First, another shout out to my fabulous team of betas, without whose encouragement I may never have posted this story, or went on to write the next (Yes, there IS another sequel, and the answer of the errand will be answered!!!)

And a great big thank you to everyone who read and reviewed this story, the encouragement means a lot to me!


And now, as a little treat for you all, I have a preview! Coming soon to a PC (or MAC) near you, Breezy Walsh's "Madness Takes It's Toll"

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"Thank you sir. Yes I understand. I will, goodbye," Amanda hung up the phone.

"So where are you staying?" Lee asked.

"It seems there are no vacancies in this or any surrounding town. Something about a seafood festival. So he told me that I had to stay here," she finished in a barely audible mumble.

"Well, I guess we could work something out," Lee looked around the room.

"Have you looked around here? There's a dresser, a bed, and a night stand. I'm not sleeping on the floor and I won't let you. My aunt Lillian's is only an hour or so away. I'll just go up there," Amanda reasoned.

"Amandaaa, you will stay here. How long have I known you?"

"A while"

"Uh huh, and in this 'while' have I ever tried anything with you?" Lee gave her the best innocent face he could muster.

"No, but I--" Amanda started.

"No, buts Amanda King. We're going to need to be here with our wits about us. I promise not to get cute. And if anyone asks this room had two twin beds. So your reputation will remain unmarked."

"Fine, but I'll sleep up near the head and you can sleep at the foot."

"Fine," Lee rolled his eyes and with a yawn, continued, "I'm exhausted, so I'm going to turn in now."

"That's a good idea. I'm going to get my bags and do the same."

Lee watched Amanda leave the small room. As he gathered everything he needed to get ready for bed he wondered not for the first time what he was thinking when he was talking to her. It was as if he had no choice in what he said to her.

He really didn't want to share a bed with Amanda King. Lee Stetson did not share a bed with anyone who did not have certain ideas about how the bed should be shared. Well, okay, this was Amanda and sharing anything with her was enjoyable. Especially lately, everything he shared with her seemed to make it a lot better. But he wouldn't be sharing the bed as much as cohabiting in the same general region of the room.

Well, unless she got cold, but he figured that she would reach for more blankets before she reached for him. Amanda had been very careful to point out what good friends they were lately, but Lee never sensed that she was hinting at more than that. It was comfortable. It really was, most of the time. Times like this. This was going to be awkward. At least until one of them fell asleep. And right now he frankly didn't feel like sleeping. He wanted to find out who had killed his friend and he knew that there wasn't much he could do. Maine shut down after midnight.

Small town America wasn't his thing. It required patience. He would definitely need Amanda's help on this. That was her department. She could coax the most stubborn KGB agent into confessing that he loved democracy without batting an eyelash. He frowned. Billy knew what he was doing when he made them partners.

Lee stopped his train of thought and grabbed his pajamas. He wanted to be ready before Amanda came back in. And thinking about someone knowing him better than himself made him very uncomfortable.

***