At a payphone two blocks from the British Embassy . . .

"Aye, Cassie. We're still on schedule. I picked up the goods this morning." He flicked his cigarette and nervously scanned the street.

"Cop on, Cass! I didn't let the little spy get the better of me." He glanced at his bruised knuckles and then tightened his fist in frustration.

"No, don't fret, the game's not over. I've been ahead of the Agency the entire time. They will all pay the price, including those pigs attending the conference who are responsible for killing our father."

"Bollocks! This is our war, not theirs! We don't need them." He took a drag of his cigarette to calm his nerves. She always got him so worked up trying to include his old mates. They weren't there when he really needed them, so why would he need them now?

"Yeah, I gotta go, sis. I'll call you when this is all through."

"Give ma a kiss for me and tell her I'll be home soon. See ya after."

As he hung up the phone, he once again scanned the vicinity for anything out of place. He found everything as it should be and reached down for his backpack before heading out of the phone booth toward the abandoned warehouse he had claimed as his own the night before. It was perfect; empty, far enough away from nosey neighbors, but within walking distance of the embassy and best of all it afforded him enough space to spread out his materials without tripping over him self. When building a bomb, it was not smart to have the potential of bumping into something that would blow you to bits.

After a couple of blocks of wandering the streets, certain he wasn't being followed, he wound his way back to the warehouse to continue work on his gift for the British diplomats and the others who continued to turn a blind eye to the war going on in his homeland. They would soon know the pain that he and his brothers and sisters lived everyday.

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6:43 p.m. Sunday, March 16, 1986

"I'm telling you, Amanda you were great! You lead that meeting, not me." He praised her as they made their way down the hallway to his apartment.

"Oh come on, Lee. I didn't do anything special. I just explained the theory we came-"

"You came up with," he interrupted. Opening the door, he allowed her to enter ahead of him. He threw his keys on the entry table and then helped her off with her coat. "Thanks to your theory, we have a dozen agents combing a 10-block area centered around the embassy. We'll find him, Amanda."

She shrugged off his compliment and hoped beyond hope that her theory held water and that they would stop this mad man before anyone else was hurt.

"Why don't you have a seat while I get us some wine. How does Chinese sound? I can call in an order for delivery," he called from the kitchen.

She kicked off her shoes and plopped down on the sofa. "Sounds perfect." Amanda leaned her head back into the cushion and closed her eyes. While she was certainly feeling much better than she had a few days ago, she was still a bit sore and quite tired. At least she hadn't needed a pain pill since the one Lee gave her earlier that morning. Shortly thereafter she made the decision that it would be her last. She couldn't take the way they made her feel, so out of sorts.

She was slightly startled when she felt tender lips upon hers and then those same lips slowly make their way down her neck. Through drowsy eyes, she saw him hovering above her from behind the sofa and she took in a deep soothing breath. She held it briefly before letting it out when she felt his strong fingers teasing up and down her arms.

"You're beautiful, you know." His rich baritone voice poured over her like warm honey.

"I am?" Her voice sounded far away to her own ears. She sat up and turned to look at him. He grasped the hand she held out to him and allowed her to guide him to sit next to her.

"Oh yeah, very." He continued his assault on her lips once he settled next to her and she laughed. He pulled back to look her in the eyes. "What?"

"Nothing. I'm just not used to this kind of attention from you. It takes some getting used to. You know, if I had known all it took—" his mouth descended on hers and she swallowed down the words, which she was sure was his intent.

"Don't. I don't want to think about what could have happened to you. How I wasn't there to protect you."

"Lee -"

"Amanda, let's just enjoy our time together tonight. Tomorrow's going to be a long, grueling day."

She smiled and nodded before slinking her hand around the back of his head to pull him toward her. "Whatever you say, Scarecrow." Her lips crushed his and she felt a warmth surround her soul like no other.

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6:48 a.m. Monday, March 17, 1986

Amanda watched the buildings pass by as Lee drove them expertly to the British Embassy where they would begin their final search for Sean McGuinnis. She only hoped the Agency team had made some progress overnight.

The sleek corvette pulled up to the curb and Lee took in a deep breath before letting it out. He squeezed her hand and broke the silence that had plagued the vehicle since they started the trip. "Are you ready, Amanda?"

"Yeah." She smiled weakly, reached for the door handle and stepped out of the car.

The two of them walked over to Billy who was giving out orders to a handful of agents on the front steps. "Morning, you two."

"Good morning, sir."

"Morning, Billy. Any luck in finding the bomb or McGuinnis?" Lee probed.

"We've narrowed down the list of possible hideouts and should have it wrapped up shortly. Both of you need to get geared up. Go see Melnick in the front entry; he'll get you set up."

They nodded and went inside.

Amanda caught a glimpse of Lee being fitted with his weaponry when she came out of the bathroom. He looked up and scanned her from head to toe, obviously appreciating her in the tactical gear. She had to admit, the tight-fitting material did wonders for her figure. Feeling his burning stare, she busied herself with fitting herself with the microphone and earpiece that was handed to her. It wasn't until her earpiece crackled to life that she heard a deep "hi," echo in her ears and she quickly looked over at him to catch his dimpled smile.

"Hello," she quietly returned, unable to keep the blush from rising up her neck.

He walked over to her just as she was being handed a Beretta 950 by one of the other agents. As much as she hated guns, she didn't want to compromise her partner or anyone else for that matter because she wasn't armed. She accepted the gun and nodded her thanks to the agent, before pulling back the slide and checking the chamber.

Lee led her over to the corner of the entryway and clicked off their mics. "Amanda—"

"Lee, if the words 'stay in the car' slip past your lips, so help me." Her frustration was quickly growing as she slid the gun into her shoulder holster.

He laughed. "I wouldn't think of it, Mrs. King. I was just going to say that I don't want to you taking any unnecessary chances. You stick by me and keep your eyes peeled."

"That goes for you too, partner." She reached down and clicked on her mic before getting back to business.