Disclaimer: Scarecrow and Mrs. King and its characters are the property of Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Productions. The plot is mine; you may copy at any whim you so choose however please leave credit where credit is due.

I apologize for the delay. Would you believe me if I told you was walking down the street and was kidnapped by an international terrorist, or was it a foreign agent, or a deranged man who wanted to sell me, or a ruthless diamond thief. Anyway whoever it was I tried to tell them I had a story to write, that I was right in the middle of it, but he… Maybe real life just happened as it usually does and I will do my best to finish this with speed.

A Race Against Time and the KGB

Amanda leaned her head against the plane window and watched the clouds pass under them. She hadn't said a word since the plane took off, but her hand had remained firmly in Lee's. Francine sat next to them keeping Lee from comforting his wife like he wanted to. Lee's watched beeped causing Amanda to jump. "Sorry," he apologized quickly turning the watch off. "It's time to take you medication." He spoke softly.

Amanda smiled in spite of the situation, and dutifully took her regimen of pills. "I'm sorry I've been so difficult." She started.

"Don't apologize. We're all a little on edge. Let's concentrate on finding Dimitri quickly, okay?" Lee replied just as the announcement came overhead: We will be landing at SeaTac national airport in four minutes, the local time is currently 4:30 p.m. Please return your seats to an upright position and fasten your seatbelts.

"Let's get the show on the road," Francine interjected.

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At 9:00 Amanda collapsed on her bed at the Hilton. Aside from the fatigue from the drugs her body was still on D.C. time and was exhausted. They had spent a good 3 hours at the local FBI headquarters gathering information and filling out paperwork. She was relieved that the watch had only injected her once since they left D.C., but it was enough to make her feel like the wrong end of a train wreck. Amanda drifted off to sleep before she knew it still dressed in her blue jeans, sweatshirt and sneakers.

A ringing suddenly awakened Amanda; she lay still for a moment trying to clear her brain until it registered that the phone was ringing. Glancing at her clock she grimaced: 2:00 am. "Hello?"

"Amanda King?" A gruff voice asked.

"Yes. Who is this?"

"Meet me at 3rd and Spring St. in one hour."

"Who is this?" She asked again.

"The man you're looking for," was the replied followed by a 'click'.

Amanda stared at the receiver as if it would provide some answer. She shook her head and dialed Lee's room.

He answered on the second ring, "Hello."

"Lee it's Amanda—"

"What's wrong, are you alright?" He cut in concerned.

"I'm okay. I've been contacted by Dimitri I think."

"You think? How." He asked switching from concerned husband to agent.

Amanda explained the phone call and agreed to stay put, and wait for he and Francine to meet her in her room.

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One hour later Lee and Francine were waiting at the designated corner a few blocks from there hotel, while Amanda provided back up. She was completely exhausted and this was one occasion she did not mind "waiting in the car". She was actually a block down on a street bench. Both Lee and Francine were wired and Amanda had an earpiece so she would know if they would need backup or not.

They did not however realize that they were under surveillance.

Amanda glanced down the street, looking for the suspect. She only saw one homeless man sleeping on the sidewalk.

"I don't think he's going to show. Maybe we spooked him having two of us here." Lee spoke softly into his receiver.

Amanda for her part was not convinced. Dimitri must have gone to great trouble to find her. Maybe he even had an inside source somehow. That was really the only way he could have gotten her number. "My number." Amanda whispered. She made quick eye contact with Lee. She wanted to tell him her concerns. If Dimitri had contacted her that meant he knew where they were staying and somehow knew her room number. She glanced around one last time. The homeless man was gone! Standing quickly she ran to her partners.

Lee and Francine for there part had their guns out. Lee saw Amanda's nervousness, and then her sudden movement. He trusted her enough to know something was very wrong. He nodded his approval as he saw Francine react just as quickly. Everyone trusted his wife's judgment.

Amanda reached them out of breath. Lee supported her with his right hand. "I think it's a set up."

To be continued…