CHAPTER 9

"Maybe we can make a deal?" Amanda asked, looking at Carlo. His face was totally devoid of all emotion, his eyes empty as he stared at her. "How about I get you another copy of The Drought Cycles of Berma? I know that you needed it last time, and instead you got Sky Chief Rides Again. It's a good book, I don't know if you've ever read it..."

Carlo stood up and slowly walked to Amanda. He pointed his gun at her. "Listening to you is a form of torture. If you can't make yourself stop, then I'll do it for you."

Amanda swallowed hard, her hands still working on the ropes behind her. "Sorry," she whispered. "I talk when I'm nervous, and I have to admit that I'm pretty nervous right now."

Carlo cocked his gun.

"Wait a minute, Carlo," Redding replied, standing up. "We follow the plan. You find Lee Stetson and bring him to me. When he comes, we kill them both." He looked at Amanda. "I want him to see her die. Just like he took my brother from me, I'm going to take Mrs. King from him."

At the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs, Amanda turned and inhaled sharply. She tried to control her shock as Conrad Walter Barnhill walked onto the floor.

Conrad looked exhausted. Sweat covered his face, and crumples covered his twisted shirt. Conrad had searched several construction buildings, following Lee as fast as he could. He couldn't believe how many stairs he climbed in such a short time. Fire burned in his legs, and he felt like falling over.

"Hello," Conrad began, forcing a smile. He wiped his sweat off his head with his arm. Looking at the people around him, his breathing became rapid and loud. He stared at Amanda with fear-stricken eyes. "Hello," he said again, his voice and lips trembling.

Conrad tried to open his mouth to say something else, but he abruptly stopped. His heart raced in terror. Carlo's gun was pointed straight at his forehead.

Gordon exhaled in frustration. He walked to Conrad and ground out, "Who are you?"

Conrad looked at Redding, his eyes wide with fright. "I work... in construction..." He gave Amanda a fearful look while wringing his hands together.

"Funny," Carlo said, pressing the gun against Conrad's forehead. "You don't look like a construction worker." Actually, the guy looked like a grown man about to cry. Carlo licked his lips, showing his yellow teeth.

Amanda saw the faintest of movement on the stairs. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, a sense of relief flowing through her. Even though she didn't see him, she knew that Lee was there.

Undoubtedly, Lee wanted Conrad to make a diversion, something to take the focus away from the stairs so that he could surprise both men. But instead of a diversion, Conrad became more and more flustered. He brought more attention to himself and to the stairs behind him.

"Who are you?" Redding repeated, his voice rising with anger.

Carlo tilted his head to the side as he stared at Conrad. "I don't like him. I'll kill him for free."

"Kill me?" Conrad began, his voice truly terrified. "Please, I..."

Carlo pressed his gun harder against Conrad's temple.

Do something, Conrad! Anything! Amanda silently pleaded.

Seeing at how things were going from bad to worse, Amanda cried out, "DO IT! SHOOT HIM!"

All three men looked at Amanda. Carlo slightly lowered his gun, confused by the words of the crazy housewife. Conrad had a look of sheer horror on his face.

"He's my ex-husband! He's the one who did this to me!" Amanda stuck out her left foot and threw her head towards her bandaged ankle.

"I have no idea..." Conrad choked out, when Lee's voice rang out from behind.

"Put your guns down!" Lee ordered, his gun trained on Carlo.

Carlo slowly turned his head, his eyes locking with Lee's. He pulled back his upper lip and let out a chuckle.

"Stetson," Carlo sneered. "I've been waiting for this. There is a time to be born, and there is a time to die. Today is your time to die."

Lee cocked his gun, his concerned eyes quickly glancing at Amanda. "Carlo, put your weapon on the ground." Anger raged through Lee's veins as he spoke. "I won't ask you again."

"I have your little lady friend here," Carlo replied, the gun firmly in his hand. Without warning, Carlo spun and pointed his gun at Amanda when the bullet from Lee's gun slammed into his side.

Clutching his side with his hand, Carlo staggered backwards and dropped his weapon. Hatred laced his words as he spat out, "You think you got me, Stetson? You'd be surprised what I can do."

Lee spun suddenly, seeing movement behind him. His eyes quickly focused on Gordon Redding as he fled the scene. The instant Lee turned, Amanda's voice cried out, "Lee, look out!"

Lee turned quickly as Carlo smashed himself against him. Both men fell into a heap on the floor.

Even though Carlo took a bullet in the side, the guy was built like a tank. His large fists pounded into Lee like a hammer.

Using all of his skills and training, Lee blasted Carlo with vicious kicks and blows. Lee needed to keep Amanda safe, and that one thought raged through his mind as he delivered each and every blow.

Amanda pulled hard on her hands, finally freeing herself from the ropes that bound her. Standing up, she hobbled after Redding as fast as she could.

Conrad tried to help Amanda stop Redding, and he threw himself against Redding, tackling him to the ground. Even though Redding was not a strong man, he easily overpowered Conrad. Sadly, Conrad punched Redding with the strength of a fruit fly. Conrad shielded his face with his hands as Redding landed several blows to his head.

Momentarily stunned, Conrad staggered up to his feet. He wasn't prepared for the shove from Redding that pushed him over the edge of the building.

"Lee, help!" cried Amanda as she threw herself towards Conrad. Catching him by his arm, she knew that she didn't have the strength to hold on.

Lee's blood ran cold when he heard Amanda's cry for help. With an explosion of strength, he mega-slammed his fist into Carlo's temple. Without even waiting for Carlo to hit the ground, Lee's legs bolted towards Amanda and Conrad. He stopped abruptly as his mind tried to grasp the horrific scene in front of him.

With arms outstretched, Conrad dangled over the edge of the building. His hands frantically grasped Amanda's as she clung to him with all her strength. Amanda squeezed her eyes together, feeling her fingers slip from Conrad's grip. Amanda felt her shoulders sliding over the edge, Conrad's weight threatening to pull her over.

Redding smiled. His opportunity had come. He lunged at Amanda, eager to shove her over the edge and rid the world of Scarecrow's Mrs. King. As Redding charged towards Amanda, he heard a loud cry erupt from beside him. Turning his head, he gasped in horror as Lee Stetson slammed his body into his own.

Inches away from reaching Amanda, the impact threw Redding off his feet. As Redding tumbled towards the ground, he thrust out his legs to give Amanda the final push off the building. The force propelled him too close to the edge, and with a shriek, Gordon Redding plunged off the ledge, never to open his eyes again.

Amanda frantically held on to Conrad. Even though his weight threatened to pull her off the building, her hands refused to let go.

"Oh my gosh," she whispered in horror. Thoughts of Lee and her family entered her mind as she felt herself sliding over the edge. She opened her mouth, her final action to breathe out Lee's name one last time, when strong arms grabbed her waist.

"Oh God," Lee choked out, his hands holding her tightly as he pulled her away from the edge. He tried to control the mind-numbing terror that ripped through his soul. Breathing heavily, he leaned forward and grabbed Conrad's arm, hauling him up and onto the floor.

Amanda lay on the floor, her eyes closed in relief. She listened to the rapid breathing of Lee and Conrad beside her. She felt Lee's warm hands clutching her arms, and his touch soothed her tense muscles. She lifted her hand and gently placed them on top of Lee's. As she opened her eyes, she found Lee's eyes searching her own.

"Amanda," Lee said, unable to stop his voice from shaking. "You had me scared to death! I thought, I thought that..." He shook his head, unable to complete his sentence. "Thank God you're okay," he softly told her, his grip on her arm tightening.

Still trying to calm her nerves, Amanda took several deep breaths. Her heart pounded rapidly in her chest. The deep concern in Lee's voice washed over her, and she felt her body relax. The tenderness in his voice touched her heart, and again she yearned for more than friendship.

"I'm fine," she softly replied, nodding her head. She squeezed Lee's hand beneath hers. "I knew you'd come. You always do."

The tremble in Amanda's voice was obvious to Lee. Without a second thought, Lee reached his arms around her and enveloped her in an embrace. Amanda sucked in a breath at his nearness. Her head touched his chin, and he could smell the apple-cinnamon shampoo in her hair.

Pulling back, Lee raised his hand and gently placed his fingers against her cheek. He had never felt such paralyzing fear as when he saw Amanda sliding off the edge of the building.

"You really scared me, Amanda," Lee softly told her, his breathing still rapid. He stroked the side of her face with his thumb.

Amanda, who had been feeling calmer, now felt her heart speed up again. The softness of Lee's touch was absolutely electrifying.

"I really scared me, too," Amanda softly replied, a smile on her face.

"Oh, Amanda," Lee said, shaking his head. The feel of Amanda's skin against his hand rocked him to his very core. Instead of pulling his hand away, he continued to stroke her face.

"Actually, the entire experience scared me out of my mind," Conrad blurted out, his eyes wide as he looked at Lee and Amanda.

Lee quickly pulled his hand away from Amanda's face. Upset at the intrusion, he briefly wondered what would have happened if Conrad didn't interrupt and had fallen off the building instead.

"You did great," Amanda told Conrad, giving him a huge smile. She reached out her hand and placed it on his shoulder. "You were really brave. I can't believe that you walked right in here and made a diversion."

Lee grimaced and scratched his head with his finger. Conrad didn't make a diversion, but he did make an excellent statue.

"Yeah, I did. I did make a good diversion!" Conrad beamed with excitement. "I also tackled Gordon Redding! I'm such a hero! I'm so glad that I was here to help you guys out. I helped you catch the Mongoose, and now I'm a hero again!"

Conrad stood up and gave Amanda a large smile. He stretched out his hand to help Amanda stand up. As Amanda reached for Conrad's hand, Lee quickly caught her hand in his own.

"Here, Amanda, let me help you," Lee said as he gently pulled her to her feet.

"Thanks, Lee, I really appreciate..." Amanda stopped abruptly as a sharp pain ripped through her ankle.

The instant Amanda stumbled, Lee's arms caught her and pulled her against him.

"What's wrong, Amanda?" Lee asked, his voice full of concern. He raised his eyebrows, his eyes scanning her up and down.

"I think that I may have sprained my already sprained ankle." Amanda shrugged her shoulders as she leaned against Lee. "I'm sure it'll be all right. If you just give me a minute, I'll be able to..."

A small gasp escaped Amanda's lips as Lee swept her up in his arms.

"Remember what I told you, Amanda? If you aren't able to walk," Lee said tenderly, "I'll carry you."

Amanda smiled, a feeling of warmth running through her from her head to her toes. She loved the feel of Lee's body against her own, and she laid her head down on his shoulder as he walked with her.

Lee closed his eyes briefly, touched by the trust of the woman in his arms. Here she was, completely resting against him, trusting him to care for her. The protectiveness that he felt towards her overwhelmed him. He laid his head against hers as he carried her to his car.

TBC