of them cleaned each other up; Lucy and I just looked at each other, knowing what was going on between them.
Finally, they reappeared, letting Lucy and I watch as they dried each other off. Satisfied with their handiwork, they came over to give us another kiss goodnight before heading into Lucy's room to go to bed.
A little bit later, by mutual consent, Lucy and I got up to take our own shower before going to bed ourselves. As we were waiting for sleep to come, Lucy asked me about spending the night with Amy; I told her that I'd be delighted to, but that I worried what her neighbors might think. Lucy nodded at that, and said that she'd talk it over with the girls before she said anything to Amy. I expressed my agreement, and the two of us lay there snuggling until we fell asleep.
The next morning, I managed to catch the phone after only a single ring; having not left a wakeup call, I couldn't help but wonder who it was. I quickly found out that it was Agent Hawkes, asking me if I could come in to the office the next afternoon for a press conference. Apparently, the story had caught national attention, and the press was begging for more details, and to meet the man that had handed the FBI the keys to such a big case. I was considerably less than enthusiastic, but Clara finally convinced me that I should do it. I reluctantly agreed, and we set the time for it. Then she asked if Lucy and the girls would be interested, and I told her that I'd ask Lucy, but that under no circumstances was I going to put the girls on TV – having them there, and associated with such a big case was a virtual invitation for trouble to come looking for them. Clara conceded the point, and accepted that Lucy would make her own decision. That settled, the conversation ended.
A couple minutes later, I got up to start some coffee before heading into the bathroom. Shaved and brushed, I came out to find the coffee done. I poured myself a cup, then one for Lucy. I set hers on the nightstand next to the bed where she was laying, figuring that the smell would help wake her as gently as possible.
It did, and she finally opened her eyes to see me sitting there watching her. It took her a couple seconds, but she finally realized that I had a cup of coffee, but that my coffee was too far away for what she was smelling. She looked around and saw the cup I'd poured for her. Smiling, she sat up against the headboard, and took the cup in her hands. After a couple of sips, she turned to me again, and thanked me for it. I told her about Clara's phone call, and that I'd agreed to be present for the press conference. She smiled her pleasure and pride at that, then sobered again when I told her that Clara had also asked if she'd participate, too. She told me she'd think about it, then listened in increasing apprehension as I told her about Clara's inquiry about whether the girls could appear, too.
She instantly agreed when she heard that I'd told Clara that the girls absolutely, positively would NOT be there, and why. As we were discussing what to do 'after', Robyn and Sandra wandered in, rubbing the sleep out of their eyes. Apparently drawn to the smell of the coffee, Robyn parked herself on my lap while Sandra nestled in next to Lucy. Each of them took our coffee cups to take a sip, then another. With the cups nearly empty, they looked at each other before Sandra handed her – Lucy's – cup to Robyn, who got up to refill them before reestablishing herself on my lap.
Sandra asked what we'd been talking about when they came in, and Lucy and I told them. Both expressed an interest at being in the news conference, but took it well when we explained that they couldn't – and why. Both encouraged Lucy to be there, though – Robyn pointing out that it was a good chance for Lucy to get her company's name into the news for publicity.
With my second cup of coffee gone – with Robyn's help – I knew that I needed to get going to take care of something else I'd almost forgotten about: making sure Mark could get to work and the college.
I patted Robyn on the butt to get her to let me up; with only mild protest, she moved over to lay on the other side of Lucy. Lucy asked where I was going, and I told her. That prompted the girls to ask what I was doing, and so I explained to them about what had happened at the park, and what I'd done the previous afternoon. Both expressed happiness that I was helping somebody, and wished me luck.
I let the FBI people know that I was on my way down for some breakfast, and they told me everything was fine. Once in the lobby, Agent Gallery met me, saying 'Dan, I don't know what happened up there with Amy Jones, and God's honest truth, I don't care. All I know is that she's not the same person she was when I took over for her the other day. She's happier, she smiles a lot more, she even joked with me a little bit. Whatever you did, it was just what she needed. Thanks.'
I smiled at him, and said 'Tom, WE – me, Lucy, and the girls – talked to her a little bit, and let her know that we were her friends. We showed her that we cared about her, and that she was a good person, attractive inside and out. There were a couple of rough spots we had to help her through, but she hung in there, and we got them taken care of. All we did, really, was let the real Amy out.'
He looked at me curiously, and said 'Well, whatever it was, it worked. I, and all of her friends, appreciate it.'
I shook his hand, and headed in to fill up the hole in my middle. A different waitress, but this one too recognized my name. Somewhat shyly, she asked for an autograph, which I gave her on one of the hotel menus. Then I pointed out Agent Gallery, and told her he was a member of the FBI. She was delighted to learn that, and promptly headed off to get his autograph, too, surprising him and pleasing him at the same time. When she'd left, he gave me a playful dirty look, then smiled and nodded his thanks.
My meal done, this waitress was reluctant to accept a tip until I found the right combination of cajolery and flattery to get her to take it. Only then was I free to head out for my morning 'mission'.
After visiting a few used car dealerships, I realized that I wasn't likely to find anything appropriate on a dealer's lot. I picked up a newspaper, and looked it over. I found a few ads that seemed reasonable, and with the help of one of the FBI agents navigating for me, starting going through the ads as I checked out the different vehicles. I had it down to a couple of possibilities when I pulled up to the address for the next-to-last ad. It was a middle-aged couple looking to sell their son's old car – a '57 Ford Fairlane. The boy had apparently lavished a lot of attention and care on it – the body work was in good condition, and the engine was positively flawless, purring like a kitten. Despite showing it's age in a few spots, it was certainly a bit of reliable transportation.
The couple and I haggled a little bit, and had almost stalemated when the FBI agent with me addressed me by name to ask to speak with me privately. A little ways away from the couple, he simply said that *he* thought the car was worth what the couple was asking, but that he'd called me away to see if a little time to think would help them come down some. I turned so my back was toward them, and smiled at him before thanking him for his thoughtfulness, and help. He solemnly nodded to me, and we went back to where the couple was standing.
The man hesitated a moment, then asked me if I was the Dan Andrews they'd heard about on the TV last night. I admitted that I was, and the woman asked how they could be sure of that. The agent with me stepped forward, and showed them his ID, then assured them that really was*that* Dan Andrews.
The two of them looked fairly impressed and pleased, before the man asked me why*I* was looking to buy their car. I told him about how I'd found Mark in the park, and briefly told them his story before adding that I was looking to help someone that just needed a chance to get their feet back under them. The two of them shared a look, and the man told me that he figured if I could spot crooks like the ones at TechnoDynamics, he figured I could spot a good prospect, too. He followed up by saying that they'd take my offer, and as their part to help Mark get started, they'd pay the title transfer costs. I told them I'd be happy to do it, but the woman spoke up, telling me 'There's a lot of folks that will hear about somebody like him, and just say 'That's too bad'. Ain't many that'll do like you, and say 'Let me help'. We want to do our share, too.'
There wasn't anything for me to do but thank them. Both waved it off, and the man asked me for Mark's name and address so he could get the title taken care of. I gave him both, using the address of the apartment I'd rented.
With that information, the man looked at me and said 'Me and the Missus, we got some of our retirement money in those folks. Been losing value, these last few months. I was starting to think that maybe I needed to sell it, but didn't want to lose money on the deal.'
I smiled, and told him 'Way I figure it, you're not the only one. But with folks finding out that it was the head honchos stealing money from the company, and the company going to get it's money back, I wouldn't be surprised if it even went UP in value a little.'
He got a thoughtful look at that, and thanked me – and I thanked him in return for his help with Mark. He just waved it off, saying 'Everybody needs a hand sometime in their life. When I needed it, somebody gave it to me. Now I'm just passing it along, same as what you're asking him to do.'
He went on to tell me that he'd get the title taken care of right away, so that Mark could pick up the car later
