Lee and Amanda entered the Russell Senate Office building; the oldest of the three buildings that contained the offices of all US Senators. Lee strode purposefully through the building's rotunda while Amanda lagged behind, gazing at the elaborate architecture in much the same way a tourist would. He turned around to hurry her along, but the irritated expression on his face disappeared as he looked at her staring awestruck at the dome above them with a happy smile on her face.
"Amanda, we need to pick up our pace, we're running late for our appointment with Senator Roberts. We can come back another day, maybe bring the boys along, to do the tourist thing."
"I know you think it's silly that I'm still impressed by all this, with my having grown up in Arlington, but I see something new whenever I'm here."
He reached out his hand and she readily took it as they walked towards their meeting at a brisker speed. I don't think it's silly; I see something new whenever I see a place through her eyes. As they entered the usually busy marble corridor that housed the senator's office they were confronted by a heavily armed Capitol Hill police officer. After showing their Agency identification and explaining that they had an appointment they were allowed to enter Senator Robert's outer office.
"Good morning, we're Agents Stetson and King from the Agency, we have a ten-thirty appointment with Senator Roberts," Lee told the receptionist.
"I'm sorry Agent Stetson, the Senator's plans changed suddenly this morning, and he can't be here to meet with you."
"Senator Roberts demanded this meeting, he set the time and place," Lee complained. "Doesn't he understand what's at stake here?" He raked a hand through his hair and scowled at the receptionist.
"Yes, Sir, he knows precisely what is at stake; that's why he wanted to be at home this morning when his grandson returns from the hospital. He would appreciate it if you and your partner would meet with him there; I will give you the address and directions."
Well over an hour later, Lee was navigating his Corvette through the winding roads of the Virginia countryside with his mood growing angrier with each mile that he drove. Amanda had given up on her attempt to calm his nerves by engaging him in casual conversation when her efforts only drew monosyllabic responses or grunts. As the posted speed limits dropped, Lee drummed the fingers of his right hand against the steering wheel in increasing frustration.
"I'm sure we'll get there soon," Amanda offered when she could no longer stand the thudding sound of his fingers in the otherwise silent car.
"You're sure, are you," he challenged with a cross expression on his face. "I don't know where the hell we are anymore; there haven't been any road signs other than those damn speed limit postings for the last twenty miles. The nerve of that receptionist handing us a page of instructions and telling us that the Senator doesn't appreciate guests who arrive late. Maybe he should have considered that when he changed the meeting place without notifying us of the switch."
"His mind must have been on other things; the past few days must have been very difficult for him. The thought of an innocent little boy being injured by a car bomb makes my blood run cold." Lee reached out and stroked her hand with his and then returned it to the steering wheel.
"I'm sorry I've been so cranky; I'm tired and I feel as though our lives are spinning out of control. The Agency is taking over…it didn't used to bother me…the Agency was my life, but I don't want to live that way anymore. You were right earlier; we have a right to a life together as a family." He raked his hand through his hair and looked at Amanda sadly.
"We're going to be okay." She gently smoothed the hair that he had just ruffled and smiled at him reassuringly. "We've taken the first step towards regaining control by deciding to put our personal lives ahead of our careers."
"That takes care of us, but what about Francine? I've never seen her like this before…not even after Jonathan left her at the altar. She was deeply hurt and upset but she didn't doubt that she had as much right to be happy as anyone else. When she arrived at my place last night she seemed so confused and vulnerable…I didn't know how to help her."
"You did help her; and we'll continue to help her together. She and Michael deserve the chance to build a life together."
"I'm not sure about him yet; if he hurts her in any way I'll make him regret it," he said with furrowed eyebrows.
"Lee, I think we're there," Amanda exclaimed excitedly, while pointing at an offshoot of the road that was being blocked by Virginia State Troopers.
"I hope you're right. If this isn't the place, I'm giving serious thought to turning back, I'm getting hungry." As if on cue, his stomach growled loudly, and they looked at each other and laughed. While Lee pulled the car up to the roadblock, Amanda removed her Agency ID from her handbag.
Ten minutes later Lee parked at the side of a long curved driveway that surrounded a home that could only be described as a mansion. They walked up to the imposing front door which opened before they had the chance to ring the bell.
"Senator Roberts was expecting you to arrive quite a while ago," the dour looking butler intoned bypassing any form of salutation.
"Maybe he wouldn't have had-" Amanda put a hand on Lee's forearm and shot him a mom look that silenced him.
"The directions we received from his office were a bit vague; we're sorry to be late. Will the Senator see us now," Amanda asked as she looked past the butler into the grand foyer.
"He is waiting for you in the study; I'll show you the way."
Ten minutes after being shown into the study, Lee and Amanda were led back to the front door without having learned anything that they deemed useful to their investigation. As the door closed behind them, they were approached by a casually dressed woman who appeared to be about thirty.
"Hello, may I speak to you for a few minutes in the rock garden," she asked while indicating an area off to the side of the house. Lee looked at her suspiciously while Amanda smiled at her noncommittally. "I'm sorry, I should have introduced myself, I'm Megan Roberts Davis. Senator Roberts is my father and the little boy that was injured is my son, CJ. I know who you are…well, I don't know who you are personally…but I do know why you're here."
"Who do you think we are," Lee asked curtly.
"You're feds; I don't what agency you're from and I don't really care."
"Ms. Roberts-"
"It's Mrs. Davis, at least for now," Megan interrupted, with a wistful expression on her face.
"Mrs. Davis, may I call you Megan?" Amanda felt drawn to the seemingly troubled young mother. "Is there something that we can help you with?"
"I don't think you can solve my problems but I think that I can help you with your investigation into the bombing."
"How so," Lee asked her in a more cordial tone of voice.
"My father thinks the bombing involves Senate business but he's wrong."