DISCLAIMER:
This story is based on characters copyrighted by Warner Brothers and Shoot the
Moon Productions. This story is meant for enjoyment purposes only and cannot be
redistributed without permission from the author. I retain the rights to the
plot, not the characters. No infringement is intended.
AUTHOR: Linda
SYNOPSIS:
New tag for "The Mole." Continues the discussion about Amanda's date
with David Benson which began in the museum scene. Original tag with Lee and
Amanda talking to Blue Leader never happened.
A LITTLE FISHING EXPEDITION
Lee
was driving Amanda home after their exciting afternoon. Victor missed his 4
o'clock flight to freedom thanks to the agents apprehending him at Dulles. And
David never even got as far as the airport due entirely to the quick thinking
of both Lee and Amanda. The mole and his accomplice were now safely in custody.
In
his best nonchalant tone, Lee began, "So Amanda, you never did fill me in
on how your date with David Benson went the other night."
Amanda
was a little touchy about this. "Why do you want to know?"
Lee
was careful to pay extra attention to his driving, not making eye contact with
her. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well I don't really care, I was just
making conversation."
"You
did tell me to go out with him, you know."
Lee
thought ruefully, yes, he did, but she had him backed into a corner, what else
could he do? "Well, I think if I remember correctly, I told you to do what
you wanted."
Amanda
was on the defensive now. She hadn't really wanted to go out with David.
Especially when she knew he was under suspicion. She was hoping Lee would tell
her not to go. But when he told her to go ahead with her date, she couldn't
back down. "No, if I remember correctly, and I do, you said to go out with
him. I asked you what I should do and you said to go."
"Amanda,
I don't want to argue with you about this."
"I'm
not arguing."
"Yes,
you are."
"No,
I'm not."
Lee
exhaled deeply. The woman was like a dog with a bone! Sometimes he wanted to
pull his hair out. Instead he just ran his fingers through it roughly.
"You going out with him was a convenient way to get more information out
of him. You suggested it yourself. It seemed like a good idea at the
time." No, it seemed like a very bad idea right from the start, but what
else was he to say? He didn't want to sound jealous. After all, Amanda King was
free to date whomever she wanted.
Amanda
was determined to give him as little information as possible. "Well it did
work out to be a good idea. That is how I found out about his expensive car,
his ex-wife, and what put me on the track to his alimony payments. And that was
an important piece of information to solving the case."
"Yes,
you're right about that."
"Well
I'm glad we agree." She smiled sweetly.
Lee
already knew all that. Oh the woman was so exasperating! What he really was
trying to find out was how the date went on a personal level, what had happened
between them. Of course it didn't really matter to him. He was just curious. He
knew Davey's reputation with the ladies.
Amanda
remained silent, looking out her side window. She knew what Lee was after,
specific details, but let him prod a bit more.
Lee
was not about to give up now. He'd already put himself out there, he might as
well fish a little deeper.
"So,
Amanda, what restaurant did you go to?"
"We
didn't go to a restaurant. We crashed a senator's party."
"You
what?" Lee turned to stare at her. This sounded so out of character for
his Amanda.
Amanda
grinned at him. "Well, you see, I didn't know we had crashed the party
until after we had been there for a while. I asked David how he knew the
senator, how he got the invitation, and that's when he told me he wasn't
invited. He said he goes to these things all the time. He knows lots of
caterers and gets information from them. That's when I got the song and dance
about how he didn't have much money so it was cheap entertainment."
Lee
continued, "So it was a formal event then?"
"Uh
huh, I wore the same black dress from when we attended the Russian consulate
reception two weeks ago."
Lee
smiled, the memory of her appearance that night giving him a momentary lift.
She looked stunning. The dress was gorgeous on her. She wore her dark curls
piled on top of her head and.....
"And
David wore a black tux. He looked very handsome." She could not resist
that last comment. It got the desired response.
"You
think that guy is handsome?" he asked incredulously.
Amanda
replied matter-of-factly, "Most men look handsome when they wear a
tux." She then added softly, "Some men look handsome no matter what
they wear, and then can take your breath away when they wear a tux." She
cast a brief sideways glance at him.
Lee
digested this bit of information. He glanced over at Amanda, but she was
looking out her window again. The woman was an enigma.
Lee
realized they were nearing Amanda's neighborhood. All this talk, and he still
had not found out what he wanted to know. He'd have to be a little more direct.
"I
felt uneasy knowing you were going out alone with that womanizer. I hope he
behaved himself."
"Oh
yes, he was a gentleman. The party actually was very nice and we mostly talked,
and danced once or twice. And his good night kiss was very gentle-he didn't try
anything. I was careful not to encourage him."
A
muscle in Lee's jaw tensed. He couldn't help blurting out, "You let that
guy kiss you!" The thought of David Benson holding Amanda while they were
dancing and then kissing her was making him see red. He wished now he hadn't
brought up this whole conversation.
"Lee,
you sound like a jealous person. You know that's silly. First of all, I was
just dating him as a cover to get information. You do the same thing all the
time. And as you reminded me in our conversation at the museum, we're just
friends and business partners. We aren't emotionally involved."
Lee
did a quick recovery. "Of course we're not involved, Amanda. And I'm not
jealous. I just know how guys like David Benson operate. You give them an inch
and they take a mile. I was just concerned about you."
They
had now pulled up in front of Amanda's house. They turned to face each other in
the tiny car.
"Well
there was no need to worry," she replied soothingly. "A simple good
night kiss is customary-it was no big deal. I was careful not to lead him on,
and he did behave himself." She chuckled. "I think he was smart
enough to figure out that if he didn't behave himself, he would be answering to
you. He knows we are good friends as well as partners." Amanda took Lee's
hand in hers and gave him a gentle smile. "I know you're always there to
protect me, Lee, and I want you to know I am grateful."
Lee
was touched. He managed to murmur huskily, "You got that right." He
brought her hand to his lips and lightly kissed it. They smiled fondly at each
other.
FREEZE
FRAME-END OF TAG
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