Unfinished Business, Unresolved Feelings chapter 6
Billy rushed through the Georgetown foyer en route to his office wondering just how much worse his day could get. As soon as he had left Lee's apartment he'd run into heavy cross town traffic. A trip that should only have taken a few minutes had taken him almost an hour. Dr. Smyth and Agent Richards both wanted Scarecrow's head on a platter and they were both waiting in his office, no doubt plotting Lee's downfall. How am I supposed to protect Lee and Amanda's careers when they don't even seem concerned about the mess they're in. Lee who usually places his career ahead of everything else didn't seem the least bit bothered by my suspending him. And Amanda is more interested in comforting Lee than she is with protecting her career now when she's finally gotten the professional opportunity that she has worked so hard to earn.
Billy entered the bullpen and saw Francine sitting at her desk staring at the door to his empty office.
"Francine, where are Dr Smyth and our guest from the Secret Service? You said they were waiting for me in my office. I got here as quickly as I could. Didn't you tell them that I was on my way?" Billy, out of breath from rushing all the way downstairs, continued into his office with Francine right behind him.
"Of course I relayed your message as soon as I hung up from talking with you", Francine defended herself in an indignant voice.
" Why didn't they wait for me?"
"You're never going to believe what happened. I was here and I can't believe what I heard. Has everyone around here gone crazy?"
"Francine, I've already been having a really bad week, spare me the dramatics and tell me what happened", Billy snapped at her.
"Okay, I'm sorry; it was just so strange. Mrs. Marston called to say that Agent Richards was here to see you. She said that she would have him escorted down to your office. Less then five minutes later Dr. Smyth came rushing up to my desk. He ordered me into your office and shut the door. Dr Smyth ordered me to tell anyone who questioned me that Lee pursued Blackthorne based on a tip he received from one of his snitches. Before I could say a word the security guard who was escorting Agent Richards knocked on the door."
"Why would Dr Smyth order you to lie? He'd like nothing better than to see Lee brought down without his being blamed for it by the rest of us."
"It gets even stranger. Dr Smyth opened the door and greeted Richards as though they were old friends. Dr Smyth really turned on the charm. He apologized for the fact that you weren't available and suggested that they go out for lunch. Dr Smyth invited Richards to dine with him at his club. He said by the time that they got back here you'd be available to meet with him. Richards was so surprised to be invited to lunch by the Agency's director, at a country club no less; that he readily accepted the invitation."
"The old man must be up to something but for the life of me I can't guess what it could be" Billy responded while scratching his chin. "I have a project that I need you to work on this afternoon", he said as Francine continued to stand in front of his desk.
"You should sit down for this conversation", Billy advised Francine.
"Oh, it's going to be one of those assignments", Francine answered as she raised an eyebrow and waited for Billy to continue.
"This conversation is off the record and is not to leave this office-"
"This is getting better and better", Francine said in a voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Francine", Billy said in a tone that let her know that she was pushing his patience to its limits.
"I'm sorry, Billy. It's just that when you start a conversation that way it usually leads to my risking my career or my life or both. If this is about what I think it is I want in. Lee is my friend too and I'd like to help him."
"As his friend I can understand why Lee disobeyed every order that I gave him concerning his investigation of Thomas Blackthorne. Maybe I should have tried to help him unofficially since I knew that there was very little chance that he would follow my orders. If I'd-"
"Don't you dare blame yourself for Lee's problems. You tried to reason with him. He's obsessed with this case. Lee didn't want our help. He only accepted help from Amanda because she was willing to do whatever he asked of her", Francine argued.
"Amanda still wants to do whatever she thinks will help Lee even if it isn't in her own best interest. She isn't willing to distance herself from Lee in order to protect her career. I don't want Dr Smyth to find out how deeply involved she was in Lee's rogue investigation. Amanda won't admit that Lee went too far this time so she doesn't see why her having helped him could jeopardize her position here."
"If Lee and Amanda aren't trying to help themselves how can we possibly help them?" Francine questioned
"At this point it seems as though Dr Smyth is attempting to cover up the fact that Lee's reason for investigating Blackthorne was personal not professional. I don't trust Smyth but for now I'm willing to take advantage of the cover he's providing for Lee. I'm more worried about the damage that could be done if Agent Richards tries to question Amanda. As long as she doesn't acknowledge how far out of line Lee has been she won't be inclined to cover up the extreme measures they took in pursuing the Blackthorne case. I don't want Richards to be able to speak to Amanda today."
"How can you refuse to let him speak to her?" Francine asked.
"I can't refuse to let him talk to Amanda but if she isn't currently available that will buy us some time to reason with her. That's where you come in", Billy paused to gage Francine's reaction.
"Billy, you can't possibly think that Amanda will listen to anything that I could say; especially where Lee is concerned."
" My main concern at the moment is getting Amanda out of the building right now. I want you to go up to the Q Bureau and tell Amanda that I've given the two of you an urgent assignment. Tell her that you will explain the assignment to her over lunch and get her out of the building as quickly as you can", Billy instructed.
"I'll do my best. What is our assignment?"
"There is no real assignment but you're a quick thinker so I'm sure that you'll think one up by the time you and Amanda get to a restaurant. The lunch is my treat. Now get moving and be sure that you keep Amanda busy for at least four hours."