Chapter 6: The Mission on Ice

Dotty was in tears as she hung in the cold freezer, tied back to back with Lee, hanging from a meat hook. She was certain that her right shoulder was dislocated from hanging. Lee, for his part, seemed calm and collected.

"You know, Lee, I've fantasized about you and I being alone together, and I even brought some things I got at Rebecca's Fantasies, but being tied up in a freezer hanging from a meat hook was not one of them. Oh, Lee, what are we going to do?"

"Rebecca's Fantasies, huh? You'll have to show me some of those things after we get back, Dotty."

Dotty could not believe how calm Lee was under the circumstances. "Lee, please tell me this isn't the end!" Dotty was crying, but not sobbing. Not yet, at least.

"Nope," Lee said confidently. "I just wanted to make sure they were gone."

"Oh, Lee, my hands are numb and my shoulders hurt, and I'm having trouble breathing."

"I'd imagine so," Lee said as he moved, his back pressing against Dotty's, making her wonder what he was doing. "But just hold tight, Dotty; I was prepared for something like this. In fact, I'd say we're right in position."

"For what? Slow suffocation and freezing?"

"No," Lee countered. "For stopping these jackals once and for all."

Dotty heard his heels clap together, and then felt his back pressing into hers. She turned her head to see how he was lifting her. Lee had brought his feet up over their heads, and was cutting the ropes with a blade that extended from his right shoe.

"Hold tight, Dotty," he warned.

A moment later, the rope gave way and the two of them landed, their feet hitting the floor hard. He quickly got the ropes off of their hands, but before he did anything else, Dotty embraced him and held him tightly, kissing him passionately.

"Sorry, Lee," she said as she pulled back. "I just wanted to do that in case we don't get out."

"Oh, don't you worry, Dotty," he assured. "We're getting out."

With that, Lee sat down and began removing the heel of his right shoe. Inside of the heel was a compartment holding a number of metal pieces that he removed and began to assemble. Once he had some kind of handle and trigger mechanism assembled, he put the heel back on, twisting it slightly to retract the blade. Then he removed the left heel and produced more parts, assembling the rest of what turned out to be a snub nosed pistol.

"Wow," Dotty exclaimed. "It's like something from the movies!"

"Yeah, but this is for real. Then there's this."

Lee proceeded to remove the collar inserts from his shirt collar, and a long wire from inside his necktie. He took the inserts and began to kneed them together, quickly making them into what looked like a wad of gum. He went to the freezer door and found the latch area, and squeezed the wad into the seam. He took the wire and put the two ends into the wad, and then stepped back, unrolling the wire to a length of about six feet. He then removed his belt buckle and opened it up. Placing the wire inside, he closed the clamshell buckle, which caused the device to begin beeping. Lee quickly covered Dotty, pushing her into the corner.

A loud explosion sounded, and Lee turned and fired a single shot. Dotty turned in time to see the guard who had looked in as the door blew open fall to the ground, a bullet between his eyes.

"Remind me never to get on your bad side," Dotty demurred.

"Come on, Dotty," Lee encouraged. "It's time to rescue Bill Fence!" Lee handed her the keys to his Corvette. "You drive stick?"

"Of course, Lee," she boasted. "They didn't have automatics for me to learn on when I was a sweet sixteen, you know."

"Good to hear. Now take the Vette and get clear of this place. I have a car phone in the console. Call Billy, and tell him we have a priority alpha emergency, and we need air support. He'll know what to do."

"Right," Dotty said in acknowledgement.

A guard came around the corner, but Lee shot him in the forehead, taking him down. He then collected the guns from both of the dead guards.

"Forty fives," he said approvingly. "These'll do nicely. I'll cover you to the car. Come on!"

The phone rang at Billy Melrose Desk. The veteran agent picked up, saying, "Melrose."

"Billy, this is Dotty West, calling for the Scarecrow," came Dotty's voice over the phone. Billy held the phone away for a moment; Dotty projected like an opera singer, even through the phone lines! "I have a priority alpha emergency at Warren Jakes' estate, and we need air support!"

"Priority Alpha?" Billy sat up and took notice at this. "We'll scramble our agents in the area and coordinate with the local authorities. You just stay safe, Mrs. West."

"Don't you worry about me," Dotty admonished. "If the Russians get Bill Fence, then Star Wars is compromised, and that's not happening on my watch, mister."

"Yes, ma'am," replied Billy, impressed with Dotty's gumption. "Do what you can from your end, but stay safe. Melrose out."