Lee pulled into the parking garage of the Georgetown Agency. He hoped that Francine and Amanda had some leads for him to follow. So far, all the trails he had followed turned out to be dead ends. Lee made his way into the building through the back entrance and headed down to the bull pen. On his desk he found a message from Amanda to come see her in the Q Bureau when he returned. Lee threw his jacket on his office chair and began to head up stairs to see Amanda.
"Lee! Hold on a second!" Francine called after him.
"Do you have good news for me, Francine?"
"Well I just got back from meeting with the Head of Hagglund Industries, Curtis Hagglund. It seems that the whole laser research project was the brain child of Billingsworth. We know that he was hired as a chemist about 7-months ago. It seems that he met with Hagglund almost immediately after he was hired and started pushing this laser research. Curtis said that he had some impressive research and really seemed to know his stuff. He wanted Hagglund Industries to give him money for research and development. But-Billingsworth has not really progressed very far in the research for the medical laser. However, the department is spending an awful lot of money. Curtis was meeting with Billingsworth next week to give him his walking papers. But it appears as if Billingsworth has disappeared."
"What else did Curtis have to say, Francine?" Lee said with a smirk.
"Well, HE said that Dr. Taggert was in town visiting Billingsworth a few days ago. They were working long hours, way past the normal hours that Billingsworth had been staying."
"And, what did he think they were working on?"
"He didn't know. But it all seemed to be very secretive. Billingsworth and Hagglund had a big altercation the night before last about spending. Billingsworth said something about Hagglund Industries not having to worry about him for much longer."
"Sounds like they were definitely hatching a plan. Do a thorough background check on Billingsworth and see what you can find-go back as far as you have to. We have GOT to find this prototype! I am going to go see what luck Amanda had."
"Ok, I'll come find you in an hour or so."
Lee got on the elevator and got off at the main level. Mrs. Marsten greeted him and indicated that Amanda was waiting to see him upstairs. Lee thanked her and went in search of his bride.
Lee found Amanda sitting at her desk with her head in her hands. She either was in deep thought or still wasn't feeling well.
"Hi there gorgeous! Feeling better?"
"Hiya sweetheart. No, not really. I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the safe house with you. I was getting car sick. Did you have any luck?"
"Not really. All I found was a stray sock under the bed, a bag from the Gap and a soda cup from Marvelous Marvin's, oh and this receipt from the Lapsley Orchards. Not really much to go on."
"Doesn't seem like it. I called Debbie back at NASA and asked her about Dr. Taggert. Seems as if he is not well liked by most there. He butts his way into other people's research and tries to take the credit. Debbie said that he hasn't been around for the last week. She is pretty sure that he is on vacation."
"Did Taggert have anything to do with the laser research?"
"Yup and he had a very strong interest in the work of Dr. Allen. Seems that he was pretty upset when Dr. Allen disappeared a month ago, not worried upset but just downright mad."
"Hmmm..any idea where he went on vacation?"
"I did ask Debbie. She really didn't know but she did say that lately he has been talking a lot about his sister, who just happens to live in…."
"Washington, DC?"
"Close…..Delaplane, VA."
"Can this computer thingy help us find out what his sister's name is and where exactly she lives?"
"I was working on that when you came in."
Amanda punched in a few words on the computer keyboard and anxiously awaited the results.
"Let's see…says his sister is Peggy Sullivan…..Married to Gregory Sullivan…no children….."
"The address, Amanda! What's the address?"
"It's…here it is…..957 Westwood Lane, Delaplane, VA…..also the address for.."
Amanda turned and looked at Lee.
"Address for what?"
"Lapsley Orchards!"
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Harry quickly realized that Dotty didn't know everything about Lee and Amanda's involvement with the agency. Obviously she didn't know that Lee was also known as Scarecrow.
"Harry, what do you mean that I should have a scarecrow given who my son-in-law is?"
"Uh, Dotty, why don't we have a chat before we go off on our adventure today?
Dotty got a pit in her stomach. She didn't at all like the sound of what she just heard but there was no way she was going to refuse to find out what Harry was talking about.
"Ok, come on into the den."
Dotty showed Harry the way to the den.
"Have a seat. Can I offer you some tea?"
"No, no my dear. Just come sit by me."
Dotty quickly sat beside Harry.
"Harry….are you married? That's it isn't it? You're married!"
Harry chuckled.
"No I am not married. I want to talk to you about my job that I used to do before I retired."
"Oh! Is that all! Ok. I would love to hear about your job."
"Well you see Dotty, I started, I guess what you could sort of call, my own business a long while ago. The company is still thriving today and they sometimes call on me for advice or for me to consult with them on some of my old cases."
"Ok, so far that's not so bad, in fact that sounds wonderful."
"Yes, it can be! I got to work with some terrific people over the years, travel all around the world, see things that the average man would not get to see. I even helped some outstanding people get their start in the business. I always hired the best and the brightest to help with the work that I did. Which is why I hired Lee when he was a young recruit. You should have seen him back in those days! Firey! Stubborn, willing to run off at a moment's notice to anywhere we needed him to go! Didn't matter how dangerous the assignment was."
Dotty stared at Harry, mouth agape.
"Harry…if you hired Lee and sent him on assignments….that means that you are a….."
"Spy. Yes I am. In fact, you could say that I am kind of like the head spy, or I was when I founded the agency."
Harry tried to get a read from an obviously shocked Dotty.
"You….founded the agency? And you hired Lee when he was a young recruit?... Did you hire Amanda, too?"
"No. Lee found Amanda all on his own. And might I say that was the luckiest day of his life. She is the best thing that ever happened to Lee in his entire life, and I mean that sincerely. And she is a damn fine agent!"
"You've met Amanda before last night, too?"
"Yes, we met for the first time a few years ago when I asked her to do a special assignment for me. She literally saved my life."
Dotty' face was looking more and more confused.
"So….let me see if I understand all this. You, Harry V. Thornton, started the agency that recruits spies, and you also hired Lee as a spy when he was a very young man. Lee recruited my daughter and made her into a spy and you have used my daughter for your special assignments where she has saved your life."
"Yes! That is pretty much it exactly."
"Well, what about me? If you knew Amanda already you must have known things about me, too?"
"Yes, in a manner of speaking. I recognized you at the flower show as Dotty West. I always liked Amanda very much and thought it would be great to actually meet her mother. So when we met at the orchid exhibit and the opportunity arose, I took it!"
"And, boom! Just like that, you bumped into me? Because you were curious?"
"Actually, no. You bumped into me! I didn't see you until our collision."
"Uh-huh", Dotty said with a flat, suspicious tone to her voice.
"And meeting me had nothing to do with wanting to get in touch with Lee or Amanda?"
"Dotty, honey, I can get in touch with them any time I want to! They are my friends! I really wanted to meet you. And to be honest with you, I didn't expect to like you as much as I do. I feel as if we have known each other forever! I wasn't sure what you knew about Lee and Amanda's involvement with the agency, so I didn't say anything to you last night."
"So why are you telling me now?"
"Well for a couple of reasons. One, I am pretty sure Amanda will shoot me if I didn't tell you today. I have never seen her be so determined or pointed in her discussions as she was this morning. She told me in no uncertain terms that if I was interested in you for purely agency related business that I had better back off now. But, then she said if I was interested in you personally, she gave us her blessing to see each other as long as I told you the truth about who I was. And two.."
"You saw Amanda? She really said those things to you?"
"Yes, I had a meeting with her and Lee this morning. I thought for a moment that she might shoot me where I stood when we began talking about you."
Dotty smiled.
"Yes, well Amanda does love her family."
"Yes, she does and she wanted to make sure that I wasn't out to hurt you. Which brings me to reason number 2-I wanted to tell you about me, Dotty because I really like you and I would like to build something with you, if you feel the same way, too. And I want that something to be built on the truth, not on lies."
Dotty smiled and looked into Harry's bright blue eyes.
"I really like you, too, Harry. Thank you so much for trusting me with this. It scares me a little bit, to be honest, but I am ok with it."
Harry returned Dotty's smile and kissed her hands, one at a time.
"Wonderful! So, shall we go on our adventure?"
"Wait, before we go, I have one more question. What does the scarecrow have to do with Lee?"
"Well, Dotty, I probably shouldn't have said anything, but I assumed you knew. It was going to be my segue into telling you about my involvement with the agency."
"Knew what?"
"Lee's code name is Scarecrow. That's why I thought for sure that you would have a scarecrow on your lawn for this time of year!"
"Code name? You mean you spies actually have code names? What is Amanda's code name?"
"Yes we do actually have code names, but not all of us. Amanda does not have a code name. Not yet at least."
"Do you have a code name?"
"Yes. I do, but I think we should save that story for another time."
"OK. I understand."
"You know, Dotty, Lee is like a son to me. I have seen that boy go through all kinds of changes and situations that you can't even imagine and never have I seen him as happy and at ease with himself as I see him now with Amanda. And I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am that they are having a baby! I feel like I am going to be a grandpa!"
"Haha! Oh yes! It IS exciting! I am already a grandmother but I can't WAIT for this baby to be born! I am so excited for the two of them."
Dotty squeezed Harry's hand and smiled.
"Well, shall we head on out?"
"Yes! Where are we going? I am dying to know!"
"Well, I thought we would go on a hayride and maybe pick some apples. And after, go to my place for a nice dinner. How does that sound?"
"A hay ride? I haven't been on one of those in AGES! Today is the perfect weather to do that and I adore apple picking! Yes! Let's go!"
"Great! I know this great place called Lapsley Orchards. Grab your stuff and let's go!"
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Francine flung open the door of the Q Bureau and sat on the edge of Amanda's desk.
"Ok, here is all I could find on Lapsley Orchards and Peggy and Greg Sullivan. They are pretty average Joe's. No trouble with the law, not even a parking ticket in the last 10-years. They run a small orchard that exports some of their apples to different parts of the country. It seems to be a family owned business that has been owned by the Sullivans going on more than 50 years."
"Damn it, Francine! There has to be something there we are missing!"
"Lee, calm down. We'll find it. Francine, to which states do they send their apples?"
"All over the East Coast. What difference does it make?"
"East Coast including Florida?" Amanda inquired.
Francine checked the list.
"Yeah, they ship to Florida, why what difference does it make? We are looking for lasers, not apples!"
The light bulb went on for Lee. He understood what Amanda was thinking.
"Yes! Amanda! Of course! Francine, I think actually we are looking for both."
"Huh?" Francine was puzzled.
"You see, Francine, Lee found a receipt from Lapsley's orchard at the safe house. I think that Dr. Taggert and Mr. Billingsworth went to kidnap Dr. Allen and Dr. Vogler. They fought and Dr. Allen and Dr. Vogler realized that they were going to lose, so they completed their suicide pact and took the cyanide. Taggert and Billingsworth got so upset, that they shot up the place in an effort to send investigators in the wrong direction. They then stole the prototype and brought it to Taggert's sister's place-Lapsley orchards, where they are going to stash it in the apples being sent to Florida where it will be retrieved and snuck into NASA where…well I am not really sure what will happen from that point. But it will sure be easier to get it into space from NASA then from anywhere else."
"Amanda, you got all that from a receipt found at the safe house? Maybe it was just a receipt. That's an awfully big leap of assumptions."
"Nope, I think Amanda is right on with this one. I would bet my paycheck that the prototype is there somewhere at that orchard. Great work, Amanda! Francine, I want you to get together 3 units, cover all entrances and exits from that place. Lapsley Orchards, here we come!"
To be continued….
