Chapter Seven
Lee followed Amanda into Agent Ross's office, silently berating himself. Here he was, not five minutes around Amanda and he was acting like a jealous schoolboy. He couldn't believe he'd acted like that. Amanda's statement about him being a married man was like a jolt of ice water to his system. As Lee walked into the office, he noticed Amanda sat at the far end of the table. Her face was still flushed and her hands shook as she picked up a file folder off the table.
"Lee, that folder on the table is for you." Agent Ross said. "It has all the updated materials on the Brousseau case and the agents assigned from here in New Orleans." Agent Ross said.
Lee picked up the file folder and began to read as Agent Ross briefed Billy on the new changes. Lee read in the folder how Amanda had established herself inside the casino and that the management was impressed by her work there. She had proven to Agent Ross and the other agents in New Orleans that she thought quickly on her feet and that she took the initiative, more than the seasoned agents in the office, Lee thought. He smiled as he pictured Amanda at dealer school, taking charge and learning how to deal. He glanced over at Amanda. Her face had gained its' usual color back, and the pulse at the base of her neck had returned to normal. He thought back to their earlier conversation, and wondered how hurt she had been at his marriage, when Billy's voice cut through his musings.
"Scarecrow, are you listening to me?" Billy asked.
"Sorry, Billy, what were you saying?" Lee said.
"I asked you whether or not you would supervise the surveillance our agents are handling down here, or do you need some help?" Billy asked impatiently.
"Yeah, sure Billy, I can handle that." Said Lee.
"Good." Said Billy. "Try to stay with us."
"Ok, then, now that we've gone over the surveillance, I guess we just need to go over the layout of the casino and let you and Lee know what parts everyone's playing down here." Agent Ross said to Billy.
"Go ahead." Said Billy, "it's your show."
"All right. Now, tomorrow night there's a function at the casino. Strictly for high rollers and employees. Billy, I've gotten you into the function as a security officer for the casino. Lee, you'll be going as a high roller. I've set up a line of credit with the casino for you, so playing your part should be no problem." Agent Ross said.
"What's Amanda going to be doing?" Billy asked.
"Amanda will be going as a break-in dealer, which according to the casino, she is. She'll be mingling with the other high rollers and dealers, getting to know them and so forth." Agent Ross said.
"And where will you be during all this?" Lee asked.
"I'm Amanda's date for the function." Agent Ross said.
Billy nodded to Amanda. Lee sat back in his chair and clenched his fists in his lap. The nerve of this guy! He is supposed to be working and he's escorting Amanda, My Amanda, to this party, Lee thought. Lee ground his teeth together so hard a muscle flexed in his jaw. Amanda noticed the controlled way Lee was holding himself and mentally shook her head. Poor Michael, she thought, you don't know what you've gotten yourself into.
Lee stood in the bathroom of his hotel room studying his reflection as he straightened his tie. As he finished, he looked around for his tuxedo jacket. Finding it, he shrugged into it and remembered the last time he'd had on a tuxedo. It was at his wedding. To Leslie. He crossed over to the bed and dialed his home number. It rang until his machine picked up. He waited until his outgoing message played, then called for Leslie. She didn't answer or pick up the phone. He hung up and dialed her office. Her secretary answered on the second ring.
"Leslie Stetson's office."
"This is Lee. Is Leslie there?" Lee asked.
"I'm sorry Mr. Stetson, but Mrs. Stetson is out of town right now." The secretary said.
"Well, where did she go and when did she leave?" Lee asked.
"Mrs. Stetson left yesterday to meet with an ambassador. She asked me not to give out any specifics to anyone, even you Mr. Stetson." The secretary said rudely.
"Thank you so much for your help!" Lee said sarcastically as he hung up.
Lee sat down on the bed puzzled. Leslie had been so secretive lately, never in the office when she was supposed to be, never returning his phone calls. She never talked to him about her work and he never asked. Lee wondered for a moment if she was having an affair. The thought of Leslie having an affair brought no pang of hurt for Lee and he knew why. Lee knew without a doubt that his marriage to Leslie should never have happened. Lee didn't even know why he'd rushed into this. When he and Leslie talked about it, he never dreamed she'd be so insistent on getting married. He had chalked it up to her enthusiasm being a woman thing. She'd jumped into the wedding plans furiously, arranging caterers and flowers and invitations, Lee had enthusiastically let her do what she'd wanted. Now he realized that Leslie had probably been afraid Lee would change his mind and hurried him down the aisle. He thought again about being married to Amanda. He would have never rushed getting married to her. He would have relished being involved in planning the wedding. As for Amanda ever having an affair, Lee scowled at the thought. He would love Amanda so deeply she'd never want to stray. Love. Yeah, he thought, I love Amanda. He smiled as he finished dressing. He picked up his room key and went to go meet Billy.
Lee followed Amanda into Agent Ross's office, silently berating himself. Here he was, not five minutes around Amanda and he was acting like a jealous schoolboy. He couldn't believe he'd acted like that. Amanda's statement about him being a married man was like a jolt of ice water to his system. As Lee walked into the office, he noticed Amanda sat at the far end of the table. Her face was still flushed and her hands shook as she picked up a file folder off the table.
"Lee, that folder on the table is for you." Agent Ross said. "It has all the updated materials on the Brousseau case and the agents assigned from here in New Orleans." Agent Ross said.
Lee picked up the file folder and began to read as Agent Ross briefed Billy on the new changes. Lee read in the folder how Amanda had established herself inside the casino and that the management was impressed by her work there. She had proven to Agent Ross and the other agents in New Orleans that she thought quickly on her feet and that she took the initiative, more than the seasoned agents in the office, Lee thought. He smiled as he pictured Amanda at dealer school, taking charge and learning how to deal. He glanced over at Amanda. Her face had gained its' usual color back, and the pulse at the base of her neck had returned to normal. He thought back to their earlier conversation, and wondered how hurt she had been at his marriage, when Billy's voice cut through his musings.
"Scarecrow, are you listening to me?" Billy asked.
"Sorry, Billy, what were you saying?" Lee said.
"I asked you whether or not you would supervise the surveillance our agents are handling down here, or do you need some help?" Billy asked impatiently.
"Yeah, sure Billy, I can handle that." Said Lee.
"Good." Said Billy. "Try to stay with us."
"Ok, then, now that we've gone over the surveillance, I guess we just need to go over the layout of the casino and let you and Lee know what parts everyone's playing down here." Agent Ross said to Billy.
"Go ahead." Said Billy, "it's your show."
"All right. Now, tomorrow night there's a function at the casino. Strictly for high rollers and employees. Billy, I've gotten you into the function as a security officer for the casino. Lee, you'll be going as a high roller. I've set up a line of credit with the casino for you, so playing your part should be no problem." Agent Ross said.
"What's Amanda going to be doing?" Billy asked.
"Amanda will be going as a break-in dealer, which according to the casino, she is. She'll be mingling with the other high rollers and dealers, getting to know them and so forth." Agent Ross said.
"And where will you be during all this?" Lee asked.
"I'm Amanda's date for the function." Agent Ross said.
Billy nodded to Amanda. Lee sat back in his chair and clenched his fists in his lap. The nerve of this guy! He is supposed to be working and he's escorting Amanda, My Amanda, to this party, Lee thought. Lee ground his teeth together so hard a muscle flexed in his jaw. Amanda noticed the controlled way Lee was holding himself and mentally shook her head. Poor Michael, she thought, you don't know what you've gotten yourself into.
Lee stood in the bathroom of his hotel room studying his reflection as he straightened his tie. As he finished, he looked around for his tuxedo jacket. Finding it, he shrugged into it and remembered the last time he'd had on a tuxedo. It was at his wedding. To Leslie. He crossed over to the bed and dialed his home number. It rang until his machine picked up. He waited until his outgoing message played, then called for Leslie. She didn't answer or pick up the phone. He hung up and dialed her office. Her secretary answered on the second ring.
"Leslie Stetson's office."
"This is Lee. Is Leslie there?" Lee asked.
"I'm sorry Mr. Stetson, but Mrs. Stetson is out of town right now." The secretary said.
"Well, where did she go and when did she leave?" Lee asked.
"Mrs. Stetson left yesterday to meet with an ambassador. She asked me not to give out any specifics to anyone, even you Mr. Stetson." The secretary said rudely.
"Thank you so much for your help!" Lee said sarcastically as he hung up.
Lee sat down on the bed puzzled. Leslie had been so secretive lately, never in the office when she was supposed to be, never returning his phone calls. She never talked to him about her work and he never asked. Lee wondered for a moment if she was having an affair. The thought of Leslie having an affair brought no pang of hurt for Lee and he knew why. Lee knew without a doubt that his marriage to Leslie should never have happened. Lee didn't even know why he'd rushed into this. When he and Leslie talked about it, he never dreamed she'd be so insistent on getting married. He had chalked it up to her enthusiasm being a woman thing. She'd jumped into the wedding plans furiously, arranging caterers and flowers and invitations, Lee had enthusiastically let her do what she'd wanted. Now he realized that Leslie had probably been afraid Lee would change his mind and hurried him down the aisle. He thought again about being married to Amanda. He would have never rushed getting married to her. He would have relished being involved in planning the wedding. As for Amanda ever having an affair, Lee scowled at the thought. He would love Amanda so deeply she'd never want to stray. Love. Yeah, he thought, I love Amanda. He smiled as he finished dressing. He picked up his room key and went to go meet Billy.
