December 3, 1987

Billy's Office 9:52am

Francine read aloud from the red folder that had just been delivered to Billy.

"As of December 3, 1987, the status of Agent Lee…."

A sob escaped her lips. She wiped her eyes and continued.

"Lee Stetson, code named SCARECROW, has been changed to AGENT LOST: DECEASED."

Francine broke down completely. Sobs wracked her body as she read and reread the memo. Surely there had to be some mistake.

Billy picked up the folder as gingerly as he could, as if any sudden movement would make it detonate.

"He's finally done it. It's taken over a year, but he's finally done it. He's successfully completed one of these damn suicide missions".

Billy began pacing around the office becoming more and more angry with each step.

"Damn it, Lee! Damn, damn, damn! Why wouldn't you let me help you? I know you were hurting! We all were. If only…"

"Billy, this isn't your fault. There was nothing any of us could do to help him. He couldn't survive without her."

Francine took in a sharp, shuttering breath as she continued to try to talk though her tears.

"Lee had a death wish that started the moment Addi Birol killed Amanda."

Billy took a handkerchief from his pocket and began wiping his eyes. Lee had been more to him than just an agent that he oversaw. Lee had become a good friend. Billy thought of him like family. It had pained him so much to see suffer over the last year since Amanda had been killed. Billy had known Lee through many phases in his life-the stone-cold agent, the ladies' man, the reckless hotshot. It wasn't until Amanda came into his life that Lee began to become the person that Billy always thought he would be. The first time Billy met Amanda in Dirk's office, he knew immediately that there was something special about her and he knew that she had caught Lee's attention in a way that no other woman had. Despite all his complaining each time Billy put the two of them together, Billy knew that Lee really was intrigued with Amanda and wanted to work with her. Their chemistry was obvious to everyone but them. There will never be another pair like Scarecrow and Mrs. King.

"Billy? Did you hear me?" Francine asked.

Billy snapped back to attention.

"No, I'm sorry, I didn't. What did you say?"

"I said maybe we should go up and talk to Dr. Smyth and find out what happened. There is nothing in that file that says where he was or how he…..died."

Billy opened the folder and scanned the contents again. Francine was right. The only thing in the folder was the memo stating that Lee's status had been changed to Agent Lost: Deceased.

"Yes, that's a good idea. I, uh….I need a few minutes first. Would you mind excusing me for a little while?"

Francine nodded and walked out of Billy's office. She didn't go to her desk but instead walked out of the bullpen and to the elevators. A little alone time was also something that she needed.

Billy sat at his desk looking at the closed red folder. His stomach was in 1,000 knots. He knew that Lee not coming home would be a possibility, but he never actually believed it. Lee had been in some very tight spots in his career as an agent and always managed to come out alive. He really thought that this time would be no different.

Billy picked up his phone and called his secretary, Maureen.

"Yes, Mr. Melrose?"

"Maureen, please hold all my calls for the next hour or so. If it's an emergency, send them upstairs to Dr. Smyth."

"Will do."

"Thank you, Maureen."

Billy hung up the phone and let out a heavy sigh. He stared at the piles of reports and schedules strewn over the desktop. He began organizing the piles in an attempt to bring some sort of order to the chaos that was now consuming his head. As he picked up one of the folders, a pink phone message memo popped out from underneath. It was a call that he had been putting off returning. He had no new information to give, and the frequent calls were always painful. But now, he finally had an answer to the question "Has there been any word on Lee?"

Billy picked up the phone and dialed. As the number rang, he held the pink message in his hand.

"Hello?" a pleasant voice said on the other line.

Billy quickly cleared his throat before speaking.

"Umm, hello, Mrs. West. Billy Melrose here."

Billy heard Dotty breathe in a sharp intake of air.

"Mr. Melrose! Do you have news? Do you know where Lee is?"

Billy clenched his hand, crinkling the pink phone message into a ball.

"I do have news. Perhaps it is best if you sit down."