Author's Note: A special thanks to Cindy for her help with this chapter and chapter one.

Chapter Two

At her house, Amanda was still in the process of trying to comprehend the conversation she had with Lee when the doorbell rang. Amanda got up reluctantly and opened the door. This time it was her mother.

"Aren't you home early?" Amanda asked as she closed the door and returned to her seat on the sofa.

"Amanda, I'm sorry to disturb you, but I forgot my key," Dotty said in a whirlwind of excitement as she entered the house. "Amanda, how are you feeling, dear?" She asked and continued without waiting for her daughter to answer. "You will never believe this! You know Mrs. Grant, who has been married for over 40 years," Dotty said as she began putting her things away, not giving Amanda a chance to respond. "She just found out the most terrible thing about her husband…that he's been having an affair and get this…it is with one of the other women in the club and it has been going on for years! It all came out during our conversation about roses and as it would happen, both women were talking about a special kind of rose, you know, a Queen Elizabeth Rose." Dotty sat down in the chair opposite Amanda as she went on. "Well, you see, Mrs. Grant's husband gives her a dozen every year on their anniversary and that's when Betty Nichols said her male friend gives her some every year too. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the two women were talking about the same man."

"Mother, that's just awful," Amanda said, rubbing two fingers across her temple.

"I know. I know. And before you knew it, the two women were right there in the middle of the room fighting like cats and dogs. Can you believe it, at their age?" Dotty stopped and took a good look at Amanda. "Amanda, are you alright?"

"It's just my migraine, Mother. I can't seem to get rid of this darn headache, that's all."

"I'm sorry, dear."

"It's okay," Amanda said quickly. Maybe too quickly. "Go ahead, Mother, tell me about the rest of the meeting." Dotty looked at Amanda quizzically for a moment but went on, anyway, "Well, that's why the meeting ended early. After the waiters at the restaurant broke things up, we rushed on out of there before things could start back up. I wonder what poor Mrs. Grant is going to do." Dotty took a breath, then turned to Amanda. She knew she had a migraine that morning, but she could tell that something else was bothering her. She also knew that that handsome man from Germany had left and went back to his country, but Amanda had assured her that she was okay with him leaving, that they had left things amicably. Since Amanda started working at IFF, she didn't confide in her as much as she used to. However, only last week, she'd opened up a bit about her feelings or lack of emotions for the gentleman who was visiting from Germany and then something happened with her co-worker. Both men were quite handsome though she must admit that Mr. Stetson was more attractive though Dieter's accent was charming, "Dear, you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine. I'm sorry your meeting ended so early."

"Don't be. You know how boring I've told you the meetings can be, sometimes as boring as watching paint dry, this broke up some of the mundaneness." Dotty paused a moment. "Amanda, there's no fooling me, you know. Something is the matter and there's no point in you telling me otherwise; something besides your headache. For some reason, I get the feeling something else is bothering you," Dotty touched Amanda's arm. "You used to confide in me. You do know that there isn't anything you can't tell me, don't you?"

Well, one huge thing she can't tell her, but that was a conversation perhaps for another time. "Yes, Mother, I know."

"I tell you what, why don't I make us some tea and then you can tell me all about it?"

Amanda thought about it for a moment and then said, "Mother, I actually would love that.

"Good."

Several minutes later, Amanda, with her feet curled beneath her on the couch, her mother in the adjacent chair as they had their tea; Amanda tried to make some sense out of what she was feeling and why. Dotty listened intently without uttering one word in an attempt to show Amanda that she was still a good listener.

When Amanda finished, Dotty asked, "Your co-worker, Mr. Stetson? That tall, handsome man that came by here then rushed off when he thought you were hurt?"

"Yes."

"Well, what's wrong with that? You are a wonderful and amazing woman that any man should be happy with-And why exactly wouldn't a documentary film producer fall in love with you?"

Even if a documentary film producer would fall in love with her, the fact that a spy, intelligence operative did, was surprising. Amanda thought to herself but said to her mother instead. "No reason, no reason at all, Mother."

"That's my girl!" Dotty said, touching Amanda's arm again in reassurance. "Now, the big question is, what do you want to do about it?"

That was precisely the problem; what did she want to do about it?

***SMK***

Lee quickly undid the rope just enough to slip one hand out, so he could touch his head and see how the area felt. So much for a light tap on the head! From the feel of the tender spot, it would form into a sizable bump very soon.

Although he was seated in a chair, the chair was hard as concrete. So far, his back felt fine, but he was sure it would hurt soon if he were there much longer. Apparently, whatever drug the captures gave him was very mild because he felt fine besides the bump on his head, nothing like he'd felt the last time he was drugged. Now that he had assessed his capabilities, he began looking around in an attempt to find out how accurate the information Billy had given him was. Lee thought back to his conversation with Billy.

"This better be good, Billy," Lee huffed once inside Billy's office.

"It isn't good by a long shot, but it is important. And last I looked; I was the one in charge. I allow you some leeway, Scarecrow, but I'm not in the mood this afternoon. Just once, I'd like to leave a little early myself."

"Sorry, Billy—"

"It's okay. So, the case you were just on might not have been as sewn up as we thought. I need you to go back in—"

"Billy! What the hell happened?"

"One of the men arrested kidnapped someone and are holding them hostage."

"Hostage?" Lee knew his friend well enough to know this was more than a simple kidnapping. "But Billy—who do they have?"

"You aren't gonna like this—"

So far, Lee wasn't sure if their contact on the inside had been correct or not about whom they were holding captive, but his agent senses were telling him that the rumor was true. However, he had yet to figure out if the informant was correct about Lee having additional help on the inside. But he and Billy had decided that allowing Lee to get kidnapped was well worth the risks involved. Lee sure hoped they'd been right. Well, he'd find out soon enough because, at that very moment, he heard the sound of footsteps across the outer hallway floor. Damn, he'd yet to get his bearings.

To be continued.

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