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Ready
or Not - part 2 ACT
III After two rings, the family snapped out of their fog. Phillip raced to answer the ringing phone. "Hello?...Just a minute." He held out the receiver. "It's for you, Lee." "Thanks, Chief." Lee ruffled Phillip's hair as he took the phone. "Stetson, here." "Stetson, it's Beaman." "What have you got for me?" "Names. Professor Ian Clark, you know." Lee nodded, then realized Beaman couldn't see him. "Yeah, Billy gave that to me." "How about Air Force General Michael Sandstone?" Lee straightened his back and widened his eyes. "He's involved in this too?" "He's the General in charge of this entire project. Turns out he paid a visit to Professor Clark earlier this week and there's a delivery expected to happen at midnight tonight." "But that doesn't give me anyone who could be working on the inside." "How about research assistant Serena Brown, otherwise known as Russian operative, Ilya Savin?" Lee sighed, the strain of the circumstances lessening as the new information eased the tension in his shoulders. "Now that name I know." "What about York Brown, aka Yuri Smirnov? And John Michaels, aka Ivan Petrenko?" "Amanda and I met them all Thursday night when we went to the house across the street to welcome them." He looked into the living room to see the boys throwing a pillow back and forth. Dotty paced in front of the door to the den. "Good old-fashioned welcome wagon, huh?" Despite the gravity of the situation, Lee cracked a grin. "You know Amanda. But, when it comes to welcome wagons, I think you and Francine take the cake." "Very funny, Stetson." Beaman's sarcasm came through loud and clear over the phone, but then he was back to business. "Have you checked out the house yet?" "No, I was just about to head over there when you called. Amanda's boys found a clue and these names you found only confirmed it." "You know the procedure, Stetson. Don't do anything without backup." Lee rolled his eyes. "Beaman, don't recite the rule book to me." "We all need reminders every now and then, especially you." "Well, you'd better send that backup quick, or I'm going without it." "They're on their way." The click sounded in Lee's ear, and he placed the receiver back on the hook. The three in the other room immediately stopped what they were doing and turned anxious faces toward him. "We've got them!" A spark of excitement rushed through him at the relieved smiles on the faces of his family. "Those new neighbors are the Russians I mentioned. They've got a team in place, and it looks like Amanda stumbled into their plans. I'm going over to that house to see if I can find anything." He looked at the boys. "Thanks to that plate you found, I have a feeling she's no longer there. But, I'm going to check it out anyway." Jamie gave him a pleading look. "Can I come?" Phillip punched his fist into his other hand and stood. "Yeah, a real bust!" Lee opened his mouth, but Dotty beat him to the punch. "Don't even think about it!" Dotty closed the gap between herself and her grandsons and planted her fists on her hips. "You boys will stay out of it from here on out, and that's an order." "Aw, but Grandma—" "No, buts about it. This isn't a game. Those people out there who have your mother are dangerous. You could get hurt." She looked at Phillip and Jamie in turn. "You both know firsthand how frightening it is when you end up involved over your head. I do too. I'm sure I don't need to remind you of the situations you've both endured this past year." Lee stepped forward. "Your grandmother's right. I appreciate you wanting to help, but your mother and I are trained to handle this type of thing. You're not. If you were to get involved and get hurt, we'd never be able to forgive ourselves." He walked over to the couch and sat on the edge of the coffee table. "Now, you know the work we do is dangerous. With knowledge comes the responsibility to make wise decisions about it. The best thing you can do is stay here with your grandmother. That will help more than anything else." Honest chagrin flashed on Phillip's face and a sincere look crossed Jamie's. "That's what that spy told me when I interviewed him for that school project. He said families who know need to understand how important the job is, and that the agents involved only want their families to be safe." Lee reached out and squeezed Jamie's knee. "He's a wise man. Gave you some great advice. Now, it's up to you to listen to it." He reached extended his arm first to Phillip then Jamie and knocked fists with them both. Then, he stood and straightened his suit jacket and looked over their shoulders into the kitchen. A memory sparked in his mind and he snapped his fingers as he stepped around the couch and headed for the breakfast nook. Empty. "What happened to the papers that were sitting here yesterday?" Dotty came around the partition and joined him at the table. "You mean the pages you found on the shelf in the living room?" Lee nodded. "Yeah, those." "I don't know. They were here when I went to the market yesterday." He slapped his hand against his thigh. "That's it!" "What's it? Lee, what are you saying?" Lee turned to face Dotty. "Amanda must have found those papers outside and planned to return them, but got sidetracked. I bet she headed over there yesterday to give them back when she got captured. Knowing who those guys are now, I have no doubt they took one look at those papers and knew we might be on to them if they didn't do something." He caught his breath. "Now, I have to go check out that house." Dotty placed her hand on his arm. "Be safe, Lee. And bring my daughter back home." Lee offered a reassuring smile, then leaned down to kiss her cheek. "I promise."
Efraim Beaman stared at the phone and shook his head. "It's a wonder how Stetson's stayed alive as long as he has. He's a walking disaster." Francine perched on the edge of one of the computer desks and crossed her arms. "He gets the job done, doesn't he?" "But not without risks. I know he won't wait for the backup team before he moves." She smirked. "What's he going to do all by himself? Lob a burnt roast at them?" "I wouldn't put it past him. Stetson's methods have been less than orthodox since the day I met him." "He's in love, Efraim." She shrugged. "Tends to make you do rash things and not think clearly." Beaman removed his glasses and pinched his nose, then looked up and stared at her. "Like flying off to China to find your partner?" "Exactly." At Beaman's raised eyebrows, she uncrossed her arms and her dangling foot hit the floor. Feeling like a deer caught in the headlights, she searched for a way out of the trap she'd set with her own words. "Wait a minute. I didn't mean that." Unable to come up with a logical excuse, she smiled and hoped to get his mind off her words. "Except for part about being rash." Beaman shook his head, replaced his glasses and stood. He headed for the door but turned and extended his hand toward her. "Come on. Let's go give Lee some backup before he tears the neighborhood apart." She placed her hand in his. "Or before we have to reprise our welcome wagon roles and you have to bake another cake." Francine yanked her hand free and slugged him in the arm. "Beaman! Sometimes..." With a quick wink, Beaman pulled her out of the office, her hand secure in his. "Promises, promises."
Phillip flopped back onto the couch and groaned. "This waiting is killing me! I wish we could be out there doing something to help." "We already did, when we found the plate." "Yeah, but that's not enough." Jamie pushed his glasses up on his nose and looked over at his brother. "Sure it is. If it hadn't been for that plate, Lee wouldn't have known for sure that Mom had gone back to that house. The fact that she dropped it on the grass meant she wanted someone to find it." "Your brother's right, Phillip." Dotty came around the couch and faced her grandsons. "You might not be able to get involved in what you consider to be the exciting stuff, but you helped in a very important way." "I can't wait until I'm old enough to get involved more. I think working for the Agency is awesome!" Dotty's heart leaped into her throat at that declaration, and the ring of the telephone made her jump. "I'll get it." She'd address Phillip's interest in the spy business later. "Hello?" "Hello, Dotty. This is Dr. Adams. Is Amanda at home?" "No, Fred, she's not. Can I take a message?" "We got the results back from your daughter's blood work yesterday." Dotty propped her hip against the counter, a blend of anticipation and concern battling inside her. "Go on." "I have some rather interesting news to share with you."
Lee combed the house inside and out and found nothing. A clean sweep. They'd emptied the house of everything. Not even a piece of paper remained. He ventured into the basement and felt Amanda's presence. The scent of her perfume lingered in the air. Lee closed his eyes and relished the comfort that minimal smell brought him. When he opened his eyes again, he looked around the barren and unfinished room. He walked over to one of the walls opposite a window and crouched down to inspect the cold floor. A stray piece of rope had gone unnoticed. Lee picked up the frayed strand and held it. He glanced at the cement space in front of him and saw Amanda in his mind's eye, huddled in a ball, her legs and hands bound. Pain sliced through his heart at what they might have done to her during the hours she spent down here. Anger boiled inside and replaced the pain and Lee clenched his teeth. If they hurt her in any way, they'd live to regret it. With resolve, Lee stood and retraced his steps back outside. He wasn't getting anything done by hanging around this house. Just as he pulled out his phone, two Agency cars stopped at the curb in front of him. Francine hopped out of one car and came around the front. "Should have known you wouldn't wait for us, Stetson." Francine walked up the driveway and met him halfway. "Can't say that I blame you though." Lee looked over her shoulder at the man who stood next to the open door then back at Francine. She understood. "Billy's pulled out all the stops on STS-28, Stetson." Beaman leaned against the door. "He wants us to meet him at the lab. He's bringing the General." "The lab? Why?" Francine grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the car. Beaman headed around to the driver's side. "We'll explain on the way." Lee hopped in the front seat and Francine stood next to him. "Oh, and Lee?" He turned. "Brush up on your mopping skills. You're going to need them."
Professor Clark looked up from where he worked at one of the tables as Serena and York walked into the lab. Surprise registered on his face when he saw the woman with them. "What's all this?" Serena stepped forward and left York with Amanda. "This, my dear professor, is what I believe you call an inside job." He shook his head. "I don't understand." "Well, let me help. You see, I'm not really Serena Brown, and York isn't really a security guard or my husband. Our names are Ilya Savin and Yuri Smirnov, and we've been working through the Russian embassy for several months." Confidence brought a self-assured smile to her face. "And you have provided us with just enough information to help our cause. That little special project you've been working on is our ticket to bigger and better things." The professor backed up as Serena approached. He crashed into a chair and cast his eyes to the left and right. "You Americans think you've won. But, Russia isn't done with you yet. And we intend to prove it." Serena nodded over her shoulder Yuri then returned her attention to the professor. "Don't even think about getting away, Professor. Right now, Yuri has a gun aimed right at your chest." Clark stopped and looked at the door to verify her words. "Why are you doing this?" "I just told you. We're not going to let our motherland die without a fight. And what better revenge than to intercept some very important shuttle components before they make it to your launch center, effectively sabotaging the secret mission?" Serena kept her eye trained on her prisoner. He reached for a vial, but she whipped out her sidearm and aimed it at him. "Ah, ah, ah, Professor. I wouldn't do that if I were you." Clark dropped the vial and sighed. "Why don't you join me while Yuri puts our friend, Amanda, somewhere where she can't cause any trouble?" The professor came around one of the tables and sat in the chair she indicated. Yuri walked Amanda into Clark's office and dumped her in one of the chairs, then shut the door and turned the key in the lock. At his nod, Serena faced Clark again. "Now, Professor. How about you fill us in on the details of this delivery you're supposed to meet tonight?"
"All right, does everyone know what they're supposed to do?" Lee looked at Billy as he zipped up his disguise and nodded. "Got it, Chief." "Gray. Dull, lifeless, gray." Francine grimaced at her uniform. "Why couldn't we at least get to wear black? Or even red, white and blue? We are supposed to be NASA couriers, right? Where's their sense of patriotism?" She sighed. "What I do to save some scrawny scientists." Billy rolled his eyes. "Can it, will you, Francine? We're not on this operation to make a fashion statement." "Well, that's obvious." She fluffed her styled curls. "Clashes with my hair." "I'd say you have a few matches." Beaman pointed. Lee groaned and Billy grinned. Francine whacked his chest hard with the back of her hand. "I do not have gray hair!" Stepping closer to Beaman, she gave him a threatening look and lowered her voice. "I'll deal with you later." "Promise?" "All right, people. Time's wasting. The trucks will be here any minute, and we have to be ready to move." Billy straightened his own uniform and turned to the decorated general to his right. "Are you ready, General?" "Just say the word. I want these Russian spies to get what they deserve. Teach them to think twice before they interfere with US military missions again." Billy addressed the team. "We know the professor has been kidnapped, and one of our agents is inside as well. Whatever you do, keep that in mind. Let's move."
Serena looked up at the two men coming down the hall. They walked past the custodian mopping the floors who stopped his work to let them pass. "Looks like our welcome party is here, gentleman." She turned to Clark. "Remember what I said, Professor. One wrong move, and you can say goodbye to your lucrative career here at the university." Professor Clark went to the door to greet the General. "It's good to see you again, General Sandstone. Are we ready to meet the trucks and get the components transferred here to the lab?" The General nodded then stepped aside and gestured to the man standing next to him. "This is the private security I mentioned when we last spoke. He's here to oversee the transfer and make sure everything goes as planned." Clark acknowledged the man. "Very good, General." He gestured behind him. "York Brown is with Georgetown security, specific to the science department. And this is Serena Brown, my research assistant. You probably saw her when you were in the lab earlier in the week." Sandstone leaned closer. "Can she be trusted?" "With my life." "Good." The General reached for his radio. "The team is already outside. I'll signal them to begin transport." Serena looked at York, whose stoic expression revealed nothing. Despite her annoyance with this assignment, at least they'd given her someone dependable. In a matter of minutes, they'd have the components and be on their way. She could taste the sweet success.
Lee shifted closer to the lab and kept his eye trained on the five occupants inside. Amanda was nowhere to be seen. A part of him worried about that, but another part knew he had a job to do. He looked at the other end of the hall and saw Beaman and Francine maneuvering a pallet loaded with large boxes through the doors. As they approached, he continued to mop, but paused as they passed and gave them a silent signal that he was ready to move. The pair walked past him and stopped in front of the lab. General Sandstone met them at the door. He went through the motions of accepting the shipment, signing off on the delivery and gesturing to Billy and York to help him move the first boxes into the lab. Beaman and Billy carried one as well and Francine moved the pallet out of the way as soon as the men were inside. Lee made his way in front of the door just as Professor Clark opened the door to another room off the lab. He saw Serena reach for her gun, so he gave the bucket a shove and sent it rolling across the floor in her direction. "Bull's eye!" He smiled when it hit its mark, knocking Serena off balance. Francine grabbed her gun. "Great move!" Lee smiled. "I learned from the best there is." He winked at the blonde agent. "My Amanda." Francine just rolled her eyes as they entered the lab. "Hands in the air! Now!" Billy shouted the command. Beaman had dumped his box and now trained his weapon, along with Billy and the General, on Serena and York. Lee and Francine circled around behind the two Russians. The professor backed away and stumbled over some lab supplies on the floor. That was all the Russians needed. Serena and York took advantage of the distraction. They each grabbed the nearest thing they could find and threw them in the direction of their would-be captors. Billy and Beaman blocked the objects, but the interference gave the two Russians a chance to escape out the door. Lee bolted from the room but heard Billy barking orders behind him. "Beaman..." "On my way." Beaman caught up to him and they took off at a sprint through the halls, hot on the tails of Serena and York. They burst through the doors at the opposite end of the hall just in time to see the Russians jump into an unmarked van and squeal way. Like clockwork, Beaman ran for the driver's side and Lee jumped into the passenger seat. He double-checked his sidearm and rolled down the window. "Drive!" Beaman hit the gas and the car jerked forward. They caught up to the van in no time. "Pull up alongside." Lee waited for Beaman to match speeds. "Hold it steady." Lee leaned out the window and aimed his gun at the back of the van. One well-placed shot hit the left tire. The rubber blew. Beaman let off the gas. The van spun out of control. Time inched forward as the vehicle rolled. Seconds seemed like minutes. The screech of metal skidding across the asphalt grated on Lee's ears. Beaman slammed on the breaks, and the two jumped out to run to the van. They came at it from both sides. Lee reached in and dragged Serena from the wreckage. He quickly moved her as far away as he could and looked over to see Beaman with York. He dropped the woman then raced back to the van to get the driver. Coughing, adrenaline pumping and wanting to get clear, Lee half-carried, half-dragged the driver to where Beaman stood over York, his hands on his knees as he cleared his lungs of the smoke. He cast a frantic look around when he didn't see Serena and found her stumbling for the Agency car. "Get her!" Lee knew Beaman had the other two covered. He dashed after the woman and grabbed hold of the open passenger door as she took off. Just barely managing to get inside the car, Lee settled into the front seat. He put his revolver to Serena's head. "Park it."
Amanda nestled against Lee on the couch in the den. Phillip and Jamie sat cross-legged on the floor, their backs to the fireplace. Dotty stood by the door to the foyer. "I think I'll leave the welcome wagon to Agnes or Phyllis or one of the other mothers in the neighborhood." "Or just avoid that house on the corner. Seems to cause you nothing but trouble ever since that Mr. Sampson moved out." Dotty turned away and mumbled. "Never could get anyone to stay there for long. Wonder what he did to the place." "Actually, Mother, I think everything worked out for the best once Mr. Sampson moved out of that house and into this one." She turned to her husband. "Don't you agree?" "Without a doubt." Lee pecked her lips and smiled. "Still, I think my welcome wagon days are over." Lee placed a kiss on her temple. "And miss all the fun?" "Yeah, Lee. Tell us again how you nabbed that Russian woman." "Another time, Chief." "If you call being held at gunpoint, dumped in a basement, bound and blindfolded, starved and unable to sleep...fun, then I've had enough to last me for a long time." She yawned. "Are you still tired? You slept nearly all day long." Amanda covered her mouth. "I know. I just can't seem to keep my eyes open." She snuggled against Lee's chest. "Must be all the excitement and having a full stomach after four days." "I think it's another reason." Dotty spoke from the doorway. "What do you mean, Mother?" Dotty came around the couch and looked at them both. "While you were being held captive and Lee was out apprehending those Russian spies, I got a call from Dr. Adams about the results of your blood work." Amanda sat up, alarm racing through her veins. When she saw the teasing look on her mother's face, curiosity overtook her fear at thinking it might be something serious. "Well, you going to tell us or not, Mom?" Phillip hopped up and stood near the door to the living room. "Yeah, don't keep us in suspense." Dotty crossed her arms. "I'm honestly surprised you didn't figure it out yourself, Amanda." "Figure what out, Mother?" Amanda rubbed her hand over her forehead, feeling another headache about to hit. Maybe if she could get past the guessing game, she could get some more rest and keep the pain at bay. "Well, considering you've experienced it twice before...although it has been some time since it happened, so I can understand why you might not recognize the symptoms like you once would. Still, you are a woman, so I would think—" "Mother!" Dotty stopped and smiled. "Yes, dear?" "If I've had it before, then it can't be anything serious. So, please save us all the trouble of guessing and tell us what the doctor told you." "Is Mom going to be all right?" "Yes, Jamie. Your mother will be fine. And no, Amanda, it's nothing serious. I'd say it should cure itself for the most part in about seven or eight months, give or take a week or two." Amanda looked at her mother, who looked down at Phillip and Jamie and back at her, raising her eyebrows. Then it dawned on her. Her eyes widened, and her mother nodded. "Are you sure?" Dotty crossed her arms again. "As sure as anyone can be about this." "Sure about what?" Lee wanted to know. "And Dr. Adams double-checked the results to make sure it wasn't a mistake." "Twice." "Oh my gosh." Amanda covered her mouth with her hand, tears coming to her eyes. Lee sat up next to her and turned her to face him. Concern etched lines in his forehead. "What is it? Amanda, tell me." She reached out and caressed Lee's face, joy bubbling from within and almost bursting forth. But, the merriment gave way to mischievousness, and Amanda grinned. "You've done it now, Big Fella." He pointed at his chest. "Me? What did I do?" She didn't answer him fast enough, so he got anxious again. "Amanda, please. You're killing me here." "I think you're going to make a great dad." "A great d..." He stopped and stared. Realization washed over his face. "You mean..." Amanda nodded, barely able to stop the huge grin on her face. "That's right." "You're..." "Yes." "We're..." "We're going to have a baby!" "All right, Lee!" Phillip came over to the couch and gave Lee a pat on the back. "Way to go!" "A baby?" Amanda looked at her youngest son, who'd gone to stand next to his grandmother. He'd been the baby for almost fifteen years. She held out her hand toward him and he came forward to take it. "Are you okay with this, Jamie? I know it's quite a shock...for all of us. But, how do you feel?" She patted his hand with her other one, wanting more than anything for Jamie to be all right with this. "I guess I'm fine." "Are you sure, sweetheart?" "Ha! Jamie ain't going to be the baby anymore. It's about time too." Phillip came over and threw his arm around Jamie's shoulders. "Now we can both be big brothers." Jamie grinned at that and looked back at his mother. "Yeah, Mom. I'm sure. Phillip's right. You and Lee deserve this." "All right." Dotty clapped her hands together and stepped back into the mix. "Let's leave these two alone for a while so they can talk. There'll be plenty of time for us later." She herded the two boys toward the other room. "How does ice cream and a movie sound?" Cheers erupted from Phillip and Jamie as they raced out of the room. Dotty pulled the doors shut behind her, but not before she winked at Amanda and Lee. As their voices faded, Amanda turned once more to face Lee. He had grown quiet in the past several minutes. She peered into his face and found a transformation had taken place. Where shock had been, she now saw wonder and awe. He reached out and placed his hand on her abdomen. "I can't believe it actually happened." Amanda gave him a crooked grin. "Well, we didn't exactly do anything to prevent it." Lee chuckled. "No, I guess we didn't." He drew her close to him once more and tucked her against his chest. "You realize this is going to change a lot around here." She snuggled into her husband's embrace and nodded. "I know, but change can be good." "But, what about our jobs? Your job? And what about the Agency? Billy, Francine, Dr. Smyth. Just wait until they hear about this." Lee sighed and his warm breath whispered across Amanda's head. "There's so much to do, so many things to consider, so many plans to—" Amanda placed her hand over his mouth. He tilted his head and looked down at her. "All of that can wait." She pushed herself up and shifted to press closer to Lee. Her lips found his for a lingering kiss. "Right now, I'd like to celebrate." Lee raised one eyebrow. "Don't you think that's how we got into this mess in the first place?" Amanda smiled. "Yes, and after the past few days, I can't think of anything I'd like more." "But, Amanda—" "No buts." She placed her hand behind his head and drew his lips down to meet hers once more. Amanda knew it would only take a minute to get her husband focused on matters other than the life they'd created together. They could talk about that tomorrow.
Statistics about Space Shuttle Columbia Columbia's successful completion of the Orbital Flight Test Program missions (Space Transportation System) STS-1 through 4 proved that a winged, reusable spaceship could successfully operate in space. Columbia was commonly referred to as OV-102, for Orbiter Vehicle-102. Empty weight was 158,289 lbs at rollout and 178,000 lbs with main engines installed. Columbia was named after a small sailing vessel that operated out of Boston in 1792 and explored the mouth of the Columbia River. One of the first ships of the U.S. Navy to circumnavigate the globe was named Columbia. The command module for the Apollo 11 lunar mission was also named Columbia. For further research, visit these informative sites: Air
& Space Museum Memorial—Space Shuttle Columbia |
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