Chapter 13
In an Agency conference room, they sat at a large round table with Billy, Dr. Smyth, and the Labadan Ambassador, Juan Luis Torres.
Lee took a drink of his coffee. They had been at it for two hours. He glanced at Amanda. Though she still looked sharp, he knew she must be tired. Now that the danger to Amanda and himself was gone, he was relieved but drained. He wished this session was over; that they could go home.
"I still find it unbelievable that this plot got as far as it did," the Ambassador said. "And to think they were using our Embassy staff as unwitting pawns. It infuriates me."
"It was a well-planned, well-financed coup attempt," Lee said. "Ruiz knew the Embassy staff, they trusted him."
"Ambassador, I hope Ms. Gonzalez and the others won't be punished," Amanda said.
The Ambassador shook his head. "The President understands the situation and has ordered that they should not be punished."
"Oh, that's good," she said. She took a sip of her coffee.
Lee thought of the sacrifices that had been made to halt the coup. "If it hadn't been for Felipe Ruiz, and those working with him, they might have succeeded," Lee said.
"Yes, Mr. Ruiz is a hero, as you are. Both of you will always be welcome in our country."
"Thanks," he said.
"I understand you were his friend."
"Yes, he was a good friend."
"You'll be glad to know that Senora Ruiz and her family will be taken care of both financially, and we hope, emotionally. They will be returning home from Costa Rica soon."
He exchanged a relieved smile with Amanda. He had worried about how Felipe's wife and children would survive. "Good, that's the best possible news."
"Dr. Smyth, I have a request," the Ambassador said. "This request comes directly from President Vargas. He would like for your agency to conduct a top-to-bottom review of our internal security processes to see how they can be improved."
"I'll have to clear it with the President, but I see no reason why it couldn't be done, Ambassador."
"Well, does anybody have any further questions or comments?" Billy asked. There were no further comments. "Okay then. Lee, we'll expect a written report from you both tomorrow."
" Right," Lee said.
"Then that's it."
Lee and Amanda rose and prepared to leave the room.
"Agent Stetson?" asked the Ambassador.
They both turned towards the man.
The Ambassador chuckled. "I forgot you are both Agent Stetson."
"No, problem, Sir. It sometimes happens," Lee said, smiling.
"President Vargas asked me to thank you and your wife personally on both his and his family's behalf for the assistance you provided."
"Please tell him we were glad to help," Amanda said.
"I'll tell him that. Have a good evening."
"You, too," Amanda said.
"Have a good evening."
"You too, Ambassador," Lee said.
"I am so glad that's over," Lee said, as they walked down the hall to the elevator. "I bet you're exhausted."
She nodded, stifling a yawn. "I'm worn out. It'll be an early night for me."
"If I'd been you, I'd have dozed right off in there. How'd you stay awake?"
"The coffee helped. Billy must have made it twice as strong as usual. I also pressed my nails against my palm."
"Ouch... That's going to extremes."
"Not really. I used to do it when I had a boring class in school. No marks." She held her hands up to Lee.
He gently took her hands and inspected her palms. "Okay, then. Say, I know who would be perfect to do the security review."
She glanced his way with an innocent smile. "Just who would that be?"
"Why you of course."
"Well, I certainly could figure out how much floor wax to use."
Laughing, he placed his arm across her shoulders.
"I thought we weren't going to have any public displays of affection," she said.
"You know what? Today I don't care."
With those words, he leaned in and gave her a big kiss. There was scattered applause from the people around them.
They made their way home and entered the kitchen. "I smell something delicious," Lee said, sniffing the air. "Taking a guess, I'd say it was meatloaf."
"Very good," Dotty said. She looked hard at Amanda. "Amanda, what happened to your cheek?"
Earlier, she had looked at her cheek in a mirror. The mark was small, and there was no swelling. "Oh... I kind of had a mishap at work. It's just a bruise."
"Where's Jamie and Phillip?" she asked, to divert her mother from other questions.
"Upstairs. I took a look at their room and it was a mess. So their chore for the day was to straighten it up. Speaking of dinner, have you two had dinner?"
Lee had last eaten a sandwich at lunch. He was famished. "Not me."
"Me either," Amanda said.
"Well, I saved a plate for you two. Let me warm them up."
"How's the microwave working out?" he asked. A few weeks earlier, they had gone shopping with Dotty so she could pick out a suitable microwave.
"Well, I'd never cook in it, but I have to admit it's good for warming up leftovers." Dotty pushed a button on the microwave. "I'm still getting used to it. It's so easy to overdo it. What can I get you to drink?"
"I'd love a glass of wine," Amanda said.
"I'll take the same," he said.
"You two go have a seat in the den for a few minutes, while I get everything together."
They strolled into the den, settling on the couch, arms intertwined. "It's over, the whole thing is over," he said.
She kissed his cheek. "Yes, it is. Do you think the Labadans can weed out everyone who was plotting against the government?"
"I hope so. I think the President will approve the security review, so they'll have help."
"You like them, don't you?"
He nodded. "I do. They have a hard task setting up a democracy with the rest of the region in turmoil, but I have hope for them."
"I guess Garcia will be sent back to Labado to stand trial."
"Yeah, he was just a flunky, but it probably won't be pleasant for him. They still have Diaz to catch. Amanda, are you really okay? Being snatched off the street and held hostage would be traumatic for anyone. Maybe you should talk to Pfaff."
"Sweetheart, I'm fine. I was more worried about you than I was about me. I don't need to see Dr. Pfaff."
He frowned at her. "We'll see what Billy has to say about it."
She patted his arm. "Yes, dear. That salesman was right about one thing."
"What was that?"
"Sandoval was creepy. It was his voice maybe, it was so cold and emotionless."
"Except when you got him with that piece of wood. That was brilliant."
"In the end, I think that he was so obsessed with getting revenge that it drove him mad."
Lee nodded. "You could be right. He was different in Lambada. He was ticked off that he couldn't stop me, but he was in control."
"Dinner's ready," Dotty called out from the kitchen.
They stood and made their way to the dinner table. Dotty once again glanced at Amanda's cheek in concern.
"Mother, I promise you, I'm fine."
Dotty sighed. "If you say so."
"This looks great," Lee said. He took a drink from the wine glass.
"Uh, huh, it does," Amanda said, as she took a drink.
Lee had been running on adrenalin since Amanda had been kidnapped, and now he realized he was famished. He eagerly ate the delicious meal. "I think I'll survive. Thanks for keeping it for us."
Amanda finished her meal and nodded in agreement. She leaned over and gave her mother a kiss on the cheek."Thank you."
"No thanks are needed when it comes to you two."
They heard Phillip and Jamie come bounding down the stairs.
"Hi Mom, Lee," Phillip said.
"Hi guys, did you get your room clean?" Lee asked.
"Yeah, it's clean enough," Jamie said.
"You guys are lucky. I had to do that every day," Lee said.
"You did? Every day?" Jamie asked in astonishment. "Yuck."
"You said it, Jamie," Phillip said.
"Every day..."
Amanda glanced at Lee. "Should we tell them?"
"Yeah, let's do it."
"What?" Phillip asked.
"Well, we caught those guys we told you about," Lee said.
"The mean-looking one?" Dotty asked.
"Sandoval will not be a threat to anyone, ever again," Lee said.
Dotty gazed at him, understanding his meaning, she nodded. "Thank heaven for that. I guess you have reports to file tomorrow."
"Oh, yeah, definitely," he said.
"So all the feds are gone?" Jamie asked.
Amanda smiled at his words. "All the feds have gone back to their regular duties. It's back to our routines," Amanda said.
"Yay!" Phillip said.
