Chapter 9

Oh hell! Just what he was hoping wouldn't happen; someone was hit. Lee thought as his reflexes kicked in and he pulled back and fired the trigger knocking the gun right out of Claudia's hand. During the commotion, somewhere in the distance, Lee thought he heard Amanda's voice call out his name. He must be hallucinating.

Two other agents, quick on their feet, rushed forward pulling Claudia's arms behind her back while handcuffing her and reading her her rights. "Dona Anna Maria Claudia Sanchez, you have the right—"

Nearby, Billy dropped to the ground to see who had been shot. "Oh my God! Augie! Are you okay?"

"I think so, Sir—" Augie said, looking a little paler than his normal skin color.

"I think it's only a flesh wound; would you agree, Lee?" Billy asked.

Augie looked toward Billy for reassurance while Lee fought a wave of nausea as he looked Augie in the eye, "Billy, I think so–I'm no doctor but I've had enough flesh wounds to know."

"You will be okay," Billy assured Augie. "Someone get me that stretcher out of the ambulance PRONTO!."

The stretcher was set in place. "You will be taken care of by the best, I'll see to it!"

"Thank you, Billy Boss-man!" Augie replied weakly.

"You did a great job!" Lee said as Augie was placed on the stretcher.

"Thank you, Scarecrow!"

"Lee!" Amanda rushed in front of Lee, her eyes wide with worry.

"Amanda, what are–"

"What happened? Are you okay?" She instinctively touched his arm as her eyes etched with worry locked onto his tired and worn eyes.

"It's complicated; but yes, I'm okay."

I'm glad you are okay."

"So am I. Amanda, I-"

His words were cut off by Francine who had been delayed by one of the other agents.

"Billy!" Francine said. "Everything alright? We thought we heard gunshots."

"What in blazes are the two of you doing here?" Billy bellowed.

"It is a long story, Billy."

"Yes, a long story, Sir!" Amanda repeated.

"It will have to keep, though, you can do me a favor," Billy said to both women but his eyes were focused on Amanda. "I need you to make sure Lee gets back to headquarters and is seen by Dr. Joyce and by Dr. Kelford."

"But, Billy–" Lee began, "I'm needed here, to finish–."

"Scarecrow, that's an order!" Billy barked. "You were undercover for five days, you know the drill!"

"We will take care of it, Sir!" Amanda said, maneuvering the wheelchair in front of Lee.

"Yes, yes, we will!" Francine concurred.

"No wheelchair," Lee argued, walking away from the chair.

"Okay, Scarecrow!" Billy said, throwing up his hands. "Just make sure you rest."

Francine and Amanda stood near Lee, in case he needed assistance, as they walked towards the tunnel's exit.

Reluctantly, Lee proceeded out of the underpass, his eyes continually looking backward until they were firmly out of the tunnel.

***SMK***

Carlos waved his hand, catching Billy's attention. "Can I talk to my cousin for a moment?" Carlos asked, walking towards him.

Billy responded, "Do you think that is wise?"

"No, probably not, but out of family obligation I must."

Billy and Carlos moved towards the agents that were holding Claudia.

"You are a shrewd one, Mr. Melrose, very shrewd!" She hissed. She glared at her cousin with a look of pure hatred.

"Claudia, I'm sorry that this happened to you. It's just that I no longer want to be part of the organization."

Claudia's eyes were ablaze, as she spat on Carlos' shoes. "Why did you do this to me, your familial? To the Organization?"

"It's no good, what we have been doing; to our own, to others!" He said, waving his hands in the air for emphasis. "I can't and I won't," he paused, "bring another human into the world with what we have been doing."

"Another human in the world? What are you-you mean you are gonna be a papa?! With whom?"

"No one you know, thank God!"

"You bastard!" She yelled, wrenching her body as violently as she could, trying to get herself free from the agents who were still holding her.

"Calm yourself down, SENORA!" Billy ordered, "or we will do it for you!"

"Don't think this is the end, all of you will pay!" she shrieked.

Billy looked at her with disgust. "Take her and the rest of the scum away!" he barked.

Billy turned to Carlos, "You come back with me and we will talk about getting you situated so you can go back to Mexico."

"Garcias, Mr. Melrose!"

"This is a wrap! Let's move out, people!"

***SMK***

After Lee and Emily were cleared, they showered and changed into the change of clothes that had been brought in for both of them. Now, Lee, Emily, Francine, Amanda and Billy were seated in the conference room eating Chinese food.

"This is so delicious," Emily commented. "It is so difficult to get a good lemon chicken dish in England."

"Most of the Chinese food in England leaves something to be desired if you ask me," Francine joined in.

"Right now, a piece of wood would taste good after being locked up and given the same meal every day," Lee lamented.

"You are so right, Scarecrow," Emily agreed.

There was a moment of silence as the reality of the last few days set in.

"I'm just glad everyone was alright," Amanda said quietly, her eyes scanning the room, landing on Lee momentarily.

"Except for Augie's flesh wound–" Amanda said after a pause."

"Lee, I loved how he kept his eyes open long enough," Francine said.. "to say, Now, that I've saved your life, maybe we can hang out more... then his eyes closed as the morphine drip took effect."

"He was funny," Lee interjected.

"Yeah, you and he could start to hang out; maybe you could even double date," Francine teased.

Everyone laughed while Lee's eyes unbeknownst to everyone but Billy, turned towards Amanda who in turn blushed when Lee gave her a little wink.

Francine said, "Now that we are talking about Augie, it leads to the question–"

"Of, how is it exactly did Augie, am I saying his name right? get in the mix of this situation?" Emily asked.

"It's simple, he happened to be in the wrong place at the right time," Billy replied, "or the right place at the wrong time depending on your perspective, when Claudia and her organization were looking to acquire and store contraband. When Augie realized what they were up to, he tried to reach Lee but when wasn't available, the call was forwarded to me."

"I was certainly surprised when I saw him," Lee commented.

"Me, too!" Emily said.

"He did a great job, Billy," Lee said.

"I agree, we will have to make sure he gets some sort of compensation," Billy turned towards Amanda and Francine and asked, "Now, can the two of you explain to me how you ended up at the exchange site?"

"Sir, it was all my fault–" Amanda began.

"No, Billy it was my fault–" Francine lamented.

"Pinch me," Lee said between bites of his sour pork. "Francine admitting that something was her fault."

Francine glared at Lee momentarily, before she and Amanda began talking simultaneously, starting with how Francine was at Amanda's with the pink Mary Kay suit on.

"And, I noticed that Francine was following me."

"She caught me off guard after I followed her to the store, so it's my fault for letting Amanda see me."

"But Francine, you are a good agent, I just got lucky."

"Francine! Amanda! Stop!" Billy bellowed. "I am glad to see that the two of you have each other's back but can one of you please tell me how you knew that we were at this park? I didn't even know until later that we had to change locations and by that time, Francine had left on her assignment of–"

"Watching me, Sir?"

"Yes!"

"Well, I guess it's my fault," Amanda said. "I persuaded Francine to go to the park and I picked the one where the exchange was."
"But Amanda how did you know that the location had been changed?" Lee asked.

"I didn't. I suggested that park because it seemed like a good idea. It was a nice, warm day, and I couldn't keep my mind off–I mean on other things and Francine was, no offense, but Francine was not cut out to be a Mary Kay representative, so when she suggested lunch, I thought eating lunch in the park was a good idea and this, Sir this was the closest one to us." Amanda said in Amanda fashion ramble.

Lee smiled.

Billy was certainly surprised to hear that Amanda and Francine had gotten along so well. He knew that he should be angry that Francine was detected by Amanda; he was just glad that his agents were all okay. It would be like Amanda to lead her and Francine to THAT particular park without even meaning to. Looking around, he noticed that everyone looked tired, especially Lee and Emily.

"I think it's time we get you to the Cumberland, Emily. I am sure you need a rest."

"I won't argue with you there, Billy."

"I will put extra guards on duty, I won't rest until you are back in England."

"Neither will I," Emily agreed.

"As for you three, Lee, you need to sleep, Amanda, don't you need to pick your kids or your mother?"

"Sir, it is almost time to get the boys."

"And, as for you Francine–"

"Yes, Billy?"

"Go home, I'll see you tomorrow."

"But Billy–"

"Francine, you aren't in trouble. This case has drained me, I want you to go home and get some rest too so you can go back to doing what you do best, being a darn good agent."

"Yes, Billy!"

Amanda piped up, "Come on, Francine, we can drop off Lee and then we can go and get the boys then you can get your car from my house."

"Oh, brother!" Francine made an exaggerated eye roll.

Billy stifled a laugh. That was the Francine he knew.

After a round of goodbyes and hugs to Emily, everyone left as instructed.

***SMK***

Later that day, Amanda, having now been home several hours after dropping both Lee and Francine off, had picked the boys up and managed to grab a few groceries on the way home. The boys were now in bed; her mother was fast asleep; Amanda was sitting with a cup of tea.

What a day it had been. Her heart had nearly dropped from her chest when she saw Lee after hearing a gun go off. In her line of work, you would think that she would be used to it by now, but she had to admit that she wasn't; especially not when it came to Lee. Although she was still kind of angry and confused by his declaration of love, and though sometimes, the two of them didn't get along, there was no doubt about how she felt about him as a friend and a colleague. Even before Lee's words, she had been questioning her feelings towards him—even Dieter had questioned her about how she felt about Lee. It was how she felt about him as something more was the question and even more important than that was, though he declared love for her; what did that mean exactly?

She and Lee barely had a chance to talk when she dropped him off at his apartment, apart from the promise by Lee to revisit their conversation soon.

Amanda, I want us to talk–"

"It is okay, Lee, you are so tired, I understand."

"Thank you, Amanda. What about a quiet meal somewhere just the two of us like normal people?"

"I'd love that.'

Amanda picked up her cup of tea and took another sip. She was reaching for her book when there was a light knock on the front door. She knew even before she unlocked the door who would be on the other side.

To be continued.

The last chapter will post soon.

Thank you for your patience!