Chapter 6
After leaving the office building, Billy headed towards the limo and once he was properly seated, the driver pulled off heading at a moderate speed towards IFF headquarters, the driver rolled down the glass that separated the driver and the passenger.
"How did it go?" asked a familiar voice.
"I think it went as expected, Francine."
"Yes, I heard," Francine replied tapping one of her wireless earphones. "I thought for a moment I would need to come in with our reinforcements." As if on cue, four vehicles including a tow truck passed them.
"I thought you were too for a minute. I think Claudia and her colleagues are pretty arrogant. Of course…"
"Billy, before you continue," Francine interrupted, "I need to tell you about the surprise I had while I was waiting for you."
"This is not a time for surprises! We are close to finishing this!" Billy let out a big sigh. "I am not sure I want to know but go ahead, Francine–"
"I don't think you do." Francine glanced down towards the passenger seat, "You can sit up now."
Billy's eyes furrowed slightly as he watched the familiar figure slowly rise and turn towards the backseat.
"Hello, Sir!"
"Amanda!? What in the world are you doing here?"
"It's a long story, Sir!"
Sucking in a breath, Billy said, "Go ahead, Amanda."
"Well, Sir, it was like this—"
***SMK***
Emily sat up on the tiny cot that acted as her bed, if you could call it that, at night when she was sleeping and was her chair during the day. Though she hadn't seen a watch or clock in days, she was pretty sure she had been there four days. She sat listening to the sounds around her, waiting to see if there were any signs of life.
"Be patient!" That was what the young man Augie said the only time he'd been alone with her and that had been only mere seconds before the other men and THAT woman Claudia had arrived back on the scene.
She was pretty sure another person was being held hostage. She knew it was a man, but she didn't know who it was.
Occasionally while setting out food or checking on her in general, the two goons would speak in their native language not realizing she spoke several different languages herself, Spanish being one of them.
Well, her patience was wearing thin. She still had a plan as to how to get out and perhaps now would be the best time for her to go for it and if she was lucky, she might even find the other person being held and get not only herself out but the other hostage as well.
She listened for another few minutes then reached down inside her bra and fished out her trusty lock-picking tools which consisted of one safety pin and one bobby pin. She placed her body against the steel door and listened to see if she heard footsteps or any other noise that might indicate that someone had returned. Within minutes she had the door open and closed behind her. She inched down the nearest corridor quickly but quietly. It didn't take her long to figure out where the front door was.
***SMK***
Lee had similar thoughts, but his plan for getting free was different. He had been there for several days now and if he didn't attempt an escape soon, the charade would not last much longer. It was time he showed some action so this whole "rouse" appeared plausible. Besides that, he was tired of being in this place and he wanted to get back to Amanda so that they could settle things. He wasn't exactly sure how things would work out but he was anxious to get things settled between them one way or the other.
With these thoughts, Lee loosened the ropes that held his hands in place and headed toward the door. He leaned down and listened for several seconds before pulling the thin wire strip from inside his sock. He had the door open and one foot in the doorway when someone appeared and hissed "What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm getting Emily Farnsworth and getting the hell out of here!"
"You aren't going anywhere!" Augie said, his voice getting louder.
"Who is going to stop me?"
"I am!" Augie said, moving closer toward Lee.
"I want to see you try!"
Augie pulled back his right hand; giving it all he had, punching Lee square across his left cheek, surprising Lee who flinched and reflectively balled his fist, hitting Augie against his cheek, knocking him against the door. Augie kicked Lee, catching him off guard, giving Augie leeway to punch Lee square in the mouth. Footsteps sounded across the concrete floor and seconds later, Claudia rushed inside the tiny opening, her eyes narrowing as she stared at Augie standing over Lee. She let out a succession of expletives in her native tongue, "What in the hell is going on in here?" She exclaimed when she was done.
"He was in the process of opening the lock when I arrived. I had no choice but to stop him," Augie replied.
"Looks like it was quite a fight—" noticing the bruises on both men's faces. "I go out to make a meet with your supervisor, to arrange the trade," her hand raised in the air, "only to come back to find you," pointing at Lee, "are trying to escape and the other prisoner attempting to get free as well."
Lee suppressed his look of surprise. Well, good for Emily! "You better not have hurt her!" Lee said, eyes blazing.
"I have not!" Not yet, Claudia added to herself, and she wouldn't harm either of them, at least not until she had her cousin out of jail.
She then turned to Augie and said, "Good job keeping said prisoner from escaping but next time be gentler." She touched the slight bruise on Lee's cheek, causing him to flinch. "This Mr. Melrose may not take kindly to having one of his agents returned looking this way. I hate to admit it but he is a good negotiator but is a fair man," she said almost to herself.
Shaking herself from her reverie, she turned to her two minions who were now standing at the doorway. "Did you restrain Mrs. Farnsworth more securely now?"
Both men nodded. "Good. I think I will go check for myself this time but now I need you two to help Augie resecure Scarecrow here."
***SMK***
"So, see Sir–" Amanda said, now finished giving her account of how she found Billy, "it wasn't my fault–exactly."
"Yes, Amanda I see," Billy suppressed a smile. Only Amanda would have the good luck to find out some very pertinent information without even trying. He made a mental note to speak to Fielder and the other agents about keeping their big mouths shut especially when outside The Agency. It shouldn't surprise him that Amanda would end up finding out some information and then discovering where he was.
"I had her get in the car," Francine interjected, "in case we were being watched."
"Thanks, Francine," he then turned to Amanda. "I need you to promise me that you will not interfere in this one."
"Sir, but I may be able to–"
"You and Lee make a great team, you are one of my best agents but I need you to stay on the sidelines for this one!"
"Yes, Sir!"
"Thank you, it's for the best; the less you know the better."
Amanda nodded and was silent while Francine dropped Amanda at her car and waited til she drove off.
"I promise Lee will be back soon and you can continue your partnership."
Amanda wasn't sure but for some unfathomable reason, she got the impression that he was talking about more than her and Lee's work relationship.
"Yes, Sir!"
"Do you think she'll listen and stay out of it?" Francine asked once they were alone.
"No, that's why you have a new assignment."
"You can't mean Amanda!"
"Yes, I mean Amanda."
"But, Billy?"
"Haven't you been complaining that you weren't involved in this particular case?"
Francine was silent.
To be continued
