Changes

Chapter 6

Amanda came back from lunch entering the "Q" Bureau and noticing it was empty put her purse away in her drawer and went back to working on her files.

Lee's phone rang and she went to pick it up stating, "Hello?"

Billy remarked, "Oh, Amanda...Lee still isn't back from lunch? I thought you two left together?"

Thinking quickly Amanda nodded commenting, "Oh yes, Sir. We did, but he...had a call from a contact and went to meet with him. I don't know when-"

Lee walked in just then with a look Amanda couldn't decipher at the moment and replied, "Oh, Sir? He just this minute came in. Hold on."

As Lee took the phone from her he answered to her, "Francine needs you downstairs. Something to clear up on one of the files you finished..."

Amanda nodded and shrugging stated, "See you later."

Lee gave a slight wave as she left.

As Amanda went downstairs she asked Mrs. Marston, "Is Mr. Stetson all right? I mean I usually know when something's bothering him, but right now-"

Mrs. Marston shrugged commenting, "Maybe it was something he ate. The deli down the street isn't always the best if you're in a hurry..."

Remembering the "lunch" they were supposed to have, she winced slightly and remarked, "Thank you. Hopefully, he'll feel better soon."

Getting into the elevator to head down to Francine Amanda thought sadly, Darn it, Joe! Why did you have to be there today?!

Moments later as she stepped off the elevator Francine met her and taking her by the arm stated, "We need to talk."

Leading her into the conference room and closing the door she pulled out a chair putting Amanda in it and sighed answering, "Okay. Lee just came back from lunch looking like a kicked puppy. I assumed you were going to lunch together. Did you two argue again?"

Amanda gasped and shaking her head replied, "No! And I'm sorry but this is really none of your business, Francine! Where do you get off-"

Francine chuckled and responded, "Oh, c'mon! Anyone that knows you two here knows that you're a bit more than friends now. Am I wrong or what?"

Amanda sighed answering, "So, big deal. Lee and I are partners who eat lunch together. Is there a specific law that says we can't?"

Francine sat down in the chair near her and commented, "Okay, then. Who or what happened to derail your"cozy" lunch?"

Amanda shook her head remarking, "It wasn't "cozy" as you put it. And it was my ex-husband who showed up with a friend of his...a woman friend-"

Francine shook her head giving a low whistle and replying, "Oh, boy! How sticky did it get?"

Amanda protested vehemently telling her, "It's not what you think, Francine!"

Francine winced answering, "That bad, huh?"

Amanda couldn't believe this line of questioning and stated, "You know, Perry Mason didn't question people this way! What's with you?"

Francine put a hand on her arm and remarked softly, "Because I've been there. You're supposedly with someone new and an ex pops up with also a new one and neither of you have explained the relationships yet to the new partners as it were. Am I correct?"

Amanda answered, "I told Lee about Joe being in town just before he showed up-"

Francine let out a howl and Amanda shushed her replying, "I didn't know Joe was going to be there! Honest!"

Francine sighed and shrugged commenting, "So... What now?"

Amanda shrugged answering softly, "I don't know. Joe and I needed to talk anyway but like I said, it's not what you think. Thank you for looking out for me but I really think I should talk to Lee now, all right?"

Francine nodded slowly and got up commenting, "Okay. I'm just concerned since it seems you've only been with your ex and now Lee, presumably. Oh, wait. That guy you were with when you met Lee. What was his name?"

Amanda stated as she got up sighing, "Dean. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go upstairs..."

As she got to the door she turned back to Francine responding, "I trust we won't have to talk about this ever again?"

Francine shrugged evenly stating, "It's forgotten. Don't worry about it."

Amanda nodded replying, "Thank you. And I know you were coming from a good place with our talk, but everything will be all right..."

As she left Francine shook her head thinking, Will it?

Coming out of the conference room and going back to her desk she sighed as she worried about Lee. What was he even thinking about being with a housewife? That wasn't the Lee she remembered from the old days. It almost seemed as if he was a different person since meeting Amanda King...

Sitting down at her desk she shrugged thinking, Oh, well. Not my problem now. Let them work it out...

TBC