PART NINE

Delivery Yard, Wednesday 1:00 am

The Agency teams were at their observation posts within the delivery yard. There were eight loading bays side by side, with a large yard in front where the vehicles could maneuver. Billy and Francine were hidden inside the Security Gatehouse, meanwhile Lee and Amanda were hiding in a small office where all the delivery paperwork was kept. Hank placed a couple of additional security guards in plain clothes into the loading area to work amongst the usual loaders. He also added a couple of extra guards to the perimeter area but they were instructed to stay out of sight unless something went down. Lee and Billy could communicate with Hank back at the Security Control Room via radio. He planned to give them the heads up when a new truck was on its way.

~

After they had been on their stakeout for a couple of hours, and a few trucks had come in and out, Amanda stifled a yawn.

"So how ya doing?" Lee asked his partner.

"I'm okay." She smiled a little weakly. "Do you really think this will work?"

He smiled back at her. "Hey, it's your idea."

"I hope it's a good one."

"Amanda, it's the best one we have. We watch and we wait."

"I really hope we catch him…and they clasp him in irons too," Amanda suddenly said, vehemently.

Lee was surprised at her uncharacteristic outburst. "Who? Bannon?"

"I hope they throw the book at him!"

"Amanda," said Lee, concerned now. "What did he do to you?"

Amanda looked at the ground when she said, "Nothing, really … no more than, well, normal anyway."

Lee could tell Amanda didn't really consider her run in with Bannon to be normal. "No, come on, Amanda, what did he do to you?" Lee pushed gently.

"You'll get mad, Lee, and I don't want you to get mad right now. You need to focus."

"Well it's too late now, I'm already mad. If I get my hands on that jerk, I'll kill him with my bare hands, so you might as well tell me."

"Lee, it doesn't matter now." Subconsciously, she raised her hand to her face where Bannon had slapped her. Lee reached across and placed his hand over hers, against her face. She pushed against it. "He just threw some water in my face, then he slapped me a few times." Her eyes began to sting as she recalled the incident but she shook her head and forced herself to quell the tears. "And he handcuffed me to a chair."

"Oh, Amanda." He reached out to pull her into his chest, hugging her tightly to him. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm a full-fledged agent now, Lee, it goes with the territory. I can't come crying to you just because a case went a little sour. It's, it's … unprofessional!" She spoke into his chest. As she held onto him, she was soothed by the stroking motion he made over her hair.

"Amanda. Just because you're an agent now, doesn't mean you have to bottle up your emotions. Hell, I can do enough of that for the both of us." He smiled. "You know you can tell me anything, don't you?"

"I guess so."

"Sure you can."

"I bet Francine doesn't come crying to you whenever she gets captured."

"You'd be surprised," Lee countered. "Look, all agents, even the ones who've been on the job a long time, have to let off steam sometime. Francine does it and you know for a fact I have, to you, or Billy or even Pfaff. You sent me to him I seem to remember." She nodded against his chest but didn't say anything. "If you want to talk to any of us, we won't think any the less of you as an agent. How many times do you think you need to prove yourself?"

"I suppose," she said, sounding like one of her boys.

"Amanda believe me, you are a great agent. Even Smyth says so!"

Amanda smiled at this and looked up at her partner. "I just don't want to let down the team."

"You could never do that, Amanda. You know I love you, but I also respect you, as an agent, as a person and as a friend. So does Billy. And Francine respects you and your judgment, despite your unorthodox methods." He chuckled.

"Mmm." She smiled along with him.

"So next time, you'll tell me what happened, right? Everything that happens? You won't shut me out?"

"I will."

"Good."

As he leaned down to kiss his wife, the radio crackled in his pocket. "Stetson?"

Immediately, the Agency's best team was back to business. "Stetson, here."

"This is Hank. A truck's just pulled into the park, should be with you in five minutes. It's a Polar Foods truck."

"Anything look odd?"

"No. We get them here all the time, but I thought you'd want to know it's on its way."

"Yeah, thanks." He spoke to into the radio again. "You get that, Billy?"

"Got it, Scarecrow! "We'll just hold position. You're nearer than us. Let me know if anything looks suspicious."

"Roger that." As he clicked off the radio, the Polar Foods truck pulled into loading bay three. Lee looked at his watch. It was three-twenty.

After five minutes, an unusual lack of activity around the delivery truck made them get suspicious. Elsewhere, cartons and boxes were unloaded as soon as a truck pulled up, but not this time. Even the driver's actions were a little strange. He exited the cab and went around to the back to open up rear doors, then resumed his place behind the wheel. There was no attempt being made to unload the truck's contents.

"Billy?"

"Yes, Scarecrow."

"Nothing's happening as yet. Could be a delay over the paperwork, or something more sinister."

"Received."

They waited and continued to observe the inactivity.

"Security to Stetson." The radio crackled into life again. "Two more trucks have just pulled into the park. One's Coca Cola, the other's a laundry truck."

"Message received. Thanks, Hank. Keep the cameras rolling, huh? Just in case."

"Will do. Security out."

After a couple of minutes the two trucks arrived in convoy. The first truck, from Sunshine State Laundry, pulled into loading bay seven. Behind it, the Coca Cola truck pulled into loading bay two. The driver of the laundry truck immediately began unloading his cargo, but the driver in bay two just opened the back of his truck then got back into the cab, the way the one in bay three had.

~

Bannon and Cadiz were waiting at the rear of their Polar Foods truck, just inside the loading bay, when the Coca Cola truck arrived, with Martinez traveling in the rear. He stepped out of the truck onto the loading bay accompanied by a heavy set man who didn't say anything.

Cadiz asked, "Did you have any problem?"

"Not yet," Martinez replied.

"Right, let's take a look, shall we?"

Bannon stood watch over Cadiz, while he looked at the merchandise. In the middle of the crates of Coke were a number of cases. Opening these, Cadiz found a selection of sub-machine guns and other automatic weapons. Another couple of crates contained automatic hand guns. Cadiz picked out one of these and weighed it in his hand. He studied the gun for a moment, released the safety and pulled the trigger. The gun clicked, it wasn't loaded. Cadiz smiled and placed the gun back into the crate and replaced the lid. He stepped back out of the truck. At the same time, Martinez stepped from the Polar Foods truck.

"I think we've got ourselves a deal," said Martinez, flashing a false smile at Cadiz. "Maybe this will help my friends to get back what is rightfully theirs."

Cadiz suppressed a smile at the irony of the situation, but he went along with Martinez. He didn't want to blow the deal just for a little self-amusement at Martinez's delusion.

"Right," said Bannon. "I think it's time we got outta here."

"Not so fast," came a voice out of the shadows behind them.

"Stetson," said Bannon, disdainfully.

"That's right. Not so smart as you thought you were, huh, Bannon?"

When the trucks had pulled into the loading bay and just sat there for ten minutes, Lee and Amanda had decided to get a closer look. Lee radioed their plan to Billy and Francine. They would sneak around to the loading bay and see what was happening. If the deal was going down, Lee would confront them while Amanda remained in the shadows as backup. Hopefully, Bannon would think Amanda was still tied up so she could be a surprise element. Meanwhile, Billy and Francine would stay at the gate, ready to intervene if the drivers, with or without their trucks, started to leave. With guns drawn Lee and Amanda had set off on their task, giving each other's hand a final squeeze for luck.

As Lee watched, Martinez and Cadiz emerged from their respective trucks. Lee recognized them from their meeting at the restaurant less than twenty four hours earlier. Deciding he could take four of them with Amanda's help, he stepped forward.

Bannon laughed when he saw Stetson. "A little outnumbered aren't you?"

"Not really," said Lee. "Now why don't all of you put down your guns and move into the truck." He indicated the Polar Foods truck.

"Sure," said Bannon, still smiling.

The four guys bent down placing their guns onto the floor and stepped backwards towards the truck. Just then, Lee heard the click of a safety, right behind him.

"Maybe you should give me your gun," said Bannon.

Lee eased his finger off the trigger and allowed the gun to swing on his finger. Passing it over to the former Security Chief, he said, "That's not the only thing I'd like to give you." As he did so Martinez and Cadiz bent to retrieve their guns from near their feet.

"What?" asked Bannon. "Oh, the woman you mean. You've got more than a professional attachment, I see."

"You're gonna have a detachment in a minute," said Lee angrily. "When I separate your head from your body."

"I don't think I'd be making idle threats in your position."

Just then, Amanda stepped out from her hiding place, her gun trained on Bannon. "If he doesn't do it, Bannon," she said, "I just might."

"Oh, welcome, Mrs. King. Good of you to join us, I'm impressed. Looks like we've got us a stalemate," he mocked.

As they allowed Bannon to keep talking, Lee looked into Amanda's eyes, trying to convey that he was about to make a move. She moved her head in a way that was barely perceptible, except to her husband. He knew she understood as she turned her attention back to Bannon.

Suddenly, Lee swung around, taking out the driver now standing behind him by kicking him in the face, breaking his nose and rendering him unconscious. Amanda didn't take her eyes off Bannon but she had failed to notice that Martinez and Cadiz had started edging toward the Coke truck. As Lee turned back around he saw the two Cubans escaping to the truck with the remaining driver.

Banging on the cab of the truck from inside the storage area, Martinez yelled "Let's go!" and the engine fired.

Meanwhile, Cadiz had reached for the rear roller shutter and was pulling it closed on their Agency assailants. Lee fired at the door but the door had closed too far for him to get a clear shot. In a split second, he dived for the shrinking gap onto the bed of the truck and disappeared from view as the roller closed behind him. When he dived, Amanda saw Lee's gun fall from the back of the truck onto the tarmac below.

As he disappeared he caught his wife's voice as she cried out, "Leeee!!!!!"

Amanda was left alone with Bannon.

"So," said Bannon, cheerily. "It's just you and me again. Seems like old times."

"You might want to try keeping your mouth closed," said Amanda testily. "If you want to make it into custody in one piece that is."

"Is that a threat?"

"Actually, yes," she returned, surprised at herself.

"Well." He threw her a disarming smile, "I don't think I'll stick around to go into custody. Be seeing you." He gave her a mocking salute and jumped off the loading platform onto the tarmac. He started to run away.

"Freeze!" yelled Amanda, but he kept going. She aimed and pulled the trigger and Bannon fell to the ground, rolling over several times before coming to a stop. Amanda ran down the steps at the edge of the bay and crossed to where Bannon was lying.

As she arrived, he opened his eyes and raised his head from the tarmac to look at her. "I didn't think you had it in you."

She stood over him with her gun aimed at his heart. "Most people underestimate the capabilities of the suburban housewife."

"Yeah," was all Bannon was able to say as he clutched his shot thigh. He allowed his head to fall back onto the tarmac.

~

While Amanda was tackling Bannon, Lee had a different fight on his hands. As he'd dived into the back of the Coke truck, he'd lost his gun and was trapped, facing two armed arms dealers with weapons.

"Well boys," Lee said, "looks like we've got an interesting little situation here." He smiled.

Martinez and Cadiz were not smiling, though. "Do you want to kill him, or shall I?" Cadiz asked Martinez.

"I have a better idea," Lee interrupted. "So, how's the freedom fighting, Martinez?" Martinez didn't respond so Lee continued. "I've gotta say, how amazed I was to see you prepared to deal with this guy." Lee pointed his thumb at Cadiz. "You must be desperate … or incredibly stupid." That got Martinez's attention. "I'd have thought trading with the enemy wasn't exactly the way to fight your noble cause," Lee continued.

Cadiz realized what Lee was saying and said, "I think I'll do it myself, the only way we're going to get him to shut up."

By this time, though Martinez was listening to what Lee had to say. He turned to train his gun on Cadiz. "Not so fast, Cadiz." Speaking to Lee, without looking at him, he said, "What enemy? What are you talking about?"

"Him. You do know he works for Castro, don't you?"

"What?" said Martinez.

"Castro. He's trying to get guns for Castro's supporters, and you were just about to oblige him. And he's using Castro's cigars to do it."

"Don't listen to him," interrupted Cadiz. "He's just trying to make you mad. We can get out of this if we do it together."

"So what are the guns for?" Martinez asked Cadiz.

"For the struggle, of course."

"You're not really buying this are you?" asked Lee, sarcastically. Martinez hesitated, looking from Cadiz to Lee and back again. "He's the nephew of one of Castro's lieutenants, in fact."

Martinez asked Cadiz, "Is this true?"

Cadiz just shrugged. Without missing a beat, Martinez calmly pulled the trigger of the gun he was pointing at Cadiz's chest. Cadiz was dead before he hit the bed of the truck. Then Martinez turned to Lee.

Lee knew he had to act swiftly, or he'd be Martinez's next victim. He launched himself at Martinez and they crashed into the crates of Coke. Bottles started falling around them. Lee managed to connect a punch to Martinez's cheek as Martinez raised his gun up to point at Lee. At that second the truck jolted to a halt. Thanks, Billy, thought Lee as the sudden motion caused Martinez to lose his footing and his grip on his gun. Lee launched at him with another punch, this time to his stomach, but was blocked and was hit himself on the side of his face. Swinging his foot, he was able to kick Martinez in the knee causing his legs to buckle. As he tipped forward, Lee was able to throw two punches to Martinez's face, one after the other. Martinez's eyes suddenly glazed over and he collapsed to the floor.

As Lee struggled to stand up amidst strewn Coke bottles, the rear roller door was opened and he heard his boss call out, "Are you all right, Lee?"

"Sure. Why wouldn't I be?" He grinned. "How's Amanda?"

"Fine, just fine," said Billy as he helped Lee out of the back of the truck. "You might want to go give her a hand." Billy grinned as he told Lee, "you should have seen how she took down Bannon."

"What?" asked Lee, incredulously.

"He tried to run, so she … well, she shot him." Billy laughed.

"My Amanda?"

"Our Amanda," said Billy. "Looks like you've taught her well."

"No kidding. I'd better get over there." He looked across the tarmac and could see Amanda where she was still standing over Bannon, even though she was now flanked by three armed Disney security guards. Lee jogged across to where she was standing. "I think you can stand down now, Amanda." She didn't move. "Amanda, it's over." Still there was no response. "A-man-da," he tried a third time and this time there was a reaction. She turned her head to look at him. "Ah, there you are," he said, reaching across to take the gun from her hand. She allowed him to take it. Then he reached around her shoulders with his other arm and led her away.

"That's some woman you've got yourself there, Stetson," he heard Bannon say behind him, but Lee ignored him, refusing to be baited.

Giving the gun to one of the security guards, Lee looked at his wife. "Are you okay?"

"Sure," she said, smiling back at him. Then her bottom lip trembled and tears began to flow down her face. Lee led her over to a quiet corner of the loading bay.

"Let it out, honey, just let it all out." Lee wrapped his strong arms around her and held her to him as she allowed all the tension and stress that had built up over the past forty-eight hours ebb away from her body. Gradually, she quietened.

"I'm sorry, Lee." She finally looked up at her partner.

"Sorry for what?" He had a puzzled expression on his face.

"For my outburst. It wasn't exactly professional now was it?"

"Didn't we have this conversation? I told you, your emotions are your strength, Amanda, they are what keep you sane. You've … we've been through a lot in a very short space of time. We've had to tell the Agency and the family about our marriage, you've been kidnapped and beaten, and then you had to shoot someone. I think it's about time you got a little emotional." He bent his head forward and kissed her. "So what did you think you were doing, shooting Bannon?" Now he was smiling.

She couldn't help but return his infectious smile. "Oh, I just thought I'd better shoot him before you killed him with your bare hands. I couldn't face you doing ten to twenty with no conjugal visits." She laughed then. "Besides, I only winged him!"

"I love you so much, Mrs. Stetson. I'll never be able to tell you, to show you how much you mean to me."

"If it comes anywhere close to how much I love you, Lee, then it's more than anyone could ever deserve. You are my life and soul." As she looked up at her husband, she saw a tear fall down his face. She reached up and swept it away with her thumb. "Now I've got you at it," she said, grinning. "I think we'd better get back to Billy and Francine before this gets out of hand."

She leaned up and kissed him, a passionate kiss that they could both feel throughout their entire bodies. He reached his hands around her back to pull her towards him as her hands reached for the back of his neck. Then, they separated. "Billy," Amanda said breathlessly.

Lee shook his head. "You're amazing, you know that? Here I have you in my arms and the first name you can think to say is 'Billy,' I'd think another name would be forthcoming on your lips." He smiled.

"Well, I just figured he'd be looking for us, and we don't want to hold up wrapping up the case," Amanda pointed out.

"I guess you're right." He smiled. "We'd better get going, before they have to hose us down." She grinned back.

Taking her hand in his they headed over to Billy and Francine who were watching over the mopping up of the operation. A couple of Florida Police Department squad cars were on the scene, taking the bad guys into custody, and Hank arrived on scene to supervise his men's roles in the proceeding.

"There you are!" cried Billy to his favorite agents. "I was beginning to think you'd got lost."

"I expect they were making out," said Francine, smirking. "It's why they don't let married couples work together. They can't keep their minds on the job!"

In unison, Lee, Amanda and Billy said, "Can it, Francine!"

~