Chapter 12

Francine handed Lee several file folders and stated, "This is all I could find. Dr. Durgan is squeaky clean and pretty dull, as are most of the other professors at Milton-Guild. Dr. Harborne has a little more of a colorful history but nothing that raises any red flags."

Lee leaned against his desk in the Q Bureau and flipped open Dr. Harborne's file. He lifted the first page, then the second, scanning Francine's meticulous notes. After a few minutes, he sighed loudly and said, "Well, at least we have an address we can start with. That's more than we had this morning."

"Well, Scarecrow I hate to burst your bubble but that building burnt down about six weeks ago. Remember, it was all over the news," Francine informed Lee.

"So, we are back to square one then," Lee resigned. He glanced at his watch then over to Amanda, who was sitting at her desk reading another file quietly. "Did the lab come up with anything else?" Lee asked.

Amanda shook her head as she scanned down one page, comparing it to the next. "No, it's the same chemical compound for both bottles. They didn't find any prints either on the bottle of perfume other than Senator Christie's."

"Well, then, there isn't much more we can do right now until we get that list from Cooper's secretary," Lee stated. He closed the folder in his hands and tapped it several times with his index finger as he stared at the whiteboard across the room. "Francine, can you add something for me?" he requested.

Francine crossed the room and uncapped the marker, "What is it?"

"Add a possible link to HiCo, the heating and air conditioning company Senator Cooper mentioned. I have a feeling Harry is really Dr. Harborne but it's just a hunch. And unfortunately, it's already after five. I'm sure if we tried to call or stop by, we won't get much more than an answering service until Monday morning," Lee added.

"Well, why I don't I run a background on HiCo before I go? It won't take more than a few minutes and it will save you some time Monday morning," Francine offered, much to Lee and Amanda's surprise.

"Thanks, Francine," Lee replied as he stood and straightened his tie.

Francine shrugged her shoulders, "No need. I have to kill some time now anyway. I'm only heading to Nedlinger's, so it's fine."

Amanda smiled, "No big plans tonight?" She stood and adjusted the shoulder strap to her purse as she moved around her desk.

Francine held the door open for both of them and said, "No, just meeting Leatherneck."

Amanda raised an eyebrow in Lee's direction but didn't say anything. Her surprised expression told him to keep quiet as well. "Well, have a good time then," Lee offered. "Oh, Francine, Leatherneck is going to be helping at the house this weekend. Why don't you swing by for dinner too? Unless you have other plans." He stopped and locked the office door before guiding Amanda to the stairs.

"Well, I was thinking about getting a massage tomorrow afternoon and maybe my nails done, but dinner at the Stetson home sounds pretty good," Francine replied.

"That's the Stetson-King home," Lee corrected her, earning a smile from Amanda.

"Oh, that's right," Francine said sweetly, "But shouldn't that be the Stetson-King-West home then?"

Lee chuckled, "I think you're getting a little carried away now. But the invitation is there if you want it. I'm making my world-famous frittatas."

Francine licked her lips hungrily as she replied, "What time?"

Now it was Amanda's turn to laugh, "Well, Leatherneck will be at the house at nine to start helping Lee and the boys, so let's plan dinner for around six?"

They reached the landing where Mrs. Marston sat, listening to their every word. "Six o'clock is perfect. I'll see you then. I'll go pull up what I can find on HiCo now and bring it with me tomorrow," Francine stated as she slipped into the closet elevator.

Lee and Amanda stopped at Mrs. Marston's desk to turn in their badges. "Scarecrow, when you see Leatherneck tomorrow morning, please inform him I will not be responsible for any more lost deliveries. If he wants his orders delivered directly to the garage, he should specify that, not my desk. I have no use for a windshield nor any other car parts," she informed him with a stern expression.

"Understood. I'll be sure to pass the message along," Lee tried hard to hide the smirk that threatened.

"And Mrs. Stetson," Mrs. Marston turned to Amanda.

"Yes?" Amanda asked meekly, almost afraid what the matronly woman was going to say.

"Accounting has not received a copy of your marriage certificate in order to process your full name change," Mrs. Marston stated.

Amanda's eye grew large at the realization. "Oh, I'll be sure to bring that down first thing Monday morning," she stated as she placed her shaking hand on Lee's arm. "We should go, Lee, we're going to be late."

"Yeah, we don't want to be late," Lee replied. Her shaking hand on his arm was enough for him to follow her lead. "Have a nice weekend, Mrs. Marston."

Mrs. Marston studied their faces one last time before she replied, "You as well. Sounds like it's going to be a busy one at your house."

Lee just smiled back as he and Amanda left through the Georgetown entrance. They didn't say anything until they were driving down the street, the building slowly disappearing in the distance behind them.

"Lee, I can't give them a copy of our marriage certificate," Amanda lamented.

Lee glanced over at her and said, "Sure you can. You give them the copy we all signed; you, me, Billy, Francine, Leatherneck. As far as everyone is concerned THAT is our marriage certificate."

Amanda groaned, "But that's not our official certificate."

"Well, just tell them we are waiting for it. It's lost in all the red tape at City Hall," Lee suggested. He could tell she was worried by the tone of her voice so he added, "Hey, just relax. It's only Accounting. You brought the original to the Registry of Motor Vehicles when you changed your license right?" Amanda nodded, so Lee continued, "And you brought it to the bank when we combined our checking account. So, this is just to change your information for your paychecks. Don't worry, everything will be fine."

Amanda looked out the window and asked nervously, "But what if it's not? What if they need the original, the official original?"

"Then." Lee thought for a moment. "Then I have one of my contacts make up one that looks like an original. One that could fool anyone, so don't worry. If it comes down to that, but only as a last resort." He slipped his hand into hers and squeezed it gently. "Hey, you know I was thinking of something today. How do you think your mother would feel about a car of her own? I don't mean anything flashy, just something big enough for her and the boys if need be."

Amanda knitted her brow, confused, "My mother's never owned her own car. She just got her license last year."

"I know which is why I was thinking…what if we used a little bit of the money we still have leftover to buy her something," Lee suggested.

Amanda twisted in her seat to face him, "You want to buy Mother a car? You're serious?"

"Yeah, I'm serious. I was looking at some in the Want Ads in the paper and found a few that sound in decent shape. I could even ask Leatherneck to keep an eye out for one for me. He gets them in all time for the motor pool so I'm sure he could find us a good one for her. Something safe, reliable, and then she wouldn't have to borrow your car all the time," Lee explained with a dimpled smile.

Amanda rubbed his hand with hers and replied, "Sweetheart, you don't have to do that."

"I know, but I want to. I mean, we have the extra money, we could even pay the insurance for the year for her," Lee pleaded. They were stopped at a red light when he turned to look in Amanda's eyes. "Amanda, she's done so much for you, for us, I just feel like it's the right thing to do."

Amanda reached up and touched his face lovingly before she asked, "It would mean a lot to you, wouldn't it?"

The light turned green, forcing Lee to look back at the road but not before he replied, "Yes, it would."

Amanda sighed, squeezed his hand one last time before conceding, "Okay, but it has to be the right car for her. Nothing big, nothing fancy. And not too expensive."

Lee smiled, his dimples deep once again. "I'll talk to Leatherneck and make it happen. We will make this happen."