The next morning, Amanda was certain that her sleepless night was showing in her face, but she was determined to be brave and show up at work as if everything was fine. She had spent the night tossing and turning and calling Lee's apartment repeatedly to no avail, except to hear his voice on his answering machine. She had held out hope all day at the office yesterday, hoping that he'd call her in the evening, but the phone had never rung.

Dotty had found her lifting the phone to check for a dial tone and rolled her eyes. "Look at you – it's like having a teenager back in the house! Darling, you know he'd call if he could, so wherever it is Lee's scouting this for this film, he must just not be able to reach a phone. That man adores you – he'll call when he can."

Amanda nodded, turning away to hide the sheen of tears in her eyes. He'd call if he could, she thought. Her mind refused to go any further with the logic that said what Billy had told her was true; she just had to keep hoping.

When dawn had come though, and still no message from Lee, even her regular optimism couldn't withstand the dark thoughts. She entered the bullpen, barely noticing the brief lull in conversation as everyone watched her. She hung up her coat, carefully put her purse away, and then, taking a deep breath, walked to Billy's office and rapped on the door.

"Oh Amanda, hello," he said, looking up from his paperwork and leaning back in his chair. "How are you?"

"Still in shock a little, I guess," she said. She twisted her fingers together. "I was just wondering if there was anything… anything else I could do. To help with the case, I mean. Lee and I talked a bit about it, and how there had to be a connection between all the murders." Her voice shook on the last word, and she had to pause and collect herself.

"Not really," said Billy. "We have our best people working on it."

"Best people after Lee," she couldn't help blurting out. "Since he is - was – the best."

"He was," Billy agreed. "And we're all working very hard to get to the bottom of it. Was there anything else, Mrs. King?"

Amanda subconsciously noted that he'd dropped back into formality but pressed on. "I just thought… maybe there was something else in his personal file that might help. Are you sure you've read everything? To see if he had any secrets that might have something to do with this? Something unconnected to the other deaths?"

"I have," said Bily calmly, laying his hand on a thin folder on his desk. "But Lee was a lone wolf for a long time, Mrs. King. He didn't have much beyond work and the occasional dalliance with a beautiful woman. There's nothing there that would suggest a reason for revenge. It's definitely tied in with all the other agents being killed" He straightened up and picked up his pen, obviously dismissing her.

"I see," she murmured. She turned and started to walk out before a thought occurred to her, as she looked across the bull pen. "Sir, would you like me pack up Lee's desk?"

Billy's head shot up from the paperwork he'd been staring at. "Oh! That won't be necessary, Mrs. King. I'm sure the janitorial staff will look after it," he stammered.

Amanada blinked, looked over at Lee's desk and then back to Billy. "I think a friend should do it, don't you?" she asked pointedly. "There may be personal items, or case notes, or… well, I just think someone should check."

Billy's brow cleared. "I suppose you're right, Mrs. King. Now, I don't think it needs to be cleaned out entirely just yet, but perhaps you could go through and bring me any notes or files that you think I should see?" He glanced through the window at Lee's desk where a bouquet had appeared since the day before and grimaced. "And maybe just tidy it up a little."

"Yes sir!" Amanda felt a small twinge of hope that Billy didn't want Lee's things cleared away. And maybe he'll have left a message there for me…

A few hours later, Lee's desk was tidier, but Amanda's hopes for a secret message had been dashed. If Lee was still alive somewhere, he hadn't reached out in any way. She reached to straighten the pen holder at the left edge of the desk, and then straightened one of the lilies that were in the bouquet that had been left there.

"What are you doing? You shouldn't be touching anything on Lee's desk!" Francine sounded furious, but when Amanda looked up, she could see the red-rimmed eyes that weren't really hidden by flawless makeup, and she could also see that Francine was working hard to keep her grief in control.

"Oh! I'm sorry, Francine. Mr. Melrose asked me to tidy it up a little, that's all," she explained. "I haven't taken anything, except for a few reports that needed to be filed."

"I see." Francine's demeanour softened a little bit. "Well, I would have done it, if he'd asked," she tossed her head.

"I'm sure you would have," said Amanda sympathetically. "But he probably wants you helping on the case and not with the housework."

"I suppose it does make more sense to ask the housewife to do it." The comment had all of Francine's usual snark, but somehow there was no force behind it. "But he hasn't asked me for my help," she said, almost to herself.

"He said he had his best people on it," Amanda ventured.

"And yet, I'm not included in that," said Francine bitterly. "Lee was my friend – Billy must know I'd do anything in my power to find his killer."

"Maybe he thought you were too close?" said Amanda. "That he was afraid it might cloud your judgment?"

Francine drew herself up and stared at her. "I would never let friendship get in the way of justice," she stated.

"What do you think happened?" fished Amanda. "I mean, it seems so strange that Lee was going to be so careful after all those threats and then this horrible man still gets to him? And the funeral is so rushed – hardly anyone is going, not even his uncle." She studied Francine, hoping to see some kind of reaction that maybe she thought this was all a ploy too.

"I don't know what happened," said Francine. "But I'm going to find out." She reached out and picked up the brown mug with Lee's name on it that Amanda had set to one side.

"I was going to take that to wash it," said Amanda. "He always left that last mouthful at the bottom."

"I'll do that," said Francine, cradling it close to her chest. "He made me coffee that last day. I didn't even say thank you because I was in the middle of something." She was talking to herself really, but Amanda listened with sympathy. "How could I have known I wouldn't get the chance again?" She went silent and then looked at Amanda. "Thank you for looking after his things," she said in an abrupt tone. "I appreciate that it was you and not one of the usual airheads. I know you only knew Lee a short time, but he liked you and he was a pretty good judge of character most of the time. He would have been grateful you were looking after all this." She paused again. "I never said thank you to you either, for being there when I woke up in the infirmary after Mrs. Welch's. It was a kind thing to do for a stranger, and I don't think I was very nice to you. Thank you for that."

"You're welcome," murmured Amanda, but Francine had apparently shown enough emotion for the day and strode off without saying anything else.

A moment later, Susan was standing in front of Amanda, eyes flashing. "What did that witch say to you?" she asked.

"She was thanking me for tidying up Lee's things," Amanda replied, diplomatically.

"Huh." Susan didn't sound like she completely believed her but decided to let it drop. "I hear Mr. Melrose asked you to go to the funeral tomorrow."

"He did," Amanda nodded.

"That's nice. Like I said, Lee liked you the best of anyone in here." Susan leaned on the edge of the desk. "Mr. Melrose says we'll have a memorial service here next week. That's so sad, don't you think? Just a small funeral and then a memorial in a meeting room. I mean, I think it must be awful being an agent and doing all that work for your country and then knowing they'll hardly make a fuss when you die.

"Yes, said Amanda, suddenly choking up. "It is."

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Susan exclaimed. "I didn't mean to set you off! Tell you what, Amanda. I'll organize something next week after the memorial service. We can have a wake somewhere and really see Lee off in style."

"That would be nice," Amanda replied. "But I don't think I want to do anything until whoever did this is caught. I want to say goodbye knowing he'll rest in peace." Even as she said it, she realized that the faint hope she'd had all this time was starting to fade.

"Yeah, that's a better idea," said Susan. "You know, when I heard about that camera in his desk, I really thought that meant it had to be someone who worked here, you know? Someone who would have been able to get to his desk to plant it? But when I said that to Mr. Melrose, he said it had probably just been a prank and not to take it too seriously. I bet he's taking it seriously now," she said darkly.

"I'm sure he is," Amanda answered quietly.

"You know," said Susan, looking excited. "I'm going to go get Milly in Security to see who was on duty that day. I bet we can help find him!"

Amanda started to protest, but Susan had already turned away, intent on her pursuit. She thought about following her and seeing if there was anything she could do, but a wave of fatigue came over her and she slumped back in Lee's chair.

You have to face facts, Amanda, she told herself. Lee's gone.

She shook her head sharply. "No," she muttered. You have to hold on to hope."