
began to speak. "Sir, the terrorist group called us at my house. They told
us how they found out about 'Operation Beat It,' and that they wanted us to
give them the remaining details, or they'll leak information on our marriage to
the media."
"You're married?" A
surprised Mrs. Marston gasped as she handed Lee and Amanda their security
badges.
"Yes," Lee admitted.
"Since February, Mrs. Marston. Please don't mention it until we tell
everybody else."
"Of course I'll keep
quiet!" Mrs. Marston said in a huff. She shook her head and added in a
softer voice, "Congratulations."
"Thank you, Mrs. Marston,"
Lee and Amanda replied together.
As they waited for the elevator,
Billy put a hand on each of his agent's shoulders. "Lee, Amanda, I don't
think you're gonna like what I'm about to suggest," he began, "but I
think it would be in everyone's best interest if you announce your marriage to
the folks downstairs.
"Billy, we wanted to tell
Phillip and Jamie first, then Francine, and then finally the rest of the
Agency," Lee said as Amanda closed her eyes and shook her head in frustration.
"We don't have many options. I
don't want you worrying about protecting a secret when we need to concentrate
on keeping a lid on 'Operation Beat It.' Now, Francine's running late: a little stomach bug she said. So we'll
start in the Bullpen, then tell her when she shows." Billy turned to
Amanda. "The boys are in school right now, anyway," he told her. "Even if our plan doesn't work, you'll
still have a chance to talk to them. They don't watch the eleven o'clock news,
do they?"
"No, they're usually in bed by
then," Amanda confirmed as they stepped into the elevator.
"My point, exactly. Besides, if
we run late, your mother can run interference on the home front." Billy
smiled at the thought of Mrs. West trying to distract Amanda's sons.
"Billy, I'm not thrilled with
this, but I don't see any other options. What about you, Amanda?" Lee asked her.
"I don't want anyone's feelings
to get hurt, but I don't know about Phillip and Jamie being the last to know,
either. However, if we get everyone in the Agency out of the way now, so we can
concentrate on stopping those terrorist, we might as well go for it."
"Okay, you two. Why don't we
get started, then?" Billy suggested. The trio walked toward the Bullpen.
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"Fred and I figured out how
'Operation Beat It' was compromised, without the help of Scarecrow and his protégée,"
Beeman bragged to those near him, unaware that Billy, Lee, and Amanda had
joined them.
"Beeman, if you are finished, I
have an announcement to make," Billy said.
Beeman's face turned red. "Yes,
sir."
"Lee and Amanda have something
to announce. After they are done, I'll need Agents Kelsey, Williamson, Wilkins,
Miller, Beeman, and Fielder to meet with me in Conference Room A."
Lee looked at everyone, took a deep
breath, and smiled at Amanda. "We'll
try to get this over with as quickly as possible," he said as he took
Amanda's hand in his. "Amanda and I want to take this opportunity to
announce our marriage. We tied the knot, so to speak, last February, the 13th,
to be exact."
The Bullpen began to buzz, and a few
of the clerical staff looked faint. No
one moved, but finally, Leatherneck approached the couple. "To be honest
with you, I've known about your marriage for a while now. I found out totally
by accident…and kept it quiet. Congratulations." He leaned over and gave
Amanda a quick kiss on the cheek"
"Thank you, Leatherneck."
Amanda blushed.
"Wait until Dr. Smyth hears
about this. He's gonna be ticked!" Beeman smirked as he approached the
couple.
Lee's eyes widened at that remark,
and he cleared his throat. "Before everyone gets back to work, I have one
more thing to announce. If anyone else, besides Amanda or myself, tells Dr.
Smyth about our marriage, you will live to regret it. Does everyone
understand?"
There was a unanimous murmur of
agreement from the agents in the Bullpen.
"Billy, we'll be waiting for
Francine up in our office. We'll brief her on what has happened. Beeman, you
and Fielder can explain to everyone in the conference room how 'Operation Beat
It' was compromised." Lee said.
"Okay," Beeman and Billy
both answered as they walked into the conference room.
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