Lee, Amanda, and Francine hurried into the bullpen together. Lee scanned Billy's office window for any sight of him while Amanda and Francine continued toward Francine's desk. "Hey, I don't see Billy, so I'm going to run this down to the lab. In the meantime, why don't you check in with the coroner and see if they found any evidence of puncture wounds."

Francine paused and stared at Lee. "So do you think what happened to Jonathan wasn't… well… I mean… Do you think he didn't do what it looks like he did?"

Lee pursed his lips for a moment. "I don't know what to think now. Maybe whatever was in the vial caused him to feel guilt and that's why he did it or–"

"Or maybe what was in that vial is the real cause of his death," Francine cut him off.

"Let's let Lee bring it down to the lab to find out what it is first before we jump to any conclusions." Amanda peered at Francine, her eyes wide.

Francine rolled her eyes. "Amanda, I'm not jumping to any conclusions. I just know… knew Jonathan. He wouldn't do something like that. And his so-called suicide note. I'm telling you, he didn't write it willingly. I think if I just spend some time with it, I can come up with something."

"Okay." Lee shifted from one foot to the other and scanned the hallway. "Hey, there's Doc Nichols. Let me see if I can catch him." He tried to move away but Francine stopped him.

"Lee, you make sure they identify whatever was in the syringe."

Lee nodded. "I'm gonna try but I can't make any promises, Francine. You know how this works."

"Of course I know how this works. But I need answers, Lee. Real answers."

"I hear ya." He glanced back into the hallway to see Dr. Nichols engaging in an animated conversation with another agent. "Well, looks like we have a few minutes before I can catch him again. Francine, can you think of anyone who might have a grudge against Stone? Just in case this syringe turns out to be something."

She opened her mouth but before Francine could continue, Leatherneck's voice filled the bullpen.

"Francine. There you are. I've been looking for you. Amanda told me what happened and –"

Francine's head snapped in the direction of his voice. "And what? You figure you'd come up here and see if I'm all distraught too?"

Leatherneck stopped moving as did the other agents milling around. "No. Not at all. I just came up to tell you I was sorry. And if you needed–"

Francine threw her hands in the air, exasperated. "I don't need anything from anyone. I'm fine. I'm a professional. I can deal with Jonathan's death. I've been handling things like this my whole career or did you all forget?"

Whispers filled the silence around them as the other agents began to disperse slowly.

Francine looked around and bellowed, "Go ahead! Start your little rumors. Oh no, Francine Desmond is incapable of handling a murder."

Lee reached out and touched Francine's arm. "Hey, no one said it was murder. And lower your voice. The last thing you want is to fuel the chatter around the water cooler."

Francine's lips formed a tight line. "I don't give a damn what anyone thinks anymore. I've had it up to here with the snide remarks, the looks, the rumors. I'm damn good at my job and nothing is going to stop me from finding the truth about what happened." She flashed her eyes angrily at Leatherneck and stated, "And no one is going to stop me." Without another word, she tucked her purse under her arm and stormed out.

Lee sighed loudly and dragged his hand through his hair. "Leatherneck, I'm sorry. She shouldn't have spoken to you like that."

Leatherneck shook his head slowly. "Listen, Ace, it's okay. I know how Francine is. She needs time to process this."

"And she's going to be a bulldog until she gets answers," Amanda interjected, still staring at her friend disappearing down the hallway.

"Well, I'm gonna get this syringe to the lab. Amanda, maybe you can find her and talk some sense into her. She might actually listen to you." Lee twisted his mouth to the side slightly and glanced over at Leatherneck. He cringed when he noticed the forlorn expression on his face.

Several minutes later, Amanda found Francine sitting in her car, crying. She tentatively knocked on the driver's window. "Francine, talk to me. I know you don't want to talk to anyone because no one has any answers yet, but you know if we all work together we can find the answers. Truthfully, I don't believe Jonathan took his own life either but we both know without any proof, it's only a theory, and Mr. Melrose always says a theory is like a bucket with holes in it. I think if we sat down together and looked at it, I'm sure we could find all kinds of clues that are right under our noses." Amanda stopped as Francine rolled down her window. "Thank you."

"Amanda?" Francine stared at her, her face devoid of emotion.

"Yes, Francine?" Amanda blinked her wide eyes and waited.

"Stop talking, okay?" Francine groaned loudly. "But thank you. I know you're worried about me but, believe me, there's nothing to worry about."

Amanda nodded slowly. "I know you say I don't need to be worried but you're my friend and I am worried." She sighed softly before continuing, "Tell you what. Why don't you come to the house with me? Mother's not going to be there tonight, Philip's working late at the repair shop, and Lee's taking Jamie to his martial arts class. It's just going to be me and the girls."

"I need answers, Amanda," Francine insisted.

"I know."

"And I'm not going to get any answers by sitting around, twiddling my thumbs."

"I know."

Francine groaned again and dropped her eyes. She gripped the steering wheel with both hands before looking up at Amanda again. "If I bring his letter, will you help me go over it?"

A slow smile spread across Amanda's face. "And let's see if we can get copies of the pictures Lee took earlier."

Francine's hands twitched on the steering wheel as a tear slipped down her cheek. "I know I don't say it enough, Amanda, but I appreciate your help. All of it. Even when I complain or act like I don't value your opinion, I really do."

Amanda grinned down at her. "I know, Francine. So why don't we get a copy of the letter along with those pictures, and we'll let Lee know the plan."

"I hate to say this, Amanda, but I think you might have the best idea for now." Francine rolled the window closed and opened her car door.