Unforeseen Path

Chapter 2

Amanda took in the scenery as she and Emily were enjoying their tea on the patio. "Emily, when did you get this place? It's really lovely."

Emily sipped her tea and swallowed saying, "Thank you, dear. My late husband and I got it shortly after we married. We thought it would be a nice vacation spot for us, especially with the demands of being an agent."

Amanda said, "He must have worried about you when you had to go to so many places and been gone so long at certain times? "

Emily sighed. "No, actually he traveled with me a lot of the time. I insisted on it. It was only when things got a bit hairy then I sent him back to San Francisco."

Amanda said, "You must miss him terribly though. "

Emily nodded. "Yes. He was the center of my world..."

Bridget came out just then saying, "Ma'am, Dr. Mills is on the phone wishing to speak to you. Says it's important."

Emily sighed and got up saying, "Enjoy your tea, Amanda. I'm going to put a stop to this right now! "

As she went in Amanda watched her and thought," That doctor doesn't know who he's messing with!" There was no formidable person more than Emily Farnsworth. She could frighten a person easily with a steel glance. Much like her partner, Lee Stetson. Although he doesn't admit she is his partner yet, but he's going to have to realize sooner or later that she's not just a typist for him!

Somehow, looking around the area of this part of the Napa Valley she thought even he may enjoy this place. Shaking her head, she pushed it away! Lee, relaxing here?! No, Bora Bora was more his speed. And then walking around the back yard near the vast garden, she wondered why Lee even entered her mind now. She was on vacation after all.

A few minutes later, Emily came back out. Amanda said to her, "Is everything all right now? "

Emily shrugged saying lightly, "Oh, I did in fact make the appointment but I'd forgotten completely, so I set up one in two weeks. Everything's fine dear. Now, let's think about tomorrow and what you'd like to see while you're here..."

Amanda wasn't sure Emily was telling her everything about that phone call. Especially when Bridget said it was important, but she decided to let it be for now.

Meanwhile, Lee's flight was boarding at the London airport when a stewardess said, "There's an urgent message for you from a Mr. Melrose in D.C. We'll leave as soon as you're ready, sir."

She directed him to the desk phone near the boarding area. Thanking her, he went to the desk and dialed the Agency. When Billy answered Lee said, "What's up, Billy? I was just about to take off."

Billy swallowed hard. Calls like this weren't easy, but there was no time to wait for him to return. "Lee, it's about your uncle..."

Later that night as Lee was landing at Dulles, Amanda was thumbing thru the sightseeing brochure that Emily gave her and marked certain areas that she thought about seeing, but she was beginning to worry about her friend. She barely touched her dinner and then she retired to her room early claiming of maybe catching a cold and that she didn't want Amanda getting it, but still insisting she'd be fine by morning.

Early the next morning, Amanda was awakened by a knock at the door. She said, "Come in, Emily. "

But it was Bridget looking sorrowful. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. King. It's Mrs. Farnsworth. I'm afraid she passed away in her sleep!"

Amanda was stunned! "Wh-are you sure?! We'll call a doctor and-."

Bridget's eyes filled with tears and she said, "I've-I've called an ambulance. They should be here soon. I've also called Mr. Henderson who is Mrs. Farnsworth's attorney. He'll be here as well-"

Amanda firmly sat her down! "Bridget! You tell me this minute what was wrong with Emily?! Why she insisted she was fine when she wasn't!"

Bridget gulped and wiped her tears saying, "She didn't want any pity. She didn't want anyone to worry, especially her close friends like you and Mr. Stetson were. I'm so sorry, Mrs. King."

Amanda felt as if someone was playing a very cruel joke! "I should've insisted she tell me what was going on, or at least insisted that she go to the doctor immediately! Damn it! "

Then they heard the doorbell and Bridget said, "I'll let them in now. Would you like a moment with her? "

Amanda chuckled and shook her head." No, Bridget! I'd like the rest of my life with my friend, but thanks for asking! "

She stormed off to Emily's room and as she came in she went to the woman's bedside and gently taking Emily's cold hand in hers she wept openly about her friend and cried,"Why didn't you call me before this? Why didn't you tell us?!"

The ambulance team came in just then and the emergency technician said, "When did she pass, ma'am? "

With a cold hard stare Amanda said angrily, "I don't know! I was asleep at the time! Why don't you ask her?! Oh, I'm sorry! She's dead! She can't answer you! My mistake!"

The tech then looked as Bridget came in and gently took Amanda from the room as tears fell freely from Amanda's eyes and they went downstairs to the kitchen where Bridget sat Amanda down saying, "I'll make some tea. Is there anyone I should call? "

Amanda wiped her eyes and shrugged, "Her MI5 people, I guess. But I'll call the other people that need to know..."

She got on the phone and dialed the Agency and asked for Billy. Francine answered and said, "Billy Melrose's office. Can I help you? "

Amanda said, " It's Amanda. I need to speak to either him or Lee if they're there please, Francine."

Francine sighed. "Dear, we're rather busy here at the moment. I'm sure whatever it is can wait until tomorrow-."

Amanda said crisply, " Listen you witch! I'm not in the mood for your high horse routine! All right. If you insist, here's my message! Tell them that Emily Farnsworth is dead! She died in her sleep last night and I will be here in San Francisco to help with funeral arrangements if there are any! "

Francine gasped at Amanda's statement! She swallowed hard saying, "Oh, God. I'm sorry, Amanda. But there's something you should know about that happened here as well. You see-."

Amanda's voice dripped with sarcasm as she said to Francine, "Oh, whatever it is can wait until I get back! Goodbye, Francine and thanks for your help as always! "

Amanda slammed the phone down as she sighed. Bridget looked alarmingly at Amanda! "Is everything all right? "

Amanda said, "No, but I'll have to call Lee later I guess."

Just then, the ambulance team came downstairs and went out the door and Amanda and Bridget followed shutting the door as the phone rang.

Billy was on the phone waiting for Amanda to pick up and he snarled at Francine, "If you would stop all your hostilities, I would've been able to talk to her! Now they have to delay the Colonel's burial because Lee wants to find out how Amanda is! You've outdone yourself this time, Desmond! Now get back to work!"

Francine numbly nodded and left the office. Billy looked at his watch and shook his head. The Colonel had precise burial procedures that he wanted followed to the letter by his nephew and it would now have to be delayed but as Lee said jokingly to ease the tension of the news,"He can't yell out his commands anyway so it won't make a difference when we bury the old man!"

He then called the airline and got a flight to San Francisco that was leaving in an hour from that time. He left for Dulles straight from the Agency and made the flight in time worrying how Amanda was dealing with Emily's death. He noticed how close the two had become since he and Amanda rescued their friend from being kidnapped during a case.

He thought for a moment about when she first met the Colonel also. He never told her this but the Colonel told him after the dinner they all shared that Amanda King was definitely a keeper and not to blow it with her!

Lee chuckled and shook his head. If the old man really knew what the relationship was with Amanda, he'd have known that they just worked together and that there was nothing more to it!

He was glad that he approved of her even though she was basically his buffer for that dinner. Looking at his watch, he sighed hoping that he'd get there soon to help Amanda with Emily's arrangements. He would contact the director of MI5 to let them know when he got there and to find out how to proceed...

TBC