"Amanda? Are you out there?" Lee peered into the darkness, trying to spot her.
She immediately popped into view, startling him. "Of course, I'm out here!"
"Jeez, you don't have to jump out at a guy! A simple 'hello' would have been fine," he grumbled.
"Well, I thought you might have hiccups," she answered tartly, sticking her tongue out at him as she crossed her arms and leaned against the window frame comfortably. "And I know you love surprises."
"Well, that would have stopped them," he agreed, with a grin. "Okay, I can't stay here long – they're going to be doing a room check any second, but I've got some stuff for you to get to Billy." He handed her a miniature roll of film. "Tell him to get this developed - I found something in Crandall's office and I want our guys to look it over for me."
"What is it?" she asked, inspecting it for a moment before carefully putting it in her purse.
"It's just a play from the playbook. I can't put my finger on it, but there's something about this one that gives me the heebie-jeebies."
"Just a play?" Amanda repeated dubiously. "I thought we were trying to stop an assassin?"
"I know, I know, it doesn't make much sense – but like I said, there's something off about it – and if you were going to hide something in code in the middle of a football team, wouldn't you make it something no one would notice?"
"Well, of course I would," replied Amanda. "You're probably right – I should know by now to trust your weird feelings." She looked him over critically. "Speaking of which – how are you feeling? It looked like you were getting hit pretty hard out there today."
"Oh, I'm fine," Lee waved off her concern, then winced and grimaced as his shoulder twinged with pain from the movement. "I'm having a great time," he added as she gave him a pointed look. "This is every little boy's dream after all."
"Well, all those other little boys in the locker room looked a lot younger than you. And bigger," Amanda said worriedly. "Are you sure this was a good idea? Why couldn't you just have come in as a coach or an equipment manager or something?"
"It's fine, Amanda – I'm hardly an old man just yet," he grumbled, inwardly annoyed that it hadn't occurred to either him or Billy that both of those covers would actually have been a much better idea. He wouldn't be in so much pain and he would have had a lot more freedom to move around. "It's just a couple of days – what could go wrong?"
Amanda opened her mouth – no doubt to come up with a litany of things that would meet that requirement – when she was stopped by the sound of a bellowing voice.
"Newcombe! Where the hell are you and why aren't you in your bunk?"
"Gotta go!" said Lee. "Get outta sight and I'll see you tomorrow for that interview, okay?"
Amanda nodded and disappeared from the window as quickly as she'd appeared.
"I'm right here, Coach!" said Lee cheerfully as the man walked around the corner. "Just hitting the head one more time before lights out."
"Hmph," said the coach, not looking entirely like he believed him. "Well, it's past lights out now – unless you're still in the Canadian time zone?" he jeered.
"Canada isn't in -" Lee started to say before deciding silence was the better part of valor. "See you in the morning, Coach." He slipped past him and back to his room.
It couldn't have been more than five minutes later that he became aware of the sounds of sirens. He got up to close the window to shut out the sound but as he did so, he realized they were getting closer. Too close, in fact – he could see the reflection of the flashing lights now as they approached the building he was in.
Oh God, Amanda. He couldn't even tell why it was his first thought, but once it was there, he couldn't shake it. He had just stepped out of his room, intending to go find out what was going on when the coach came barreling back around the corner.
"Back to bed, Newcombe! I'm sure it's nothing to do with you!"
"But Coach…" More heads were popping out of doors now as the other players were woken by the cacophony outside.
"We don't break training for nothin'!" growled Leopold. "Back in your rooms!"
One by one, the players did as they were told, including Lee, who lingered by his slightly cracked-open door, watching the coach. The moment, Leopold was out of sight, Lee was back out in the hallway, tugging the fire alarm. As the ear-splitting ringing began, almost instantly, every door was open again and all the players poured into the hallway.
"Must be a fire!" yelled Lee. "Everybody out!"
Inserting himself into the middle of the group, Lee herded everyone out the front doors, to find the sirens and flashing lights belonged to several police cars, and now, additionally, an ambulance wailing its way up the driveway.
"I thought I told you all to stay inside!" yelled the coach.
"Fire alarm went off," explained Big Phil. He looked around in confusion. "But I don't see no fire."
"That's because there isn't a fire," said Leopold through gritted teeth. "At least, I don't think so. I swear – if this is a stunt by the opposition to throw us off our training…"
Lee had been moving slowly around the group, taking advantage of the lights and confusion to get closer to the action. Sure enough, there in the middle of it all was Amanda. She looked close to tears and her frantic hand motions said she was trying to explain something to the police officer standing in front of her. With a quick check over his shoulder to make sure the coaches weren't paying attention, Lee sidled over to where she was standing.
"You all right there, Mrs. Keene?" he asked and watched as Amanda whirled around, visibly just catching herself from throwing herself at him in relief.
"Oh! Mr. Newcombe! I-I-I don't know what happened! I just… just…" she stopped and gulped. "I was backing up and I… I…"
"She ran a guy over," said the officer helpfully.
"You what?!" Lee exclaimed before he could stop himself.
"I know! I know!" Amanda said wretchedly. "But it wasn't my fault! I was just backing up out of the parking space and I'd checked my mirrors and done my shoulder checks – I swear!" She looked at the police officer who was nodding disbelievingly. "And he just came out of nowhere and stepped behind my car and I didn't see him the dark and there was this awful sound..." she petered off and it took everything Lee had not to pull her into his arms to comfort her. He settled for a firm grip on her shoulder.
"Well then he shoulda seen your backup lights, right Officer?" he cocked an eye at the policeman. "And I'm sure he'll be fine, won't he?"
"Probably," agreed the policeman. "I think he broke a few bones but he'll live."
"Well, there you go," said Lee, tightening his grip until she looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. "Not your fault and he'll be fine." The ambulance crew was busy loading up the victim and Lee suddenly had an idea. "Look, why don't we go over and you can see for yourself?"
Amanda nodded gratefully and Lee's hand slid down to her elbow as he steered her over to the gurney.
"I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed to the swarthy man as soon as they were within range. "But I just didn't see you in the dark with your black clothes on – if you need anything, you be sure to let me know – I'm sure my insurance will cover this…" she was babbling even as Lee stiffened in recognition at the man glaring up at her.
"What hospital are you taking him to?" he asked the paramedic. "So she can, y'know, send flowers or something."
"Memorial," answered the paramedic.
"Good, good. Now Mrs. Keene, how about you let these nice men take him to hospital and you can check on him later?" His iron grip on Amanda's elbow meant she had to follow him whether she wanted to or not.
"Oh Lee!" she wailed when they were far enough away from everyone. "He came out of nowhere! You know how careful I am! I've never even hit a squirrel let alone a whole person!"
"Well, that sure as hell wasn't a squirrel," he answered. "I'm pretty certain you just ran over Ernst Laszlo!"
"I… what? Who?" she asked, still gulping in breath.
"The guy we're here to catch," said Lee gleefully. "I don't know how you did it, but based on the police sketch Bela did for us, it looks like you managed to run over the one guy in Washington we needed to incapacitate!"
"I did?" Amanda's eyes were wide with disbelief, but at least she'd stopped crying.
"You did," he confirmed, pulling her out of sight behind a car where he could finally hug her. "He must have been here looking for Pravik. I'm going to go call Billy and let him know he's all trussed up and headed for Memorial Hospital."
"What should I do?" asked Amanda. "My car…" she gestured helplessly. "Is evidence."
"Ah, okay. Tell you what – you stay here and keep giving your statement for now and I'll go call Billy and grab my badge and come back and spring you – and your car. Okay?"
"Okay," she nodded, a small smile finally in her face.
"Come on, I'll walk back with you," he led her back around the car and toward the policeman who was studying her back bumper and making notes.
"I'll be right back," Lee promised as he turned away. Something in the dark glinted and caught his eye. "What is that under your car?" he asked, pointing to it. He crouched down and peered into the shadows. "Um, Officer? Do you have a flashlight? I think there's something you should see here."
The policeman pulled out his flashlight and crouched down, shining it where Lee was pointing. "Holy Cow! Is that a gun?" He grabbed a pencil from his shirt pocket and slid it through the trigger guard to lift it up. "Holy Cow! It is!" he looked up at Amanda. "Geez, Mrs. King, I think that guy might have been trying to mug you!"
Mug her? With a Walther PPK? I don't think so thought Lee. "Well there you go, Ma'am," he said out loud. "That guy deserved running over."
Amanda pulled her gaze from the gun to Lee's face and nodded. "Oh my gosh," she said faintly.
"I'm just going to go check on my friends," said Lee in a meaningful tone. "Make sure everyone is okay and that he didn't mug anyone else, y'know?" Amanda nodded. "You stay right here with the police, okay? And then I'll be right back to get you into a cab home, okay? " He waited for her to nod again before turning to jog back to the group of players.
If Laszlo was coming after Amanda, that meant she's been made – and in all likelihood, so have I. Time to get everyone out of here.
"Anybody seen Pravik?" he asked, scanning the crowd. "Didn't he come out when the alarm went off?"
"Yeah, he's over there," said Bobby, waving over to where Bela was sitting in the front seat of a police car with another officer.
Lee strode over and leaned in the window. "You okay there, Bela?" he asked with relief.
"Oh yes, San-day! I am learning all about American police cars! Look! This is the button for the siren!" He pushed something on the dash and the night air filled with the whoop-whoop of the siren. "And this is lights!" The flashing lights on top of the car started to spin. "Is just like in movies!" he beamed.
"That's great, Bela," Lee grinned. "But uh, how about you come inside with me before Coach starts looking for us?"
"Oh yes! Good idea!" The bubbly kicker climbed out of the car and started to follow Lee back to the dorm building- until Lee pulled him aside and began to talk urgently. "Pravik – I think the guy who got hit by the car was Ernst Laszlo – and we need you to go to the hospital and identify him for sure."
"You need me to do what?" asked Bela. "Why are you asking me this?"
"Because you're the only one who can – oh!" Lee stopped and shook his head. "Sorry, Bela – I forgot you didn't know. I'm with the Agency and I was sent here to look after you and find Laszlo."
You are American spy?" said Bela in a tone of wonder. "Like James Bond?"
"Well we don't like … you know what? Yes, I'm a spy but for the good guys, and we need to get you out of here and somewhere you can identify him for us. And then somewhere safe where his friends can't find you again."
"Yes, yes, I am happy to do so!" exclaimed Bela. "Then, once you catch those other men, I will be safe and can play the American football!"
"The other men?" asked Lee, heart sinking. "Do you mean those two guys I saw following you today? So they do work with Laszlo?"
"I think so, yes," confirmed Bela. "They keep coming to me and saying I will lose everything and to stay quiet. That a kicker with no feet will not be a kicker for long." He sighed, deeply. "I have kept quiet but they still follow me everywhere."
Lee thought for a moment. "Okay, here's what we're going to do. I'm going to go get my ID and put you and Amanda in a cab to the hospital while I call my boss. She'll keep an eye on you until he can get there to take you to a safe house after you tell us if that's really Laszlo, okay?"
"Amanda? You mean the nice reporter lady? She is spy too?"
"Oh no, she is not a spy, she is… well, she's kind of a spy helper," said Lee.
"She must be very brave – just like American women in movies, yes?"
"Yes," agreed Lee. "She is definitely very brave – and she will take care of you until my boss can get there."
"You are not coming?"
"Not right away. I need to go see what Crandall is up to – or what he does when he hears Laszlo is out of commission. He might lead us right to those other guys."
"Wowee," said Bela in admiring tones. "This is also just like the movies! Handsome spy, lovely lady and now the big chase!"
"You bet," grinned Lee. "Except with no chase. But the good guys always win in the movies, right?"
"You bet!" repeated Bela, bouncing on his toes.
Lee ran inside to grab his ID. A quick call to Billy with this latest twist, then a call for a cab and he was back out to collect Bela and Amanda about ten minutes later. The two of them were huddled together chatting by a police car, with identical looks of relief at his reappearance.
"Lee, Bela says those other men might be assassins too?" Amanda said worriedly. "Are you really going after them by yourself? I don't think that's a good idea. I should stay-"
"No, no," he soothed her. "I'm just going to go keep an eye on Crandall and make sure he isn't involved in this whole thing more than we think. Francine will be along to join me in a bit as backup and Billy is going to meet you two at the hospital and then make sure you both get home. Well, Amanda will go home, Bela, we'll have to find you a safe house."
"This is ah-ma-zing!" said Bela cheerfully. "Now I am super secret witness going to safe house!"
"Uh yeah, sure," Lee agreed with bemusement. "Okay, here's your cab." He pulled Amanda aside. "Make sure he just gets to the hospital and wait for Billy in the front lobby. Pravik's so excited about being in a movie plot, I wouldn't put it past him to do something heroic like try to interrogate Laszlo." He paused and looked at Amanda and sighed. "Oh God – look who I'm telling. Look, Amanda, please, please - just keep an eye on him and keep him out of trouble and don't do anything you know you'd hate to explain to me later, okay? Can you do that?"
"Of course, I can do that," answered Amanda looking slightly affronted. "I don't always get into trouble."
"Amanda," Lee sighed again. "You just ran over the prime suspect in our case by accident and managed to narrowly prevent an international incident."
"Exactly!" she responded triumphantly. "What else could possibly happen in one night?"
Lee rubbed his hand over his face. "I can't even imagine." He led her to the cab, where Bela was already seated inside, waiting. "Hospital. Billy. Home. Got it?" Lee said pointedly emphasizing each word with his finger.
"Got it." She climbed into the cab and as Lee watched it drive away, Coach Leopold appeared at his elbow.
"Where in the Sam Hill is Pravik going?" he bellowed. "He can't just leave training camp without my say so!"
"That reporter from the Blaze is just taking him to get his photo taken for the article," lied Lee. "She's going to do up a big piece for the paper about how he's adjusting to life in America."
"At this time of night?" asked Leopold incredulously.
"Gotta meet the deadline, I guess."
"Well, he better be back and rested up for tomorrow," groused the coach. "Mr. Crandall wants him in the field for tomorrow's practice. He's got a VIP coming or something – wants to show off his new toy."
"I'm sure that's not going to be a problem," said Lee, still watching the cab. To his utter disbelief, as it slowed and came to a stop at the end of the driveway, two figures stepped out of the shadows and approached it.
"No, no, no, no, no, NO, NO!" he yelled as he began to run. As he watched, one of the shadowy figures yanked the driver out of the cab and slid behind the driver's seat while the other climbed in from the other side, pointing a gun at Bela and Amanda as they sat in the back seat. The cab turned out onto the street and Lee changed tack, racing across the lawn trying to intercept it. When it slowed at the next corner, he put on a burst of speed and managed to jump on the hood before it could pick up speed again.
"Federal agent!" he yelled through the windshield. "Stop the car!"
The thug driving hit the brakes and Lee went flying, rolling along the pavement until his head hit a curb and everything went black.