Chapter 8

Two hours later, Amanda sat on the couch in their basement family room, holding a sleepy DJ in her lap while Francine spread out the photographs Lee took as well as the images the local police had sent. Amanda involuntarily shuddered when she noticed the picture of Jonathan's lifeless body draped on the desk. She leaned forward and tapped the image. "I guess that's why the police thought he took his own life."

Francine stopped arranging the images. "What do you mean?"

"Well, there's a bottle for some kind of prescription near his right hand and he's still holding the pen in his left. If I saw that, I'd think the same thing." Amanda sighed softly.

"Wait, Amanda, did you say the pen was in his left hand?" Francine's hand suspended in midair as she awaited Amanda's reply.

Amanda studied the photograph again. "Yes, the pen is in his left hand. Unless for some reason it was printed backward but it's in the same hand as his watch."

Francine slowly lowered her hand. "Jonathan wasn't a lefty. We used to joke about it all the time his left hand was like an old friend he could never trust. He'd even drop a glass of water from that hand if he held it for too long."

Amanda turned the picture to face her and stated, "The pen is definitely in his left hand."

Francine took the image and moved it off to the side. "Well, there's one feather in our cap, I guess."

From above them, they heard footsteps and Lee's voice calling out to them. "Amanda? Francine?"

"Down here," Amanda called back. She adjusted DJ onto her shoulder and checked on Lily, who was yawning in her bouncy seat.

Lee jogged down the steps and stopped at the landing. "Jamie, why don't you jump in the shower. I'll take one when you're finished. And I think your brother is going to be home soon too."

"Okay, Lee," Jamie's muffled voice replied before the sound of his footsteps on the stairs above faded.

"How was class?" Francine raised an eyebrow at Lee's sweat-stained shirt.

Lee listened behind him for a moment before he turned back to Francine. "It was great. Jamie gave me a heck of a workout. Almost as good as Stanley."

"Sweetheart, there's no way Jamie is on Stanley's level yet. I mean, I know you're proud of the progress he's made but isn't that a little exaggeration?" Amanda blinked several times, awaiting Lee's response.

"I didn't mean he was on Stanley's level but he kept me on my toes. Not only did I have to watch his moves, but I had to reign back on a full strike. That's harder than it sounds," Lee refuted.

"Oh yes, we know all about your full strikes. And how the last time you worked with Stanley he broke his hand and you nearly broke your leg," Francine quipped with a toothy smile.

Lee groaned. "Ha ha, very funny. While I was breaking a sweat with Jamie, did you two find anything?"

Amanda chuckled softly. "Yes, we found DJ would rather eat her fingers than strained carrots and Lily likes mixed fruit medley over blended chicken and rice."

Lee studied his daughters' sleepy faces. "It looks like they are both well-fed and ready for bed. And I'm serious. Were you able to figure out anything while we were gone?"

Amanda stood slowly and carried the baby over to Lee. She placed her gently in his arms as she explained, "We were just finally sitting down to go over everything, so if you could take DJ up to bed, I'll get Lily and then maybe we can make some real progress."

"Amanda, could I take Lily up for you?" Francine asked tentatively. Amanda turned but before she could say anything Francine quickly added, "I need a break from these pictures. Besides, we all know you see things everyone else misses anyway."

Amanda's mouth turned up in a gentle smile. "Of course you can bring her up. They're both practically asleep anyway, so it won't be a tough process tonight." She brushed her lips against DJ's temple as Francine collected Lily from her seat. When Francine approached, she repeated the loving action on Lily's temple, smoothed her light brown hair off her forehead, and whispered, "Sweet dreams."

"I'm telling you, Francine, you're getting better and better every time you hold them. And I never thought in a million years those words would be coming out of my mouth either." Lee laughed.

"And I never thought you'd get married, never mind become a father," she countered.

Lee turned and started to climb the stairs. "In any case, we've both grown into better people."

Francine followed him and as they entered the kitchen she stated softly, "And it's thanks to Amanda, of all people."

"What'd Mom do now?" Philip mumbled around the bite of food in his mouth. In one hand was a partially eaten peanut butter sandwich and a glass of milk in the other.

"Your mother didn't do anything other than be herself. How was work?" Lee nodded at his stepson.

Philip grunted loudly. "Work. Why do people think they're so much better than you when they drive a fancy car?"

Francine bit her bottom lip as Lee sputtered for an answer. "I don't understand. Did something happen?"

Philip shook his head. "Yes and no. Some guy in a Porsche yelled at me while I was checking his oil. I didn't even do anything, but he started complaining I was going to scratch his paint when I leaned over."

"Well, maybe he's a little attached to his car. Some people are like that," Lee offered.

"Yeah, and some people are so attached they cry when something happens to it," Francine quipped with a grin.

The muscle in Lee's cheek twitched slightly as he pressed his lips together tightly.

Philip tore off another bite of his sandwich and frowned. "I don't understand, but honestly, the guy was just a jerk. I'm gonna jump in the shower and hit the hay. I am so glad I get to sleep in tomorrow. No school, no work, no nothing but my bed for an extra hour or two. Sweet dreams for me."

Lee moved slowly toward the doorway and listened. "Sounds like you might have to hold off a few more minutes. Your brother's still in there. But, why don't you have school tomorrow?"

Philip shrugged his shoulders as he finished off his sandwich. "I don't know. Teacher prep day or something. Doesn't matter to me except I get a free day off in the middle of the week."

"I wish we had a day off in the middle of the week," Francine groaned softly as she adjusted the sleeping baby in her arms. "Our boss is a real stickler. We have to be in the office or in the field, no matter what."

"But I thought you were a federal agent and Lee and my mom worked for that film company?" Philip questioned.

Francine froze, took a deep breath, and said, "When I mean we, I didn't mean Lee and your mom, I meant we as in the other people I work with, although sometimes I do work with Lee and your mom when they are doing… research… for a project."

"Just like the one we are working on right now," Lee inserted. "As a matter of fact, your mom is studying some pictures of an older-style townhouse–"

"Where that businessman was murdered, and they found all kinds of clues hidden away in secret shelves in the basement," Francine finished for him.

"Cool! Can I see?" Philip's voice rose with excitement.

Lee shook his head. "Sorry, Chief, this one requires a certain level of national security because of the stuff they found. Even we don't have access to everything. It's all hush-hush, you know?"

"I get it. Like a conspiracy or something." Philip winked as he slowly nodded his head.

Lee chuckled softly so he didn't wake DJ in his arms. "Something like that. Francine and I need to get the girls in bed, so do me a favor and keep the noise down if you're going to be up for a while, okay?"

"No problem. I'm not planning on being up long." Philip gulped down the remaining milk and placed the glass carefully in the sink. "Have a good night!" He bounded up the stairs without another word, disappearing into his room.

Lee and Francine followed and entered the twins' dimly lit room. Lee lowered DJ into the crib and held his hands out to take Lily from Francine but was surprised when she laid the baby down beside her sister. "They're not going to fit in there together for much longer," she commented softly.

"Yeah, Amanda and I noticed the other day. We are trying to come up with a way they are still close together but have their own space." Lee rubbed DJ's leg lovingly as the infant settled into a deeper sleep.

Francine leaned on the edge of the crib. "Well, knowing you two, you'll have something figured out in no time." She paused and chuckled softly. "Speaking of Amanda, do you think she's found anything yet?"

"Only one way to find out." Lee led the way into the hallway before closing the door.