Chapter 9
Lee stared at the file before him, the words a blur. In exasperation, he shut the file.
After a night of broken sleep, his thoughts of Harry and his impending career decision, Lee had arrived at work in a state of unrest. There was nothing he could do about Harry, but it was time to resolve the question of his future.
"You okay?" Amanda said.
His head snapped up. "Amanda, I've decided. I'm going to leave the field."
"I see."
He was startled at her reaction. "You don't seem surprised."
"I'm not surprised. I think you've been moving towards that decision for a while. Was it Harry that decided it for you?"
"A little, but mainly I had to work up the courage to do this, to take a chance I might fail. Imagine that the great Scarecrow is scared to try something new."
"Don't be silly. You're a normal human being with normal fears. I may be biased, but I know you'll be successful, whatever you decide to do."
"Thanks. Well, before I lose my nerve, I should see if Billy's around."
He called Billy's extension. "Billy, are you available for a few minutes?" Lee asked.
"I've got a meeting in five minutes. How about when I finish that?"
"That'll be fine."
"I'll call you when I get back."
"Sounds good, Billy."
"He's got a meeting, but he's free after that."
"Okay," Amanda said.
Nervous and tense, he began to pace.
"Are you okay, sweetheart?" she asked, amused.
He stopped and laughed. "I think so. The last time I was this nervous was on Christmas Eve last year."
She laughed as well. "I felt so bad for you. When Mother opened the door, you wanted to run away."
"I was scared to death. I was completely out of my element."
"But you had a good time."
"I had a great time, and I saw what Christmas could be like for the first time. I'm looking forward to the holidays this year."
She grinned. "Aunt Lillian certainly attached herself to you."
"She's feisty, like the rest of the West women. I like that."
Haha."
Amanda moved to her desk as the phone rang. "Amanda Stetson."
"Good Morning, Amanda," Leatherneck said.
"Oh, good morning. How's my car?"
"It's good as new. The choke on the carburetor was a little off. That's why it was hard to start in the morning. I just had to adjust it. It was an easy fix. You can pick it up anytime."
Amanda was relieved to hear this. "Oh, that's good." With their combined salaries, her financial worries had eased. However, the memories remained from those days of short finances. "I'll pick it up today."
"Sounds good, Amanda. Have a good morning."
"You too."
"Is your car ready?" Lee asked.
"Yep."
"What was the problem?"
"He said something about the choke needing an adjustment. He said it was an easy fix. Sweetheart, can you run me over there sometime today?"
"Sure, we'll head there after I tell Billy."
"Billy, do you have anything to add?" Dr. Smyth asked.
He had not been listening. The meeting was a deadly dull budget meeting, and he was thinking about Lee, wondering if he had decided what he wanted to do. "No, I don't think so."
"Then that will be all children."
Billy made his way back to his office, his mind still on Scarecrow. Billy considered him ready for a management job. But with the budget frozen, it appeared he would have to go to another agency. He was getting ahead of himself. He did not even know what his decision was yet.
Once at his desk, he called Lee.
"Hey, Billy."
"I'm back, so I can see you now."
"We'll be right there."
Hanging up the phone, he looked at Amanda.
"Well, are you ready?" she asked.
Lee took a deep breath. "I think so."
Entering the bullpen, Lee leaned close to Amanda. "I'd like Francine to
be there," he said.
Amanda nodded.
They stopped at her desk. "Francine, I need to speak to Billy, and I'd like you to be there."
Francine looked at Lee, puzzled. "Okay, sure."
She followed them to Billy's office. Lee knocked and entered. Amanda and Francine took the seats in front of his desk and Lee took his usual place by the window.
Francine glanced at Amanda, who shrugged, and then looked at Lee.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Well, I've been doing a lot of thinking, and I've decided to ask for my release from fieldwork."
Surprised, Francine gaped at him. "You're going to leave the field? What are you going to do in the future?"
"I don't know. That'll be up to Billy and Dr. Smyth. I just know it's time."
"I know you've thought about this for a while," Billy said. "I'll get with Dr. Smyth to see what our options are. Amanda, have you decided if you're going to remain in the field?"
No, Sir, I'm still deciding."
"Well, take your time. Lee, do you want to announce it to the bullpen? This is an auspicious moment."
"Not yet. Whatever Amanda decides, I want to make the announcement together."
"That sounds good. I'll get the paperwork started."
"Thanks, Billy."
As they left the room, Francine, who still looked shocked, stopped Amanda.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Francine asked.
"I'll see you upstairs," Lee said.
"Okay," Amanda said.
They strolled to Francine's desk. Francine chuckled. "Wow, as my British friends would say, I'm gobsmacked. I never thought I'd see the day when Lee Stetson would voluntarily step away from the field. Amanda, was this in response to losing Harry? I know how he felt about him. I'd hate to think he made a quick, emotional decision because of that."
She shook her head. "No, he's been thinking about it, and we've talked about it for a while."
"What about you? Are you going to remain a field agent?"
"I haven't decided yet. I need to think about it."
"Would you like to talk about your options?"
"That would be great."
"How about lunch today?"
"I'd like that."
"Okay. I have a meeting at eleven. How about meeting me at Mala's at 12:30?"
The restaurant had become a favorite of both Lee and herself. "I love that restaurant. That'll be fine."
Amanda made her way to the Q bureau. Lee looked up and smiled.
Amanda joined him and kissed his cheek. "So, how do you feel?"
"Now that I've told Billy, I feel good. I have no idea what I'm going to be doing in a year, but yes, I'm at peace with it. I'm glad I'm getting to make the change because I want to do it, not because I'm forced to change. Not every agent gets to make that decision."
"There you go. I'm having lunch with Francine. It'll be good to get her perspective on my decision."
"She's become a good friend, hasn't she?"
"A great friend."
"She'll give you honest answers. I guess you've noticed that she's very honest with everyone," he said with a smile.
"Oh, yes, that I can count on.
'Ready to pick up your car?"
She glanced at her watch. It was almost eleven. "I'm ready."
Lee stood and grabbed his coat. "Let's get out of here, then."
They made the short drive to the Agency's maintenance garage. They found Pete Thomas there, Leatherneck's assistant.
"Good morning, folks," Thomas said. "You must be here to pick up your Wagoneer."
"Hello, Pete. That's why I'm here."
He reached over and took her keys from a pegboard. "Here you go."
"Thanks. Tell Leatherneck hello for me."
Lee waited as she started the motor. The car immediately turned over. Lee gave her a thumbs up and leaned into the window. "I'll follow you back."
"Okay."
He followed her back to the Agency parking garage. As she passed the hood, she patted it affectionately.
"Feel good to have her back?" he asked.
She smiled brightly. "I love driving your fancy sports car, but this is my car."
"I understand. Say, where are you and Francine going to have lunch?"
"Mala's. I hear a Greek salad calling me." She loved their Greek salads, with its sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, green bell pepper, red onion, olives, and feta cheese with several mint leaves for additional flavor. The dressing was delicious.
Lee laughed. "Your favorite.
"I know."
They took their badges from Mrs. Marston and went upstairs.
"What time are you going to leave?"
She glanced at the wall clock. "I'll work on this file for a few minutes, then leave at noon. You're going to eat lunch aren't you?"
"Yes, I'll grab a sandwich out of the machine."
At her frown, he shook his head. "I know what you're thinking. You go and have a good talk with Francine and have a delicious salad, and don't worry about me. I can take care of myself."
"All right, if you say so."
"I do."
Amanda reviewed the file before her. After a few minutes, she closed the file and put it away. "I'm going to take off. Now don't forget to eat something." She was not nagging him. He tended to forget to eat when he got busy."
"I promise. Have a good time."
"I will."
She looked carefully down the street as she walked to the parking garage, looking for a white Impala, Sandoval, or his accomplice. She saw nothing. Shrugging, she strolled into the parking garage.
Sandoval saw Amanda Stetson emerge from the building. Once again, she did not spot him. Would she be driving the Corvette or that strange boxy car she had driven back to the Agency? He quickly made his way to the public parking lot where his car was parked.
"When she comes out, follow her to her destination. We may be able to take her then."
"Yes, Minister."
After a few moments, she emerged from the parking garage, driving that boxy car. "Don't follow too closely.
Garcia nodded as he carefully pulled into traffic a few cars behind her car.
