Action gulped down the protein drink whilst he checked the mail. Bills, and bills...and his Police Detective's salary just about stretched to cover them. "Dang, I need a case to secure a promotion and soon! My bank account's gonna be drier than Arizona at the rate I'm going!" he said to himself. But Action was a man of taste and style and it cost him money to maintain his lifestyle.
As he popped the last cheque in the mailbox he saw playboy millionaire, Alan Cuffe, jogging past his house. It had been a while since he'd seen Cuffe and rumour had it that the guy was losing his marbles over some incident. Well, Action had a hunch what caused it: A deep, dark secret that Cuffe refused to share with anyone. Maybe the good fortune of having the guy jogging past him right at this moment was too good opportunity for Action to miss out on.
"Alan, have you got a few minutes to spare?"
"Sure, Action...what's up? Is this about work or a friendly chat?"
"Mostly just friendly. How have you been? Anyone tried bothering since we last spoke?"
"You said this was a friendly chat but it sounds more like work"
"The two often collide...so? Life settled down to whatever it is you call normal, Alan?"
"Have I seen that strange woman since the fire? No, Action, I have not. Nor have I seen the man who I thought was following me...it must have been my imagination: I've been working too hard."
Action noticed that Cuffe's fist was clenched and that he looked nervous. His eyes darting left and right to see if anyone untoward was about.
"Well, we never did catch those people who tried to get you...or your assistant. You know where you can find me if there's anything bothering you. We can even keep it off the record." said Action, knowing that Cuffe was hiding something but that he wouldn't confess straight up here and now.
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm doing fine. Gotta keep moving, you know?" said Cuffe before he continued his run.
"Yeah, I know..." muttered Action.
Later, at 13th Precinct Headquarters Action saw that Officer Marina Beckett was helming the front desk. Now Marina had some 'history' with Cuffe and Action's curiosity was aroused by his encounter with the man this morning.
"Marina...I bumped into a friend of yours this morning" he said to her.
"Oh yeah, who?" she replied.
"Alan Cuffe."
Marina hesitated a moment before replying. "Oh yes, did he have anything interesting to say?" she asked.
"Absolutely nothing at all, but I know something's bothering him. You know him a lot better than I do; do you know what's eating away at him?"
Again, Marina hesitated before answering. "He's not been the same since the fire. He's acting...erratic."
"You've not said much since the fire either. Do you know if those responsible have confronted either you or him since then?"
"Wait! No! You don't think I've held anything back since that day! My loyalty is beyond question!" she said, indignantly.
"I never said it wasn't. Listen, Marina, anything that Cuffe confides with you that pertains to the case...you let me know, OK?"
"Isn't the FBI handling it from now on?" she asked.
"You don't think the people who've been trying to kill Cuffe and do all those other things have left Sim City, do you?"
At that moment a young woman entered the station and made her way to the front desk.
"Well, Action, you've got a lot of work on today...you can either deal with this young lady's problem or deal with a breaking and entry at the Goth Mansion." said Marina.
Action looked the young woman up and down and liked what he saw...but he knew where the big case was.
"I'm sure this young lady's problem can be dealt with by Detective Michaels and his team. I'll take the Goth Mansion case."
Marina handed him a folder with some case files in it and Action went to the squad room to take a look at them and familiarise himself with the case.
The Goth Mansion was one of the oldest residences in Sim City, it's construction dating back to the 1870s. Mortimore Goth was a well-known author and his wife, Bella, a onetime model, bit part actress and now full-time housewife and socialite. They have two children and no priors...except for a few years ago when Bella Goth had gone missing for a time but had suddenly shown up alive and well some time later. Police didn't treat that as a crime at the time..."strange", thought Action.
He made his way to the Goth Mansion, keeping a look out for the officer who was first on the scene: Patrolman Jesse Navarro: A young, keen but somewhat reckless cop. Action would take charge of the crime scene once he was there.
The house was in an old and wealthy part of Willow Creek. Even among the "Gay Nineties" architecture of the surrounding neighbourhood, the Goth Mansion stood out as it was darker, more gothic and sinister looking...and that was just the outside. Inside the decor matched the exterior...apparently the Goths weren't big on lighting. Action walked up the stairs to find Officer Navarro, half expecting Vincent Price to emerge from the shadows.
Upstairs he found Officer Navarro pondering over an antique chess set.
"There's no time to be playing games, Officer" said Action.
"Oh, Detective Action! No...erm...I wasn't...I was waiting for a forensic team to dust this chess set."
"Why? There's nothing missing there" replied Action.
"Well, I thought that Chess obsessed thief you arrested might have been responsible for the burglary. I hear she's out on probation."
"She is, but she didn't do this..." Action knew that the woman was a reformed criminal and one of his informants. "So, what is actually missing?" Action added.
Navarro pulled out his notebook and started to read what he had written down earlier. "Let's see...a crystal decanter and goblet set, a bronze bust of an Ancient Greek lady...said to be an original from about 300 B.C....some silverware and various books and papers."
"Books and papers? Why steal those? Are they especially rare editions?" asked Action.
"From my notes, not especially."
"OK, can you show me where the books and papers were stolen from?" asked Action.
"Yes...but aren't you more interested in the ancient sculpture or silverware?" asked Navarro.
"Not now..." said Action, curtly.
Navarro showed Action the bookcase that had volumes stolen from it. "Has it been dusted for prints?"
"Erm, yes sir...the only prints they could find match the family's and Miss Joiner's"
"Who's Miss Joiner?" asked Action.
"Mr Goth's research assistant. She's downstairs being questioned as a witness."
"Send her up here, Navarro"
Miss Janice Joiner was a nervous and distraught young woman in her early 20s. She was in the house when it was broken into and was now traumatised by what happened to her.
"I was downstairs, at Mr Goth's desk arranging papers for him, when these two people...wearing masks...burst into the room. They grabbed me and shoved me in the cellar, locking the door. I must have been in there for half an hour when a neighbour came to investigate what was going on and heard me banging on the door."
"Can you tell me what books are missing from this bookshelf?" asked Action.
"Oh that's Mr Goth's reference library. It's where he keeps books he uses for research for his novels. Oh..." she said, but suddenly she stopped in mid sentence.
"What's wrong?" asked Action.
"Well, as you can see these books are about the paranormal. The top shelf is the ghost section, then mythical beasts, legends and lore and so on but one section is completely missing." Miss Joiner replied.
"Which one?"
"UFOs and aliens" she said.
"Are those books particularly rare or valuable?"
"Not particularly. But Mr Goth likes writing notes in the margins of his reference books so they're unique. And there's a couple of books I'm not allowed to touch or read. Those are strictly private and for his eyes only. They're missing as well."
Action nodded his head. "Thank you, Miss Joiner, you've been very helpful." The distraught young lady left the room.
Checking the room one more time Action noticed a scrap of paper on the floor, probably torn from one of the pages of the books that was stolen. He put on a disposable glove and picked the scrap up gently with his thumb and forefinger. Examining it, the scrap had two handwritten words on it: WHY BELLA?
"Why indeed?" muttered Action.
He made his way downstairs where he was greeted by Sergeant Kitchen, who had taken over command of the investigation team.
"We've got a full inventory of what's been stolen...those busts should give the insurance company a nightmare." he said.
"That's a ruse...so was the stolen silverware" Action replied. "The real target for the thieves were his papers and reference books. We're not dealing with common criminals out to make a quick buck. Whoever did this wants information that only Goth has."
"A bunch of books about little green men? Come on, Action, why would anyone want those?" said Sergeant Kitchen.
"Because of what Goth wrote in them. He scribbles notes in the margins. I bet he's the kind of guy who slips notepaper with his ideas into books as well. Where is Goth, anyway?"
"In Europe on a speaking tour. He won't be back for another week."
"Dang! Any other witnesses?" Action asked.
"Oh yes...and you'll just LOVE her" said Kitchen, sarcastically.
Action went to see this other witness...another young lady in her early 20s but blonde, bubbly and wearing large glasses.
"Hi, I'm Honey...Honey Pleasance" she beamed.
"But of course you are" replied Action. "Can you tell me what you saw?"
"Well, I live nearby and I love to take walks along the beautiful tree lined boulevards, especially on a day like today with all the flowers and blossoms from the trees..."
"Just cut to the bit where you saw something suspicious"
"Oh, OK...well, normally I quicken my pace when I walk past the old Goth mansion on account of all the strange stories that you hear about the place but today I notice two people run out of the building and down the street clutching large, army style rucksacks."
"Did you get a look at their faces?"
"No, they were wearing masks. But they left the front door open so I summoned up enough courage to step inside the house because, as I said, you hear stories about the Goths and their home and those creep me out. Anway, isn't it an amazing place? I mean, still creepy but so much interesting stuff as well....oh, sorry, I'm just shooting my mouth off here, I really should focus you know? My tutor at college is always saying I should be more succinct in my speech....oops, I'm doing it again, aren't I?"
"Just a bit" said Action.
"To cut a long story short, I heard a banging noise from behind a door and I opened it and there was that woman trapped in a cellar. Then I phoned the police. Maybe I should have given chase to the thieves instead!"
"No, you did the right thing. The thieves may have been armed." said Action.
"Oh, I hadn't thought of that!" replied Honey.
"You mentioned that you've heard stories about the Goths...any ones in particular?" asked Action.
"Well, they do talk about that time Mrs Goth went missing." she replied.
"Was it a kidnapping or did she just walk out and return sometime later?"
"Oh none of those things..." Honey looked nervously around the room and leaned in closer to Action. "They say supernatural forces were at work. She was here, then gone and with no trace, then she returns with her memory all gone from that period of time."
That struck a chord with Action: A complete memory wipe of an event....just what had happened to him.
"Thank you, Miss Pleasance" he said.
"Call me Honey" she said, smiling broadly again.
"I sure will" he replied. "You've been most helpful."
After she had left Officer Navarro had a quiet word with Action. "That one is clearly tripping on something. I should pull her over to see if she's carrying any narcotics"
"Leave it" said Action, putting a hand on Navarro's arm to restrain his eagerness. "We've got a lot to do with this case. Is there another witness?"
"Just one more" said Navarro. "A Mrs Giordano"
"Si, I saw them run away from the building" said Mrs Giordano in a thick Italian accent. "And I tell you; one of them was a woman"
"A woman?" said Action.
"Si! Yes! I said a woman. I could tell....her shape, the way she run. A woman"
"You seem very certain. Well that's very helpful." said Action, writing down her statement and closing his notebook. With forensics moving in to do more analysis it was time for him to head back to the precinct house.
He typed up his initial findings in a report including his assessment that the papers were the real objective of the thieves and that the theft of a few objects d'art and antiques was merely a cover. He wasn't sure that would go down well with the Chief though as it wouldn't be a simple open and shut case...
He went to the station archives to find information about Bella Goth's disappearance. There were crime scene photos of her abandoned car, found in the outskirts of Oasis Springs, and the surrounding area but it was still a cold case...made freezing by Mortimore Goth's insistence that no charges would be pressed and that, in his view, no crime had been committed because Bella had returned alive and well, no ransom was ever demanded and nothing had been stolen; therefore, no crime had taken place.
But there was a mystery nonetheless and one that related to a crime that had just taken place. Mortimore Goth had done his best to conceal it but someone knew the truth of what happened to her and had obtained the evidence for themselves. Goth was out of the country right now but not Mrs Goth. Action determined to go and question her in person.
He travelled back to Ophelia Villa to see her. The forensic team had just departed and he saw Bella Goth standing outside the house with a small boy of about 8 years of age. Action deduced that he was her son.
Everything he'd heard about Bella Goth was true: She was alluring to the point of hypnotic, her very presence had a magnetic and sexual allure; this was accentuated by her dress which clung to every smooth curve of her body, her long arms and smooth finely sculptured shoulders exposed, the shortness of the hem revealing a perfect set of legs, accentuated by expensive dark hosiery. Her eyes and lips enticed as she looked directly into Action own eyes...it was an effort just to concentrate on asking her questions. She had to have been in her late 30s at least and yet she looked 10 years younger.
"Mrs Goth, I'm Detective John Action of the Sim City PD. I'd like to ask you a few questions." he asked, composing himself.
"Certainly but I did tell your colleagues everything I know about what was stolen. I'm afraid I don't know who could have committed such a crime or who had the motive or means. As for the items, we are insured." she replied, her voice a soft purr.
"Even your husband's files and notes that he wrote in all those books he had about UFOs?"
Bella paused before answering. "Alexander, dear, run along inside. I will join you soon." she eventually said.
"Yes Mother" replied the boy, looking sullen. He trudged off inside, pausing once to turn towards his mother for some reassurance, which she gave by nodding and smiling at him.
"So, Mrs Goth, about those books of your husbands..." said Action.
"I know of them but I've never read any. That is my husband's affair" she replied.
"So you don't know what he wrote in them or why he's interested in the subject?" asked Action. "Somehow, Mrs Goth, I don't quite believe you."
"Dectective Action, I resent that insinuation!" she said proudly and indignantly.
"Let me tell you my own story, Mrs Goth, a true one. A few weeks ago I was on a case and I found a lead, a really juicy one, and something happened. I went to meet someone to get information and I went missing for a few hours. Then I emerged, unscathed but with my memory of that meeting and the case I was working on completely gone: Sound familiar?"
Bella Goth said nothing.
"I have a good buddy of mine whose mind's been messed with as well. He went for a job interview but can't remember anything about what happened. A few days later and he's working at that company but now he's developed a hatred for people he once liked. Turned out he was subjected to brainwashing but he can't remember how it was done...again I ask you, Mrs Goth, is this ringing any bells?"
"Detective, I honestly cannot remember a single thing that happened to me during that time I went missing. That is the truth." she said, nervously.
"But your husband has an idea, which he wrote down in those books and which someone has stolen. So that means a few people know what happened...has he said anything to you about it, over the years?"
"My husband is extremely protective of me. He refuses to talk to anyone about my disappearance and that includes me."
"And you're not curious?"
"Of course I am curious, Detective! Six weeks of my life...SIX WEEKS...was stolen. When I got back I was prone to blackouts and falling into semi-consciousness for months afterwards. Mortimore cared for me but he also wanted to know what happened. So he went searching and...well...wrote in those books and kept a journal of the whole affair...what he knew of it. But he refused to share that with me, no matter how much I pleaded. Eventually caring for Cassandra and Alexander and my charity work occupied all my attention and when I recovered, I stopped asking Mortimore for information."
Action nodded and took a step closer to Bella. He could smell her exotic perfume and she seemed more alluring than ever to him. "When your husband gets back from his trip, I want to see him and he will see me! You tell him that."
FOUNDRY COVE, WILLOW CREEK
Geoffrey Landgraab huffed and puffed his way along the empty streets of Willow Creek. No matter how much he ran, he could never shift that bit of extra weight around his stomach. But, like his wife, he pushed himself onwards and onwards to try to keep fit.
"Geoffrey Landgraab" came a voice behind him. Geoffrey stopped and looked around. He saw a young man with red hair and casual attire walking towards him.
"Geoffrey Landgraab...we need to talk" said the man. Geoffrey instinctively knew who this person was despite never actually having spoken with him before.
"Ah...yes..." Geoffrey said nervously. "I usually deal with a young woman from your...organisation."
"She has been altered and reassigned. You will now deal with me: I am Luke Kendall. I am concerned information about our activities becoming known by others. Leanne McGregor had to be altered. What are you doing about the leaks, Geoffrey Landgraab?"
"I have conditioned one of my employees...a man who lives just over there...to be a willing puppet to our cause. He will provide no obstacles. And I believe you dealt with Detective Action."
"Affirmative"
"Nancy has arranged for Goth's evidence against us to go missing...as a matter of fact she's already accomplished that. That only leaves Suzy Kent. Shall I deal with her or will I leave her up to you?" said Geoffrey, sinisterly.
