GRANADA PLACE
"Alan, Kerry Fry is here to see you" said Madelyn, calmly and efficiently, to her boss Alan Cuffe.
"Excellent, show him in" Alan replied. His office at the newly built Kitten Club in Newcrest wasn't finished yet so he still received business visitors at his home. Fortunately the place was large enough to be a home, party and workplace all in one.
"Kerry! How are you doing?" said Alan in a very familiar and relaxed style. "I read your article and I liked it. I liked it a lot"
"I'm glad Mr Cuffe" replied Kerry.
"Call me Alan and step this way to the lounge...on second thoughts let's do this in the dining room; we can use the table to write down some notes." said Alan, still recoiling at the memory of the last time he had a meeting with someone in the lounge when the fire bomb went off.
"So I liked your article about conservationism, very good ideas which you expressed well. It'll need a bit of editorial polishing so it can read more fluently and to fit the two-page format in the magazine but your article is the kind of thought provoking material Lothario needs in between the more...titilating...fayre our readers come to expect." said Alan. Kerry looked pleased.
"The Friends of Gaea are a growing organisation; we hope to open our own dedicated office and staff it full time; as long as we can get more backing and investment." replied Kerry.
"Well this publicity from your article in my magazine should help that" said Alan. "Although not with some types..." Alan set the bait and waited to see if Kerry bit.
"...you mean those fuddy-duddy types?" said Kerry.
"Yeah, the League of Decency and all that" said Alan with a chuckle. Now he waited to see how Kerry would respond.
"Oh them" replied Kerry. "Funnily enough, I know one of them..." he added.
"Oh really?" said Alan in mock surprise. "Tell me more over a drink...Oh Madelyn! Two sweet n' spicies if you've got a moment"
___________________________________________________________________________
SNEEDLEY BURROW
"Good morning, my sweet" said George, giving his wife Edna a kiss on the cheek.
"George! Really! This is most forward of you...out on the front patio: What would the neighbours say?" replied a shocked Edna.
"What neighbours? Johnny Zest is probably still asleep and there's no one else."
"Ah, I heard a rumour that a family is going to be moving in to the house next door in the next few weeks. We have to keep standards high and lead by example. Not that I didn't appreciate the kiss but such things should only be done indoors with the curtains firmly shut."
"Sorry, dear." said George.
"Never mind, I have some exciting news I want to share with you" she said.
They sat down at the chess table and Edna took a moment to compose herself before speaking. "George, the League of Decency is doing well so far but I need political contacts to further our cause. So I've contacted a local citizens legal and civic group which is campaigning for more police action in fighting crime. I think I can raise our points with them and get them accepted."
"That is exciting news, dear" said George. "It will go well with our recruitment of that policeman; Vance Mannero. A bit of what they call 'legal muscle' will do us no harm"
"Indeed" said Edna. "However, it will mean me having to go into the City a couple of days a week. I won't be around the house as much. It's been such a long time since we haven't been able to spend at least half the day together."
George hummed thoughtfully and said that it was a shame but after they had their conversation he walked off to the bedroom and looked at himself in the vanity table mirror.
"Maybe..." he thought to himself. "...If Edna's going to be out of the house for a few hours a couple of days a week then She could make a return. Hmmmm."
THE VILLA BOVINE
"Thank you for inviting me here, Alan. I can't normally afford to eat here on my wage"
"Not at all, Marina" replied Alan Cuffe. "It's good to see you back on your feet"
"My feet were one part of me that didn't suffer burns" replied Marina with a chuckle. She was badly burned when a fire bomb planted in Alan Cuffe's house exploded and she was caught in the blaze.
"How's the recovery going?"
"Well. There's some scarring on my arms and body but fortunately my face, legs and vital organs weren't harmed. I'm back home now although not back at work yet."
"Anyway, this lunch is my treat....if you hadn't visited my house that day..." said Alan.
"It would have been you or Madelyn caught in that fire" said Marina, soberly.
Alan nodded, it had been a close shave. "But here's to recoveries" he said, raising his wine glass.
They enjoyed some small talk before Alan steered things towards what he wanted to talk about. "Any news on the investigation you're allowed to tell me?"
"Well, we have a prime suspect now" replied Marina. "Leanne McGregor. Do you know her?"
Alan thought about his response before saying "I've seen her about but only met her the one time. She didn't leave much of an impression at that time."
"Well, she has now" replied Marina. "The theory we're working on is that she's some kind of spy: Probably Soviet"
A Soviet Spy? Alan smiled to himself. So that's what they think? If only she was...
_______________________________________________________________________
SNEEDLEY BURROW
Edna was in a flurry of activity: There was to be a meeting of the League of Decency today and she wanted everything to be just right from the food and drink, literature to read and...of course...the minutes of today's agenda to prepare. George was busy sorting out the former, and Edna was typing away in the study to prepare the latter.
Then it was a matter of putting on the official League uniform; Edna was particularly fond of the boots. As George put his blue turtleneck sweater on she grilled him on the preparations.
"This is a very important meeting today...we have our newest member joining us for the first time. Now are the canapes ready?"
"Yes, Edna"
"And did you sent Vance the uniform?"
"I did...including the jacket"
"Excellent" said Edna, clapping her hands in delight.
All was ready and Edna checked her watch to see who would arrive on time. On the stroke of the hour she saw Scott Urban and newest member Vance Mannero at the front door. She brushed herself down one more time, checked her hair in the mirror before sauntering over to the door to greet them in an apparently effortless glide.
"We're just waiting for Julia to arrive..." said Edna. "And if she's not here in the next 5 minutes we shall begin our meeting. Scott, I want to introduce you to Vance. Vance is a policeman" she continued with a note of pride at saying the word "policeman".
"Good to know you, Vance" said Scott, shaking his hand. Both men had iron like grips. "Did you serve?"
"101st Airborne" replied Vance. "You?"
"2nd Armoured" said Scott. Both men nodded in silent respect to one another. "But I'm with the postal service these days."
"It's still public service" replied Vance.
Julia then arrived not long afterwards and they commenced with the meeting with Edna handing out the agendas.
"First of all I'd like to extend a warm welcome to our newest member, Vance Mannero...or should I say more accurately...Police Officer Grade 3 Vance Mannero." she said.
There was a polite ripple of applause among the others and Vance nodded in acknowledgement.
"Now we were to protest outside of the Kitten Club this weekend but it has been brought to my attention that the League of Decency are under suspicion of starting the fire at Alan Cuffe's home so we need to change our tactics for the time being. Rest assured, the protest of Cuffe's businesses will take place at some point in the future."
"But it's obviously not us trying to actually harm Cuffe!" said Julia. "Surely the police can see that!"
"I'll tell you something for nothing, little lady..." said Vance. "...most cops are looking for the easy bust. Your...I mean, our...group aren't going to say boo to a goose if we're suspected. The cops investigating the fire aren't exactly the City's brightest and best."
"Nevertheless we must let caution be our guide." said Edna. "So we're going to shift our focus away from Cuffe and onto that scurrilous rag that's corrupting our youth: Hey, Wow"
They talked a bit about tactics they could use against that publication and at the coffee break Vance took George to one side to have a talk.
"I hope you're liking our society, Vance" said George.
"I am, and I see a lot of potential here" Vance replied. "But..." he said leaning in closer to George "...I'll let you in on another bit of information: Cuffe, Hey Wow, all the stuff you see on TV...that ain't the root cause of the problem"
"It isn't?"
"No. It's the Communists behind it all" said Vance. "Communism, George. The cops know who's trying to kill Cuffe and his associates. It's a Russian spy, a Communist agent. But the weaklings over at the Commissioner's office don't want to stoke tension with the Soviets so they keep it quiet."
"Really? I didn't know" said George, shocked.
"So we've got to keep an eye out for these infiltrators and spies running amok about our city, George. You a military man?"
"US Navy for 10 years" replied George.
"Navy, good man!" said Vance, punching George in the upper arm. "You see, we gotta protect the womenfolk, our communities, George. That's why I've joined the League. Now Edna's a great ideas woman. She's got spunk and I like that. But you're the strong, silent type, I can tell that. You and me and Scott; we've got to step up to the plate, take a big swing and score a touchdown against the subversives who are funded by the Soviets. Edna's the drive, Julia's the brains but we've got to be the muscle, do you hear me, George?"
"Erm...yes!"
"Good man! Good man!" said Vance, punching George enthusiastically in the arm again.
It was agreed that the next step shouldn't be a public protest but instead running exposes on what Hey Wow magazine prints, calling in on radio talk shows, TV shows and other media to raise public awareness of the alleged 'debauchery' in these publications and others like them. The public protest side was too risky when the police were looking for any signs of public disorder.
After the meeting concluded Edna was exhausted and needed a little pick me up. She changed her clothes and headed to the basement bunker the Sneedleys had built, back in '62 in the wake of the Cuban Missile Crisis, where they kept a wet bar.
"Phew! So much to do, Edna, so much...and it's going to get busier now I'm going to get more politically involved" she said to herself as she poured herself a stiff drink.
"Ahhhhh, that's better" she said, downing the drink. "Now where's George?"
George was tidying up as Edna returned upstairs. He looked at her with pride but Vance's words were still ringing in his ears: He, George Sneedley, had to protect his wife from the evil subversives in the world!
"You know I will protect you from any harm, Edna" he said.
"Of course I do, George." she replied.
"I mean, I'm just as capable of physically taking down any attacker as Vance or Scott. When I'm stirred up I don't hold back."
"Now what's brought this on, George ?" said Edna, wondering why he was talking about protecting her from harm and beating attackers up.
"Well..." he said, trying to gather the words he wanted to say. "I know I've had a couple of turns in public lately and that some people think that because I'm a cook I'm not....very....erm....manly". That last part was difficult to articulate for him.
"Not manly! Nonsense! You're all the man I ever need" said Edna with a huff but then she thought of another reason why George might be talking about this. "George...are you having trouble with your particular organs?"
"My particular organs? Oh, no! There's no trouble there I can assure you. I mean, anytime you want to...well...you know...do THAT I am more than capable."
Maybe it was the drink inside her, maybe it was the rush of adrenaline Edna felt whenever she hosted a League meeting or maybe it was George declaring that 'anytime you want to...', she now suddenly felt amorous.
"George..." she said, coquettishly. "...how about we put that to the test?"
"What, now?" said a surprised George. "But we haven't done this since November 1965! Let's not stand out here where everyone can see us. Let's go to the bedroom!"
"Not the bedroom, I've just changed the bedding" said Edna.
"Then you don't mean...."
"Yes! The closet!" said Edna, her eyes wide with excitement.
They ran off, hand in hand, to the big walk in closet down in the bunker, giggling like teenagers.
"Oh George!"
"Oh Edna!"
They fell into a passionate embrace just outside the closet and George had to open it by sliding it across with his foot as he had Edna's lips firmly attached to his face. They stumbled backwards into the closet, somehow slid the door back and were there in the pitch black.
"There's something exhilarating about doing this in a pitch black atomic bunker where no-one and I mean no-one can ever find us!" said Edna.
They fumbled around undoing George's belt and pants and pulling them down, lifting up Edna's skirt and trying to undo her garter straps without being able to see anything but the awkwardness actually turned them on even more. There was banging and crashing and even shouting but the two of them had the best time they'd had since they threw a small party to celebrate Alan Cuffe moving out of their neighbourhood.
Finally, it all came to an end and while they nuzzled in a pile of fallen coats, Edna thought that it was time to face the world again. She, miraculously, emerged without a single loose hair or smear to her make up. George, on the other hand, could only stagger out.
"We must do that again in the Summer...." he muttered with an inane grin on his face.
