Chapter 5
Early the next morning, Amanda arrived at LA International Airport and boarded a plane to Portland. After leaving the beach house the previous morning, she had gone home to try and explain to Dion and C.J. what had happened even as she had struggled to understand it herself. The carpool had come to take them to a soccer game and she had dropped exhaustedly into bed without even bothering to remove her clothes. It had been well after lunch when she'd been awakened by a call from Emma with the name of the Portland detective who'd be assisting with the investigation.
Amanda had taken a quick shower, made herself a cup of coffee and then called the Portland detective. She had introduced herself and explained to him that she wanted to gain access to Carol's apartment to collect some of her belongings for her family. She would need his assistance Amanda had reminded him since Carol's suitcase, purse and keys hadn't been recovered yet.
Detective Bryton had hesitated but only briefly. Taking her flight information, he'd promised to meet her at the airport. Amanda thanked him, called Jesse who agreed to drive her to the airport, and then had sat down to make a list of items she wanted from Carol's apartment.
Coming through the gateway after an uneventful flight, Amanda scanned the waiting crowd for someone who might be Detective Bryton. She spotted a uniformed police officer standing near the check in desk and headed toward her. The officer watched Amanda approach and was the first to speak.
"Doctor Amanda Bentley?" Amanda nodded. "I'm Officer Lori Turner. Detective Bryton has been delayed at a crime scene. He asked me to meet you and drive you to Ms. Hilton's apartment. He'll meet us there."
"Thank you. I apologize for taking you away from your regular duties."
The officer laughed. "I should be thanking you. I've been on desk duty for the past couple of weeks because of some complications after having my wisdom teeth out. I'm hoping to get back out on patrol tomorrow."
As they drove across town, Amanda got her first look at the city Carol had called home. "It's beautiful. I can see why Carol liked it here so much."
"Did you know Ms. Hilton well?"
"Not really. I work with her father and brother. They're two of my dearest friends."
Detective Bryton hadn't arrived yet by the time Amanda and Officer Turner pulled up in front of Carol's apartment building. Officer Turner knew the property manager was expecting them so after radioing her position to dispatch they rang his bell. The door opened almost immediately and they were ushered inside by Martin Lewis. Amanda liked the man instantly which made her task of explaining Carol's death even harder. He stared at a copy of the death certificate Amanda had brought along for a quiet moment and then turned to his desk to get his set of keys. Martin led them to Carol's second floor apartment while giving them a running editorial about the crime problem in big cities. He stood uncertainly at the door after letting Amanda and Officer Turner in.
"Is there something else, Mr. Lewis?" Amanda asked.
"You say you know Carol's family?"
"That's right."
Martin stared at the floor for a moment then looked at Amanda. "I never met her father or brother, but you tell them I'm real sorry for their loss. Carol was a real nice girl. She looked in on me last winter when I had bronchitis and we spent time talking about family, both hers and mine. Yep, she was real nice. I'm sure gonna miss her."
Amanda had to swallow the lump in her throat before she could reply. "I'll be sure to tell them, Mr. Lewis."
Martin Lewis nodded and shut the door quietly behind him. Amanda heaved a silent sigh, and then took her first look at Carol's apartment. It was bright and cheerful with lots of homey touches that included plants, a fish and framed photographs of friends and family.
Officer Turner's voice broke into Amanda's thoughts. "What is it we're looking for?"
"A threatening letter or evidence she took out a PPO against someone would go a long way in establishing a motive," Amanda said, "but I'd be shocked if we found something like that. All I really came for was some personal items and an outfit Mark could take to the mortuary."
"There are messages on the answering machine."
"Any threatening ones?" Amanda asked only half serious.
Officer Turner hit the play button. The first message was from Carol's dentist office making an earlier appointment available to her if she wanted it. The second was from a college counselor telling her a nursing ethics class wouldn't be offered during the summer. The last was from a coworker.
"Hey Carol, this is Tammy. I thought I might catch you before you left for California but evidently you've gone already. I just wanted to thank you for covering for me yesterday. I know you had stuff to do to get ready for your trip so I really appreciate it. My mom is off the vent now and things are looking up. She might even be home by the time you get back. Thanks again!"
The machine clicked off. "Nothing even remotely threatening there - " Officer Turner held a finger to her lips stopping Amanda in the middle of her sentence. "Do you hear that?"
Only then did Amanda hear what had caught the policewoman's attention. Someone was outside Carol's apartment. The sound of keys fumbling in the lock was very distinct.
"Mr. Lewis would knock," Amanda whispered.
Officer Turner nodded. "Didn't you say the LAPD hadn't recovered a key ring yet?"
Amanda's gaze flew to meet that of Officer Turner. She didn't have to be a mind reader to know what the policewoman was thinking. Carol's murderer was presumably in possession of both her keys and her address. It wouldn't be the first time a criminal had robbed a victim's residence.
"Go in to the bathroom," Officer Turner told Amanda. "Get down behind the door and don't come out until I say it's okay." Even as she spoke she was taking her service revolver from its holster.
Quickly Amanda did as she was told. From her position behind the door, she could hear Officer Turner say in a calm, even voice, "This is the Portland PD. Slowly push the door open and keep your hands in front of you where I can see them."
"What's going on?" a new female voice asked.
"I know you're not the person who lives here. Who are you and what are you doing here?"
"My name is Dawn Meyer and I came to feed Carol's fish while she's on vacation. My driver's license and clinic badge are in my purse," she added nervously.
Amanda heard nothing for the next several seconds and she assumed Officer Turner was reviewing the woman's identification. "So you work with Carol Hilton?"
"Carol's a nurse and I'm one of the aides."
Apparently Officer Turner was satisfied. "It's okay, Doctor Bentley. You can come out now."
Dawn gasped in surprise as Amanda emerged from the bathroom. "I don't understand. Why are you in Carol's apartment? Has she been robbed?"
Officer Turner introduced herself and Amanda. "Doctor Bentley is with the LA County Medical Examiner's Office."
"The M.E.'s Office?" Amanda nodded. "Did something happen to Carol?"
Amanda invited Dawn to sit down. She hadn't bargained on having to break the sad news of Carol's death to one of her coworkers. Once they were comfortable, Amanda gently told the young woman about Carol's murder. Dawn sat in stunned silence for a moment before the tears began rolling down her face. Amanda sat next to her feeling as helpless as she had the night Mark and Steve had been in her office. Slowly, the tears stopped and Dawn blew her nose.
"I just can't believe it," Dawn murmured.
"Carol's dad and brother are still in shock, too."
"Officer Turner?" A new, male voice spoke from the doorway. "Are you in there?"
"Detective Bryton." The policewoman immediately realized how the open door must look to the senior officer. "Come in. Everything's okay."
The detective was returning his gun to its holster as he stepped inside the apartment. "What's going on?"
Officer Turner made the introductions. Briefly she explained how the door had come to be left open. "Then we just forgot to close it again."
Detective Bryton nodded, indicating the subject was dropped. "I stopped at the clinic on my way from the crime scene I was at. I talked to most of your coworkers already Ms. Meyer and I have just a few questions for you if you're feeling up to it."
"I don't know what I can tell you," Dawn said, "but I'll help however I can."
While Detective Bryton questioned Dawn, Amanda moved into the bedroom. It was decorated in cheerful blues and yellows giving the room the appearance of being larger than it really was. What caught her attention, however, were two framed snapshots on the bedside table. One was of Mark, Katherine, Steve and Carol that she had seen on display in Steve's apartment. The other was of Mark, Steve and Carol that Norman Briggs had taken the first Christmas Carol had returned to California. Amanda could still remember how happy Mark had been to finally make peace with his daughter.
"Carol was so proud of her father and brother."
Amanda turned to face Dawn. "And they were so proud of her," she replied softly. "They worried and they hovered, and I know it drove Carol nuts, but they only did it because they loved her so much and wanted nothing but the best for her."
"Have you found an outfit for Carol yet?"
Amanda shook her head. "I think I'm afraid to open the closet."
Dawn walked across the room and opened the closet. Searching among the items, she pulled out several articles of clothing. She held them up for Amanda to see.
"These were some of Carol's favorites."
Amanda looked at the skirts, blouses and suit Dawn had chosen. "Thank you. This helps me out a lot knowing I've got some things she really liked."
Dawn hung the clothes in the garment bag Amanda had brought along while Amanda collected shoes, underclothes and jewelry. In a matter of minutes the task was completed and they returned to the living room where Detective Bryton and Officer Turner were waiting.
"Did you get everything you need?" Officer Turner asked.
Amanda nodded. "With Dawn's help."
"They'll be expecting me at the clinic," Dawn said. "Would it be okay if I took the fish with me? That way I don't have to stop by everyday and maybe I can find him a permanent home."
"Sure," said Detective Bryton. "Technically this isn't a crime scene so it's okay to remove things."
Dawn gathered the fish bowl and its few supplies and left. Amanda turned to face the detective. "You said you stopped at the clinic. Did you find out anything?"
"Just that Carol was well liked by everyone, patients and staff. No one knew of anyone who'd been hassling her or following her."
"I guess the hardest part of all this is that it's becoming more and more likely that Carol's murder was totally random. That makes it all the more senseless and tragic."
"I talked to Detective Lopez again this morning and she said they're looking at recent parolees who might have a grudge against either Doctor Sloan or Lieutenant Sloan. However, from what I gathered from the conversation is that very few people even knew Carol existed. That makes it unlikely she was targeted as part of a revenge plot against the Sloan's unless someone did some digging into their background."
After a quick lunch, Amanda had Officer Turner drop her back at the airport. She was anxious to return to California and to Mark and Steve. Luck was with her and the flight took off on schedule. Once on the ground in LA, Amanda grabbed a taxi and gave the driver the address to the beach house in Malibu.
**********
Steve turned on the hose and gave the tender plants some water. For as long as he could remember, flowers had filled the beds in the front of the house even though they rarely saw them. Steve had asked his mom about that one time and she'd told him that, even though they didn't see the flowers very often, their neighbors enjoyed them every day. That first spring after her death and Carol's disappearance the flower beds had remained empty into late spring until one day when Steve had impulsively decided to stop at the greenhouse. When he got there, he'd been surprised to find his father already there picking out flowers. Since then, they'd always set aside one day every spring when they would go to the greenhouse together and get the plants they needed and put them in the ground. This year they had even gone a few days early so the plants would be in the ground when Carol arrived.
Squinting against the bright sunlight, Steve watched as a taxi drove slowly down the street. They didn't get many taxis this close to the beach and he wondered if the driver was lost. He watched with surprise as it stopped in front of his house. He was truly puzzled when he saw Amanda get out carrying a garment bag. She paid the driver then walked across the lawn toward Steve.
"Going somewhere?"
Amanda could see the lines of stress and grief etched on Steve's face. She kissed his cheek. "Where's Mark?"
"Inside, lying down. We just got back from the.from making the arrangements a little while ago. Why?"
"I have something for you both. Come on."
Mark was staring at the ceiling when Steve and Amanda entered the master bedroom. Slowly he pulled himself into a sitting position. Amanda laid the garment bag at the foot of the bed and sat down next to Mark.
"Are you going somewhere?" Mark asked, unconsciously echoing his son.
"No, actually I just got back. I flew to Portland this morning."
"What?"
Briefly Amanda told them about her trip. She described Carol's little apartment, the friendly apartment manager and how she had met one of Carol's coworkers. Then she put the bag in Mark's hands.
"But this is really why I went."
Mark pulled at the zipper and pushed the sides open to reveal the clothes inside. Steve could see his dad's hands shake as he touched the top item. His own throat tightened and he swallowed hard.
"Amanda, you didn't have to."
"I know I didn't have to," she interrupted, "but I wanted to. According to Dawn, the friend I met, these were some of Carol's favorites. I brought them all so you could pick what you liked."
"Thank you, Amanda." Mark's voice shook slightly with emotion. "Steve and I even stopped at the mall after we left the mortuary, but we just couldn't.it was too overwhelming and we left."
"Thank you, Amanda." Steve echoed in relief.
Amanda squeezed Steve's hand. "You both are very welcome." She rose from the bed. "Now, how about a little something to eat?"
It took a little coaxing but Amanda got father and son to eat some soup that a neighbor had sent over. Steve offered to drive her home, but Jesse arrived just as they were getting ready to leave. That morning he had promised Amanda he'd check on their friends while she spent the day in Portland, but this was the first opportunity he'd had to get away from the hospital. Discreetly he studied Mark and Steve. They both looked drawn and tired and he wondered if they were sleeping. He offered them another sedative but wasn't surprised when they both adamantly refused it. Satisfied they'd done what they could for the moment, Jesse and Amanda left.
Early the next morning, Amanda arrived at LA International Airport and boarded a plane to Portland. After leaving the beach house the previous morning, she had gone home to try and explain to Dion and C.J. what had happened even as she had struggled to understand it herself. The carpool had come to take them to a soccer game and she had dropped exhaustedly into bed without even bothering to remove her clothes. It had been well after lunch when she'd been awakened by a call from Emma with the name of the Portland detective who'd be assisting with the investigation.
Amanda had taken a quick shower, made herself a cup of coffee and then called the Portland detective. She had introduced herself and explained to him that she wanted to gain access to Carol's apartment to collect some of her belongings for her family. She would need his assistance Amanda had reminded him since Carol's suitcase, purse and keys hadn't been recovered yet.
Detective Bryton had hesitated but only briefly. Taking her flight information, he'd promised to meet her at the airport. Amanda thanked him, called Jesse who agreed to drive her to the airport, and then had sat down to make a list of items she wanted from Carol's apartment.
Coming through the gateway after an uneventful flight, Amanda scanned the waiting crowd for someone who might be Detective Bryton. She spotted a uniformed police officer standing near the check in desk and headed toward her. The officer watched Amanda approach and was the first to speak.
"Doctor Amanda Bentley?" Amanda nodded. "I'm Officer Lori Turner. Detective Bryton has been delayed at a crime scene. He asked me to meet you and drive you to Ms. Hilton's apartment. He'll meet us there."
"Thank you. I apologize for taking you away from your regular duties."
The officer laughed. "I should be thanking you. I've been on desk duty for the past couple of weeks because of some complications after having my wisdom teeth out. I'm hoping to get back out on patrol tomorrow."
As they drove across town, Amanda got her first look at the city Carol had called home. "It's beautiful. I can see why Carol liked it here so much."
"Did you know Ms. Hilton well?"
"Not really. I work with her father and brother. They're two of my dearest friends."
Detective Bryton hadn't arrived yet by the time Amanda and Officer Turner pulled up in front of Carol's apartment building. Officer Turner knew the property manager was expecting them so after radioing her position to dispatch they rang his bell. The door opened almost immediately and they were ushered inside by Martin Lewis. Amanda liked the man instantly which made her task of explaining Carol's death even harder. He stared at a copy of the death certificate Amanda had brought along for a quiet moment and then turned to his desk to get his set of keys. Martin led them to Carol's second floor apartment while giving them a running editorial about the crime problem in big cities. He stood uncertainly at the door after letting Amanda and Officer Turner in.
"Is there something else, Mr. Lewis?" Amanda asked.
"You say you know Carol's family?"
"That's right."
Martin stared at the floor for a moment then looked at Amanda. "I never met her father or brother, but you tell them I'm real sorry for their loss. Carol was a real nice girl. She looked in on me last winter when I had bronchitis and we spent time talking about family, both hers and mine. Yep, she was real nice. I'm sure gonna miss her."
Amanda had to swallow the lump in her throat before she could reply. "I'll be sure to tell them, Mr. Lewis."
Martin Lewis nodded and shut the door quietly behind him. Amanda heaved a silent sigh, and then took her first look at Carol's apartment. It was bright and cheerful with lots of homey touches that included plants, a fish and framed photographs of friends and family.
Officer Turner's voice broke into Amanda's thoughts. "What is it we're looking for?"
"A threatening letter or evidence she took out a PPO against someone would go a long way in establishing a motive," Amanda said, "but I'd be shocked if we found something like that. All I really came for was some personal items and an outfit Mark could take to the mortuary."
"There are messages on the answering machine."
"Any threatening ones?" Amanda asked only half serious.
Officer Turner hit the play button. The first message was from Carol's dentist office making an earlier appointment available to her if she wanted it. The second was from a college counselor telling her a nursing ethics class wouldn't be offered during the summer. The last was from a coworker.
"Hey Carol, this is Tammy. I thought I might catch you before you left for California but evidently you've gone already. I just wanted to thank you for covering for me yesterday. I know you had stuff to do to get ready for your trip so I really appreciate it. My mom is off the vent now and things are looking up. She might even be home by the time you get back. Thanks again!"
The machine clicked off. "Nothing even remotely threatening there - " Officer Turner held a finger to her lips stopping Amanda in the middle of her sentence. "Do you hear that?"
Only then did Amanda hear what had caught the policewoman's attention. Someone was outside Carol's apartment. The sound of keys fumbling in the lock was very distinct.
"Mr. Lewis would knock," Amanda whispered.
Officer Turner nodded. "Didn't you say the LAPD hadn't recovered a key ring yet?"
Amanda's gaze flew to meet that of Officer Turner. She didn't have to be a mind reader to know what the policewoman was thinking. Carol's murderer was presumably in possession of both her keys and her address. It wouldn't be the first time a criminal had robbed a victim's residence.
"Go in to the bathroom," Officer Turner told Amanda. "Get down behind the door and don't come out until I say it's okay." Even as she spoke she was taking her service revolver from its holster.
Quickly Amanda did as she was told. From her position behind the door, she could hear Officer Turner say in a calm, even voice, "This is the Portland PD. Slowly push the door open and keep your hands in front of you where I can see them."
"What's going on?" a new female voice asked.
"I know you're not the person who lives here. Who are you and what are you doing here?"
"My name is Dawn Meyer and I came to feed Carol's fish while she's on vacation. My driver's license and clinic badge are in my purse," she added nervously.
Amanda heard nothing for the next several seconds and she assumed Officer Turner was reviewing the woman's identification. "So you work with Carol Hilton?"
"Carol's a nurse and I'm one of the aides."
Apparently Officer Turner was satisfied. "It's okay, Doctor Bentley. You can come out now."
Dawn gasped in surprise as Amanda emerged from the bathroom. "I don't understand. Why are you in Carol's apartment? Has she been robbed?"
Officer Turner introduced herself and Amanda. "Doctor Bentley is with the LA County Medical Examiner's Office."
"The M.E.'s Office?" Amanda nodded. "Did something happen to Carol?"
Amanda invited Dawn to sit down. She hadn't bargained on having to break the sad news of Carol's death to one of her coworkers. Once they were comfortable, Amanda gently told the young woman about Carol's murder. Dawn sat in stunned silence for a moment before the tears began rolling down her face. Amanda sat next to her feeling as helpless as she had the night Mark and Steve had been in her office. Slowly, the tears stopped and Dawn blew her nose.
"I just can't believe it," Dawn murmured.
"Carol's dad and brother are still in shock, too."
"Officer Turner?" A new, male voice spoke from the doorway. "Are you in there?"
"Detective Bryton." The policewoman immediately realized how the open door must look to the senior officer. "Come in. Everything's okay."
The detective was returning his gun to its holster as he stepped inside the apartment. "What's going on?"
Officer Turner made the introductions. Briefly she explained how the door had come to be left open. "Then we just forgot to close it again."
Detective Bryton nodded, indicating the subject was dropped. "I stopped at the clinic on my way from the crime scene I was at. I talked to most of your coworkers already Ms. Meyer and I have just a few questions for you if you're feeling up to it."
"I don't know what I can tell you," Dawn said, "but I'll help however I can."
While Detective Bryton questioned Dawn, Amanda moved into the bedroom. It was decorated in cheerful blues and yellows giving the room the appearance of being larger than it really was. What caught her attention, however, were two framed snapshots on the bedside table. One was of Mark, Katherine, Steve and Carol that she had seen on display in Steve's apartment. The other was of Mark, Steve and Carol that Norman Briggs had taken the first Christmas Carol had returned to California. Amanda could still remember how happy Mark had been to finally make peace with his daughter.
"Carol was so proud of her father and brother."
Amanda turned to face Dawn. "And they were so proud of her," she replied softly. "They worried and they hovered, and I know it drove Carol nuts, but they only did it because they loved her so much and wanted nothing but the best for her."
"Have you found an outfit for Carol yet?"
Amanda shook her head. "I think I'm afraid to open the closet."
Dawn walked across the room and opened the closet. Searching among the items, she pulled out several articles of clothing. She held them up for Amanda to see.
"These were some of Carol's favorites."
Amanda looked at the skirts, blouses and suit Dawn had chosen. "Thank you. This helps me out a lot knowing I've got some things she really liked."
Dawn hung the clothes in the garment bag Amanda had brought along while Amanda collected shoes, underclothes and jewelry. In a matter of minutes the task was completed and they returned to the living room where Detective Bryton and Officer Turner were waiting.
"Did you get everything you need?" Officer Turner asked.
Amanda nodded. "With Dawn's help."
"They'll be expecting me at the clinic," Dawn said. "Would it be okay if I took the fish with me? That way I don't have to stop by everyday and maybe I can find him a permanent home."
"Sure," said Detective Bryton. "Technically this isn't a crime scene so it's okay to remove things."
Dawn gathered the fish bowl and its few supplies and left. Amanda turned to face the detective. "You said you stopped at the clinic. Did you find out anything?"
"Just that Carol was well liked by everyone, patients and staff. No one knew of anyone who'd been hassling her or following her."
"I guess the hardest part of all this is that it's becoming more and more likely that Carol's murder was totally random. That makes it all the more senseless and tragic."
"I talked to Detective Lopez again this morning and she said they're looking at recent parolees who might have a grudge against either Doctor Sloan or Lieutenant Sloan. However, from what I gathered from the conversation is that very few people even knew Carol existed. That makes it unlikely she was targeted as part of a revenge plot against the Sloan's unless someone did some digging into their background."
After a quick lunch, Amanda had Officer Turner drop her back at the airport. She was anxious to return to California and to Mark and Steve. Luck was with her and the flight took off on schedule. Once on the ground in LA, Amanda grabbed a taxi and gave the driver the address to the beach house in Malibu.
**********
Steve turned on the hose and gave the tender plants some water. For as long as he could remember, flowers had filled the beds in the front of the house even though they rarely saw them. Steve had asked his mom about that one time and she'd told him that, even though they didn't see the flowers very often, their neighbors enjoyed them every day. That first spring after her death and Carol's disappearance the flower beds had remained empty into late spring until one day when Steve had impulsively decided to stop at the greenhouse. When he got there, he'd been surprised to find his father already there picking out flowers. Since then, they'd always set aside one day every spring when they would go to the greenhouse together and get the plants they needed and put them in the ground. This year they had even gone a few days early so the plants would be in the ground when Carol arrived.
Squinting against the bright sunlight, Steve watched as a taxi drove slowly down the street. They didn't get many taxis this close to the beach and he wondered if the driver was lost. He watched with surprise as it stopped in front of his house. He was truly puzzled when he saw Amanda get out carrying a garment bag. She paid the driver then walked across the lawn toward Steve.
"Going somewhere?"
Amanda could see the lines of stress and grief etched on Steve's face. She kissed his cheek. "Where's Mark?"
"Inside, lying down. We just got back from the.from making the arrangements a little while ago. Why?"
"I have something for you both. Come on."
Mark was staring at the ceiling when Steve and Amanda entered the master bedroom. Slowly he pulled himself into a sitting position. Amanda laid the garment bag at the foot of the bed and sat down next to Mark.
"Are you going somewhere?" Mark asked, unconsciously echoing his son.
"No, actually I just got back. I flew to Portland this morning."
"What?"
Briefly Amanda told them about her trip. She described Carol's little apartment, the friendly apartment manager and how she had met one of Carol's coworkers. Then she put the bag in Mark's hands.
"But this is really why I went."
Mark pulled at the zipper and pushed the sides open to reveal the clothes inside. Steve could see his dad's hands shake as he touched the top item. His own throat tightened and he swallowed hard.
"Amanda, you didn't have to."
"I know I didn't have to," she interrupted, "but I wanted to. According to Dawn, the friend I met, these were some of Carol's favorites. I brought them all so you could pick what you liked."
"Thank you, Amanda." Mark's voice shook slightly with emotion. "Steve and I even stopped at the mall after we left the mortuary, but we just couldn't.it was too overwhelming and we left."
"Thank you, Amanda." Steve echoed in relief.
Amanda squeezed Steve's hand. "You both are very welcome." She rose from the bed. "Now, how about a little something to eat?"
It took a little coaxing but Amanda got father and son to eat some soup that a neighbor had sent over. Steve offered to drive her home, but Jesse arrived just as they were getting ready to leave. That morning he had promised Amanda he'd check on their friends while she spent the day in Portland, but this was the first opportunity he'd had to get away from the hospital. Discreetly he studied Mark and Steve. They both looked drawn and tired and he wondered if they were sleeping. He offered them another sedative but wasn't surprised when they both adamantly refused it. Satisfied they'd done what they could for the moment, Jesse and Amanda left.