Decisions
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Chapter 3
It was late morning of the next day.
From her desk at The Agency, Amanda watched through the windowed blinds of Billy's office at Lee and Billy's agitated movements. And although she couldn't hear the exact words, their gestures let her know their conversation was one of frustration and annoyance.
They were obviously discussing yesterday's robbery debacle at Arlington National Bank, which probably included her involvement in it. Occasionally she would Lee yell out chunks of phrases like: "...I had it all under control..." or..."I work alone!" or "...such a distraction!"
And all she could do was cringe.
Everyone in the office was talking about the mission. But the stories shared were more in a laughable way than one of admiration. From the way the water-cooler talk went, the entire bank robbery arrest sounded more like the incompetent Keystone Cops at work than the well-run Agency.
But to Amanda, it was no laughing matter.
Especially since she found out that they may have to let the bank robber, Crowley Stuber, walk. The tape recorder with the evidence of his threats had been destroyed when Lee had tried to save her. Stuber had also lawyered up, claiming he was the victim, the one being attacked by a madwoman and the bank manager. The bank's own videotape had verified his side of the story. And the gun? He carried it for protection and had only used it to defend himself.
Then there was also the financial loss to consider as well. Amanda had been made privy to all the paperwork piling up in the accounting room. The bank had sent a bill to the Agency for costs incurred for the clean up and replacement of valuable items broken during the time of the alleged robbery. In addition, the Agency was being sued for 'emotional distress' by customers who were there on the day of the robbery, with one of them claiming it was the Agency's fault for his broken ankle.
What a disaster!
And it was all my fault, Amanda miserably thought, berating herself. Why did I have to get involved! Why couldn't I have trusted Lee to do his job?
She sighed. Lee had been doing fine as a lone agent way before I ever came into his life, so why didn't I think he could handle himself?
Because, she reasoned, I care too much about him.
NO! She wouldn't let her mind go there. After all, Lee had never shown any interest in her and...and... HE wasn't HER type, either! She convinced herself.
Turning back to her typewriter, she had typed out three words and then had to go back once she realized two of the three words she had typed had been misspelled.
My gosh, I just can't concentrate on my work today!
She needed to do something to right the wrong of the situation. Yes, it was up to her and her only. She didn't like what she was about to do, but it had to be done.
Taking a deep breath, Amanda stood and forced herself to walk over to Billy's closed office door. As she put her ear to the door to listen for a bit, she could clearly hear Lee's agitated tone…
"...and Billy, you, above anyone else, know I have a reputation to uphold!"
"I know ALL about your reputation, Lee!"
"Not THAT reputation, my working reputation!" Lee retorted back, "I'm being made to look like a fool by the FBI! Do you know what they call me now after this fiasco?"
"No, but they've probably thought of some doozies for you!"
Lee ignored Billy's sarcasm, "Mayhem Stetson'! Can you believe that? I'm now known as 'Mayhem Stetson' to the F-B-I!"
If the situation wasn't so serious, Amanda would've chuckled. Instead she took another deep breath, formed her hand into a fist and rapped on the door.
Knock! Knock!
"What?!" she heard Billy's frustrated voice yell out.
Shakily placing her hand on the doorknob, Amanda turned it and stuck her head in, "Permission to enter?" she meekly asked.
She watched as Billy pursed his lips, relented and gestured with a wave for her to enter. She came in and soundlessly shut the door behind her. Then stood there, waiting.
By now Lee had stopped hovering over Billy, straightened himself up and stood beside his boss, looking very uncomfortable. He couldn't even look in Amanda's direction.
"Mrs. King," Billy acknowledged.
That was her cue, "Yes, Sir, hello, Sir...again," she nervously stated and then looked hesitantly at Lee before addressing him, "Lee."
Lee looked down and shoved his hands in his pants' pockets, "Amanda," he quietly murmured back, while looking down on the floor.
Billy brusquely asked, "Mrs. King, are you here for another round of apologies or are you here for an actual reason?"
"No, Sir, I mean, yes, Sir, I'm here for a reason," she licked her lips, "Sir, I know I've already said enough apologies to fill a room, including a closet, so I won't apologize again...buuut... I have something to say that might make matters better for everyone."
"Fat chance of THAT!" Lee mumbled under his breath.
Billy, however, looked at her with sincere interest,"Whatever could that be, Mrs. King?"
Amanda cleared her throat, "Well, Sir, as you know, I've always tried to do my best on these missions, and...and not to boast or anything, but they've all been rather successful...welllll... except perhaps this last one, although technically, that one wasn't really MY mission..."
"I'll say..." Lee bitterly mumbled as Amanda forced herself not to look his way, but concentrated on Billy's reaction instead.
Billy had joined his hands together on his desk, looking very unconvinced, "Is there a point to all this, Mrs. King?"
It was obvious he was losing patience. She'd have to hurry it along.
"There is." she evenly announced, "This last incident has shown me that maybe... just maybe I shouldn't be partnered up with anyone until I'm fully trained."
There. She said it. Hardest thing to say, ever. She shot a look at Lee. He didn't say a word, but was staring at her with open curiosity
That encouraged Amanda to continue, "...so, uh, as I were saying, I think it's best that I don't go out on any missions. I should remain in the office doing the things I can do very well—like... filing, answering phones, typing, and you know," she did that familiar head jerk of hers before continuing, "... being overly pleasant to everyone."
She watched for their reactions as Lee and Billy exchanged unreadable glances. Then they both stared straight at her.
"Alright!" they agreed in unison.
Amanda was taken aback.
"Oh gee..." she stated, trying to recover, "I guess I didn't expect such a decisive and unanimous vote..." she began, but then straightened her shoulders, "but of course, it is the only logical solution."
Billy instantly felt bad as his expression softened, "Mrs. King, I know how hard it must have been for you to come to that conclusion, especially since you've previously handled yourself so well out in the field..."
Amanda looked hopeful, "Really? You think so? Then perhaps I shouldn't-"
"-However," Billy quickly added, not wanting to lead her on, "I think you have come to a wise decision."
"Oh." Amanda's shoulders slumped as she tried to accept the reality that she wouldn't be going out on any missions, "Yes, of course, Sir. That's the way it should be."
She dropped her head and missed seeing that Lee had opened his mouth to say something, but then quickly shut it again.
Amanda lifted her head to address Lee, "Lee, you are this Agency's best agent and...and I've learned a lot from you. And it has been an honor to go on missions with you. But there are still a lot of bad guys out there, and I wouldn't want to be the one who gets in the way of you getting them."
She looked at him with large, vulnerable eyes. Lee didn't know why, but he suddenly felt guilty, like he had done something wrong—which he hadn't. And he hated that feeling. Yet, the idea of working independently again without needing to yell at or protect anyone thrilled him. That's all he had ever wanted to do since meeting Amanda, right?
Amanda watched as Lee's eyes changed from their resentful hardness to a look of, what? She wondered. Sadness? Regret? Repentance?
"I think, for once, I understand what you're trying to say, Amanda," Lee softly acceded, " And I thank you for the gracious words."
She half-smiled and then leaned in as if she were telling him a secret, "You're welcome, Lee, and I'm just glad you're talking to me again."
If possible, Lee would've kicked himself for being a jerk.
"So it's settled then?" Billy questioned, looking at the two of them, "Lee will be on his own again?"
Amanda nodded.
Lee didn't say anything.
Relieved, Billy requested, "so, Lee, isn't there a bank robber you need to locate and capture as soon as possible?"
Billy was referring to the second robber who had escaped during the robbery, along with the bank's money.
"I'm on it!" Lee exclaimed, back in spy mode again as he straightened his jacket before leaving.
As he passed Amanda on the way out, he at last realized that they would not be working together. She deserved at least a goodbye to their partnership. She looked so crushed.
"Amanda-"
"-Yes?" she immediately responded with a wistful tone.
His throat suddenly felt dry, "Amanda, working with you has been...an experience..."
That was a stupid thing to say. But he lacked the words. She probably felt he was leaving her behind, but it was more complicated than that. He watched with a tinge of regret as she acknowledged his words and lowered her eyes, her lips trembling.
So all he could do was open the door and walk out.
#
Lee had been gone out of the office for most of the week. He worked tirelessly, running down every lead he could.
But Billy was more concerned about Amanda. From his office, he could see her frantically typing another report, trying to complete it well ahead of its deadline. She was as efficient as always, but Billy definitely saw a change in her. Her heart didn't seem into her work. And at times, he caught her staring wistfully at Lee's empty desk.
Knock! Knock!
Before Billy could respond, Francine opened the door and strode in, a file in her hand. Then she dumped the file on his desk.
"Looks like 'Operation Spy and Seek' will be a go," she announced, not looking very happy.
Billy lifted a brow, "Oh yeah?" He flipped opened the file, "Did the FIA initiate the request?"
FIA stood for Federal Investigative Agency, the bureau in Mexico which was the equivalent of The Agency in the states. The two agencies often worked together in fighting drug corruption.
"No, but it's time we take action," Francine acknowledged, "Turns out our sources were bad again and that huge shipment of drugs we had expected to confiscate was a bust. When the agents swarmed the warehouse, it was empty."
"Not the kind of news I like to hear!" Billy grunted.
"I'll say. And what's worse, FIA has lost faith in us and claim they could handle the situation without us-" Francine began before being interrupted.
"-Nonsense!" snapped Billy, "I know which agent they will assign for this operation and believe me, he will be as useful as a life-jacket filled with bricks! No...we need to get one of our agents over there to counterbalance him if we are to find the infiltrator..."
"That's why I've already instructed the FIA that we are initiating Operation: Spy and Seek on our side, whether they like it or not," Francine was saying. She then handed Billy a list of names, "Being the ever efficient person that I am, I've already made up a list of possible agents we can send out to work alongside their agent."
Looking down the list, Billy discouragingly read out loud his reactions to the potential prospects, "Nope...Uh-uh...Forget it...No way, not close...Never that one...Over my dead body for that one..."
Francine sighed, "Okay, so maybe none of those agents on the list are an exact fit for what we need," she sat down with a defeated look on her face, "but I'm all out of candidates, Billy! I don't know WHERE we will be able to find an agent with the criteria we need for this type of operation!"
Tap! Tap! Tap!
And then as if karma had reached down from the heavens and slapped both of them on their faces, the typing sounds from Amanda's typewriter became strangely louder inside Billy's office.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
It was like a sign.
Billy turned his head at the source of the clacking noises to watch Amanda typing away. He observed her for a time and when he had turned back to Francine, a huge smile was plastered on his face.
And she knew exactly what he was thinking.
"Oh nooo." Francine looked alarmed, "Don't you do it, Billy! You're not crazy enough to send Amanda out on this mission, are you?"
"Why not?" Billy rhetorically asked, "She has the perfect quality for this operation; wouldn't you agree?"
Francine quickly answered, "No!"
Billy confidently suggested, "Give it some further thought, Francine. You'll see I'm right."
"No, I won't!" she insisted and then upon further contemplation, "..ok, ... I do slightly see where you're going...but, it's just too preposterous a selection! I mean, really...Amanda?"
"If you don't like my choice, Francine, YOU can certainly appoint yourself to take the assignment," Billy nudged, knowing she wouldn't, "after all, you're always complaining how you'd like to be in the field more. Here's your chance."
"Very funny, Billy!" Francine indignantly argued, "You know full and well that I am NOT suited for this particular mission..."
Billy wittingly smiled, "Precisely. Which is why I'm handing Operation: Spy and Seek over to Amanda. She is uniquely qualified for this one. It fits her to a T, and you know that as well!"
"Well, she does have that one quality we need for such a delicate operation," Francine admitted, before giving a resigned sigh, "Ohhh, I suppose you're right, Billy!"
"Of course I'm right; that's why I make all the important decisions around here!" he declared. And then with a voice as sweet as molasses, he requested, "So, Francine, will you be so kind as to summon Mrs. King into my office, please?"
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(A/N: I made up 'FIA' No such agency)
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