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Amanda paced the floor of the hotel room from the door to the window for the hundredth time in the last hour. Once again she paused at the window and scanned the street below. People walked the icy sidewalk on their way to their various places of employment. It was a busy time of day in downtown Denver - almost 8:00 a.m., the beginning of another cold December day for all the strangers below. For Amanda however, it was just a transition into sunlight after a long and scary night.
The hotel room was warm but Amanda wrapped her arms around herself as she turned away from the window shivering. She wished she were at home in Arlington. She wished she were at the offices of International Federal Film in Washington where she worked. She wished she were anyplace but here - alone.
She wandered aimlessly around the room and found herself standing by the unslept-in bed. Her hand came to rest on the phone that resided on the night stand willing it to ring, but still it was silent. The whole room was as silent as a tomb and Amanda shivered again as the analogy came to mind.
"Where are you, Lee?" she said to the emptiness that surrounded her. They were supposed to meet back here at the hotel early last night for dinner after each of them had carried out their respective investigative tasks. Amanda's, of course, had been routine, but Lee's wasn't supposed to have been dangerous - at least not at this point. Something had to have gone wrong. What could have kept him from at least contacting her? It had been Lee who had stressed the importance of keeping in touch with each other on this assignment since they were working very much on their own. There wasn't even anyone she could call to share her concern.
As the phone suddenly came to life with exaggerated loudness, Amanda nearly jumped out of her skin. She had to force herself to start breathing again as she grabbed the receiver. "Hello?" She prayed she would hear the one voice she so desperately needed to hear. "Hello?" she called again, but there was still no answer, just silence - no - not complete silence either. She could hear someone on the line breathing softly. "Who is this? What do you want?" Still no response. Amanda held the line listening intently, trying to pick up some clue to the identity of the silent caller. She heard something faintly in the background, something familiar, yet she couldn't quite identify it. Then a soft, but ominous chuckle came from the other end of the line followed by the finality of a click.
With shaking hands, Amanda returned the receiver to its cradle. "Oh, my gosh," she whispered as she stood frozen to the spot on the rug. What was she going to do? Something had happened to Lee, something to keep him away from her, and now someone, maybe the same person responsible for Lee's disappearance, had located her. They knew she was here and they probably knew she was alone. There was only one thing she could do - get out of here as fast as she could.
She didn't take the time to pack her belongings, she simply grabbed her coat and her purse and bolted for the door. She considered taking the stairs, but there was a crowd of people waiting for the elevator, so she decided that route was not only faster, but safer than the dark and isolated stairway.
She tried to appear casual as she rode down to the ground floor and walked through the busy lobby. Surely her haste would get her out long before anyone could get near her.
She had almost made it to the revolving doors when the festive music of a brass quintet made her stop dead in her tracks. The quintet had been playing in the hotel lobby every morning this week greeting the establishment's guests with holiday music during this last week before Christmas. Amanda remembered commenting to Lee how lovely she thought the music was and he had replied in a mock grumpy way that all they needed was for Amanda to start with her indefatigable Christmas spirit. The sounds of the season had always made her feel festive.
But now the music of the quintet terrified her, for she suddenly recognized it as the sound she had heard in the background in the phone call. That had to mean that whoever placed the call had used one of the house phones in the hallway just off the lobby and was right now in this very hotel with her - perhaps in the lobby watching her this second!
With a rising feeling of panic, she ran out of the hotel and up the snow covered street. Once again, the early morning crowds gave her a sense of security, but, she realized, they also would serve to give anyone following her anonymity. She continued hastily up the street for a couple of blocks, then quickly turned a corner and ducked into the door of a small coffee shop. She quickly made her way toward the back of the shop and found an empty booth facing the door.
"Can I help you?" asked a slightly harassed looking waitress.
"Just coffee please," Amanda replied and received a nod as the woman moved away to the next table.
Amanda kept her eyes glued to the front window. The waitress had barely moved away from her table when she saw a man pass the window and appear to casually look inside. A few seconds later, he reappeared, walking more slowly and looking deliberately in the window. Amanda caught her breath as the man's gaze fell on her and his lips turned up in an unpleasant smile.
"Your coffee, ma'am," the waitress said as she set down the steaming brew. Amanda jumped at the unexpected interruption almost knocking the coffee off the table.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she quickly apologized. "Thank you."
Her attention had been drawn away from the window for only a second, but as she looked back, the man was nowhere to be seen.
"Oh no," she said under her breath and began scanning the interior of the shop in case he had come inside. Suddenly she saw him, seated at the counter, accepting a cup of hot coffee from the counterman. He was successfully between her and the front door. Frantically looking around, she saw the only other exit led to the kitchen. As she looked back at the man who had followed her, he was once again gazing at her with a smile.
Terrified, but unwilling to show it, she took a deep breath and lifted her coffee with as steady a hand as she could manage. What did this man want? she asked herself. Was he just following her? He didn't seem to mind her knowing about it. Maybe he was just trying to scare her. If that was it, he had succeeded. Still, the most likely reason was that he was after her and Amanda knew she had to find a way to get away from this man.
He didn't appear to be in any hurry to make a move here with all these people around, but the coffee shop was beginning to thin out as people left to report to their respective work places. Amanda knew she had to do something soon.
The back way was the most obvious, but she was afraid that was just what he was trying to do, scare her into retreating into some back alley where no one was watching and he would be free to do with her as he pleased. The front door would require her to have to pass him. Whether he would do anything in front of a lot of people, she didn't know, but she rather doubted it. She should be relatively safe as long as she kept to crowds.
Just as that thought crossed her mind, the front door of the coffee shop opened admitting seven or eight young men loudly discussing the prospects of hitting the slopes. College students, Amanda thought, taking advantage of the holidays to do some skiing. An idea began to form in her mind. She sat back and sipped her coffee as the group located at the table near her and placed their orders for coffee.
It was difficult to be patient, but she managed to appear reasonably calm as she ordered a second cup and waited for the group to finish. Finally, after about half an hour, they rose, paid their bill and started for the door. Amanda threw her money on the table and jumped up right in the midst of the skiers.
"Headed for the slopes, huh, fellas?" she asked with a friendly smile.
"Yes, ma'am," replied one of the young men. "It's supposed to be good powder up there today after all the snow we've gotten in the last two days."
"So I understand," Amanda replied, still walking with them toward the door. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched the man at the counter. His expression was not entirely happy as he followed her progress and reached to pay his own tab. "I was thinking about going up myself this afternoon for the weekend. Where would you guys recommend?"
"Well, I'm afraid you won't be able to get in anywhere this weekend without already having made reservations."
"Oh, drat, this is a very busy weekend, isn't it?"
"You could say that," the young man replied as he held the door open for her and she saw the man at the counter falling in behind the group. "We made ours weeks ago."
"Oh, well, it was just a thought," she replied and glanced down at her watch. "Oh, my, I'm very late. Have fun," she called with a wave and took off running just as fast as she could across the street and up the sidewalk of the busy main street. She had a good jump on her pursuer since the young skiers were blocking the doorway. By the time he got out, she had made it around the corner. Immediately, she ducked into a department store, ceasing her running, but still moving as quickly as she could to the escalator. As she rose toward the second floor of the building she saw the man come to a halt in front of the main doors and turn to come in. She ducked down behind the side of the escalator wall until the lift reached the next floor.
Gratefully, she realized she was in the Women's Department. Rushing through the displays and racks of clothes she quickly located a pair of pants in her size and grabbed the first blouse she came to that even looked like it would fit and headed for the fitting room.
She changed as quickly as she could, removing the price tags, and depositing her old clothing in the corner of the booth. From her purse, she pulled a scarf with which she tied her hair up. Anything to make herself look different. A quick survey in the mirror told her that she was mismatched in the extreme. The slacks were dark green khaki, the blouse a frilly pale pink and the scarf a red and yellow print. It didn't matter, just so long as she had changed her appearance enough to slip away. Carefully she made her way to the door of the fitting room and peaked outside. The man was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he was still searching the first floor for her.
Deciding she had to take the chance, she emerged and quickly moved to a cashier. "I found just what I needed," she told the staring salesgirl. "I'm going to wear these. Here are the tags and I believe this should cover it." She handed the girl one hundred dollars, far more than the total of the two price tags. "Keep the change," Amanda smiled as she rushed toward the down escalator.
She had only descended about a quarter of the way down when she saw the man step onto the up escalator and start to lift his head directly toward her. She quickly spun around so her back would be toward him and held her breath. A few seconds later as the escalators passed, she caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye. He was still looking toward the next floor. She reached the ground level and rushed toward the exit she had come in. The icy wind cut through her as she realized she didn't have a coat anymore. It took only seconds to hail a cab. When it pulled up she jumped in the back seat and told the driver to go. Only then did she take a good deep breath.
"Where to, lady?" asked the driver.
Amanda hesitated, she didn't know. She hadn't thought that far ahead. "Just keep driving for now," she told him. She leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes. What did she do now? She had no place to go. She couldn't go back to the hotel and she couldn't risk calling anyone. What she needed was time to think. After driving for several minutes, she asked the cabbie to pull over. She paid him, then just began to walk down the street. It wasn't really safe for her to be out in the open, she realized, so she located a small, dark pub and took a booth in the back.
As she ordered a drink, she began to feel the effects of the sleepless night and the chase that followed catching up with her. She was cold and very tired, and a quick survey of her funds told her she had very little money. She knew no one in Denver and she couldn't even call Billy in Washington for help. She was about at her wits end when the waiter returned with her drink and for the first time, she saw the name of the establishment imprinted on the cocktail napkin. Michael's. Something about that name rang a bell in her head. Michael's. What was it? Suddenly the light dawned. Michaels. Of course, that was Lee's mother's maiden name - the name of his family in New Mexico. Amanda had met them just a few months before when Lee had taken her to his family reunion. But why did that seem important now?
Suddenly she remembered. Lee's cousin, Murphy Michaels, lived in Denver! And he was a private detective! She knew she couldn't contact the agency, but she knew she could trust Murphy and right now she was just a little desperate for someone she could rely on. Grabbing her purse, she went to the phone booth and started searching through the directory. Finally she found it - The Michaels Agency. Quickly she copied down the address and headed for the door.
It was late and Murphy was tired, but he felt good. He had just successfully wrapped up a missing persons case. Everyone was happy and Murphy had a nice fat check including a hefty bonus in his pocket. It would be good to get back home and relax for a while and think about just what he was going to do with this money. Maybe he would finally go out and get himself a real office - one in a downtown building with a spectacular mountain view, a waiting room and a secretary. No, it was a nice check, but it wasn't quite that nice. Besides, he was very comfortable in his office/apartment. True, it wasn't exactly the greatest location to drum up business, but he hadn't done so badly, especially lately. He could stand to stay there for awhile. Maybe somebody he'd have a fine suite of offices like Laura and -
Damn. He cursed himself for letting his mind turn to such a depressing subject. Throughout the case, he hadn't thought of Laura and "Remington Steele" once and now with it all over, when he should be happy and celebrating, he had to think about her - and him.
Since moving to Denver, he had thrown himself into the struggle to establish his own agency - no small task. It had been a lot of phone calling and pavement pounding but finally it seemed it was beginning to pay off. He'd started out with the dregs of detective work, divorce cases, but lately things had picked up. He had a couple of meaty assignments and had been put on retainer by a large Denver oil conglomerate. His life was beginning to get some stability into it now and that was something to be proud of.
He pulled into the parking lot of the Sea Chase Restaurant, drove around to the back of the building and parked next to the stairs that led to the second floor where his office and living quarters were located. He grabbed his coat and mounted the steps. The cold seemed to penetrate his bad leg - still not back to normal after the injury he had suffered before leaving Los Angeles. Opening the door and turning on the lights, he tossed his coat on an office chair and was about to head to his desk when a movement on the sofa across the room caught his attention. He narrowed his gaze at the sleeping woman, her back toward him. As he reached the couch, the woman turned over in her sleep, her face clearly visible. Recognition brought an immediate look of puzzlement to the young detective's features.
"Amanda?" he called softly. Her eyelids fluttered open and she stared at him blankly for a second, then the eyes flew open and she sprang up on the sofa.
"Murphy!" she grasped, "Oh, I'm so glad you're here. I've been waiting since this afternoon. The lady in the restaurant let me in, I hope you don't mind." She shrugged sheepishly, "I told her I was your sister."
He laughed. "I wonder if she believed you." His expression became serious. "Amanda, what are you doing here? What's wrong?"
"Murphy, I'm sorry to involve you this way, I didn't have anywhere else to go. Lee didn't come back to the hotel last night and someone was following me this morning. I couldn't go to the agency, then I remembered you lived here."
"You and Lee are in town on an assignment?" She nodded. "What kind of assignment?"
She bit her lip. "Murphy, I don't feel right about involving you this way, but I know I can trust you and I need some help."
"Some top secret agency business?"
"Yes," she turned on the sofa and set her feet on the floor so Murphy could sit down next to her. "There's been a major intelligence leak in the agency. The lid's on tight and not even our boss, Mr. Melrose, knows what we're doing. Lee got his orders directly from Blue Leader."
"Blue Leader?"
"He's this sort of very mysterious man that no one ever sees, but he's the head man of the agency. He almost never makes contact directly with an agent, only in an emergency like this one."
"But he called Lee," Murphy reasoned.
"Not exactly," Amanda replied. "He sort of contacts you in a strange way." She looked at him trying to insure he would believe what she was about to say. "He started talking to Lee over his car radio. He did it once before. I even heard it myself that time. Anyway he told Lee about the leak and assigned Lee to come to Denver and check into it. Lee is not supposed to contact anyone associated with the agency. Strictly on his own."
"Except for you," Murphy observed.
"Yeah," she replied. "Lee cleared it with Blue Leader to enlist my help. You see, this is not just a simple case of an agent turning sour. Blue Leader believes there is a network within the agency that is handing top secret information to the other side."
"Why Denver?"
"The most recent leak involved the Air Force Intelligence budget. The reports were brand new, so we figured there had to be someone inside the Air Force Accounting Center here who supplied the information to this ring. We thought there had to be some way to trace the bad apple inside the agency if we could find out who gave him the information at the center."
"Have you had any luck?"
"Yes," she nodded. "We narrowed it down to five people who had access to the information and I ran a security check on each of them. Three were negative, but two had possibilities. One was an accountant in the AFI accounting group, the other was his secretary. Lee went to check out the man, Leonard Flesch, and I went to talk to the secretary, Liz Gerald. Lee was very suspicious of Flesch after talking to him. He seemed too cool and not very concerned about the leak of the information. I think Miss Gerald is involved for the exact opposite reason: she was as nervous as a cat. I went down to the local credit bureau to check further into their financial situations while Lee went out to check out Flesch's ranch."
"Ranch? On a government salary?" Murphy asked incredulously.
"That's part of the reason we were suspicious. Lee was supposed to meet me back at the hotel last night for dinner to go over everything we'd found out and plan what to do next, but he never showed up. I was up all night, and no sign of him." Amanda looked down at her hands. "Something bad has happened, I know it."
"Now, Amanda," Murphy reached out and took her hand. "Lee's a big boy and you know better than anyone that he can take care of himself. Maybe he was on to something and had to follow it up with immediately. He probably didn't have a chance to call you."
"What about the man this morning?" Amanda asked.
"What exactly happened?"
Amanda proceeded to explain the events of the morning that led her to Murphy's office. She finished with a sigh. "I just didn't know where else to go. I trust Mr. Melrose and I know he could never be involved in something like this, but if I called him, that would be specifically violating Blue Leader's orders. If I am wrong and Lee is okay, he would kill me for blowing the operation."
Murphy nodded. "Well, I'm glad you came to me. I think the first thing we need to do is backtrack. I want to check on your hotel room first. While I'm there, I'll get you a change of clothes." She smiled gratefully. "Then I think I'll head out to that ranch and have a look for myself."
"Not without me you're not!" Amanda replied firmly. "I'm not going to be left behind again. If something happens, I want to be there."
"I don't think . . ." Murphy started.
"No, Murphy, I won't be talked out of this."
"Okay, okay," he held his hands up to surrender. "You can go to the ranch with me, but I don't want you seen at that hotel. Now, this man who followed you won't know me and I can get in and take a look. If you came with me, we're liable to pick up your friendly tail again."
Amanda considered for a moment. "I guess you're right, but don't get any ideas about not picking me up before you go out to Flesch's place."
"Amanda, as of right now, I don't know where Flesch's place is! I need your directions to get there."
Amanda smiled. "Good. Then you'll get them after you've checked out our rooms and picked me up!"
"I wouldn't have it any other way," he smiled. "Now, let's go. There's an all-night diner a couple of blocks from your hotel. I'll drop you there until I get finished."
"Fine," Amanda got to her feet. "Let's go."
Lee stood in the middle of the demolished hotel room surveying the destruction. The bed had been torn apart, every drawer in the dresser pulled out and dumped, contents and all, in the center of the floor, Amanda's suitcase had likewise been emptied. Through the open door to his own adjoining room, Lee could see it was in the same condition. Someone had definitely been searching for something - probably a clue to their identities and why they were poking around into the AFI case. They had definitely stirred up someone. That was good, because it meant they were on the right track. But it didn't make Lee any happier with Amanda missing.
Whoever had done this must have grabbed her while he spent the night in Flesch's bunkhouse storage room waiting for the all night poker game to end so he could slip out undetected. He cursed himself for the stupidity that put him in that situation.
He searched the room for some clues of who might have been there. There was mud on the carpet - red clay mud - like the kind at Flesch's ranch. The shape of the stains indicated booted feet - another indication of someone working for Flesch. His next move was clear. It would be like walking into the lion's den, but he had to go back to the ranch, see if he could find Amanda, and if not, confront Flesch himself. He would make that self-important little man tell him what had happened to Amanda - one way or the other.
He moved carefully out of the room and down the hall to the stairs. It was likely that whoever had grabbed Amanda would be waiting for him to show up too. He couldn't be too careful.
As the door to the stairs closed behind him, he heard the elevator bell announce the arrival of a car on the floor. He didn't hesitate, but made his way quickly up the steps toward the roof and never saw the familiar limping figure of his cousin exiting the car.
"Your room had been ransacked, Amanda," Murphy reported as they drove toward Flesch's ranch following his visit to the hotel. "So had Lee's."
"Oh, my gosh!" Amanda exclaimed as she adjusted the belt on her slacks. With the change of cloths, she knew she looked better, but somehow even that didn't make her feel any better, especially with what Murphy was telling her. "What could they have been looking for?"
"I would venture to say some clue as to who you are, why you were checking them out and maybe where you had disappeared to." Amanda swallowed hard. "There were also a couple of muddy bootprints on the floor - red clay. That type of soil is common in the area just west of Denver."
"Where Flesch's ranch is!"
Murphy nodded. "Just where we're going."
"Murphy, do you think they have Lee out there?"
"It's a good bet, unless they've moved him somewhere or . . ." he stopped in mid sentence.
"Or?" Amanda looked at him.
"Or maybe he wasn't caught in the first place," Murphy finished.
"I don't think that's what you were going to say. You think they may have killed him, don't you?" she asked quietly.
"Amanda, there's no use worrying until we know more."
"That would explain them searching the room though," she reasoned. "If they - killed Lee before they were able to find out who he worked for, they would have to try and get whatever information he had from his room."
"Or he could have gotten away from them and they were trying to find where he went," Murphy replied.
"If he got away, why didn't he come back to the hotel or contact me?" Amanda asked.
Murphy couldn't think of a reasonable reply. Amanda had just voiced his own fears. "Let's just wait until we check out the ranch before we jump to any conclusions. That's basic detective procedure." He knew it was a lame response and from the look on Amanda's face, she didn't buy it any more than he did. Basic procedure was fine and dandy if you didn't have a personal stake in the investigation. It didn't hold water when it came to someone you cared about.
They made good time and arrived at the ranch road turn-off shortly after midnight. Before leaving the car and hiking through the woods to the ranch proper, Murphy reached into his glove compartment and took out his .38. He wasn't fond of using guns and the expression on Amanda's face reminded him of how much the weapon disturbed her.
As they worked their way closer to the buildings, he recalled the night during the Michaels' family reunion where they had met a few months before when his family had been held hostage by a group of terrorists. Lee had formulated a plan for rescuing their loved ones, but in the final moments of carrying out the plan, the leader of the terrorists had gotten the drop on Lee and was about to shoot him. When the gunshot had sounded, Murphy had waited in helpless horror for his cousin to drop to the floor of the bunkhouse. It didn't happen. The terrorist fell instead - shot by a family pistol fired by Amanda King.
He remembered the pale, horrified expression on her face as she dropped the gun from her shaking hands and fell sobbing into Lee's arms. It was amazing to Murphy that she could be involved in the kind of dangerous business Lee was in. She just didn't seem the type.
And yet, here she was, insisting on being here, walking into what could be a very dangerous situation. Somehow she reminded him of Laura. That sudden thought seemed strange to him. Laura was a career-minded woman; Amanda was a family-oriented mother. Laura was in every sense the professional, while Amanda freely admitted she was an amateur. They were so different - and yet - maybe it was that determination and fierce loyalty that they both possessed that brought his former partner to mind. Fleetingly his mind conjured up a picture of Laura. Immediately he forced it out of his head. They were nearing the ranch. Now was not the time for introspection.
Crouching in the bushes, they could see the entire layout of the ranch. A couple of corrals, a large barn, a bunkhouse, a few more out-buildings, and the huge ranch house with a stylish look that seemed out of place on a working ranch. The ranch as a whole was not overly large - just a moderate-sized place, but far more than any government accountant should be able to afford. According to Amanda's check of his background, Flesch hadn't inherited any large amounts of money. His explanation was good investments. Possible, but it was also possible the money had come from payoffs for information supplied to some buyer.
"Where do we check first?" Amanda asked.
"You wait here while I check out the main house," he replied. "No arguments, Amanda," he said as she opened her mouth to object. "Two people running around out there would be a lot easier for them to spot. I promise I'll come back and let you know before I go charging in anywhere."
Reluctantly, she nodded as he crept out of his concealment, across the open space to the barn. Slowly he made his way around the structure, keeping to the shadows. It was late enough that everyone seemed to be inside for the night, but there were still lights on in the bunkhouse and the main house. Cautiously he moved to a small shed situated between the barn and the house and was about to make his way across to the side of the three-car garage when he saw some movement in the hedge near one of the lighted windows on the ground floor. He held his position for a moment, trying to get a better look in the moonless night. For a few minutes, the hedge was still, then a shadow rose to peer into the window - someone else was checking out the goings on at Flesch's ranch.
Murphy made his way silently to the side of the garage and moved slowly toward the house itself, cursing his leg for its stiffness that made him feel so clumsy. The man, whoever he was, was preoccupied with what was happening on the other side of the window. As he moved to the corner of the garage, Murphy was finally able to see the man's features in the light coming from the window. A sigh of relief escaped his lips as he smiled at the sight of his cousin.
He waited and watched as Lee, still oblivious to Murphy's presence, continued to watch and listen through the window. He didn't want to move closer for fear of startling Lee into giving them away. Ten minutes passed. Finally, Lee ducked back into the hedge and the light in the room went out. Murphy made his move.
As he reached the hedge, he whispered as loudly as he dared, "Lee!" It was enough. The agent jumped at the sound and spun toward his cousin, gun in hand. "Hold it, Scarecrow, it's Bloodhound," he called, using their childhood nicknames, then moved through the hedge at Lee's signal to do so.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Lee asked as Murphy reached his side.
"Long story," Murphy replied. "Let's get away from here so we can talk."
Lee shook his head. "I've got to find Amanda. These guys have her stashed some place."
"No, they don't," Murphy smiled. "I do!"
"What?" Lee's voice rose a little too loudly causing Murphy to shush him.
"Calm down and follow me," he told the agent as he led him back the way he had come. They made it across the open space to the barn with no incident, but as they turned the corner of the building, Murphy found himself face to face with Amanda, a large tree branch in her hands ready to strike. "Hold it, I'm on your side," Murphy whispered, his hands up in surrender.
"I got worried," she told him. "You were taking too long."
"I told you to stay put," Murphy complained.
"She never does what she's told to do," Lee put in as he leaned around the corner.
"Lee!" Amanda almost shouted, then clamped her hand over her mouth. Murphy watched as the two drank in the sight of each other for a moment. If he weren't standing between them, he was sure they would have rushed into each other's arms in relief. "I was so worried," Amanda told him. "Why didn't you come back last night or at least call?"
"I couldn't," Lee replied. "I got stuck in the bunkhouse supply room with an all-night poker game going on and couldn't get out until this morning. Then I went back to the hotel and the room was trashed and you were gone. I thought they had you."
Murphy glanced around nervously. "Listen, you two, could we move this discussion to some place a little more healthy.?"
"Good point," Lee agreed as he reached past Murphy to grasp Amanda's hand and led them across the yard toward the woods. Once well away from the ranch, Amanda told him about the call to the hotel room and the man who followed her.
"I didn't know what else to do, so I went to Murphy. I'm sorry, but I didn't know what had happened to you."
Lee squeezed her hand. "It's alright," he assured her, then turned to his cousin. "We can probably use the help."
"Did you learn anything while you were hiding in the bushes?" Murphy asked.
"Much more than I could have hoped for," Lee replied. "Flesch was holding a little meeting with his secretary and two other men."
"Any idea who they were?" Amanda asked.
"Yeah," he answered grimly. "One of them was Mark Wood. He's a field agent working out of the Denver office."
"You know him?"
Lee nodded. "He used to be stationed in D.C. I've worked with him before. Good agent when the case was textbook, but not very inventive. I remember he resented it a lot when he was reassigned to Denver."
"Denver's not such a bad place to be," Murphy replied.
"No, but it's not exactly center stage. After being in Washington, Wood considered his stationing in a relatively quiet place like Denver a demotion, which, to tell the truth, it was. I knew he was bitter. That must be why he decided to sell out."
"That's awful," Amanda replied.
"It's happened before and with better agents than Wood."
"Like Harry?" Amanda asked.
"Yeah," Lee sighed. "Thank God it doesn't happen too often."
"Who's Harry?" Murphy asked.
"Harry Hollinger, an agent I worked with years ago in Europe. He was assigned to a quiet station in Germany and couldn't take it. But that's another story." Murphy could see the memory was not too pleasant for his cousin.
"What about the other man who met with Wood and Flesch and Liz Gerald?" Amanda asked.
"I didn't recognize him, but Wood called him Charlie and from the way they talked, I assume he was agency, too." He paused. "We've got to get to the bottom of this thing before it destroys the agency from within."
"So, what do we do?" Amanda asked.
"And how can I help?" Murphy added, not about to be left out of something so important.
Lee grinned. "I was hoping you'd say that, cousin, because I have a plan. Let's get back to your place and I'll tell you all about it."
"Hello," Mark Wood absently answered the phone at his desk in the Denver agency office.
"Hello, Woody, it's Scarecrow, remember me?"
Wood's eyes grew wide and he immediately brought his attention to the conversation. "Of course," he replied. "What can the Denver office do for you boys in D.C.?"
"I'm not in D.C., Woody, but I think you know that. I'm here in Denver on a little vacation and just thought we ought to get together, catch up on old times."
"Sure thing," Wood played along. "There's a bar near here, a place called Harrigan's, sort of like Nedlingers back in Washington. How about lunch, say, in an hour?"
"Sounds great, old buddy. See you then."
Wood hung up the phone and thought for a moment. He started to place a call, but decided against it. Instead he grabbed his coat and left the office. He had a stop to make before keeping his mysterious rendezvous with Lee Stetson.
Lee was sitting at a secluded table near the back of the bar when Wood and two other men walked in. Lee waved to the Denver agent and headed for the table. The other two men moved to the bar.
"Woody, old chum, how's it been going?" Lee greeted cheerfully.
"Cut the 'old chum' bit, Stetson. We're not being monitored now and we were never very friendly, as I recall. What is it you want?"
"Now, Woody, is that anyway to talk to a colleague?"
"We aren't colleagues anymore," Woody replied. "You're still in Washington. I'm stuck out here in nowheresville."
"Maybe so, but we both still work for the same employer and I was rather hopeful we could arrange a separate little business deal of our own."
"What kind of business arrangement?" he asked.
"Let's cut to the chase, shall we? I know about your little extracurricular activities with Leonard Flesch."
"Flesch?" Wood tried to appear innocent without much success.
"Yes, the man whose ranch you visited last night." Lee watched Wood as he continued. "Don't bother denying it. I was there, right outside the window, I saw you. And it doesn't take much intelligence to figure out that Flesch was the source of the Air Force Budget Report leak and you arranged for the buyer."
"You can't prove that," Wood replied hotly.
"You want to make a bet?" Lee replied with a knowing smile. "But proving it to anyone is not what I had in mind."
Wood's gaze narrowed. "Then just exactly what did you have in mind?"
"I just happen to be in possession of some information that I'm sure would bring a very good price on the open market. Ever hear of the Jordan File?"
"The file on the CIA's covert operations in Lebanon?" Wood replied in disbelief.
"That's the one. Think you could scare up a buyer for me?"
"How did you get your hands on the Jordan File?" Wood asked.
"Pure genius, Woody, something you wouldn't understand, would you?"
Wood fumed. "You're asking for it, Stetson."
"Okay, then why don't you signal those two goons who came in with you to come and give it to me."
"How do I know you've got the documents?"
Lee reached into his pocket and pulled out a single sheet of computer printout. "Here's a sample. Check it. Have it verified. You'll see it's authentic, and there's plenty more where that came from."
"Why you, Stetson? Why would you turn on the agency? I always thought you were Melrose's golden boy."
"Past history," Lee replied. "Billy's afraid of me, afraid I'm too good. He's worried that I might push him out, so he started pushing me down first. I didn't like it."
"Hard to believe."
"Well, it's not the whole story." Lee paused long enough to toss down the half glass full of bourbon left in his drink. "I need the money, Woody. I've acquired certain - tastes. Things that cost quite a bit of cash. Besides, I'm sick and tired of working for the government for peanuts."
"Alright, say I believe you, and say I even could put you in touch with a buyer - where's the file?"
"Safe and secure with a friend of mine. You remember Amanda, don't you, Woody? You had her followed yesterday morning."
"That was Flesch's idea. He's arrogant and stupid."
"So I think you mentioned to him last night."
"You really were there then," Wood replied.
"Yep," Lee smiled again. "Right outside in the bushes while you were telling him that meeting while someone was investigating him was crazy."
"He lost you both and he was scared so he insisted on calling us together. If I had known what it was all about, I never would have gone out to that damned place."
"Well, rest assured, when you deal with me, you aren't dealing with an amateur."
"I realize that, and you'll forgive me if I'm still a little cautious."
"Of course. Set the deal for tonight and I won't leave your sight until the exchange is made: the Jordan File for $250,000."
"Tonight might be a little too soon."
"It's tonight or nothing, Woody. You see, I don't exactly trust you either. You take me to the buyer and I get the money in my hands, then I place a call, say the right words and Amanda brings the file. Simple?"
Wood rubbed his cheek with his fingers as he considered the deal. "You know I can't pass up a chance to get hold of that file. I don't trust you, Stetson, but we'll play it your way. However, remember that if I get the slightest indication that this is a set up, I'll blow you and your lady friend away.
"I understand," Lee replied. "Bartender!" he called. "Another bourbon for me and a scotch and water for my friend. See," he winked at Wood, "I remembered."
"Where are we going?" Lee asked as he and Mark Wood sat in the back seat of a chauffeur driven limousine.
"You'll see when you get there," Wood replied sharply. "In fact, here we are."
The car pulled onto a private road into a wooded section in the affluent area of Denver. After several minutes maneuvering through curves, the limo broke into a clearing and Lee got his first view of the mansion. He whistled his appreciation for the immensity of the structure. "Nice place this guy's got."
"He likes things nice."
"Well, at least I know this buyer can afford my price, if he's not eaten up with taxes, that is."
The car came to a stop in front of the main portico and a man emerged from the ornately carved double doors atop a short flight of steps. Lee recognized him immediately - Wilson Gregory, embarrassingly wealthy industrialist renowned for his ability to expand his business to countries under communist influence with relative ease and tremendous success. He was on the agency's list for routine surveillance and had long been suspected of dealing with the other side in order to further his own ambitions. Wood hadn't disappointed him. This man had to be one of the highest paying buyers of government secrets around. Lee smiled to himself. So far, so good.
"Mr. Stetson?" Gregory asked.
"Mr. Gregory," Lee replied.
Gregory smiled with appreciation. "Ah, you recognize me."
"I wouldn't be worth any more than Woody here if I didn't." Wood glared at him, but Gregory erupted in laughter.
"Very good, Mr. Stetson, I think we are going to get along famously. Shall we go inside? I have a bulging suitcase for you and I believe you need to place a phone call."
"Indeed," Lee replied as he stepped inside.
Gregory handed him a satchel filled with stacks of five and ten dollar bills which Lee flipped through.
"Everything satisfactory, Mr. Stetson?" Gregory asked.
"Perfectly," Lee replied. "I assume you will take care of Mr. Wood's commission?"
"Gladly," Gregory replied.
"I think I have a call to make," Lee said as he reached for the phone on the desk. He paused with his hand on the receiver. "May I?"
"Of course," Gregory responded. "Do you know the directions?"
"I have a good eye and a good memory, Mr. Gregory," Lee told him as he dialed the number.
Amanda and Murphy sat in a booth near the pay phone in a roadside diner, sipped at their coffee and waited for their parts in Lee's plan. Murphy was amazed at Amanda. Except for a little nervousness, she was facing the prospect of playing a difficult role without protest. Murphy had been surprised that Lee had asked it of her and even more so when she agreed after receiving an assurance from Lee of his faith that she could handle it.
These two, Murphy thought, what a mismatched pair and yet, they seemed to work so well together. But then you couldn't always tell about people from first impressions. And when he thought about it, maybe it was the differences between them that drew them to each other like positive and negative magnets. Whatever it was, it seemed obvious to Murphy that there were more feelings between his cousin and this little Arlington housewife than either of them was willing to admit - probably even to each other. Maybe it was the detective in him, but he found himself noticing little things that passed between the two of them: the way they looked at each other, the reassuring tone in Lee's voice when he spoke to Amanda, the tone in Amanda's voice when she talked about Lee, the way they touched each other, holding hands and the like.
He was no expert on the matter, but he would swear that Lee and Amanda were in love with each other and either didn't realize it, or were afraid to acknowledge it. The last was most likely, especially on Lee's part. Murphy knew his cousin well. They had always been close because they had been a lot alike. Mutual loneliness. Murphy's mother had deserted her family when Murphy was a child. Ever since, there had been a kind of distance between him and his father. Lee had lost both his parents when he was four and was raised by his uncle who never quite knew how to relate to a lonesome little boy. During their summers together at the ranch in New Mexico, the two of them had discovered a kindred spirit in each other.
Because of their childhood experiences, it was difficult for either of them to be open about their feelings. Murphy knew too well the reluctance within himself that had kept him silent all those years with Laura until it was too late and her heart was won by someone else.
If anything, Lee was worse. As a child, he was often withdrawn, especially when he first arrived for the summer. It was like an armor he clothed himself in to keep the hurt away. The only problem was, it also made it hard for anyone to get through to him, break down his defenses and let him know they cared. Even Murphy felt it sometimes when they would talk. Lee was a good listener when it came to other people's problems, but he never wanted to discuss his own. If he shied away from the brotherly affection offered by Murphy and their other two cousins, Skip and Andy, who had all been so close as kids, then did any woman have a chance of breaking through? Murphy didn't know, but he hoped Amanda would try.
"You certainly are quiet," Amanda interrupted his reverie. "What're you thinking about?"
Murphy smiled. Why not. "I was thinking about Lee - when we were kids - and now, too. He's like a turtle, you know. He's got a hard shell around him and when he feels threatened he draws back inside. I ought to know. I've played turtle too."
"I know what you mean," Amanda replied quietly.
"Amanda, I realize it's probably none of my business, but Lee's my cousin. That's a lame word for the relationship we all had as kids. We cared about each other - still do. And I feel I have to say something to you."
"What is it?" she asked, looking at him seriously.
"I know it's hard sometimes to keep running up against that turtle's shell, but don't give up. If you care about Lee, and I know you do, keep at him until you wear him down and he comes out of hiding. He could suffocate in there, you know."
Amanda was looking down at her hands. "I - I don't know."
"Well, I do," Murphy replied. "I don't want to make a big deal out of it, especially not now, but just remember what I said. Okay?"
She looked up at him shyly. "Okay," she whispered in her little girl's voice and gave him a hesitant smile. "You're a nice man, Murphy Michaels," she reached across and kissed him on the cheek.
"So I've been told," he grinned back. At that moment, the pay phone rang and Amanda almost jumped out of her skin. She immediately went to answer it.
"Hello?" she said.
"Amanda, I have our new package and we are waiting for you to bring the old one. Now listen carefully . . ." He proceeded to give her directions to Gregory's mansion. "Oh, and Amanda, don't faint when you see the size of the house," he added with a chuckle before hanging up.
Amanda took a deep breath as she hung up the phone and walked back to where Murphy was waiting. "Well?" he asked.
"Lee used the code, the plan is on. I got the directions," she handed him a piece of paper, "and the address."
"Give me a second," he replied and he grabbed the phone and dialed a number. "Maxine, this is Murphy. Could you do me a really quick favor? I need to know who lives at this address, -" and he read from the paper. "Hurry, Maxine, please." He paused and looked at Amanda for a moment, then, "Yes? Great. Thanks, Maxine. I owe you a dinner."
He hung up the phone. "We got a real winner here," he told Amanda. "Wilson Gregory: filthy rich, with emphasis on the filthy. He also has this thing. He thinks he's above the law. With all that money, he's always been able to buy his way out of trouble. Maybe his overconfidence will do him in."
Amanda nodded. "This plan is going to work," she said firmly.
Murphy nodded in return. "Let's hit the road."
Amanda took a deep breath as she climbed the steps of the intimidating Gregory mansion. Accompanied by one of Gregory's flunkies, she carried the attache case Lee had given her through the entryway and into the study where Lee, Gregory and Wood were waiting.
"Ah, you must be Amanda," Gregory greeted. "I must compliment your taste in associates, Mr. Stetson."
Amanda smiled a weak smile and glanced at Lee who gave her an encouraging nod. "Thank you, Mr.?"
"Wilson Gregory, my dear," replied the suave entrepreneur. "I believe you have something for me." He looked toward the case.
Amanda started to hand it to him. "Oh, but there's a combination lock on the case." She looked toward Lee.
"Allow me," he offered with a smile. "You know, Mr. Gregory, I appreciate your compliment about my taste in associates," he laid the case down on the desk and began to work the combination, "but I'm afraid this time I made a slight mistake."
"Mistake?" Gregory frowned in puzzlement.
"Yes," Lee replied as he triggered the latch and raised the lid of the case. He looked toward Amanda with a cold glare. "You see, Mrs. King has been spying on me for the agency, trying to discover the source of the leaking information. Now she has succeeded."
Gregory and Wood looked toward Amanda who wore a shocked expression on her face. "I don't understand. Lee, what are you talking about?"
"I'm sorry, Amanda," Lee replied without the least bit of sincerity, his hand slipping into the open case, "but you see, I'm in this for myself this time." Before anyone could react, he pulled a .38 from the case and fired. Amanda fell back against the wall, her hand flying to her chest. She grimaced in pain and cried out, then fell to the floor, a red stain spreading on the front of her sweater.
"Stetson, what is this all about?" demanded Wood.
"Quite simple, really," Lee replied. "Amanda and I were assigned to find the leak in the agency, which we did."
"But you had plans of your own," concluded Gregory.
"Exactly," Lee smiled. "I needed Amanda to make sure you kept up your end of the bargain, but if she had gotten out of this house, she would have notified our superior of yours and Woody's identities. We couldn't let that happen."
"You have put me in a rather delicate position, Mr. Stetson," Gregory informed him calmly. "You have committed murder in my house."
"Yes, I'm afraid I have," Lee replied, "but I have a solution for all of us. If you'd care to discuss it, I suggest we move to another room. This one is a bit messy." He nodded toward Amanda's inert body.
"Alright," Gregory replied.
"Mr. Gregory, you can't..." Wood began.
"Calm yourself, Mark. I would like to hear what Mr. Stetson has to say. I must admit, I am intrigued," Gregory smiled. "Why don't we go across the hall into the music room?"
Lee nodded and Gregory led them out of the study, closing the door behind them.
The walls of the music room were lined with shelves filled with albums, tapes, books and music folios. Toward the far corner stood a beautifully polished mahogany grand piano. There were two sofas facing the instrument. Lee walked to one and sat down. His manner was totally at ease. He didn't seem the least bit affected by what had happened.
"Now, Mr. Stetson, what is your proposition?"
"I think you have an idea, Mr. Gregory. I want in. I want to be a part of your little enterprise. I think I can be very valuable to you."
"How so?"
"I have a top security access with not only the agency, but with the FBI, the CIA, military intelligence. I can secure information for your buyers that Wood here couldn't even get near."
"Now wait a minute," Wood exploded. "I see what you're trying to do, Stetson. You're trying to muscle your way into this operation. Well, forget it. This was a one-time deal."
"I think that's up to Mr. Gregory, don't you?" Lee asked.
Gregory had been listening silently to the exchange. Now he sat on the piano bench and studied Lee. "You said you had a solution to the problem you placed at my feet."
"Yes," Lee replied. "I'll take care of Mrs. King's body and make sure no suspicion is directed toward you. In return, you bring me into your operation."
"Very good, Mr. Stetson. I admire your ambition and your resourcefulness, but won't you need something to tell your superiors? I mean, after all, you were assigned to uncover the leak and now your associate is dead."
"Yes," Lee replied. "I will have to give them something." He looked toward Wood with a half smile.
"No!" the man started sweating as he backed away. "I've been loyal to you, Mr. Gregory. You can't just throw me to the wolves."
"You have to admit, Wood, Stetson is in a better position to secure information than you are. He's stationed in Washington, the center of power."
"But we have a man in Washington, and New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, London and Munich. I set those up. I found the agents. You couldn't have started this operation without me."
"No, but I could finish it without you. None of the agents you recruited are in a top, top secret clearance level. Certainly what you have brought me has been valuable, but none of it as valuable as this one file Mr. Stetson has secured. This information alone will bring me five times what your little Air Force accountant supplied."
"Mr. Gregory, you can't do this," Wood cried, now realizing that Gregory had made up his mind in Lee's favor. "You can't just toss me out."
"No, Mark, you're right about that. I can't just let you go back to the agency, you might decide to talk. I think I will have to dispose of you."
Lee pulled his gun from his pocket and pointed it at Wood. "Allow me, Mr. Gregory. Just consider it another gesture of sincerity on my part."
"Thank you, Lee. Anything I can do to help?"
"Just have your men take this piece of trash to Mrs. King's car. I'll pick up her body and take them both out near Flesch's place." He glanced toward Gregory. "I assume Flesch has no idea about your involvement?"
"Quite correct."
"What about the other agent, Charlie something?"
"Only Mark here knows me," Gregory replied. "That's how he has protected his position - until now."
"Good. Then I can stage a little gunfight. Wood here killed Amanda and I had to kill him. No further trace of the leak. The trail is dead."
"Excellent plan." Gregory rubbed his hands together in glee. "I'll call my boys."
"Wait!" Wood showed signs of panic. Lee extended his arm and pointed the gun right between the terrified agent's eyes.
"I can kill you here just as easily, Wood. Why not give yourself as much time as you can?"
With the help of Gregory's goons, Lee was soon on his way with Wood driving the car and Amanda's body lying in the back seat. They had only gone a few miles when another car appeared behind them, pulled around and cut them off, forcing Wood onto the roadside embankment.
"What's going on?" Lee asked. Then the driver of the other car got out and crouching behind the hood, leveled a gun at Lee and Wood.
"Get out slowly, both of you," he called. Lee pocketed the gun as he and Wood complied with the command.
Lee squinted at the figure holding the gun. "Murphy? What are you doing here?"
"Blue Leader didn't quite trust you, Stetson, so he sent me to watch you. Seems to me he might have been right. Why don't you introduce me to your friend here."
"Mark Wood of the Denver office meet Mike Murphy, Agency, D.C." Lee said.
"You're working for Blue Leader?" Wood asked.
"You got it," Murphy replied. "Now why don't you two tell me what's going on. Who did you meet with at the big house and where is Amanda?"
"She's dead," Lee replied. "Wood is the turncoat, he killed her."
"That's a lie!" Wood replied. "Stetson killed her to make a deal with Wilson Gregory. He was planning to frame me and kill me."
"If you're trying to make me believe you're clean in this, Wood, forget it. Amanda knew I was in this and kept me up to date. You tell me what you know, and I might be, shall we say, accommodating."
"Alright, I'll talk." Wood replied. "I'll tell you anything you want to know."
"No, you won't!" Lee cried as he went for his gun. Murphy fired before he could clear the weapon from his pocket and Lee fell against the hood of Amanda's rented car and slid to the ground.
"Now, Wood," Murphy called as he came around his car toward the frightened agent. "I want names." He tossed Wood a note pad and pencil. "Write them down - all of them - the agents in yours and Gregory's network."
Wood nodded and began to write. He filled up a page on the small pad and started on another. "There," he said, "that's all of them." He handed the pad back to Murphy. "Now you've got to protect me. Gregory wants me dead so you've got to take me inside where it's safe."
"Oh, you're going to be inside alright, way inside for a long time." He looked over the names. "Eight agents, all over the U.S. and Europe. Quite a little organization you had here, Wood."
"It was Gregory. He was behind it. And Stetson was trying to muscle in. I'll tell you everything."
"You bet you will." Wood jumped at the voice from behind him and turned to see Lee sitting on the ground by the car smiling up at him. "Good job, cousin," Lee nodded at Murphy.
"Anytime," Murphy smiled. "Playing secret agent can be a real kick."
"At least you got to play agent. I had to play bad guy."
The car door opened and as Wood looked on in shock, Amanda climbed out of the car. "I don't know what you're complaining about. I had to play dead for over an hour." She looked down at the mass of red stain on her sweater and grimaced. "Yuch!"
"And I bet you made a beautiful corpse," Murphy smiled.
"She sure did," Lee replied as he moved over to Murphy to take the list.
"You - you set me up!" Wood cried. "It was all a trick to get the names of the agents."
"I thought you said this guy wasn't a very bright agent," Murphy told Lee. "He seems to have grasped the situation with very little trouble."
Lee turned to Wood. "Woody, you're right. We set you up. And now that you've implicated Gregory in front of witnesses, not to mention provided us with this list, I don't think you have any choice but to continue to cooperate, do you?" Wood did nothing but glare at him. "I think it's time to file a report with Blue Leader and pull in these traitors. Then we can arrest Wilson Gregory, pick up Flesch and his secretary, and wrap this up in time to catch a plane home tomorrow."
"In time for Christmas!" Amanda exclaimed. "And I still have a ton of shopping to do."
"Amanda," Murphy said as he handed his gun to Lee, walked over beside her and put his arm around her, "We'll let ol' Lee here do the mopping up and I'll take you to the best places in Denver to shop, maybe grab a little dinner at a nice French restaurant I know?"
Amanda smiled up at Murphy who was relishing the perturbed look on his cousin's face.
"Well, is that everybody on the list?" Murphy asked as he sipped a glass of champagne.
"I think so," Amanda replied as she marked off the names on a piece of paper.
"Thank you so much for your help, Murphy. I never would have been able to find everything without you and I really appreciate the discounts that nice man at the toy store gave me."
"Well, he owed me one. I caught a shoplifter for him a couple of months ago."
"You seem to be doing pretty well in the private detective business."
"Can't complain," he smiled. "You and Lee do pretty good yourselves. You make quite a team."
Amanda seemed to glow at the compliment. "You really think so?"
"Yes, I do. You know Amanda, you're really quite an amazing woman." She blushed. "No, really. There aren't many women who could manage the kind of double life you lead and be able to perform both jobs well."
"I'm really not that good as an agent - or rather apprentice agent."
"I hear Lee's voice using those words," Murphy replied. Amanda lowered her eyes and nodded. "Doesn't that cousin of mine ever tell you how much he appreciates you?"
"Oh, sure," Amanda replied quickly. "Sometimes."
Murphy considered for a moment. "Amanda, I know you and Lee have a rather complicated relationship. I also know that he needs you - probably more than he realizes."
"I don't know," she replied. "Sometimes I know he wishes he'd never given me that package at the train station that day."
"I don't believe that," Murphy replied. "Lee's a better man since he's known you. I can see it. You've brought him out, at least a little bit, from that old turtle's shell."
"I'm not sure he wants to come out, Murphy."
"But it's what he needs. Take it from someone who knows. Being alone is the worst."
"But I'm not sure I'm the right one to do it."
Murphy smiled and took her hand. "I like you a lot, Amanda. We all do - the whole family - and we think of you and your boys as part of the Michaels clan already. Don't give up on Lee." She couldn't look at him and he knew he was embarrassing her. "Now that I've stuck my Michaels nose into Lee's life - for his own good, you understand - let's just relax and enjoy the dinner."
"Sounds good to me," she replied.
They did enjoy their dinner, mixed with a little small talk, then Murphy paid the bill and they headed for his car. As they walked outside, they saw it had started to snow rather heavily.
"Oh my gosh," Amanda exclaimed. "I hope we can get out of here tomorrow. The day after is Christmas Eve."
"Aw, I'm sure it will stop. Besides, the Denver airport is used to snow. A little bit of this stuff won't keep you from getting home in time."
True enough, it wasn't the snow that kept them from leaving, but the crowd of travelers trying to do the same thing - get home for Christmas. Even then, they couldn't get two seats on the same flight. Lee made a few calls and got them squeezed aboard a military plane heading for Washington on Christmas Eve morning. "That will get you home in time to be with your mother and the boys for the evening," he told her.
That evening, Amanda insisted on cooking dinner for the three of them at Murphy's apartment. Afterward, they sat by the fire and drank hot buttered rum. Lee and Murphy reminisced about their childhoods and Amanda listened with interest for any tidbit of information she could glean. As the conversation died into a moment of reflective silence, Lee looked toward Amanda.
"What's that smile all about?" he asked.
"Was I smiling?" she asked innocently.
"Kind of wistfully," he replied.
"Well, I was just thinking about you and your 'Christmas is just another day of the year' speech. Admit it. It is nicer to be with the family about this time of the year, isn't it?"
Lee looked over at Murphy, grinned and nodded. "Yeah, I guess you win. I'm glad now the assignment is over we've had this evening to relax and just talk about old times."
"Family is important," Amanda told him.
"Family and friends," Lee amended as he looked at her. Murphy watched them gaze at each other and shook his head. They both were too stubborn to admit what was obvious just by the way they looked at each other. He hoped that Lee would realize what he had in Amanda before it was too late - like it had been with him and Laura.
"I'm glad you showed up on my sofa the other night, Amanda," he said softly. "If you hadn't, it would have been a rather lonely Christmas." He had evidently sounded more serious than he had intended, because both Lee and Amanda looked at him with concern.
"You're not going to your Dad's to be with the family?" Lee asked.
Murphy shook his head. "I begged off. You know how it is, Lee. I'm just not that comfortable going home. I thought I'd just watch a couple of football games, maybe have myself a bottle of champagne, . . ."
"...a bowl of guacamole dip," Lee added with a wink toward Amanda.
"Now where have I heard that before," she grinned.
"Listen, Murph," Lee said excitedly, "why don't you come back to Washington with us? You and I are family. We could - " he glanced at Amanda out of the corner of his eye, " - share the bubbly and the dip, watch the games together?"
Amanda hit at him playfully. "You two are hopeless, but I think it's a wonderful idea."
"I don't know..." Murphy hedged.
"Well I do!" Lee announced as he stood up and headed for the phone. "I'm going to call in a favor right now and get you on board with us. Pack your clothes for a couple of weeks stay?"
"A couple of weeks?" he asked in amazement.
"Why not? You in the middle of any cases right now.?"
"Well, no," he admitted.
"Then I insist," he started dialing the number.
"I'm glad you're coming with us, Murphy," Amanda told him. "I feel better knowing that the two of you won't be alone on Christmas."
"Amanda, you're one in a million," he
said with a smile as he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "You know, if you ever do give up on this cousin of mine, you know where I live." He said it loud enough for Lee to hear and from the minute frown on his cousin's face, Murphy knew he had.
"I'll remember that," she replied.
"You'd better. We've got to keep you in the family."
"Amen," Lee agreed as he cast a slightly warning look toward his cousin.
Murphy smiled to himself. Think about it, Scarecrow, he mused as he placed his arm around Amanda. Maybe a couple of weeks in Washington could prove interesting.