"So our only real clue is the ticket to the drive-in," concluded Amanda, sitting in Billy's office. "And the ratings box, but I really don't know how that will help. Unless it's not a real box, I suppose," she speculated. "I suppose it could be some kind of transmitter or a listening device or, well almost anything really. Oh my gosh, maybe Lee shouldn't have pulled it off – what if it's a bomb or something?"

"Relax, Amanda," Billy smiled. "Our lab says it's a real Neiman box, but we're having it checked out anyway. I can't imagine why Lee thinks it's important, but it's easy enough to get the information off it. Of course, there's no proof that the man who attacked you last night was our killer and not just someone breaking into the room. You might have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Amanda closed the cover of her notepad and asked, "Sir, I can't believe I'm asking this, but the agent that was killed last night? Is he really dead? Or is he, you know…" she dropped her voice to a whisper, even though the office door was closed, "in on this too?"

Billy's face turned somber. "No, unfortunately Vernon really was murdered."

"That's awful," murmured Amanda. "Lee said he was a really good guy."

"He was," agreed Billy, "and a damn fine agent." His fingers drummed the desk. "And that means, unfortunately, that we have to look even closer at our own agents as the killer."

"One of our own people," Amanda shook her head sadly. "How could they?"

"Well, I have our psych department working overtime on profiling," said Billy. "It's possible one of them had burned out without our being the wiser."

"Or worse," said Amanda. "Remember Walt Kimball?"

Billy nodded. "No, I haven't forgotten him," he said. "Who knows if someone picked up where Glaser left off? Every agent is undergoing assessment and drug testing as we speak."

"Good thing Lee isn't here," Amanda managed to pull up a small smile. "You know how he feels about doctors and tests."

"You're not wrong there, Amanda," Billy chuckled. He paused and went on more soberly. "I'm sorry we had to lie about Lee's whereabouts, but it really was a need to know."

"Well, I think it was very cruel," she reprimanded him, "and I think it was very bad for morale too. Look at the people out there," she pointed at the bullpen. "Susan told me that people are afraid to go home at night."

Billy sighed. "And Vernon's death has made that worse. We had no idea there'd be another murder so soon and right here in the Agency, or we might have done things differently. But hindsight is 20-20, Amanda, and we'll have to deal with it. Speaking of which, how is your family dealing with Lee being at your house? He isn't giving you too much trouble is he? I trust he's been a considerate houseguest?"

Remembering all the various ways Lee has been 'considerate' when they'd gotten home last night made her blush, but Amanda used that to her advantage and put on her most innocent expression. "Well, Mother and the boys in Williamsburg on a school trip, so that's fine, but I really hope we catch this man soon," she said. "Not that Lee isn't a good houseguest, but it's getting harder to explain to the boys why he has to stay over so often – and he isn't even injured this time!"

"Could you say he's your boyfriend?" asked Billy.

Amanda shook her head. "Oh no, Mr. Melrose, I wouldn't want them to get the wrong idea and I don't like to lie to them." She gave him a wide-eyed look. "Unless you think Lee would like that. Is that why he asked to stay at my house? Do you think he likes me?"

"Well, I'm sure he likes you, Amanda," Billy stammered. "But I don't think Lee's… I mean to say, you're probably right not to confuse your sons, since Lee's intentions are not…" he leapt to his feet. "Let me just go see if those Neiman box results are ready." He shot out of his office.

"Gotcha," murmured Amanda. It might only be the tiniest revenge for the hell he'd put her through for those three days, but it helped.

"Oh Amanda, I wasn't expecting you to be here," said Francine from the doorway. "I thought all non-essential personnel were staying away until this is dealt with."

Amanda took in the shadows under Francine's eyes. "Hello, Francine. Yes, you're right, I am supposed to be at home, but Mr. Melrose wanted me to go back over everything Lee and I saw that night at Monk's, just in case we missed anything." She paused. "I heard about poor Mr. Vernon being killed last night. He told me you were here last night when they found him. I'm so sorry for your loss."

"Thank you," said Francine. "You think you'll get used to it, losing friends in this business, but this seems so cruel, so…" she searched for the right word.

"Personal," said Amanda.

"Yes, personal," agreed Francine. "To think that it must be someone in here, someone I probably know…" her voice petered out and just for a moment, she looked lost, and not at all like her usual tough-as-nails self.

"But that's where he's made a mistake, isn't it?" said Amanda, thinking out loud. "He's made it clear he's inside the Agency and that narrows down the list of suspects."

"There's still a few thousand people that work in this building, Amanda," sniffed Francine.

Amanda shrugged. "Better a few thousand than the few million it could be if he was on the outside."

Francine studied her. "You're right."

"Well, it's just logic really," said Amanda. "Like knowing it isn't you."

Francine frowned. "Why couldn't it be me? I'll have you know, Amanda, I am a fully trained agent capable of killing a man in a hundred different ways!"

Amanda hid a smile. "I'm sure you could, Francine, but I don't think you would. Lee once told me you were a wonderful loyal friend and I don't think you'd kill anyone without a very good reason."

Francine tossed her head. "And when did Lee tell you that load of hogwash?"

"When he was telling me why he didn't believe you were involved with Mrs. Welch," Amanda replied quietly.

"Oh." Francine looked startled. "Really? I always thought… I assumed…"

"That he went in there thinking you were involved?" Amanda shook her head. "Oh no, he refused to believe it for one second, and he wouldn't let Mr. Melrose believe it either."

"Well, that's… that's nice to hear," said Francine. "Thank you for telling me that."

Amanda made a quick decision. "Francine, if there's anything I can do to help you with any of this, please don't hesitate to ask me. Here's my phone number and address." She scribbled them out on a piece of paper and held it out.

"Why would I need your help?" Francine asked, clearly confused.

Amanda shrugged. "Sometimes you just need someone who's not involved, who can see it from a different angle, you know? That's what Lee tells me-" she corrected herself quickly "Used to tell me – when he bounced ideas off me. Anyway, don't hesitate to call, day or night."

Francine took the paper unwillingly. "Thank you, Amanda, but it is very unlikely I'll take you up on that."

Amanda shrugged again. "Well, you never know."

Billy re-entered the office, carrying the Nieman results. "Ah, Amanda, here's the, um, research I wanted you to look over."

"She does research now?" Francine lifted an eyebrow.

"Oh no, not really,' said Amanda, clutching the binder to her chest. "Mr. Melrose just wants me to skim this looking for references to possible links. Just some busywork I can do from home."

"Skim what? Possible links to what?" she asked.

"Need to know, Francine," said Billy, ushering her towards the door.

"Billy! I am your assistant! What can there possibly be that you need to keep secret from me?"

"Nothing," he smiled genially. "I just enjoy watching you get riled up." Francine made a noise of pure annoyance. Billy closed the door behind her and she stormed back to her desk, momentarily forgetting he had never explained what Amanda was doing with the binder.

"I feel terrible keeping this from her," Amanda murmured.

"It won't be for much longer," Billy consoled her. "I'm sure Lee will crack this open any time now."

"I hope so," sighed Amanda.

She left his office, heading for the elevator. To her surprise, Susan intercepted her along the way.

"Amanda, we're really narrowing it down!" she exclaimed.

"We are?" said Amanda, confused. "What are we narrowing down?"

"The girls in the steno pool," explained Susan. "We've been getting together and going over everything we can pull together about who might have done it, and we've already eliminated so many people!"

"Really?" said Amanda. "Which agents have you eliminated?"

"Well, for agents, only a few because they were out of the country, but we've taken a bunch of the regular staff off the list," Susan answered.

"Oh! Well, I'm sure Mr. Melrose is very grateful for your help."

Susan's face turned dark. "Oh, we haven't shared this with him yet. I told him we were available to help and he kind of patted me on the head and said the guys in Security were on it."

"Well, they are, aren't they?" asked Amanda. "That's their job."

"Well, of course it is," Susan rolled her eyes, "but they're so sure it's an agent that no one is looking anywhere else."

"Don't you think it's an agent?" asked Amanda, startled.

"Well, it could be," Susan acknowledged. "But have you ever read those true crime magazine articles about perfectly normal people who turn out to have snapped one day and murdered their husband? What if it's something like that?"

Amanda nodded her head thoughtfully. "But these aren't spur of the moment, are they? The notes? The camera in the desk? It's all carefully planned, almost scripted."

Susan sagged a little bit. "I suppose you're right." Then she brightened. "Bu if anyone wanted to learn how to do it, this would be a great place to, wouldn't it? All those agents to answer your questions, a library full of how-to manuals! Think about that!"

"I guess you're right," sighed Amanda. She had a flash of intuition. "You know, if you find anything, I'd go to Francine first and explain it to her. She can be kind of mean, but she's also more likely to listen to a woman."

"Really?" asked Susan.

"Really," Amanda confirmed. "She's also mad about being left out of the loop investigating this and to be honest, I think Mr. Melrose would be more willing to believe it coming from her than you – just because of the whole agent thing."

Susan nodded. "That makes sense – thanks for that."

"Well, good luck with your investigation," Amanda smiled. "Let me know if you need any help."

Susan nodded absently and disappeared back off down the hall.