When Lee Stetson reached the Q Bureau, he pilfered through the stack of files on Amanda’s desk until he found the Popova brief.  Grabbing it, he tossed it onto his desk and sat down.  Despite staring at the words on the pages, nothing seemed to register. Frustrated and worried, he got up, and made some coffee.  He paced back and forth in the small office waiting for the pot to finish brewing.
 

Walking over to the window, he stared at the street below.  The scene outside suggested it was an idyllic summer day.  Cars drove down the street, people walked about, and the birds chirped in the trees.  However, things were anything but idyllic, he worried about what was brewing somewhere in Kiev.  Walking back to the coffee pot, Lee poured himself a mug of coffee before returning to his desk.
 

After taking a big gulp, he stared at the pages.  His eyes couldn’t read the words.  Why were things so blurry?  In an instant he realized there were tears in his eyes.  Wiping them dry, he knew he needed to focus.  His wife’s life might depend upon it.  Unfortunately, that was easier said than done.  His fears were getting the best of him.  Was she safe?  Was she in Soviet custody?  Where exactly was she?  If he waited until tomorrow like Billy wanted him to, would it be too late?

He picked up the phone and started to dial the airlines, before he hung up.  His mind drifted back to a conversation he had with his wife just a few short weeks ago...
 
 

“Amanda, it’s not that I’m against you learning Russian, I just think it’s rather odd that Billy came up with this language course out of the blue.  Why didn’t he suggest this course two months ago when you were on light duty?”  Lee questioned heatedly as he and Amanda continued their verbal exchange.
 

“Mr. Melrose said they just happened to have an opening in the course that starts on Monday.  I guess somebody dropped out at the last minute,” she shrugged, obviously excited about the opportunity.  “I thought you’d be happy for me.”
 

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity.  Those intense language courses are top notch, but I can’t remember the last time a freshman agent was picked for a last minute vacancy. There have got to be a dozen other agents I can think of who would be eligible for the class – many who’ve waited over a year for the same opportunity.  I just think there’s an ulterior motive.  Billy has got something up his sleeve.”
 

“You’re suspicious of everything,” Amanda countered, rolling her eyes.
 

“I’m an agent.  I’m supposed to be suspicious of everything.  All I’m asking you is to tell Billy you’re not interested in this course right now.  I can tutor you in Russian.  I promise you’ll enjoy my class…”
 

Amanda smiled at her husband.  “Somehow I think if you tutor me, I won’t be learning Russian…”
 

“Amanda…” Lee began to argue.
 

“Sorry, Lee, this is an excellent opportunity I’m not going to let it pass.  You even said it could be another year before I get another chance.”
 

“Amanda there’s more to this ‘opportunity’ than meets the eye.  I think you should tread carefully.”
 

“If there is something more to this class than learning Russian, then bring it on.  It’s a chance for me to become a better agent.  I want to make a difference.  Please don’t try hold me back…”
 
 
 

“Scarecrow, are you all right?” Francine asked poking her head into the office.
 

“Perfect,” he groused painting a fake smile on his face.
 

She came into the office and observed the smashed mug on the floor and a dark liquid dripping down the wall.  “Your cup just slipped off your desk?”
 

“Is there something you need?” he snapped, not answering her question.
 

“Billy wanted you to know I checked all the phone lines, no hits from Amanda or any of her previous aliases,” she informed him. “We’ve flagged her passport.  If she uses it anywhere, we’ll be notified immediately.”
 

“Thanks,” he nodded shaking his head in defeat.
 

“Lee, don’t give up on her.  She’s got a lot going for her.”
 

“Yeah, she’s an American spy in the middle of the Soviet Union who hasn’t checked in for nearly two days.  She’s got a lot going against her.”
 

“First off, she knows her contact personally, secondly she was trained by the best,” she reminded him, poking him in the chest, “and in case you don’t remember, she’s fluent in Russian.  That’s a lot.”
 

“She’s barely fluent, Francine.  A two week course isn’t the same as talking the language like a native.”
 

“I saw her test scores, Scarecrow.  I hate to admit it, but she had the highest scores in her class.  That class consisted of senior intelligence officers, scientists, and military officers who graduated from the Naval Academy.  She put her heart and soul into that class, and she’ll do the same with this assignment.  Don’t give up on her.”
 

“You’re right, Francine.  She’s a remarkably capable agent,” Lee admitted and took a deep breath.  Rubbing his forehead, he confided with her, “But it’s the Soviet Union and we both know there are so many things that could go wrong.”
 

“Regardless of the operation, Lee, things go wrong.  Amanda has shown us both in the past that she’s often at her best when things go awry.  The fact that she personally knows her contact - Galina Popova is a feather in her cap.”
 

“Knew her over 15 years ago,” Scarecrow reminded Francine.  “Galina Popova was a doctoral candidate when Amanda was at the University of Virginia.  The woman tutored Amanda in chemistry.”
 

“And Amanda tutored her in English.”
 

“Nevertheless, it’s not like they were best friends.  Clearly, it’s not exactly the strongest bond.”
 

“It’s a good cover – old friends getting together.  They should easily slide under the Soviet’s radar.”
 

“I’m still not sold on that.  Besides, what’s so important about Galina Popova?  There are dozens of scientists.  Why Popova and why now?”
 

“Galina Popova is a brilliant woman and the leading analyst on the Chernobyl accident.  We all know the Soviets are trying to keep the truth about the disaster quiet.  Dr. Popova knows what’s going on and can help the world avoid another tragic accident. This is an important assignment and like it or not, Amanda is uniquely qualified for it.”
 

“All right, admittedly, Amanda’s the right person for the assignment, but clearly something has gone wrong.”
 

“She’s probably headed out of Russia with the woman now.”
 

“Then why hasn’t she called in?”
 

“Maybe she can’t find access to a phone line.  You know international phone service over there can be problematic.  There are a dozen reasons why she hasn’t checked in.  Give her a chance.”
 

“I don’t like it.  I haven’t from the start,” Lee complained.
 

“What you don’t like is being on the sidelines,” Francine corrected him sternly.  “What you don’t like is when you haven’t got control.  This is Amanda’s first solo assignment out of the country.  I bet she calls this evening Kiev time, or better yet, she shows up with Galina Popova in the good old USA!”
 

Lee glanced up at Francine and nodded.  “Thanks for the pep talk Francine.  I hope you’re right.”
 

“We’ll have good news tomorrow – I’m sure of it,” Francine replied.  “If you need anything else in the meantime, let me know.  I could meet you at Nedlinger’s later tonight.”
 

“Thanks, I might just do that,” Lee nodded.
 

“I’ll talk to you later then…” Francine replied before closing the door and leaving him alone in the office.
 

Getting up from his desk, he picked up the shattered pieces of his coffee mug off the floor and surrounding area.  He stared at her empty desk, and then pulled out her chair and sat down.  Closing his eyes, he remembered the discussion he had with his wife when she accepted the assignment…
 
 

“Where have you been?” Lee asked curiously when his partner walked through the Q Bureau door.
 

“I was in Mr. Melrose’s office,” she crowed excitedly, a broad grin on her face.  “He gave me an assignment.”
 

“What now?!” Lee groaned, “We already have enough on our plate.”
 

“Actually, this is my assignment, not ours.”
 

Lee cocked his head, “What do you mean?”
 

“I have an assignment of my own,” she answered, pulling out the chair at her desk and sitting down.  In her hand she held a dossier, which apparently held the key to her assignment.
 

Lee Stetson got up from his desk, crossed the room and sat on the edge of her desk. With a tone of alarm and perhaps a bit of suspicion he asked, “Your assignment?”
 

“Yeah, a woman I knew from college many years ago needs my help.”
 

“Really?” Lee replied, still skeptical. Glancing down at the dossier on her desk he asked, “Do you mind?”
 

“No, be my guest,” she smiled jubilantly.
 

Lee opened up the file and began to peruse it.  On the inside of the file was a picture of a woman in her early 40’s, brown hair, brown eyes, similar in many ways to his wife.  Lee continued to flip through the folder and then stopped.  His eyes blinked and focused before he shook his head.
 

“Wait a second.  Who is this woman and how do you know her… and where exactly does this woman, Galina Popova live?”
 

“Dr. Popova is a brilliant physicist,” she answered beaming brightly up at him, eager and excited about her own assignment.  She continued on, “I met her at the University of VA when I was a sophomore.  Gail was a doctoral student at the time.  She tutored me in chemistry; I tutored her in English and typed her dissertation.”
 

Lee listened intently to his wife as she answered, but noticed that she left out some important details.  “Amanda, where does she live and what exactly does Billy want you to do?”
 

“Dr. Popova has been studying the effects of radiation since the Chernobyl nuclear accident.  The Nuclear Regulatory Authority has been trying to get that information for the past six months, but the Soviets have kept it under lock and key.  Recently, she’s been threatened not to reveal any of her research findings or risk imprisonment.  My assignment is to help get her out of the country.”
 

Lee was astounded.  “Billy expects you to infiltrate the Soviet Union and get the world’s leading authority on the Chernobyl nuclear disaster to defect?”
 

Amanda shrugged. “Gosh, the way you say it, you make it sound so… dreadful.”
 

“Try dangerous!  Damn it, Amanda, I knew Billy had an ulterior motive for that Russian language class.  You need to turn this assignment down.  There’s no way you’re ready for it,” Lee argued angrily.
 

“Sorry, Lee, this is an important assignment for both national security and my career.  Besides, it’s a good cover.  Read the file.  I’m going over to visit a friend.  She shows me the sights in the Ukraine and we head down to Odesa to the Black Sea - two women sharing the sights and history.  From there, we smuggle her out of the country.”
 

“Sounds like a perfect plan.  For God’s sake Amanda that plan has more holes in it than the Titanic!  You can’t be seriously considering it.  You barely speak Russian.”
 

“I speak fluent Russian!”she countered fluently in Russian.
 

Getting up from her desk he argued, “Sure, you’re fluent in Russian.  You did well in an intensive, two week language class.  Do you really think that when things go wrong, you’ll be able to pull this crazy plan off?”
 

“Why don’t you trust my abilities and believe that I can handle this assignment?” she argued angrily.
 

“I trust you, Amanda, really I do,” he replied, trying to regain his demeanor.  “It’s the Soviets I don’t trust.  Amanda, you’re a spy who is going into the Soviet Union for the direct purpose of assisting one of their top scientists who is undoubtedly being watched, to defect.  It’s not going to be as easy as you think.  It never is!”

Getting up from her desk he ran his hand through his hair and shook his head in anger.  “Amanda, I wish to God I’d been wrong and I pray you’re all right.”
 

End Part One
 

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