Chapter 4
Amanda couldn't believe that anyone would suspect her boss of shady dealings with the East. The fact that Harry Thorton, the Agency's founder, would assign someone to investigate such a claim, made her feel slightly ill. What kind of a business was she involved in when friends spied on friends and everyone was always being watched and investigated? It just didn't seem right. At some point, shouldn't you simply have faith and trust your friends? She sighed, already knowing the answer. Not in the world of espionage. The first rule was trust no one.
"So what were you doing? Tailing Billy?"
"No, there was an informant who supposedly knew the source of the rumours but when I got to the meeting spot, there was just a message directing me to another location this morning at ten thirty. That's why I have to get up. I've got to see this person and hopefully get some information that will clear Billy's name."
"Okay...I can see that trying to clear Billy's name is important but you're in no condition to do this. You don't even have a car."
"Damn! The 'vette, I forgot about it. The police will have found it by now and contacted Billy. He'll have agents out looking for me, if I don't report in."
"Lee, don't worry. I'll call Mr. Melrose and tell him what happened—now don't interrupt—I won't mention you being chased. I'll say that you were in an accident due to the storm and came here because you were only a few blocks away. I had you spend the night since it was so late and you weren't feeling well. It's the truth."
Lee slowly nodded his head in agreement and lay quietly on the bed while Amanda made the call.
"Yes, that's right, Sir. He's fine, just a bit bruised and stiff. I'm sorry to have worried you. To tell you the truth, I overslept, what with being up in the middle of the night tending Lee and it was only just this minute that I thought of his car and telling you... Yes, I'm sure he's anxious to find out the extent of the damage... It's in the Agency's compound? All right, I'll tell him and later on drive him over to check it out. Umm, Mr Melrose? I really think Lee should take the day off and rest. He won't admit it, but I'm sure he's stiff and...All right. I'll tell him. Thank you, Sir... Yes, I'll see you on Monday. You have a nice weekend, too." Amanda hung up the phone and looked at Lee triumphantly. "You've got today off and tomorrow's the weekend. By the time Monday comes, you'll be healed up a bit and more mobile. No one will question what happened. It will look like all your injuries are the result of the accident."
"Good. Now if I can just get up..." He slowly inched himself up and, despite her misgivings, Amanda put her arms around his shoulders to help. It was slow going but he managed to sit up and swing his legs over the side. His face was pale and he had his jaw set. Amanda was sure it was sheer stubbornness that kept him from falling back onto the pillows.
"Lee, I don't think this is a good idea."
"Good idea or not, I have to go. If I'm not at that meet, we'll lose contact with the informant and he might not get in touch with us again. Just drive me home so I can take a shower and change. Then I'll take a cab to the meet."
"Lee Stetson, that has to be one of the silliest plans you've ever come up with. There is no way that you'll make it. I doubt you can even stand up in the shower." As soon as she said the words, Amanda realized she'd made a tactical mistake. Saying 'no' to Lee was like waving a red flag at a bull. He'd just get angry and more determined to continue on with his hair brained scheme. Back pedalling, she tried another tactic. "I mean, why don't you shower here? It will save time and if you need anything, I'm available. I'm sure I have a man's T-shirt somewhere that you can wear and then I'll drive you to wherever you have to go."
She noted that Lee was gripping the edge of the mattress tightly as if it was a life line to remaining vertical. He hesitated and she wondered if stubbornness would prevail but then he nodded. "Yeah—you might be right. I'll clean up here. Just help me into the bathroom."
"Sure." Thankful to have won the first round, she carefully put her arm around his waist, mindful of his ribs and the severe bruise from where he'd hit the steering wheel. Once he was on his feet, he swayed but then began to make his way across the room. "I'll get you out some towels and while you're washing up, I'll find that T-shirt." As they entered the bathroom, Lee grabbed for the vanity and leaned against it weakly. Amanda was positive he wouldn't be able to stand long enough to shower and didn't want him falling and cracking his head. Hesitantly she suggested an alternative. "You know, when I was a Bedside Bluebell, I found out that sponge baths can be a really great way to clean up, when someone doesn't feel up to a full shower. Maybe, you could just use a washcloth..."
"Amanda, I'm not an invalid. I can get cleaned up all by myself."
"Well now Lee, here's the thing. You probably can manage but what if you slip or something? I can't pick you up and we'd have to call for help and then there'd be questions to answer. By that time, you'll be too late for that meeting ..."
Lee sighed heavily but she could see he was thinking. Pressing her advantage, she quickly grabbed a washcloth and a bar of soap, set out a spare toothbrush and even a comb. "I'll just wait in the bedroom with that T-shirt." As an afterthought, she pulled open a drawer and set out a razor. "Sorry it's pink..." Setting it on the vanity, she left the room before he could protest.
She stood outside the bathroom door listening. All was quiet for a moment and then she heard the water running in the sink. Closing her eyes, she offered up a quick prayer of thanks that he'd listened to reason. While seeing Lee in her shower might be interesting, having him crumpled and injured on the tile floor didn't fit into any of her fantasy encounters with him.
Realizing she still needed to change, she grabbed jeans and a shirt then dressed as quickly as possible, thankful that she'd had a bath before bed last night. By the time the bathroom door opened she was ready.
If you could ignore his pallor, Lee looked slightly better than he had ten minutes ago. With the blood washed off, his hair combed and clean shaven, he was almost presentable. Slowly he made his way to the bed and sat down heavily. Amanda made no comment about his obvious fatigue and instead chatted away as if having him half-naked in her bedroom was a daily occurrence.
"Well, I'm sure you feel better now. Getting all the blood and dirt off certainly improved your appearance. Now here's that T-shirt—it has a little logo on the sleeve for motor oil but it's not that noticeable. I got it last time I had my oil changed—some promotional thing I think. Anyway, let's just get your arms in here and then we'll slip it over your head." Keeping up a steady monologue, Amanda gave him no time to protest as she helped him dress. Picking up his feet, she got his legs into his jeans, then helped him stand and slide them on. Next came sock, shoes and finally his belt. She put it through the loops and left him to do up the buckle.
As she stepped back, Lee grabbed her wrist. Startled she looked up at him. He was staring at her with a puzzled look. "What?"
"Nothing... I just...well...Thanks. I really appreciate your help. I mean ...you gave up your plans for the day and everything..."
She shrugged uncomfortably. "It's no problem, Lee. I'm your partner and partners look out for each other, right? Besides, I didn't really want to go with Mother to that auction. I'd just buy something I didn't need."
Lee hadn't let go of her yet and she wondered if he realized he still had a hold of her or that his thumb was gently rubbing over her wrist. She hoped not, because helping him dress had done really strange things to her heart rate. Her pulse was probably thundering away. "If I overheard right, you had to give up a date with some guy."
"Well, it wasn't actually a date. Just Mother matchmaking again but I wasn't interested."
"No?"
"No—I don't really have the time right now for a relationship. The boys need me and this job keeps me pretty busy."
"Yeah..." He studied her for a moment longer, then abruptly let go of her wrist. "Speaking of jobs, we'd better get going. I'd like to be at the meet a bit early and check out the area first."
Amanda nodded and helped him up. As they made their way downstairs, she wondered where that little bit of conversation had come from. Lee wasn't usually that interested in her life. He didn't mean to be rude, he was just...Lee.
