Chapter 25

Leaving the hospital, Lee finally let out a sigh of relief. Lauren was safe, in the hospital, unconscious, but safe. Checking his watch, he picked up the car phone and dialed Billy's number.

"Melrose," he answered.

"Billy, it's Scarecrow. Lauren's safe. She's at the hospital and still unconscious but safe. They injected her with dental anesthesia," Lee informed him, now shaking his head over the absurdity of it all.

"Dental anesthesia? Will she be all right?" Billy asked.

"The doctor seems to think so. He's going to keep her overnight, monitor her vitals. He said he'd call when she's finally awake," Lee said. "I need a team to head over to an address to pick up Max Tsipkin. He's hiding at his girlfriend's house according to his accomplice."

Billy nodded, "What's the address? I can take care of that with the local boys."

Lee remembered the names of the agents he was working with earlier, "If you can have Miller or Rockwood go, they helped us earlier. Heck, Tsipkin's friend gave him up without batting an eye. They are definitely not professionals."

"I looked into both of them after getting the case number for Kuznetsov. Tsipkin worked for an office cleaning company, got fired about 6 months ago. Kuznetsov works for a moving company. No ties to the Russian Embassy whatsoever," Billy informed him.

"Not exactly, Alina Kursk was Tsipkin's mother," Lee said. "The girlfriend's name is Mary White, Kempsville Road,the apartment complex. Number 538."

Billy was surprised, "His mother, huh? Well, I can understand why he'd be upset. Did you find out what he was looking for?"

"Does the Coreforce list mean anything to you?" Lee asked, not sure how much Billy would know.

"Coreforce? I think I heard rumors of it a few years ago floating around. The list went missing…" Billy said thoughtfully.

Lee nodded, "Did you get that courier package from Amanda yet? The boys in Crypto are going to have a field day with the microfiche. THAT should be the Coreforce list. I don't think Margaret Duncan ever gave it to Dunforth."

"That package hasn't come yet. Lee, about Dunforth. Not sure if this is a coincidence or what but he was found dead in his house. Heart attack, according to the ME's report," Billy told Lee.

"So the last player is gone. From what I've heard, he's not going to be a big loss to the intelligence community." Lee stated.

Billy agreed, "No, no it will not. His methods were not condoned under any flag. Alina Kursk was just a pawn in his game of information."

"I'm gonna head back to the hotel. Harry and I need to sit down for a little heart to heart," Lee exhaled.

"Harry? What is Harry doing there?" Billy was surprised.

"Babysitting his grandson. We needed someone to do it," Lee said matter of factly, laughing.

"Right, I forgot. The baby. What was his name again?" Billy was now teasing.

"Charlie. His name is Charlie." Lee sounded like Amanda.

"Right, Charlie. And how are you and Charlie getting along?" Billy continued his teasing.

Lee punched the inside of his cheek with his tongue, debating on how to answer him. Finally he said, "Charlie and I are just fine. Now, if you don't mind, I am going to head back to the hotel, close this up and try to get a few minutes of vacation time in…. If that's okay with you?"

Laughing, Billy could barely answer him.

Lee finally said, "We'll see you in the office on Monday. If they don't find Tsipkin, let me know otherwise, Amanda and I will be officially off the clock until then. And I mean OFF the clock."

Hanging up the phone, Lee drove the short distance to the hotel. Smiling, he walked toward the elevators, hands in his pockets.

He arrived at the door to their room, knocking lightly. Amanda opened almost immediately. "Is Lauren ok?" she asked before he even got inside.

Lee followed her in and looked at Harry. "Yes, she's going to be just fine. She's still unconscious but they only injected her with dental anesthesia. It just needs time to wear off. The doctor is going to call us as soon as she's awake. He did say they would be keeping her overnight just to monitor her for any side effects."

"Oh, thank goodness." Amanda breathed.

Harry stood up and gave Lee a big hug. Hugging him back, Lee whispered to him, "She's safe now."

Christina rushed across the room to hug Harry as soon as he released Lee. "Amanda had just told us what happened. We were so worried when you didn't come back right away," she told him.

Lee put his arm around Amanda. "I had to tell them. But I knew it would work out in the end, Sweetheart," she said quietly.

"How? We didn't know what she had been injected with?" Lee looked at her.

"Because of you. I knew she was going to be safe simply because of you," Amanda pulled him close to hold him, burying her head into his shoulder. Just as Lee squeezed her back, Charlie began to cry from the portable crib. At this point, no one was surprised when Lee was the first to move to get him. Picking him up at arms length again, he just looked at Amanda. She stood, laughing, "I know, you're not qualified," which made everyone else in the room laugh.

"Harry, why don't I show you and Christina to your room while Amanda gets Charlie cleaned up," Lee suggested after handing Charlie over to her. "And, maybe an early dinner for all of us. We can't do anything now but wait for the hospital to call."

"Sounds good to me. We haven't eaten since we left DC this morning," Harry admitted.

The three adults exited the room as Amanda put Charlie on the bed to change him again. Once Harry and Christina had retrieved their overnight bags from the car and deposited them into their room, they returned to find Amanda and Charlie waiting for them. Riding the elevator down, Lee stopped at the front desk. showing him his badge, he asked if the hospital called if they could be notified at the restaurant. The desk clerk assured them it wouldn't be a problem, they would send someone right over to get them.

At the restaurant, everyone was relaxed and at ease. Charlie, all smiles throughout the meal, was passed between the adults as they ate, somehow spending most of his time on Lee's lap. Harry couldn't help notice how often both Amanda and Lee interacted with the baby, how natural it was for both of them. He knew Amanda would mother the baby regardless but he never expected Lee to willingly offer to take the baby so someone could finish their meal without little hands grabbing at silverware or napkins.

After dessert and coffee, they walked back to the hotel together. Checking in at the front desk, the hospital had not called yet so they returned to Lee and Amanda's room as a group. As they started to talk about the rest of the evening, the phone rang, startling all of them. Lee picked it up, "Hello - Stetson here."

"Mr. Stetson, hi, this is Dr. Olufsen. Miss Proctor is awake and asking for her son. She is slightly confused but her vitals are good," the doctor informed him.

"That's great news, Doctor. We'll be there shortly," Lee smiled at everyone.

"She has been moved out of the ER into a room on the 2nd floor. 212B. Just come into the main entrance, and head up the first set of elevators. She is right across from the nurse's station. Her nurse this evening is Carla Butler. I'll let her know you are on your way," Dr. Olufsen replied.

"Thank you, we'll be there soon." Lee hung up the phone. "Lauren's awake and asking for Charlie. We should head over there now." Amanda had Charlie in her arms so Lee picked up the car seat. "We'll have to take Lauren's car, Harry, you and Christina want to follow us over there? It might be a tight squeeze in one."

It didn't take long before they had Charlie's seat situated in the car, thanks to Amanda, and Harry and Christina following close behind. In just about 10 minutes they pulled into the parking lot of the hospital. Harry's stomach was filled with butterflies, seeing his daughter for the first time in many years.