Fear, Love, and Revelations
Chapter 1
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Warner Bros. And Shoot the Moon Production Company. This story is written merely for the entertainment of all the deprived Scarecrow & Mrs. King fans.
Setting: September 1987. Nobody knows about the marriage, and the family does not know about the job.
Rating: PG-13 for some violence and swearing
Distribution: Sure, just let me know where so I can see.
Author's Notes: Phillip and Jamie attend a school where the 7th-12th grades are in the same school. As for feedback, please send it. I crave it. This is my first SMK story, so please let me know any comments, compliments, or criticisms.
Synopsis: An old enemy returns to threaten the family. Secrets are revealed.
******************
*************
******
**
*
"Mr. Stetson, there's a call for Mrs. King on the IFF line." The receptionist's voice rang out from his speaker.
"Thank you, put it through," Lee responded. "Film Library, This is Stetson."
"Mr. Stetson, this is Ms. O'Neal, the principal at Franklin High, may I please speak with Amanda King?"
"I'm afraid Amanda's out on location, and can't be reached. Can I help?"
"I'm afraid not. It concerns her son Phillip. It's a bit of an emergency. You can't get a hold of her?"
"An emergency?" Lee queried his heart in his throat. "What happened?"
"I'm afraid I can't disclose that, Mr. Stetson," Ms. O'Neal replied gently, hearing the panic in the man's voice. "I can speak to family only."
Not for the first time, Lee cursed the fact that nobody knew he was the boys' stepfather. "Have you tried to reach Joe King?" He hated to ask, but somebody needed to go to the school.
"We have, but I've been told it will take some time before he can call me back."
"Okay, I'll see what I can do to find Amanda. Thank you." As Lee hung up the phone, he thought about the zero-contact zone Amanda was in. The only person she could talk to was Billy, and he was the only one who knew how to contact her. He picked the phone back up, and called down to his boss.
After being promised that Amanda would be at the school within an hour, he tried to relax. After all, the principal had said it was only a "a bit" of an emergency. He tried to focus on the report he had in front of him, but his mind kept wandering back to Phillip. What if he needed someone now? Lee knew that Amanda was considering his offer to tell the boys the truth. If he didn't go, he would end up being as bad as Joe. No, his stepson needed him. He was going. He grabbed his keys, flew down the stairs and practically threw his badge at Mrs. Marsden.
While driving to the school, Lee couldn't stop his imagination from listing things that could have happened. Phillip could have broken an arm or a leg at gym, he could have been in a fight, he might have been hit by a car…. Lee pulled into the parking lot, and ran for the administration offices. As he entered the office. He looked around, but couldn't see Phillip anywhere. He dashed to the receptionist's desk and asked for Phillip King.
The receptionist looked at him coolly. "And you are?"
"Lee Stetson, I'm a friend of the family's." Lee could see that the woman wasn't going to let him in. "Please, I just need to see that he's okay." He flashed her his most charming smile. But it immediately faded when she just continued to stare at him. He was about to switch to threats when he saw the nurse's door open, and Phillip walk out.
"Phillip," he called, rushing over to him.
"Lee! What are you doing he..Umph!!" Phillip's question was cut off as Lee gripped him in a bone-crunching hug. "Lee, I can't breathe."
"Sorry. Are you okay? What happened?"
"Sir, you can't be here, you aren't family."
Lee was just about to tell the receptionist that the King Family was his family, when he heard Phillip speak up.
"Aah, he's all right, Mrs. Stemple. He's a friend."
"And it looks like a worried friend at that." Lee looked up at the newcomer. "I'm Shelly O'Neal, the principal, you must be Mr. Stetson."
"Yes," he replied shaking her hand.
"I've heard a lot about you from the baseball moms. Why don't we go into my office, so we can talk."
Lee was shocked to hear that he was a subject in the PTA's gossip. He sighed, thinking of the Agency's gossip mills. 'I guess gossip is the same wherever you are.' "Sure," he said, smiling, happy he was going to be included in this discussion.
Just then the doors opened to admit a very worried looking Joe King. "I came as soon as I got the message," he said.
Lee had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. 'As soon as the meeting was over is more like it,' he thought. But only said, "We were just about to discuss it, Joe."
Joe looked at him as if he had just noticed that he was there. "Hello, Lee. Thanks for coming, but you don't have to stay. I'm here now."
"Yes, you are, but if it is all right with you, I'd like to stay anyway."
Joe just shrugged, and Shelly took that to be assent. "If you gentlemen would be so kind as to follow me into my office, Phillip and I will fill you in on what happened." She turned and led the way down the hall.
As they were walking Phillip turned to his dad. "Hi, Dad."
"Hi, Phillip. Are you okay?"
Phillip just nodded, upset that his dad was just now acknowledging him. It was like he was more interested in having Lee gone than in how his son was doing.
Lee did not miss this exchange, or Phillip's reaction. He moved closer to him, and put his hand on his shoulder. Phillip smiled up at him gratefully. As they entered Shelly's office, Phillip and Joe each took a chair in front of her desk, which left Lee on the couch to the side.
"Why don't you tell them what happened Phillip," Shelly encouraged him.
"Well we were playing soccer in gym today, and the ball went way out onto the softball field, and I ran after it," Phillip started hesitatingly. Lee nodded at him to continue. "It was all the way by the fence, and I had my back turned to the field, when…..this guy grabbed me. He told me if I screamed he would shoot me, and I could feel the gun against my head, and so I just nodded……" Phillip stopped, unable to continue.
Lee walked over to him, kneeled down, and put his hand on Phillip's knee. "Go ahead Phillip. We need to know the rest." His voice was calm, but inside Lee was raging.
"I…He relaxed when I said I would cooperate, and he lowered the gun. He started pushing me towards the parking lot. Then Mark Sommers yelled to quit gabbing and get the ball back, and so I did. I don't know… I guess it threw the guy off 'cause he didn't do anything else, and when I looked back he was gone."
Lee and Joe were both livid. Lee couldn't help but wonder if was just some sicko, or if it was somehow connected with the Agency. He looked up as Phillip inadvertently answered his question.
"It was the weirdest thing. While we were walking, he sang 'We're off to see the Wizard', but he was singing it wrong. He kept singing 'We're off to see the Scarecrow'."
Lee paled as he heard Phillip describing his worst nightmare. Someone coming after his boys because of him. 'Boys' he thought belatedly. "Where's Jamie?" he asked, panicked.
"What? Lee does this mean something to you?" Joe asked. "Is this because of your job?"
Lee only nodded, stood, and looked at Shelly for the answer he needed. "What class is Jamie in right now?!"
"I can have my secretary look it up for you." Having been in D.C. area schools for over thirty years, she'd seen kids with all sorts of important parents. From what Joe King had said about Lee Stetson's job, she figured he had something to do with high-security information. Perhaps IFF wasn't quite what it claimed to be.
"Do it. I need to use your phone." Lee picked up the receiver as Shelly nodded her assent on her way out the door, dialing a very familiar number.
"Great. This is wonderful!! I knew this would happen!" Joe couldn't hold it in any longer.
"Dad, what's going on? What does this have anything to do with Lee's documentaries?"
Just then they heard Lee say into the phone, "This is Scarecrow. I need to talk to Melrose, NOW! Priority Alpha Green Omega."
"Scarecrow?" Phillip said, remembering what the guy had been singing.
Lee whirled around, his eyes wide, as he realized that Phillip had just put the pieces together. He was about to say something when he heard Billy pick up the line.
"Melrose."
"Billy, we have a situation at Franklin High in Arlington. Some guy just tried to grab Phillip." Lee could hear the panic rising in his own voice, and cringed. He needed to stay calm if Billy was going to let him stay on the case. He took a breath, and tried again. "We're going to pull Jamie from class, but we need an Agency van and a team here, now."
"Wait, Lee how do you know that it's Agency related?"
"He's looking for me Billy. He mentioned Scarecrow."
"We're on it. I'll have Francine see who's been recently released or if anyone's come through Dulles. The van will be there in half an hour."
"What about Amanda?"
"I got a hold of her a few minutes ago. She's on her way."
"Damn it!! Billy, I don't want her charging in here. You know how she is when it comes to ou…her family."
"The van should get there before she does, we'll hold her back. Be careful, Lee."
"Don't worry, my main concern is getting the boys out safely." Lee looked up to see Shelly entering the office with a piece of paper in her hand. "I've gotta go, Billy. Get here fast." Turning to her, he asked, "Where is he?"
"History, second floor, 215."
"Lee, you're a fed?" Phillip asked, shocked.
Before Lee had a chance to answer, Joe spoke up. "Yes, he is. In fact, he's a spy. And I think you deserve to know the truth. You and your brother are in danger because of him." Joe whirled on Lee. "MY boys are in danger because some spy can't keep his goddamn hands off my wife!"
"Joe, I don't think this is the most prudent time to have this conversation, do you? And while we're at it, the correct term is ex-wife." Lee grimaced, knowing that he had actually just added fuel to the flame with that "ex" comment. And he didn't like the look on Phillip's face. But before either one could say anything, he turned to Shelly. "Room 215?"
She nodded, and he turned back to Joe. "Before you say anything else, Joe, I 'm telling you right now: I don't want to hear it. I need to take care of the boys. Get them out. I want you to take Phillip out of here, and get him in the Agency van when it arrives."
"Mr. Stetson," Shelly spoke up, "what about the other children?"
"Do you have busses on the property?"
"Yes."
"Okay. You are going to file the kids out, one classroom at a time, starting with those nearest the exits. Have your staff drive each bus to the hotel around the corner, unload, and come back for the next class. You should have four or five going at a time. I know it isn't much, but getting them out quickly will only alert them to something going on."
"Them?"
"I'm betting whoever this guy is, he isn't alone. They almost never are." Lee turned to Joe. "Get Phillip out of here. The van should be here any minute. It will look like a news van or phone company or something. You and Phillip get in it and stay there." He then turned to Phillip. "I need you to do this. I know you have a lot of questions, and we will discuss them when this is all over, but right now, I need you to do what I ask, no questions, or complaints. Okay?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Go with your dad, and be careful. I'm going to get Jamie." Lee herded them out the door, and watched them start down the hall. When he could no longer see them, he turned and ran for the stairs. Locating room 215, he pushed the door open. His eyes immediately found Jamie as the kids looked up at the interruption.
"Sir, can I help you?" Mrs. Harris asked, weary of this stranger. She had heard about Phillip King, and it was possible that the man was back for another kid, possibly even Phillip's brother, Jamie.
"I need to pull Jamie King from class. I'm afraid it's a family emergency," Lee responded, waving Jamie over.
"I'm sorry, Sir, but I can't let you take him. I don't know you."
Lee sighed at the thought of going through this again. At least Amanda had picked a school with good security. He again waived Jamie over, and asked him to tell his teacher that he did know him.
"Sure, he's my mom's friend. Lee, what's going on?"
"I'll tell you later Jamie," Lee said, as they headed out the door.
"Sir, I'm sorry, but that's not good enough," called Mrs. Harris, chasing into the hall after them.
Lee whirled around. "Did you know someone tried to grab his brother?"
"Yes. Why do you think I'm being so protective of him?" she spat.
Lee had to admire that. He could be the kidnapper, and this woman was staring him down. He sighed when he realized that she wasn't going to let Jamie go. He pulled out his badge and ID. "Look, this whole family is under federal protection. Now I need to take Jamie. Is this going to be a problem?" Lee grimaced as he saw Jamie's eyes grow wide at the sight of his badge.
Mrs. Harris took the badge and studied the ID carefully before shaking her head and handing it back to him. She quietly turned, and headed back to her class.
"Lee, what's going on?" Jamie asked again. "Is Phillip okay?"
"He's fine, Jamie. It was just a scare. And before you ask, yes, that was a real ID. I have a lot to tell you, but right now, we need to get you out of here."
"Why? You still haven't told me what's going on."
Lee stopped, debating. Finally, he gave in. "Jamie, Your mother and I work for the government. The documentaries are just a cover. We're actually counterintelligence operatives. What that means is that we have a lot of enemies, and one of them has decided to come looking for you boys. Philip's okay, I sent him with your dad, and they should be heavily guarded by now." He started them walking again. "But we need to get you to safety."
As they rounded the corner, Lee stopped, his eyes fixated on a sight he hoped he'd never see.
To Be Continued.