CHAPTER 26: The Conference

 

Suzy came away from her complimentary free session at Movers & Shakers feeling aching, stiff and in need of a stiff drink. It made a distraction from a pretty boring work day, where the editor was more interested in what flavours of ice cream were in for '66 than in Suzy's ongoing work into the skullduggery of Sim City.

As she limped home she was stopped near her house by a well built, tanned man who was out for a fitness run.

"Hey, I know you!" he said, pointing to her.

"Erm....you have me at a disadvantage" Suzy replied.

"I saw you sing and play guitar down at The Blue Velvet....yeah, you were mighty fine!" he said, smiling. "By the way, I'm Don Lothario"

"Do you live up to your name?" said Suzy, who thought this guy was a little too full of himself to be healthy.

"I've never been known to disappoint" he said with a smile, which soon turned to horror. "Is that the time, must go! See you around!" he said, running off. Suzy had no idea what made him change his tune so quickly...there was no one about except for a middle aged red headed woman coming down the road in one direction and a golden haired one jogging in the other. Suzy shrugged and made her way home for a much needed meal.

She'd finished making a Caesar Salad that she got from a recipe book when the door rang. Looking to see who it was, it turned out to be her best friend, Summer Holiday.

"Summer, what a nice surprise, come on in" said Suzy, enthusiastically.

"Hey, how's it going? It seems like ages since we last met" said Summer.

"Oh I've been very busy with work" said Suzy, sitting down to finish her dinner. "I've been doing a lot of research into an article I really want to write...you wouldn't believe the stuff I've uncovered"

"I thought you wrote fashion articles" said Summer, intrigued.

"I do....normally....but this one's different. I can't say too much now, but in time".

There was another knock on the door and Suzy got up to answer it. It was Jeremy from next door.

"Oh hi, Suzy" he said, a little nervously. "I met a friend of yours last night...his name is Burr"

"Oh him, come inside, Jeremy and stop looking like a mannequin on my doorstep" said Suzy, ushering in Jeremy who was holding a large envelope in his hands.

"Hi Jeremy" waved Summer. Her presence made Jeremy seem more nervous.

"Anyway" he said, sitting down. "Burr gave me this to give to you...he said it contains information you might find useful for your next article?"

Suzy eagerly took it from his hands and opened it. Just peering at the top page made interesting reading. LANDGRAAB CORPORATION PLANS FOR WILLOW CREEK AND OASIS SPRINGS DEVELOPMENT. It was a photocopy of an apparently real plan to demolish most of Willow Creek to build something else...something unspecified.

Summer and Jeremy looked eagerly at Suzy to see what the document was. Suzy slid the package across the table to her. "This affects both of you"

Summer and Jeremy gave it a brief look. "They want to smash this place up!" exclaimed Summer.

"The Landgraabs are pretty powerful" warned Jeremy. "Hang on...what's this here...there's a mark on this map of our street...right here. It's marked 'portal'...what does that mean?"

"That's right near the fishing spot past John Action's house" said Summer. "Why is that spot marked with a red circle and why 'portal'? There's no doors or gates there...just some wild flowers, a few old logs and that huge tree"

"I don't know..." said Suzy "but it's important to the Landgraabs"