Chapter Five

Billy Melrose sat at his desk listening to the conference call with half an ear. He was conferencing with Agent Michael Ross from New Orleans and Dr. Smythe. The plan was being set into motion about bringing down Andre Brousseau from New Orleans. Billy was secretly very pleased. Reports from Agent Ross about Amanda King were glowing. Amanda showed real initiative in the field, applying to gaming school and even getting a job in a casino. Billy wished the other reports on Amanda were glowing as well. Agent Ross reported Amanda worked herself to death, sometimes 12-16 hour days. Agent Ross had met Amanda's mother and children under the pretense of being her boss at the casino.

Dotty and the boys reported that Amanda sometimes stayed up late crying or staring out her window in the Garden District, looking for something or someone, they said. Philip and Jamie were worried about her. They reported to Agent Ross that their mother wasn't eating or sleeping well and wanted to know what they should do. Agent Ross reassured them as their mother's "boss" that her long days would be coming to an end soon. Billy listened as Agent Ross and Dr. Smythe rambled, then Agent Ross said:

"Billy, do you have any agents you can spare for surveillance on the casino?" Agent Ross said. "We're really shorthanded down here and anyone male or female you can spare would be great."

"Sure, Billy's got plenty of agents to spare." Dr.Smythe drawled. "I'm sure there are plenty of people looking to get out of the bureaucratic glare, right Billy?"

"I'm sure I can find a few agents, Agent Ross." Billy said.

"Make sure you send Scarecrow." Dr. Smythe said. "We don't want to want Scarecrow to think we've hidden Mrs. King somewhere over the rainbow, 'Kay?"

"I'll see what I can do." Billy said tightly.

He slammed the receiver in the cradle and glared at the phone. Damn Smythe for forcing him to use Scarecrow! Billy knew the emotional state both Lee and Amanda were in. They hadn't seen each other in more than five months. Billy didn't know how either of them would handle seeing the other. But Billy was going to make damn sure Dr. Smythe didn't get any more kicks out of throwing Lee and Amanda together. He picked up the phone to dial Jeanne to tell her to pack his suitcase. Then he placed a call upstairs to the Q Bureau. ______________________________________________________________________

Lee stared at the phone long after he'd hung up with Billy. He was going to New Orleans! Amanda would be there! His elation was quickly sobered by the fact he hadn't seen Amanda for more than five months. How would she feel about working together with him again? Would she still be upset about Leslie? Leslie.Damn, he'd forgotten all about telling Leslie. He dialed her office and asked for her.

"Leslie Stetson?" Leslie answered.

"Leslie, it's Lee. I wanted to let you know I'm going on assignment out of town. I don't know how long I'll be gone." Lee said.

"Where are you going to?" Leslie asked.

"New Orleans." Lee replied. "I've got some Agency business to take care of down there."

"Lee, I wouldn't go down there if I were you. I have a feeling you're going to run into trouble down there." Leslie said.

"I'll be fine Leslie." Lee said "I'll call you in a few days and let you know how it's going."

"Be careful." Leslie said and hung up.

Lee hung up the phone shaking his head. Leslie's wifely concern puzzled him. She never before acted so concerned for his safety, now here she was acting like a worried wife. Lee shook his head again. He was glad to be going on assignment. Leslie had changed so much in their brief marriage, Lee was wondering if they were going to last until their first anniversary. He hoped he could talk to Amanda on this trip alone. He missed the friendship and closeness he and Amanda had. He hoped she could find it in her heart to forgive him and remain friends. Lee grabbed his jacket off the chair and headed out to his car. He needed to run home and pack if he was going to make his flight on time. ________________________________________________________________________

Amanda was putting the last part of dinner on the table for Mother and the boys when the phone rang. Setting down a plate of hot dog buns, she picked up the receiver.

"Hello."

"Amanda, it's Billy." Billy said.

"Sir, Hello! How are you?" Amanda asked.

"Fine Amanda, how's everything with you?" Billy asked.

"Everything's going well down here, sir." Amanda replied.

"Uh, Amanda, I have something to tell you. I want you to hear it from me before you hear it from anyone else." Billy said.

"What is it, sir?" Amanda asked. "Agent Ross and Dr.Smythe are sending some agents down to help your office cover surveillance on the casino during your operation. I'm coming down to help coordinate the effort. But Dr.Smythe ordered Scarecrow onto this surveillance team." Billy said.

Amanda sat down on her kitchen stool and stared out the window for a long moment. She knew something like this would happen eventually. It was only a matter of time. She turned her attention back to the phone.

"Amanda, did you hear what I said?" Billy asked worriedly.

"I heard you, sir. Believe me I heard. I'll be all right with it. I can handle seeing Lee after all this time." Amanda said. "Is Lee.."

"Is Lee what, Amanda?" Billy asked gently.

"Is Lee happy?" Amanda asked. "I mean with Leslie and work?"

"I don't know for sure Amanda." Billy said "Why don't you ask him when you see him?"

"Thank you sir, I will." Amanda said.

Billy briefed her on what time he and the other agents would arrive. Billy told Amanda that Lee was catching an earlier flight so he could get to New Orleans early and get up to speed with Agent Ross and the layout of the casino. As Amanda hung up with Billy, she realized she was smiling from ear to ear. She quickly stopped smiling and wondered what she would say to Lee. Would he still be mad that she didn't show up to his wedding? Would Leslie come with him? Would he still even want to be friends with her? As she called Dotty and the boys to supper, she decided to wait and see how Lee acted. After all, she thought, how bad could he have missed her??? _______________________________________________________________________