In Limbo

Chapter 67

After showing Billy the note that he got from Augie, Lee waited for Billy to advise him, but instead, Billy asked him, "What do you want to do?"

When Lee hesitantly looked in Amanda's direction, she shook her head stating firmly, "Uh-uh! No way am I going to pack up my family and relocate, and have our names changed again, Lee Stetson!"

Billy put up his hand replying carefully as he glanced at Lee, "Amanda, I don't think that was his intention at all, but as you know, we do have our usual contingencies in place for emergencies here, and-"

Amanda got up quickly from her chair, and angrily waving away the comment, responded, "I don't give a damn! All this place does any more is turn our lives upside down any time they want!"

Then turning to Lee, she answered with a gesture, "You're me, and I'm my mother...Let's see how this will play out...Ask her what you'd like us to do...Go on, ask!"

Lee, clearing his throat, and sheepishly glancing at Billy, turned his attention back to Amanda, stating in a role play tone, "M-Mother...Um, a situation has come up that we need to discuss. The Government is on high alert again, and I was told we will have to move only temporarily-"

Amanda, imitating Dotty's voice, replied, "Amanda Jean! Have you taken leave of your senses?! We have only just returned to our home, the boys are back at school, and you stand there calmly telling me something as if it is normal behavior! How are you going to explain this to the boys? Do you think they'l just go along with it again? I don't understand you at all! I am going to call or write someone in the Government who can stop this nonsense, and-"

Lee quickly got up, and remarked quickly to Amanda, "O-Okay, okay! I catch your drift! Do you have another suggestion?"

Amanda, swallowed, and looking at both Billy and Lee, remarked with a shrug, "Only the obvious one..."

Lee, realizing her meaning, and with an alarmed look at Amanda, queried, "Are you out of your mind?! It's the entire point of being operatives! We do this, and we can't go undercover any more!"

Then with a glance at Billy, Lee asked carefully, "What do you think, Billy?"

Billy deeply sighed, and then staring intently at the two agents, answered, "Well, you know how I feel...You're my best team, and I believe in you...But it's never been done before, and it wouldn't be up to me anyway-"

Amanda scoffed querying, "Oh, c'mon! You mean no one here over the years has ever mentioned to their family what they really do, and continued to stay here anyway?"

Lee stared at Amanda blankly, and responded, "Did you forget that time Doug Harriman threatened this Agency with his book? If it had gone to print, we would've have all had to relocate and never see one another ever again!"

Amanda sighed, and looking at Lee intently, stated, "Well, I happen to feel in this case that if we are to move forward personally as well as professionally, that this is our only option. Now, I know it's a long shot, but if we move to a safe house, we'll have to tell them why and make them understand."

Then turning to Billy, Amanda commented, "Knowing Dr. Smyth as I do, I'm sure it will be a veto, and we'll have to leave anyway. Can you broach the topic with him hypothetically, and get back to us...Please, Sir?"

Billy thought carefully, and then nodding slowly, answered, "Alright...While I'm figuring out a plan, you two go on and clean up your files...Dismissed."

And as Lee and Amanda headed to the elevator to go to their office, Lee groaned, stating, "Boy, you sure know how to stir up a hornet's nest..."

TBC