The Ties That Bind: A Scarecrow and Mrs. King Continuing Story Book 1

Chapter 6

At the Agency: Day 2

"Hey," Lee stopped and whispered as they approached the Q-Bureau the next morning. "Didn't we lock the door the last time we left here?"

"We always lock up." Amanda looked around him and noticed the door was ajar. Tension emanated off him as he took her by the hand and pulled her back against the wall. He looked at her and put his finger to his lips.

Suddenly, the door opened, and a figure emerged. In a split second, Lee's gun was in his hand, cocked, and pointed at the intruder. The man froze and put his hands up.

"Damn, I forgot how fast you are, Scarecrow."

Lee expelled a hard breath. "Billy..." It took a moment to recover, but he re-holstered his gun and took another deep, tension-releasing breath.

"Damn it, Billy, next time give me a head's up, will ya?"

"Sorry." Billy grinned ruefully. "I didn't know you were out here."

"What are you doing up here anyway?"

"Making a delivery." His smile stretched all the way across his face.

Lee slanted a suspicious look at him. "You're looking mighty proud of yourself; what did you do?"

"Come on in; I'll show you." Billy turned and led them into the office. "Let me give you a tour of your new space."

Lee and Amanda looked at one another. "New space?" They asked one another simultaneously. They followed him inside, closed the door, and looked around; everything looked just the way it had last time they'd been there.

"Yes, new space." Billy turned to face them. "Look, you two. I did a lot of thinking yesterday, and I realized that you aren't the only ones with confessions to make."

Lee slipped his hands into his pants pockets. "What do you mean, Billy?"

"Well, for starters..." He took a breath. "...I knew you were married. At least – I was pretty sure."

"What?" Lee's hands came out of his pockets, and he raised his voice in surprise. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Actually, I was trying to give you every chance to tell me."

Lee slowly nodded his head. "Okay, yeah, I can kind of see that now that you mention it."

Billy turned serious. "But along with the confession, I also feel like I need to give you both an apology."

"What for, Sir?"

"Well, I was the one who pushed you two together..."

"Now wait a minute..." Lee tried to interrupt him, but Billy held up his hand motioning for Lee to wait and listen.

"...I made you work together; I saw you become friends, and I watched you fall for each other. I even thought I knew when you got married." Lee and Amanda looked at each other, then back at Billy. "Oh, come on, you two. I'm a spook, and I'm your supervisor. You really think I didn't suspect?"

"Huh." Lee slipped his hands back into his pockets.

"And," Billy continued, "I know what a challenge marriage can be in the best of circumstances, much less in the spy business."

"Aw, Sir..."

"So, I should have never let Dr. Smith send you to Alyssa Danton's, Lee..."

Lee looked down at the floor and rattled the keys in his pocket. "No, Billy. I gotta own that one. I can't let you take any of the blame for that." It was still a sensitive subject, and he looked sidelong at Amanda.