Fear, Love, and Revelations
Chapter 2
See Chapter one for all disclaimers, notes, settings, and such.
Driving down the highway, Amanda's every thought was on Phillip. What had happened? Had he gotten hurt in gym? Was there a fight? An accident? She hoped that Joe was there. Billy had told her that Lee had sounded worried, and knowing Lee, that probably meant that he was at the school right now. But she also knew that the school would never let him in to see Phillip. Not unless she or Joe gave it the okay. She sighed. Maybe she should take Lee up on his offer to tell the truth about their marriage. Then he could be on the boys' emergency contact list.
Getting off the freeway, she had to pass by her house on the way to the school. She noticed that they were working on the phone lines across from her house. She chuckled as she realized that she no longer knew if the phone company was really the phone company, or if it was the Agency. Suddenly that thought didn't seem funny anymore as she recognized a new agent leaning against the van. Her mind immediately went back to Phillip, and her foot pressed down harder on the accelerator.
Turning into the parking lot, she saw Lee's corvette parked haphazardly. She smiled as she imagined him making a dash for the administration offices. The smile left her face as she got out of her car and did the same.
So intent on reaching her family, she didn't even notice the Agency van pulling in behind her, or Billy's frantic shouts for her to wait. She also didn't see the snipers on the roof of the school, coolly allowing her to enter.
She walked quickly into the building, headed for administration. As she turned the last corner, she nearly collided with Joe. "Joe! You're here! Where's Phillip?"
Joe looked at her with fear and love in his eyes. "I tried, Amanda. But the guy had a gun, and I…" Joe stopped, unable to continue.
"What happened, Joe?" Fear gripped her heart at the thought of something happening to her sons.
"Someone tried to grab Phillip during gym class. He was fine, and Lee sent us out to the van while he went and got Jamie, but this guy found us. He took Phillip, and headed up the stairs. I tried to stop him, but he…. he shot me."
Amanda noticed for the first time that Joe was holding his arm, and that his sleeve was soaked in red. "Oh, Joe! Let me see that." Amanda rolled up his sleeve, and was relieved to find that the wound was not as bad as it seemed. She gave him her coat, telling him to put pressure on it. She reached into her purse, and pulled out her gun and several full clips, stuffing the clips into her pockets and waistband. Normally she avoided carrying her weapon, but was now grateful that Billy had insisted on her having it during her current assignment. The weight of it in her hand helped to reassure her that they could get the boys out of this.
Joe's eyes widened at the sight of his ex-wife holding a gun. She looked so determined, and, well, tough. She looked tough. He sighed, catching her attention. "You're not his secretary, are you?"
She shook her head. "I'm his partner. That's why he was assigned to your case a few years ago," she added, checking her weapon. "He wanted to make sure I was okay." She looked at Joe in sympathy. She knew this was a lot to deal with. He had always thought that she had met Lee because of him. "I need you to go out to the van, I'm sure it's there by now. Tell Mr. Melrose that someone's got Phillip, and that they're on the second floor. I'm heading up there." Without waiting for his reply she headed towards the staircase.
Climbing the stairs, her mind raced as she tried to think of who could have her son. She didn't think the case she was working on now would lead to such drastic measures. And Lee was working on cold cases, and wasn't even near solving them. Nobody he was investigating should be this threatened. It had to be someone old, an old case. The possibilities were endless. It could be anyone, even someone she didn't know. It could even be…No, she wasn't going to think that. Her body shuddered, and she gripped her gun a little more tightly. Birol was locked up safe. He couldn't be here.
She stepped up the last stair, and looked down the hallway, wondering which way to go. Hearing voices, she turned left, creeping down the hall, staying close to the wall. Coming to another turn, she stayed around the corner, listening to the conversation she could now hear clearly.
"You didn't really think he got away from me did you Scarecrow?" asked a voice she couldn't quite identify. "I let him go. I didn't need him. I needed you and your pretty wife here. I knew if I threatened the munchkins, the Scarecrow would come. And my associates have already told me that she is here as well. It's all falling into place rather nicely, don't you agree?"
"All right. If you don't need him, then let him go." Amanda knew that to the enemy, Lee sounded threatening, but she could hear the fear in the voice.
"I said I didn't need him. Maybe now I do. I can see you have great love for this boy. I think I might keep him a while. See what happens."
Amanda could wait no longer. Taking a steadying breath, she turned the corner, and was faced with a sight she'd hoped she'd never have to see.
To Be Continued…..