**Disclaimer** Scarecrow and Mrs. King is copyrighted to Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Production Company.  The story, however, is copyrighted to the author. This story is for entertainment purposes only and cannot be redistributed without the permission of the author. 

 

Title:    If Looks Could Kill

 

Author:  Mary

 

Date Written:   October - November-December 1999

 

Synopsis:  Lee and Amanda deal with the ramifications of their new working relationship.  Sequel to "With or Without You".

 

Rating:  R

 

 

 

 

IF LOOKS COULD KILL

 

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

 

The man and woman pushed their way through the throng of busy travelers.  The frenzied scene at Dulles International Airport was not unusual for the week before Christmas - the volume of traffic was increased nearly tenfold by the nearness of the holiday.  They both smiled pleasantly to the harried customs official.

 

"Anything to declare?" the official inquired routinely, already thinking ahead to the next person in line.

 

"No." The man replied in a meek voice, extending their passports with a tentative hand.

 

The official quickly glanced at the documents.  Pausing for only a fraction of a second, he passed them through the checkpoint, pleasantly telling them to have a nice stay.

 

The man and woman cast a sideways glance at the official before moving ahead in silent acquiescence. Pulling a single teacup rose from his pocket, the man fastidiously fastened it in his lapel as arm-in-arm they made their way through the busy terminal.

 

* * * * *

 

Tiny flakes of snow began to fall as Amanda Stetson pulled into the driveway of her new Rockville home. She quickly slid out from behind the wheel of her Jeep Wagoneer, pausing for a moment to bask in the welcoming glow of the light streaming from the windows.  The snow, combined with the twinkling red and green lights covering the bushes, lent a decidedly festive air to the late December evening.  Filling her lungs with the brisk winter air, she sighed deeply as she took in the peaceful scene.  The feeling of tranquility that permeated the atmosphere tonight contrasted sharply with the turmoil of her life only a few short months ago. 

 

Last August, her happy vision of a future with her new husband and her children had splintered into a million pieces when Billy Melrose knocked on her door to tell her Lee was dead.  Suddenly, the coming months loomed darkly before her, bereft of hope or happiness. Without Lee, the days ahead filled her with an ever-mounting feeling of dread. But the grim, forbidding future she'd envisioned dissolved instantly on that September morning at the train station when she felt Lee's familiar touch once again. Now, settled comfortably in her new home with Lee, her sons and her mother, she eagerly anticipated their first Christmas together as a family.

 

She leaned up against the car for a few minutes, her thoughts dwelling on the conspiracy at the Agency that was behind Lee's apparent "death" last fall. They were still feeling the aftershocks both at work and at home. She shuddered as she recalled Dr. Smyth's suicide and Jamie's kidnapping by agent Mason. The latter had resulted in the explosion that had destroyed her house on Maplewood Drive.  Despite the horror of those bleak days, together she and Lee had put their life back on track.  The joy of their reunion overshadowed the events that had darkened their days last fall.  It was as if they had been given a precious gift - a second chance at a life together.  This time, they would do it right. This time, there would be no more secrets and no more lies.  It seemed that everything had worked out at last.

 

A small, involuntary shudder suddenly passed through her and she fought the uneasy feeling that accompanied it.  Sometimes, despite everything, Amanda felt irrationally frightened, as if the pieces of her life had fallen too neatly into place.  Now, standing here alone in her driveway, she fought the sensation once again.  As long as she and Lee were together, they could face whatever curves life managed to throw them.  With only the barest hint of a frown on her face, she shook off her gloomy reverie and entered the house.

 

"Mother, boys, I'm home."   Amanda entered the kitchen where Dotty and the boys were just sitting down to dinner.

 

"You're just in time, dear."  With a cheerful smile, Dotty ushered her to the kitchen table.  "Did you have a good day?"

 

"A long day."  Amanda looked at the table that was set for four.  "Did Lee call?"

 

"Yes.  I'm supposed to tell you that he won't be home until late.  He has a dinner meeting with Colonel ...Hefer?"

 

"Holstein."

 

"Oh.  I knew it was some kind of cow."

 

Amanda smiled as she sat down at the table.  "How about you guys?  Good day?"

 

"I made the junior varsity basketball team," Philip volunteered.

 

"Philip, that's wonderful.  See, you didn't have anything to worry about."

 

Philip shrugged his shoulders.  "It was just luck.  Tim Michaels broke his ankle in Saturday's game."

 

"That doesn't seem too lucky for poor Tim," Dotty chimed in.

 

"Yeah, well, there was an opening on the team.  The coach moved me up.  He said I would have been on the JV team all along if I'd tried out with everyone else."

 

Amanda smiled at her eldest son.  "I know it's been hard for you to change schools, Philip.  I'm really proud of the way you've handled everything.  Both of you."  Amanda glanced over at Jamie, who seemed uncharacteristically quiet tonight.  "Everything okay, sweetheart?"

 

Jamie stared at his plate, methodically rearranging his food with his fork. 

 

"Jamie?"

 

"You were late for dinner.  I was worried about you, that's all."  He shrugged his shoulders as he stared down at his plate.

 

Amanda sighed.  Ever since Jamie had been held hostage by Mason and discovered what his mother and stepfather really did for a living, he worried about her excessively.  The psychologist assured her this was a normal reaction to the trauma he'd experienced and would lessen with time.  The doctor suggested she encourage Jamie to express his feelings.  Unfortunately, this was not as easy as it seemed. The problem was compounded by the very nature of Amanda's job.  The secrecy that was part and parcel of working for the Agency precluded Jamie confiding in any of his old friends.  And that didn't t even take into account the normal stress of adjusting his mother's 'new' marriage, the upheaval of their recent relocation to Rockville, and the strain of a new school and new friends.  The combination had made for a difficult few months for her youngest son. 

 

"I'm sorry, Jamie, I was held up at work."

 

"Were you catching a double agent?" Philip asked hopefully.

 

Amanda smiled at Philip's overdeveloped sense of drama. "Nothing that thrilling - just a mountain of files.  When you get older, Philip, you'll discover it's really paperwork that keeps our government going."

 

"May I be excused?" Jamie asked.

 

"Is that all you're going to eat, Jamie?" Dotty inquired.

 

"I'm not that hungry."

 

Amanda sighed.  "Sure, if you've had enough."  She watched him clear his plate and head slowly up to his room.

 

"Mom, can I go out and shoot a few baskets?"

 

"It's snowing, Philip."

 

"I know.  That's half the fun."

 

"Okay, but just for a little while," Amanda called to the retreating figure of her son.  She turned to her mother.  "I wish I had his energy."

 

Dotty looked at her daughter closely.  "You seem tired, Amanda.  Are you sure you're not doing too much?  I mean between your job and this house..."

 

"I'm fine, Mother.  Things are just a little stressful at work.  It takes a while to adjust to working with someone new."  She smiled sadly to herself.  "I miss my old partner."

 

"We've all had a lot of things to adjust to lately."

 

Amanda chose to ignore the slight edge to Dotty's voice.  She knew her mother was still working through some issues raised by the revelation of her 'secret life', as her mother fondly referred to her job these days. 

 

"Mother, I'm worried about Jamie.  He seems so sad lately.  I was hoping the holidays might lift his spirits."

 

"He's going through a rough period right now, darling.  It's going to take some time, but he'll be all right."

 

 "I wish I could be as sure of that as you seem to be."  Amanda shook her head sadly.  "Have I told you how much Lee and I both appreciate your staying here for awhile?"

 

Dotty smiled at her daughter.  "You know I'm happy to help you, dear.  But when Jamie's feeling more secure about things, I'm going to get out of your hair.  The last thing newlyweds need is a mother and a mother-in-law under foot."

 

"You're not under foot.  And you've lived with the boys since they were both small.  Jamie doesn't need any more changes in his life right now. It's gonna take his whole family to help him get over the trauma he went through last fall."

 

"He'll be fine.  I'm a grandmother and a grandmother knows these things.  And I also know what you need right now."

 

Amanda tilted her head questioningly.

 

"You need to take a long, hot bath and then crawl into bed and relax a little.  I'll hold down the fort here."

 

"You make everything sound so easy."

 

"Amanda, I'm a mother and a mother..."

 

"...knows these things," they finished in unison.  Smiling, Amanda headed up the stairs. 

 

* * * * *

Amanda slowly closed the pages of her book and glanced one more time at the clock by the bed.  It was after eleven.  Suppressing a yawn, she pushed her book aside and leaned back against the pillows.  The logs in the fireplace had burned down, leaving only a few red-hot embers, a silent testimony to how late Lee was again tonight.  She left the warmth of her bed and walked over to the window.  Outside, the snow was still falling steadily, a few inches already accumulating on the grass and in the driveway.  There was nothing she'd like better than to be snowed in here in her new home with her husband until after the holidays, Amanda thought with a smile. She leaned her forehead against the window, closing her eyes and silently willing the snow to continue.

 

"What on earth are you doing?"  Lee's voice called from the doorway.

 

Startled, Amanda spun around to face him, a guilty look on her face.  "Gosh, Lee, you scared me.  I didn't hear you come in.  You shouldn't sneak up on me like that."

 

"I'm a spy - it's what I do." He sighed mournfully.  "Or at least what I used to do.  Glad to know my 'sneaking' skills haven't gotten too rusty sitting behind my new desk."  He smiled sadly as he took off his jacket and tossed it haphazardly across the chair.

 

"Bad day?"

 

"Typical day.  Meetings, meetings and more meetings."  He flung himself down on the bed in exasperation.  "There are days when I wonder why I'm doing what I'm doing, sitting there in another meeting, out of the action, trying to sort through the mess left by Dr. Smyth."

 

"You've got to give it some time. It's only been a few months - you can't expect to put things back togethher over night."  She sat down beside him on the bed.  "How was your meeting with Colonel Holstein?"

 

Lee shrugged. "Okay."

 

"Just okay? That doesn't sound very promising."

 

"I don't know, maybe I'm just tired.  But there's something about him...I can't put my finger on it." His words hung in mid-air.  "I miss Billy."

 

Amanda smiled wryly.  "I'm sure Jeannie feels the same way. How much longer will he be in New York?"

 

"At least until after the first of the year.  With all of Smyth's phoenix operatives dead or in jail, we're really short handed.  That's one of the things we discussed tonight - speeding up the recruitment process to replace the people we lost. As it is now, I'm constantly juggling our people here in D.C. to fill in until we're up to full strength."

 

Amanda looked at him pointedly.  "If you're so short on agents in the field, then why am I..."

 

Sensing that the conversation was heading into dangerous ground, Lee quickly interrupted her.  "We said we weren't going to bring the Agency home with us, remember?"  He reached out to tenderly stroke her cheek with his hand. 

 

Amanda hesitated for a minute, torn between her desire to clear the air and the warm sensations created by the touch of his fingers on her skin.  She knew exactly what he was up to - trying to distract her from continuing their earlier conversation about his overprotective tendencies. It had become an ongoing battle recently.  When Lee assumed his new position as Chief of Field Operations a little over a month ago, Amanda suddenly found herself buried under a mountain of paperwork, "spring cleaning" file after file of insignificant cases. He seemed reluctant to assign her to a permanent partner, instead pairing her temporarily with Francine.  She realized his actions stemmed from his irrational anxiety about losing her the way he'd lost his parents as a small boy.

 

Even though she understood it intellectually, it still drove her crazy.  She had hoped that with a little time Lee would work through this fear on his own, but he seemed to be getting worse instead of better.  With every day that passed, Amanda grew more and more tired of being kept "out of the line of fire".  Like it or not, she knew they were heading for a confrontation on this issue.  She turned to face her husband, sighing deeply.  But not tonight.  Looking into his eyes, she saw only his love for her and a reflection of her own mounting desire.  She slowly let out the breath she'd been holding and settled back comfortably into his arms.

 

He held her tightly, brushing the top of her head with his lips.  "How was Jamie tonight?"

 

"I was held up in traffic and a little late for dinner.  He was worried again."

 

Lee held her closer, whispering in her ear.  "Give him some time.  That's what we all need, you know.  Just a little time to adjust to all the changes."

 

Amanda turned to look at him closely, reading between the lines, her heart hearing what he was struggling to put into words.  She could give him the time he needed to make his own adjustment.  She ran her fingers slowly and sensuously over his lips. "Did I mention today how much I love you?"

 

Lee smiled as he gently kissed her fingertips.  "Not that I recall.  How about if I throw another log on that fire you started and you can show me, Mrs. Stetson?"

 

"Now that's the best idea you've had all day."

 

 Smiling, Lee brushed her lips with his.  "Keep my spot warm.  I'll be right back."

 

Amanda watched him quickly place two small logs in the grate and expertly fan the flames.  She closed her eyes and relaxed into the softness of the pillows, waiting expectantly for Lee to join her.  Even though they had been together constantly since his miraculous return from the 'dead' in September, Amanda still marveled at how wonderful it felt to live openly as husband and wife.  If it was possible, she loved Lee even more at this moment than she had when they were married last February.  Now there were no more secrets to keep them apart.  She heard him switch off the lamp by the bed and felt him silently slide in beside her.  Instinctively, she turned towards him.  He pulled her close, holding her tightly in his arms, his lips brushing against her forehead. Amanda rested against him, feeling his heartbeat through the thin fabric of his shirt. 

 

An almost overpowering sensation of love washed over her and for a moment she felt the tears spring to her eyes.  This same thing had happened the first time they made love after their ordeal last fall.  Everything they'd both been through seemed to heighten every sensation and she'd shyly touched him as if she'd never felt skin before.  It was as if their bodies had suddenly come back to life in a world where everything was fresh and new.  She was certain Lee had felt it, too.

 

The firelight filled the room with a romantic glow and she let go of all the tensions of the day. The corners of her mouth turned up in a smile as she fingered the material of his shirt.  "Aren't you a little over dressed?" 

 

He smiled sheepishly.  "I guess I was in a hurry."   With an economy of movement, he quickly shed the unwanted garment.  "Better?"

 

Amanda slid her hand over his smooth chest. "Uh-huh."  She raised her eyes to meet his, seeing in them all the feelings Lee still sometimes had a hard time putting into words. He looked at her with the barest hint of a smile.  "Amanda..." He whispered her name almost like a prayer and his mouth captured hers with an easy naturalness that still took her by surprise even after all this time.  His touch flowed through her and electrified her even as his voice still murmured her name. Sighing, she closed her eyes and, for a time, the world and all its problems faded into the background.

 

Afterwards, when they lay contentedly in each other's arms, spent and happy, she quietly whispered, "I love you." Smiling, Lee leaned in to kiss her once more.  Amanda ran her fingers slowly over his face, lightly tracing his eyebrows, down the straight line of his nose to his lips.  He lightly kissed her fingers as they moved over his mouth, then reached out to take hold of her hand.  Entwining his fingers with hers, he faintly replied,  "I love you, too."  With a happy smile, Amanda snuggled against him and closed her eyes.

 

 

CHAPTER TWO

 

The man emerged from the lobby of the Potomac Plaza Hotel and moved purposefully to the car.  The snow that had been falling steadily for most of the night had tapered off to a few scattered flurries.  They clung tenaciously to the petals of the sweetheart rose attached to the lapel of his overcoat. The woman waited impatiently in the front seat, oblivious to the beauty of the world of white surrounding her.

 

“What took you so long?” she snapped as the man slid into the driver’s seat beside her.

 

“It took a few minutes to secure the correct accommodation,” he answered in a faintly accented voice.

 

“You were successful?”

 

“Yes.  The suite should suit our purpose.”  With a barely concealed smile, he handed her the key to room. He pointed to the rear of the hotel.  “We can go in through the back.”

 

The woman frowned slightly.  “Good.  Let’s get going.  This weather has put us behind schedule.”

 

Without a word, the man started the engine and pulled slowly around to the back of the hotel.

 

* * * * *

 

The persistent ringing of the telephone intruded jarringly on the peace and quiet of the early morning.  Somewhere on the edges of consciousness, Amanda’s sleep fogged mind heard Lee answer and ask for a status report.  Reluctantly opening her eyes, she saw that it was not quite six o’clock.  Groaning, she snuggled down deeper into the pillows, pulling the covers over her head.  Normally a morning person, Amanda seemed to be finding it increasingly difficult to get out of bed lately.  She dimly heard Lee end the conversation and rolled over to look at him.

 

“Problems?”

 

He frowned slightly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.  “Possibly.  That was Johnson.  Intelligence reports the Chameleon may have entered the U.S. last night through Dulles.”

 

“The Chameleon?  The international hit-man?”

 

“That’s the one.  I’ve got to get to the Agency.”  Lee reluctantly pushed the covers aside and started to rise.

 

“Hang on a few minutes and I’ll go with you.”

 

Lee stopped and turned towards her.  “There’s no need, Amanda.  It’s early.  Why don’t you get a little more sleep?”

 

She hesitated for a fraction of a second before replying.  “You’re sure?”

 

“Believe me, I wouldn’t be leaving this early unless I had to.”  He leaned over and kissed her.  “I’d much rather stay here with you.”

 

“Me, too,” she murmured against his lips.

 

“I’ll see you later at the staff meeting.”

 

“Okay.”  She watched Lee head for the shower with a sigh. It was definitely too early in the morning to jump back into their running argument about work.  She lay back, snuggling down under the covers. That nagging feeling of worry began to gnaw in the pit of her stomach again and she rolled over, hugging his pillow tightly against her body. She wished that she could put her finger on what was really bothering her. Maybe she just missed her husband. They seemed to have so little time together since Lee started this new job. The break-up of Dr. Smyth’s organization had created a gaping hole in the very fabric of the Agency that they were now all struggling to close. 

 

But sometimes Amanda felt that there might be more to it than this. Since his promotion, Lee seemed different somehow in a way that was difficult to define.  That almost imperceptible change had begun to spill over into their intimate relationship as well.  That’s not to say that it wasn’t good.  Their sex life was still incredible, she thought with a smile, her mind dwelling pleasantly on the events of the previous evening.  It was just different, in a way that was almost impossible to describe.  Maybe she just needed to give things a little time.  Lee had implied as much last night. She was worrying needlessly - everything would be fine.  She closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep.

 

* * * * *

“Good morning, boss.”  Francine Desmond fell into step with Lee as he made his way through the bullpen to his office.  “You’re here bright and early.  And I thought newlyweds were chronically late for work.  Of course, you’re not really newlyweds, are you?  We all just think you are.”

 

“Don’t start, Francine.” 

 

“Hmm, crabby, too.  Trouble in paradise?”

 

Lee ignored her, opening the door to his office and sitting down behind his

desk.

 

“I didn’t get enough sleep last night.”

 

Francine smirked at him from behind her pile of files.

 

“Don’t say it, Francine.”

 

Francine faced him with an expression of innocence.    “I wasn’t going to say a word.”

 

“I had a late meeting with Colonel H and an early call this morning,” Lee

stated irritably.  He groaned as he indicated the stack of paperwork she was carrying.   “Don’t tell me those files are all for me.”

 

“I’m afraid so.”

 

“What happened to the administrative support Billy promised me?”

 

“You’re looking at it.”

 

Lee sighed in resignation.  “Not really.  We’re too short handed.  I’m going

to need you in the field.”

 

Francine looked at him pointedly.  “Speaking of the field, there’s a problem

with my new partner.”

Lee raised his eyebrows.

 

“Or should I say your old partner?  Should I call her that?  I guess it’s all a matter of semantics.”

 

“What problem?”  Lee was beginning to be irritated by Francine’s teasing banter.

 

“Dr. Kelford’s department called.  Amanda has canceled her agency physical twice this month.  And you know, regulation twelve, subsection two clearly states, ‘all field agents are required to submit to a yearly physical to be considered on active field duty.  Failure to comply will result in suspension until...’”

 

“You don’t have to quote the rules to me, Francine.  I’ve read them.”

 

“Sorry.  I was just trying to…”

“I’ll take care if it.  Any other pressing business?”

 

Francine flipped through the stack of files, handing him a thick report.  “The latest status reports on the Chameleon.”

 

Lee reached for the file.  “Thanks. I’ll see you at the staff meeting at ten o’clock.”  

 

“I’ll be in the Q-Bureau if you need me.”

 

With a backwards glance at Lee who was already absorbed in the file, Francine headed out the door.

 

* * * * *

 

Amanda entered the room and took her place at the mahogany conference table.  With a pleasant nod to the other agents already seated around the table, she leafed absently through the papers at her place.  Francine came through the door in a rush, walking over to Amanda and sitting down beside her.

 

Amanda groaned inwardly as she saw her approach.  Even though she had been partnered with Francine more and more lately, she feared they would never have the same easy working relationship she’d shared with Lee.   With Francine, Amanda felt like she was back at square one, having to prove herself as an agent all over again.  She sometimes thought Francine would never see her as anything more than the simple housewife from Arlington whom Lee had indulgently worked with from time to time.  In reality, her life was far from simple.  Amanda knew she had already proved herself in the field on more than one occasion and so did Francine. 

 

That’s what made this entire work situation so frustrating.  They had forged the beginnings of a good working relationship when they were investigating the circumstances surrounding Lee’s ‘death’.  Then, when she and Lee returned to work after their leave of absence, Francine had done an abrupt about face. Since then she had become more and more puzzled by Francine’s reaction to her.  She wondered briefly if something else was going on in Francine’s life to cause this sudden animosity. 

           

Her thoughts were interrupted by Lee’s sudden entrance.  She caught his eye as he took his place at the head of the table.  Amanda thought he looked tired.  He smiled over at her in brief acknowledgement before addressing the group.

 

“We have a top priority problem this morning so I’ll get right to the point.  We have reason to believe the international gun-for-hire known as the Chameleon came through Dulles International sometime last night.  Our intelligence is good – it comes from a former associate who saw our target recently in Europe. I don’t have to tell you what this means – he’s presently number three on the Agency’s most wanted list, with a bullet. Until he’s apprehended or we have confirmation that he’s left our area, I’m afraid all vacations and days off are canceled until further notice.”

 

A murmur of disgruntled voices greeted this statement. 

 

“I know - I am aware that the holidays are almost here, but that gives us all an added incentive to wrap this up as quickly as possible.”  Lee consulted his notes.  “The problem is, there could be any number of targets right now in D. C.  We need to figure out his game plan, get some idea of who he could be after – ASAP.  All we really know right now is how much we don’t know.  The man is a master of disguise, able to assume many different identities to accomplish his job - hence the name ‘Chameleon’.  And once he’s assumed a disguise, we might as well throw our description of him out the window.  This man could literally be anyone.  That’s why he’s proved so elusive to any number of international agencies, including this one.”

 

Lee paused and looked out on the solemn faces of his agents.  He really hated to have to do this just a few days before Christmas.  He glanced briefly at his wife sitting next to Francine, her hands folded quietly in her lap.  She’d been looking forward so much to their first holiday together.  He had even promised to take a few days off to enjoy the season this year. And, for the first time, he’d really been looking forward to Christmas, too. He knew it wasn’t fair to her, but then again, when had this business ever been fair?  He reluctantly turned his attention back to his report.

 

“The man has a monumental ego.  He marks his kills by leaving a sweetheart rose at the scene – that’s his trademark.  And we have reason to believe that the Rose Tuxedo Shop on M Street is one of the Chameleon’s known drops here in D.C.  We will have round the clock surveillance beginning now.  Johnson, you’ll coordinate the teams.  Use everyone but Francine and Amanda.”  Francine began to protest, but Lee cut her off.  “I need you both to run down a list of possible targets.  Our first priority is to get an idea of who the Chameleon could be after.”  He turned back to Johnson.  “You can use them as back-up, but only in an emergency.  Okay, status reports as soon as you have them. That’s all.”

 

The other agents filed out, while Francine and Amanda lingered.

 

“Scarecrow, I thought you said you needed me in the field?” Francine demanded crossly. 

 

“Right now, I need you to take care of this, Francine.”

 

Francine looked over at Amanda.  “Uh-uh,” she said knowingly.  “We’ll be in the Q-Bureau if you need us for anything more than busy-work.”

 

Francine left in a huff and Amanda wordlessly began to follow.

 

Lee’s voice called her back.  “Amanda, I need to see you for a minute.”

           

She reluctantly turned to face him.  Her latest assignment had left her in no mood to talk to him right now.  After witnessing the exchange with Francine, she was beginning to suspect that the cause of her new partner’s animosity was standing right in front of her.

 

“Yes?” 

 

Lee waited until the room emptied before he spoke.  He felt the anger simmering behinds her polite facade.  “Don’t start, Amanda.  It’s been a brutal morning.”

 

She pursed her lips, struggling to keep her temper in check.  “Maybe it wouldn’t be quite so brutal if you would let me out from behind my computer screen.”

 

Lee looked at her sharply.  “Well, you’re not really giving me much choice in the matter.”

 

“Me?”

 

He ran his hand nervously through his hair.  “Doc Kelford’s department officially informed me that you’ve missed your last two appointments.”

 

“Gosh, Lee, I’ve been so busy filing lately that I just haven’t had a chance to get there.”

 

Lee ignored the sarcasm in her voice.  “You are now officially overdue for your agency physical. I have no choice except to suspend you if you miss the next one.”

 

“Isn’t that a little extreme?  Or maybe that would solve all your problems – you wouldn’t have to invent reasons to keep me at my desk.”

 

“That’s not what I’m trying to do.”

 

“Really? You could have fooled me.”

 

“Amanda, as agents we live with certain rules and regulations.  And, unfortunately, as your chief, I’m now in the unenviable position of making sure they’re followed.”

 

“This from the man who taught me that rules were made to be broken.”

 

“Yeah, well, the view seems a lot different from behind this desk.”

 

“Lee…” She started to speak, then thought better of it.  Looking away, she merely added, “Don’t worry. This won’t be a problem. I’ll take care of it.”

 

Lee glanced at her uncomfortably.  “I know you will.  I made an appointment for you at three o’clock this afternoon.  You need to keep it or I’ll be forced to ground you.”

 

“Great,” she replied stiffly.  “Anything else, sir?”

 

“Amanda, honey…”

 

She rolled her eyes at his use of the endearment and walked quickly away.  Lee started to follow her, then reconsidered.  Instead, he remained by the podium and followed Amanda with his eyes, watching her unbending form move determinedly thought the bullpen and disappear down the hall.  Abruptly, he sat down at the conference table and glared at the mountain of files piled in front of him.  Sighing, he admitted that maybe Amanda had a point – he had always balked at regulations himself.  Unfortunately, in his new position he seemed buried under a mountain of nit-picking little rules.  ‘Administration One’, he thought in frustration.  He’d always sworn it would never happen to him.  After almost two months of being forced to walk in Billy’s shoes, he had to admit that they were beginning to feel a little tight.  Maybe he hadn’t been entirely fair to Amanda.  He’d give her a little time to cool off, then stop by the Q-Bureau and try to mend his fences.  He quickly gathered his files and headed back to his office.

 

* * * * *

 

Amanda entered the Q-Bureau and sat down behind her desk with a sigh.  She was still seething from her conversation with Lee.  She glanced quickly over at Francine, who now occupied Lee’s old desk by the window. Her new partner appeared to be having problems of her own.  Her face to the wall, Francine was speaking heatedly into the telephone.  Feeling the awkwardness of the situation, Amanda tactfully moved into the vault, pretending to pull some files.  It didn’t help, though, as Francine raised her voice, forcing her to be an unwilling witness to this latest fight with Jonathan.

 

She sighed involuntarily.  This was just another example of the subtle little differences in her working environment these days. Lack of privacy had never been an issue when she and Lee had shared the Q-Bureau.  The only thing they had to worry about were people walking in on them at an inopportune moment.  Amanda smiled softly, remembering the day Lee had locked the Q-Bureau door and kissed her. This office had played a major role in furthering their relationship.  It seemed strange now to see Francine’s face whenever she looked up from her work. She missed Lee’s presence in the office, missed the easy give-and-take of their partnership. 

 

The sound of the receiver being slammed into its base broke into her reverie.  She self-consciously emerged from the vault, settling herself behind her desk without a word.  Francine turned her face away, staring aimlessly out of the window. Amanda nervously cleared her throat before speaking.  “Everything all right, Francine?”

She took a few minutes before she answered.  “Yes, I’m fine.”

 

Amanda regarded her sympathetically.  She knew first-hand what it felt like to be at odds with the special person in her life.  She turned a friendly eye on Francine. 

 

“I know we’ve never been the best of friends, but if you need to someone to talk to, I’ll be happy to listen.”

 

“Not really.  Everything’s great.”

 

Amanda turned away, busying herself with the new computer sitting on her desk.  She felt rather than saw Francine pacing up and down across the room.

 

“Jonathan’s angry because I told him I may have to cancel our holiday plans,” Francine blurted out suddenly.  “He just doesn’t make any effort to understand my work.” 

 

Amanda smiled at her kindly.  “All relationships are complicated, Francine.”

 

“At least Lee understands your job.”

 

Amanda rested her chin on her hands. “Oh, yeah, he understands all right.  He understands so well that he won’t give me an assignment that requires anything more dangerous than typing.”

 

Francine returned her smile.  “I’ve noticed.  As your new partner, I’m being tarred with the same brush.  The only thing getting any exercise around here is our fingers on the keyboard.”  Francine looked at Amanda searchingly.  “What are you planning to do about it?  That is, if you still plan on having a career as a field agent and not a glorified secretary?”

 

“Don’t worry, Francine, I intend to take care of it.  In my own way.”

 

“Well, I hope it’s soon.  My personal life may be on the rocks, but I’ve worked too long and too hard to let my career end up there, too.”

 

“And I have no intention of either of them ending up there,” Amanda muttered under her breath.   With a final look at Francine that stated in no uncertain terns that the subject was closed, she turned her attention once again to her computer screen.

 

 

CHAPTER THREE

 

The clerk looked up from his book as the ringing bells signaled the arrival of new customers at the Rose Tuxedo Shop. He smiled congenially at the man and woman who entered the shop, acknowledging them with a nod.  The man ignored him, glancing casually around the room, fingering the small flower in his lapel, while the woman began to flip through the racks of dress shirts.

 

Leaving a bookmark to note his place, the clerk closed the novel and politely addressed his new customers.  “May I help you?”

 

“I’m looking for something in a burgundy silk,” the woman replied, her voice rising as she spoke.

 

“Burgundy silk?  I’m not sure if we have anything in that shade. If you could give me a minute….”

 

“I’ll take care of this,” his boss interjected, appearing suddenly at his side.  With a solicitous smile at the couple, he motioned to the dressing rooms in the back.  “If you’ll step this way, I think I have exactly what you’re looking for.”

 

The man and woman followed the owner to the rear of the shop.  The clerk started to return to his book, then suddenly snapped his fingers as he headed to a rack in the corner of the store.  Retrieving a few samples, he followed the trio to the dressing rooms.

 

 “Mr. Rose, you forgot these new…” The clerk stopped, puzzled.  “What are you…?”

 

His words hung in midair as he stared wide-eyed at the body of his employer lying in a heap in the corner of the shop.  He wore the same expression seconds later as the bullets caught him in the chest and the head. 

 

The man looked at the woman with an air of detachment.  “We won’t be using this drop again,” he said, his faint accent becoming slightly more pronounced.  “Pity.”

 

The woman smiled as she adroitly removed the silencer from the gun. “They were on to it anyway. Time to move on.” Retrieving a packet of documents from beneath a bench in the dressing room, she expertly concealed it among her purchases and proceeded to deftly remove the small flower from her companion’s lapel. She stepped over the clerk’s body, dropping the flower, and headed nonchalantly out the front door.

 

* * * * *

Amanda absently rubbed her eyes as she stared at the computer screen.  Sighing loudly, she glanced over at Francine.

 

“Any luck?”

 

“You know, Amanda, I never realized how many state functions, receptions and parties there were on the week before Christmas.  Although I guess I should have remembered, since I’ve certainly attended a number of them in the past.”

 

“Well, ‘tis the season…”

 

“Yes, to be working overtime.”  Francine let out an exasperated sigh. “I’m getting nowhere with this.  It’s going to be next to impossible to cover every event – there are just too many of them.”

 

“Let me take a look.  Maybe we can narrow the list a little bit.”  Amanda walked over to her desk and peered over her shoulder.  “Look at this, Francine – the reception for Colonel Holstein tomorrow night.