Chapter 6

Jonathan Stone was talking to Tom Leonard.

The last time Efraim had seen Jonathan Stone was the case where he had been drugging Francine for Brody. He had helped Lee, Billy and Stone find information regarding Brody's phone calls, one in particular led them to Dulles Airport, Francine and Dr. Dunleavy.. The affair with Francine had lasted several months after the Brody case concluded. Francine had come into work upset, distraught and had never said a word about Jonathan Stone again. Lee had seen how upset Efraim had been and had taken him running to work off some anger.

Efraim threw open the door to the interrogation room and strode out. He didn't bother with the elevator but hit the door to the steps with such force it bounced off the wall and closed with a slam He took the steps two at a time, finally reaching the main floor. He pulled open the door only to meet Geiger on the other side who pushed him back into the stairwell and up against the wall

"You need to cool down, man. This is not going to help matters."

"Let me go Dave, or I promise you I'll take you down before I get to him."

"You're going to have to do just that Beaman, because I'm not about to let you ruin your life over that worthless piece of shit."

"You don't know what he's done to Francine."

Geiger could see the pain and anger in Beaman's face and eyes. He had to keep him talking to stall him long enough for Leonard and Stone to drive out. "I heard about it."

"I'm sure you have. My wife's fall from grace. Drugged for information and betrayed by the man she was in love with. And to tell you how big a heart that women has, she forgave him. Again. And he used her and left her, again."

"And now she's in love with you and married to you. I've never seen Francine happier than she has been with you this past year, Beaman. Are you going to forget that?"

"I swore if I ever saw him again I'd kill him. I will not stand by and let him come into our lives and ruin what we have."

"Are you so unsure of yourself and of Francine that you believe he could come between you? If you keep up with that kind of stupid thinking the one hurting your relationship with your wife won't be Stone."

Efraim stopped and took a deep breath. Is that what he would be doing? He needed to think. "I need to tell Francine about this. How am I going to tell her?" He hadn't realized he had spoken the words out loud until Dave answered him.

"You'll find a way to do it, Beaman. The woman is in love with you and she'll deal with this better if she finds out from you. You're going to have to give her your support."

"That will never be an issue between us."

"I know, I'm telling you so you remember. Look, I watched Francine at your bedside in Romania, there is no room in her heart for someone like Stone. She already has what she wants and what she needs in you. Remember that."

Efraim nodded his head, feeling his body relax. "Take me to the house, will ya? I'll call Francine and have her meet me at home and tell her there, she deserves that."

"I'll disappear for a few hours so I don't have to answer any questions at The Agency. Beep me and I'll come in at the same time you do, alright? We'll tell Billy and Lee at the same time."

"Lee's going to be almost as mad as I am. He has no fondness for Stone."

Geiger pulled the door open and stepped out into the lobby of the Federal Detention Center. Efraim followed silently behind him, anger evident in the way he held himself. They signed out and walked out into the thin sunshine.

Efraim pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed Francine. They had reached the car when she finally answered her extension. "Hey there beautiful, how are you?" Efraim laughed at her answer. "Look, I feel like lunch at home today, why don't you meet me there, okay? Yeah, well, that too hon. Okay, I'll be there within the hour, see you then. Francine? I love you. See you at home." He closed his phone, sat back in the passengers seat and sighed.

He stared out the passenger window for the trip back to Georgetown. Geiger kept glancing over at him, but couldn't find the right thing to say to him. He pulled up in front of the Beaman's townhouse and stopped the car. "Look, Beaman, I wish I could do something to make this easier."

"Thanks. I'll see you later, okay?" Efraim closed the door and pulled out his keys. The front door opened and Francine was standing there smiling at him, her eyes sparkling.

"B!" She put her arms around his neck and slid herself inside his open overcoat. Efraim put his arms around her and held her tightly, putting his face into her throat and inhaling the wonderful scent that was his wife.

"Hi hon. Glad I'm home. Let's go in." He kissed her throat and stepped back, giving her a smile. She took his hand and pulled him into the house, closing the door behind them.

"I stopped at the market and picked up some soup from their deli, and some bread. And for dessert I bought brownies! With chocolate frosting!"

"Your favorite! And mine." Efraim took his overcoat off and hung it on the coat tree. He unbuttoned his uniform jacket and sat down at the kitchen table. Francine had set the table, lit a candle and had even bought flowers.

"Navy Bean soup, in honor of my guy." Francine put a bowl on the plate in front of him and one at her place. It did smell good, and he waited for Francine to sit down. She brought over the coffee carafe and sat down, smiling at him.

"Thanks Francine. This is great."

"And fun."

"I always have fun when I'm with you." He took her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her fingers. They ate and talked about the dinner they were having tomorrow night. Efraim took their bowls to the sink and rinsed them and sat down again with a brownie and a cup of coffee. He laughed when Francine took a bite of her brownie and moaned. "I'll have to check and see if I get that same reaction when I kiss you, I think I may be coming in second to chocolate brownies!"

Francine laughed and leaned over and licked the top of Efraim's lip. He groaned and she laughed at his reaction. "Okay B. You ready to tell me what happened now?" Francine asked, pulling her chair next to Efraim's and putting her head on his arm.

"How do you know something happened?" he asked her, trying to delay the inevitable.

"Oh B, I'm your wife. I know you, I know everything about you, your moods, the way you like to think things through, the way your eyes darken when we make love. I love you, so of course I know when something is bothering you."

Efraim nodded, she did know him, just as he knew her. "Got some more information from Quigley today. I thought he was going to piece meal it to me, but he told me I'd find all that I needed in Chopin's Nocturne 2 in E Flat Major. His attorney was 'advised' not to see him so I gave a call to Will Meier, and he has agreed to go out and talk to him."

"He's very good, a top notch criminal attorney."

"Yeah, he is. So, I was going to leave, but something kept me there, a feeling I had, so I waited out in the hall for several minutes and the door to the viewing room opened. I jumped back into the interrogation room to see who had come out of the other room. Well, there was Tom Leonard walking down the hall."

"Did you see the man working with him? This is great, Efraim!" Francine smiled at Efraim, proud of him for getting the information they had been looking for.

"Yeah. I saw him." He looked at his wife, afraid that everything would change with his next words.

"Who is it? B?"

It's Jonathan Stone." Efraim watched Francine's eyes go blank as she tried to understand what he had said to her.

"Jonathan Stone?" Her voice was a harsh whisper.

"Yeah hon. It was Stone. I saw him. Geiger saw him."

Francine nodded, her smile gone, her eyes bleak.

Efraim put his arms around his wife, giving her his support. "Honey, I'm sorry."

"For what? It's not your fault that snake crawled out from under his rock again."

"It can't be good hon, that he's shown up now."

"What do you mean?"

"We've been followed, Quigley's attorney has been threatened, Carlson has dictated my orders to the DDOD. Carlson has a track record of . . ."

"That's enough Efraim. I know what Carlson's MO is. It seems he can't find anything on you or Dad, so he's gonna go through me to get what he wants." She pushed back her chair, Efraim caught it before it hit the floor. Francine walked into the living room, her arms wrapped about her and she sat on the couch, pulling her feet up underneath her. Efraim blew out the breath he had been holding and got up and followed his wife into the other room. He sat next to her on the couch and reached for her only to be shrugged off.

"Francine, don't turn away from me. I'm the man who's here now, and will be here tomorrow and the day after that."

"You don't know the damage Stone can cause."

"Then tell me, let me help."

"There may not be anyone to stop him, Efraim." She laughed, a short, harsh sound that held no mirth or warmth. "Here we thought Carlson was after you and all along it was me he was going to hang me out for an airing."

"That's not going to happen."

"No? Oh Efraim, you're so naive." She shook her head, refusing to meet his eyes.

He gently took her by the arms and pulled her to him. "I'm not naive. I'm not going to let that bastard ruin my wife, my marriage, ruin my father or my career. No more boy scout. What is it Smyth says? 'Kick out the jams'? I intend to do just that."

"Efraim, it's not that simple." Francine put her palm against her husband's cheek, trying to calm him. She had never seen Efraim this furious before, and she believed him when he said he wasn't going to sit by and be walked on by Carlson.

"I don't care what hoops I have to jump through. I'll do this with the help of the Agency or without it, but I refuse to sit this out with my hands tied behind my back. I will not let him hurt you again."

"Oh B! Don't you understand? He can't hurt me, he doesn't have the power to hurt me anymore. But in hurting you, only by hurting you can he hurt me." Francine lightly kissed her husband, letting her lips linger against his, their breath merge together. He lifted his hands to her hair, pulling her head up against his, foreheads touching.

"I love you Francine. You're all I want or need in my life. So we are agreed."

"Agreed to what Efraim? You're not gonna sweeten and soften me up with I love you, and I love you too by the way, but I'm not agreeing to anything without knowing what it is, especially when it comes to you." She pulled back in time to see his grimace. Francine shook her head at her husband who was trying to play fast and loose with her.

"We get him first."

"And how are we going to do that?"

"We go on full offensive."

"B, this isn't a military operation."

"Yes Francine, that's exactly what it is. Carlson is trying to take out a federal agent and two military officers. I'm not going to let it happen."

Francine sighed. Efraim was angry, and rightly so, but he was also being unreasonable.

"Francine, I've never asked. I've really never wanted to know because it would have only made me want to kill Stone, but now I need to know. What happened between the two of you? Why did you walk away that second time?"

Francine sighed and let herself sink into the back of the couch. She knew Efraim was waiting for an answer, but she needed time to gather her thoughts and put her emotions in check. From the corner of her eye, she watched as Efraim sat back and put his feet on the coffee table, his hands behind his head. He would wait for his answer and goodness knows he could be patient. Francine knew exactly how patient her husband could be when he set his mind to it.

"I guess the wounds of betrayal never heal completely. There's always pain associated with it, do you know what I mean?" At Efraim's nod she continued. "Well, you were there when he came back the last time, when he was drugging me for Brody. I've always wanted to know if he really believed I was under suspicion of treason. I could understand some doubts at first, I mean I did have some doubts about Lee during Stemwinder, but then I remembered who Lee was and I knew it couldn't be possible. Jonathan Stone was a man who I had promised to marry, who I thought I was in love with, a man who was in my bed, and he was drugging me." She shook her head, sadness at the memory overwhelming her. Efraim took her in his arms and she did something she had never done before, she cried for what Jonathan Stone had done to her.

Efraim held his wife as she cried, her slender body wracked with sobs. He whispered to her and rocked her, telling her it would be alright. His heart was pounding and his thoughts about Stone were decidedly violent. Efraim's theory was that Stone had needed the money from Brody so it was easy for him to look the other way about who Francine was. Anyone who knew Francine knew she would not betray her country willingly.

Francine's tears slowed and she wrapped her arms around Efraim and held on tightly. She sat back slightly and wiped the tears from her eyes. She took a deep breath and continued her story. "It was after Lee caught Brody and we had gone away. We took a two week vacation together. At first it was almost perfect, sun and sand and the company of a man I still had very strong feelings for, a man I thought might be in love with me. But something wasn't right, something was missing. Oh Jonathan did all the right things, said all the right things. But still . . . do you understand what I'm trying to say?" She raised tear stained eyes to her husband, pleading silently for him to understand.

Efraim leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Yeah, I understand hon. The trust was gone."

Francine nodded, relieved. "No trust. I fooled myself into thinking that it would come back, that we needed time. And then there was Jonathan's job. The excitement of the Agency and the CIA had captured him, he wanted in full time. The Agency would not hire him. And I didn't try to influence them either way. That was the root of many arguments between us in the following months." She sighed and shook her head, hugging Efraim again, letting his love comfort her. His arms came around her back lightly, she felt safe there, she knew Efraim would never hurt her. "It became a matter of obstinate pride with me that I would not help him get hired with any of the intelligence agencies. I knew then that our relationship was over. I knew I wasn't in love with him, that his betrayal had killed what ever I had felt for him. He told me once that he knew I wasn't a traitor, but that drugging me himself would be easier on me than being pulled in by the CIA. I had no attorney, no rights, just his decision that it was 'easier' for me. I always wondered what he would have done with the information, outside of giving it to Brody. I guess I know the answer to that question now, don't I."

"There isn't anything that Carlson can get from Stone that can be used against you."

Francine laughed. "Oh Efraim! What about the Mrs. Welch case? Oh, the time I did that little favor in Afghanistan and ended up in a trade for Dr. Towne? Let's not forget when I handed off classified documents to the student who turned out to be a Soviet spy. I've disobeyed countless orders, both Smyth's and Billy's, and have made quite a few enemies. All of that will be used against me."

"You were cleared of everything. Disobeying orders is a given in this business, you know that. And you don't have as many enemies as you think."

"It can all be bent and twisted to look the absolute worst. You know that."

"Then we have to get there first. We have to take Jonathan out of the picture, put him someplace safe until we get this finished."

Francine's jaw dropped. "Are you talking about kidnapping Jonathan Stone?"

Efraim shrugged. "I wouldn't call it kidnapping. Exactly."

"What would you call it then B?" She put her hands on his shoulders and looked him square in the eyes. "You're talking about kidnapping someone who is working for the CIA!"

"They won't miss him." He sounded petulant and Francine laughed. She thought she understood.

"Yes they will miss him. Oh B. You want to take him out of the picture so I can't be hurt by him. Sweetie! I refuse to let you ruin your career over Jonathan Stone." She kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him close. He deepened the kiss, pulling her close against him, letting his love for her comfort them both.

"As much as I would like to continue this upstairs in our bed, we need to get in to work and see Lee. I want to talk to him, he has about as much love for Stone as I do, and he may know a few things we don't."

"You didn't listen to a word I said! John Efraim Beaman!" Francine hit the back of the couch as she watched her husband stand up and climb the stairs to their bedroom two steps at a time.

"Yes I did Francine! I heard everything you said!" His voice floated down from the second floor. She heard drawers open and close and him thumping across the floor to the closet. Francine sighed and pushed herself off the couch and went upstairs.

Efraim had left his uniform shirt hanging off of the bed, his pants were draped over the back of the chair. She picked up his shirt, stopping on the other side of the bed to lean over and pick up his tie. He came out of the bathroom, dressed in black and wearing his black fatigue sweater. He grabbed her by the arms and gave her a quick kiss. "Thanks hon, I would have gotten those later." He went back to the closet and pulled out his black boots and sat on the end of the bed and pulled them on. He stomped his feet and then tied them, standing and stomping again. He sat back down on the bed and looked at Francine. "Hon, you're not getting changed! How come? It's gonna be cold out. Come on, I don't want to waste anymore time."

Francine stopped, tossed his discarded uniform in the cleaners basket and walked back out into the bedroom, her hands on her hips, her eyes wide. "Efraim, what the hell are you doing? Where are we going? Why should I change? I have to get back to work, I have to finish that compilation on Carlson. Didn't you hear a word I said before?"

"Every word hon. Come on, change. Lets hurry."

Francine stood there looking at her husband, her jaw slightly open, shaking her head. "You're not listening to me. You didn't listen to me!"

"Yes I did. I listened to you and I heard every word you said. You however, did not listen to me. I'm not going to sit by and let this happen without trying to stop it. We need to get Lee up to speed on this, and believe it or not, Smyth."

"Efraim, you're going to drive me crazy!" Francine unzipped her skirt and slipped it off, throwing it at her husband. Her blouse came next, which hit him across the face as she stomped to the closet in her slip and bra. She came out of the closet in a T-shirt and jeans, walked back to Efraim and dropped her slip and pantyhose on his lap. She pulled heavy socks out of her drawer and sat on the hassock to pull them on. Another trip to the closet and she came back out with a dark blue sweater on and her boots in her hand. Pulling them on, as quiet as Efraim had been noisy about it, she came to stand before him, hands stuffed into her back pockets. "Are you ready?"

Efraim stood up, dumping her clothes on the bed and walking back over to the closet. He came out several minutes later, his shoulder harness on and his SIG in the holster. He handed Francine's to her and watched as she put it on. "Let's go."

Efraim jogged to the stairs, taking them in huge leaps and hitting the landing in three steps. Francine followed slowly, hand on the banister, taking each step carefully. Efraim pulled his jacket out of the coat closet and put it on, he grabbed Francine's as well and held it open for her. She let Efraim help her with her coat which she zipped and then she turned to look at him.

Efraim shrugged, and grinned at her, his silly, goofy grin that always made her smile, and she did so now as well. "You'll be the death of us B. I swear you will be."

"No. I promise you that both of us will come through this fine." Efraim pulled his cell phone out and paged Geiger, letting him know they were heading back to the Agency.

"Why are we dressed like this?"

"We have some snooping around to do, and I'm very visible in a Navy uniform, and you my love, you are a distraction no matter what you wear. So, let's get back to the Agency and talk with Lee and see what we can come up with."

"Okay, but I don't understand any of this."

"I'm still thinking on it babe, give me some time to work it out. I just know that we have to go on the offensive now."

"This is not a game B."

"I know." Efraim opened the door to Francine's Miata and gave her his hand. She sat in the passengers seat and shook her head. Efraim closed the door, walked into the drivers side and climbed in.

"Why my car?"

"Because we always take our Explorer, that's what they'll be looking for. Besides, this car is low on the road, and I can shake a tail better if I don't give someone something to focus on."

"So are we going to let them know we see them following us?"

"No, but I still don't want to be followed. I'm tired of making it easy. They want to follow me, they're going to work for it."

"You sound like Lee."

"Yeah, well, he taught me."

"I think the arrogance is your own."

"You love me arrogant."

"Yeah, I do B. I really do."

"I know."

Francine laughed; her husband really was something else. She sat back in the seat and watched as Efraim handled the car along the roads to the Agency. He pulled into the garage and parked in her spot up front and jumped from the car. He opened her door and offered her his hand. He helped her out, kept her hand and together they walked to the elevator and went in.

Efraim knocked on the door to the Q Bureau, opening the door when as Lee called out. Lee and Amanda were sitting at Amanda's desk looking over some paperwork. Lee looked up as Efraim and Francine came in the room. He narrowed his eyes as he took in their change of dress.

"What's with the ops dressing, Beaman?"

"Give Geiger a call, we need him." Amanda picked up the phone and called Dave's office extension.

"What's going on? Francine?" Francine sat on the couch in the room while Efraim paced. Lee tried again. "Would someone mind telling me what the hell is going on?"

Efraim held up a hand, still pacing, his head down. Francine knew he was thinking. "Give him a minute Lee, and Dave will be here shortly." Francine told him.

Lee looked at Amanda who raised her eyebrows and gave a barely perceptible shrug of her shoulders. Lee picked up his cup of coffee and took a sip, watching Efraim pace. He noticed Francine's pale face and he knew that whatever it was they were going to tell him he wasn't going to like.

There was a knock at the door and Dave Geiger entered. He looked over the assembly and went and sat by Francine.

"Okay Beaman, would you mind telling us what is going on?"

Efraim stopped and sighed, looking over at Francine who nodded at him. Efraim took a breath and started. "We know who the unknown passenger is who's been riding with Tom Leonard."

"Okay? What's the big deal then?" Lee asked, not following.

"Jonathan Stone." Francine said, ending the suspense. Efraim looked at her and nodded, he sat on the arm of the couch, putting an arm protectively over her shoulders.

"What rock did he slither out from under?" Lee 's tone was scathing, showing his obvious displeasure that Stone was back in town and somehow in the picture.

"Are you saying he's working for the CIA again?" Amanda asked, trying to nail things down.

"That's what it looks like. Although, I haven't checked through their files to confirm that he is an employee." Efraim said. He watched as Amanda began accessing her computer, she stood up and offered him her terminal. Efraim looked at Francine, then went over and broke into the personnel files of the CIA. He quickly found what he was looking for, masking his trail as he exited. He hit the print button and waited. Francine had watched her husbands face as he had read the file. He wasn't happy about what he had seen, all expression had left his face and his eyes were bleak.

Lee picked up the printout. "Damn. Carlson brought him in three weeks ago. He's attached to the Deputy Director himself. What is he doing?"

"Think about it Lee. You heard the grilling that Smyth and Billy gave me the other day about my past." Efraim said, looking Lee directly in the eyes. Lee quickly looked over at Francine, recognition dawning. "Exactly." Efraim nodded .

"But she was cleared of everything." Lee said, shaking his head, not wanting to believe what he was thinking.

"What? I'm not following what you're talking about." Amanda said, looking at Efraim and Lee.

Francine stood up and walked over to Efraim, he slipped his arm around her waist to offer her his support. "Amanda, think about it. The CIA can't find anything they can use on the Admiral or Efraim, but, they can certainly twist some of the things that have happened in my past to make things look very bad for us. Mrs. Welch, the Brody case with Jonathan, the time I passed classified documents to that Soviet agent. How about the time I freelanced in Afghanistan? Let's not forget Alexi Rostov, shall we?"

"Jonathan Stone would sell you out? I don't understand?"

Lee sighed. "Amanda, while Stone may not be willing to sell out Francine, he certainly knows enough information that could be used to embarrass her. I think what we have here is the makings of a blackmail case. Carlson keeps quiet in exchange for the resignation of the Admiral."

"It goes further than that." Efraim said. "Carlson has in place the ammunition to not only embarrass my wife, but the entire Agency."

"So, what do we do about this?" Dave asked, wanting to get a plan of action in place.

"Hell. We're gonna have to tell Smyth." Lee said, shaking his head in resignation.

"That was never not an option, Lee." Francine told him "I want to apologize to everyone here. If not for me. . ."

"Can it Francine." Lee said, annoyed that she would apologize. "It could have easily been me, you just have the right connections with your husband and his family and Carlson found someone willing to turn on you." Francine nodded, leaning on her husbands shoulder for support.

"Thanks Lee, for both of us." Efraim indicated the printout with a nod. "Why don't we take that with us?"

"Let's go see Billy. We'll get Smyth down there as well. Who gets that job?" Geiger asked, looking less than thrilled at the prospect of an encounter with Smyth.

"I'll call him," Lee said. "All of you go on down and I'll make the call and see you there momentarily."

Everyone filed out of the office and headed for the elevator. Efraim had Francine's hand and when they entered the elevator, he put his arm around her and gave her shoulders a squeeze.

Amanda smiled at the support Efraim was giving to Francine, she would need it before all of this was over.

"Beaman? We doing some hunting later?" Geiger asked, indicating Efraim's change of clothing.

"Yeah, I want to know where he's staying, I want to get some sort of surveillance and listening on him before this day is over."

"B, you have to be careful. Isn't this why you're still on active duty, you aren't supposed to be doing these things. You're going to be court marshaled if you're caught."

"I won't get caught, Francine." He told her, leaving it at that.

"But what if you are?" Francine pushed, trying to make his see sense.

"Francine, your husband won't get caught. I'll be there as well and if for some reason we are caught, I'll take the fall for it." Geiger told her, trying to put an end to it.

The elevator opened and the agents walked into the bullpen. Having all four of them walk in at once, especially with the dour looks they were wearing, caused the those on duty to stop and look up. Geiger knocked on Billy's door and opened it. Billy looked up as Geiger and the others came in his office, his eyebrow raising at Efraim and Francine.

"What's wrong?" He asked, putting down the report he had been reading.

"Sir, Lee and Dr. Smyth will be here in a moment, we should probably wait for them."

Billy looked at Efraim and Francine. Francine's head was down and Efraim's face was shuttered; Billy knew whatever they were going to tell him, he wasn't going to like. He didn't have to wait long and his door opened and Dr. Smyth walked in followed by Lee.

Dr. Smyth crushed his cigarette in the ashtray on Billy's desk and looked at the agents assembled before him. "Tell me children, what brings us all together looking as though we've lost our favorite toy?" He sat on the edge of Billy's desk waiting to be enlightened.

"I was at the FDC today seeing Quigley. I was being watched in the interrogation room by Tom Leonard and his new partner, Jonathan Stone. Stone is the unknown passenger in the car that was following us." Efraim told him, knowing that Smyth would know exactly who Jonathan Stone was and the implications of him in this case.

They all watched as Smyth twirled his cigarette holder, putting it between his teeth and chewing on the end for a few seconds.

"Well, well, well. Seems that Carlson has broadened his horizons. Let me see: he can embarrass the Beaman family, casting aspersion on the Admiral and thus he resigns. The son through his marriage is shamed, and he resigns his commission and leaves the intelligence community. The wife resigns in disgrace. Those connected with the wife and son also resign, for their reputations are tainted by association. As for Billy and myself, Billy will resign and I will be brought up on charges before the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. That will result in my resignation as well. Have I a fair grasp of the situation people?"

He cast his gaze about the room, watching as everyone nodded as his words sank in. "I'm afraid I don't like the way those possibilities sound; I have aspirations beyond this office, and being made a laughing stock does not dovetail with my plans. Therefore, children, what are we going to do to make sure we get the results I desire?"

Efraim laughed. The others looked at him as if he had grown another head. Leave it to Dr. Smyth to make this all about his him.

"Commander, perhaps you'll enlighten us as to the cause of your mirth so we might all enjoy a good chuckle." Dr. Smyth obviously did not find humor in the situation.

"Dr. Smyth, this isn't all about your ambition."

"I'll overlook your lapse of manners this time Beaman, and put this down to extreme duress. But I would appreciate your enlightened observations on this situation, besides your opinion that I have turned this into an all about me affair."

"The outcome will be as you predict Dr. Smyth, however, it is my wife that will be the one raked over the coals. I have no intention of sitting around on my hands and letting that happen. My suggestion is that we stop looking at a predicted outcome and change it to one we want. I want Stone, and anyone associated with him."

Billy, who had been silent up until now stepped into the fray at this point. "You're talking about a witch hunt."

"No, I know who and what I want."

"Then perhaps you'll take a moment to consider that this is exactly what the CIA is doing!" Billy said, ending on a shout. "Beaman, this isn't your style."

Efraim snorted, not caring what his 'style' was. "Frankly, I don't care Billy. All I care is that we stop them, and I want Stone nailed. If getting Stone takes us to Carlson, fine. And in my opinion, taking out Stone will also take out Carlson"

Francine put her hand on her husband's arm in an attempt to calm him. "Efraim, I don't think you're looking at this clearly. You're reasoning is clouded by the fact that I'm the one who is the likely target."

"You can't deny that if Stone is out of the picture, Carlson will not have the momentum."

"And how do you propose we take Jonathan out of the picture? Kill him?" She watched as Efraim stopped his nervous foot shaking. He hadn't liked her calling Jonathan by his first name and he liked even less that she had put words to the emotion he had been feeling all day: murderous.

"Francine. You can't expect me to sit by and do nothing to protect you, to protect my family."

"I expect you to be the honorable man that I know you to be." She told him, placing her hand on his, willing him to look at her. He finally did, and she smiled at him. "Efraim, we'll find a way, but I need you with me, not in the brig."

Efraim took her hand and kissed it, not caring who was in the room. "I'm sorry, I get furious when it comes to someone threatening you."

Francine nodded her understanding.

"That was all very touching, but there is one bit of truth in the Commander's assessment: if we get to Stone, we get to Carlson. And while Mrs. Wedded Bliss has pointed out that murder is excessive and at this point premature, the fact remains that Stone is key in whatever plans we make. Mrs. Beaman, you are the focus. Can you get to Stone?"

"I haven't seen him in years Dr. Smyth, and our last encounter was less than cordial. Besides, he knows I'm married if he has been following us."

"We need to engineer a meeting." Amanda said, causing everyone to look at her.

"Yes we do Mrs. Scarecrow. Any suggestions?" Dr. Smyth asked, looking at Efraim.

Lee shook his head. "Before we engineer a meet, we need to make sure he's thinking about her. We need to do some gas-lighting first." At Amanda's questioning look, Lee clarified what he was saying. "We need to play some head games with him first."

"Exactly what do you have in mind Scarecrow?" Billy wanted to get a handle on things before they got out of hand.

"We need to follow him first and do some listening." Efraim said, jumping in. "It will be easier to mess with his mind if we have some haunts and habits down."

Lee nodded. "Exactly. Francine? We'll need the name of places the two of you used to frequent."

Francine nodded, not looking happy about the entire operation. "I just can't believe that we're back to this; ops concerning Jonathan Stone."

Dr. Smyth pinned her with his icy blue stare. "If I remember correctly, the last chat we had regarding Stone, you refused to endorse his application to the Agency. It may help you to consider this in the realm of retribution for your lack of entree into the world of cloak and dagger." At her nod Smyth continued. "Your assessment of him has proven to be correct."

Francine nodded again and suddenly stood up. 'If you'll excuse me, I . . . I'll be right back." She left the room, the door slamming behind her.

Efraim blew out a breath of air, standing up and hitting his hands on his thighs. "I'll be right back too." He told them, quickly leaving the room. He saw a shadow move across the blinds in his office, Francine he thought to himself. He quickly walked across the bullpen, quietly opening the door to his office.

She was at his desk spinning in his chair, the picture of them when they had announced their engagement held tightly against her chest. He closed the door and went to sit on the corner of his desk. Francine stopped spinning, her head down. He slipped off the desk and went down on one knee, his hands on her waist.

"It comes to me that you have been upset more since you've been involved with me than you have in your entire life. I'm sorry." He told her, putting his head on her knee.

"Oh B, how could I have thought I could have a normal life? How could I have done this to you, to your family?"

"Hon, you haven't done anything to me or my family. This isn't about you, Francine, this is about Jonathan Stone and Carlson, not you. Stone is a means to an end for Carlson. Believe me, if it wasn't Stone, it would have been someone or something else. Trust me, Stone is the preview, the real show starts if this gets to Senate hearings."

"B, you're so naive."

He lifted her chin with his fingertips. "Look at me Francine. I'm far from naive, I think you know me well enough now to know that. Let me remind you one of the reasons I left the Navy; every posting I had, any commendation I received was questioned because of my father. Everything I did had to be twice as good as the best officer, faster, smarter, more on target than anyone. I had to work longer, put in more time, take every crap posting or job because my father was an Admiral and in administration. And then, if I was promoted it was never because I did twice as much, worked twice as hard, took every duty that came by, it was said it was because of my father. That's one of the reasons I started using my middle name when I came here. People didn't tie me to my father: what I did was my error or my accomplishment."

"But you've earned everything you've gotten. And what does this have to do with what's happening now?"

"Let me finish. I think I've earned everything I've gotten, but there are those that won't agree." Efraim watched as Francine nodded, thinking about what he had said. "Honey, if this gets any further than tag between the Agency and the CIA, you're going to be the last thing on anyone's mind at Capital Hill. You may wake up a few sleeping dogs up there, but trust me, the Beaman men have plenty of people who would like to put the screws to us. And if they get Smyth up there in hearings? I'd pay to watch that show. "

"I've had major lapses of judgment that have compromised the security of the United States."

He took her hand and stood up. "Come here." He pulled her up and into his arms, kissing her gently, pulling her head to his shoulder. "Let's look at each of these lapses, okay? Rostov. You busted one of the best placed KGB agents that was operating in the west. Scarecrow traded him for Amanda, not you. Mrs. Welch, well, in this business the other side tries to get information from us, that's what happened with that. You were drugged, used for your connections."

"Men died because of me."

"I know you think that honey, but those men died because of the jobs they had taken and the oath they swore to protect and defend their country."

"Oh Efraim, I just wanted to be happy, I just wanted a life with you, a life with someone whom I loved and admired and who loved me. I wanted a family, a home, to belong."

"Francine, you have all those things with me. And I'm not going anywhere. I love you, we are happy together. We are a family, we have a family who loves us, and we belong to each other. Nothing is going to change that, nothing. I'm not going to let anyone come between us, we have too much going for us, we have too much love for each other." He lifted her head and kissed her, letting his lips linger lightly on hers. "The other things you're worried about, I can give you a counter argument for each of them."

"I know you can." She told him and he could feel her smile against his cheek. "This has been difficult." She said, burrowing her head under his chin.

"I know, babe. But we're going to get through this."

"I can't believe I walked out of that meeting."

"Hell, I'm glad you did. I needed a break from Smyth."

"B, I can't believe you laughed at him! He's not going to forget that!"

"He'll add it to the list he has on me."

Francine giggled against her husband's throat. "Only you, B, only you." She sighed, running her hand up and down Efraim's chest, stilling only when he grabbed her hand. "What do we do now?"

"Now we go back into Billy's office and we decide where to start. We'll need the name of some of the places the two of you went to, restaurants, theaters, you know the drill. We'll need to find out where he's staying and then we'll see what we can do to give him a reason to change his mind about what he's doing."

Francine nodded, knowing that her husband was right. "Okay, I'm ready. Let's go back."

Geiger was leaning up against the wall waiting. "Smyth said you've had enough time for ruffled feelings and to get back over to Billy's office. The ass." He pushed off the wall and headed back across the bullpen, leaving Efraim and Francine to follow.

"Ready to go back?"

"Into the lion's den?" she asked, half serious.

"Yeah," Efraim squeezed her hand, giving her his support.

"I'm ready as long as you'll be there," Francine told him, pulling him along to Billy's office.

"I'll always be where you are, Francine." Efraim told her, watching as she looked over her shoulder and smiled at him. She pushed open the door to Billy's office and they both walked back in, stopping as all heads turned in their direction.

"If we want Stone," Francine said. "This is what we have to do."