Chapter 4: Talk of the town

"You're taking who?" Billy's eyes were wide with shock, and he could not decide whether he was angry at Lee or if he wanted to congratulate Scarecrow for getting a partner for the mission on such short notice. "And you're taking her where?"

"It's all in my report, Billy," Lee announced. "You told me that it could be anyone; all I needed was a date. And Dotty and I … hit it off."

"Hit it off, huh?" Billy sounded dubious. "Scarecrow, I don't have to remind you that Dotty West is Amanda's mother and she's old enough to be your mother."

"You're point, Billy?" Lee was smug, knowing that he had done exactly what had been asked of him. He had already had a background check ordered on Mrs. West, which he knew would come back spotless. "There's no crime against dating a mature woman."

"Mature?" Francine snorted. "You mean an old bag!"

"Um, Francine," said Lee smugly, "have you actually met Mrs. West?"

"Well … no."

"You know how Amanda outshines you without even trying? Where do you think she gets it from?"

Francine's mouth dropped open, an expression of utter indignation on her face. "Out … she does not! Not in a million years does that housewife …"

"In a second," countered Lee. "And every second of everyday. So don't you go calling Mrs. West an old bag. She's everything you try to make yourself out to be, so can it."

Francine demurred, leaving the room in a huff. Billy shook his head.

"Alright, alright, alright, Lee. So you're going to initiate an affair …"

"A torrid affair," Lee corrected.

"Right, a torrid affair with the sophisticated Dorothy West. And then you're sweeping her off her feet and taking her to Hawaii. I assume that legitimizing your cover is your justification for your taking her to a high end French restaurant and the Bolshoi Ballet?"

"You've got it, Billy. Remember, I'm going to revolutionize the future of movie making."

The background check came back clean as Lee had expected, so he put the next phase of his plan into effect. He contacted a limo service whose owner owed Scarecrow. Then, he picked up his tux from the cleaners. Then he stopped by the florist and purchased a bouquet of a dozen long stem roses. If Mrs. West wants a torrid affair, he thought, then by gum, she's going to get one.

"Hot date tonight, Mister Stetson?" asked the florist, Mrs. Rivera. Lee was a regular customer; dates loved flowers, so Lee had gotten to know Mrs. Rivera very well over the years. But tonight was different.

"Oh, yeah, but this one is different," Lee said with a chuckle. "In fact, I don't think I've ever met anyone like her."

"Normally, I'd write that off as youthful exuberance, but with you? I don't think I've ever heard you say something like that with that particular … look in your eyes. I hope it goes well."

"Thanks, Mrs. Rivera, so do I."

Dotty West had put on a blue evening gown and her best jewelry for a night on the town with Lee Stetson. When she came downstairs, Amanda and the boys were beside themselves.

"Wow, grandma, you look great," offered Phillip, as Jamie gave her a thumbs up.

"Mother, aren't you a bit … overdressed?" Amanda looked thoroughly confused as to why Dotty was dressed up so well.

"A fine restaurant and the Bolshoi? Amanda, how could you think I'd wear anything less than my very best?"

"It's just Lee, Mom."

"Just Lee? JUST Lee? Amanda, do I ever pooh-pooh your dates?" Before Amanda could answer, Dotty said, "Of course I don't. Now, Amanda, on a scale of one to ten, that man is an eleven! And you didn't seem to want to scoop him up, and far be it from me to let a single man of his caliber be wanting for a date, especially when … well, you know."

"No, mother, I don't know."

Dotty leaned over and whispered in her ear, "National security is involved."

"Oh, that."

The doorbell rang and Dotty hurried to answer. It was Lee, and he was dressed as well as Dotty, wearing a tux and even a matching cummerbund and bowtie, though it was purely by chance.

"You look magnificent, Dotty." Lee then gave her the flowers.

Dotty beamed at the compliment, then turned around and looked back at Amanda. "Did you hear that, Amanda? I look magnificent. Magnificent! And these flowers! A dozen long stem roses?" Dotty smiled at Lee, blushing slightly. "These are beautiful."

"For a beautiful lady," Lee replied.

Dotty went to the kitchen and found an appropriate vase for the flowers in one of the cabinets and filled it with water. Putting the flowers in, she placed it in the center of the kitchen table. Amanda just stared open mouthed as Dotty went to join Lee at the front door.

"Now, don't wait up for me. Bye!" Dotty took Lee's arm and stepped outside with him, only to see a limousine waiting for them, a driver holding the door.

"A limo?" Dotty could hardly believe it.

"I don't think that dress of yours would do well in the Vette, Dotty," Lee explained. "Also, I thought it might be nice to enjoy your company without having to drive. Now, shall we?"

"Oh, I believe we shall," replied Mrs. West as Lee helped her into the limo.

It was well after midnight by the time Lee brought Dotty home. They had enjoyed their dinner, and the ballet was magnificent. Afterward, they went for drinks, and then Dotty had gotten the idea to have the limo driver just drive around the beltway once before dropping returning her home. Through it all, Lee was a perfect gentleman with her. Dotty was amazed at how much they seemed to have in common, and how easily he could converse with her. Part of his job as a spy was to play roles, and to learn subject matter in order to facilitate his performance in those roles, but for Dotty, it meant an attractive younger man to whom she could talk with for hours.

As part of the role, they had been quite romantic at dinner, and he was very attentive to her during the ballet. When they went for drinks, both of them had loosened up a bit, and occasionally, they stole kisses. The ride home was nicely romantic, with Lee holding her the whole way home. It reminded her of when she dated Benedict West. He was such an adventurous spirit, and Lee was cut from the same cloth. Dotty imagined her late husband as leading a double life, being a spy like Lee. The thought made her giggle.

When Lee finally took her home, he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

"Dotty, that was the best date I've had in years. Thanks."

"Best in years?" Dotty was surprised. "Amanda tells me you have … quite the dating life."

"I have," he confessed. "But nothing with any depth or meaning. Shallow relationships with shallow women; fun, but not very rewarding."

"Well then, Lee, we'll have to make this the most rewarding Hawaii trip you've ever had." Dotty stood up on her tip toes and kissed Scarecrow on the lips. "Good night, Mister Stetson."

Across town, a gossip photographer went home in triumph. Lee Steadman, the man who made the cover of Scientific American, and who would revolutionize movie making with a heretofore unheard of photographic technique, was out on the town with a woman old enough to be his mother. This should get me into the big leagues, he thought.