Amanda sat alone on the terrace overlooking the lake. She laid the papers she had been looking at on the table beside her. She leaned back in the chaise lounge and moved so that the slight breeze from the lake tousled her hair. Alli was in France with Sam this week. One more month and Alli would be back in school. Cameron had gone to the office. Amanda was retaining fluid so the doctor had ordered her to rest for several days. Amanda was convinced that this sweltering July heat was not helping anything. She was now in the last trimester of her pregnancy. As if the little tike knew she was thinking about her, she began moving.

"Shh, my precious, let mother sleep for just a little while."

Amanda had started calling the baby "she" just to irritate Cameron who insisted on referring to the child as "he". She honestly didn't care what the sex of their child was. She just hoped for a healthy, happy baby. She looked at her protruding stomach. Her gait had already changed. She was beginning to waddle. There were a few times when she would catch Cameron watching her. He would always be smiling, but he would act serious when he saw her looking at him.

"There's our lady of leisure."

Amanda jumped, "Mom, I didn't know you were here."

Rachel smiled, "Don't get up. I rang the doorbell then let myself in when no one answered."

She sat on the end of the chaise lounge and studied Amanda. Her daughter was glowing. She wasn't sure there had been a time when she had looked more beautiful or happy. Cameron was a big part of that. There were times when she had wondered about him. She had worried that he wasn't right for Amanda, but he had taken all her worries away without even trying.

"So what brings you here?"

"I can't just come to see how my daughter is doing?"

Amanda laughed, "Of course, you can. I just thought you would be at work."

"Well, I remembered how good you are at taking orders and how you love being all alone. So I thought it was time we do a little shopping for my newest grandchild."

"Mom, you know the doctor said I have to rest. That means I have to stay off my feet."

Rachel kept smiling, "I've got it all taken care of."

Rachel walked back into the house. When she came back, she was pushing a wheelchair. Amanda began laughing.

"See, we've got everything we need. Now are you going to turn me down?"

*****************************

He could not believe that he was doing this. Cameron sighed heavily. There were ten different cases that he could be working on, but he was here working on something that he wasn't even going to be paid for. Not that the money mattered. And what would make him do this? Or more accurately, who? Amanda. He smiled when his cellular phone rang. He knew exactly who was calling.

"Hello."

"What are you up to? Or should I even ask?"

"Right back at you. It's nothing you'd be interested in," Cameron told her figuring the less she knew right now the better.

"That sounds mysterious. It better not be a brunette," she teased.

"Oh, yeah, five foot ten, three hundred pounds, and a muscle shirt. Does that answer your question?"

Amanda laughed, "Okay, okay. I just wanted to let you know that Mom and I are going shopping."

Amanda held the phone away from her ear anticipating the loud expletive on the other end. Her mother just looked at her and shook her head.

"What!!!!???? Are you crazy? Come on, Amanda. The doctor told you to stay put for a few days."

Amanda gently placed the phone against her ear only to have it whisked away by her mother.

"Cameron, I have got it all taken care of. She won't be on her feet at all. I even brought a wheelchair along."

"Rachel, she's supposed to rest," he told her trying to exercise every ounce of patience that he had.

"You worry too much. I know. I know. You have good reason. But either she comes with me, or she calls you every ten minutes. And you know if she's not calling you, she's calling the office. I figure it's a win-win situation for you and me."

Cameron smiled when he heard Amanda's grunt of total outrage and disbelief. He did love his mother-in-law.

"Gotcha. Thanks, Mom."

"Good. I'll let you talk to her again before she tears this phone out of my hand. Bye, Cameron."

Amanda glared at her mother as she snatched the phone away and put it back up to her ear.

"The two of you think you're sooooo cute. I guess that I should just be happy that you get along with one another but. . ."

Cameron laughed lowly, "Yes, you should. Will you be there when I get home?"

Amanda smiled, "If I don't find a shoe sale, you bet I will. I love you, Cam."

Cameron groaned.

"I love you."

Cameron slowly closed the phone and began watching the building again. There was no air moving between the buildings. He swiped at his forehead. He took a small sip of cold water hoping that would cool him off. He put the camera back up to his face and continued taking pictures as another person entered the office. He reached for the water when his phone rang. Since Amanda had just called, it was easy to guess the identity of the caller.

"Hello, Gary."

"I guess Amanda's already checked in," Gary laughed. "How's it going?"

"The people going in the back door of this building are far more interesting than the ones going in the front door."

"Are you saying Mr. Weston has some clients with something to hide?"

"I guess we'll know when we get a look at these photographs. Have you turned up anything?"

"I managed to get in the office of that lawyer, Beale. He's the one that you and Amanda met with. There's nothing. It's clean. I have a feeling he was just a front for Weston anyway. Are we still on for tonight?"

Cameron nodded to himself before he answered, "Yeah, I want all of this over with soon so that my wife can quit scaring the hell out of me."

Gary laughed, "Why do you think that getting to the bottom of this baby selling syndicate is going to be the end? She's managed to keep you playing super hero ever since the day you met from what I remember."

Cameron didn't smile as he closed the phone and got back to work.

"And I have the runs in my tights to prove it," he said under his breath.

*******************************

George jumped as the side door to his office opened and closed. He was shocked when he saw the identity of his visitor. He immediately stood up and locked both doors. He tried not to look nervous under the steady gaze of his surprise visitor. He walked back to his desk and gestured for the man to have a seat. He pushed the button to his intercom.

"Lydia, hold all my calls and cancel my afternoon appointments. I am not to be disturbed."

George shifted uncomfortably as the man continued to stare silently at him.

"I wasn't expecting you. It's been a long time."

"Indeed, George. It is rare that I come to the United States. It is far too warm here this time of year. It is dangerous for me to be here so I think you understand the significance of my visit."

"I assume that you are not pleased with how your people have been dealing with the Sinclair investigation."

"Not pleased," he spat, "I am disgusted. After all these years, I know better than to allow idiots to do my bidding, but this matter was of a more personal nature to me. I knew Amanda Cory would be troublesome. It's her husband, Cameron, however, who is proving to be the biggest thorn in my side. What do you know about him?"

George walked to a locked filing cabinet and removed a manila file folder. He removed a medium-sized photograph of Cameron and handed it to the man. The diamond in the man's ring flashed as he took the photograph and studied the face of the man who had been causing so much trouble.

"Cameron Sinclair came to Bay City a little over a year ago under the alias of Frank Cameron. He was working as a mole for the FBI. As part of his cover, he was hired by Carl Hutchins as a chauffeur and security expert. During his employment, he was accused of shooting Hutchins. He and Amanda Cory started working together to clear his name. At that time, it was revealed that his real name is Cameron Sinclair. He is the brother of Gary Sinclair, a former police officer and currently Cameron's partner in a private investigation business. He was cleared of the crime after a trip to Boca Lynda with Amanda Cory. It was later revealed that he was a convict trained at Quantico by the FBI. Part of the deal was his freedom for completing his FBI assignment, which he did."

"Why was he in prison?"

"He confessed to murdering his father."

"You said 'confessed'?"

"Yes, it was revealed a few months ago that his brother, Gary, actually killed their father. Cameron went to prison to protect his brother."

"How noble. And he and Amanda Cory?"

"Their relationship has been tumultuous, to say the least, but they appear to be very much in love and very happy. They were married a few months ago, and Amanda is expecting their first child at the end of September."

"Hmmmm? So Sinclair's meddling is to protect Amanda? The man seems to have developed a pattern over the years."

"From looking at this report, I would say he has."

"He risks his own life to protect the people he loves. He may be a meddlesome little pest, but he seems to be have some code of honor."

"What are you going to do, sir?"

"Get rid of him, of course."