She Can And She Did

Chapter 18

The next morning, Amanda was getting off the elevator at the Bullpen area, when Billy stated, "Good morning, Amanda...Listen, Lee will be in New York for the next couple of days to follow up with a contact. He left early this morning, but asked me to tell you not to worry, hmm? Now, there are some tapes Francine left on your desk for you to transcribe and you can work on those until lunch, and then afterwards, you have a training session with Leatherneck at the shooting range...But don't shoot yourself in the foot..."

Amanda swallowed apprehensively, and then replied, "N-No, Sir. I'll be careful, I promise..."

With a nod, Billy then went back to his office, and Amanda went to her desk, feeling deflated, and thinking, So much for my initial plan for you having dinner with my family, Lee...

Shrugging, she went ahead with the tapes, and by lunchtime, was ready for a break.

Her desk phone rang and she answered, "Hello?"

It was Dotty. "Hello, Dear. I just called to ask about dinner tonight. Will Lee be joining us?"

Amanda sighed commenting, "No, I'm sorry. He was already gone when I got to work this morning, so I couldn't ask him. He and a film crew were sent to New York for a couple of days, so-"

Dotty responded, "Oh, that's too bad. But you will-"

Amanda said, "Yes, I will ask when he returns, alright? I'll see you tonight, Mother."

Hanging up, she asked one of the Steno ladies, Rachel, "Did anyone order from the deli yet?"

Rachel shook her head stating, "No one called for any, so unless you brought something..."

Amanda sighed commenting, "No, actually, I didn't. Lee usually gets something for both of us...Never mind. I'll head on out. Would you like anything?"

Rachel shook her head with a wistful smile, "No, thanks. Enjoy whatever you're getting."

Amanda, getting up from her desk, went to Billy's office, thinking he may like her to get something for him as well, and knocked.

Billy was on the phone, and quickly waved her in.

As Amanda entered, she saw a concerned look on his face, but sat down to wait for him to finish.

Billy asked into the phone, "Jeffreys, when was the last time you heard from Scarecrow?"

Amanda's ears perked up as she heard his question, and thought pensively, Hope Lee's alright...

Then, looking at his watch, he frowned listening to the reply, and commented brusquely, "Alright...Where exactly was he?"

Billy then wrote down on a scrap of paper an address, and then queried, "You're sure about that? Manhattan?"

As the answer came, Billy sighed responding, "Alright...No, I'm heading there now, and I'll speak to the police...You and the others comb the area thoroughly, and we'll meet back at the hotel tonight..."

Hanging up, Billy remarked to Amanda, "Look's like Lee ran into some trouble and we have a search going now...Ordinarily, I'd tell you to stay here and wait to hear from me, but-"

Amanda put up a hand stating, "Let me call home..."

Within half an hour, Billy and Amanda were on a plane headed to New York, both praying Lee was alright, wherever he was...

-SMK-

Arriving in NY almost two hours later, they were met at the airport by Jeffreys who stated to Billy, "Francine sent me to meet you here. Scarecrow was taken to Lennox Hill Hospital. They won't release information, except to family only, but I told them you were on your way as his superior."

Billy nodded, querying, "Where is Desmond?"

Jeffreys answered, "She coordinated the search team in the area where Scarecrow was attacked, then went with him in the ambulance and said she'll meet you at the hospital."

Billy stated, "Thank you...Get back to the search area, and continue on, and let me know if you find anything..."

As Jefferys took off, Billy responded to Amanda, "Let's go..."

When they arrived at Lennox Hill Hospital a while later, Billy showed his Government badge, stating to the front desk nurse, Gail, as he gestured to Amanda, "This is Amanda King, our Government auxiliary and Lee Stetson's partner. How is my man?"

Gail answered, "He was unconscious when he arrived a while ago, but has just awakened. Our on-call doctor, Dr. Miller, is examining him now...Come with me..."

Billy and Amanda shared a guarded look, and then followed Gail to the E.R., and met up with Francine.

Gail commented to all three, "Just a moment, and I'll let Dr. Miller know you're here..."

While Gail went into the cubicle to speak to Dr. Miller, Billy asked Francine, "What happened? Where was he found?"

Francine responded, "In a back alley in the southern part of Manhattan...According to a store owner nearby, Lee was seen heading two doors away from the man's shop, and when he heard gunfire, the store owner called the police..."

Going back to the waiting room chair where she had been sitting, she grabbed a plastic bag, and handing it to Billy answered, "His wallet was the only thing the team found so far...Of course, any bills in the wallet were taken. The police think it was a random mugging..."

Billy, taking the bag, remarked carefully,...Well, Amanda and I are here, so why don't you head back to the search area, and help the team...What hotel was he registered at?"

Francine replied, "The Radisson, under the name, "Leo Strauss-"

Just then, Gail came out of the cubicle asking, "Mr. Stetson's awake, but we can't decipher what he's saying. Can any one of you help?"

Billy gestured to Amanda, who then queried to Gail, "What was it he was saying?"

Gail answered, "The phrase he kept saying was this..."She sells sea shells by the seashore." Anyone know what that means?"

Francine giggled suddenly, and Billy commented gruffly, "Desmond! What's so funny?"

Clearing her throat, she responded quickly, "Sorry, but wow! The drugs they're giving him have him zonked, I'll bet! It's a nursery rhyme, right?"

Amanda stated, "Yes, Francine, but why he would say that phrase?"

Billy sighed and commented, "Okay...Amanda, you go with the nurse and sit with Lee, and I'll make some calls...Maybe between the three of us, we can figure this out..."

TBC