Chapter 4

Amanda let out a heavy sigh as she tried to get the map refolded so she could put it in the glove compartment. Lee looked over at her for a brief second from the driver's seat in the agency sedan and smirked.

"Oh, why do they make these things so difficult to fold?" she exclaimed.

"Hey, hey…..I told you I don't need a map. I know where we are going", Lee said trying to put her at ease.

"I know. I just needed to focus on something other than the importance of us succeeding."

"Yeah, I know. But we will be fine. I promise."

Lee took Amanda's hand, kissed it and gave her a reassuring smile.

"I'm glad you can be so calm and confident. Dr. Smyth made it seem like our careers will be over if something goes wrong with this mission."

Lee nodded slightly before answering.

"Yeah….he did. But I know how important this defection will be for our side. I think he is probably getting a lot of pressure, too."

Amanda thought for a moment.

"Don't you think it's weird?" she asked.

"Don't I think what's weird?"

"Don't you think it's weird that we have no back-up? For someone this important, you would think that the agency would have put several teams on this, not just you and me."

"Well, I guess it is a little strange, but I think it says a lot about the confidence that Dr. Smyth has in us. Remember Amanda, he gained a lot of respect for you after the Stem Winder case. That doesn't come easy from someone like him."

"Oh, I know, and I appreciate it. Trust me, I do. I just think it is strange that a defector who is so important only has two agents to protect her and get her safely to the agency. Doesn't matter which two. I would just think there would be a whole army ready to meet her at the airport."

"A whole army would draw a whole lot of attention. Trust me, sometimes the biggest missions are accomplished by the smallest teams…..sometimes even just by one person."

Amanda remained silent for a moment.

"I guess you're right. I think I'm just nervous. I don't want to mess this up."

"We won't mess this up."

Lee squeezed Amanda's hand again as he casually checked the rearview mirror to make sure they weren't being followed. He too thought that the situation was unusual and unorthodox, but he didn't want to tell that to Amanda.

"Ok, let's review this one more time", Amanda said as she opened the dossier given to them in Billy's office.

"Oh, A-MAN-DA! We've been through this at least 6 times."

"I know, I know. Just one more time, I promise."

"Ok, fine. Go ahead", Lee acquiesced.

Amanda began to read…

"We're going to meet her at the baggage claim. She was told to look for a couple wearing a yellow polo shirt, and a red cardigan."

Amanda gestured to the clothing they were currently wearing.

"Did I ever tell you I hate yellow shirts?", Lee said in an annoyed tone. "Together we look like ketchup and mustard."

Amanda chuckled. "I guess we do! But ketchup and mustard go great together and make a great pair!"

Lee made a quick "ppfft" sound as the corner of his mouth turned up slightly in a smile.

"She will give us the recognition code…."

"Excuse me….can you tell me how to find my lost luggage?" Lee stated the memorized recognition code.

"And we should reply….."

"It is a terrible thing to lose your luggage on a day like today", Lee concluded.

"That really is a silly recognition code. I would have thought it would be something less common than to talk about your luggage in the airport."

"Well, that's kind of the point, Amanda. It makes sense to be talking about luggage in an airport. It's not so much what is said as much as it that it is said back exactly as it is supposed to be. Kind of like using the right combination to open the safe. The combination can be something like 1-2-3, easy to remember but won't open if you don't use the numbers in the right order."

Amanda nodded. "Yeah, you're right. Ok, then we all walk out to the car and get back on the road and high tail it back to the agency."

"Easy enough"

"Let's hope so", Amanda said as she shut the folder and looked out the window.

"It's going to be fine. We've been on a lot more difficult cases than this one. Don't let Dr. Smyth's ranting get in your head. We will just do what we've been trained to do. We should be home by early evening."

"You're right! I hope I get to go see Phillip's scrimmage game tomorrow."

"He's really loving high school so far, isn't he?"

"Yeah, he is. I'm glad. I always get nervous when they start a new grade, and now Phillip is at a new school, too."

"Well, he sure seemed happy last night, so did Jamie."

Amanda's heart leapt for a moment recalling how well Lee and the boys got along last night.

"He absolutely did. AND, it seems that the boys were more excited to see you last night than their own mother."

Lee smiled broadly.

"I don't know about that!"

"I sure do. They were so excited to hear you were coming over for dinner. They both bombarded you for attention the moment you walked in the door."

"I guess that….."

"Lee, I think it's wonderful. I am so happy that they have taken to you. I knew Phillip wouldn't be a problem because he idolizes you so. I was worried about Jamie."

"And now?"

"Now, I'm not worried anymore. I think the three of you have really turned a corner."

Lee once again smiled. "I'm glad to hear you say that, Amanda. I thought so, too but Obviously I don't know them as well as you do."

"Well, believe it. I bet right now they are wondering when the next time will be that you come over for dinner."

"Your mother already asked me to come back tonight if we are back in time."

Amanda laughed.

"Now why doesn't that surprise me? Ever since we told her that we were married, you two have been as thick as thieves! I don't know why I was ever worried about telling her. She truly loves you and is so happy you are part of the family."

Lee got a lump in his throat thinking about being part of a family…..part of Amanda's family. He loved Dotty, too and was so grateful that she accepted him rather than rejected him for marrying her daughter without her knowing. He hoped the same would soon be true of Phillip and Jamie. Amanda could see that Lee was trying not to let his emotions show. She knew how much her mother and Lee cared for each other and it was a blessing she had not expected.

"So, how much further", she said changing the subject.

"10 minutes at the most. Ready?"

Amanda slowly exhaled.

"Yup, ready as I'll ever be.