Clues

Chapter 25

After Nurse Ruth left, Lee was getting impatient. He felt helpless, lying in a hospital bed when Amanda was out there with that scumbag Squires. All he knew was that he needed to get out of this hospital.

And go where?

Where was Amanda?

Still mulling over what to do, Lee's head turned when the hospital door opened. He expected to see Nurse Ruth clutching her weapon of choice, the heart pressure monitor. But it wasn't her.

"Good evening, Lee!" Dotty's cheerful voice filled the room, while carrying a brown paper bag.

Oh no, not Dotty.

Not now.

Not wanting to, Lee feigned a pleased look.

"Dotty, what a pleasant surprise!"

His enthusiasm put a smile on her face.

"That's so nice of you to say! AND, I didn't come empty-handed, either!" Dotty held up the paper bag and then handed it to him, "according to Amanda, home-baked chocolate chip cookies are one of your favorites!"

Lee opened the bag and peered inside. This time when he looked at Dotty, his smile was sincere.

"That's very sweet of you, thank you, Dotty!" he said, "but you needn't had gone through such trouble on my account!"

"Nonsense, Dear, that was nothing!" she insisted, "once the dishes were washed and the homework was done, I figured I might as do something to cheer another person up since Amanda would be working late tonight!"

If only it were true that Amanda was working late tonight!

Then Dotty's words finally sunk in...wait...how had Dotty known Amanda would be supposedly late? he internally thought.

"Amanda has plans to work late tonight?" he questioned while tilting his head, "How do you know that, Dotty?"

"Why, she called and told me that, of course!"

"She told you that!?" Lee realized his tone sounded too demanding and forced himself to calm down, "uh...did you just talk with her? When was that?"

Dotty responded with, "Why, it couldn't have been... more than 20 minutes ago... I just hung up with her right before I left to come here. Why?"

Lee was encouraged. He may have just caught a break. If Amanda had spoken with Dotty, maybe she had also left her mother a clue as to her whereabouts.

He certainly hoped so.

.

"Lee, dear, are you alright?" Dotty wondered as she peered even closer at him, "You look...worried. Do you think it strange that Amanda is working late tonight?"

The last thing Lee wanted to do was to worry Dotty.

"Uh no, of course not, Dotty!" he tried to reassure her, " I don't have any doubt that Amanda would be working late at the office; you know how dedicated she is regarding her job!"

"That I do!" Dotty concurred, "Although I'm a bit surprised that she didn't find time to visit with you tonight. She's been so worried about you, you know."

"She's been by my side all day long, Dotty, so I understand perfectly if she feels a need to catch up on her work," Lee told her, "besides, there's no need for her to hang around here when I'm feeling perfectly fine!"

"You do look much better; your coloring is back and you seem well on the way to healing," Dotty observed, "so you ARE feeling fine, aren't you, Dear?"

"Yes, I am," he assured her and then in a jesting tone, he slightly whispered, "and if you must know, Dotty, I'm only here because this is my body's way of telling me I'm too capable for this world and I need to slow down so everyone else can catch up!"

Dotty laughed.

Lee really is so very clever, she thought to herself.

And smart, and handsome, and caring.

Her daughter had picked the right one.

"By the way," Lee asked, trying to sound nonchalant, "Did Amanda mention anything else to you during that call?"

Dotty looked unsure until it dawned on her.

"Ooooo, I know why you asked that question, Lee!" Dotty stated, a mischievous smile plastered on her face.

Lee tried not to look alarmed, "You do?"

"Yes, oh yes!" Dotty exclaimed, obviously pleased with her insightfulness, "You're wondering whether or not Amanda mentioned you in her conversation with me!

"Yeah, yeah, that's right!" Lee looked at her as though she was brilliant, "...I was just thinking that!" he then looked at her with curiosity, "And? Did she mention me?"

"Mention you? Um...maybe not directly, perhaps..." Dotty was obviously trying to be diplomatic, "although..."

Lee quickly jumped in, "although...what?"

"Wellllll now that I think about it, it was the strangest thing..." Dotty claimed, as she put her hands on her hip, looking confused.

Lee leaned in, "Strange? Strange in what way?"

"Oh it's probably nothing!" Dotty waved it away.

Lee tried not to rush her, "No, please continue, Dotty. I'm stuck here in this hospital bed anyway; I don't mind listening to nothingness!"

"Really?" Dotty shrugged, "It's just..." she paused, "the way Amanda ended the conversation didn't make sense...although I'm probably making a big deal out of nothing!"

Lee was getting impatient now.

"Actually, Dotty, I think anything Amanda says is a big deal, believe me!"

"Aren't YOU a dear?" Dotty smiled, and now tried to be compliant, "let me try and recall the exact words she said..." she went into deep thought and then recited, "If I remember correctly, before she said good-bye over the phone, Amanda had stated, 'And, Mother, about that picnic we had planned...don't worry, because pragmatic me has already picked out a great local spot! It's the place we've been to before; the one with that special boulder!'"

Lee leaned over more, "And?"

"And...that's it!" Dotty stated, "The craziest thing about all that was...we had never gone on a picnic, never sat next to a special boulder!"

Lee knew Amanda's words meant more than she was revealing.

"Think carefully, Dotty," Lee needed to be sure, "were those her exact words?"

"Hmmm...yesss..." Dotty slowly agreed, "yes, I'm sure it was! Why, dear?"

"No reason..." Lee's voice trailed off as he went into deep thought.

Amanda was attempting to send out some kind of coded words to him, and it had to be something she had said at their picnic. But what was it?

Still in deep thought, he barely heard Dotty rattling on, "...and now that I think about it, I'm just a bit confused. Amanda didn't sound like herself at all during that part of the conversation. For instance, she used the word 'pragmatic'! That's not like her at all!"

Pragmatic.

Why did the word sound so familiar?

Then realization hit him: It was stated in a conversation during their makeshift picnic!

He next attempted to recall the sentence where Amanda had used that word:

"...I take pleasure in pragmatic yet classy interests, such as operas, symphonies and museums!"

Were those her words?

Now that her tracker had been discovered by Squires, the only message she would be trying to pass along would be her location. So could opera, symphony or museum be the clue as to her current whereabouts?

Wait...

Alan Squires was an art thief!

Art thief/museum

Could it be that simple?

Amanda had also mentioned to Dotty that the place she had selected would be local.

Could Squires be planning a heist at some local museum?

"Lee?"

Lee was brought back to the present when Dotty called out his name.

"What's wrong, Dear?" she asked, with a concerned look, "The color has drained from your face and you're looking rather ill again."

Lee couldn't afford to be distracted.

"I apologize, Dotty," Lee told her, and made up the excuse, "I guess I'm really more tired than I had originally thought."

"Goodness! No need to apologize! And here I am, rattling on and on while what you need is quietness and a good rest!" she told him, genially patting his hand, "I should head on home anyways! Since Amanda will be working late tonight, there's plenty I need to get done at home!"

Lee nodded, "Thanks so much for dropping by and also for the cookies, Dotty. They're the perfect remedy for whatever's ailing me!"

"You're quite welcome, Dear!" she exclaimed, "Take care, and tootle-loo!"

"Bye... Dotty..." he said absentmindedly, as she departed.

The second she left, Lee whipped the covers off of him. He got up to changed his clothes. He was going to find Amanda if he had to tear down the entire state to get to her!

Going to the small closet, he whipped the door opened and groaned.

The closet was emptied of his clothing!

He peered closer in and even rapped on the wall, hoping for a different outcome, but the closet was definitely emptied.

It can't be!

Damn! He needed to get out of here, but he couldn't do it while wearing a hospital gown with his entire backside showing in the back!

The hospital door swung opened again as Nurse Ruth walked in, this time carrying a snack on a tray.

"Dinnertime, Mr.-" she paused and looked aggravated at seeing Lee up and about, "and just WHAT do you think you're doing?!" she interrogated him, sounding like a mother berating her son, "You are supposed to be in bed!"

Lee knew better than to cross swords with Nurse Hitler, yet he was not in the mood to be lecture either; not when he had something important to do!

She went over and began to push him towards the bed.

"I'm going!" he told her, "but listen, I couldn't find any of my clothes!" he told her, as he got back into bed, "Did you take them?"

She shrugged as she pulled the sheet over him, "It was for your own good!"

"What is this place?" he wondered outloud, "A prison?"

"Noooo, this is a place where people get well!" she told him, putting his tray of food on his portable hospital table and then rolling it in front of him, "and we can't make patients well if the patient is up and moving about instead of resting!"

Lee looked frustrated, "Could you at least tell me where my clo-"

"No I will not!" Nurse Ruth defiantly told him, "We had already figured out you might try and leave!"

"We? Who's we?" Lee accusingly asked.

"Let's see...the hospital director, Mr. Melrose, the morning staff, the front desk, security, and oh, yeah, me," she told him, "So by removing your street clothes, this is our way of insuring you stay here at the hospital until we finish testing you! In case you've forgotten, Mr. Stetson, you've suffered a fierce blow to your skull, and that is something that should not be taken lightly! Now, EAT UP!"

Lee looked down at cafeteria-style meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans. Sighing heavily he shoved a bite of his meatloaf into his mouth.

"Better?" he sarcastically asked.

"It's a start!" Nurse Ruth nodded, "but don't forget to chew and swallow!"

He did as instructed and then took another bite.

After he chewed down that one, he put his fork down and tentatively looked the nurse's way,"May I ask you a question, Nurse Ruth?"

Nurse Ruth's mouth dropped slightly. It was the first time he had addressed her by name while politely asking something.

But she would not be fooled. She already figured Lee just wanted his clothes back. Probably will give her a mouthful of compliments. Well, she was smarter than that! She aggressively folded her arms, signally that she was not going to fully accept whatever requested he wanted to ask her.

"What is it you want to ask?" she asked, impatiently.

Lee asked, "Have you, Nurse Ruth, ever been in love with your best friend?"

The question took her totally by surprised. Nurse Ruth unfolded her arms, a look of befuddlement completely covering her face.

"Uh...I'm not sure what you mean..."

Lee was almost talking to himself.

"I don't know if you've ever been in love, but it's like..." he stared at the brown bag of cookies sitting on the side table, "...continually enjoying the most delicious cookies in the world, 24-7!"

Nurse Ruth lifted a brow, "Is that so?"

"It is. I never thought it would happen to me, since...as you can see...I'm not the easiest person to get along with. but the woman who captivated my heart accepts me as I am, even at times when I couldn't accept myself," he had a farwaway look as he continued, "She seems to finish my sentences, even when I have nothing to say. And she gives so much of herself, even when there is nothing in it for her; and she makes me want to do the same for her.," he turned back to the nurse, "Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

When he looked directly at Nurse Ruth, she seemed choked up.

"She sounds... special," Nurse Ruth commented, "Does she know how you feel about her?"

Lee dropped his head, "No, I haven't had the chance to."

Nurse Ruth looked disappointed as well, "Why not?"

"Bad timing, I suppose" Lee admitted, then with a tone of regret he added, "And I just hope it's not too late."

"Too late? Nonsense!" Nurse Ruth assured him, "it's never too late."

"In this case it may be," Lee looked miserable, "I think she's in trouble."

The nurse scowled, "In trouble? What do you mean?"

"It's complicated," Lee told her, "but she's missing and she needs me. But I'm stuck here."

"So that's why you are so insistent on leaving?"

"Yes, not only to save her, but to save... myself, as well," he looked surprised at his own admission, "It's only been recently that I've realized that Amanda means everything to me. Everything."

And he really meant it. His heart actually felt lighter and freer now that he admitted his feelings. This time when Lee peered over at Nurse Ruth, her eyes were watery.

"I'll see what I can do about getting your clothes back," she sniffed and then stood straighter, "in the meantime, finish your dinner!"

.

Alan Squires had rented a moving truck and they were in it, driving away from the phone booth.

"Feel better after talking with your mother?" he asked, "at least you didn't have to cancel your picnic with her."

Internally, Amanda was secretly hoping that Lee understood her cryptic message. Earlier Squires had informed her of his plans to steal a painting from the National Gallery of Art tonight.

Amanda glared sideways at him, "At least she won't worry about me!"

Squires didn't seem bother by Amanda sounding angry.

"Your part in the robbery will be all over in a blink of an eye, "Alan promised her.

"I wish you wouldn't remind me that it's a robbery we're about to do!" she complained.

"Why not?" he questioned, "That's exactly what's going down tonight I'm actually very excited about you and I working together; unlike other men in your life!"

Amanda's downturned mouth expressed her unhappiness, but there wasn't much she could do about the inevitable. She was about to commit a crime. A real crime. The only comfort she could take from this was that it was only an item she was stealing; she wasn't hurting anyone. Though an art piece is precious, it's just that; a nonliving thing. But still, she wasn't looking forward to it.

"I'll help you with the art heist," she told him, "but that doesn't mean I like it!"

Amanda could only feel disgust at Squires' smile.

"It doesn't matter if you like it, my dear. I'm having the best time of my life!" he sneered, "All you need to do is keep your mouth shut and do what I tell you!"

.

It was late evening when Lee had went back to the Agency.

The night crew was working, but they barely gave a glance his way when he went to his computer. Turning it on, he brought up the file on Alan Squires. There was a notation of stolen paintings that he had been suspected of stealing, but the authorities could not prove.

At the top of the list were the painters Leonardo da Vinci and Vincent van Gogh.

Must be his favorites.

Lee next cross-checked them with any local museum that was displaying these favorite artists permanently or on special exhibits. Lee then thought back at Dotty's words. Amanda had mentioned one special boulder. One. Could that mean only one special painting by that artist would be shown? Lee added the information that only one of the artist's paintings was currently being displayed at any of the local museums. That should narrow it down enough. He then pressed the button, hoping for the best.

Fortunately only one local museum came up.

The National Gallery of Art.

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