Chapter 8

Francine was surprised to see the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee standing beside Lee Stetson. Efraim jumped up and gave a salute then offered his hand.

"Commander John Efraim Beaman, Sir." Efraim held his hand out to Francine who took it and stood up beside her husband. "Senator, this is Francine Desmond Beaman, my wife."

"Senator, it's an honor to meet you." Francine offered her hand, then looked quickly at Lee as Dave introduced himself. At Lee's raised eyebrows, both Efraim and Francine began to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

"I think what you'll find on that tape, Ms. Beaman, is Director Carlson threatening me. You see, my wife had 'several' lapses of good judgment with a CIA agent." Francine sat down upon hearing that tidbit of information, she knew he was talking about Jonathan Stone. " Carlson is intimating that he will go public with this information if several votes don't end in his favor. He also desires my influence regarding several matters of military personnel."

Efraim nodded, understanding what and to whom the senator was referring. "I believe you're alluding to my father, Admiral John Beaman."

The senator nodded. "Yes, and yourself as well. It seems that your recent events in Romania didn't agree with ambitions that Carlson had. You were entirely too successful."

"I don't understand. How could we have been too successful?" Francine shook her head, not following the senator's meaning.

"Francine, he means that if we had failed, it would have been easier for Carlson, I would have been disgraced, or dead. Dad probably would have resigned. He would have gotten Smyth, and the Agency would have lost quite a few good people. Now Carlson has to go the long route; through the senator's wife."

"Very aptly put, Commander. Senator," Austin Smyth walked into the lab, his trademark cigarette and holder absent. He shook the hand of the senator. "I think you'll find our agents here at the Agency are capable of thinking problems through with minimal information. One of the reasons Carlson so despises the Agency is that their good work enables me to hob knob up on the Hill. Why don't we take this conversation to more comfortable surroundings. Say, my office? Meet me there in 10 minutes, people. Senator, if you'll come with me." Smyth ushered the senator from the lab, the door to Leatherneck's office closing quietly. The five agents in the lab looked at one another and sat down.

"Lee, I see you were able to follow the limo," Geiger stated the obvious.

"Something like that, Dave. I'll tell you, when Amanda recognized the senator, I nearly fell over," Lee told them, his hand Amanda's shoulder. "Francine, you'll appreciate this: the senator's driver is Fred Fielder."

Francine laughed, shaking her head. "You know, I always wondered were old Fred went after he left the Agency. Somehow, it seems appropriate."

"So Lee, what's happening?" Efraim asked, getting back to the subject at hand.

"It's just as the senator said, he's being blackmailed regarding his wife's indiscretions. I believe he's up for re-election this year. This would hit just as his campaign is getting into full swing. It seems that Stone met the Senator's wife last year and they became, uh, involved."

"How did Carlson get this information?" Efraim asked, his mind reeling with possibilities.

Lee shrugged. "Don't know. Didn't ask. That will be for us to find out."

"Well, we're going to be late if we don't leave for Dr. Smyth's office. You know how annoyed he gets when someone is late," Amanda reminded them all, rising from her chair and walking towards the door. Everyone nodded and followed along behind her.

They were silent as they made their way to the administrative wing. Geiger held the large glass door open for them, and followed behind them. Stopping, Lee looked around. The offices were empty, only the reception light was on, and a thin stream of light escaped from under Smyth's office door. Lee walked up to the door and knocked, shooting a grimace over his shoulder to the group behind him.

Hearing Smyth call out for them to enter, Lee opened the door and in they went.

The senator and Dr. Smyth were seated in comfortable chairs around a low table placed before his desk. The layout was vaguely reminiscent of the oval office and Efraim smiled to himself when he saw it. He glanced at Francine who slightly raised her eyebrow at him.

"Have a seat, and let's see if we can't figure out this game of Carlson's." Dr. Smyth watched as his agents filed in.

It dawned on Efraim that nothing big ever happened at the Agency that Dr. Smyth wasn't right there in the thick of things. He was beginning to suspect he either lived at the Agency or was a much better spy than they gave him credit for being.

"Let's outline this evenings events, shall we?" Dr. Smyth commanded, casting a ominous glance at Efraim. Efraim raised his eyebrow in return.

"We followed Jonathan Stone and Tom Leonard to Pamplico's Ristorante on 18th. Leonard dropped off Stone and left. Carlson showed up 20 minutes later in a maroon Chevy. We hung around until they left. Stone is staying on 25th. . . ."

"The CIA has several condominiums there." Smyth added, nodding.

"Right We decided to follow Carlson." Efraim concluded.

"Why?"

"Why?" Efraim repeated, not understanding the importance of the question.

"Yes, Boy Scout, why?" Dr. Smyth repeated, jabbing the holder in Efraim's direction.

"It's not common for the deputy director of the CIA to be shuttling agents from dinner to their homes. He has a limo and driver assigned to him for his own use. So, since it was out of the ordinary, it seemed that he would be the one with answers to questions that we have."

"Good thinking. And what did you find?"

The agents looked at one another. Efraim coughed and cleared his throat. "Well, we found Carlson in Rock Creek Park in an argument that became physical with the passenger of a black limo, DC plates. Francine was able to record a portion of the final moments of the argument, where Carlson threatens the limo passenger with publication of photographs of his wife in some unflattering situations if several votes do not go the way that Carlson desires."

"I see. And how did Scarecrow come upon the Senator?"

"I asked him to follow the limo while Geiger, Francine and myself came here to digitize the tape recording."

"And Scarecrow, how did the Senator wind up in your company?"

"Dr. Smyth, the Senator's driver is Fred Fielder, he was Agency at one time. Since I was following the senator, and not covering my, eh, covering my tail, Fielder stopped and exited the limo. I spoke with him while Amanda talked with the Senator, convincing him to come in and talk with all of us. It seems that Fielder is rather paranoid since leaving the Agency and is quite diligent in watching his tail."

"Senator, perhaps with your permission, we can help you out of this net that Carlson has cast."

"How? I either vote the way Carlson wants or my wife becomes fodder for the tabloids."

"I believe we can bring Carlson down before the vote comes to the floor. Mrs. Beaman? Would you like to fill the senator in on Jonathan Stone?" Smyth asked, twirling his cigarette holder between his teeth.

"What would you like me to tell him, Dr. Smyth?" Francine voice was soft, but her words were succinct, and her eyes blazed.

"You have intimate knowledge of Jonathan Stone. Would he intentionally seek out a relationship with the senator's wife with an eye toward blackmail?"

Francine was silent for a moment as she chewed on her bottom lip. She could feel every eye on her, especially those of her husbands. Shaking her head, she answered Smyth's question. "I don't believe so. But I haven't seen him since September of 1987. It's possible that he has changed."

"Is that what you believe? Is he capable of changing his character in such a manner?" Smyth asked.

Francine closed her eyes. She felt Efraim's hand on her arm, giving her his support. She took a deep breath and looked Smyth directly in the eye. "No. I don't believe that's the case. Regardless of everything, Jonathan Stone's basic character is that of a decent man. I believe he is being pressured. If he had an affair with your wife, Senator, it was because he loved her. I'm sorry. I wish that I could tell you otherwise, but I don't believe I would be truthful to make such statements."

The senator sighed and nodded, giving Francine a small, sad smile. She nodded slightly to acknowledge him. She put her head down, hoping that Smyth was done with her. If not, she had some choice words for him that would end her career here and now. Francine felt Efraim give a gentle squeeze to her arm and she glanced over at him. She was surprised to see concern and anger warring in his features.

"As you see, Senator, our best assessment is that Carlson happened upon this information after the fact. Mrs. Beaman does not believe that Stone would have used your wife as leverage. Perhaps you would like to tell us when this started. If you would be more comfortable, my team will leave to afford you privacy."

"Dr. Smyth, it is too late to be afforded privacy, your people can stay. Louise and I have been having problems for the past 2 years. I believe it's an old tale quite familiar in this town. I became involved in the politics of politics, moving up within the party and gaining power in the senate. Unfortunately, that came at the expense of my family. Louise met Stone on a weekend trip to New York City. They attended the same exhibit opening. They had dinner and were staying in the same hotel. By Sunday evening, they had become lovers. It continued up until four weeks ago when Stone told my wife what Carlson was going to do. Since then, Carlson has been putting pressure on me. Carlson will happily tear my family to ribbons over these votes."

The room was silent. Dr. Smyth leaned forward in his chair. "Senator, do you have a picture of your wife?"

The Senator raised both eyebrows, finally reaching into his breast coat pocket and pulling out his wallet. He removed a photograph and handed it to Dr. Smyth. The assembled agents could see a momentary flash of surprise in his eyes. Smyth looked at Francine before handing the photograph to Lee.

Amanda looked over his shoulder and her eyes grew wide. Looking at Lee as he handed the photograph to Dave, she gave a slight shrug. Dave's face was expressionless as he handed the photograph to Efraim. Francine leaned over to look at the photo and she gasped. Efraim's face was as impassive as Lee and Dave's.

"As you can see, my wife is certainly in the running to be your sister, Mrs. Beaman. The similarities are very strong. After seeing you this evening, and your assessment of Jonathan Stone, I can only guess that he found my wife to be a substitute for you."

Efraim sighed and leaned back in the chair. He didn't know what to think and he certainly didn't know what to say. His wife's ex-lover was romancing the wife of a United States Senator, and the senator's wife resembled Francine.

"I don't know what to say." Francine said, shaking her head.

"I think we need to assess these developments before we do anything else." Lee said, nodding at the group. "This puts a new focus on this investigation."

Dr. Smyth nodded and looked at Senator Lang. "Senator, is your limousine waiting for you? If not, I would be happy to give you the use of mine to see you to your home."

"Thank you, but my driver is waiting for me. I expect that you will be in contact with me?"

"I will be in contact with you in the morning. My team will work on this problem and put together a preliminary operation. We'll discuss this with you in detail. Senator, if you'll come with me, I'll see you out." Dr. Smyth stood and walked to his door. The senator rose slowly from his chair, his eyes on Francine, then he quickly scanned the entire group.

"Thank you. It is a relief to get this out into the open. I am hopeful that you will be able to stop Carlson before the votes come to the floor."

The agents stood, Lee offered him his hand. "Senator, if you could put together a listing of the votes that Carlson wants your influence on, that would help us focus our investigation."

The senator nodded and shook Lee's hand. He left the office without a backwards glance. Lee walked to the door and opened it. "Let's take this to the Q-Bureau. And call out for some food, I'm starving." He waiting until everyone had left Smyth's office and followed.

They reassembled in the Q-Bureau, Amanda had made a call out for Chinese food. Everyone sat down and looked at one another.

Lee took the picture of Mrs. Lang from Efraim and looked at it again. "You know, on second look, it's only the blond hair and blue eyes that resemble you, Francine. But I would imagine a beautiful woman like this," he tapped the photograph, "would cause quite a few heads to turn."

"Stone probably caught a fleeting glance of her and mistook the similarities to be you, Francine. We all made the same mistake at first look." Amanda told her, trying to sooth the rigid stance Francine had taken.

Geiger was sitting on the couch, watching Francine pace the room, her arms wrapped around her body. Efraim was leaning up against the wall, his head down, his foot tapping. "You know," Geiger stated, "we can use this to our advantage."

"No one is using' my wife," Efraim stated quietly, as he glared at Geiger.

"Beaman . . . ." Lee started.

"Dammit Lee, I said no. Would you want Amanda used in this manner?"

Lee tried to hang on to his temper, acknowledging that Efraim had a damn good point, he wouldn't want Amanda used either. But, he had a job to do and he would do it. "You haven't listened to what I was going to say."

"And I'm not going to either. Find another way." Efraim left the room, the door to the Q-Bureau slamming, the glass rattling.

Lee sighed. Amanda and Geiger watched as Francine gave Lee the evil eye. "Francine, you have to make him understand."

"What exactly do I have to make him understand Lee? That you want his wife to cozy up to her ex-lover to get information from him? We've been married five weeks, Lee. I think you're asking too much of Efraim, and of me."

"Do you have any other ideas? I'm open, you just explain to me how we can get Carlson before those votes come to the floor? Because he'll weasel out of the charges without corroboration and be more dangerous than he is now."

"How is this different from what we were going to do before, by gas lighting Stone?" Amanda asked, not sure she was following the conversation.

"Lee wants me to get close to Stone, say I made a mistake marrying Efraim. Carlson will change tack, because bringing down the Agency, my husband and father in law is what he wants. Going through me is easier than trying to fight it out on Capital Hill. A sex scandal in the intelligence agencies is always a head turner."

"Lee?" Amanda looked at her husband, not sure she wanted to believe what Francine was telling her. "You can't be asking her to sleep with Stone, are you?"

"It's an agents prerogative," Lee sulked, his head down, knowing that he was going to hear it from his wife.

"Lee Stetson! I'm surprised at you! You're lucky Efraim didn't hear you say that. Find another way, because you will not ask this of Francine and Efraim." Amanda glared at her husband, shocked that he would entertain these thoughts.

"I'm sorry Francine. I was just thinking out loud, it's a bad idea and I wouldn't ask it of you." Lee mumbled.

"No, but if it were to happen, that would be alright with you. Lee Stetson, I think you need to take a long, hard look at yourself. I'm sorry Amanda, but thank you for you support. I'm going to join my husband." Francine threw open the door, which bounced several times off the wall before finally slamming closed.

You could hear a pin drop inside the Q-Bureau until Lee sighed. "I guess that wasn't one of my better moments?"

"Hardly," his wife agreed. "And Dave, I'm surprised at you!"

"That's not what I was thinking, trust me. I know better than that. But it makes it easier for us to get in contact with Stone, because his interest in Francine has not changed. He just has to see her 'alone' a few times, he'll contact her."

"How can we be sure he isn't being watched?" Lee asked, trying out new strategies.

"We can take care of any tails, that's not a problem. And we can jam any signals. We have to move though, before this gets out. I'm a firm believer that once a mark has been approached by the other side, he changes his habits. Carlson will pick up on that real fast, so we need to move to give him something else to pay attention to."

"I'll talk to Francine and Beaman," Lee said, his tone making it clear he'd rather not.

"No Lee, I will. Neither will listen to you right now. You put both of your feet in your mouth this time. Let me handle this," Amanda told him, shaking her head at him. "Besides, we need Efraim to do his magic with the gadgets and gizmos, and he's going to want to be as close to Francine as possible while this is happening, so he has to be the one in on the planning. And you'll be quiet, Lee."

"Okay, okay. Jeez, Amanda, I was just thinking out loud."

"Think quietly then and put yourself in their place. You wouldn't like it all if someone suggested that I get close to and perhaps sleep with an ex-lover. Just because Efraim is not as outwardly possessive as you, doesn't mean he isn't possessive and jealous when it comes to Francine. He is. He loves her and will do anything to protect her. That's something you should remember in the future when dealing with them." Amanda stood up and walked to the door. She stopped and turned, looking at her husband and Geiger. Shaking her head, she gave both of them a disgusted look and left the room.

"Damn, that didn't go well at all." Geiger said, running both of his hands through his hair.

Lee nodded, sitting in the chair that Amanda had just left. "It's days like this that I wish I had been a doctor." Geiger nodded with feeling, understanding exactly what Lee was saying.

Francine was still looking for Efraim, not having had any success in the Fabrication Department or Leatherneck's office. Just as she was leaving Leatherneck's office, she remembered that Efraim had shown her a corner up in the catwalks that he liked to sit and think in when it got too noisy down in the bullpen. She quietly opened the doors to the storage room, walking among the shelves that stored a variety of equipment. Francine zeroed in on the red 'EXIT' sign and hurried to the pallets that were stacked just below the catwalk.

"Do I have to come up there, or are you coming down?" She asked, knowing that Efraim was sitting up there. "Are you done pouting?"

"Francine, I'm not pouting, I'm putting as much distance as possible between Lee and my fists. I swear to you, I'm going to kill him."

Francine started to climb up the pallets, carefully watching her footing. Efraim always vaulted up the pallets, she was much more cautious. She looked up and saw her husband's face peering over the edge of the catwalk, his hand extending down to help pull her up. She stood up on the catwalk, her hands on her hips.

"Don't you think you should grow out of this habit of yours?" Francine asked, suddenly tired of the entire evenings events.

"Excuse me? Grow out of what habit? The one where I don't punch a superior agent in the face for his comments to and about my wife?" He ended the sentence in a shout. He was angry, and right now he didn't care who he yelled at.

"Don't yell at me, John Efraim Beaman! I am your wife, not someone deserving of your temper. And why are we arguing in the first place? Aren't we on the same side, or are you having second thoughts about our marriage?" Her own voice was none too quiet as she shouted at her husband.

Efraim sighed, his head down. "Is this our first argument?"

"I think so, if yelling at one another constitutes an argument." She told him, her arms wrapped herself.

He reached out, running his hand up and down the length of her arm, finally pulling her into his arms. She stiffened, not willing to give in just because he had touched her and sent chills up and down her spine.

"I'm sorry Francine. I didn't mean to yell at you, and I'm sorry I let my temper get the best of me. Forgive me? Please?"

"Efraim, there are going to be times when we get angry with each other for something one of us has done or said to the other, but I just want to make the point that this is not one of those times. We should be standing together through this." Francine put her hands on her husbands chest, laying her head on his shoulder.

"You're right. I am sorry. Forgive me?" Efraim kissed her forehead, enveloping his wife in his arms, letting her closeness calm his anger.

"I forgive you. Efraim? Love me?" She leaned back, looking him in his eyes, unaware of the lost look in her own eyes that were wide and clouded with ancient regrets.

"Ah, Francine, I love you, God how I love you." He threaded his hands in her hair, pulling her to him, his lips finding hers, searching for solace and in exchange, giving comfort to Francine.

She moaned deep in her throat as Efraim deepened the kiss. Francine wrapped her arms around his neck, wanting to be closer to him, wanting to hold on to him forever. "Efraim? Take me home. Let's go home where we can forget this day." He nodded as he kissed her, molding her to his body.

Letting her go, Efraim climbed over the rails of the catwalk, helping Francine down the pallets. Heading toward the elevators, they avoided the Q-Bureau, deciding that tomorrow was a better time to deal with Lee and the problem at hand. The elevator opened, bringing them face to face with Amanda.