CHAPTER 49: Case Closed

 

"Hey, mister!" said the little boy to John Action one morning "is it true you're a cop?"

"Well yes I am, little man" said Action.

"Cool! Can I see your gun?"

"Not today...it's against police procedure...so, do you want to become a policeman when you grow up?"

"Yeah....either a cop or an astronaut; I haven't made up my mind yet"

"Well that's a good couple of choices there...now get along to school; it's important you listen and learn if you want to be either" said Action, smiling that at least this kid had a good opinion of the police; unlike a lot of teenagers and young people these days.

When Action arrived at 13th Precinct headquarters a little while later he was irritated that no one had made any further progress on the art robbery case.

"What's going on here? We've got fingerprints, witness statements, a partial description of the suspects....why are you lot sitting around here for? Let's get out there and nail this perp?" said Action, pointing straight at the case board.

"But Action, we can't because it hasn't been authorised by the Chief, the Commissioner and the D.A. We need back up for this assignment...and we need back up for the back up, and paperwork...." said his colleagues.

"To heck with paperwork and backup! I'm going after this punk...my way!" said an angry Action, storming off.

Municipal Muses, Crawdad Quarter, Willow Creek....9:50am

Action sauntered into the garden area of the museum...he figured that he'd scout around the outside first; the perp might want to steal something at the museum and make their way out of the rear entrance. He was looking for a suspect, male, 20s, red hair, T-shirt and shorts. That was a very detailed description, courtesy of his three lovely witnesses, and he was sure to find someone who matched that description.

Staying in the garden paid off for through one of the entrance arches strode an effete looking young man who matched the description....he walked in a slightly feminine manner...which went against the description of a fast moving, gun wielding art theif.

"Excuse me, sir" said Action, stopping him in his tracks.

"Could you tell me where you were on the 19th of this month? Around 2pm?" said Action.

"Hmmm....let's see....I might need a little reminding, if you know what I mean" said the man, flirtatiously.

"Cut that out, pal" said Action "you're wasting your time...I tell you what, how about we continue this conversation down at the station?"

"Will you escort me, personally?" said the man, posing provocatively.

"Just get in the squad car"

Back at headquarters, the suspect was booked and led to a cell for a short time whilst Action filed his report with Sergeant Kitchen. When he returned to the cell to check on the suspect, he found a changed man from the flirt he had encountered.

"Oh man....this is real, isn't it?" said the suspect.

"It certainly is...come on, it's time to ask some questions" said Action.

"You know....will you hold my flirting with you against me?" said the man, nervously.

"That is the least of your worries right now" Action replied.

In the interrogation room, Action turned the lamp into the suspect's face.

"So you like art, then?" he said.

"It's a hobby" replied the suspect.

"Enough to steal some? We have your fingerprints on the frames of some pieces that were stolen from the Solar Flare club on the 19th"

"I did touch the frames but I didn't steal anything"

"And we have three witnesses who saw you escape and can identify you...one of them described how you pointed a gun straight at them."

"Impossible...I was wearing a ski mask! Oops!" the suspect fell into the trap and then slumped his shoulders in resignation.

Action smiled and said "You'd better call your lawyer now".

He got praise from his superiors on a job well done but he didn't want to rub it in that he didn't wait for higher approval before going out and arresting the suspect. The rest of the shift was an anti-climax as he had to deal with stuck kittens up trees, minor domestic strife and a report of a flasher in Newcrest.

The end of the shift came and Action wasted no time in heading down to the Blue Velvet to meet his girlfriend, Katherine.

"Busy day at the office?" she asked.

"A wild one....I caught the Oasis Springs art thief today...he was an interesting character; he tried hitting on me to get off a charge"

"Was he your type?" joked Katherine.

"I didn't like his hair or legs" said Action, smiling.

"So are we just going to sit here or are you going to show me some of your groovy moves?" said Katherine, standing up.

"If you put it like that...let's do it!" said Action.

CHAPTER 48: Artistic Impression

 

"Why do the Landgraabs think this tree is more important than any of the others around here? What mysteries are contained here?" Suzy Kent thought to herself, while she looked at the tree that stood at the end of the road she lived on. The other day she felt this sudden compulsion to sing and dance whenever she was near it and again, looking at it today she could feel something emanating from it that went straight to her soul. This tree was alive in more ways than one.

She shrugged, thinking it all silly that a tree could be somehow mystical or magical. Time was marching on and she had a date....more accurately...a meet up with her new friend, Neil Humphries.

They met up outside the Casbah Gallery. Neil had offered to take Suzy on a personal tour of the place as it was one of his favourite locations in Sim City and Suzy was keen to see the place and spend time with him. She was growing fonder of this shy, sometimes awkward artist who she suspected had hidden depths to him.

"Hello Suzy....you...erm...look great. I like your...ahm...dress" said Neil, awkwardly.

"Thank you, and thank you for inviting me here today; I'm looking forward to it" she said, graciously.

"Well, let me be your guide" he said, breaking into a smile.

"Now this is something I find fascinating..." said Neil, showing Suzy a large canvass showing a pop art scene. "I've not worked on such a canvass as large as this but I'm always impressed by the scale."

"Would you one day want to try something like this?" asked Suzy.

"Maybe...at the moment I prefer painting landscapes and my studio's not that big...it's more a spare room in my apartment at the moment" he chuckled. "I think we should move upstairs and check out the sculptures" he added.

They walked through the gallery, looking at the modern and classical pieces on show. Neil gave commentary along the way but at one point said "I hope I'm not boring you"

"Not at all" Suzy replied, warmly. "Shall we sit and enjoy this gallery for a while?" she added, indicating a couple of soft benches. Neil agreed and they sat down next to each other. Suzy noticed that Neil had shed his gawkiness the longer they chatted.

As they were chatting, a fashionably dressed and heavily made up blonde girl in her late teens approached them.

"Allo" she said in a heavy French accent. "I 'ope I'm not disturbing you but are you ze Suzy Kent from 'Ey Wow' magazine?"

"I am" replied Suzy. "I didn't know I was well known to be recognised"

"Oh for sure" replied the French girl. "I and my friends, we all love your column on ze fashion and ze muzeek. I particularly like your article on Bella Goth...will you be doing more interviews with famous people?"

"Oh yes!" said Suzy, thinking about her expose series. "I'm glad you like my work"

"My name is Michelle and can I send you some of my fashion ideas to you?"

"Of course....address them to the magazine but put 'For Suzy Kent's Attention' on the evelope"

The girl giggled in excitement and said farewell.

"I didn't know I was in the company of someone so famous" joked Neil

"Neither did I" said Suzy.

They walked on, up another level, where they found a music room complete with pianos, violins and guitars. Suzy picked up an acoustic 6 string and began to strum it.

"Do you play?" asked Neil.

"A little" replied Suzy...their eyes met and held their gaze...the first time that had happened today. Suzy checked to see if the guitar was in tune and began to play a song she knew.

"I'm impressed" said Neil.

"I'm still learning really" said Suzy, self-deprecatingly.

They toured the rest of the gallery and then stepped outside to get some food.

"Thank you for agreeing to come down here with me" said Neil.

"It was great; I've had a lovely time" said Suzy. "So...."

"So would you like to meet again sometime soon?" asked Neil.

"I'd love to"

Neil checked his watch. "Dang it, I have to get to work now...let's get together sooner rather than later" he said. As he got up to go, his hand brushed Suzy's accidentally but both felt a little zing of excitement as it happened. He took one last look at her before he left and smiled. Suzy thought Neil had melted and really liked her, but couldn't put his feelings into words yet. Patience is the key here, she thought.

As Neil headed off, Suzy wasn't alone for long as Bakko Jang came along to say hello.

"Well hello there Suzy" said Bakko. "Was that the artist cat we met at the Romance Festival not that long ago?"

"It sure is" she replied.

"Now look at you, Miss Kent...the last time we spoke you said you couldn't find a nice guy to go out with and yet here you are" he said, teasing her.

"Yes, here I am" she sighed. "I like him"

"Good for you...I told you to have some faith" said Bakko

As the sun was setting, Suzy now felt her personal life had taken a turn for the better.