DISCLAIMER:
Scarecrow and Mrs. King belong to Warner Bros and Shoot The Moon Enterprises
Ltd.
AUTHOR: rankamateur
SYNOPSIS:
Lee and Amanda get a new case based on a referral from a satisfied former
client.
AUTHOR'S
NOTE: AU. Set in 2002. Mentions characters and situations from "The Best
Is Yet To Be" and "Two Coins In The Fountain", two old fanfics
of mine. It's not necessary to have read them. Thanks to rb for suggestions and
error trapping. What's left is mine.
A BRAND NEW CASE
President
Harlan Stone was so impressed with the dispatch, discretion and success with
which Stetson Security had handled the little *problem* with his wife and that
Frenchman last year, that when his older sister Katherine Bentley called,
asking for his advice, he didn't hesitate to give her Lee's phone number.
------------------
"Yes,
Maggy," Lee Stetson acknowledged the voice on the intercom.
"There's
a lady on the phone. Name's Katherine Bentley. She wants you to find her missing
son."
"Tell
her this is Stetson Security - not Stetson Missing Persons," Lee said,
picking up his coffee cup and taking a sip.
"I
tried but she already knows about your little side line. Her brother was
a...kind of a client last year."
"I
didn't know Beamon had a sister," he laughed.
"Not
Beamon. Her brother's name is Stone."
"As
in Harlan......."
Maggy
interrupted, "Stone, President......"
"Of
the United States." Lee finished for her.
"Right,
boss."
"Put
her through, Maggy."
-----------------------------
Katherine
was the widow of Senator Randolph Bentley, who had been killed in a plane crash
two years ago. Since the untimely death of her husband, she had often turned to
her brother for help and advice. And now her son James was in trouble. She was
sure of that. It was three days past the anniversary of his father's death - a
day they had promised they would always spend together. She had tried
repeatedly to reach him at the university and at the off campus apartment he
shared with one of his classmates, with no luck. She was worried, very worried.
-----------------------------
James
was a computer science major in college. He was a genius, constantly looking
for new challenges - some computer problem he couldn't solve. He hadn't found
any yet. He and his friends and fellow *geeks* - they wore the term like a
badge of honor - had managed to hack into numerous businesses - the corporate
giants of America. The better the security - the thicker the firewall - the
harder it was to get in - the bigger the kick they got - he got - when they
would finally succeed. He never did any damage. He would simply leave a note
saying that *Blue Zeus* had been there.
He
knew Rasheed, Sami and Kareem were here on student visas from Afghanistan but
so what? They were great guys with the same interests and abilities as he had.
Well,
when it came to cracking security - they were *almost* as good - but not quite
- they said so themselves. And they also threw great parties - with the best
liquor, the best quality drugs, which he had consistently refused, and the best
looking girls. Actually, he had no trouble getting dates with attractive young
women. He suspected that had more to do with the fact that his uncle was the
President of The United States, than with his good looks or facility for
charming and witty repartee'.
One
night, after drinking some very old, very good Scotch, they had - actually he
had - broken into some U.S. Government Sites. Then they went after the
Department of Defense. After numerous tries, James got in! What a high -
breaking into one of the governments top secret databases, which contained
plans for weapons systems, among other things.
And
then, all of a sudden, the fun and light-hearted camaraderie were gone. His
friends didn't seem very friendly anymore. Now they wanted something more from
him - they wanted those plans - they wanted him to get all the plans he could -
and make copies of them. And also get into the areas where strategy was devised
and discussed. They wanted everything there was to know about US military
intentions and possible strategy and tactics with regard to terrorists groups
in the Mid-East. If he wouldn't cooperate - they would beat him to a pulp and
then they would see to it that his activities were made known to the
authorities. His career would be ended before it ever had a chance to get
going. He would no doubt go to jail. Wouldn't his mother and his uncle, the
President, be disappointed?
James
was scared - and at the first opportunity - he ran. He knew his mother would be
concerned when he didn't show up in the morning, but that couldn't be helped.
He wasn't ready to tell her about the trouble he'd got himself into. And he
*certainly* wasn't ready to tell his uncle.
----------------------------
Rasheed,
Sami and Kareem returned to their apartment just after dawn.
"Any
luck?" Rasheed looked hopefully at his companions as he sat down on the
couch.
"No,"
Sami answered first. "I went to Madelain's house and watched it for hours.
He never showed up there."
"Nor
did he appear at Alanna's home," Kareem said sourly as he flopped into a
chair. "We would not be engaged in this fruitless search if Sami had
watched him more carefully," he added petulantly.
"How
was I to know that he would climb out the bathroom window? We are on the second
floor!" Sami tried to defend himself.
"You
should have watched ......."
"Enough,"
Rasheed shouted. "Fighting among ourselves serves no purpose." He
began to pace the room. "Well, he certainly was not at Victoria's place
either. So we wasted most of the night, staking out the homes of the three
girls he seemed to be most interested in. I was sure he would go to one of them
for help!" Rasheed stopped and pounded his fist on the desk.
"Maybe
we should have watched his mother's house," Sami put in.
"Hah!
That's the one place I'm sure he would *not* go. From what he said, he would
have had no doubt that his mother would have called her brother, the President.
And after that, well the Secret Service, the FBI, even The Agency, might have
been involved. No, he would go to one of his lady friends, I am sure of it. So,
how many others are there?" Rasheed rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I
seem to recall that he dated a Nancy. Do either if you know her last
name?"
"No,"
Sami shook his head.
"I
don't," Kareem shrugged his shoulders.
"Well,
perhaps we can find out who she is from some of our other classmates. Let's
see..... I think there was a Darlene. I do not know her last name either."
He
sighed. "That's all I remember for now."
-----------------------------
Beth
was having the most wonderful dream - and some clown was trying to ruin it! A
persistent tapping sound was bringing her closer and closer to consciousness.
She seemed to hear a voice - hissing her name.....
"Beth....Bethy,"
James did indeed hiss from his position on a small ladder which he had leaned
up against the house.
She
forced herself to get up out of bed and walk to the window. She pulled the
curtains back, slowly, a little apprehensive about just what or who she would
find, and there was James - her old friend Jimmy - smiling and giving her a
little wave.
"Open
the wind.....," he started, only to see the curtains fall, covering the
glass once again.
Beth
quickly crossed the room and retrieved her robe. Shrugging into it and securely
fastening the tie around her waist, she returned to the window, unlocking and
opening it. "What are you doing here at," she turned back towards the
illuminated dial of the digital clock next to her bed, "three in the
morning? And where have you been? Why haven't you been in class?"
"I'm
in trouble, Bethy," Jim said as he climbed through the window. "Big
trouble. I need your help. Your family still has that cabin in the mountains,
right? I need a place to hide out....to think."
"What's
wrong?" she asked, a worried expression forming. "What do you mean
*hide out*? What kind of trouble are you in?"
"I
can't take time to explain it all now. Will you help me? Will you drive me to
your parent's place? Please. I really am in trouble."
Looking
into his eyes, there was no doubt in her mind that he was in trouble - serious
trouble. "Sure," she said in a soft voice. "Hey, what're friends
for? Give me a few minutes to get dressed." Grabbing her clothes, Beth
retreated into the bathroom.
Jim
paced the room, around the bed and back. He smiled. Here he was at 3:00 in the
morning, in the bedroom of a very attractive woman and.... 'And nothing,' he
thought. 'Bethy is a friend, a good friend, a *great* friend, which is why I'm
here, at this ridiculous hour, asking for help.'
She
emerged from the bathroom. Just before she turned out the light, Jim got a
glimpse of her face. 'Gosh,' he couldn't help but notice,' she looks good even
without make-up.'
"OK,
I'm ready. Do you want to take my car or yours?"
"Yours.
I left mine at school. I don't want anybody to be able to track me to you. I
don't want to put you in any danger."
"In
danger?" She stopped and put her hand on his arm. "Wait a minute.
What about my family?"
"It's
OK, really. Nobody followed me here. I was very careful. Nobody knows where I
am, not even my mother. When they find my car at school, it won't help them a
bit."
"Who
are *they*?"
"Rasheed,
Sami and Kareem. Turns out they're spies - agents - terrorists. Doesn't matter
which. They want me to break into government computers....do something against
the U.S. - something I can't do...I *won't* do. Look, let's go. I'll tell you
all about it while we drive. OK?"
"OK."
-------------------------
James
finished his story - about his former friends, about breaking into the
government's supposedly secret and secure areas - hiding out in cheap motels
until his money ran low - everything.
Beth
was stunned. How could her friend get himself into so much trouble. "What
are you going to do?"
"I
don't know," Jim studied his hands. "I'd like to run away to some
country the U.S. doesn't have an extradition treaty with.... but I.... I don't
know," he finished glumly. "I just don't know what to do. That's why
I want to go to your folk's place. So I can think and not have to be too
worried that those guys'll find me."
"What
about Government people? The FBI or somebody."
"They
don't know about the break-in. Not unless or until Rasheed tells them. No, he -
they - are the ones I've got to worry about - for now."
The
rest of the drive was made in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
Arriving at the cabin, Beth pulled around to the back of the house. She
produced a key and they entered. "Let's check the cupboards. I'm afraid
there isn't much here in the way of food." They both began opening and
closing doors and drawers.
"These
crackers don't look too bad. And there's a can of tuna. That should take care
of you for today."
"You're
right. Tuna and crackers - it isn't much, but it'll have to do for now. I need
you to get some food for me and maybe some clothes? Could you manage
that?"
"Sure.
Food is easy. What about clothes though. I can't exactly go by your apartment,
since your roommate is one of the bad guys. And I can't go to your house
without your mother asking a million questions."
"Yeah.
Well, I'll write down my sizes and maybe you find some stuff at the grocery
store or maybe go to a department store. OK?" He smiled and took her hand.
"I'll
get you something. I don't have a lot of money though. How much have you
got?"
"Umm,"
James dug into his pockets, pulling out a few loose bills, some change and his
wallet. "Let's see." Doing some rapid calculations..... "I've
got fifty-two dollars and thirty-eight cents."
"Well,
I've only got about twenty dollars left out of my monthly allowance. I'll just
have shop carefully. I suppose you mainly need a couple of shirts, underwear
and socks. Right?"
"Yeah
and another pair of jeans couldn't hurt."
"I
could probably spend the whole amount on food. You may have to forget about
clean jeans."
"Right.
Bethy, I don't know how to thank you. I'm so sorry to get you involved but I
really didn't know who else I could go to - who else I could trust." He
took both her hands this time, squeezing them gently and then he leaned forward
and kissed her cheek. "Thank you," he said sincerely.
"You're
welcome," Beth replied softly. "I'm glad I was around to help."
She mentally shook herself, a bit surprised at the effect that little kiss had
on her. "I'd better get going. The heat is propane and I think the tanks
are still pretty full, so you won't freeze since you can't light a fire."
"Oh
boy, you're right. I hadn't thought about it but the smoke would be a dead
give-away. Good thinking! Hey, you may have the makings of a....a spy or
something."
"Or
a criminal," she grinned. "I'll be back tomorrow. I think it would be
too suspicious if I came back here today."
----------------------------
“Mrs.
Stetson," Katherine Bentley smiled and gestured towards a very comfortable
looking couch, "please, sit down. May I offer you tea?"
"Thank
you, Mrs. Bentley, that would be very nice. And, please, call me Amanda."
"Very
well, and you must call me Katherine," she smiled pleasantly as she pushed
a buzzer located on the end table.
A
moment later, a maid entered the room. "Yes ma'am?"
"Tea
please, Agnes."
"Right
away."
"Mrs.
- I mean Katherine - do you know James' friends? Umm, could you give us a list
or even better, do have any pictures?"
"Well,
to tell you the truth, I don't know many of Jimmy's school friends, but I can
give you a few names. Maybe they can help you find more of his acquaintances.
Oh, his professors may be able to help. I don't have pictures, I'm afraid.
Well, except for little Bethy Truesdale. She and Jimmy have been friends since
kindergarten. They were in school together up until the eighth grade. Then,
naturally, she went to one of those *schools for refined young ladies* and Jim
went to a military school. But they stayed in touch during vacations, school
breaks, that sort of thing, and now they are both at Georgetown. Jim is a
computer science major, of course, but he's minoring in photo-journalism. Beth
is a photo-journal major and she took computer science for her minor. So they
have classes together."
"That
sounds promising. I'd like to have a picture, if you have one."
"Certainly.
Just a moment." She stood up as the maid returned bearing a tray.
"Oh,
Amanda, would you please go ahead and pour while I fetch the picture? Two
lumps, no milk for me."
It
took several moments, but Mrs. Bentley returned and handed Amanda a small color
photograph of a lovely young girl with light brown hair and light eyes, and a
smiling James Bentley. "She's very pretty. And your son is very handsome.
They make a nice couple," Amanda observed.
"Yes,
they do make an attractive couple. Frankly, I have always hoped that their
friendship would develop into something, well something a little deeper, if you
know what I mean. But, they seem to be just friends, all very platonic."
Katherine sighed audibly.
"Don't
give up on them," Amanda said, with a knowing grin. "Friendships can
turn into something a lot more serious. Here's your tea," she added,
holding the cup and saucer out for Mrs. Bentley.
-----------------------
Lee
and Amanda arranged to interview Jim's professors and some of his friends, most
of whom seemed to be of the female persuasion. It was obvious that he was
indeed, a computer genius. He also spent a lot of time socializing with fellow
nerds. The three he was closest to were from the Mid-East, Afghanistan to be
precise. Rasheed, Sami and Kareem.
The
teachers were able to supply Lee with their last names. A quick check of
University Records revealed that they were in the United States on student
visas. While Lee was able to get copies of their student ID photos, Amanda got
descriptions from classmates, not only their physical appearance, but some
insights into their personalities, habits; things that would help build a
*profile* of each man.
Arriving
back at the office, the first thing Lee did was telephone The Agency. He asked
his old friend, Ephraim Beamon to run a deep background check. It didn't take
long to discover that the three had ties to a prominent Mid-East terrorist
organization.
"Well,
Amanda, terrorists and a missing computer genius - a hacker extraordinaire.
What do you think?"
"Nothing
good."
"I'm
afraid you're right. Let's go home. We'll jump on this again, first thing in
the morning."
"Sounds
like a plan." She noticed Lee stuffing some pamphlets in the top drawer of
his desk. "What are those?"
"What
are whats?" He began shuffling some other papers, nervously, she thought.
"Those
folders, brochures, whatever, that you just stuck in the desk drawer."
"Oh.
Those."
"Yes,
those....."
"That's
just a little project I'm working on."
Do
you need any help with it?" Her curiosity was working overtime.
"No,
thanks," he said innocently. "I can handle it."
---------------------------------
Amanda
looked up from file, which they were building in the Bentley case, when she
realized that Lee was gazing at her intently. "What?"
"Nothing,"
he looked down at the paperwork on his desk, which looked suspiciously like the
brochures he had been studying yesterday.
"Com'on,
what?" she asked with a little laugh.
"Nothing,
really."
"Lee,"
she made the name sound as though it had two syllables.
He
looked at her with a very serious expression on his face. "It's just that,
well, I still think you're the most beautiful woman in the world," he
smiled, almost shyly.
"Aww,
sweetheart. And I think you are the handsomest, most debonair secret agent I've
ever known."
"Thank
you. Hey, wait a minute. I'm comparing you to *all* the women in the whole
world and you're only comparing me to the spies you've known?"
"Yeah.
All the exciting, mysterious intelligence operatives....like......Beamon and
Leatherneck and....Fred Fielder."
"A-man-da."
"What
is it, light of my life?" She was having a hard time suppressing the laugh
that threatened to burst forth at any second.
"Get
back to work." He did his best to sound stern and to scowl a bit, just for
effect.
"Of
course."
Lee
was sure he heard her giggle. "OK, OK. You sure know how to push my
buttons, don't you?"
"Well...I
hope so."
"Wait
till we get home. I just may push a few of your buttons," he said
suggestively.
"Oooo,
I can hardly wait. Maybe we can send the kids to bed a little early."
"Yeah.
Like about 6:30!"
"Get
real, Stetson," she said with mock seriousness; focusing again on the
file, particularly on the pictures.
Lee
just grinned. "Any ideas about finding this Bentley kid?"
"Hmmmm.
Cherchez la femme'," Amanda said, knowingly.
Lee
looked up at her. "Oh yeah. Which *femme'*? He was dating at least six
different girls, that we know of, and that was just in the last month before he
disappeared. The guy's a real....."
"Don't
even go there, Scarecrow," Amanda said, trying not to smile.
Lee
grinned sheepishly. "Right."
"Anyway,
you wanna know which girl? After the long talk I had with his mother, I'm
convinced that it's this one." Amanda held up a small picture of James and
Beth Truesdale. "She's the one he'd go to for help. If anybody knows where
James is - it's Beth."
-------------------
Amanda
finally caught up with Beth outside her photo-journalism class. After
explaining who she was and why she was looking for James, the two women walked
out of the building and found a secluded bench.
"We
really need to find Jim," Amanda laid her hand on Beth's arm and squeezed
it for emphasis. "His mother really is terribly worried about him. He
could be in danger. Why would he miss the anniversary of his father's death? He
knew how important it was to his mom. It had to be something big to keep him
away and for so many days now."
"I'm
sorry, Mrs. Stetson. I wish I could help you, but I.......," her voice
trailed off. She had a strong feeling that she could trust Amanda but she needed
to have Jim's permission before she told anybody where he was hiding.
"OK."
Amanda got up to leave. "If you hear anything or think of anything, here's
my card. Please, please call me. My husband and I only want to help him."
"I'll
call if I can," Beth spoke so softly that Amanda had to lean forward to
hear her.
"Goodbye,
Beth."
"Bye,
Mrs. Stetson."
--------------------
Amanda
drove back to the office. Lee was sitting at his desk, working on one of their
*real* jobs, a security system for the home of a freshman Senator, who was
worried about the crime rate in DC.
Lee
looked up and smiled at his wife. "Get anything?"
"No.
I know that she knows where he is but she's not telling. I think we should
follow her. I'll call Mary over at DMV and get the plate number and a
description of her car. Oh, I probably better see if I can find out which lot
she's got a parking permit for at the University."
"OK.
By the time you get that, I'll be finished here." He returned his
attention to the paperwork on his desk.
"She
mentioned her last class is over," Amanda consulted her watch, "in
about forty-five minutes. We'd better get moving." She went to her desk
and picked up the phone.
-----------------------
Rasheed
burst into the apartment, obviously out of breath. "Hurry up, get your
jackets and follow me."
"What?
What's the hurry?" Sami stood and reached for his coat.
"I
found another name, another of James' friends. Beth Truesdale." Rasheed
picked up the laptop computer, which was laying on the desk.
"Ahh,
yes," Kareem's face lit up with recognition. "I remember Jim talking
about her. She and her family have been friends with Jim and his family since
they were children. And, I recall his talking about a trip they made to a cabin
in the mountains, owned by the Truesdale's."
"Very
good, my friends. Now we will watch this Miss Truesdale and see where she may
lead us."
"You
have the computer I see," Kareem gestured toward the case, "but what
if she leads us to James and then there is no phone?"
"Then,"
Rasheed sneered, "we will take him to a place that has a phone. Sami, do
you have your stiletto - in case he needs some persuasion?"
"Always,"
Sami answered as pulled his coat aside, revealing a leather sheath attached to
his belt.
"Then,
let us go my friends."
The
three men hurried out the door.
-----------------------------
Rasheed
went directly to Beth's computer science classroom and waited across and down
the hall a short distance. Just then -
"Hey,
Rasheed!"
'Damn!'
"Hello, Jerry."
"Where've
you been buddy? Haven't seen you or Sam or Kareem - or James either. What's
up?"
"Nothing,
We've been working at home. And we haven't seen James since he didn't pay Sami
his half of the rent," Rasheed tried to smile.
"Oh-oh.
That's too bad. Well, maybe you can get it out of the U.S. Government. See ya
around," Jerry walked away, laughing.
'Maybe
you are right. Maybe we can *get it out* of the U.S. Government,' Rasheed
thought.
He
looked up and saw Beth coming out of the classroom. He followed as she headed
towards the exit and then walked rapidly to the parking area. She got in her
car, started it up and drove away. As she pulled out onto the street, Sami
pulled up with their car.
"Move
over. I'll drive." Rasheed got in the driver's seat and they began to
follow her.
-------------------------
Lee
and Amanda located Beth's car in the University parking lot. They sat and
waited for a relatively short time when Beth arrived at her car, got in,
started it up and pulled out onto the street. Lee eased his car out of the lot
and into the flow of traffic.
After
a few blocks, Amanda noticed something. "Lee, look. I'm sure that light
colored car is following Beth."
"You're
right. And guess who those guys are? I recognize the driver from the student
IDs. He's one of the Afghan terrorists. I think he's Rasheed and the other two
must be Sami and Kareem." .
Beth
stopped at the first super-market she came to and went in to buy food and some
items of clothing - the few things that are available in a grocery store -
underwear, socks, tee-shirts. 'That should keep him going for a while,' she
thought. She pulled out of the store's lot and began driving towards the
mountains. The Afghans followed Beth, unaware that Lee and Amanda were
following them.
--------------------------
Beth
was preoccupied - thinking about Jimmy - his problems - their relationship. At
least the feelings she was just beginning to realize she had for him. She
wondered if he felt anything for her, beyond their long standing friendship.
She was so preoccupied that she was completely unaware of the car that had been
behind her since she had left Georgetown.
Lee
and Amanda followed the light colored sedan at a safe distance. The problem
was, they were heading out of town and onto a highway where it would be
difficult to remain unobserved. Lee picked up the cell phone and called his
office.
"Stetson
Security. How may I help you?"
"You
can get me some information A.S.A.P.," Lee said pleasantly.
"Oh,
hi boss. What do you need?"
"Maggy,
we're out on 211, headed for the Blue Ridge. I want you to find out the
location of any property out this way that belongs to a Truesdale,
a......," Lee turned towards Amanda with a questioning look.
"Jack...John,"
she supplied.
"First
name John or Jack. Call me back on the cell as soon as you have anything."
"Will
do."
The
quiet drive was interrupted by the sound of the phone ringing.
"Hello,
Stetson."
"Hi.
Got it. The address is 131 Lone Pine Lane. It's near Sperryville in
Rappahannock County."
"Good
job, Maggy. Fast work. Remind me to think about your raise."
"You've
had plenty of time to think about it. When do I get it?"
"Next
paycheck. Bye."
"Bye,
boss."
"All
right," Lee said, relaxing a bit. "Now that we know where we're
going, I don't have to follow so closely and I don't have to worry that we
might be observed by one of our terrorist friends."
"Right."
Amanda reached over a patted her husband's arm. "Relax and enjoy the
drive."
------------------------
Beth
finally arrived at the cabin and pulled around back. Jim, who had been watching
for her, stepped out onto the back porch and came down the steps.
"Hey,
come on and give me a hand with the groceries," she called out.
"OK.
I'm right here."
They
quickly picked up the bags and Jim slammed the trunk closed. "After
you," he gestured with a one of the brown paper sacks.
"Thank
you," she smiled and started walking up the steps to the back door.
They
had barely finished putting the groceries away, when there was a knock on the
front door.
"Who
could *that* be?" Jim looked at her, a worried frown creasing his brow.
They
stood there, afraid to answer the door.
The
three men stood on the porch. Rasheed, disguising his voice a bit, called out
to Beth.
"It
could be old Mr. Fairbourne. He's our closest neighbor. His cabin is about a
mile down the road. Maybe he saw me drive up just now. Or maybe he saw me
leaving yesterday. I know he gets up really early."
Peering
out of the window beside the front door, Jim could see no one.
"Is
that you, Mr. Fairbourne?" Beth called.
"Yes.
Open up."
Beth
open the door just a little way, but it was immediately forced open all the way
as Rasheed, Sami and Kareem pushed their way in.
"James,"
Rasheed smiled, "it's so good to see you again. Perhaps now we can
conclude our business? Kareem..."
Kareem
noticed a telephone, sitting on an end table. After checking for a dial tone,
he quickly set up the laptop with the phone line. "There, the equipment is
ready. Now you can go online and get the information we want."
Jim
stood there, looking from his captors to the computer. " I
can't....," he started.
Sami
pulled a knife from his waistband and held it to Beth's neck.
"Perhaps
this will convince you to cooperate," he glared at Jim.
"OK,
OK. Please, don't hurt her. I'll do what you want." Jim sat down at the
computer and began working.
------------------------
Lee
and Amanda arrived in the area and decided to park down the road a short
distance. The quietly made their way to the back of the house. The door was
locked. Pulling out his lock picks, Lee had the door open in short order. They
entered and paused for a minute to assess the situation. Hearing voices from
the living room, they started down the hallway. There were two approaches to
the front room - straight down the hall, or going off to the left, through the
kitchen. Lee motioned for Amanda to go through the kitchen while he continued straight
for the living room.
Lee
walked into the room "Hi guys, what's up?" He pointed his pistol at
Rasheed. All eyes were on Lee.
"What
the...How did you get here?" Rasheed sputtered.
"I
just followed you. No problem."
"Just
a minute, whoever you are." Sami showed Lee the knife he had against
Beth's neck.
Lee
raised his hands, with his gun pointing up in the air.
"Are
you the police?" Kareem asked.
"No,
I'm a P.I., hired by Jim's mom. Want to see my license?" He reached for
the inside pocket of his jacket.
"Hold
it, no funny moves or the lady gets it," Sami said in a somewhat tremulous
voice.
"Sounds
like a line from an old gangster movie," Lee grinned.
With
everyone's attention focused on him, as he had planned, Amanda was able to come
up behind Sami completely unnoticed. She put her revolver up against his head.
"Drop
the knife, please," she said quietly but firmly.
He
dropped the knife as she commanded.
"Now,
step over there by your friends. Are you all right, Beth," Amanda asked
softly.
"Yes,
I'm fine. Thank you Mrs. Stetson." Beth ran over to Jim and he took her in
his arms, holding her tightly. After a few moments they pulled back a bit and
just looked at each other.
"Jim,"
Lee said without taking his eyes off the suspects, "call 911."
After
the call was made, they all settled down to await the arrival of the local
police. Lee decided to let them call the federal authorities, probably the FBI.
He didn't think it was necessary to get his old friends at The Agency involved
in this.
---------------------------
Lee
walked into the inner office and threw his keys on the desk.
"So,
how did it go?" Amanda looked up as he walked over to her desk, leaned
down and they exchanged a little kiss.
"Jim
will be on probation for five years and he'll have a bazillion hours of
community service. He'll be counseling kids on the evils of hacking. And spend
a lot of time working with the government's D.O.C.S."
"Docs?
He doesn't have any medical experience."
"Not
that kind of doc. This is the Department Of Cyber Security."
"Oh,
of course. *That* DOCS. What else would it stand for," she said somewhat
acerbically.
"More
alphabet soup, Amanda. You know the government."
"How
are Beth and Jimmy doing?" Amanda stood and walked over to a filing
cabinet. Pulling open a drawer, she began thumbing through the file folders.
"Just
fine. She's been there for him and I think she'll always be there for him.
She's quite a young woman. Kind of like another woman I know," he said,
walking over to her and slipping his arms around her waist. "Why don't you
check those files later."
"OK,"
she said, turning around in his embrace. "They can wait."
--------------------
TAG
"Gather
'round family. I have an announcement."
"We're
all ears, Dad," Bill grinned.
"OK.
Now, I am happy to report that - thanks to the diligent efforts and brilliant
detective work of the founder and Senior Partner....."
"Senior
Partner?" Amanda interjected sweetly...
"Ahh,
Stetson Security, Inc. has had a very profitable year...."
"This
is only May, Daddy," Jenny said innocently.
"Fiscal
year, Jenny. Anyway.....will you guys let me finish? We've done so well that
I've decided to take the whole family - all four of us - to Rome for a two week
vacation - as soon as school's out." He held up some colorful folders,
which looked very familiar to Amanda.
"Rome.
Oh Daddy, that's so romantic," Jenny said dreamily.
"Rome!
Oh great. I suppose you'll make us do a whole essay on the rise and fall of the
Roman Empire," Billy groaned.
"Sweetheart,
that's wonderful." Amanda's eyes lit up. "And I'll finally get my
moneys worth."
"Moneys
worth?"
"Yeah.
You remember when we were in Rome and I tossed my coin in the Trevi Fountain
and then I gave you a coin to throw in too?"
"Oh
yeah. The two coins together must have worth *maybe* a tenth of a cent
U.S.," he said somewhat sarcastically.
"It's
the principle of the thing," Amanda sniffed.
"You
guys went to Rome?" Billy asked.
"Yes,
years ago."
"Gosh,
when we go there, I might meet a prince just like in that old movie,"
Jenny exclaimed.
"Your
mother met a prince and no daughter of mine is going to get cozy with any
da..., with any prince. Not while I'm around."
"Get
cozy?" Amanda questioned with an amused look on her face.
"I'd
call kissing him getting *pretty* cozy," Lee said, jealousy still evident
in his tone and his expression.
'Even
after all these years,' Amanda thought. 'How sweet.'
"Mom,
you kissed a Prince? WOW!" Jenny was more than a little impressed.
"Sweetheart,
he kissed me and believe me it was no picnic. He had enough garlic on his
breath to ward off a whole division of vampires!"
"Ooo
- yuk!," Jenny wrinkled her nose. "Sounds awful. Why did you let him
kiss you?"
"Your
father and I were undercover on a case for The Agency. It was just business - I
was just doin' my job."
"Oh."
Both children seemed satisfied with that explanation.
Looking
very fatherly, Lee said "Homework!"
"Yes
sir," they responded and started up the stairs.
"He
smelled like garlic? You never told me that."
"You
never asked," she replied as she got up and started for the kitchen.
Lee
got up from his chair and followed. "Is that really true?"
"Why
would I make up a story like that?" she asked as she stood at the sink,
filling the kettle with water.
"Well,
so I wouldn't think you enjoyed it. Amanda, are you answering my questions with
questions?"
"What
do you mean?"
THE
END
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