The Silent Killer
Chapter Five
Tuesday – July 21st - 5:45 PM
Amanda was heading towards the elevator; her mind already spinning on the list of things she had to do once she got home for the evening. She was forced to pause in mid-step when she heard Francine calling out her name.
Amanda turned around and greeted her coworker, silently praying that it was nothing more than a social conversation and not some last minute security crisis. From the looks of it though, she quickly established that Francine wanted to make a hasty exit for the evening as well. The blonde agent was juggling her purse as well as one very stuffed briefcase.
"Hold that elevator," Francine practically begged as she walked as fast as she could wearing nearly three inch heels.
Amanda gave her a sympathetic smile.
"Taking work home?"
"Unfortunately."
Francine sighed as she came to a stop beside Amanda as they waited for the elevator.
"So, how's the teaching gig going?"
Amanda shrugged.
"Oh, you know, it's going good. It's a little odd being in front of the class instead of in the class. Thank goodness it's only the introductory courses. Anything more advanced and I'm not sure I could handle it."
Francine scoffed.
"Believe me, if Beaman didn't think you could handle it, he'd have never suggested it to Billy in the first place and Billy would have never asked you to."
"And here all along I thought it was Lee's idea," Amanda said.
"Well, you do have a point there," Francine said. "Has he mellowed out any on that topic?"
Amanda sighed.
"If Lee had his way he'd have me chained to a desk until retirement."
Francine smiled knowingly.
It was no secret that since Amanda had been shot in California, Lee tried, sometimes with great failure, to keep Amanda safely tucked behind the walls of the Agency. It was also no secret that the two partners sometimes argued about that topic, Amanda usually coming out the victor and Lee going off to sulk.
"Give him time Amanda. You scared him, you scared a lot of us."
"It's in the past, I wish Lee could realize that."
Francine gave her an encouraging smile.
"Yeah, Scarecrow can be a little slow on the pickup, but you handle him better than anyone. How do you do that?"
"Patience?" Amanda asked and both women laughed.
"Where do you buy it? I could use some," Francine said as she glanced down at her briefcase. "The pitfalls of being an agent. I've had more than enough dinners for one this month. And why is this elevator always so slow?"
Francine looked down at Amanda's briefcase. "What are you working on tonight?"
"Tests to grade, plus I have to make recommendations on their research papers that are due at the end of the class. I take it you haven't had much chance to spend any time with Jonathan lately?"
"No," Francine said. "He's been patient, but I don't know how much more I can ask of him."
"At least you're both communicating. That's a very big part of any relationship."
"True, and he hasn't run away yet."
Amanda smiled; knowing that Francine was really hoping that this time around things worked out.
"Be patient, Francine. If it's meant to last, it will," Amanda told her, imparting wise words of advice from her mother.
The elevator finally arrived and the doors slid open, revealing Doctor Smyth. Both women took a step back, allowing the man to exit. He hadn't taken more than a few steps before he began a sneezing fit that sent the folders he had been carrying straight to the floor in a cluttered mess.
"God bless you," Amanda told him as both her and Francine knelt down to help him pick up the scattered work.
"Thank you King. Darn allergies, I've been sneezing all day. Horrible inconvenience."
Amanda smiled in sympathy while Francine did her best to hide a smirk.
"Benadryl," Amanda suggested.
"Really?" he asked.
Amanda nodded. "Works wonders with my youngest."
Smyth grunted. "Mother Hubbard and her many remedies. I knew I could count on you King." He sneezed again.
"Gesundheit," Francine offered.
With a grunt, Smyth proceeded away from them down the hallway, the sounds of his sneezing following him every step of the way while the two women got on the elevator. Once the elevator reached the top, both said good night and then left the Agency for the day, neither having any way of knowing what chain of events had just been set into motion.