CASE CLOSED-PART II
AUTHOR'S NOTE-I think we may need to make this AU or What if.
Monday morning came quickly. Amanda was at the Agency early, updating some background work on
the Anderson case.
Lee came into the office in the same irritated mood. "Morning," he hardly spoke, not even looking in
her direction.
"Good morning," she replied quickly and hurried into the vault to complete some filing.
Later, Lee was going over some reports when the phone rang.
"Lee, I need to see you and Amanda right away," requested their boss.
"O.k., Billy, we'll be right there. "Amanda, Billy needs to see us," he shouted into the vault.
"All right, I'm coming ," she responded, put out.
IN BILLY'S OFICE
Billy was briefing the two about the Anderson case. "It looks like Gretchen and Daniel will attempt to
meet with Tucker at 11:30 a.m. at the Hodgekins House. The KGB are on their backs. We will need
you two to provide assistance.
The main Mall Exit 3 is where Daniel and Gretchen have been spotted. Dorachek, a long time and ruthless KGB agent has been tailing them. Keep an eye on them beforehand.
"If Tucker is caught, his subversive group will disband, thus eliminating the threat to the nuclear missiles."
"Any questions?" "Smile, both of you,," grinned Billy. "If you wind this up early, you can leave on holiday earlier."
Lee smiled a little at Amanda, and she barely reciprocated. She looked up into his hazel eyes, 'If he only
knew,' she thought.
Back in the Q Bureau, Lee tried to concentrate on completing some reports, but couldn't seem to keep his
mind off his partner. He stared across at her, becoming lost in thought. 'I've got to tell her. I'm miserable
this way. I can't take the tension much longer. She thinks I want us to lay off each other. Nothing could
be further from the truth. Why, am I such a chicken? I love her so. I need her so much. Why can't I just
say the words?'
He tried completing another sentence. Then he realized, he needed to finish these reports or there would
be no holiday. Lee trained his thoughts on the task at hand.
Scarecrow had accomplished a good amount of closures. He noticed the time was 10:30 a.m.. "Amanda,
It's time to leave for the Mall," he ordered quite audibly.
No response. She was at her desk lost in thought.
"Amanda, did you hear me, let's go," Scarecrow's significant reprimand brought her out of her reverie.
"I'll get my purse and be right with you," she replied embarrassed.
They walked around the designated Mall area, but saw no one right away.
About 10:45 a.m. the Anderson's approached Exit 3 at the downtown Mall. Lee and Amanda took cover.
Lee spotted Dorachek coming in from the opposite side, gun poised at the couple.
"Amanda,," Lee whispered, "I'm going to disable Dorachek. Circle around toward the Andersons to make
sure there are no more KGB agents in the vicinity. Don't let the Andersons see you. We're going to follow
them," Lee dictated.
"That's not what Billy directed us to do, Scarecrow. We were supposed to assist them," pointed out his
partner.
"In a roundabout way, we will be assisting them. We will, at least, be in the same locality if we have to help them."
"You do get around an issue, don't you, Lee," Amanda replied knowingly. Scarecrow smirked
Lee subdued Dorachek easily. Agency backup assisted Dorachek to a holding cell back at I. F. F.
Lee and Amanda followed the Andersons at a discreet distance.
The Hodgekins House was a few blocks from the Mall.
Russelle Tucker was the head of the Scorpions, a subversive group whose aim was to locate tracking
schedules and whereabouts of nuclear missiles. The group was not functional at all without their leader.
Tucker was under the impression that he was to exchange information for a price from two Russian sympathizers, the Andersons.
This contact would show whether Amanda of Lee's theory was correct. If the Andersons captured Tucker,
then Lee was wrong.
The meeting room set aside was 106, down the hall from the main reception area. The Andersons entered
the main rotunda , asked directions to Room 106, and were on their way. Lee and Amanda were right behind them.
The meeting was progressing with low tone voice contact. Suddenly, gunshots were heard, and a poignant scream penetrated the relative quiet. "Daniel," Gretchen cried.
Lee drew his weapon and forced the door to 106 open. Russelle Tucker was dead. Daniel Anderson was
hit, and rumpled on the floor. Gretchen was standing there, weapon poised, shaking.
Lee disabled her, and she ran to Daniel crying . "He's been shot in the chest," she screamed, blood all over.
"Amanda," Lee commanded in agent mode, dial 911, and Billy. I'll see what I can help with here."
Lee quickly disabled Tucker's weapon from his proximity, felt with his fingertips for a pulse, none.
"Tucker's dead," he explained to Gretchen. How's Daniel holding up?"
"He's still breathing, Mr.--- Mr."
"Stetson, Lee Stetson. I'm a U. S. agent. I work for the Agency." He showed his badge.
"My partner called an ambulance. They should be here shortly."
Gretchen nodded. "Thanks," she whispered sadly.
Lee's compassion showed through. "I'm sorry about Daniel. I hope he's o.k."
Amanda had returned and overheard Lee's comment. She smiled slightly and thought" that's my Lee
coming through."
"Gretchen, this is Amanda King, my partner," Lee introduced a smiling, concerned woman, who was very
obviously in love with her partner.
This was Gretchen's conclusion as she shook hands with Amanda. If there was one look she knew, it was
love. The same look showed through Lee's Stetson's eyes for Amanda. Gretchen also sensed some
difficulty between them. Even in her concern over her husband, Gretchen could sense this.
Back up agents returned Tucker to the government morgue set aside for enemy agents and fugitives.
"I'm going to the hospital with Gretchen for awhile to see how Daniel progresses, and be there in case she
needs help.'
"I'll go with you, there's just one car, remember, and we need to talk," Lee said contritely. I'll check in
with Billy one last time and be right with you."
"Amanda, Billy says I'm needed back at the Agency for an hour or two for some closure work. I'll drop
you and Gretchen off at Galilee and pick you back up in about two hours, o.k."
Amanda waited at Galilee General Hospital with Gretchen. Daniel's surgeon returned to inform her that
the surgery had gone well. Daniel was out of danger."
Gretchen cried in Amanda' arms. "Thank God."
After a short while, her tears spent, Gretchen thanked Amanda for being a caring friend.
"Good luck to you and Lee," she empathized.
"Wh---what do you mean, Gretchen?" Amanda responded innocently.
"Amanda, I know love when I see it. Both of you are so obvious. Don't let him get away, you'll regret it
the rest of your life."
"It's a two way street, Gretchen," Amanda responded, her eyes tearing, wondering how an almost complete stranger could care.
Gretchen caught her hand, "He'll come around, Amanda, he's scared."
Amanda pulled away, spying Lee approaching. "Would you excuse me, I need to use the rest room. Tell Lee, I'll be right out."
"Daniel will be fine," a smiling Gretchen informed Scarecrow.
"I'm glad for you, Gretchen," Lee took her hand.
"Thanks Lee. Look, I know I don't know you that well, but I need to say something to you before Amanda
comes out of the rest room. I'm just going to come out and say it."
"Tell her you love her Lee, before it's too late, because she surely loves you. You two will be happy,
guaranteed. Ask yourself a question, Lee. What do you fear most, living without Amanda, or telling her?
Be happy, Lee." Gretchen was crying as she gave Lee a hug,. "Thank you," he whispered.
"Ready to go, Amanda," Lee asked quietly. "We'll see you tomorrow at the Agency, Gretchen. Goodbye."
he smiled back.
Amanda thought she saw a tear run down Lee's face.
Silence prevailed on the ride back to the Agency. Lee tried to take Amanda's hand. She had no objection
but didn't look at him.
Amanda switched to her car when they arrived at I. F. F. "See, you tomorrow," she stated without eye
contact.
"What about debriefing?" Lee asked.
"Billy said I could do that tomorrow," she answered quickly, started up the engine, and rapidly left I. F. F.
BILLY'S OFFICE
Billy mentioned to Scarecrow to call it a day. Debriefings would be short tomorrow, and then you two can
cut out early. "Oh, and Lee, fix whatever is wrong between the two of you before you come back to this
office Monday.
"Yes sir," Lee replied, sadly. There was nothing he wanted more.
TUESDAY -AGENCY
Amanda avoided Lee all day, and left early. She would leave for Inner Harbor Wednesday morning.
Lee asked Hal if there was any problem leaving Wednesday for Inner Harbor since they closed the case early. Hal replied, "no problem at all."
TBC
AUTHOR'S NOTE-I think we may need to make this AU or What if.
Monday morning came quickly. Amanda was at the Agency early, updating some background work on
the Anderson case.
Lee came into the office in the same irritated mood. "Morning," he hardly spoke, not even looking in
her direction.
"Good morning," she replied quickly and hurried into the vault to complete some filing.
Later, Lee was going over some reports when the phone rang.
"Lee, I need to see you and Amanda right away," requested their boss.
"O.k., Billy, we'll be right there. "Amanda, Billy needs to see us," he shouted into the vault.
"All right, I'm coming ," she responded, put out.
IN BILLY'S OFICE
Billy was briefing the two about the Anderson case. "It looks like Gretchen and Daniel will attempt to
meet with Tucker at 11:30 a.m. at the Hodgekins House. The KGB are on their backs. We will need
you two to provide assistance.
The main Mall Exit 3 is where Daniel and Gretchen have been spotted. Dorachek, a long time and ruthless KGB agent has been tailing them. Keep an eye on them beforehand.
"If Tucker is caught, his subversive group will disband, thus eliminating the threat to the nuclear missiles."
"Any questions?" "Smile, both of you,," grinned Billy. "If you wind this up early, you can leave on holiday earlier."
Lee smiled a little at Amanda, and she barely reciprocated. She looked up into his hazel eyes, 'If he only
knew,' she thought.
Back in the Q Bureau, Lee tried to concentrate on completing some reports, but couldn't seem to keep his
mind off his partner. He stared across at her, becoming lost in thought. 'I've got to tell her. I'm miserable
this way. I can't take the tension much longer. She thinks I want us to lay off each other. Nothing could
be further from the truth. Why, am I such a chicken? I love her so. I need her so much. Why can't I just
say the words?'
He tried completing another sentence. Then he realized, he needed to finish these reports or there would
be no holiday. Lee trained his thoughts on the task at hand.
Scarecrow had accomplished a good amount of closures. He noticed the time was 10:30 a.m.. "Amanda,
It's time to leave for the Mall," he ordered quite audibly.
No response. She was at her desk lost in thought.
"Amanda, did you hear me, let's go," Scarecrow's significant reprimand brought her out of her reverie.
"I'll get my purse and be right with you," she replied embarrassed.
They walked around the designated Mall area, but saw no one right away.
About 10:45 a.m. the Anderson's approached Exit 3 at the downtown Mall. Lee and Amanda took cover.
Lee spotted Dorachek coming in from the opposite side, gun poised at the couple.
"Amanda,," Lee whispered, "I'm going to disable Dorachek. Circle around toward the Andersons to make
sure there are no more KGB agents in the vicinity. Don't let the Andersons see you. We're going to follow
them," Lee dictated.
"That's not what Billy directed us to do, Scarecrow. We were supposed to assist them," pointed out his
partner.
"In a roundabout way, we will be assisting them. We will, at least, be in the same locality if we have to help them."
"You do get around an issue, don't you, Lee," Amanda replied knowingly. Scarecrow smirked
Lee subdued Dorachek easily. Agency backup assisted Dorachek to a holding cell back at I. F. F.
Lee and Amanda followed the Andersons at a discreet distance.
The Hodgekins House was a few blocks from the Mall.
Russelle Tucker was the head of the Scorpions, a subversive group whose aim was to locate tracking
schedules and whereabouts of nuclear missiles. The group was not functional at all without their leader.
Tucker was under the impression that he was to exchange information for a price from two Russian sympathizers, the Andersons.
This contact would show whether Amanda of Lee's theory was correct. If the Andersons captured Tucker,
then Lee was wrong.
The meeting room set aside was 106, down the hall from the main reception area. The Andersons entered
the main rotunda , asked directions to Room 106, and were on their way. Lee and Amanda were right behind them.
The meeting was progressing with low tone voice contact. Suddenly, gunshots were heard, and a poignant scream penetrated the relative quiet. "Daniel," Gretchen cried.
Lee drew his weapon and forced the door to 106 open. Russelle Tucker was dead. Daniel Anderson was
hit, and rumpled on the floor. Gretchen was standing there, weapon poised, shaking.
Lee disabled her, and she ran to Daniel crying . "He's been shot in the chest," she screamed, blood all over.
"Amanda," Lee commanded in agent mode, dial 911, and Billy. I'll see what I can help with here."
Lee quickly disabled Tucker's weapon from his proximity, felt with his fingertips for a pulse, none.
"Tucker's dead," he explained to Gretchen. How's Daniel holding up?"
"He's still breathing, Mr.--- Mr."
"Stetson, Lee Stetson. I'm a U. S. agent. I work for the Agency." He showed his badge.
"My partner called an ambulance. They should be here shortly."
Gretchen nodded. "Thanks," she whispered sadly.
Lee's compassion showed through. "I'm sorry about Daniel. I hope he's o.k."
Amanda had returned and overheard Lee's comment. She smiled slightly and thought" that's my Lee
coming through."
"Gretchen, this is Amanda King, my partner," Lee introduced a smiling, concerned woman, who was very
obviously in love with her partner.
This was Gretchen's conclusion as she shook hands with Amanda. If there was one look she knew, it was
love. The same look showed through Lee's Stetson's eyes for Amanda. Gretchen also sensed some
difficulty between them. Even in her concern over her husband, Gretchen could sense this.
Back up agents returned Tucker to the government morgue set aside for enemy agents and fugitives.
"I'm going to the hospital with Gretchen for awhile to see how Daniel progresses, and be there in case she
needs help.'
"I'll go with you, there's just one car, remember, and we need to talk," Lee said contritely. I'll check in
with Billy one last time and be right with you."
"Amanda, Billy says I'm needed back at the Agency for an hour or two for some closure work. I'll drop
you and Gretchen off at Galilee and pick you back up in about two hours, o.k."
Amanda waited at Galilee General Hospital with Gretchen. Daniel's surgeon returned to inform her that
the surgery had gone well. Daniel was out of danger."
Gretchen cried in Amanda' arms. "Thank God."
After a short while, her tears spent, Gretchen thanked Amanda for being a caring friend.
"Good luck to you and Lee," she empathized.
"Wh---what do you mean, Gretchen?" Amanda responded innocently.
"Amanda, I know love when I see it. Both of you are so obvious. Don't let him get away, you'll regret it
the rest of your life."
"It's a two way street, Gretchen," Amanda responded, her eyes tearing, wondering how an almost complete stranger could care.
Gretchen caught her hand, "He'll come around, Amanda, he's scared."
Amanda pulled away, spying Lee approaching. "Would you excuse me, I need to use the rest room. Tell Lee, I'll be right out."
"Daniel will be fine," a smiling Gretchen informed Scarecrow.
"I'm glad for you, Gretchen," Lee took her hand.
"Thanks Lee. Look, I know I don't know you that well, but I need to say something to you before Amanda
comes out of the rest room. I'm just going to come out and say it."
"Tell her you love her Lee, before it's too late, because she surely loves you. You two will be happy,
guaranteed. Ask yourself a question, Lee. What do you fear most, living without Amanda, or telling her?
Be happy, Lee." Gretchen was crying as she gave Lee a hug,. "Thank you," he whispered.
"Ready to go, Amanda," Lee asked quietly. "We'll see you tomorrow at the Agency, Gretchen. Goodbye."
he smiled back.
Amanda thought she saw a tear run down Lee's face.
Silence prevailed on the ride back to the Agency. Lee tried to take Amanda's hand. She had no objection
but didn't look at him.
Amanda switched to her car when they arrived at I. F. F. "See, you tomorrow," she stated without eye
contact.
"What about debriefing?" Lee asked.
"Billy said I could do that tomorrow," she answered quickly, started up the engine, and rapidly left I. F. F.
BILLY'S OFFICE
Billy mentioned to Scarecrow to call it a day. Debriefings would be short tomorrow, and then you two can
cut out early. "Oh, and Lee, fix whatever is wrong between the two of you before you come back to this
office Monday.
"Yes sir," Lee replied, sadly. There was nothing he wanted more.
TUESDAY -AGENCY
Amanda avoided Lee all day, and left early. She would leave for Inner Harbor Wednesday morning.
Lee asked Hal if there was any problem leaving Wednesday for Inner Harbor since they closed the case early. Hal replied, "no problem at all."
TBC