CHAPTER 107: Plans Within Plans

 

"I'm telling you, the Goths can't be the third part of the Triangle of Power" said Neil to Suzy at breakfast.

"Why not?  It makes sense; they're an old established family with a lot of secrets...probably more than the Landgraabs and the Fengs" she replied.

"I know...but the third group are referred to as 'The Visitors'.  Why is that?  Why mention the Landgraabs and the Fengs by name but not the Goths?  And besides, they're the original founding fathers of Sim City so they're hardly visitors by the other's standards."

"So if the Visitors aren't the Goths, who are they then?"

"I've got two theories" said Neil, warming to his point.  "One, it's another family...looking into old, established families in the city the other one of note that has a complicated past are the Villareals."

"I haven't met any of them" said Suzy.

"They're very private and don't socialise much...but the other theory is that the third group might not be a family but an organisation.  Who they are, what they do and who's a member I just don't know...yet"

"Well look at who's doing my job better than me right now!" said an impressed Suzy.

"I'm your researcher...you do the interviews and the writing part" said Neil.

"Well there's one bit of research I DON'T want you involved with today!" said Suzy, getting up from the dining table.  "Summer and I are going to try on bridal dresses today and you're to be nowhere near us"

"Aww, spoilsport!" said Neil.  "Good luck with that...I'm sure you'll choose something breath-taking with all your expert knowledge."

"And once I've sorted out the wedding and bridesmaid dresses, I'll sort out your suit!" said Suzy.

"What?  Wait!" said Neil.

An hour later Suzy had met up with Summer Holiday outside of JF&S Clothiers; purveyors of bridal and formal wear.  Both women were filled with a combination of excitement, trepidation and a sense that this made the impending nuptials seem ever more impending: It was about to get real!

 "Well, we're here" said Summer, looking anxiously in the shop window.  "Have you got any ideas of what you want?"

"I've been flooded with bridal magazines, catalogues and advice from my colleagues" said Suzy.  "And at the end of it all I have no idea"

"Will you go with white?"

"Yes....definitely.  Or maybe.  Maybe not.  Pink?  Blue?  Red?  Oh this is so difficult!"

"Well we're not going to find any answers standing around out here: As your bridesmaid I insist we march into that shop right now!"

They entered JF&S's and were taken aback by the sheer variety of formal wear.  A smartly dressed woman in a black Chanel suit approached them.

"Hello, how can I help you?" she said.

"Well, I'm getting married..." said Suzy.

"Oh congratulations" said the woman, graciously.  "We will endeavour to help you look wonderful on your happiest of days"

"That's why we're here....this is my Maid of Honour" said Suzy, indicating Summer.

"And we will make sure you look divine as well" said the shop assistant.  "Now have you thought about a theme?  Are you going with classical, modern, vintage, short, long, very long, very short..."

"We've come here with a blank slate" said Suzy.  "So we're in your capable hands"

"Excellent" said the woman, with an excited look in her eye.  "Then let us begin your odyssey!" 

"I think that's an excellent choice, Madam" said the shop assistant after an epic session trying on different dresses.  "Flattering and romantic if I may say so"

"Thank you, the more I think about it, the more I love it" said Suzy.  "And Summer, your dress will be the perfect accompaniment" 

"Now you young ladies make sure you don't put on or lose weight between now and the happy day" warned the assistant.

As Summer and Suzy left the shop they stood in the bright Spring sunshine and took a deep breath.  "I think we made the right choice, don't you?" said Suzy.

"Well, a bit late now if you want to change: You've put the deposits down on them"

It was time for the two friends to go their separate ways to work and Suzy had some research to do down at Willow Creek Archive.

She went straight upstairs to the most obscure, dusty and out of the way part of the archive to find out more about the local history of Sim City.  There had to be more clues about who 'The Visitors' were.  She pored over volume after volume in the hope that more of the book where that mysterious page she found a couple of months ago would be found in the collection.  She researched the Landgraabs, the Fengs and the Villareals: Family histories, newspaper archives and general history books of the region but she was coming up blank.

After a frustrating time at the library, it was time to go home for dinner.  Neil was already there, changed into his work outfit.

"Hey, darling" he said "how did it all go today?"

"Well....I have a wedding dress now" Suzy replied.

"Ooh, nice.  And I take it I'm not allowed to know what it's like?"

"Absolutely top secret until you see me coming down the aisle"

"I didn't know you were so traditional"

"Only when it comes to weddings" she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Well, I'm off to work now..." said Neil.  "By the time I come back you'll have probably booked the Sim City Philharmonic for the wedding band"

"Don't tempt me!  See you later"

 The grilled fruit for dinner...a choice motivated by having to maintain her figure from now until the wedding...was filling but still she had the feeling that she'd hit a wall in her investigations.  Restless, she sought out the one person she knew well enough to help answer her questions.

"John...hi, I'm not intruding am I?" 

"Suzy...long time no see, girl!" said Action, answering the door with a smile.  "Come on in...what can I do for you?"

"Thanks.  Well, I'm looking for some answers to many questions I have"

Action's face changed from jovial to serious.  "Is this about your investigations into the Landgraabs?  I warned you that could be dangerous"

"I know, but it's more than that...it involves them, and the Fengs and Jacques Villareal as well"

Action shot Suzy a piercing glare at the mention of the name, Villareal.  "What do you know about Jacques Villareal?"

They sat down on the couch together.  "I know his family are one of the oldest in the city and that he's a widower" said Suzy.

"She disappeared without a trace and he's the leading suspect.  She was legally declared dead but not one shred of evidence could be found to connect him to her vanishing, even though he had motive, means and opportunity"

Suzy was shocked to hear this.  "Do you think he could be connected to the Landgraab's criminal activities?"

"Heck, I can't even pin anything on them either!" said Action, in frustration.  "Look, let's share some information...strictly off the record, of course"

"Of course" replied Suzy.

"There's this case I'm working on that I believe might involve all the different strands you're interested in" began Action.  "Last week someone tried to shoot Lily Feng....or a woman called Madelyn Buchanan.  Ever heard of her?"

"No, I haven't" said Suzy.  "Who is she?"

"She's Alan Cuffe's personal assistant.  Here's a photo of her" he said, handing her a photo from his case file.

"Wait! I've seen this woman before!" exclaimed Suzy.  "Yes, I've seen her with Malcolm Landgraab: They were conducting some kind of shady deal at the Bowl-O-Rama."

"Now that is interesting" said Action.  "Now we don't know who the gunman is or who they were working for but either this Madelyn or Lily Feng were the targets."

Suzy thought for a moment before saying.  "If the target was Cuffe's assistant then it's likely a rival of the Landgraabs.  Could it be Jacques Villareal?"

Action shrugged his shoulders "Could be...worth following up.  If the target was Lily Feng then we're in the dark about who would want her dead:  She's got no criminal record, nothing in her background about receiving threats."

"Maybe whoever it was wants to get at Victor by getting her?" mused Suzy.

"Dang!  Nothing is connecting up neatly" said Action, 

"If I find out anything more, I'll let you know" said Suzy.

"I'd appreciate that" said Action.  "But that information about Madelyn and Malcom is very useful to me.  Very useful indeed."

Suzy then headed back home but just outside Action's house she saw Bakko Jang walking past.

"Hey, Suzy...how are the plans for the big day going?" he asked in his usual, jovial manner.

"Oh, fine...fine..." she responded, flicking her mind from her investigations to wedding planning.  "Say, Bakko, you're on our guest list but I was wondering if you'd like to do the music for the reception as well?"

"Suzy, Suzy...you don't have to ask.  Consider it my wedding present for you guys." said Bakko.

Well, that was another thing on the wedding list to cross off.  If only her investigation was this straightforwards.