Liz

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Chapter 11

Entering the library, Amanda and Liz caught Lee and Deidre locked in an intimate embrace.

Lee and Deidre immediately separated when they realized others were in the room. Lee was obviously embarrassed and wanted to look anywhere but Amanda's way.

So he awkwardly turned towards Deidre.

"That'll be all for now, Deidre," Lee stated, his tone very professional, "if I have any more questions, I'll let you know."

"Sure, Le-...that is, Agent Stetson," Deidre confidently smiled back. She didn't seem flustered in the least, "I'll talk to you very soon."

She gave him a sexy side glance before she assertively sashayed out of the room.

"Wellll, Agent Stetson," Liz smirked, after Deidre had gone, "I see you VERY get involved in your work, don't you?"

"I, uh, do what needs to be done," Lee answered, his head held high although his cheeks were still stained red.

He turned to Amanda for her reaction.

Her face was expressionless and she didn't say a thing.

However, when she noted him looking her way, she did a double take and then moved her index finger to the side of her lip, as if she were swiping something away.

"Huh?" he asked, looking confused.

"...You have...a smudge...there..." she noted, gesturing again on her face, yet still not looking him in the eyes.

"Oh... yeah."

Lee's cheeks turned even redder. He gave a nervous laugh as he took out a handkerchief and wiped away the lipstick smear.

"Gone?" he inquired.

"Not from my mind," Amanda mumbled under her breath.

Lee ignored that comment and gestured, "Would you ladies like to take a seat?"

He waited for them to sit down before he sat.

No one said a word, so Lee asked, "Thirsty?"

"No," Amanda answered coolly, and then remembered her manners,"- thank you."

She was obviously not being her usual cheery self.

So he concentrated his attention on Liz, "Perhaps you would like to tell me why you two are here."

Liz looked unhappy, "I'm not sure where to begin...it's just that..." she awkwardly began and then paused. Nervously she turned towards Amanda, "I can't do this, Amanda! Don't make me tell him! Let's...let's just leave here!" she exclaimed, attempting to get up.

Amanda put her own feelings aside and instead, lightly touched Liz's arm to stop her from leaving, "No, Liz, please stay. It'll be alright."

When Liz hesitated, Amanda calmly assured her, "I'm here for you and so is Agent Stetson. He's here to listen. No judgment."

Liz falteringly sat down again as Lee looked from one woman to the other.

"Will somebody PLEASE tell me something?" he impatiently stated.

Amanda still would not look Lee's way, "Liz, go ahead and tell him about Eunice and the blackmail scheme."

Lee sat up with interest, and opened his notebook, "Oh? Something you want to tell me about the case, Liz?"

More confident now, Liz explained to Lee how she had purposely hidden the original engagement ring her husband Daniel had given her so that he could buy her a more expensive ring. And somehow Eunice had found out and had blackmailed her. So Liz had to pay off Eunice to keep quiet.

Lee listened to the story carefully as he scribbled down some notes. When she finished, he looked up.

"Interesting," he stated, "And?"

"AND that makes me NOT the killer!" Liz maintained.

Lee lifted a brow, "Blackmailing is often a motive for murder."

Liz turned to Amanda, "I TOLD you he would accuse me!"

"He's not accusing you, he's...just commenting," Amanda told her.

Lee noticed how Amanda was still not speaking directly to him. It wasn't like her to be so stand-offish. Was she disappointed in him or just jealous?

"Amanda, why are you here?" he candidly asked.

She looked confused, "What?"

"I don't mean you specifically, but why did both of you come here, only to be evasive and uncooperative. I don't see the point of this visit except to give me information and then deny it has anything to do with the case! So I'll ask one more time... Amanda, why are the two of you here?"

Amanda looked straight ahead, "Starburst."

Lee scrunched his face, "Excuse me?"

"Starburst," Amanda repeated, with no further explanation.

"Uh, Starburst..." he repeated, trying to figure out what she meant, "is that in reference to the chewy flavored candy or the fiery-gas object floating around in the night sky?"

Amanda curtly answered back, "The candy."

There was a pause in the room. The interrogation was getting worse and Lee was losing patience.

"Ladies, it's obvious I'm getting nowhere here," he stated with disdain, "I don't think you two realize that I am conducting an official murder investigation here!"

Liz scowled, "That's a bit condescending, isn't it?"

"Do you blame me for feeling frustrated?" Lee rhetorically asked, "Because of you two, I feel like calling it a day, slamming my notepad shut, and stomping out of here, but then if I were to slam this tiny notepad shut, it would be soundless, thus ruining the entire effect!"

His earnestness had Amanda fighting a grin. And despite feeling disappointed in Lee, she realized she was being unfair to him.

Her eyes softened when she looked his way.

"What is it you want to know?" she compliantly asked.

He looked relieved, "You can start off with that Starburst comment!"

"I thought the Starburst analogy would be obvious," she nonchalantly stated as she began sounding like her old self again, "You see, Agent Stetson, there are all kinds of flavors in a pack of Starburst. And I figured that if Eunice the maid had blackmailed Liz, chances are good that she would also be blackmailing others as well. After all, the maid did have easy access to the rooms throughout the day, and therefore, she could search inside all the rooms for secrets in order to blackmail anyone with!"

"What does that fact have to do with Starburst?" Liz wondered, "Was it a secret that someone had been chewing one and then stuck it underneath furniture or something?"

Meanwhile Lee had been listening intently with steepled hands pressed together, but now he relaxed as realization hit him, "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think I understand what you're trying to say, Amanda. A pack of Starburst may have watermelon squares, but there are also cherry, and lemon squares as well!"

"Precisely!" Amanda looked pleased, "and don't forget strawberry and orange ones, too!"

"I give up," Liz announced, throwing up her arms, "Do you two want the number of my therapist?"

Lee and Amanda exchanged knowing glances.

Then Lee explained, "I think what Amanda is trying to say is...Eunice could have been blackmailing several people in this house, just like there are several flavors of Starburst in a pack! Therefore, I should investigate to see whether Eunice had blackmail others as well. Did I get that right, Amanda?"

Amanda's eyes sparkled, "Very right!"

"I see," Liz analyzed, but she was not impressed, "So now that we've cleared that up, may I go now?"

"No. Since you're here, I might as well question you to the fullest," Lee decided as he looked down at his notepad, "So after Eunice blackmailed you, Liz, I assume you didn't exactly have warm feelings for Eunice, did you?"

He watched closely for her reaction.

"No, I hated her for it," Liz admitted, and then quickly added, "but that didn't mean I killed her! I paid her the money she requested and she never bothered me about it again. My secret was safe, it seemed. It would be foolish to want to kill her now, don't you think?"

"Good point," admitted Lee. Then he asked Liz, "Were you aware that Olivia kept tasers in the house?"

"What? Tasers? Is this connected to the crazy Starburst thing, like fruity-colored tasers or something?" Liz asked.

"Please, just answer the question," Lee solemnly told her.

She scowled, "Tasers? Yes, of course. Olivia kept a whole drawer full of them in the entryway credenza. She always told us that when we went into town, we should take one, 'just in case' , and she was right. One can never be too safe, especially if you've got money. Why do you ask?"

"Just part of the investigation." Lee opaquely answered back. Then he asked, "Where were you this morning between the hours of 3 am and 5 am?"

Liz sighed, "Where do you think? In the bedroom, fast asleep, of course! You can check with my husband."

"-who might have ALSO been asleep, and therefore, wouldn't have known if you had gotten up in the early morning hours," Lee reasoned.

"I'm not a criminal and I resent the insinuation!" Liz stated, clearly offended, "My husband was with me the entire time and I slept lovingly in his arms, okay? Ask him! In the meantime, I need to leave. Daniel and I plan to do some sightseeing in town this afternoon! That IS okay with you, isn't it, Agent Stetson?"

"It is, and I assume you'll be staying here at the estate until I complete my investigation?" Lee asked, as he closed his notebook.

"For a time, but we can't be here forever," Liz defiantly stated as she got up and looked over at Amanda, "You coming?"

Before Amanda could answer, Lee interjected with, "Actually, I have some follow-up questions for her."

Liz nodded, "Alright. See you later, my most dear friend," she smiled at Amanda. Then she addressed Lee in a frosty tone, "Agent Stetson."

After Liz was gone, Lee curiously asked Amanda, "You're her most dear friend?" he repeated.

Amanda shrugged, "What can I say? A lot can happen in two hours!"

"Impressive, but just barely," Lee lightly stated. Then he got serious, "and by the way, Amanda, about that thing you witnessed between Deidre and me- "

"-which is totally none of my business," Amanda waved that idea aside, and yet she still felt a strange twist in her stomach.

"That's right," Lee stated.

"What?" Amanda asked, stunned.

"Nothing," Lee quickly stated, "So in conclusion, we're good, right?"

"It depends," Amanda responded with narrowed eyes, "how is the investigation coming along? Are you getting anywhere investigating on your own?"

"A-man-da, you know I can't discuss an ongoing investigation with civilians!"

"Oh. So it's none of my business there as well?"

"Not necessarily," he countered while rubbing his two fingers on his chin, "after some thought, I think I could use your help with the investigation..."

Amanda looked surprised, "But I thought you didn't need my help! You've mentioned a million times to me how you LIKE working alone!"

"I do, but that was before I've had to deal with the cast of Dark Shadows," Lee teased. He then got serious, "After this interrogation with Liz, I've come to the conclusion that perhaps I could use your help with the investigation because I can see how, at times, I can come off slightly...gruff to some people-"

"-to MOST people," she corrected him.

He smiled, "That's where you would come in," he opened up, "you can help me relate to this family better."

Lee waited for her to jump at the chance.

She gave a slight smile and a nod, as if she understood.

"No. Thank you."

Lee looked stunned as his forehead furrowed, "What? I thought-"

"-That I would jump at the chance to be working alongside the great Scarecrow?" Amanda asked as she made a face.

Lee pouted, "You don't want to work as a team?"

"Let's put it this way, Lee. If you have the word 'teamwork' and took the 'team' out of it, all you have left is 'work' and I certainly don't want to do that while I'm on vacation with Dean!"

She stood up as Lee's mouth dropped in astonishment that she was leaving, "Good day, Agent Stetson. I hope you get your man or woman!"

She had turned her back on him and started walking out. Slowly.

"Amanda, wait!" Lee cajoled her.

When she turned around, he gave a frustrated sigh and then confessed, "Look, I know sometimes it's hard for you to work with me because I can be a bit bossy-"

"Overbearing, is more like it," she injected.

"Yeah, okay, that, too," Lee admitted, "but I really do need you," and then he quickly added, "...for the investigation, that is!"

This time Amanda's smile was genuine, "Wellll, I think I might have some time to spare on my vacation... " then suddenly the image of Deidre in Lee's arms entered her mind, "...but this will be strictly professional!"

Lee looked surprised, "What else would it be?"

Somehow, Amanda seemed disappointed with that response, "Alright then. I'm in, I suppose."

"Good." Lee was watching her, as if he was absorbing all the features of her face, "Amanda, I'm actually glad you're helping out with this investigation."

Was he being sincere?

His intense stare and complimentary words flooded her body with paralyzing warmth.

"Really? No regrets, Lee?"

He sounded confident, "I never have regrets, Amanda. Wait, I take that back. The last time I insulted Francine, I could have come up with an even better insult, but missed that window of opportunity. A big-time regret."

She laughed and he joined in and for a split second everything seemed right with the world.

"So what happens now?" she asked.

"Now?" Lee stated, as he checked the time, "Well, in about ten minutes, our next subject will have arrived to be interrogated."

"Oh, great!" enthused Amanda, "And I've got an idea on how to handle the questioning! We should do the good cop/bad cop act! You know, like how it's done on TV on those cop shows! I can be the good cop and you can be your usual self! No! Not your usual self! I didn't mean it like that! I meant-"

He took it good-heartedly and smiled, "-I know what you meant, Amanda."

Amanda felt she was on cloud nine, "Okay, great!" she leaned in, "So who's the next interrogatee?"

Lee gave her an impish smile, "Mr. Dean McGuire."

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