Chapter Six

Lee Stetson hoisted his carry-on bag onto his shoulder as he scanned the crowded airport for Billy. The jeans and pullover shirt he had changed into before his flight were now sticking to his body in the sweltering New Orleans heat. The airport was packed with tourists and business types shuttling off to various destinations. Lee chuckled with amusement as he watched a crowd of college age guys go past. They were dressed in loud floral printed shirts and khaki shorts, sporting strings of colorful beads around their necks searching for a taxi to take them to the French Quarter. Typical frat guys, Lee thought, as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see Billy and another agent waiting for him.

"Lee, this is Agent Michael Ross from the New Orleans office. He's the agent leading this investigation. Agent Ross, this is Lee Stetson from D.C." Billy said.

"Lee, nice to meet you. Billy's told me a lot about you." Agent Ross said. "Good to have you down here on our side."

"Nice to meet you Agent Ross." Lee said. "Is it always this hot down here?"

"Call me Michael, and yes, it's this way most of the time. You'll get used to it though." Agent Ross laughed and said.

Lee and Billy made their way to baggage claim and retrieved the rest of their luggage. As Agent Ross led them to his sedan, Lee asked Agent Ross about the investigation.

"Well Lee, Andre Brousseau owns the Belle of New Orleans casino. He has ties to the Las Vegas mob and lately we've been getting reports he's been funneling an awful lot of money out of his casino. We know he's got a source up in D.C. who's been handling the exchange, coordinating the buyers and setting up the meetings. What we don't know is who or for what purpose. That's where you and Mr. Melrose come in. We needed people down here who may know who to look for. Someone from the D.C. area down here. We think the contact may be coming into town this week to set up a big meeting with some Russians interested in laundering some of Brousseau's money for some heavy artillery." Agent Ross said.

"Do we know anything about Brousseau's contact?" Lee asked.

"All we know is that he or she works for the government, has close association with ambassadors and other high ranking dignitaries, and that whoever the contact is also has a connection with one of D.C's government agencies." Agent Ross said.

"You mean, it could be someone from the Agency?" Billy asked.

"It could be." Agent Ross said. "However, if it is someone in the Agency, they have no idea they are the contact. He or she is innocent in all of this, except for being inadvertently pumped for information or being spied on themselves." Agent Ross said as he sped down the interstate.

"So where does Amanda fit in to all of this?" Billy wanted to know.

"Amanda is our inside contact. She has set herself up inside as a Blackjack dealer. She's constantly monitored on a wire and she reports to us daily. She's done a wonderful job getting herself inside, we just have to wait for the right time for her to get us the information we need to arrest Brousseau." Agent Ross said.

"How much danger is she in at the casino?" Lee asked nervously.

"Lee, Amanda knew the risks when she volunteered for the job. She knows what's at stake and she also knows my team and I are there to protect her. I will make sure nothing happens to her." Agent Ross said, glancing at Lee in the rearview mirror.

Lee sat back in his seat, his face taut with anger and jealousy. The protective streak in Agent Ross's voice struck a nerve with Lee. HE had always been the one to be protective of Amanda and now this guy thought he was going to take over where Lee left off. He sat back in the seat fuming until Agent Ross pulled up in front of a hotel.

"Lee, Billy, here's where you'll be staying. This is the Crescent City Plaza. I've also arranged for you to have use of an agency car." Agent Ross said handing Billy a set of car keys. "One of my other agents will be by in about an hour to direct you to our field office. That way you have time to get settled in. I'll meet up with you then and fill you in on the surveillance layout." Agent Ross finished.

"Thanks for your help." Billy said as they shook hands with Agent Ross. "We'll see you in a little while."

Lee and Billy watched as Agent Ross drove away. They entered the hotel and checked in. As they made their way upstairs to their rooms, Billy asked:

"So, what did you think of Agent Ross, Lee? He seems like a competent agent, arranging this whole operation with minimal staff. We could use someone like him up in D.C." Billy said.

"Competent, huh? Seems like he's more worried about taking care of Amanda than coordinating an important operation like this!" Lee said angrily.

"Scarecrow now is not the time for your personal feelings to cloud this investigation!" Billy said. "You need to focus on the task at hand, namely helping the Agency nail this Brousseau man. Playing jealous over Amanda now may get you and her killed." Billy finished, glaring at Lee.

"I know Billy. I'm sorry." Lee sighed. "I just wish that I hadn't screwed everything up with Amanda."

As the elevator stopped on their floor and the doors opened, Lee and Billy stepped off. Billy laid a hand on Lee's shoulder in a fatherly gesture. Billy suspected the marriage between Lee and Leslie was bad, and knew there had been more going on with Lee and Amanda than just being professional partners and friends. But now wasn't the time to discuss these things with Lee. But he smiled fondly at Lee and said:

"You give Amanda too little credit. Nothing is as screwed up as you think it is. Amanda has always been there for you, and she will be again. Don't be so hard on yourself. You and Amanda will work this out, I know it." Billy said with a smile.

"Thanks Billy." Lee said as he stuck his key into the door. He walked into the room and deposited his bags on the floor. As he sat down on the queen size bed, he looked around. The room, although spacious and comfortable, was too big for him. He sighed and began to unpack. The months of loneliness were closing in on him. He hurried and put away his clothes and shaving items. He needed to see Amanda. ____________________________________________________________________

Amanda sat in the New Orleans field office in the conference room with Agent Ross waiting for Billy and Lee to arrive. She had been both dreading and anticipating this meeting ever since Agent Ross had told her that Billy and Lee would be accompanying the D.C. agents assigned to cover surveillance for the Brousseau operation. Her stomach was in knots and her hands were shaking. Agent Ross glanced over at her. He knew she was upset and wanted to reassure her everything was alright. He placed a hand over hers gently as he spoke.

"Amanda, are you sure you're all right with this?" Agent Ross asked.

"I'm fine, Michael, it's just I want to do a good job here. I've felt like I've always had to prove myself as an agent and I don't want to disappoint Mr. Melrose." Amanda said.

"Or Lee." Agent Ross said.

"Or Lee either." Amanda sighed. "I didn't tell you everything about Lee and I." Amanda said.

"You don't have to." Agent Ross said. "It's written all over your face."

At that moment, the door opened and Billy and Lee walked in. Lee saw Agent Ross holding Amanda's hand. He clenched his hands into fists at his side. Billy ignored the friendly gesture between Amanda and Agent Ross and moved to give Amanda a hug.

"Amanda, good to see you." Billy said as he hugged her.

"Good to see you too, sir." Amanda said as she returned his hug. She looked over Billy's shoulder at Lee. She broke the hug from Billy and looked at Lee.

"Ah, Agent Ross, is there somewhere I can get some coffee?" Billy asked, motioning towards Lee and Amanda.

"Sure, follow me Billy." Agent Ross said, ushering Billy out of the conference room.

Amanda stood motionless as the door closed behind Agent Ross and Billy. She clasped her hands in front of her and looked at Lee. Lee looked wonderful. His jeans and shirt, although sticking to him, looked perfect against his lean body. His hair had gotten a little longer and needed a trim, she thought. His mouth was set in a hard line, but it was his eyes that held Amanda. Those beautiful hazel eyes she remembered getting lost in were positively glacial. They looked like hard chips of marble as the bored into Amanda's.

"Lee." Amanda said. "How have you been?"

"Apparently I'm doing better than you are." Lee said icily.

"What are you talking about?" Amanda asked.

"I saw that little hand-holding going on between you and Agent Ross." Lee spat. "Looks like you're doing fine down here."

"Lee Stetson, how dare you!" Amanda said angrily. "You have no room to talk after you just up and married Leslie. Then you have the nerve to ask me to be at your wedding. How did you think that made me feel?" Amanda asked, turning her back on him.

Lee crossed the room and spun Amanda around to face him. She looked at the floor, refusing to look at him. He cupped her chin in his hand and raised her head to face him. Lee could see the tears in her eyes that Amanda refused to shed. Her lower lip quivered as she returned his gaze. Lee wanted nothing more than to take her away from here, somewhere where they could be alone. He wanted to ask her about their last conversation and the kiss that followed. He wanted to know if he'd made a mistake with Leslie. He had to know if there was a chance for him and Amanda.

"How did it make you feel?" Lee asked her softly. "Did it keep you up at night, dreaming of someone? Longing to see that someone, feel that someone, love that someone forever? Was it hard to eat, or sleep, or feel anything, knowing you let that someone go that you wanted so badly?" Lee said urgently.

"Lee..." Amanda said, closing her eyes. "Amanda, I..." Lee said as he bent his head to kiss her.

Before Lee had a chance to kiss her, the conference room door opened and Agent Ross's secretary entered.

"Mrs. King, Mr. Stetson, Agent Ross and Mr. Melrose are waiting for you in Agent Ross's office." she said as she closed the door.

Lee and Amanda broke away from each other. Lee looked at Amanda. Her eyes were moist from her unshed tears and her face was flushed. Lee ran a hand through his hair and looked down at her.

"Amanda, I'm sorry." Lee said.

"Sorry for what? For what almost happened?" Amanda asked. "Don't worry Lee, it won't happen again. You're married now and that part of our relationship is ancient history." Amanda finished as she walked out the door.

"That's what you think Amanda King." Lee said. "I've only just started with you." Lee said determinedly to the empty room as he followed Amanda to Agent Ross's office.