Chapter 9 - I'll always come
**Amanda's Kitchen
Saturday Night, 11:54PM*
Amanda didn't even bother try to go back to sleep after Lee left. After sleeping for several hours that afternoon, her body wasn't ready to shut down again, despite the events of the last twenty-four hours. And her mind worked too fast to let her relax.
So much had happened in the last week, beginning with the death of Janice Bigelow and ending with the raid on Anthony Mancini the night before. But that was what bothered her the most. Amanda didn't feel like it was over. It was just too easy. Too cut and dry. And now Mancini was dead and Efraim Beaman, an agent she had known since her early days at the Agency, was suspect.
That was what bothered her the most. Lee said he figured Beaman was running. Half way to China unless they caught up to him.
But she wasn't so sure. If he had enough courage to carry out this whole twisted plot and feed information to Mancini, only to turn around and kill the man before he could rat him out, then chances were this wasn't done. Not by half.
With a heavy sigh, Amanda set a small saucepan on the stovetop and pulled the milk from the fridge. Stifling a yawn behind her hand, she poured the milk and turned on the burner.
"Amanda, darling?" Dotty said as she stepped down into the kitchen and tied her robe belt around her waist. "I heard the phone ring. Is everything all right?"
Amanda looked up, and started to speak and find some fanciful story to cover up the real purpose of the call. It was second nature, instinctive. But when she met her mother's gaze, she sighed and remembered that **most** of the hiding and lying was behind them now.
"It was our boss, Mother. Lee needed to go back in."
"Oh, I see," Dotty said and moved past Amanda, opening the cupboard door to take out some baking cocoa for hot chocolate. "That happens a great deal, doesn't it."
Amanda sighed again. "I'm afraid so, Mother."
"Kind of like being married to a doctor. Phone calls in the middle of the night. It's not exactly a nine-to-five job is it?"
Amanda stirred the milk as her mother added cocoa and sugar. "No, it's not."
Dotty West dropped her spoon loudly and planted her hands on the edge of the counter. "Darling, I know you can't tell me everything about whatever it is the two of you do. But isn't there something you can tell me? Help me feel like I'm not completely kicked out of your life!"
Amanda looked up with a jerk of her head. "Is that how we've made you feel?"
Dotty's expression softened and she reached out to put her hand over Amanda's. "Well, maybe not that bad, Amanda. But I do feel like you've been living some life completely separate from us."
Her chest hurt, the emotions that raged in her almost overwhelming her. Never had Dotty been so right - so close to the truth. Amanda had truly been living more than one life, and for the last two years - she had been living three. One for her family. One for the Agency. And one for Lee.
She tried to smile, and hoped it was convincing. As she removed the saucepan from the burner and poured two mugs of cocoa, she asked. "What do you want to know, Mother? I'll tell you whatever I can."
Each woman took a mug and walked into the den and claimed their respective ends of the couch. Amanda curled her legs under her and blew across the top of the drink. Dotty sighed and flipped back a blonde curl that fell forward.
"I don't suppose you can tell me much more about what you do? Where it is? Who you work for?"
Amanda looked off at an angle into the kitchen, tilting her head slowly side to side as she thought about the question. "Well, Mother, Lee and I are agents for the Federal Government but you already know that. I don't think I've ever really been given a job description, other than **agent**. And that covers a pretty big area. Where? Right where you've always known me to be."
"You mean IFF? Amanda, you told me that's a film company!"
"Well, Mother, we can't exactly put a sign out front that says 'Attention KGB - This is the Agency'. We're not the CIA, for goodness sake. We don't have a turn off from 495."
Dotty sighed and nodded. "Yes, well, I can see what you mean. So, Lee . . . he's not your boss?"
Amanda shook her head. "No. We're partners. He's senior agent, but we're partners."
"Can you tell me who your boss is?"
Amanda took a sip of the cocoa, and closed her eyes for a moment to both savor the chocolate and to prepare herself for her mother's reaction. This would be interesting. She opened her eyes and leaned sideways to put the cup of cocoa on the coffee table.
"Mother, do you remember when I told you the federal government was looking for Lee because they thought he had done something wrong? And then I disappeared for a couple of days and that Mr. Melrose came to the house?"
Dotty rolled her eyes and waved her hand in the air. "Yes, I remember him far too well. Mr. Personality. Although he did help Harry get out of his little jam." She sighed. "Oh, Harry Berringer. Sometimes I still miss him terribly." Then her eyes widened and she looked at Amanda. "Amanda, are you telling me you work for him?"
"Mr. Melrose is really a very nice man, Mother. You've only had the opportunity to know him under, well, difficult situations. He was a great supporter of mine when I first became involved with the Agency, and ultimately is the one responsible for Lee and I working together."
"Ah, yes. Lee. There is another story. And I expect a little more detail in your answers about him, darling!" Dotty said, pointing at Amanda.
Amanda smiled. "Yes, Mother. What do you want to know?"
Dotty shook her head, her hair bouncing around her cheeks. "Everything! But I guess you can start with how you met him and how this all got started!"
Just thinking of the memory brought a smile to Amanda's lips. "It's quite a story. Mother, I doubt you'll remember but this is going back over six years ago. I had to take Dean to the train station --."
Amanda stopped short when she thought she heard something. She turned toward the kitchen and listened intently, waiting to see if the sound repeated. For the first time in years, she knew without a doubt it wasn't Lee sneaking through her back yard.
"Amanda?"
"Shhh," Amanda whispered, lifting her finger to her lips.
The sound came again. Someone was turning the doorknob to the door in the kitchen. Amanda stood up slowly, silently motioning for her mother to stand up. Dotty did, with a puzzled look on her face.
"Amanda, what on earth . . ."
Amanda covered her mother's mouth with her hand and leaned in close until their faces were only inches apart.
"Mother, I need you to go upstairs and stay with the boys. Get them into my bedroom and get the phone," she explained as she led her mother towards the stairs. As they walked she gave her mother the phone number that would get her directly into the bullpen, bypassing the switchboard and IFF front. "Ask to speak to either Mr. Melrose or Lee. He is probably there by now."
Her mother looked at her over her shoulder as she walked up the stairs. "Amanda, is something wrong?"
"Mother, please! Just do it!"
"What should I tell them?"
"Tell them Beaman is here."
Her mother turned and looked down at her, hands set at her waist. "Amanda is that some kind of code or something? I mean, if I have to relay some secret message . . ."
"Mother!" Amanda said in a loud whisper, stopping Dotty's ramble. "Mother, it means Beaman is here. That's exactly what it means. They'll know what I need."
Dotty shrugged, nodded, and turned to head back up the stairs. Amanda watched until she disappeared from the landing before crouching down and returning to the den. She slipped in between the refrigerator and center island to inch her way around and see the door. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she swallowed down the fear in her throat. Part of her hoped she was wrong, that it was the wind rattling the door and not the rogue agent.
She kept herself low to the floor and held onto the counter to keep her balance. With another deep breath, she leaned sideways and looked through the breakfast nook to the door. Amanda gasped. The door was open.
He was in the house.
"Looking for me?"
Before Amanda could even react, she was yanked to her feet and thrown back against the edge of the counter. Efraim Beaman's hot breath hit her face as he leaned over her, clutching the front of her robe.
"Scarecrow isn't as smart as I thought. Very stupid, leaving you home alone. Very stupid. Where are **Mother and the boys**?" he asked, his tone mocking as he satired the phrases she used so often.
Amanda refused to answer, clamping her jaw together and forcing her breath to remain even and steady. She wouldn't let him know how frightened she was. Facing down Anthony Mancini had been different. Then it had been just her and him. But now, her children were upstairs. With a strength that came from the knowledge that she would do anything to keep them safe, Amanda met his maniacal stare.
"Not talking, Amanda? That's unusual for you. You're always so willing to chatter on about softball games and bake sales and family outings. Come on, Amanda. Tell me something I don't give a damn about hearing."
In one automatic move, Amanda slammed her hand against his wrist, forcing him to release her robe, and swiped her slippered feet between his legs in an attempt to knock him off balance. Efraim cursed and swung back around, catching her cheek with the back of his hand. Amanda turned away, spotting the empty saucepan on the stove. Curling her fingers around the handle, she twisted hard and fast and clocked the side of his head.
He stumbled back, his hands coming up to hold his head. For the first time, Amanda saw the gun in his hand. Adrenaline charged her blood and she turned to run into the den. Her only thought was to get to Lee's spare gun.
The loud crack of a gun shot rang out, and Amanda felt the deadly projectile barely miss her head as it hit the shelf of books beside her.
"Stop there, Amanda! Or I'll shot you in the back and then go find those two good looking boys of yours!"
Amanda stumbled forward and leaned into the back of the couch, her heart pounding hard and fast in her chest. Her fingers curled to hard into the couch cushion, a sharp ache shot up her arms. She drew in a long, deep breath and slowly turned around to face the man who had once been her teacher. He stood with his arm extended, a trembling hand holding the gun on her.
"What are you going to do?" she asked, her voice cracking as she spoke. "Efraim, why have you done all this?"
"Shut up!" he shouted and motioned toward the stairs. "Get up the stairs!"
"Efraim, please. Listen to me."
"No! I said move!"
Buying herself time, and not wanting to send him any further over the edge, Amanda turned and walked toward the stairs landing. She prayed her mother made it through to Lee or Mr. Melrose, and that she could somehow keep everyone alive until her husband came home.
SMK ~~~ SMK ~~~ SMK ~~~ SMK ~~~ SMK
Lee raked his hair with his fingers and ran his palm over his face. He was tired and wanted to be home, in bed, with his wife. Now that he could actually spend the night with her, the way a husband and wife should be, he was in Billy's office . . . once again.
"Have we gotten any kind of bead on Beaman, Billy?" he asked on a huff.
"None. He's not driving his own car. It's still in the parking garage. We're doing an inventory on the car pool, so see if he stole one of them."
"Do you have someone at his house?"
"Two outside and one waiting inside. But no sign of him."
Lee shifted and leaned his elbows into his knees, his head resting in his hands. Fatigue scratched at his eyes and worked like sandpaper over his nerves. He'd be out there himself, hunting for the spineless weasel, but had no idea where to start. Efraim Beaman was a weak excuse for an agent, Lee had always thought so, and now he just wanted to get his hands on the idiot and ring his neck.
Francine knocked once on Billy's office door before stepping in. Lee looked up to see her face, and the way her eyes rounded and her lips turned town told him something was wrong.
"What is it, Francine?" Billy asked.
"Line three. Lee, it's Amanda's mother. She came in on the direct line."
Lee lunged forward and snatched up Billy's phone, jabbing the lit button for line three with his finger. "Dotty?"
"Oh, thank God! Lee, Amanda just rushed me upstairs, gave me this phone number and told me I needed to speak to you or Mr. Melrose."
"Dotty, what's wrong?" Lee snapped.
"She told me to tell you Beaman is here. Do you know what she means, Lee? I mean, she said you would, but I don't know what she's talking about - Oh!" Dotty screamed as the sound of a gunshot echoed through the phone.
Lee flinched at the sound, his heart jumping into his throat. "Dotty! Dotty!" he shouted into the phone.
"Lee, I think that was a gun shot!"
"I'll be home in five minutes," Lee said, slamming the phone down.
He charged toward the office door, Francine barely getting out of his way before he bowled her over. She and Billy followed hot on his heels.
"We'll meet you there, Scarecrow!" Billy shouted after him.
Lee barely heard them as he ran through the halls toward the parking garage, taking the internal route rather than through the Georgetown foyer. He didn't have the time or patience to wait for the elevator. Within sixty seconds of hanging up the phone, Lee was in the 'Vette and flying across Georgetown towards Arlington.
"Damn it!" he cursed to the empty car.
How could he have been so stupid as to leave them home alone? He never guessed Beaman would have the testicular fortitude to actually go to the house!
Thankfully, the streets were nearly empty this time of night and Lee screeched to a halt outside their house. As he leaped out of the car and pulled his gun from his holster, an all-too-familiar blue sedan pulled up. Lee cursed again.
"Damn it, Joe! Get the hell out of here!" Lee ordered, forcing his voice down from a shout to a loud whisper.
Joe came around the front of his car and glared from Lee to the gun in his hand. "What the hell is going on?" He tried to step in front of Lee, blocking his way to the front gate.
Rage pummeled Lee's chest, and his blood ran so hot it infringed on the edges of his vision. With his jaw clenched and his lips pulled back tight over his teeth, Lee grabbed the front of Joe's jacket.
"God help me, Joe," he hissed through his teeth. "If my family is hurt in **any way** because you want to play Big Bad Ex-Husband, I'll . . ." The thoughts flashing through his mind were too crazed to put into words.
With one final shove, Lee pushed Joe King away and sprinted for the front door. He didn't know if the man followed, didn't care, as long as he made it in time. With care that was hard to muster in his current state of mind, Lee slowly opened the door and stepped into the front hall.
The downstairs was quiet. The kitchen and den lights were on, but there was no one to be seen. Lee stepped down into the den and looked around. Small bits of wood and paper were scattered on the floor, and Lee took the time to realize they were from several now mutilated books. A high caliber bullet had torn through them where they sat on the shelf. Clenching his jaw tighter, and adjusting his gun in his hand, Lee looked up the stairs. He saw the glow of a light, probably from one of the bedrooms, and moved to take the first step.
He edged up the stairwell, his back to the wall and his eyes trained on the upper landing. The sound of muffled voices reached him, but he couldn't make out who they were. Taking cautious steps, he continued.
At the top of the landing, Lee crouched down and stayed against the wall, gun raised, and moved toward their bedroom where the light came from. As he neared the door, the voices became clearer.
"Think, Beaman, think!" Lee heard Efraim mumble in a low voice. "He'll be here soon. Do I kill them now? Before he gets here? Or do I let him watch?"
The man was insane! He paced the room, back and forth, mumbling to himself. When he back was to the door, Lee quickly moved to the other side of the threshold so he could see the bed. On its edge sat his wife and mother-in-law and between them Phillip and Jamie. The boys were scared, Lee saw it in their eyes. They may be teenagers, but a lunatic with a gun was enough to frighten anyone.
Amanda looked toward the door and their eyes met. She didn't smile, but her eyebrows arched slightly and her lips drew together. With a quick glance in Beaman's direction, she nodded once. At least she knew he was there.
Lee took several seconds to assess the situation. Beaman was so distraught, and completely oblivious to his presence, it wouldn't be difficult to step in and take him down. He just needed to wait for the perfect moment . . .
"Amanda! Amanda!" Joe King yelled as he bounded up the stairs and flew past Lee into the bedroom.
"Damn it!" Lee cursed as he lunged for the idiot.
Things happened in quick succession. Joe burst into the room, Lee reached for and missed him, Amanda gasped and pulled back, trying to shield the boys, and Beaman turned fast on his heels to level his gun on Joe. Lee sprang forward, slamming his shoulder into Joe and sent him sprawling on the carpet. At the same moment, Lee squared himself and trained his own weapon at Beaman.
"Lee!" Amanda shouted, shock and fear cracking her voice.
"Put the gun down, Beaman!" Lee ordered. "This is done! Through!"
Beaman held the gun on him, sweating running down his face in streams and his hand trembling uncontrollably. The gun wavered back and forth, and Lee wondered if the guy could even hit him if he tried. Joe stumbled to his feet behind Beaman. If it were anyone but Joe, Lee might have confidence that they would know enough to distract Beaman, or tackle him, or something! But right now, Joe was a loose canon. Lee felt his guts twist when he saw Joe stumble back to the floor and scoot on his backside to the end of the bed, hiding partially behind it.
Beaman stepped away from them, switching his aim from Lee to Amanda and the boys to Joe. He took one hand off the gun long enough to wipe sweat from his forehead. Lee heard the sound of squealing tires outside. So did Efraim. He looked toward the window.
"That's right, Beaman. That's the Agency. You know you're not leaving here. But if you put the gun down, you might have a chance of leaving alive," Lee said, his jaw so tight sharp pains shot down his neck.
"Better dead than behind bars!"
Efraim lunged forward towards the bed. Within seconds he stood between Lee and his family, and Lee didn't dare fire for fear of risking their lives further. Beaman grabbed Phillip by the hair and yanked him forward off the bed.
"No!" Amanda cried and reached for her eldest son.
Beaman locked Phillip against him, his arm beneath the boy's chin and the muzzle of his gun at Phillip's temple. "What's he worth to you, Scarecrow? Worth letting me go?"
Dotty cried out from the bed, but Lee didn't dare a glance in their direction. His attention was fully on Beaman and Phillip. Lee took one split second to drop his eyes from the rogue agent's face to meet the gaze of his oldest step-son. Phillip's eyes were wide and he clutched at Beaman's arm, trying to pull it away from his throat, but there was no doubt. Just trust. Trust in him.
"Let my son go now," Lee forced through a tight throat, his voice raspy and menacing as he slowly brought his stare back up to Beaman's darting eyes. "Or you're **not** making it out of this room alive."
"What, no negotiations? Oh, that's right. The Great Scarecrow doesn't negotiate."
"Let my son go now!" Lee shouted.
It was then he saw it. A flash of fear rounded Beaman's eyes. At that moment he knew. He knew it was over. Lee watched as Efraim moved the gun from Phillip's temple to turn it toward Amanda. He didn't hesitate, but fired his own weapon.
Beaman's body jerked and his arms flailed out, releasing Phillip. As he stumbled back, his blank eyes staring at the ceiling, Lee reached out for Phillip and pulled the boy behind his back. Efraim Beaman crumbled to the floor, the single, clean hole in his forehead staring up like a third eye.
Billy and Francine reached the bedroom door, undoubtedly drawn by the sound of gunfire. With his chest heaving, Lee let his hand drop to his side, his gun falling to the floor with a thud now that the danger was gone.
His eyes burned and he fought to swallow the lump in his throat as he brought Phillip from behind him, pulling the young man into a rough, hard embrace. Lee looked over the top of Phillip's blonde hair to meet his wife's gaze. With a smile on his lips, Lee reached out one hand to her, still holding Phillip against him with the other arm. Amanda stood, holding Jamie's hand and bringing him with her as she walked toward Lee and Phillip. Their hands joined, and Lee pulled them forward until he could bring both his wife and youngest son into his embrace. Dotty rested her head on his shoulder, standing behind him, and wrapped her arms around to touch both Phillip and Amanda. Holding everyone in the circle of his arms, Lee leaned towards his wife and pressed a hard, needful kiss to her lips.
With only one quick glance back to the still form of Efraim Beaman, now half hidden by the agents who surrounded him, Lee led his family out of the bedroom and down the stairs to the den. As they left the room, Lee subconsciously acknowledged Joe King rushing into the bathroom and getting summarily sick.
The boys broke away, and with Dotty right behind, ran down the stairs to the kitchen where more agents waited. Lee wrapped his arm around Amanda's shoulder and pulled her tight against his side, pressing a kiss against her forehead.
"I knew you'd come," Amanda said in a husky whisper.
"I told you a long time ago, Amanda. I'll always come."
**Amanda's Kitchen
Saturday Night, 11:54PM*
Amanda didn't even bother try to go back to sleep after Lee left. After sleeping for several hours that afternoon, her body wasn't ready to shut down again, despite the events of the last twenty-four hours. And her mind worked too fast to let her relax.
So much had happened in the last week, beginning with the death of Janice Bigelow and ending with the raid on Anthony Mancini the night before. But that was what bothered her the most. Amanda didn't feel like it was over. It was just too easy. Too cut and dry. And now Mancini was dead and Efraim Beaman, an agent she had known since her early days at the Agency, was suspect.
That was what bothered her the most. Lee said he figured Beaman was running. Half way to China unless they caught up to him.
But she wasn't so sure. If he had enough courage to carry out this whole twisted plot and feed information to Mancini, only to turn around and kill the man before he could rat him out, then chances were this wasn't done. Not by half.
With a heavy sigh, Amanda set a small saucepan on the stovetop and pulled the milk from the fridge. Stifling a yawn behind her hand, she poured the milk and turned on the burner.
"Amanda, darling?" Dotty said as she stepped down into the kitchen and tied her robe belt around her waist. "I heard the phone ring. Is everything all right?"
Amanda looked up, and started to speak and find some fanciful story to cover up the real purpose of the call. It was second nature, instinctive. But when she met her mother's gaze, she sighed and remembered that **most** of the hiding and lying was behind them now.
"It was our boss, Mother. Lee needed to go back in."
"Oh, I see," Dotty said and moved past Amanda, opening the cupboard door to take out some baking cocoa for hot chocolate. "That happens a great deal, doesn't it."
Amanda sighed again. "I'm afraid so, Mother."
"Kind of like being married to a doctor. Phone calls in the middle of the night. It's not exactly a nine-to-five job is it?"
Amanda stirred the milk as her mother added cocoa and sugar. "No, it's not."
Dotty West dropped her spoon loudly and planted her hands on the edge of the counter. "Darling, I know you can't tell me everything about whatever it is the two of you do. But isn't there something you can tell me? Help me feel like I'm not completely kicked out of your life!"
Amanda looked up with a jerk of her head. "Is that how we've made you feel?"
Dotty's expression softened and she reached out to put her hand over Amanda's. "Well, maybe not that bad, Amanda. But I do feel like you've been living some life completely separate from us."
Her chest hurt, the emotions that raged in her almost overwhelming her. Never had Dotty been so right - so close to the truth. Amanda had truly been living more than one life, and for the last two years - she had been living three. One for her family. One for the Agency. And one for Lee.
She tried to smile, and hoped it was convincing. As she removed the saucepan from the burner and poured two mugs of cocoa, she asked. "What do you want to know, Mother? I'll tell you whatever I can."
Each woman took a mug and walked into the den and claimed their respective ends of the couch. Amanda curled her legs under her and blew across the top of the drink. Dotty sighed and flipped back a blonde curl that fell forward.
"I don't suppose you can tell me much more about what you do? Where it is? Who you work for?"
Amanda looked off at an angle into the kitchen, tilting her head slowly side to side as she thought about the question. "Well, Mother, Lee and I are agents for the Federal Government but you already know that. I don't think I've ever really been given a job description, other than **agent**. And that covers a pretty big area. Where? Right where you've always known me to be."
"You mean IFF? Amanda, you told me that's a film company!"
"Well, Mother, we can't exactly put a sign out front that says 'Attention KGB - This is the Agency'. We're not the CIA, for goodness sake. We don't have a turn off from 495."
Dotty sighed and nodded. "Yes, well, I can see what you mean. So, Lee . . . he's not your boss?"
Amanda shook her head. "No. We're partners. He's senior agent, but we're partners."
"Can you tell me who your boss is?"
Amanda took a sip of the cocoa, and closed her eyes for a moment to both savor the chocolate and to prepare herself for her mother's reaction. This would be interesting. She opened her eyes and leaned sideways to put the cup of cocoa on the coffee table.
"Mother, do you remember when I told you the federal government was looking for Lee because they thought he had done something wrong? And then I disappeared for a couple of days and that Mr. Melrose came to the house?"
Dotty rolled her eyes and waved her hand in the air. "Yes, I remember him far too well. Mr. Personality. Although he did help Harry get out of his little jam." She sighed. "Oh, Harry Berringer. Sometimes I still miss him terribly." Then her eyes widened and she looked at Amanda. "Amanda, are you telling me you work for him?"
"Mr. Melrose is really a very nice man, Mother. You've only had the opportunity to know him under, well, difficult situations. He was a great supporter of mine when I first became involved with the Agency, and ultimately is the one responsible for Lee and I working together."
"Ah, yes. Lee. There is another story. And I expect a little more detail in your answers about him, darling!" Dotty said, pointing at Amanda.
Amanda smiled. "Yes, Mother. What do you want to know?"
Dotty shook her head, her hair bouncing around her cheeks. "Everything! But I guess you can start with how you met him and how this all got started!"
Just thinking of the memory brought a smile to Amanda's lips. "It's quite a story. Mother, I doubt you'll remember but this is going back over six years ago. I had to take Dean to the train station --."
Amanda stopped short when she thought she heard something. She turned toward the kitchen and listened intently, waiting to see if the sound repeated. For the first time in years, she knew without a doubt it wasn't Lee sneaking through her back yard.
"Amanda?"
"Shhh," Amanda whispered, lifting her finger to her lips.
The sound came again. Someone was turning the doorknob to the door in the kitchen. Amanda stood up slowly, silently motioning for her mother to stand up. Dotty did, with a puzzled look on her face.
"Amanda, what on earth . . ."
Amanda covered her mother's mouth with her hand and leaned in close until their faces were only inches apart.
"Mother, I need you to go upstairs and stay with the boys. Get them into my bedroom and get the phone," she explained as she led her mother towards the stairs. As they walked she gave her mother the phone number that would get her directly into the bullpen, bypassing the switchboard and IFF front. "Ask to speak to either Mr. Melrose or Lee. He is probably there by now."
Her mother looked at her over her shoulder as she walked up the stairs. "Amanda, is something wrong?"
"Mother, please! Just do it!"
"What should I tell them?"
"Tell them Beaman is here."
Her mother turned and looked down at her, hands set at her waist. "Amanda is that some kind of code or something? I mean, if I have to relay some secret message . . ."
"Mother!" Amanda said in a loud whisper, stopping Dotty's ramble. "Mother, it means Beaman is here. That's exactly what it means. They'll know what I need."
Dotty shrugged, nodded, and turned to head back up the stairs. Amanda watched until she disappeared from the landing before crouching down and returning to the den. She slipped in between the refrigerator and center island to inch her way around and see the door. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she swallowed down the fear in her throat. Part of her hoped she was wrong, that it was the wind rattling the door and not the rogue agent.
She kept herself low to the floor and held onto the counter to keep her balance. With another deep breath, she leaned sideways and looked through the breakfast nook to the door. Amanda gasped. The door was open.
He was in the house.
"Looking for me?"
Before Amanda could even react, she was yanked to her feet and thrown back against the edge of the counter. Efraim Beaman's hot breath hit her face as he leaned over her, clutching the front of her robe.
"Scarecrow isn't as smart as I thought. Very stupid, leaving you home alone. Very stupid. Where are **Mother and the boys**?" he asked, his tone mocking as he satired the phrases she used so often.
Amanda refused to answer, clamping her jaw together and forcing her breath to remain even and steady. She wouldn't let him know how frightened she was. Facing down Anthony Mancini had been different. Then it had been just her and him. But now, her children were upstairs. With a strength that came from the knowledge that she would do anything to keep them safe, Amanda met his maniacal stare.
"Not talking, Amanda? That's unusual for you. You're always so willing to chatter on about softball games and bake sales and family outings. Come on, Amanda. Tell me something I don't give a damn about hearing."
In one automatic move, Amanda slammed her hand against his wrist, forcing him to release her robe, and swiped her slippered feet between his legs in an attempt to knock him off balance. Efraim cursed and swung back around, catching her cheek with the back of his hand. Amanda turned away, spotting the empty saucepan on the stove. Curling her fingers around the handle, she twisted hard and fast and clocked the side of his head.
He stumbled back, his hands coming up to hold his head. For the first time, Amanda saw the gun in his hand. Adrenaline charged her blood and she turned to run into the den. Her only thought was to get to Lee's spare gun.
The loud crack of a gun shot rang out, and Amanda felt the deadly projectile barely miss her head as it hit the shelf of books beside her.
"Stop there, Amanda! Or I'll shot you in the back and then go find those two good looking boys of yours!"
Amanda stumbled forward and leaned into the back of the couch, her heart pounding hard and fast in her chest. Her fingers curled to hard into the couch cushion, a sharp ache shot up her arms. She drew in a long, deep breath and slowly turned around to face the man who had once been her teacher. He stood with his arm extended, a trembling hand holding the gun on her.
"What are you going to do?" she asked, her voice cracking as she spoke. "Efraim, why have you done all this?"
"Shut up!" he shouted and motioned toward the stairs. "Get up the stairs!"
"Efraim, please. Listen to me."
"No! I said move!"
Buying herself time, and not wanting to send him any further over the edge, Amanda turned and walked toward the stairs landing. She prayed her mother made it through to Lee or Mr. Melrose, and that she could somehow keep everyone alive until her husband came home.
SMK ~~~ SMK ~~~ SMK ~~~ SMK ~~~ SMK
Lee raked his hair with his fingers and ran his palm over his face. He was tired and wanted to be home, in bed, with his wife. Now that he could actually spend the night with her, the way a husband and wife should be, he was in Billy's office . . . once again.
"Have we gotten any kind of bead on Beaman, Billy?" he asked on a huff.
"None. He's not driving his own car. It's still in the parking garage. We're doing an inventory on the car pool, so see if he stole one of them."
"Do you have someone at his house?"
"Two outside and one waiting inside. But no sign of him."
Lee shifted and leaned his elbows into his knees, his head resting in his hands. Fatigue scratched at his eyes and worked like sandpaper over his nerves. He'd be out there himself, hunting for the spineless weasel, but had no idea where to start. Efraim Beaman was a weak excuse for an agent, Lee had always thought so, and now he just wanted to get his hands on the idiot and ring his neck.
Francine knocked once on Billy's office door before stepping in. Lee looked up to see her face, and the way her eyes rounded and her lips turned town told him something was wrong.
"What is it, Francine?" Billy asked.
"Line three. Lee, it's Amanda's mother. She came in on the direct line."
Lee lunged forward and snatched up Billy's phone, jabbing the lit button for line three with his finger. "Dotty?"
"Oh, thank God! Lee, Amanda just rushed me upstairs, gave me this phone number and told me I needed to speak to you or Mr. Melrose."
"Dotty, what's wrong?" Lee snapped.
"She told me to tell you Beaman is here. Do you know what she means, Lee? I mean, she said you would, but I don't know what she's talking about - Oh!" Dotty screamed as the sound of a gunshot echoed through the phone.
Lee flinched at the sound, his heart jumping into his throat. "Dotty! Dotty!" he shouted into the phone.
"Lee, I think that was a gun shot!"
"I'll be home in five minutes," Lee said, slamming the phone down.
He charged toward the office door, Francine barely getting out of his way before he bowled her over. She and Billy followed hot on his heels.
"We'll meet you there, Scarecrow!" Billy shouted after him.
Lee barely heard them as he ran through the halls toward the parking garage, taking the internal route rather than through the Georgetown foyer. He didn't have the time or patience to wait for the elevator. Within sixty seconds of hanging up the phone, Lee was in the 'Vette and flying across Georgetown towards Arlington.
"Damn it!" he cursed to the empty car.
How could he have been so stupid as to leave them home alone? He never guessed Beaman would have the testicular fortitude to actually go to the house!
Thankfully, the streets were nearly empty this time of night and Lee screeched to a halt outside their house. As he leaped out of the car and pulled his gun from his holster, an all-too-familiar blue sedan pulled up. Lee cursed again.
"Damn it, Joe! Get the hell out of here!" Lee ordered, forcing his voice down from a shout to a loud whisper.
Joe came around the front of his car and glared from Lee to the gun in his hand. "What the hell is going on?" He tried to step in front of Lee, blocking his way to the front gate.
Rage pummeled Lee's chest, and his blood ran so hot it infringed on the edges of his vision. With his jaw clenched and his lips pulled back tight over his teeth, Lee grabbed the front of Joe's jacket.
"God help me, Joe," he hissed through his teeth. "If my family is hurt in **any way** because you want to play Big Bad Ex-Husband, I'll . . ." The thoughts flashing through his mind were too crazed to put into words.
With one final shove, Lee pushed Joe King away and sprinted for the front door. He didn't know if the man followed, didn't care, as long as he made it in time. With care that was hard to muster in his current state of mind, Lee slowly opened the door and stepped into the front hall.
The downstairs was quiet. The kitchen and den lights were on, but there was no one to be seen. Lee stepped down into the den and looked around. Small bits of wood and paper were scattered on the floor, and Lee took the time to realize they were from several now mutilated books. A high caliber bullet had torn through them where they sat on the shelf. Clenching his jaw tighter, and adjusting his gun in his hand, Lee looked up the stairs. He saw the glow of a light, probably from one of the bedrooms, and moved to take the first step.
He edged up the stairwell, his back to the wall and his eyes trained on the upper landing. The sound of muffled voices reached him, but he couldn't make out who they were. Taking cautious steps, he continued.
At the top of the landing, Lee crouched down and stayed against the wall, gun raised, and moved toward their bedroom where the light came from. As he neared the door, the voices became clearer.
"Think, Beaman, think!" Lee heard Efraim mumble in a low voice. "He'll be here soon. Do I kill them now? Before he gets here? Or do I let him watch?"
The man was insane! He paced the room, back and forth, mumbling to himself. When he back was to the door, Lee quickly moved to the other side of the threshold so he could see the bed. On its edge sat his wife and mother-in-law and between them Phillip and Jamie. The boys were scared, Lee saw it in their eyes. They may be teenagers, but a lunatic with a gun was enough to frighten anyone.
Amanda looked toward the door and their eyes met. She didn't smile, but her eyebrows arched slightly and her lips drew together. With a quick glance in Beaman's direction, she nodded once. At least she knew he was there.
Lee took several seconds to assess the situation. Beaman was so distraught, and completely oblivious to his presence, it wouldn't be difficult to step in and take him down. He just needed to wait for the perfect moment . . .
"Amanda! Amanda!" Joe King yelled as he bounded up the stairs and flew past Lee into the bedroom.
"Damn it!" Lee cursed as he lunged for the idiot.
Things happened in quick succession. Joe burst into the room, Lee reached for and missed him, Amanda gasped and pulled back, trying to shield the boys, and Beaman turned fast on his heels to level his gun on Joe. Lee sprang forward, slamming his shoulder into Joe and sent him sprawling on the carpet. At the same moment, Lee squared himself and trained his own weapon at Beaman.
"Lee!" Amanda shouted, shock and fear cracking her voice.
"Put the gun down, Beaman!" Lee ordered. "This is done! Through!"
Beaman held the gun on him, sweating running down his face in streams and his hand trembling uncontrollably. The gun wavered back and forth, and Lee wondered if the guy could even hit him if he tried. Joe stumbled to his feet behind Beaman. If it were anyone but Joe, Lee might have confidence that they would know enough to distract Beaman, or tackle him, or something! But right now, Joe was a loose canon. Lee felt his guts twist when he saw Joe stumble back to the floor and scoot on his backside to the end of the bed, hiding partially behind it.
Beaman stepped away from them, switching his aim from Lee to Amanda and the boys to Joe. He took one hand off the gun long enough to wipe sweat from his forehead. Lee heard the sound of squealing tires outside. So did Efraim. He looked toward the window.
"That's right, Beaman. That's the Agency. You know you're not leaving here. But if you put the gun down, you might have a chance of leaving alive," Lee said, his jaw so tight sharp pains shot down his neck.
"Better dead than behind bars!"
Efraim lunged forward towards the bed. Within seconds he stood between Lee and his family, and Lee didn't dare fire for fear of risking their lives further. Beaman grabbed Phillip by the hair and yanked him forward off the bed.
"No!" Amanda cried and reached for her eldest son.
Beaman locked Phillip against him, his arm beneath the boy's chin and the muzzle of his gun at Phillip's temple. "What's he worth to you, Scarecrow? Worth letting me go?"
Dotty cried out from the bed, but Lee didn't dare a glance in their direction. His attention was fully on Beaman and Phillip. Lee took one split second to drop his eyes from the rogue agent's face to meet the gaze of his oldest step-son. Phillip's eyes were wide and he clutched at Beaman's arm, trying to pull it away from his throat, but there was no doubt. Just trust. Trust in him.
"Let my son go now," Lee forced through a tight throat, his voice raspy and menacing as he slowly brought his stare back up to Beaman's darting eyes. "Or you're **not** making it out of this room alive."
"What, no negotiations? Oh, that's right. The Great Scarecrow doesn't negotiate."
"Let my son go now!" Lee shouted.
It was then he saw it. A flash of fear rounded Beaman's eyes. At that moment he knew. He knew it was over. Lee watched as Efraim moved the gun from Phillip's temple to turn it toward Amanda. He didn't hesitate, but fired his own weapon.
Beaman's body jerked and his arms flailed out, releasing Phillip. As he stumbled back, his blank eyes staring at the ceiling, Lee reached out for Phillip and pulled the boy behind his back. Efraim Beaman crumbled to the floor, the single, clean hole in his forehead staring up like a third eye.
Billy and Francine reached the bedroom door, undoubtedly drawn by the sound of gunfire. With his chest heaving, Lee let his hand drop to his side, his gun falling to the floor with a thud now that the danger was gone.
His eyes burned and he fought to swallow the lump in his throat as he brought Phillip from behind him, pulling the young man into a rough, hard embrace. Lee looked over the top of Phillip's blonde hair to meet his wife's gaze. With a smile on his lips, Lee reached out one hand to her, still holding Phillip against him with the other arm. Amanda stood, holding Jamie's hand and bringing him with her as she walked toward Lee and Phillip. Their hands joined, and Lee pulled them forward until he could bring both his wife and youngest son into his embrace. Dotty rested her head on his shoulder, standing behind him, and wrapped her arms around to touch both Phillip and Amanda. Holding everyone in the circle of his arms, Lee leaned towards his wife and pressed a hard, needful kiss to her lips.
With only one quick glance back to the still form of Efraim Beaman, now half hidden by the agents who surrounded him, Lee led his family out of the bedroom and down the stairs to the den. As they left the room, Lee subconsciously acknowledged Joe King rushing into the bathroom and getting summarily sick.
The boys broke away, and with Dotty right behind, ran down the stairs to the kitchen where more agents waited. Lee wrapped his arm around Amanda's shoulder and pulled her tight against his side, pressing a kiss against her forehead.
"I knew you'd come," Amanda said in a husky whisper.
"I told you a long time ago, Amanda. I'll always come."