CHAPTER 122: Travis Get Your Gun

 

"Travis, you look worried" said Liberty Lee to her housemate one morning.

"That's because I am worried, Libs." he replied, earnestly.  "That maniac that was in our street the other day...the firebomber and assassin...walked right past our house.  Right past it!"

"And?" said Liberty with a shrug.

"What if they hadn't walked past but entered our home instead?  What then?  We'd be all dead, that's what!"

"Why would they have entered our home?" asked Liberty, still not understanding Travis' concern here.

"Why did that last bunch of criminals break in our home and vandalise it a few months ago?  Because we and this house are here.  That's twice now we've been at the epicentre of some criminal activity and we can't be complacent anymore!" Travis was emphasising his point and Liberty sat up and didn't even try to ridicule his concerns even if she didn't share them.

"So, what do you propose we do?" she asked.

"What I do, Libs.  I need to step up and become the protector of this household.  I don't want anything bad happening to you or Summer and it's my responsibility to keep you two safe here.  I'm going to buy a gun."

Liberty said nothing but took a deep breath.  Travis owning a gun, keeping one around the house?  She was not comfortable with that idea.

"Right...I've done thinking about this" continued Travis "and now I'm going to do some research".  He stood up and left the room.  A minute later, Summer entered and sat down next to Liberty.

"Summer...you have to stop him!"  said Liberty.

"Stop him from what?" Summer replied.

"He wants to buy a gun!"

"WHAT?  Why?"

"He wants to protect us from maniacs breaking into the house"

"OK, this has come right out of the blue...I'm going to have to talk to him.  Wait here" said Summer, getting up and marching off to confront Travis.

She found him, strangely, in Liberty's bedroom reading a copy of Guns & Ammo magazine.

"I'm torn between getting a revolver or semi-automatic pistol" he said, not looking up from the magazine.  "What do I want to go for?  9mm is easier to shoot, .45 has more stopping power.  Ooh, a .44 magnum; I wonder what they're like?"

"Travis, can you put that magazine down for a moment and talk about this?" said Summer.

Travis turned his gaze away from it and at her.  "Your safety is paramount with me" he said.

"I realise that.  But let's sit down and talk about this.  You, who have never wielded anything more lethal than BBQ tongs in your life, now want to get a gun."

"Why not?  It's a wild, wild world out there" he replied.

"I'm worried that you're going to harm yourself instead of protecting us.  You've got no experience of handling a gun:  You're not like Efrem Zimbalist Jr in The F.B.I. you know."

"So I should go with the lighter calibre pistol then?  Something I could manage?" 

"No!  That's not what I'm saying.  I'm saying getting a gun is too big a step for you.  For us.  Do you know what you're doing?"

Travis nodded.  "You're right.  I need some more expert advice.  Say, I could get something like what Action has:  A Colt .38 Detective."

Summer rolled her eyes but then an idea hit her.  Action:  Get him to talk Travis out of this crazy gun fixation.  As he went back to his magazine she went to the phone and called their neighbour.

Within minutes Action had arrived and Summer went to meet him on the front porch, out of Travis' ear shot.

"So what's this I hear about Travis wanting to pack some heat?" asked Action.

"He's serious!  He's out the back there going through a gun magazine and reading the reviews." replied Summer.

Action shook his head.  "Some cats can handle a piece but I can tell Travis ain't one of them.  Leave this with me."

Travis emerged from the back room and saw Action out on the porch talking with Summer.  

"Hey, Action my man...cool to see you and you're just the kind of guy I wanted to have a talk with.  I want to buy a gun; is the .38 Colt Detective a good one?"

"Good for me, bad for you.  You need to knock that crazy idea out of your head that you need to pack a piece." said Action, bluntly.

"Oh..." Travis didn't predict Action would cut him down so curtly.  "It's just that with, you know, that maniac running around and that break in we had I needed to step up and do my civic duty in protecting the...you know...womenfolk."

"Womenfolk?  Who do you think you are?  Some 1880s homesteader?" said Action.  "Let's go inside and talk facts."

The two men went inside whereupon, without saying a word, Action produced his sidearm from a shoulder holster, emptied the cylinder of ammo and handed the empty revolver to Travis. 

"Go ahead, take it.  Hold it.  Aim it...NOT AT ME!"  Said Action, suddenly grabbing Travis and pointing his gun hand away from him and to a picture on the wall.   "How does it feel in your hand?  Could you aim that at someone and shoot them?  Could you?  Because if you're life is threatened by someone coming at you, you have to shoot to kill.  Can you actually do that?  Your hand is trembling" he said, looking at Travis holding the gun.  Travis lowered it and shook his head.

"Maybe I should get lessons first.  Go to a range" he said, meekly.

"That makes more sense" said Action.  "That woman we're after; she's not coming for you or Summer or Liberty.  You want to help us get her and others like her?  Keep your eyes open and report anything suspicious you see.  Watch out for our neighbours and leave the violence to the professionals."

Summer and Liberty invited Action to stay and while Travis made the drinks the girls thanked their cop neighbour for his help in talking sense.

"Well, I've made Foundry Cove a little bit safer today but I've got to get moving:  I'm a man with a lot going on" said Action, downing his drink and getting up to leave.

"I guess you must think I'm a prize chump" said Travis, sheepishly to Summer.

"Not at all...you just got carried away.  I find the idea of you wanting to protect us very noble and gallant" she replied.

"I could always fend off attackers with my BBQ tongs" he replied.

"Come here, give us a kiss you great big loveable white knight!"

Their moment of romance was abruptly interrupted by a ring on the doorbell.  "Did Action forget to take his gun back with him?" said Travis.  However it wasn't Action, it was Jeremy Saint.

"Oh hey, Jeremy, how's it going?" asked Travis.

"Fine thanks.  Barbara's gone off to some fashion trade fair for the day and I've got a spare ticket for the Humor & Hijinks Festival.  Fancy coming along?" said Jeremy.

"We haven't been to that in a long time" replied Travis.

"Well, I'm off to work soon so you should go and have a good time" said Summer.

"Hell...why not?" said Travis.

As the two guys arrived at the festival they could see it was already in full swing.

"Say, Jeremy, are you with either the Pranksters or Jokesters?" asked Travis.

"Neither.  I never bothered.  Barbara supports the Pranksters" Jeremy replied.

Travis nodded, a thought had just come to him.  "Jeremy...this festival contains a metaphor for life.  You're either a prankster or a jokester.  Jokesters like words, they like talk, they think and they work things out in their heads.  Pranksters are the practical ones, the do-ers, the ones prepared to get their hands dirty."

"O.......K" said Jeremy, sceptically.

"Take the two guys I know the best:  You and Action.  Now you, Jeremy, are a Jokester.  You deal in words, ideas, you read a lot...you think a lot"

"I'm not sure how to take that" said Jeremy.

"No, buddy, that's not a bad thing at all.  But Action, he's a Prankster.  He sees, he acts.  He's like a tiger ready to spring into action."

"That is his name after all" replied Jeremy.  "So which are you?" he added.

"I'm not sure...yet.  Today I tried to be a Prankster but I think in my heart I'm a Jokester.  I've got to work that one out"

"Do you really need to?  I mean, really?" said Jeremy.

They were more interested in talking and eating from the vendors than the comedy on offer at the festival.  As they chatted and Travis tried to expand on his new idea they were joined by a young woman who had declared for the Pranksters.  She gave her name as Ulrike Faust.  

"So what made you choose the Prankster team, Ulrike?" asked Travis.

"It's part of a dare.  I've been challenged to cause as much mayhem as possible on the Jokesters this evening and I never back down from a direct challenge." she replied.

"You see, Jeremy?  That's classic Prankster behaviour.  My theory holds" said Travis.

"OK...I'm now going to plant a big custard pie into that person's face!" said Ulrike, getting up and reaching into a bag.

"It's funny being back here" said Jeremy.  "The last time you and I were here I met Julia for the first time"

"Oh yeah, I remember!  She wouldn't stop talking to you...I think she liked you back then" replied Travis.

"Yeah, maybe" said Jeremy, a little embarrassed.  "That night I almost asked her out.  I chickened out though and thank goodness I did because a week later I met Barbara!"

"You liked Julia?" asked Travis.

"Well...yeah, she's a bit of a know-it-all and talks the back legs off a donkey but...she's smart, decent, cute..."

"I'll let you in on a little secret: I found her cute as well.  Do you remember that first party we threw?  She wore this blue dress and, man, for a while I was attracted.  But Summer was always the one for me..."

"What about Liberty?  Didn't you say you liked her for a while?"

"I wasn't serious.  Nope.  I was always faithful to Summer."

"That red head you met at the Waterside Warble...what about her?"

"Oh that was a one night stand!  She doesn't count!"

Ulrike returned to their table.  "Ha!  I snuck up on them as they were preparing to light a firework and BAM!  They'll be washing the whipped cream out of their hair tonight!" she said.  "You two still just sitting here?"

"Hey, Ulrike...what about this for a prank?  I talk normally to someone and then, suddenly..."

"I don't think you're Prankster material, Travis" said Ulrike.  She smiled, patted his cheek and left.  Travis sauntered over to where Jeremy was watching the stand up comedienne.

"Travis.  Why don't you stop trying and just kick back and take in the evening?" said Jeremy.

"It wasn't that long ago that I was trying to give you the same piece of advice." Travis chuckled. 

CHAPTER 121: Stretch

"So this is the fancy place you like to go to, eh?  Looks impressive" said Francesca Griffith to her friend, Julia Epstein."

"It's great here" replied Julia.  "It's better than a gym, I can tell you...it's a beautiful, quiet setting and not filled with sweaty bodies"

"That depends on whose body is sweaty" said Francesca in a risqué manner.  "OK, this sounds good...I've not been to a spa before, or done any yoga.  I attend jazz dance classes but that's about it."

Francesca had taken Julia's invite up to go visit the spa with her as she'd been very busy with work and family lately.  Her daughter, Stefanie, had only just recovered from a nasty illness and was back at school and catching up on her ballet classes, which she loved.  Her husband, Rod, had taken their daughter into town to resupply Stefanie with school items as she was always losing pencil cases, bags, books and shoes.  This afforded Francesca the chance to hang out with friends.

They entered the Perfect Balance Spa and the décor took Francesca's breath away.  "Indoor fountains and streams!  Hmmm, the smell of incense and Jasmine...why haven't I heard of this place before?" she said.

The two women went to get changed into their exercise clothes and headed upstairs to the yoga lesson.  They were the first ones to arrive so Julia clued Francesca in on what generally happened.

"It's not exhausting but there is a lot of bending, stretching and balancing" said Julia.

"The first two I can manage...not sure about the third" replied Francesca.

Julia and Francesca waited for the yoga instructor to arrive and they got their hopes up briefly when the door to the room swung open.  However, it wasn't the instructor...instead it was someone Julia knew:  Kerry Fry, and he looked surprised to see her.

"Hey, Kerry, I didn't know you worked here...are you our instructor?" asked Julia.

"No...I work in reflexology and massage" he said, jerking his thumb in the direction down the corridor.  "I just came in to say we've had a call from the yoga teacher to say he's running a little late.  I must say it's nice to see you here" he said, looking Julia up and down "...and your friend; I don't believe we've met...hi, I'm Kerry" he said with a smile as he made eye contact with Francesca.

"Francesca..." she replied.  "I'm a work colleague of Julia's"

"Francesca, lovely name and healing the sick, wonderful" said Kerry, still looking at Francesca; his eyes being drawn to her legs.  "Well, I play my small part in that line as well but in a more therapeutic way than actual medicine" he added.

"I've never tried reflexology" said Julia.

"Well maybe you should pop along to my little neck of this place and give it a go after you're done here" said Kerry.  "Oh, by the way...my 'Friends of Gaea' group are having a little fund raiser this weekend...it'd be wonderful if you could come along.  You and Francesca" he said, handing out a business card with the name of the organisation and address on it to the two of them.  

"This weekend I'll be very busy with my husband and daughter" replied Francesca.

"Oh..." said Kerry, his face dropping at that revelation.  "...well, anyway, I've got clients waiting.  Julia, if you'd like to visit afterwards I'll have a chair waiting just for you".  Kerry winked at Julia and left the room.

"How do you know that guy?" asked Francesca.

"Oh he's the son of some friends of my parents...they set me up on a blind date with him some weeks ago and...well...he's pretty nice..." said Julia.

"Yeeessssss" said Francesca, with a tone of scepticism in her voice that Julia didn't pick up on.

Then things started to happen all at once.  More people arrived for the class and the instructor eventually showed up.  Julia noticed a late arrival and another person she knew:  Her auntie Elle, who was wearing all white exercise clothing.  Elle had suffered from long term psychological problems and Julia was worried if she was on her medication or not...if not she could act very violently and unpredictably.  Elle didn't seem to notice Julia's presence as she took her place at the front of the class.

Francesca leaned closer to Julia and whispered "isn't that?"

"Yes, my aunt Elle...she hasn't spotted us.  I should go over and say hello" replied Julia.

However the instructor clapped his hands to signal the start of the lesson.  "Hello everyone, sorry I'm late.  If you'd all like to take off any shoes you're wearing and take your positions, one person per mat, then we'll begin...."

This was a beginners class so the stretches and positions weren't too difficult.  A lot of it involved controlled breathing.  It was only when it came time to balancing on one leg that there was trouble:  Francesca's knee gave way and she collapsed onto her mat in a heap.  Julia's first instinct was to rush to her aid but the class was moving on to the next step and she instead dithered while Francesca gathered up her wounded pride and got back on her feet.

"Psst...are you alright?" said Julia at a whisper so she wouldn't incur the ire of the instructor.

"More embarrassed than hurt, Jules" replied Francesca.  She stood up, brushed herself down and resumed the lesson with only a hint of redness in her cheeks.

After the class they had a joke about it and all was well but Julia had another thing on her mind.  She saw Elle leave the class abruptly and wanted to see if her aunt was alright so she told Francesca she'd meet her downstairs whilst she had a catch up with Elle.

"Auntie Elle!  It's me, Julia...we were in the same yoga class just now" said Julia, catching up with Elle; who was just about to have a massage session.

"Oh yes, Julia...sorry, I didn't see you in there.  How funny that we're here together" replied Elle, serenely.

Julia turned to the masseuse and asked if she could speak with her aunt in private for a few minutes. The young lady said "of course" and stepped outside.

"Auntie Elle, how are you?" asked Julia.

"Doing better, Julia, thanks" replied Elle.  "I'm taking my medicine and my therapist recommended I should try yoga to help keep my negative feelings and outbursts under control."

"And has it?"

"I think so...I'm taking things slowly at the moment.  Is that friend of yours back there the one I insulted and threatened?"

Julia nodded ruefully.  "She's a nurse, she understands"

"I'm so, so sorry about that...and all the times I was nasty and cruel to your other friends.  Tell her I'm sorry if I don't see you before I leave"

"Will do, Aunt Elle....hey, if you're doing this yoga regularly then maybe I'll see you here again next week?"

"Yes.  That would be nice." replied Elle.

Julia headed downstairs to have a shower and get changed and there was now a little spring in her step as she was happy in the knowledge that her aunt was looking the best and most healthy she'd had been in months.  Francesca was just touching up her make up as Julia finished getting dressed and she asked how Elle was...Julia was pleased to say she was fine.

"Well, that was actually quite fun and I feel energised" said Francesca as they left the spa.

"Will you go home now to see Rod and Stefanie?" asked Julia.

"Actually I was going to meet up with Harper...she wants to hit the clubs" said Francesca, rolling her eyes a little at the idea.  "Say, why not join us?"

Julia bit her bottom lip.  "Won't I be muscling in on you two?  After all, three's a crowd" she said.

"Well in that case you must have a friend you can ask to bring along too.  Harper wants to go to the Orange Peel club as neither of us have been there before."

"I've been a couple of times" said Julia.  "If we can find a payphone I know just who to call to join us"

"Barbara...so good of you to join us!" said Julia.  "I would have thought you'd be off with Jeremy this evening."

"Boy's night out with Travis and Liberty's boyfriend.  Just me, my lonesome and I Dream of Jeannie" replied Barbara.  

"I'm with work colleagues, I'll introduce you to them" said Julia. 

"Nice...and I hope you're going to hit the dance floor instead of perching on a stool by the door!" said Barbara, tugging at Julia's arm.

Francesca saw Harper Newell up at the bar and went to greet her.

"Hey, Harper" said Francesca.  "Sorry I'm a bit late...Julia and I were over at the spa just now"

Harper turned around and saw Julia and Barbara in conversation on the far side of the dance floor.  "You brought Dr Epstein with you?  We're the rank and file, she's officer corps" she said.

"Don't be silly.  Julia's not just a doctor, she's my friend and you and her get on great at work.  We're always having a good gossip at break times."

"Yes, that's at work, this is play" said Harper.  "I'm here to have a good time, I just hope I don't have to mind my P's and Q's with one of the doctors around"

Julia went over to Harper and Francesca and introduced the both of them to Barbara.  Then she ordered what she knew to be a house specialty at The Orange Peel Club:  The giant pretzel.  Meanwhile Harper was impressed that Barbara owned Pack's Clothing.

"I was in there last week and that place is great!  You own and run that?  Wow, amazing!  I love your stuff!" she said.

"I'm glad to hear that" replied Barbara.  "I'm trying to convince Julia to come in one day but she's a bit resistant"

"Only because I don't do fashion, Barbara.  I like things not too with it" replied Julia.

"You are so in need of a makeover, Doctor...I mean, Julia" said Harper.  "Barbara can do your outfit, Francesca can do your hair and I will do your make up"

Julia gulped nervously and munched on her pretzel more.  

"Anyway, we didn't come here to chat!" said Francesca.

"We didn't?" said Julia.

"We came here to DANCE!" 

"Oh...well, I suppose I can do a little bop" said Julia.  The other girls goaded her onto the dance floor where they formed a tight little group.

"It's a bit short on men tonight" said Harper, dismissively.

"Who needs them?" said Francesca.  "I'm a married woman.

"I've got a steady boyfriend" said Barbara.

"I'm not really into dating" said Julia.

"Oh yes, what about that Kerry guy?" asked Francesca.

"Ooh, Julia's got a beau, has she?" said Harper.

"No!  Not at all!  It's not like that!  We've been on two platonic dates, that's all" said Julia.

"He does have an eye for the ladies though" said Francesca.

"He's very into conservationism and natural healing" said Julia.

"I didn't think all that hippy stuff would appeal to you, Julia?" said Harper.

"Well, not normally, but...well...he makes it sound interesting.  Anyway, can we go for one evening without talking about men?  It should be a challenge, a test.  Go one evening where no one mentions men."

The other three girls all looked at each other and shook their heads.  "Nah!"

It got late and the four of them staggered out of the Orange Peel to head home.  Harper, tipsy, hugged Julia.  "You're alright, Doc...for a doc" she said.

Julia and Barbara headed home to Foundry Cove, exhausted.  "It looks like Jeremy's made it back home.  Well, goodnight Julia; thanks for inviting me and introducing me to your friends."

"My pleasure.  Goodnight." 

Julia went inside her home, took off her clothes and changed into her nightgown.  Of everything that happened today the thing that pleased her most was that her Aunt Elle was improving.

CHAPTER 120: The Chase

"STOP!  IN THE NAME OF THE LAW!" Yelled Action as he gave chase to the mysterious woman who went by the name of Leanne MacGregor.  She was the new chief suspect in the attempt to kill Policewoman Marina Beckett, Alan Cuffe, Madelyn Buchanan and Lily Feng.  Action had been alerted to Leanne's presence in Foundry Cove by his neighbour, Suzy Kent, an intrepid reporter who had done much to uncover who was behind these crimes.  Suzy had spotted Leanne in the street, confronted her and found out her name before being threatened by the strange woman.  Suzy then immediately roused Action, who grabbed his .38 service revolver and set off in pursuit.

Action had an athlete's physique and was able to run at speed as soon as he shot out of his front door.  Within seconds he had turned the corner into the main road and could see Leanne up ahead.  He yelled his challenge, all the while preparing to ready his revolver in case she was armed.  But the woman just walked casually ahead, not gathering pace but not slowing down either.  She completely ignored the challenge he had shouted and walked on.

"STOP!  POLICE!" he yelled again, gun in hand.  She ignored him and walked on.  Action was perplexed:  He was running at full speed and yet despite the fact she appeared to be casually walking he hadn't gained on her:  She was always constantly 30 feet away from him, he didn't understand how.  He now considered firing a warning shot to stop her but, suddenly, the brilliant white headlights of a car which was heading towards him momentarily blinded his vision.  

When he'd recovered his eyesight, seconds later, Leanne was nowhere to be seen.

Action was mystified by all this:  Where did she go?  How did she maintain that same distance from him despite his chasing after her?  He looked down the road:  It was the main road through Foundry Cove with no side streets for 500 yards in the direction she was heading so she couldn't have gone down there.  He frantically looked into people's front yards and in the communal garden in case she was hiding but she was nowhere to be found.  Perhaps she lived locally and had vanished into one of these houses?  He decided to go door to door, prepared to wake people up if necessary, to find her.  After two hours of this he'd turned up nothing:  No one had seen her, no one had heard of her name and although some people had heard him shouting to her to stop, no one had witnessed anything.  He went back home, called Precinct 13 and explained the situation to the head of the night shift.  An APB was put out for any units in the area who had seen her:  They were to detain her and take her to the precinct house.

The next day Action arrived for his shift despite only getting 4 hours sleep the night before.  This case had now moved up a gear and he was too restless and fired up to take things easy.  He headed straight to his desk in the squad room to file a full report on what he had seen and the actions he took the previous evening.  Seeing Action working frantically at his desk, Duty Sergeant Kitchen approached him.

"Did Night Shift find anything, Sarge?" Action asked.

Kitchen shook his head.  "They did a thorough house to house search and turned up nothing" he replied.

"Well, we've got a name, an age and a physical description so the next step is to get a photofit image of her and get it to all units." said Action.

"Have you considered that might not be her real name?" asked Kitchen.

Action said nothing but gave Kitchen a look that said "don't insult my intelligence".  

A uniformed policeman entered the squad room and said "The chief wants to see you, Action".  Action got up from behind his desk and went to the Chief's office.

Two other police officers were present, one of them being Cole Michaels of the Juvenile Investigation Team...or 'Mod Squad' as it was informally known as.

"Action!" bellowed the Chief.  "What's the latest on this woman?"

"I'm getting a photofit image of her so we can distribute that to all our mobile units, witnesses and newspapers.  We have a name...which is probably false but nonetheless a name she uses.  She gave her age as 27, which fits her physical description and another clue is that she says she's originally from out of town."

There was more Action could have mentioned:  The claims she was a hypnotist, or could levitate or that strange way she could just stay ahead of him as he chased her without breaking into a run.  To bring up those things to the Chief would probably lead him to being suspended and sent off to see a psychiatrist.  Instead, Action suppressed that information.

"So how did she get away?" said the Chief.

"She's skilled at escape and evasion, she managed to infiltrate Cuffe's house and plant a bomb and she's most likely the one who tried to shoot Lily Feng.  My guess is that she's a spook" replied Action.

"A spook?" the Chief didn't recognise the term.

"A spy, a secret agent...maybe one of ours, more likely a foreign agent.  That hint 'I'm from out of town' could be a clue.  It fits that she's works or has worked for some Intelligence agency."

The Chief paced up and down the office.  "Dammit!  If that's the case then we'll have the F.B.I. and the N.S.A. on our backs!  The paperwork...the paperwork!" he said.

"Sir...I want to get back out on the street, I want to shake down my informants...one of them should give us a lead." said Action.

The Chief nodded before turning to Cole.  "And I want your team to work their contacts and informants as well.  Apparently she's a fashionable young woman so she might be known in the latest trendy spots...your pimply squad should know where to look"

Cole said a brisk "yes sir!".

Action and Cole left the Chief's office and walked down the hall to the reception area together.

"So, Action, what avenue will you be pursing next?" Cole asked.

"Question everyone working for Cuffe and the Fengs.  Maybe this Leanne works in either organisation or has a contact in them.  I've asked one of Cuffe's Kittens to meet me here to give a statement.

"Well...if you need any help interrogating her then I'm available" said Cole.  "I mean I could be good cop, you could be bad cop"

"Easy bucko..." said Action.  "I know your angle:  This isn't a pick-up joint.  You get your squad out there into the clubs and I'll work with Miss Black Cat herself".  They could see, at the front desk, a strikingly attractive black woman who Action recognised from the time he had attended a Kitten Club meeting.  Her name was Yadira Rosado but was known publicly as Miss Black Cat:  Kitten of the Month for May 1966.  

"Yadira, good of you to come down" Action said.  "I need to ask some questions about the fire"

"Sure" Yadira replied.  "But I wasn't there so all I know is what I learned from Alan and Madelyn...oh, and what I saw on the news"

"Maybe you can shed some light on another matter" Action replied.  "Does the name Leanne McGregor ring any bells for you?"

"No, can't say it does" replied Yadira.

"Take a look at this picture...does she seem familiar?" he said, showing her the photofit image.  Yadira studied it for 10 seconds.

"Yeah, she does seem familiar.  I've seen her about...we did a show down at the Blue Velvet club last month and I saw her in the crowd.  It was weird; everyone was dancing and grooving but not her...that's why I remember...it seemed odd and out of place that she wasn't joining in.  Then, last week, I saw her again outside the Kitten Club in Newcrest when we had the big grand opening.  Again, she didn't come in to the club but she was hanging around for quite a while outside.  I remember arriving at the club in my normal clothes, going in to change into my costume and when I was ready I walked past the entrance and she was still there!  Half an hour after I'd arrived and still standing in the same spot!" 

 All this went into Action's notes but now he had to follow up this lead and head over to the newly built Kitten Club itself.

The club had opened only last week and was one of the brand new developments in Newcrest.  It looked pretty smart on the outside and Action was impressed.  He couldn't work out if Alan Cuffe, the founder of the Kitten Club and proprietor of Lothario magazine was the sexually liberated man of pleasure he made himself out to be or was he hiding something more sinister and criminal?

The interior didn't disappoint either.  It was large, modern and decked out in black, white and red.  Action sauntered past the bar and noticed the large dance floor in an adjacent room.  He nodded to the bartender "Is the boss in?" he asked.

"Upstairs" the man replied.

Action headed straight upstairs to find Cuffe and noticed his assistant, Madelyn, dressed up in her Kitten outfit and talking to a smart looking business type.

"Why, Detective Action, is this a business visit or....are you here for pleasure?" she said, flirtatiously.

"It's business today.  Is Cuffe around?" replied Action.

"He's over there...shame you're here on business.  Why not visit another time and have a little fun instead?" she said, winking at him.

"I might just do that" said Action.

Action saw Cuffe in the distance, talking to a member of his staff.  He sauntered over to the man and directly interrupted their conversation.

"Under no circumstances are the staff to reveal any of their personal details:  Last names, addresses or phone numbers.  You got that?" said Cuffe.  The man nodded.

"Mr Cuffe" said Action.

"Detective...you have this unerring gift of showing up when I'm at my busiest" replied Cuffe.

"I need to ask some more questions"

"I figured that the moment I saw you enter...let's go over here; it's more discrete."  Cuffe showed Action over to a seating area with deep, leather sofas.  "Do you like the place, Detective?  This is phase 3 of my grand business plan."

"What were phases 1 & 2?" asked Action.

"Phase 1 was the establishment of Lothario magazine, phase 2 was the creation of a social club and an image in human form..."

"The Kittens"

"That's right.  This is phase 3:  The building of a bricks and mortar venue for men of taste and sophistication to meet women who can satisfy those needs"

"Some might call that prostitution" said Action, cynically.

"Detective, I am disappointed with your grubby imagination.  This is not vice...no money changes hands for 'services rendered'.  This is a venue to facilitate liberated social interaction, I make money from club membership, food and drink and merchandising.  Now I thought you were investigating the attempts on mine and Madelyn's lives"

"And also my colleague, Marina" said Action.

"Of course.  I hear she's been discharged from hospital now.  Excellent news.  Now what do you wish to ask me about?"

Action pulled out the photofit image.  "Do you recognise this woman?  She goes by the name of Leanne McGregor" he said.

Cuffe took the image and looked at it, at one time holding it at arms length from his face.  "Hmmm, can't say I do" was all he replied.

"Look at it again.  This woman was standing for half an hour outside of your club on the opening day.  One of your closest members of staff remembers seeing her and I bet if I asked around more would recognise her as well.  Funny that you don't, seeing that you oversaw everything on that opening day."

"Well, the face does seem quite familiar..." said Cuffe, nonchalantly.

"She was also the woman seen standing outside your home on the morning of the fire, the woman seen talking to Nancy Landgraab."  

"I was a little preoccupied that morning with Marina at that time, so to speak"

"I bet you were" said Action, cynically.  "I'll ask you again; do you recognise this woman and believe me, Cuffe, I'll haul each and every one of your staff down to the station to interrogate them until I get a straight answer.  You could save a lot of lost time and business if you level with me now."

Cuffed hummed and eventually said "Yes, I have met her...only the once.  I met her at a bar in Willow Creek and got chatting.  I thought she had the potential to become a Lothario Kitten and offered her a position in my organisation.  She declined and looking back I think it was a good decision:  There was something in her manner that was cold and remote...not the qualities I look for in a Kitten."

"And on the day of the opening?" continued Action.

"Well....yes..." Cuffe was getting defensive now.  "A couple of times but I was too busy to take an interest in what she was doing there."

"I'm getting the impression you're not being entirely straight with me" said Action, a forceful tone in his voice.  "This woman clearly makes you nervous just talking about her.  What else do you know?"

"Look, Action, she's way above your pay grade.  Don't ask me how I know, I just know that she's best left to the F.B.I. or C.I.A. or someone at that level.  A local plod just won't cut it even if he does swagger around in a fancy suit."

"Is she a foreign intelligence agent?  I have good reason to suspect she is" said Action, homing in on what Cuffe had just said.

Cuffe paused and looked at a random patch of the carpet as he composed his thoughts.  "Yes...along those lines, Detective.  Like I said, she's above your grade."

Action stood up, pointed his index finger at Cuffe's chest and pressed hard.  "Don't hold ANYTHING back from me in future, Cuffe.  Or else I might just have to run a background check on your staff"

Action walked away but paused to speak with Madelyn again.  "Say, Madelyn" he began "do you recognise this woman?" he said, showing her the image.

"Yeah, that's the woman who came to fix the electrics in the living room" said Madelyn.

Action nodded and walked out of the club but as he did so he saw a familiar face, and not particularly a welcome one either.  Aurora Ahmed:  A career criminal who specialised in breaking and entry.  He'd busted her a few months ago for her part in a string of robberies but the D.A. cut a deal before she went to trial where she gave up some names of pretty important organised crime bosses in exchange for a suspended sentence.  Now she was here in the Kitten Club.

"Well, well, well, a bad penny always shows up" he said, sitting next to her.  "You should be doing jail time"

"I cut a deal with the D.A....I don't want to do another stretch in the slammer so...get this...I'm now a paid police informant.  Get a load of that" she replied.

"There's no justice in this world.  But seeing as you're an informant now and I'm still the law I need to put you to work."

"I charge a fee" she replied.

"I'm sure you do.  Here's 50 Simoleons to get you started.  I want to find this woman" he said, once again showing the image.  "The name's Leanne McGregor, age 27, probably foreign but speaks English fluently.  We think she's with some kind of secret agent."

Aurora studied the photo.  "And if I find her I want a bonus" she said.

Action then headed to downtown San Myshuno where he had more informants.  It was the same routine:  Show the photo and give out the name.  

After pounding the beat, he did see one more person he was keen on speaking with:  The woman who began this whole investigation when a folder containing photographs from a fashion shoot belonging to her was snatched by a local petty criminal working for someone higher up and unknown.  That woman's name was Penny Pizazz.

"Miss Pizazz" said Action as he approached her.

"Detective....Action, is it?" she replied.

"That's right, do you have a moment to talk?"

"Sure, Detective, what's up?"

"Those photographs that were stolen from you?  Were they all the photos that were taken that day?"

"Oh goodness me, no" she replied emphatically.  "The photographer will shoot reels and reels of film but only select the very best for publication, which is what I had in that folder."

"What happens to the other photos, the one's not chosen?" asked Action.

"Well, the photographer will have the negatives of those and the proof sheets:  That's a photo print of all the negatives...small, thumbnail sized images...on one photograph."

"Where can I find the photographer who took them?"

"His name's Michael Hemmingstamp but he's a British photographer who spends most of his time in the UK and only occasionally visits Sim City."

Action cursed under his breath.  He needed to see those photographs to see if one of them captured the gunman more clearly.  "Well, if you hear from him or he returns to the city can you give me a call straight away...here's my card.  Thank you"

Action headed back to Precinct 13 to report on and type up everything he'd gathered today then he finished his shift and headed home...late.  It had been a day of slow progress; of piecing together fragments of information about Leanne McGregor.  He had done pretty much all he could have done, it was now in the hands of the police force as a whole to use that information and hunt her down.

As he arrived at Foundry Cove he saw a familiar face lurking on the street corner:  Aurora Ahmed.

"Aurora, what are you doing here?" he asked.

"I've come to tell you, Action, I'm out."  She looked bothered by something or someone.

"What?  Did you find something out about McGregor?"

"I found things out and I don't want to be anywhere near your case...she's dangerous, Action, and you're out of your depth!  Take my advice; quit this case as well."

"What did you find out?" said Action, forcefully.  "Do you need more money?"

Aurora shook her head.  "You can't afford to pay that much to keep me involved!  This is my life, Action, and the risks are too great.  McGregor is highly dangerous and you'll be a gonner if you mess with her."

"WHAT.  DID. YOU.  FIND.  OUT?" He repeated, shaking her by the shoulders.  She shrugged him off. 

"No...I'm out.  Drop the case...hand it over to the Feds...or the Army." and with that she walked off into the night.

CHAPTER 119: Leanne

 

The offices of the trendy youth magazine, 'Hey, Wow!' were always a hive of activity.  Every day there was some new trend, a celebrity event...or scandal...or another cultural zeitgeist moment that needed to be reported on.  That was Suzy's job; to find what the 'now' was or to discover what might be the next big thing.  But she was torn between the pop culture phenomena she was meant to report on and what she was increasingly becoming obsessed by:  The conspiracy of The Triangle of Power and the suspicious...and even downright criminal...activities of the Landgraab family.

But today she had to focus on an article about fashion and just that.  There was a midday deadline to reach and she was determined to get the piece...about whether the colour pink should be worn by men...done so she could be free to research and write about the conspiracy.  After writing 500 words on  the new trend of a well tailored pink shirt for men was the in-thing she finished the article with a flourish and presented it to her editor.

"There you go, one article on men's fashion as promised" she said, handing the draft article to her editor.

"Very good, very good" she replied, giving the article a quick skim read.  "But...before you slope off on one of your crime articles I have a field assignment for you"

"Oh..." said Suzy, not expecting this. 

"Yes" replied the editor.  "There's the comic book convention in town:  With the Llamaman TV series such a hit I want you there to get the low down on where the kids are at with this show and the comic book scene in general.  Will there be Llamaman copycat shows?  Webweaver?  The Bulk?  Superiorman?"

"But comic books aren't my scene!" said Suzy.

"Neither was crime reporting but you picked that up quick enough.  Now go, and try not to give the nerds a heart attack"

Suzy headed down to San Myshuno to see what was going on at this comic festival.  It really wasn't her scene as she preferred movies, art, music and even television instead of comics.  When she got there she found a few stalls devoted to the Llama Man show plus a bit on real science focussed on space exploration.  However, the place was hardly a hive of activity...in fact, it was sparsely attended and most people looked bored.  Wherever the zeitgeist was, it certainly wasn't here.

But one person caught Suzy's eye.  She recognised her from somewhere and it took a while to put a name to the face...or at least, a nickname.  She was a trendy red headed young woman with a distinctive beauty spot on one side of her mouth and that's what rang a bell in Suzy's mind.  She was a model, but more specifically she was Miss Ginger, March's Lothario Kitten of the Month.  That meant she was close to Alan Cuffe and Suzy was very keen to find out more about the recent fire...and the attempted assassination in the Fashion District.

"Excuse me, you're Miss Ginger, aren't you?" said Suzy.

"Well, yes I am...are you a fan?" the woman replied, looking Suzy up and down and giving a smile of approval that could be mistaken for flirting.

"Not exactly" replied Suzy.  "I'm a reporter for 'Hey, Wow' magazine...oh, and I've wrote that article about Malcolm Landgraab in last month's Lothario magazine"

"I remember that article...so you're Suzy Kent?  Alan's mentioned you a few times" said Miss Ginger.  "By the way, my name's Tasha" she added.

"Pleased to meet you.  Do you have a few moments to spare?" asked Suzy.  "It's about Alan, actually"

"Sure...the scene here is deader than pleats.  What do you want to know about Alan?  I should warn you I DON'T do kiss and tell stories" replied Tasha.

"I'm not interested in gossip.  For one thing, how is he doing after the fire?"

Tasha took a deep breath.  "Not well, at least he's not his usual self." she said with a sigh.  "We haven't been having Kitten Club meetings at the moment and he locks himself away a lot of the time."

"What about Madelyn?  Does she keep you informed about what's going on?"

"She spends most of her time caring for Alan at the moment.  She's running the day to day business at the moment.  Alan is writing, painting and keeping himself to himself.  He seems distracted whenever I see him.  I think the fire has got to him deep down."

"Because it nearly killed someone?" Suzy pushed Tasha further on the subject.

"No...I mean, he cares that the police lady makes a full recovery but...there's something else bothering him, I'm sure.  It's not what happened, it's who did it.  That seems to scare him more than anything else"

"Do you have any idea of who that could be?  Has Alan or Madelyn said anything to you?"

Tasha shook her head.  "No.  I have no clue...we were all questioned by the police about the fire and the shooting a few weeks ago but I wasn't present at either.  I get my information well after the fact"

Suzy nodded quietly at this information and thanked Tasha for her time.  Alan suspected someone, that's for sure, but who?

Tasha left the scene but another person who was under suspicion had arrived:  None other than Nancy Landgraab.  The powerful maven of society saw Suzy and made straight for her with a look on her face that indicated she wanted to have it out with the young reporter.

"Well, look what the cat dragged in" said Nancy, dismissively.

"Nancy" replied Suzy, not wanting to rise to the bait.

"It's Mrs Landgraab to you" Nancy replied, coldly.  "I'll have you know that your hatchet job on my son has failed:  The D.A. has dropped all charges against him."

"I only reported on what he did:  Malcolm was selling drugs and everything in my article can be verified.  Now if your smart lawyers managed to cut a deal with the D.A. then that's not my problem" replied Suzy, defiantly.

"Just stay away from my family in future!" said Nancy.

Suzy paused for a moment but did not break eye contact with her.  Then, calmly, she said "you were in the area when the fire bomb went off at Alan Cuffe's.  What did you see?"

Nancy gulped.  "I don't have to answer that" she said, nervously.

"You just did...in a way.  Or should I be asking who did you see there that day?"

"You know nothing, little girl!" said Nancy before walking off in a huff.

Suzy nodded to herself.  The question that needed to be answered was who did Nancy see outside of Alan Cuffe's house that day?  Chances are it was probably the same person who tried to shoot Lily and Madelyn.

But the scene changed again with the arrival of her fiancé, Neil, who had just finished his first work shift of the day.  He saw Suzy, smiled and waved to her before jogging over to give her an enthusiastic kiss on the cheek.

"I stopped by your office and they said you were here...how's it going?" he asked her.

"Well, it's been a day of twists and turns.  I didn't expect to be here at this convention which, to be frank, is pretty boring BUT I've had some very interesting conversations which will need following up" she replied.

Neil narrowed his eyes.  "Conversations about...the 'Triangle of Power'?  Well then, let's talk about what you found out over a drink.  There's a bar right over there."  he said.

After they got their drinks and sat down, Neil could hear Suzy's account of her conversations with both Tasha and Nancy.

"I think this boils down to this" he began.  "Either the Landgraabs are trying to kill the Fengs and the Fengs retaliated by fire bombing Cuffe's home because Cuffe is in league with the Landgraabs OR someone else we don't know about wants to kill all of them."

"Oh you make it sound so simple and straightforward" said Suzy, gently mocking him.  "I'm more inclined to think a mysterious third party is involved."  

"You mean, the Visitors, or whatever they're called?" said Neil.

"Yes.  But we have no clues as to who they are...or even if it really is a group...we don't have one single name"

"Could it be Villareal or Goth?" Neil posed the question.

Suzy shook her head.  "I don't believe the Goths are involved, based on my dealings with them.  The Villareals?  Yes there's suspicion about the father but he's not linked to either Cuffe, the Landgraabs or the Fengs.  Oh it's so frustrating knowing that we just need one tiny bit of information to move forwards on this case!"

"I like how you say 'we' when it comes to investigating this:  I feel properly invested in it now" said Neil, smiling.  He looked at his watch "Oh crap!  I've just remembered that we're booked in to view the wedding chapel at 3 and it's 2:15 now!  Drink up, we need to get to Newcrest pronto!"

Suzy looked shocked and gulped down the last of her Sweet n' Spicy before grabbing her bag and running off to the subway station with Neil.  They'd managed to book a provisional date for the wedding at the most desirable and exclusive wedding venue in Sim City and they did not want to end up on the chapel's naughty list.

 

The moment they stepped into the chapel they knew this just had to be the place for the wedding ceremony.  It was furnished in white and pale colours mixing Edwardian, Belle Epoch and Gilded Age styles with a small pond and garden at the front, an expansive rear open air section for dining and a beautifully decorated chapel itself which intertwined flowers around the pillars.  Suzy loved it and Neil loved everything that she liked.  It was settled; this was to be the venue and they finalised the administration there and then.

That whole business took two hours and so it was straight on home for dinner.  Afterwards, as Suzy cleared away the dishes and Neil was engrossed with the latest episode of 12 O'Clock High, she was pondering all that she had learned today.  This case was eating her up.  As she put the last clean plate away and wiped the sink she turned to Neil and said "I want to pop over the road to visit Action...see if he can shed any light about the case?  Is that OK?"

Neil looked up from the TV.  "Yeah, that's cool.  Do you want me to come with you?" he asked.

"It's sweet you want to get involved by you've had a longer and harder working day than me so you relax and I'll see you in a bit.  I'll only be over the road."

Suzy walked over to Action's house and knocked at the door.  She heard footsteps approaching, a click from something and finally a voice from the other side.  "Who is it?"

"It's Suzy, are you free to talk?" she replied.  The door chain was undone and the door opened.  Action waved her in and holstered his service issue .38 revolver.  

"What's going down, sis?" he asked.

"Just our regular catch up on this case.  I had a little tete-a-tete with Nancy Landgraab and one of the Lothario Kittens:  Miss Ginger." she replied.

Action's face lit up "Oh Miss Ginger...I've had the briefest of pleasures meeting her.  And both of them gave information to you?  Even Nancy Landgraab?"

"Not directly" said Suzy.  "Tasha...that's Miss Ginger's name...said that Alan's taken this really hard and that it's playing on his mental health as if he knows more about it but can't speak up.  And when I put it to Nancy that she knew who set off the bomb and saw it happen she reacted extremely defensively.  That's when I realised that the rumour that Nancy was right outside Alan's house and was with someone is actually true.  Can you confirm that?"

Action took a deep breath.  "Yeah, we're looking for someone" he said.

"Do you have a name for them?" asked Suzy.

"We don't have a name, just a description.  She's young, long dark hair, dark brown eyes, always wearing the same outfit whenever there's been trouble and she's been around"

"You mean she's got criminal form?" said Suzy.

"Nothing we can nab her for.  But twice she's shown up where a crime's been committed and someone has pointed the finger of suspicion at her.  And there's something strange about her as well:  She's seen wearing this black and white dress with an orange sweater underneath and a black cap all the time.  Witnesses say she has this penetrating stare, as if she's trying to hypnotise them.  There's some more outlandish claims made about her but I chalk that up to a bit of hysteria."

Suzy wrote this all down.  "And that's all you know about her?"

"All I know.  Heck, I even questioned her some months back and noticed that intense stare but I didn't think much of it at the time until this fire at Cuffe's place and witnesses putting her at the scene.  I'm hitting a dead end trying to find her but I know you are useful when it comes to this kind of thing:  Your information in the past has helped us catch criminals, even though Malcolm Landgraab wriggled out of a sentence in court.  Can you help me track down this woman?"

"I'll do what I can.  Thanks for the tip off, Action"

Suzy left his house and was heading home when she saw someone right at the end of the street.  "I do not believe this." she said out loud to herself.  At the end of Foundry Cove was a woman crossing the road:  A woman in a black and white print dress, orange sweater, black cap and with long black hair.  Suzy had to think fast:  She could call for Action but if this was the same woman he was looking for then she'd be tipped off because she would recognise him as a policeman.  Suzy had to get a name at least, she would approach this woman directly.

"Hello there, can I speak with your for just a couple of minutes?" said Suzy, approaching the woman with a disarming and innocent smile.

"Erm, yeah, what's this about?" replied the woman.

"My name is Suzy Kent, I'm a reporter at Hey Wow magazine...have you heard of it?"

"I have, I usually read Smogue" the woman said, flatly.  "I'm not interested in a subscription"

"I'm not here to sell you a subscription.  I'm a fashion reporter and I saw your outfit and it's so much the in thing right now I wanted to ask you a few questions about it...if you don't mind.  I promise I won't take up much of your time"

"O...K..." the woman replied with a hint of scepticism in her voice.

"So where is that outfit from?  Do you know the designer's name?" Suzy asked, still innocently.

"I don't.  It's off the peg and I can't remember the name of the shop"

"That's a shame.  Is this a style of dress you regularly wear?  What attracted you to that outfit in the first place?"

"Yeah, it's my style and I like the pattern, the colour combination and it's as you said:  Trendy."

"That's great...OK, I just want to finish up by asking some background questions; probably won't end up in the article I'm writing but it's more for my notes really.  Can I get your name and age?"

"My name?" said the woman, her eyes narrowing.  "Well yes, my name is Leanne MacGregor and I'm 27 years old"

"And do you live in Sim City or are you visiting?"

"Both:  I reside but I'm not originally from here" now the woman looked very suspiciously at Suzy.  "What magazine did you say you worked for again?"

Suzy felt the Leanne's eyes glaring at her.  She felt like this woman was looking into her mind and soul as she did not blink once but maintained an intense eye contact with her.

"Hey Wow..." said Suzy, almost in a trance.  "I know a writer over at Smogue:  Davis Goode...he's kind of strange.  Have you read any of his stuff?"

Leanne suddenly snapped.  "He's their BEST writer and I won't hear a word said against him!  I don't believe you, Miss Kent.  I don't believe you're interested in what I wear...why did you approach me?  WHY?"

Suzy recoiled.  The intensity of this woman could be felt from a range of just two feet.  Suzy was now frightened of Leanne as there was something malevolent in the way she glared at her.  She had to get away.

"You can check with my office, I'm genuine!" Suzy replied, nervously.

"Oh I'll do that...and if I find you're lying to me I'll make you pay dearly!" said Leanne.

Leanne pointed a finger at Suzy:  It was long and thin, like a dagger held in the air and Suzy wouldn't have been surprised if at that moment Leanne had stabbed her with it.  Suzy started to back away without saying anything.  Leanne watched her walk off, tracking her all the way down the street.  Suzy turned and walked slowly so as to not look suspicious but instead of heading home, she headed to Action's house.  She knocked softly at the door.

"Action!" she whispered hoarsely "It's her!  I've seen the suspect and she's at the bottom of our road right now!"

The door rattled as it was unlocked and Action stood on the porch with his .38 service revolver in his hand.  "She's here?" he said, scanning the scene.

"Yes!  Right at the end of the road!  There!  She's heading past the communal garden!" exclaimed Suzy.

Action took his gun and ran down the road.  He could just about see Leanne walking away in the distance so he increased his pace.  The chase was on!