She Can And She Did

Chapter 19

Amanda and the nurse were in the cubicle with Lee, as Dr. Miller stated to Gail, "His vitals seem to be improving, but it's his head injury I'm concerned about...We'll need to monitor him for a few days...Gail, see if you can get him admitted to a room now."

Gail nodded as she wrote something on Lee's chart, answering, "Yes, Doctor..."

She quickly left, and Amanda asked Dr. Miller, "He doesn't have a concussion, does he?"

Dr. Miller responded, "It's a mild one, but it's the phrase he keeps saying over and over. Would you know why he keeps repeating it?"

Amanda, shaking her head, remarked, "No, but it must mean something in regards to what he was working on, I guess...That's what our boss is trying to figure out now."

Just then, Gail came back in remarking to Amanda, "Mr. Melrose needs to see you."

With a nod, Amanda rose from the chair she was using, and looking at Lee, she patted his arm commenting softly, "Don't you worry...We'll get you up and out of here in no time...Just relax, huh?"

When Amanda met Billy out in the hall, he said to her, handing her a slip of paper, "There was a message for you, and you are to call this number."

Looking at the number, she asked Billy, "I don't recognize the number...Is it about my family?"

Billy shook his head stating, "He says he's Lee's contact. He hung up before I could get a name, but he claimed you knew him?"

Amanda thought for a moment and then sighed tiredly, answering, "Oh, no..."

Billy queried, "Am I correct in assuming you've dealt with him before?"

Amanda nodding, remarked, "Yes, and not by choice...Excuse me. I'll just call from the nurse's station..."

As she approached the desk, she asked the nurse, Brynn, who was standing there, if she could use the phone, while showing her Government I.D.

Brynn nodded, and Amanda dialed, thinking to herself, Augie Swann! Of all people!

-SMK-

The line clicked and the voice stated, "Mrs. K?"

Amanda, recognizing the quiver in his voice, answered, "Yes, Augie, it's me-"

Augie Swann nervously replied, "Shh! Look...Can you meet me alone at the Hudson River in an hour?"

Amanda queried, "Can't you just tell me what you know, and then I can-"

Augie commented, "N-No! They're watching me, and they have ears, you know, like "Walls have ears"?

Amanda sighed responding, "Look, Lee said this phrase, and you need to tell me what it means..."She sells seashells by the seashore."

Augie answered quickly, "Uh, I think Lee just knows, but I don't know anything else-"

Just then a shot rang out from Augie's end, and he said, "See ya in an hour!"

Amanda remarked quickly, "Wait! Augie!"

But the line went dead, and Amanda hung up as Billy approached Amanda, asking, "Well? What did you find out?"

Amanda shook her head, stating, "It was Lee's contact, and he asked me to meet him at the Hudson River in an hour. He said "Walls have ears", meaning it wasn't safe to talk."

Billy put up a hand, responding, "Okay...Francine will go in your place, and-"

Amanda protested, "But Sir! He requested me! He may not talk if he doesn't see me-"

Billy nodded, but remarked firmly with a gesture, "And Lee would have my head if anything happened to you, so my decison stands! Come with me..."

They went outside to the hospital patio area, and Billy , getting on his walkie, stated, "Desmond! Do you copy?"

Francine answered, "I copy. What's up?"

Billy answered, "Lee's contact wants Amanda to meet him at the Hudson River in an hour, but says it isn't safe. Head over there and find out what you can and report back here to the hospital."

Francine remarked, "Roger that."

The connection clicked off, and Amanda, exasperated, asked Billy, "Well, what do I do while Francine's out "Saving the day?"

Billy sighed, knowing Amanda was frustrated with her current role at the Agency, and replied gently, "Look, Amanda...I know you feel sometimes that you aren't doing very much to help us, but you are an important part of our team, and we are grateful for anything you can contribute, okay? But we need you to be safe, hmm?"

Amanda swallowed hard, and nodded replying softly, "Yes, Sir. I understand...So, what do you need me to do right now?"

Billy commented, "Well, why don't you go keep Scarecrow company, and see if he says anything other than that phrase, while I wait for Francine."

Amanda answered, "Right..."

A while later, Amanda was in Lee's room, when he began to stir from his sleep.

Amanda, taking his hand, queried softly, "Lee?"

Lee, opening his eyes, mumbled, "A-Amanda? Wh-What are you doing here? Wh-Where are we?"

Amanda stated gently, " Well, it's nice to see you, too...You had an accident here in New York. We're at Lennox Hospital. Do you remember anything? You kept saying the phrase, "She sells seashells by the seashore". What does that mean?"

Lee sighed and blinked, as he tried to focus on his surroundings, responding slowly, "It-It was a code at the drop, but someone must have knocked me out before I was done..."

Then, as he tried to sit up, Lee asked groaning, "Where's my stuff? My wallet? My gun?"

Amanda, pushing Lee gently back against the pillows, stated, "Lee! Please relax, alright? They think you were mugged because all they found was your wallet, which had money missing, but that's all. They're still looking for your gun-"

Lee asked, "Who's looking?"

Amanda remarked patiently, "Billy's here, and he has Jeffreys with a team at the drop site-"

Lee swallowed, querying, "Francine?"

Amanda replied, "She's right now meeting with your contact at the Hudson River...She should be back shortly with an update-"

Just then, Billy entered the room and seeing Lee awake, answered with a smile, "Well, Scarecrow...It's good to see you awake! How do you feel?"

Lee, pushing back the bedsheets, moved to get out of bed, saying, "Like I need to get back out there! Get my clothes, Billy-"

Then when Amanda was once again trying to get him back to laying down, and Billy was arguing with him, above the commotion, they all heard a whistle!

All heads turned as Francine held a small pouch, saying, "This shell inside has the microdot that Lee apparently was looking for, Billy."

Billy turned, and taking the pouch from Francine, answered, "Good work, Desmond!"

Looking at Lee, he asked, "The Eastern Europe Bloc trade, right?"

Lee nodded, commenting with a gesture, "Yeah...Now I remember... The contact I was supposed to meet said there was something they wanted in exchange for that."

Francine scoffed, responding, "Your contact? He was a quivering mass of jello by the time I got to him..."

Lee looked at Amanda questioningly, and Amanda sighed remarking, "Augie Swann wanted me to meet him alone at the Hudson River-"

Lee growled, "Well, Thank God you didn't! The jackels were probably lying in wait for anyone to show up so they could kill them!"

Amanda, shaking her head, replied tiredly as she headed for the door, "Well, kudos to you all for a job well done! Excuse me while I go check in with my family..."

Then turning back, she said to Lee firmly, "You stay in that bed and don't you move a muscle, Mister! I'll be back!"

As she left the room, Lee queried to Billy bewilderedly, "What's got her-"

Francine quipped, "Panties in a bunch?"

Billy barked, "Desmond!"

Francine giggled answering, "Okay, sorry, Billy..."

Looking at Lee, Francine commented, "Billy sent me to meet Swann in Amanda's place, so now, Amanda's feeling put out, even though she is, dare I say it, your "partner."

Lee groaned and answered, "Great...What do I do now?"

Billy remarked, "The team and I will head back to D.C. and you and Amanda stay until you're released."

With a wave, he answered, "Let's go, Francine."

As they got to the door, Francine stated, looking back at Lee, "Oh, Lee? Jeffreys found your gun in a dumpster near the drop. We'll take it back with us and dust for prints..."

Billy answered, "Take care, Scarecrow...See you in a few days..."

The two left, and Lee sighed thinking, I'm the one stuck here, and I have to make Amanda feel better? Great! How am I supposed to do that?

TBC