I Will Remember You

See Prologue for Disclaimer

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Monday March 24, 1986

Two days earlier . . .

Stepping off the elevator, Amanda spied her target heading into the bullpen and called out to him. "Lee! I was at home watching The Arlene Francis Show with Mother. There was a man on there, a former agent! He's going—"

"To expose the Agency. I know." He pulled her out of the high traffic of the hallway to just inside the entrance of the bullpen.

"Oh, of course, you already know." She sighed in relief. Of course he did. He never let her down. "So, what's your plan to stop him?

"The plan?"

"Yeah, the plan."

"No plan."

"Oh." She grimaced.

"Listen, Amanda—"

"Lee, did you hear what he said? Operation Sandstorm. That was me!"

"I remember." He ran his hand roughly over his face. "We all remember!"

"Ooh," she groaned at the painful reminder of her earlier ineptitude.

"Don't worry about it; that was a long time ago. Look, let's go talk to Billy and see what he has to say." Lee squeezed her hand and smiled.

Billy was sitting behind his desk talking on the phone, boredom etched across his face. Amanda slid into the open chair while Lee paced the small path to the left of Billy's desk. Was it purely the expelling of energy that calmed him when he paced or just the comfort of doing something? Lost in thought, she jumped when she heard the deep voice of her boss.

"Good morning, Amanda."

She sat up straighter. "Morning, Sir."

Billy walked around his desk and leaned on the edge in front of her. "Now, I know this is all very upsetting to you, Amanda."

"Yes, it is. How are we going to stop this book from getting published?"

"We are doing everything we can."

"Yes, Sir." She stared at him waiting but he didn't say anything more. Surely, someone had a plan of action. "Like what, Sir?"

Francine sashayed into the room. "Legal is working on an injunction to stop the publication," she stated matter-of-factly.

"What if that doesn't work? Do we have a Plan B?" Francine stared blankly at her.

Apparently there was no plan B.

Billy cleared his throat. "You and your family will be taken care of, believe me."

"Amanda, worst case scenario, we'll give you a new identity and move you to another part of the country," Francine interjected as she placed a folder on the corner of the desk.

"Not in the middle of the school year!" Francine had no idea how big a deal it really was. It was hard enough to pack the family up for their annual camping trip, how the heck could she be expected to pack her entire family up and move them halfway across the country? And then expect them to understand that they'd have to leave their home and friends. Then there was their father. What would they do about Joe? Would he come with them? Looking up at Lee, her eyes begged him to come up with a better plan.

"There are worse catastrophes," Francine rolled her eyes.

Amanda opened her mouth, but the phone rang. She was only able to give Francine a sharp glare before Billy answered the call. "Melrose here."

"Lee?" she whispered, trying not to disturb the phone conversation.

Lee turned from the window. "Hmm?"

"Maybe, if I went and talked to Mr. Harriman myself—"

"Forget it, Amanda. I tried. Nothing I said made any difference."

"Yes, but—"

Billy slammed the receiver back onto its cradle. "The injunction was denied."

"Great! Just great!" Lee flung his hand against the window shaking the blinds. "When I talked to that S.O.B. this morning, he was so smug. Couldn't wait to stick it to us because he screwed up and was sent to that jungle outpost!"

"Sir? Would you let me talk to Mr. Harriman myself and let him see someone whose life would be completely ruined if he publishes this book? Please, Mr. Melrose?"

"Amanda . . ." Lee's eyes narrowed, his lips thinned and his head shook ever so slightly.

Undeterred, she continued her plea. "Please, Sir?"

Billy glanced to Lee then to Francine and shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose it can't hurt, and we're running out of options."

Francine and Lee exchanged a look of disbelief.

"Billy! I'm telling you it's a waste of time. The guy will not budge. He doesn't care that he's endangering a lot of lives."

"Then you must have a better idea?" Billy's eyebrows rose.

"Come on; I'll drive."

"Thank you, Sir." Amanda smiled and allowed Lee to escort her out of the room.

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Monday March 24, 1986

Later that afternoon . . .

Lee leaned against the wall arms crossed, glancing at Amanda's rigid form sitting in the chair. She hadn't said a word since they had found Harriman dead in his hotel room. The look in her eyes said that she knew what this meant as well as the repercussions it would have on their working relationship. Not to mention the damage it would do to her life and that of her family's.

"So, they killed him and took the manuscript?" Billy popped a couple antacids into his mouth.

"Yeah. No doubt to start a bidding war between us and the Russians." Lee dug his hands into his pockets. "Damn it, I wish Harriman wasn't dead so I could kill him myself!"

"Lee . . ." Amanda soothed.

"I know. I know."

Lee hadn't wanted this. He had wanted her to stay out of this business. If only she would have listened three years ago when he had warned her something like this could happen and walked away. The words he'd uttered echoed hauntingly in his head as he recalled meeting a trench coat-clad Amanda in front of the Capitol Building: 'Amanda, I think you should stay away from all of this. People in my business have years of training. It could get dangerous. Even worse, you could screw things up.'

She'd certainly screwed things up for him. Before she'd interfered he had been quite content with his life. He had everything he thought he wanted. He'd been happy with the 'flavor of the week,' happy to come home from a long day at work to an empty apartment. He cast his eyes on Amanda once more, but instead of seeing her he was haunted by an old ghost he thought he'd vanquished. The past blended with the present and he was reminded of the argument he'd had with Dorothy when he tried to talk her out of joining the Oz Network. Agency work had its own dangers but the new elite team brought the dangers to new levels. She'd had none of it. If she had only listened. But then, wasn't the damage already done? Being involved with him was a curse. First his parents, then Dorothy. Hell, even his partner Eric had died because of him. He wouldn't allow that to be Amanda's fate.

History was repeating itself: another partner was in danger once again and the only common factor was . . . him. Everyone he had ever cared about had left him, and they always would.

He mentally shook the past from his thoughts. Amanda had heavily entrenched herself into his life, and he now saw full-force the effect he could have on hers. Maybe starting a new life far away from him was what she needed. She would finally be safe from him.

Just as Lee was having his epiphany, Francine burst through the door. "Well, it looks like they've got the Russians' interest. One of my sources at the Russian Embassy says they are chomping at the bit to get their hands on this thing."

Billy stood and pounded his fist onto his desk. "We need to get a line on this guy. Get the word out that we're looking to deal. I want that book!" When they all looked at him expectantly, he added, "Well, move!"

Lee rushed out the door, hoping to avoid a confrontation with Amanda, but he wasn't successful. She caught him outside Billy's office door.

"Lee?"

"No, Amanda." He held up his hand to stave off any argument she was planning. "You're not going with me."

"But I might be able to help. Besides, I'm involved in this too. It's my life that's going to be exposed if we don't get that book," she exclaimed, her hands on her hips.

"Along with a lot of other people's! Amanda, for once just do as I ask!" He straightened his tie and tried again. "Please, you'll have enough to handle." At her questioning look he continued, "You probably should talk to your family about the possibility of being relocated."

There, he'd said it. Perhaps now she'd see he was right all along: she didn't belong in this business. She exhaled deeply and shifted her feet. He knew she was trying to come up with a viable reason to tag along. Her mouth was drawn into a frown. He hated disappointing her but he had no choice. He had to keep her out of this or she'd never be safe.

Billy tapped him on his shoulder.

"She's got a stake in this too, Scarecrow. Take her with you. She may be able to help." Billy's brow shot up in a challenge and Lee knew from experience not to argue with that particular look.

Lee sighed. Once again he'd lost an argument to the housewife turned spy. This wasn't his day. Why couldn't they both let him do this on his own? He needed to get used to that again . . . just in case . . . He gestured toward Amanda and muttered, "Come on."

"Thank you, Sir!" she exclaimed as Lee guided her toward the exit.

The usual bounce in her step had returned, and he had to smile at her typical enthusiasm in spite of himself. She took on each case as if it was her first; the thought that this could be their last was not lost on him. He almost regretted what was to come.

Pushing her away would be the hardest thing he'd ever do.

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TBC . . .