Chapter 43

Back to the Business of Swann

A couple days later, Lee and Amanda returned to the office. As they entered the bullpen, the other agents clapped and congratulated them. William, Todd, Tony and Jackie came up to Amanda.

"Mrs. S" William called out. "Welcome back."

"I think I like that name," Amanda hugged the other candidates.

"Amanda, you look amazing," Jackie said. "Paris and this big guy are doing you right."

"Well," Amanda said blushing, "I've never been happier."

Billy came out of his office to greet them.

"Well," he called out. "Welcome back, you two. Ready to get back to work?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Lee said. "Vacation is over."

"Come on in my office." Billy said. Lee and Amanda came in and closed the door behind them. "It looks like you two had a wonderful time."

"It was amazing," Amanda said. "Best trip of my life." She smiled at Lee who took her hand.

"Well," Billy said. "I understand Lucas Moreau from Paris Station shared the information about the metro stabbing."

"Yeah,"Lee was visibly disturbed, not for himself, but for the effect that had on his family. "He showed us the photo. It was the same guy following us."

"Not happy about Brody following us again." Amanda grimaced. "But I can't say that I'm surprised."

"Do we know if he's back in this area?" Lee asked.

"Not confirmed," Billy said. "The Honey Badger is out now running some leads with Francine." Billy squirmed a bit in his seat. Lee knew that move. There was something he didn't want to tell them.

"What is it, Billy?" Lee said.

"Kristen was over at your place the other day tutoring your son, Amanda. I wanted to make certain your house was secure while you were away. She said your mother mentioned that a man came to the door asking about the house. She directed him to the realtor."

"We understand from the realtor that she expects an offer any day now." Amanda said. "It could be just that he was actually interested in the house."

"Your mother described him as a man in his late 30's or early 40's, balding and not well kept." Billy said. "Check with the realtor. Driving by is one thing, but walking up to the door is getting pretty bold, even for Brody. Amanda, for my sake, I'm going to ask that you limit your field work. If he doesn't know you're pregnant yet, he will soon and I worry he'll use you to get to Lee. Kristen will be back soon. The three of you can work together. You seem to be getting good at that."

"Yes, sir." Amanda said. While Amanda was not happy about being grounded to the office, her Mama Bear instincts were taking charge, so if there was a threat, she would protect the child she was carrying at all costs. Even if that meant sitting out of some of the investigation. She was also nervous that one of Brody's associates may have come to the house, however, she and Lee were back now and they would make certain the family was secure. Lee and Amanda got up to leave.

"Oh, Amanda," Billy said.

"Yes, sir?"

"You look amazing, Mrs. Stetson."

"Thank you, sir." Amanda smiled.

- SMK -

Lee headed up to the Q Bureau while Amanda went to HR to start the paperwork for her name change. She had gone to the Social Security office the day before with the marriage license, which arrived by mail at home while they were in Paris. She wanted to get this switched over as soon as possible so her married name could be on the deed for the house. Plus, she had to admit she was tickled to be Amanda Stetson now.

Lee arrived at his desk to a stack of mail, most of which was nothing more than some busy work and info on some old cases. However, there was a strange phone message from Augie Swann indicating he had some info for him and left an address for a hot dog stand. Very weird, but that was Augie. He was he ran in some of the same circles as some of Brody goons, he may be useful. He was also amused at the idea of introducing Kristen to him.

At that moment, Francine and Kristen entered the Q Bureau.

"Hey, welcome back!" Kristen said.

"Yes, welcome back," Francine said a bit sarcastically. Noticing Amanda was not in the office, she continued, "Your wife leave you already?" Kristen walked over and sat on the couch to let these two have their usual sparing match. She really wanted to know the history, but for now, it was fun to watch, particularly as it reminded her of she and Alex.

"Very funny, Francine," Lee said. "She is down in HR right now working on her name change."

"So," Kristen said, changing the subject. "How was Paris? Did Amanda love it?"

"Yes," Lee said. "Thank you both very much, it was perfect. It turns out her late father had promised to take here to the Eiffel Tower one day, that's why it meant so much to her. That reminds me." Lee reached in his desk and pulled out two bottle of French perfume, one for each of them. "Thank you both for the idea."

"Oh, thank you!" Kristen said

"Very nice, Lee. So, looks like you are making your sweet, little housewife's dreams come true." Francine said sarcastically.

"I hate that term," Kristen said quietly as if to herself as she smelled the perfume. "Ooo, nice."

"What?" Lee asked looking over at Kristen. She popped her head up realizing he'd heard her.

"Implies that a woman is married to a house, not to mention that fact that it's completely misogynistic." Kristen said. Lee and Francine looked like they were taken completely off guard by her statement. Kristen caught it but kept going. "Amanda was previously a stay at home mother, and frankly too smart to be married to a house." Lee nodded. She had a point.

"Not that smart," Francine said, trying to recover from unintentionally making a remark that was demeaning to women. "She married this guy. But of course, someone as innocent and naive as Amanda King..."

"Stetson." Kristen corrected.

"Stetson, now," Francine said to Kristen, "she can clearly be influenced by anyone."

"I don't think she's so innocent," Kristen said in a sing-songy voice as if to imply something a little more salacious. She got a little ruffled when Francine tried to run down Amanda, particularly when Amanda was not there to defend herself.

"You've got to be kidding," Francine said.

"Look how tired this one looks," Kristen said, pointing at Lee who responded with a Who? Me? look.. "Bet you anything, Amanda looks happy and very satisfied."

As if on cue, Amanda walked into the Q Bureau.

"Hello." She said looking around the room. Based on the looks Amanda knew she'd interrupted something.

"Amanda!" Kristen popped up from the couch, giving her a hug. "I"m happy you're back."

"Welcome back, Amanda." Francine said.

"Wow," Kristen said noticing that Amanda did actually look amazing. She looked happy and healthy, and not just from pregnancy.. "You are absolutely glowing." Kristen grinned

"Thank you, Kristen." Amanda replied.

"Yeah, you do look good." Francine said, almost disappointed.

"Yes." Kristen continued. "This is more than just pregnancy. This is a happy woman. One who thoroughly enjoyed her honeymoon. Well done. Lee." Kristen clapped, getting a charge out of the flush on Lee's cheeks as he dipped his head behind his hand.

"Ugh," Francine said. "Listen, we've run down a few locations where Brody may be working from. More than likely he moves around. You two, or three, whatever, can continue investigating them. On that, I'm leaving." Francine turned and left the room.

"Oh, that was fun." Kristen said. "You need to fill me in on the history there. She is jealous of you, Amanda. Has something to do with the one, I'm guessing." Kristen pointed at Lee.

"You really don't miss anything, do you?" Lee laughed. Kristen grinned.

"So, like Francine said we ran down some locations based a few people also released from the same prison as Brody. We've not seen much activity but may be worth keeping an eye on them." Kristen told them.

"I got a message from Augie Swann. He's not always reliable but he will run in some of the same circles as those who may be recruited by Brody." Lee mentioned.

"Are you actually thinking of bringing a Kristen to meet Augie?" Amanda asked incredulously.

"Yeah," Lee said, thinking to himself. "She'll clearly distract him and we may get more info while he's trying to impress her."

"Okay, what am I being used for?" Asked Kristen. "Who is the Augie person?"

"He's one of my less savory contacts," Lee said. "He runs in the same circles as a number of the "goons" we ran into in California. If you sweeten the pot a little, he'll talk."

"I'm not going to be the bag of gummy bears," Kristen said, backing up with her hands up.

"Don't worry, he's usually looking for money, with you there he may be little more loose-lipped. It's all a part of the seedy side of secret agent work."

"Oh goody," Kristen said sarcastically. "Do I get to at least drive the Vette?"

"No."

"Killjoy."

- SMK -

Lee and Kristen located the hot dog stand with Augie standing inside. He came out as he saw them approach.

"So," Lee said. "I see you've downgraded from limos to spoiled hot dogs."

"Lee!" Augie brightened up. "I will have you know that I only sell the finest hot dogs."

"Out of the dumpster behind Milo's." Lee wrinkled his nose at the smell. "So, you wanted to see me. What do you have for me?"

"Not so fast," Augie said, clearly distracted by Kristen, as expected. "We're going younger it seems, are we, Lee?"

"No!" Kristen said flatly. Was Lee kidding this with guy?

"Oh, yeah, that's right," Augie replied. "I hear you got married. Word is you've got a little bun in the over as well." Augie punched him lightly in the arm. "So, you knocking up your partners now?" He laughed.

"Knock it off, Augie. Who said my wife was pregnant?" Lee was getting irritated. Shit! If Augie knew, it was a certainty that Brody also knew. Not the best of circumstances, but it could not be avoided much longer anyway.

"Word's out there are photos where your little wifey has gained weight in only one area. Don't take a rocket scientist."

"Clearly." Kristen said, eliciting an offended look from Augie.

Okay , time to change the subject. "What have you got for me?" Lee demanded.

"The word is Brody's on the hire and he's got taste for revenge with you for losing a big stack of cash for some laser research or something." Augie said. "Was this the little cutie I heard you were sneaking around with in L.A.?"

"Working with!" Kristen barked back at him.

"Whatever you say, Sweetheart? If you're not with him, you wanna get a drink sometime?"

"Seriously? You looking to get punched in the face?" Kristen looked him flatly in the eye.

"Oh," Augie grinned. "This one's feisty."

"Has he tried to recruit you?" Lee asked trying to get him back to the point.

"Me? Hell no. I wouldn't do it anyway. You know when he's done with people he doesn't just kill them, he executes them. Executes! No, thank you. However, I hear he's also blackmailing a few people around town for places to stay and hiring some muscle to follow you and your little wifey around. He's got a little place in Alexandria from some CPA who was fooling around on the side." Augie then turning to Kristen. "Have you ever considered mud wrestling?"

"No, thank you."

"Come on, Augie. Don't waste my time. Do you have an address?" Lee was getting irritated. He pulled out some cash.

"He's in a little vacation house in Alexandria. One of those cute little bungalow places." He turned back to Kristen. "You know you could make a lot a money in wrestling."

"Thanks, I'm good." She replied. "But tell you what, you give us an address and I can show you some of my wrestling moves." He smiled at her and handed a piece of paper to Lee.

"So what you got for me, cutie?" He walked toward Kristen. She kneed him in the groin, twisted his arm around him and dropped him the to ground. Lee was impressed. That time with Stanley was clearly paying off.

"Okay! Okay! !" Augie yelled as Kristen let go of him. He was having trouble getting up from a doubled over position. "I like the other partner better. But if you've ever interested in wrestling, come on back. You are clearly qualified." He choked out. Lee just laughed and turned around.

"Thanks, Augie." He called back. Addressing Kristen, "Yep, he liked you, or at least he did until you ruined his chances of ever procreating. So was that the move you used on that Jacobsen kid?"

"Yep." Lee laughed heartily as Augie was still struggling to get up.

- SMK -

Lee and Kristen went back to the agency to fill in Billy and Amanda. Billy agreed to put surveillance on the Alexandria address they received from Augie over the next few days to see if there was any activity.

After they returned to the Q Bureau the phone rang.

"Hi, Mr. Stetson, it's Andrea Thomas," Lee smiled. It was the realtor. "Hey Andrea, hold on, I'll put you on speaker, Amanda's right here."

"Hi Andrea," Amanda said.

"Hi, Mrs. Stetson. Congratulations."

"Thank you," they both replied. "Any news?" Lee asked.

"Yes, I have an offer for you on the Maplewood house. Can you meet me this afternoon?"

They agreed and headed over to the realtor's office. It was just below asking price, but well within what they were willing to take. The terms were good, so they accepted the offer. The paperwork would be ready the next day to close on their new house. The move was on to the new Stetson home.