Part Four

That same day, Lee was again working on a case with Francine. But this time, there was no choice about it. And he would rather be with Amanda, the way they were before the fight.

The "case" was actually just a stake out, in which they were tailing international weapon smuggler Ahshki Mohtob.

They are parked in front of a factory not far from the "Marshmallow man" in an unmarked white van.

"I hate all this waiting." Lee commented, impatience in his voice.

"Me too."

"Well! What is this! All were doing is sitting here! How is this part of our jobs?"

"We're spies Lee. And we're spying. Simple as that. It's tedious, granted, but it is our job."

"Protecting this country from men like him, that's out job. Listen, Francine, I've got my gun right here---I'll go in, give me fifteen minutes and you can-----"

"No way, Lee. You heard what Billy said. He thinks you've had too much pressure on you lately, and he wants you to avoid a REAL burnout this time. Besides, he thinks----

(They said the next part in unison, Francine with a serious tone, Lee using a bit of a singsong voice)

----some good ol' fashioned stakeout time will do you good."

"HA!" Lee added.

"Lee!" She scolded, "You know..."

"Whatever, Princess." He said, using her infrequently spoken code name, "I just hate being treated like an amateur agent."

"I'm sorry, Lee. I know that things for you haven't exactly been going well lately"

"That's about the understatement of the year"

"I get that she's important to you, Lee, but why let it eat you alive? It isn't like you've never broken up with anyone before!"

('That in itself is also a gross major understatement,' she thought sarcastically to herself)

"Why am I so upset? I just lost my wife, maybe forever, and I can't deal with that!"

"You lost your what?"

"Huh?"

"You said you lost your wife. Are you keeping something from me, Scarecrow?" Francine seemed to be asking a genuine question, but Lee could tell by her accusatory tone that she was feeling rather negatively at having been left out of the loop and was not happy about it.

He sighed, knowing it was as good as out, and suspecting that both she and Billy probably already knew, he decided to tell her straight.

"We are married. Remember that case----"

"McMasters stolen art collection!"

"How'd you guess?"

"Just a feeling, I suppose. That was just before she was shot, right?"

"On our honeymoon."

"Wow. Your honeymoon sounds worse than my wedding...or, actually, my near-wedding. Damn, what a romantic pair we are. At least you made it to the altar, Lee. Sort-of."

They laughed, which was good, for it lightened the tension hanging over them. Lee recalled that is was the first time he'd laughed in nearly two weeks.

"Hey, Lee, look! Is that..?"

"Mohtob's on the move."

"Let's go!"

He started the van in the direction of Mohtobs' beat up Chevy.

"Not much of a smugglers' car, huh?"

"Easier to hide, maybe. Wire Billy."

"Done."