****
Jake and Alex looked at each other. "The US Attorney wants what?!" they both shouted at the same time.
Frank rubbed his temples and tried to remain calm. "The last case we wrapped up. Somehow, someway, some of the sworn testimony has vanished. The Prosecutor needs you both to fly to D.C. for a day or two and re-testify."
Jake grumbled and picked up the phone. Alex fixed a look at Frank that accused him of something underhanded before she picked up another phone. While they did that, Cody found them a flight to and back from Washington.
"Frank..."
"Yes Monica?"
"What's up with Alex? She's giving you some pretty nasty looks today."
"I had dinner with her sister last night."
"Damn Frank. You just met her briefly and-"
"Sasche set us up."
"Ohhh...." she smiled. As he turned to go back up to his office, Monica followed. "AND?"
"And what?"
"How'd it go? Were there sparks?"
Frank wheeled around. "I highly doubt that it's any of your business, Agent Davis."
"Ohhh.. defensive. I like that, it means things went well. Is there a second date in the future? Now that Alex is out of town for a few days you have the perfect opportunity to ask Amanda out!" Her last sentence was spoken to a closing door. "Damn. That man is as stubborn as Alex is."
Inside his office, Frank was staring out of the window. His thoughts were on Mandy. She'd told him in no uncertain terms that he got one chance to set things right. But, why should he? He left her in St. Croix with the note because his intention was to save her the possible pains of their future relationship. Any number of things could happen to him with this job and he just could not bring himself to let her in for that kind of pain.
Then Sasche's words came back to him, as did Mandy's. She was a big girl and capable of making her own choices. She fell in love with him willingly and never asked for anything from him except that he love her in return. But the more he thought about it, the more he knew that he was right for doing what he did.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Come in."
"Hey Frank?"
"Yes Jake..."
"You aren't possibly sending Alex and I off to D.C. just to get a crack at Amanda... are you?"
Frank turned around from the window and looked at Jake. "Are you questioning my intentions or honor, Agent Shaw?"
"No, Frank. I'm not questioning you. But from what Monica told me, you and she have already had a date."
"And you know that it was Sasche who set us up on that 'date'."
"Yes, I know. I told her she was insane for doing it and I think Alex has had words with her about that too. I think that if you and Amanda were to date, you should have the opportunity to meet on your own without the machinations of a well meaning sister."
"This is odd coming from someone who was 'fixed up' himself." Frank chuckled slightly and sat down. "It's alright Jake. Amanda is a nice girl and I don't mind. I know Sasche is full of good intentions. But sooner or later I'm sure that Miss Cross is going to depart for New York again."
"Singer."
"What?"
"Her name isn't Cross. Her name is Amanda Singer. She took their mother's maiden name at Alex's request... as a precaution for her safety."
"Ah. Smart thinking. Go on Jake, you've got to pack for a few days stay."
Jake grinned and left Frank. As Jake closed the door behind him, Frank was thinking that he might just drop by Alex's tonight and take Mandy out for another dinner.
****
Jake and Alex looked at each other. "The US Attorney wants what?!" they both shouted at the same time.
Frank rubbed his temples and tried to remain calm. "The last case we wrapped up. Somehow, someway, some of the sworn testimony has vanished. The Prosecutor needs you both to fly to D.C. for a day or two and re-testify."
Jake grumbled and picked up the phone. Alex fixed a look at Frank that accused him of something underhanded before she picked up another phone. While they did that, Cody found them a flight to and back from Washington.
"Frank..."
"Yes Monica?"
"What's up with Alex? She's giving you some pretty nasty looks today."
"I had dinner with her sister last night."
"Damn Frank. You just met her briefly and-"
"Sasche set us up."
"Ohhh...." she smiled. As he turned to go back up to his office, Monica followed. "AND?"
"And what?"
"How'd it go? Were there sparks?"
Frank wheeled around. "I highly doubt that it's any of your business, Agent Davis."
"Ohhh.. defensive. I like that, it means things went well. Is there a second date in the future? Now that Alex is out of town for a few days you have the perfect opportunity to ask Amanda out!" Her last sentence was spoken to a closing door. "Damn. That man is as stubborn as Alex is."
Inside his office, Frank was staring out of the window. His thoughts were on Mandy. She'd told him in no uncertain terms that he got one chance to set things right. But, why should he? He left her in St. Croix with the note because his intention was to save her the possible pains of their future relationship. Any number of things could happen to him with this job and he just could not bring himself to let her in for that kind of pain.
Then Sasche's words came back to him, as did Mandy's. She was a big girl and capable of making her own choices. She fell in love with him willingly and never asked for anything from him except that he love her in return. But the more he thought about it, the more he knew that he was right for doing what he did.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Come in."
"Hey Frank?"
"Yes Jake..."
"You aren't possibly sending Alex and I off to D.C. just to get a crack at Amanda... are you?"
Frank turned around from the window and looked at Jake. "Are you questioning my intentions or honor, Agent Shaw?"
"No, Frank. I'm not questioning you. But from what Monica told me, you and she have already had a date."
"And you know that it was Sasche who set us up on that 'date'."
"Yes, I know. I told her she was insane for doing it and I think Alex has had words with her about that too. I think that if you and Amanda were to date, you should have the opportunity to meet on your own without the machinations of a well meaning sister."
"This is odd coming from someone who was 'fixed up' himself." Frank chuckled slightly and sat down. "It's alright Jake. Amanda is a nice girl and I don't mind. I know Sasche is full of good intentions. But sooner or later I'm sure that Miss Cross is going to depart for New York again."
"Singer."
"What?"
"Her name isn't Cross. Her name is Amanda Singer. She took their mother's maiden name at Alex's request... as a precaution for her safety."
"Ah. Smart thinking. Go on Jake, you've got to pack for a few days stay."
Jake grinned and left Frank. As Jake closed the door behind him, Frank was thinking that he might just drop by Alex's tonight and take Mandy out for another dinner.
****
