Author's Note: Thank you for your patience. I hope to finish this by the end of the year!
Chapter 5
As Amanda heard the familiar male voice behind her, she inwardly cringed as she thought about whether or not to avoid it. Hesitantly Amanda turned around to find no other than Fred Fielder standing before her. In general, she was easygoing and liked just about everyone. Still, even she found it difficult to think of him in a positive light especially since he was such a terrible agent when Lee was taken off duty temporarily.
"Well, well there, if it isn't Mrs. King! Do you mind if I join you?" He asked, placing his tray down next to hers even before Amanda could reply. "Funny finding you here! I come here nearly every day, the food here is so good. But I've never seen you here before; I guess you are usually out on a case with the infamous Scarecrow." He paused for what had to be mere seconds before continuing, "I guess since he is out on THAT case you don't have anything productive to do and are free to go out and eat on your own."
Every attempt Amanda made to interject a word was futile. Fred continued, "You know, I've wanted to ask you out to lunch a time or two myself but you never seem to be around…well, isn't it nice that we can eat together." This was more a statement than a question.
Amanda sighed inwardly as Fielder continued to talk and eventually Amanda gave up and just listened; as she did so, she recalled something he said a few minutes ago about THAT case. Perhaps if she showed more interest, she could find out something useful.
"Oh, yeah, Scarecrow has been busy," Amanda leaned closer to Fielder and whispered, "with THAT case."
And that was all it took; Fielder's eyes sparkled and lit up as he went on to tell Amanda about how someone had been kidnapped; how Lee was sent in to help and that it went even deeper than that.
By the end of their meal, Amanda knew enough about Lee's current mission and situation to be thoroughly scared and afraid for him and the person they held captive. The one thing she did not find out was who they had captured; only that it was someone important.
"Well, I guess I better get back to the office," Fielder said, getting up while leaving his tray on the table. "You'll take care of that for me, won't you? Nice chatting with you, we will need to do this again," he said as he walked away.
Thank goodness, he was on their side. For a man, he sure was a talker and for an agent, he sure could run his mouth!
***SMK***
Billy had the limo drive down the alleyway of Henley's Asbestos Company, an organization publicly known for their good works but that was also known around the way for their notoriety. Billy was a little surprised to find out that this was the meeting place but at the same time, he was not that surprised.
Billy clutched the briefcase tightly to his chest as he left the limo and walked down the alley toward the back of the high-rise building. The meeting he had with Augie before coming here had been quick and yet productive. At least that was what he was hoping.
He was not that sure he could be trusted completely but so far, he was doing a remarkable job. The pizza box had held a secret message confirming that both Lee and Emily were fine and for Billy to meet him so that he could give him the entire contact list and confirm the locations of the figureheads in person. They had arranged it this way just in case someone intercepted the pizza box but they wouldn't know the secret code or gain the other information that Augie had for Billy.
Now it was just a matter of time before they took down the organization. Billy's old spy senses were very much honed in as he continued the walk, his gun holster concealed just under his jacket. He also had a tiny pistol that Leatherneck gave him that could shoot just as easily as a regular gun concealed along his ankle but was not as easily detected.
He thought back to the brief encounter with Augie.
Billy stood in front of the freezer section as he glanced towards the many frozen family meals, his face contorting into a frown as he looked from one package to another. Noticing a young man coming up to the freezer section, Billy said,
"Excuse me, Sir."
"Yes, can I be of assistance?" Augie asked, as he reached into his pocket; pulled out a kerchief, and wiped the slight sweat that was across his forehead.
"Do you know anything about these?" Billy gestured to the boxes on the shelves. "My wife asked me to bring back the one that looked most appetizing with the best value."
"Appetizing? How can you tell that from the box?"
"I know, damn, they all look the same to me."
"What about this one?" Augie said, reaching in and around Billy, and as he grabbed one of the frozen steak dinners, he dropped a slip of paper inside the case.
"Oh, I see, this one does look more appetizing than this one. Thank you."
"No problem."
***SMK***
Billy's mind returned to the present and became alert as he entered the building. The security guard at the desk glanced at Billy, then wordlessly waved him into the building and gestured toward the elevator. Once there, Billy pressed the last button on the elevator, 24. Several minutes later he was entering the only room on the floor. The doors opened to a large space that contained a long brown/black table with several empty chairs around it; with two small tables directly in the back was a projector screen on the wall.
"So glad you could join us today, Mr. Melrose!" Came a woman's voice behind him in the doorway. "Please take a seat."
***SMK***
Amanda's mind raced as she returned to work after her "lunch" with Fred Fielder. Her heels clicked fiercely across the office floor as she gave the bits and pieces of information some thought. They have someone important. Lee being caught captive was just a ploy to get someone else. Bring down an entire organization! Amanda ran through a variety of names and scenarios as she returned to IFF. As she thought of each name, she quickly rejected each one until one very familiar person's name came to mind. It couldn't be but then could it?
Now that she had some information, what in the world could or should she do with it? As she returned to her work from earlier in the day, she thought about whether or not she should go and talk to Billy. A look in the direction of his office revealed that he wasn't in and even if he was, what exactly would she say?
There was only one thing left for her to do, she thought that she rushed through the remainder of her work and once done, put all her work away and left for the day.
****SMK***
Two men had joined them in the conference room and the three of them were seated at the far end of the table with the woman who Billy knew had to be his contact, "Claudia". She was dressed in black from head to toe and beautiful. She held a lit Virginia Slim in her mouth.
Her pictures didn't do her justice but her scheming ways were as wicked as she was beautiful. Everyone in the inner circle knew that she was as much a leader as her cousin Carlos whose family originated the Mafia.
"Have you brought the information we requested?" Senora Sanchez asked, her eyes steady upon Billy's face.
"Yes, and do you have the pictures I requested?"
"Si!" She gestured toward one of the two men and said, "Frisk Mr. Melrose! It's nothing personal, Mr. Melrose."
Billy shrugged.
"Senora, look!" Senora Sanchez's guard said holding up one of the two guns Billy had on him.
"Mr. Melrose, I thought my instructions were clear, no weapons?"
"I am a former agent."
"Very true…come on, show me what you have got." Billy reached into his briefcase and pulled out a photo of Carlos.
"Now, your turn."
"We make exchange today, no?"
"Yes," Billy replied.
"First you release Carlos and then I release first Farnsworth then later Scarecrow…" She said, blowing smoke in Biily's direction.
Billy's face didn't waver as he replied. "No! That is not what we agreed on."
"But I have changed my mind."
"Well, then there is no deal."
Billy stood up, snatched up his briefcase, and headed towards the door.
"Que'?"
Billy turned around. "No deal!"
"You would allow one or more of your agents to be disposed of?"
Billy shrugged then turned and walked towards the door.
"Mr. Melrose, please come back and have a seat. I am sure we can agree, no?"
Billy returned to his seat. "I'm listening."
Several minutes later after going over the original plan once again which included all three prisoners being released at the same time, Billy asked, "So do we have a deal?"
"Yes, we have a deal," Senora Sanchez answered glumly.
"I will make all the arrangements and get in touch with you."
"I will wait to hear from you."
***SMK***
Meanwhile, Amanda couldn't believe her luck when she left IFF and happened upon Hendricks, one of the agents from the agency who was in a plain car and had pulled alongside another agent who was in a tow truck. Her car was in the shop, so she was in a rental, definitely less conspicuous and she followed slowly behind them and watched as they ended up several blocks away from a large asbestos company. She had driven around the corner and saw a limo that she knew belonged to Mr. Melrose.
Once Billy got out, Amanda got out of her car, hunched down and moved along the side of the vehicle.
She was only a few feet away when she felt a hand over her mouth.
More to come!
