Chapter 10
Lee yawned, stretched and looked at his watch. It was early Sunday morning and he had been sitting in the cramped supply closet since midnight, when he had relieved Francine so she could get a little sleep. He looked up and partially pulled the wire from his ear as the door to the closet opened and Francine slipped in. He made room for her and after shaking his head to her silent inquiry, settled the wire back into his ear and continued to listen intently. Francine inserted her own wire and joined in the surveillance.
Several hours later, the pair perked up when they made out the distinct sound of a knock on the door to Opitz's suite. Exchanging a look, they continued to listen. Lee reached under his jacket and pulled his gun from its holster, while Francine took hers from where she had it concealed in her waistband. After listening long enough to confirm that it was the meet, Francine whispered to Lee, "It's time. Let's go."
He answered back, "Remember the plan now. Call in back-up, and make sure you're in position in five minutes."
They checked their watches, and Francine whispered, "Good luck," as Lee slipped out of the closet.
Lee made his way to Amanda's room as quickly as he could, and let himself in quietly. He glanced at the bed, hoping not to waken Amanda, but she opened her eyes and addressed him sleepily, "Is it time?"
"Yeah, they're meeting now," he whispered back.
"Good luck, sweetheart," she murmured after him.
He smiled at her before tiptoeing to the sliding door that led to the balcony. Sliding the door open, he exited the room. He swung over the railing, making the leap to the next balcony, continuing the same way until he was on the terrace outside of Opitz's room. Checking his watch and hoping that Francine was in position, he crashed through the glass door, performing a shoulder tuck and roll before righting himself and leveling his gun at the startled pair in the room.
Simultaneously, Francine let herself in the front door with the key she had purloined from housekeeping, her gun at the ready. "Show-off," she said to Lee with a smile, before pointing her gun at Opitz, adding, "Let's see your hands above your head." Gesturing to his accomplice, she said, "You, too, Senator Weatherly."
Lee made his way over to the table and perused the papers littering its top. "Well, well. It looks like the good Senator was selling out our nation's defenses. These are the plans for the next generation missile system. Care to explain why you were going to share them with the East Germans?" he asked, looking at Weatherly and then at Opitz, who glared back at him but remained silent.
"I think it's time to take out this trash, Lee," Francine added.
Lee looked at her and agreed, "Yeah." The two made short work of handcuffing the pair and then settled down to wait for back-up. After the agents arrived and took Opitz and Weatherly away, Lee perched on the edge of the table and crossed his arms. "Good work," he said, smiling at Francine. "Looks like we still make a pretty good team."
"I guess we do at that." She paused for an instant before continuing, "Lee?"
"Yeah?"
"I have just one question."
"Shoot."
"Tell me how you discovered Opitz's whereabouts."
"Well, it's like this, I could tell you. . ."
"I know, I know, but then you'd have to kill me. Lee, that is so old."
"Hmm, sure is. What about, I have my ways."
Francine groaned, "Ugh, that's worse than the first one. So, you're not going to tell me?"
"Nope."
"You know I'll find out eventually."
"Maybe, but by that time the other residents of Birchwood won't care."
She flashed her eyes at him and muttered. "Humph, very funny," before adding, "Well, do you have any ideas on how to celebrate the conclusion of our case?"
He smiled at her. "Yeah. Get a divorce."