1 A Little Push

by matahari2

Summary / Disclaimer, Etc.: See Chapter One.

Chapter Two - Still Smoke and Mirrors

In a moderately posh hotel room, only a few blocks away from the Georgetown building known as International Federal Film, a handsome dark-haired young man was discussing final plans with his two associates. Early on Friday morning, before 6:00 a.m., each of them would "neutralize" one of the Georgetown University students who had tickets and ID badges for the Pope's Youth Rally at RFK Stadium. Buses from the university would carry the students to the stadium starting at 8:00 a.m., and the rally itself would begin at 10:30 a.m. Because of their young, clean-cut good looks, these three would easily disappear into the crowd.

At 11:45 a.m., Billy Melrose, the Agency's Chief of Field Section was about to wrap up the morning's strategy meeting. "All right, people, we have a special Mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Thursday evening, but that one is invitation-only, mostly dignitaries of some sort or other. Duffy, you're in charge of security for that venue; cover the exits and the streets around the church. Next is the Motorcade from the hotel at 16th and H Streets over to RFK Stadium; we've got agents lined up at various places through the motorcade route, and the Pope's own vehicle protects him fairly well for that trip. Stetson, you will be in charge at the stadium. Make sure all the exits and the tunnels are covered, and that ID's and tickets are thoroughly checked."

Lee responded, "Got it, Billy. That's why the students are being brought in by bus from each of the schools, and have staggered arrival times beginning at 8:00 a.m."

"Good, then that's all for now," Billy said, effectively ending the meeting.

Five minutes later, Lee found Amanda in the Q Bureau vault, inserting the last file, closing and locking the drawer. "Is now a good time?" he said, not realizing that he had startled her, as usual.

"Good grief, Lee!" Amanda almost yelled. "When are you gonna stop doing that, huh?"

"Sorry. Force of habit, I guess. So are you ready to go to lunch?" he asked.

Amanda said, "Sure. Let me just close the vault and get my purse."

Moments later at Nedlinger's, they had just ordered their lunches, caesar salad for Amanda, and a roast beef sandwich for Lee. The two of them chatted amiably about how their days had gone so far.

Lee told her, "It's still all 'smoke and mirrors', but at least the team did put together some kind of a plan. It makes us feel like we we're doing something, even though we still don't know what we're up against. How was your morning?"

Amanda replied, with a weak smile, "Oh, it's been an OK morning, I guess, but I could certainly use something a little more interesting to do than filing. I mean, I'm not on the 'team', but if there's any way I can help...you know, contribute in some way, I'd really"

"be glad to," they said, in unison, and Lee continued, "Yeah, I know. Sometimes this 'need to know' stuff gets a little old, doesn't it? Tell you what. Although I can't reveal any 'deep, dark secrets'," he said, making quotation marks in the air, "I can tell you what's common knowledge. And if you have some useful suggestions, I'd be crazy not to take advantage of them, right?"

Lee had flashed one of his killer smiles at her when he asked the question, and she couldn't help grinning when she answered, "Well of course you would! I don't care what anyone else says, Big Fella, you're all right!", and she gently chucked him on the shoulder.

She could be so funny sometimes, and those eyes, when they sparkled like that, it just wasn't fair. It almost made him want to...Oh my gosh, Stetson! Where did that come from? He shook his head slightly and smiled, and finally was able to continue, "OK so there are just a few big events where the Pope and his entourage might be in danger. There's the private mass on Thursday evening, and the motorcade from the hotel to RFK Stadium on Friday morning early, and then the Youth Rally at the stadium, which starts at 10:30."

"Oh yeah, that's right. One of the kids from our neighborhood, Jimmy Gianetti - he's a student at Georgetown - anyway, he has a ticket to go to the rally. His mother is so proud, she's been talking about it with Mother and anyone else down the block, and... well, at any rate, Jimmy told her that he has to be ready to get on the bus by 8:00. Didn't you say the rally doesn't start 'til 10:30?"

Would Amanda's rambling never cease? Although he had to admit to himself that it was sort of cute...

"Lee?", she called to him, probably for the second time, he wasn't sure.

Oops. Busted again. "What? Oh, right, the rally doesn't start until 10:30, Amanda, but we have to get over 20,000 students delivered safely to the stadium, check all their tickets and ID badges, and have them seated before the Pope's arrival at 10:15," Lee explained.

A quiet little "Oh" was all she said. 'Good, Amanda, throw me off balance by NOT rambling,' he thought.

"What, no suggestions?" Lee asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Well no...not yet, anyway. Just a couple of questions, really," Amanda offered. "What kind of weapons could they possibly bring in? And with all your double ID checks and all, how could anyone unexpected get in? Wouldn't they have to bring in weapons that were somehow disguised NOT to look like weapons, and wouldn't they have to steal or duplicate somebody's real ID badge?"

"Well, Mrs. King, for someone who doesn't have any 'suggestions', you sure are good at puzzling out the right questions. We'll kick those around with Billy and Francine when we get back to the office, OK?"

"Sure. That'll be fine, " she said with a sweet smile. Funny how a nice lunch with a 'friend' can improve your day.

TO BE CONTINUED