Chapter 18
Charlie was an effective alarm clock 5 hours later. Lee was awake first this time, quickly climbing off the bed and lifting the baby before Amanda woke up. Charlie once again, immediately stopped crying as soon as Lee held him. Quietly, he said to the baby, "Looks like you're going to have to come with me to take care of a little morning business," as he walked into the bathroom. Closing the door behind them, Lee managed to hold the baby against his shoulder with one hand while he relieved himself, then carefully figured out how to wash his hands. Smiling, he shook his head remembering how Amanda commented yesterday she could do the very same thing one handed.
Grabbing a towel, he walked back to the bedroom. He picked up a clean diaper and a few wipes from the table. Amanda was still sleeping as he laid the towel down on the bed, placing Charlie on it. Pointing his finger at the baby, Lee said firmly but quietly, "We will not have a repeat from last night, got it?" Charlie just looked up at him, kicking his feet happily.
Carefully, Lee unsnapped the legs of his pajamas , extracting his legs, pushing the material aside just in case. Taking the clean diaper, he slipped it underneath the baby, he carefully released the fasteners from the wet diaper. Taking a deep breath, Lee muttered, "Here goes." Moving the front of the diaper, he placed a wipe over him as Amanda had explained the night before. Pulling the wet diaper from underneath him, he finished cleaning him, fastening the tabs. He tapped Charlie's belly lightly with the comment, "Thanks, bud, for the help." He finished putting his pajamas back on him. Picking him up one more time, he looked over at Amanda who was still sleeping.
"Well, it looks like unless we wake her up, I'm in charge of breakfast for you," Lee whispered to the baby. Carefully he put Charlie in his car seat so he could figure out what to do next. He picked up a bottle, looking at it for just a moment. Glancing over at Amanda, he didn't want to wake her just yet. Remembering the slip of paper from the daycare, he fished it out of the diaper bag, searching for an answer to how much formula he needed to mix. Easily finding it, he read the packaging on the formula container and scooped the right amount. Filling the bottle with water to the appropriate line, he tightened the top, and shook the bottle to mix it. "What else, what else…" Lee muttered.
Looking around the room, it dawned on him. "Hot water, warm it a little," he said as he walked toward the bathroom again. He turned the hot tap on high, holding the bottle under it for a minute, then turned it off, shaking the bottle again. He grabbed a burp cloth from the table and carried everything back to the bed. Placing the bottle and cloth on the nightstand, he picked Charlie up out of his seat and sitting down on the bed, he leaned against the pillows. Looking down at Amanda, he couldn't resist kissing her gently before placing the baby in the crook of his arm. Picking up the bottle, he placed it in Charlie's mouth just as Amanda opened her eyes.
"Good morning," she said huskily. "Looks like you've been busy already."
"Charlie and I have been just getting him situated this morning, that's all," Lee stated.
"Uh huh, is that all?" Amanda asked curiously.
"Yup, clean diaper, no spraying this morning. Working on this bottle… um, when should I burp him?" Lee suddenly realized he didn't know.
Laughing, Amanda sat up to look at the bottle he was holding. "For him, about halfway I would think. You really have that all under control?"
"I think so," Lee confirmed.
"Yesterday you panicked at the mere sight of him and now this morning, you've changed his diaper without getting hosed and you're feeding him. What's going on that I don't know about?" Amanda asked suspiciously.
"Amanda, I'm a fast learner. Especially when I have a great teacher," he leaned forward to kiss her lightly.
Kissing him back she raised an eyebrow to him, "But how come you've picked this up so quick but yet you're struggling with my boys?"
"I don't know, they're older? Have an opinion? I'm still not sure how they feel about me, not completely anyway," Lee admitted.
"The boys love you, you know that. Phillip practically worships the ground you're walking on and well, you saw Jamie. And that hug he gave you. How can you question how they feel?" Amanda pointed out.
Gently nudging the bottle out of Charlie's mouth, Lee held it up to check how much was left. Amanda nodded, confirming it was enough. Lee placed the burp cloth over his hand before sitting Charlie up to burp him. As he tapped the baby's back he said, "I don't know, sometimes I feel it's all an act. That the other shoe is going to drop and then I'm going to be back to square one with them." Charlie reward his efforts with a generous belch that had them both laughing.
"I think Charlie disagrees," Amanda rubbed his head gently, "as do I. My boys don't hide much, especially their feelings."
Leaning him back into his arm again, Lee put the bottle back in Charlie's mouth. "I don't know, Amanda, you're boys are great. I just don't want to screw anything up. It's too important to me, you know?" Lee tried to explain.
"Sweetheart, you're not going to mess anything up. I think you're doing a wonderful job. And Tuesday, you're going to see that," Amanda tried to assuage his fears. Reaching out, she rubbed his arm softly.
"I hope so. I want the boys to know how I feel about them and you. Maybe…." Lee stopped, not sure how to continue their conversation.
"Maybe what?" Amanda prompted.
"I was just thinking, maybe once this is over we can be more honest with them, you know. I hate lying to them, just like you do. I feel like I'm betraying what little trust they have in me right now," Lee shook his head. "I think maybe Harry was right…"
"Harry? Right about what?" Amanda was curious.
"He said your boys would welcome me with open arms. Just because of you. And he also told me not to let go of you," Lee admitted. Checking the bottle he saw Charlie had drained it completely. Again, he covered hand before burping him, grateful he did.
Amanda ran her hand down his cheek gently. "They already have, Sweetheart," she said softly. "I'll be back in a few minutes," she said as she got off the bed and walked into the bathroom. Closing the door, she wiped away a tear once again. She took a few minutes to get herself composed, splashing water on her face. She brushed her teeth, then took a deep breath before exiting the small room. "Here, how about I take the baby so you can shower. I can give him a sponge bath out here before changing his clothes. What time did you say Harry would be here?"
Swinging his legs off the bed, he stood up, shifting Charlie to his shoulder so he could hold him with one hand, pulling Amanda close to him in a hug with the other. "Harry said not before noon. Charlie and I are ok, you shower first," he said.
"Are you sure? I don't mind, honest," she shrugged her shoulders.
"Amanda. Go. I'm just going to call down to room service for some breakfast and it will be waiting for you when you get out. Then maybe I can call T.P. again, see if he has any ideas," Lee gently pushed her toward the bathroom.
"Ok, but I don't mind taking care of the baby while you shower first," Amanda said as she rubbed Charlie's back.
"A-man-da… I'm doing fine with him now. He's content, so go, take a nice hot shower. Besides, if you stay out here much longer wearing just my t shirt, he may get a lesson in…" Lee teased as he pulled on the front of the shirt she was wearing.
"I'll be out in 15 minutes," she said as she spun around and walked quickly toward the bathroom. She stopped long enough to grab a pink striped blouse, jeans, a bra and panties before closing the door behind her, hearing Lee laugh the entire time.
Lee walked around the room, bouncing Charlie just a little as he waited. "What do you think, huh? Do you think your Grandpa is going to be surprised when he sees you? If I know him, he will not be expecting this. And we're going to find your mom, I promise. As soon as your Grandpa gets here, Amanda and I are going to find her," Lee kept talking to the baby. He picked up the phone and ordered breakfast from room service.
Just a few miles away, Lauren was waking up also. She slept little, too restless, too scared. She was worried about Charlie first and foremost. She still had no idea what the men wanted from her. They had brought her a turkey sandwich late the night before although she could barely eat it. They only allowed her to leave the room once to use the small bathroom across the hall. They said little to her, only issuing commands to move or sit. She could hear them arguing with each other but she didn't understand the language. Nothing made sense to her. The only thing she wanted was to go home.
She heard the doorknob rattle just before it swung open. One of the men motioned for her to go across the hall to the bathroom, "Go, quickly." She did as she was told. They ushered her right back into the room where a tray with coffee, water and eggs were waiting for her. "Eat." The door was closed and locked behind her. Sitting down on the bed, Lauren stared at the tray, silent tears streaming down her face.
As promised, Amanda was finished with her shower in exactly 15 minutes. Before leaving the bathroom, she filled the hotel ice bucket with warm water, taking a washcloth, a towel and a small bar of the hotel soap with her. Carrying everything with her to the bedroom, Lee raised an eyebrow. "Spongebath for Charlie. It's not what I would normally do if he was one of my boys but it will have to make do," she explained.
Shaking his head, Lee started to hand Charlie to Amanda but she put her hand up to stop him. She covered the bed with a towel, and motioned for Lee to lay him on it. Carefully removing his pajamas, she dipped the washcloth into the water, and rubbed a little bit of soap on it. She washed his head, face and paid special attention to his neck under his chin. Lee sat and watched, fascinated. Charlie wiggled and giggled happily with the swipe of the cloth across his ribs, under his arms and on his belly. Smiling, Amanda continued, washing his legs and feet. Looking on the bed she realized she didn't have a clean diaper for him. Lee walked over to the table, handing her one without being asked. "Thanks. I'm almost done. Why don't you go take your shower now. I can finish this and dress him," Amanda smiled at Lee.
"Breakfast should be here any minute. I'll be quick," Lee kissed her on the cheek as he walked toward the bathroom. Just as he expected, he heard Amanda answer the door as soon as he stepped into the water spray. Showering quickly, he dried himself off and simply wrapped the towel around his hips. He walked out of the bathroom, commenting, "Coffee smells good."
Amanda took one look at him and whispered, "You look good."
When Lee smiled, his dimples deep, Amanda realized he heard her and she blushed immediately. Seeing her hands free, he pulled her close for a kiss. Amanda couldn't help but run her hands up his naked chest, causing goosebumps on his skin as she did. "Where's Charlie?" Lee asked as his hands snaked around her thin waist.
"Asleep again, in the crib," Amanda murmured into his mouth.
Lee ran his hands down her backside, gripping her tightly to his body, where she could feel the evidence of his immediate desire for her. She trailed a line of kisses down his neck toward his collarbone. Lee moaned, his body on fire, wanting to show his wife exactly how much she meant to him once more.
Just as he began to unbutton her blouse, the phone rang. "Damn," he muttered under his breath knowing he couldn't let it ring or else it would wake Charlie. "Stetson," he said into the receiver.
"Lee, my boy, that was quite a request you gave me," T.P. said cheerfully.
"Good morning, T.P., were you able to find anything?" Lee smiled, no longer upset with the interruption.
"Shockingly, I was. Where would you like me to begin?" T.P. chattered on.
Motioning at Amanda he needed something to write with she fished in her purse to find a pen and handed him the pad of paper off the table. Sitting down, Lee answered T.P., "How about Margaret Duncan."
"Well, Lee, your Margaret Duncan really got around. She started working for Harry Thornton as a secretary officially however off the books, she ran intelligence collections," he began.
"Collections? For Harry? He didn't say anything about that," Lee interjected.
"From what I could find, it wasn't for Harry. Not that she wasn't on our side but it looks like she was working with Victor Dunforth," T.P. continued.
"Dunforth? Wasn't he running Russian intelligence back in the 50s?" Lee questioned.
"Correct you are, Scarecrow, not just in the 50s. I've heard his name come up a few times the last few years still," T.P. paused. "Margaret Duncan helped him retrieve information continuously, from what I can see."
"What kind of information are we talking about here, T.P.?" Lee asked.
"That's another part of your interesting quest for me… Your little fish? From what I can decipher, that's microfiche," T.P. laughed.
"Microfiche? Yeah… that makes much more sense… but of what? From where?" Lee nodded as the pieces of the puzzle were beginning to come together.
T.P. paused one more time, mostly for dramatic effect. He loved teasing Lee. Finally he said, "The last piece of the puzzle, son. The Mad Russian? Victor's favorite tool for extracting information. MR5."
"MR5, are you sure?" Lee was worried.
"Unfortunately, it's the only logical solution given all the other evidence," T.P. confirmed.
"Alright, thanks T.P. I owe you one," Lee sighed.
"You owe me a nice dinner at 1789. I've heard their squid ink risotto is to die for," T.P. stated, smacking his lips. "Oh, and Lee?"
"Yeah, T.P.?" Lee responded.
"Please tell me you and Mrs. King are finally going to…" T.P. started talking but Lee cut him off.
"Already on that, T.P. Don't you worry," Lee hung up the phone smiling at Amanda.
Amanda looked at him, eyes wide, "What? What's that look for?"
"I think T.P. was trying to tell me I need to make an honest woman out of you," he laughed.
"What?" Amanda laughed. "Oh, T.P." she said, "if only he knew the truth."
Lee looked at her, "He will. Soon."