Chapter 14

Dotty sat on the edge of Amanda's bed, smoothing the wrinkles on the blanket. "Do you think we should pull those blinds? It's awful bright in here."

"We want the light, Mrs. West. What we have done is ease Mrs. Stetson off the medication keeping her sedated. We're using the light to help trigger her natural circadian rhythm, thereby triggering her brain to force consciousness. Sort of like, after a long night's sleep, the sun on your face alerts your brain that it's morning," Dr. Lore explained.

Dotty blinked several times, processing his explanation. "So you mean she could wake up at any time?"

Dr. Lore bobbed his head a few times. "There's still a low dose of sedative in her IV right now. We have to wean her off it slowly. Recent studies have shown this method to have fewer side effects… confusion, nausea, headache, that sort of thing. We do expect her to regain consciousness sometime tomorrow."

"Tomorrow," Dotty repeated sadly. She patted Amanda's limp hand before asking, "What about her other injuries? Lee said something about Amanda needing surgery yesterday."

"Yes, she had some internal bleeding, but we were able to stop all of that. She's been given several blood transfusions, which have helped bring her blood pressure up. She'll be on a strict course of antibiotics for the next few weeks as her body continues to heal." Dr. Lore folded his arms across his chest and waited for more questions.

Dotty's eyes flickered over the multiple IV bags suspended around the head of the bed. "What about pain medication? You're sure my daughter isn't in any pain?"

"We can't be one hundred percent sure she doesn't feel some discomfort but all the tests we've run show she isn't in any distress at this time," Dr. Lore admitted.

"You're not giving her too much pain medicine, are you? I've seen those talk shows where hospitals just pump you so full of drugs, you become addicted to it." Dotty's eyes widened at the thoughts swirling through her mind.

"I can assure you, Mrs. West, the pain medications being administered are monitored and controlled. Now, if you don't have any other questions, I'd like to check in with the OR and see how Mrs. Farnsworth is doing."

A loud beeping sound suddenly filled the room, jolting everyone to their feet.

Dotty's eyes immediately lifted toward Amanda's heart monitor while Dr. Lore and Billy instinctively reached for their belts. Billy was the first to raise his hand. "It's the agents who arrested Barta downstairs."

"They have you wearing one of those beepers now too?" Lee laughed.

"Damn electronic devices… Next thing you know, we'll have a portable phone that fits in your pocket and then I'll never be left alone. I better head down and see what's going on. Excuse me." Billy jammed the small device back onto his belt and disappeared into the hallway.

As soon as he was gone, the beeping sound began again. This time, Dr. Lore silenced it quickly. "That is William's neurologist. I'll be back in a few minutes." He, too, slipped out of the room, leaving Lee and Dotty alone.

Dotty went back to busying her hands, once again smoothing Amanda's blanket. Lee moved to the edge of the bed and gently grasped Amanda's hand in his. An awkward silence filled the room.

"Lee, can I ask you something?" Dotty began slowly, her eyes never leaving her daughter.

"Of course," Lee replied.

"Why… why did that man outside of William's room call you Scarecrow?" she questioned. She lifted her chin and stern eyes met nervous ones.

Lee bit his bottom lip for a second. "I think you may have misheard him."

"No, my hearing is just fine. He called you Scarecrow. Not Lee. Not Mr. Stetson. Scarecrow. I want to know why," Dotty clarified.

"Dotty, I really think—" Lee began.

"And I really think you are not being truthful. Lee, you have been part of our family for almost six years and during that time, I've gotten to know you pretty well. I mean, we do live under the same roof after all and we spend a lot of time together. When you spend that much time getting to know someone, you learn when they are not being truthful. Now, I've seen you skirt around questions from time to time and avoid answering some altogether, but this is not the time for that. This is the time for complete honesty," Dotty rambled with a firmness to her voice.

Lee inhaled slowly and nodded his head. "You're right. If there was ever a time we needed to be completely open and honest… this is it. Um… okay… well… That man called me Scarecrow because when we work with the agency Billy works for, I have my own codename."

"Codename? Like a spy?" Dotty gasped.

"More like an undercover operative," Lee corrected. "From time to time, I am in situations where using a codename is safer than using my real name."

"And what about Amanda? Does she have a codename too? Is she involved in these undercover operations?" Dotty demanded.

"No, Amanda does not have a codename and since she transferred into training the new recruits, she is not involved in any of their operations," Lee insisted.

Dotty studied his face carefully. "So IFF… is it really a documentary film company or is it something else… you know, like you see on TV? What do they call that… a front?"

"No… IFF is a film company… remember the awards ceremony Amanda took you to a few months ago? We got nominated for that film on the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and how it would affect the economy," Lee stated.

"Yes… but—"

"But nothing. You asked for honesty and I'm telling you," Lee interrupted.

Dotty swallowed, pursed her lips, and scanned Lee's face. He sat across from her, relaxed. "Okay. Then I have another question. The man that caused the accident… the one downstairs getting arrested or detained or whatever Mr. Melrose is doing right now… did you really stop him from trying to assassinate the President?"

Lee shrugged his shoulders. "If I'm being completely honest, I'm not sure. I've heard his name come up in the past but I didn't know he was here, never mind what he was doing."

"Why were you picking Emily up at the airport?" Dotty abruptly asked.

"Emily called us two days ago and said she was flying into Dulles yesterday," Lee stated as the muscle in his cheek began to twitch.

Dotty nodded absentmindedly as she stroked Amanda's hand. "Does Emily know this man?"

"I believe she knows of him. According to what I was told, he's been on the terrorist watch list in England as well as the US."

"Uh-huh. And who told you this? Mr. Melrose?" Dotty continued.

Lee coughed loudly once. "Yes, I believe it was Billy."

"And is that really why there are men outside of everyone's room, or is there something else you're not telling me?" Dotty leveled her eyes at him once more.

Lee held up his hand, shook his head, and assured her, "Dotty, I don't know any more about that man than what I've already told you. He was here with a plan to kill the President and he caused the accident that we were in. That's everything, I swear."

The door swung inward, startling both Lee and Dotty. The agent stationed outside of the room rushed in, "Mr. Stetson, Mr. Melrose needs you to return to your room, immediately."

"What about me?" Dotty interjected.

"You may stay here and wait for them to return," the agent explained.

"Why? What's going on?" Dotty demanded.

The agent looked at Lee who gave him an almost imperceptible nod. "I'm not at liberty to state that, ma'am, but Mr. Stetson needs to return to his room. We have someone here to escort him."

"Escort him? Is he under arrest or something?" Dotty snapped.

"He is not under arrest, but we want to be sure he arrives safely. Once he's spoken with Mr. Melrose, he can come back here or we can bring you to his room."

Lee reached out and gave her hand a squeeze. "I'm sure this is just a formality, and Billy needs to talk to me alone right now. I'll be back before you know it."

"While you're gone, I'm going to call Joe and let him know what's going on. And Phillip and Jamie… they have no idea what's happening. No… I'll tell Joe and he can go over and be with them… They're not teenagers anymore, but still… this is their family too," Dotty rambled.

"Okay. I'll see you in a bit," Lee promised before following the agent into the hallway.