Chapter 3

The first part of the assignment was easy. Even though she was nervous, Amanda played her part perfectly. She drove to the Jiffy Market on Washington Boulevard in Arlington, went into the store, and marched right up to the Customer Service window.

"Mrs. King? What brings you here?" the assistant manager at the service desk asked in surprise, and Amanda recognized Cal Brown, Little League father and coach of the Falls Church Tornadoes. "This is a little off your usual route, isn't it?"

"Hello, Mr. Brown. I came to return this can of coffee; it's expired," she said as she took it out of the bag and handed it over. "Here's my receipt. I'd like another can of the same brand, please."

Brown smiled and took the can and the receipt. "I do apologize for the inconvenience, Mrs. King, and we'll certainly make it right." He made a show of looking at the old receipt before saying, "Everything is in order, Mrs. King. Let me just get you that new can of coffee."

He left her at the window for a few moments before coming back with a new can of the same brand. "Just a moment while I make a note of this for our inventory control system," he said, as he went to the computer on his desk, tapped a few keys, and then came back with the coffee can. "Here you go, and I apologize again for the inconvenience."

Amanda took the can, noting that there was a tiny bit of paper stuck to the can on which he'd written a phone number. She knew he was divorced, with shared custody of his two sons, who were Phillip's and Jamie's ages; his ex-wife traveled extensively for her job with the American Red Cross, so he often had the boys at his house for weeks at a time.

"I never knew we had so much in common, Mrs. King," he said. "I'd like to get together over coffee sometime and discuss it. Call me if you'd like to do that; no pressure. I don't know if you're seeing someone?"

"Yes, but I'm free to have coffee with a friend."

"Good. Thank you for shopping with Jiffy Markets, and have a Jiffity-do-dah day!"

It was corny, but he said it with a smile that said, "Yeah, I know it's corny, but they train us to say that," and she smiled back.

As she walked out to the car, she thought about what he'd said, and what she'd said about not seeing anyone. She and Dean weren't a couple anymore, so why not take Cal up on his offer? After all, he'd only suggested coffee and conversation, nothing more.

She got into the car and drove toward the Agency to turn in the can of coffee, but not before she took Cal Brown's phone number off the top of the can.

Her assignment went just as planned, without any of the surprises that she'd come to expect when working with Lee. The man did seem to be a trouble magnet, she thought. She turned in the fresh can of coffee, filled out a claim for her mileage and the time she'd worked, and drove back across the Potomac just in time to welcome the boys when they got off the school bus a little after three o'clock.

"Keep the noise down inside, boys; Grandma's got a migraine," she warned them.

"Didya finish the cupcakes, Mom?" Jamie asked.

"I sure did; they're over there, in the carrier. You may look, but don't touch."

"Oh, man, they look great! The kids are going to love those little candy pumpkins."

"I'm glad you like them. Now, how about a snack? I just happened to have some frosting left over, so I made graham cracker sandwiches with it. You can each have two sandwiches with a glass of milk."

"Yeah!"

Once they'd eaten their snack, she sent them outside to play. The next day, Friday, was the last day of school before Thanksgiving Break and neither boy had any homework or studying to do.

Amanda was cooking supper- the boys' favorite, spaghetti with meatballs - while the local news aired in the background when her attention was caught by a breaking news report. "Police and EMS were called to the Jiffy Market on Washington Boulevard in Arlington this afternoon about two o'clock when store employees reported hearing the sounds of an altercation coming from their manager's office and then the sound of gunshots. A man they described as 'male Caucasian, about five feet ten inches tall, 185 pounds, wearing a tan raincoat and a tan tweed hat' left the scene as they ran to the manager's aid. We are told that he was dead on arrival at a local hospital. The victim's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Police believe that the motive was probably robbery, although the safe was still locked and no money was taken from any of the registers. The investigation is ongoing and police are not releasing any more details at this time."

"Oh, my God," Amanda said. "Cal?"

"Amanda, what are you talking about?" Dotty, looking much better, said from behind her.

"There's been a murder, Mother, right here in Arlington. They said the manager at the Jiffy Market on Washington Boulevard was killed this afternoon during what they think was a robbery attempt gone wrong."

"A murder at a Jiffy Market? Amanda, what is the world coming to? It's got so that a family can't even go grocery shopping anymore!"

"I know, Mother, it's just terrible. Whoever that manager was, I'm sure he had a family."

Since they didn't have any homework, Amanda let the boys stay up and watch Magnum,P.I. before sending them to bed at nine o'clock. Dotty retired to her room with her Agatha Christie mystery, and Amanda debated whether to try to contact Billy Melrose.

Billy resolved her dilemma for her by calling her instead. "Amanda, have you seen the news?"

"Yes, sir. It was Cal Brown, wasn't it?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so. You didn't see anything?"

"No, sir. I got there about one-thirty, gave him the coffee can as instructed, and left the store. I must have missed the shooter by just minutes."

"Yes."

"He was a good man and a good father, Mr. Melrose; he left two boys the same age as my boys, and we knew each other slightly because he coached his sons' Little League team in Falls Church and they played the Bombers a few weeks ago. I had no idea he was working for the Agency, of course, but then I wouldn't know, would I?"

"No. I'm glad you're safe, Amanda, but just in case whoever shot Brown followed you home, I've put an agent outside your house tonight, in a plain dark sedan."

"Yes, sir. Will he follow me to the school?"

"Yes, but he'll keep a low profile. It's just a precaution, Amanda, until we're sure that he doesn't think you have anything worth bothering about."

"Yes, sir. I understand."

"Of all the times for Lee…" he stopped.

"For Lee to be out of town?" she finished.

"Yes. When he finds out I sent you on a courier assignment that got an agent killed he's going to hit the ceiling. Melrose out."

"Just where are you, anyway, Lee?" Amanda asked as she cradled the receiver.