CHAPTER 191: Security Check, A-OK

The Secretarial Pool at the Landgraab Corporation offices is, arguably, the most important part of the company.  Diktats and orders came on down from the high ups and the boardroom to the pool to be transformed from often vague or bombastic ideas into slick, corporate policy courtesy of the well trained ladies of the secretarial class.

The older, more experienced ladies had graduated from the Pool to becoming personal assistants to the bigwigs of the company.  Only the top P.A.s would be assigned to a family member of the Landgraabs.  Nancy always ensured that women past their prime or who weren't particularly gifted in the looks department would be assigned to Geoffrey, although Nancy thought his tastes in women were often strange...given how besotted with their new cleaning lady, Beulah, who had to be pushing 40 and not just past 30 as Beulah had said.  For her own assistants, she had one young man who looked good in his tailored suits, a dumpy but fierce looking woman of 50 who actually got stuff done and a young 20 something girl who was there mainly for Nancy to get fashion inspiration from.

The secretaries of the Pool were all very good at their jobs and were there for mainly three reasons:  One, those who wanted to catch the eye of a senior executive who would promote them to P.A. or even a minor management role.  Two, those who wanted to date and then marry a corporate executive and three, those who saw a job as a secretary at Landgraab's as a temporary job before moving on to other things or to settle down.  But one thing they had in common was a brisk efficiency and devotion to the company...it did provide excellent perks, after all.

The Pool's reputation in the corporation was a mixture of awe as some of the men in the company saw them as goddesses:  As if they were Vestal Virgins or temple guardians of the Greek goddess, Athena.  From the lecherous senior executives long well versed in the arts of the company affair through to the mail room clerks, fresh from high school or college, for whom every task to take the mail to the Pool was seen as being "chosen from on high" to gaze upon these lovely young women in their stylish clothes for just a few seconds.  Of course, the ladies of the Pool wouldn't waste time on these young wannabe suitors:  They should come back when they can wear a suit and tie and have lost their spots.

At her desk, right at the top of the Landgraab Tower, Nancy Landgraab drafted a memo in a barely legible scribble that was then passed on to Phyllis, her old, experienced P.A. who had a permanent scowl on her face.  She interpreted that memo and wrote it out, neatly, before taking it through to Geoffrey Landgraab's office, where his P.A. took charge of it, made a clarification and then handed it to the man himself.  Geoffrey read the memo, nodded in agreement and then countersigned it to give it his full approval before adding "ATTN: ALL DEPARTMENTS" at the bottom of the page.

The memo now went downstairs to the Secretarial Pool for it to be typed up, photocopied and distributed throughout the building.  The Pool didn't waste any time and within 20 minutes the request became a reality.  200 typed directives ready to go with another 200 in the pipeline.  Secretaries and mail room clerks were pressed in to service to get them to everyone and it was a rare moment where both groups rubbed shoulders with each other.  The clerks tried to attract the attentions of The Pool but with no luck on this occasion.

The memo finally arrived on Jeremy Saint's desk merely minutes after it had been photocopied.  On immediately looking at it he noticed the word URGENT in big, red capital letters stamped across the top of the page.  Jeremy's stomach tightened a notch after reading that one word.

That tightening continued as he read the whole memo; it was a notification of an impending high level security check throughout the whole company.  In light of recent news of industrial spying in other companies, Landgraab Corp. will initiate an unprecedented security sweep and investigation of the entire business in order to "check its confidential integrity".  

Jeremy felt uneasy:  He had been trying to find incriminating evidence against the Landgraabs and had accessed material that was classified confidential and he shouldn't have read.  The security sweep might discover what he had been up to and incriminate him.

It was hard to concentrate on his work after having read that and he sat in a departmental meeting with a glazed look on his face and barely concentrating on what was being said.  He contributed nothing except a couple of nods and left the meeting room feeling ever more anxious.  His silence at the meeting was picked up on by a colleague; Fanshawe.  Fanshawe had known Jeremy since their days together at Dewey, Cheathem & Howe but, like a lot of other people...Jeremy included...he had been headhunted by Landgraab for a better paid position.

"Not quite with it today, eh, Jeremy?  Barbara hasn't been keeping you up late has she?  Haw-haw-haw"

"I'm just a bit under the weather today, Fanshawe.  Hey, what do you make of that memo?  You know, the one about the security check?"

"Oh just the usual company shenanigans...someone's been a bit light fingered around the petty cash box if you ask me.  You've been here longer than I have, don't you have the lowdown?"

"The memo came as a complete surprise to me" replied Jeremy.  He gulped nervously and quietly followed Fanshawe back upstairs to their respective offices.

At the top of the flight of stairs on Jeremy's office level stood a pretty blonde woman, barely out of her teens, who stood out from the muted colours of the suits and the office decor in her bright sky blue and yellow outfit.  She had her gaze fixed on Jeremy as he ascended the staircase and as he got to the top, she interposed herself between him and Fanshawe.

"Mr Saint" she said in a voice that was succinct and to the point.  Jeremy had never met this woman before but she said his name in a manner that indicated she knew exactly who he was.

"That's me" Jeremy replied.

"I'm Alice...your new office assistant" she replied.

"Oh..." said a startled Jeremy.  "I didn't get a memo about an office assistant"

"It's all part of the security check.  I have been assigned to help facilitate matters, take the administrative burden from you and to ensure you and your department pass the investigation with a clean bill of health." she said in a very matter of fact way but with a light lilt to her voice that bordered on being like an air hostess who was delivering serious news.  Her eyes, a bright blue and made up in the latest mod style with heavy black eyeliner, never blinked and her lipstick was practically the same shade as her skin.  Jeremy was momentarily fixated by her looks but the tone in her voice made his stomach tighten again.

"You're in luck, Saint old boy...haw-haw-haw" said Fanshawe.  "Alice, once you're done with old Saint here, you can check my security anytime, haw-haw-haw" 

"I'm certain someone has been assigned to your office, Mr Fanshawe" said Alice, unemotionally.

"I'll bet...I'll bet...eh, Jeremy, old sport?"

"This is business, Fanshawe, I'm taking this seriously even if you're not" said Jeremy.

And for Jeremy this was serious business.  Fanshawe rarely took work seriously, always with a joke or...more often...a comment about pretty women, he always seemed to cruise through corporate culture but then he was college boy from a prestigious university and a fraternity man as well so opportunities always came a lot easier for him than for Jeremy:  A small town boy with a degree from a modest college.  Plus, Jeremy knew he was at Landgraab's under false pretences and was, by strict definition, a security risk...only they didn't know it.

Another secretary, a slightly older and more experienced one than Alice, approached the small group and addressed Fanshawe directly.

"Mr Fanshawe, your 10 o'clock sales group meeting is convening in conference room 1 in 10 minutes."

"Oh, thank you Carole" replied Fanshawe with a sigh.  "No rest for the wicked, eh?  I'll be along now, Carole.  Well, Saint, good luck with Alice here and to you, fair lady, I hope we meet again soon." he said, fawning over Alice.  Jeremy hadn't asked how things were going with his supposed girlfriend, Bianca, as he didn't want anything to do with that particular woman given his bad history with her.  It was hard to tell if Fanshawe was single again or just flirting with every woman in the building.

Alice had already shot off in the direction of his office and Jeremy trudged back as well, noticing that everyone in the company seemed on edge...as if the security check was bothering them as well.  Furtive, sideways glances, nervous smiles and an unspoken tension seemed to infest the very air of the building.

As lunchtime rolled around the staff of the Landgraab Corporation breathed a sigh of relief that they could get out of the building for just one hour to get away from the tension and suspicion.  They would disperse to the various eateries in the area with the Twin Oracle Cafe a very popular destination.  One person had a table for 2 booked at 12:15pm and he was very keen to get out and make that booking.  His name was Darrin Lew and he worked in the computer department.  Like Jeremy, he too had a lot on his mind about security and industrial spying and a lot to lose if caught.  He didn't like the idea of some low level clerk, secretary or jobsworth going through his work and finding something they considered off.

As he headed out of the building for his lunch appointment he was stopped by the co-chairwoman herself:  Nancy Landgraab.

"Mr Lew.  Do you have a minute to spare?" she asked.  

Darrin knew that was a rhetorical question; of course he had to spare as much time as the boss demanded.  "Yes, Mrs Landgraab.  What's the matter?"

"Oh nothing, nothing...I just wanted to congratulate you on all the good work you've been doing recently.  Your department is really shining right now." she replied.

"Oh...thank you, Ma'am.  I really appreciate that."  he said, with a slight smile on his face.

"And don't you worry about the security check.  It's just standard company policy to have an internal audit of our security ever so often.  Don't let it get in the way of your work."

"My department is very busy at the moment and I did have some concerns that extra people around the office asking for particular files might prove a distraction."

"They won't, I assure you.  Just keep on doing a good job...that's all" she said with one of her icy smiles that made the person she was talking to not know whether she was happy or displeased with them.

Darrin watched her leave the building and head towards Chez Llama whilst he headed straight to the Twin Oracle Point Cafe.  Jeremy was about two minutes ahead of him and scoped out a table to sit at...outdoors and away from other patrons so he and his lunch partner could talk undisturbed and out of earshot.

Almost as soon as he sat down his lunch partner had arrived.

"Jeremy, on time I see" 

"Just got here, Darrin.  Sit down, let's talk"

They ordered some food and drinks and then settled down to talk.  Jeremy looked around the area to see if they were being observed and, cautiously satisfied they weren't, he said...almost in a whisper  "Darrin, this security check...has someone come down to your office to snoop around because that's what's happened to me!  I've accessed the company computer more than once and I'm..."

"Relax, Jeremy.  I've sorted it" replied Darrin, calmly.

"You've what?"

"I've sorted it:  I've destroyed all traces of you accessing the company computer.  Those tapes have magically 'disappeared'."  He said, taking a sip of coffee.

"And they won't be found?" asked Jeremy.  Darrin shook his head.

"What about your trail?  Have you also...."

"Oh I destroyed the records of my own activity before I destroyed yours.  So they can't trace any activity back to us."

"That's a relief" said Jeremy, sitting back in his seat.  "So...what do we do whilst they go through our stuff?"

"We take it easy, buddy boy" said Darrin, still without a trace of worry on his face.  "It's important you don't lose your cool right now.  Tough it out, be nice and co-operative to Alice, and she'll trot back off to our masters giving you a clean bill of health."

"I'm not used to all this cloak and dagger stuff..." said Jeremy.

"Neither am I but I'm telling you to stay cool:  If they get you, they can get me and I'm not going to let that happen.  Just smile, say 'yes' and 'thank you' and she'll be gone in a couple of days.  Believe me." said Darrin, his face changing from relaxed to utter seriousness.  "Don't let us down by being nervous, Jeremy.  We've got a lot to play for."

"OK...you're right.  We'll have to stop using the computer for now but I need more evidence of the brainwashing going on and about the plans to buy up Foundry Cove." said Jeremy.

"That will come" Darrin replied.  "Now I've heard of some kind of resident's group protesting against the proposed buy; are you aware of them?"

Jeremy nodded.  "I know them, but I want to keep them out of our business.  The risk is all on me." he said.

"I understand" said Darrin, finishing up his coffee.  "But they could help us if we pass on anything we find to them.  Obviously this security check is going to delay us, but keep your contacts on the outside informed and ready to act when things ease off."

"Do you think it's wise to involve other people?  I thought this investigation was going to be just us?" said Jeremy.

"This is war against the Landgraabs, Saint.  Either you're in or out.  Which is it, Jeremy?  Which?"

CHAPTER 190: Lawyered Up

"So she just WALKED, Tony?" 

"We couldn't do anything about it, Action...her lawyer instructed her to say nothing and we had only circumstantial evidence against her...so she made bail easily."

"But the handling stolen silverware charge, surely that..."

"Her lawyer got her to make a prepared statement which he read out saying that she bought that silverware as a job lot at a flea market and had no idea of its origins."

"Yeah, and what about her previous convictions?"

"The lawyer spun a story that as it's hard for a former con to find work our suspect was forced to become self-employed as an antiques dealer and is still learning the ins and outs of the trade so mistakes like the handling of the Goth silverware are common.  I'm telling you, Action, her lawyer was top of the range, smart, knew all the loopholes."

"And a legal team like that don't come cheap, Tony.  Maddy Henson's got someone backing her financially."

"I'm sorry we couldn't get the charges to stick this time, Action"

Action stood up from the table he and Detective Tony Gunn were sitting at and paced the room.  "Not your fault, Tony...we didn't consider all the factors, like Henson getting a top lawyer just like that.  She was a top cat burglar; she knows all the tricks of the trade when it comes to being arrested...we should have thought about that.  I blame myself for not alerting the team to that."

Tony leant back in his chair and tried to find something of hope to say to Action.  "I guess the one good thing left is that she is out on bail and it gives us a bit more time to find evidence to get her before it goes to court." he said.

"Yeah, but we've got to work a lot harder..." said Action and with that he left the recreation area of the station and headed downstairs.  Maybe forensics had something new, he thought.  Luckily for him his favourite forensic expert was working a shift at the station today:  Bibi Stahler, the best criminologist in town.

"What is it that you're looking for, Action?" said Bibi

"Anything, Bibi, just a bit more than a few stray red hairs to nail this thief!" said Action in a frustrated tone.  "We know she did this but I need a fingerprint...even just half of one...or anything else left at the crime scene."

"I wish I could give you the evidence that you need but the thieves were professionals, they left almost nothing of themselves at the scene except those hairs.  However..." she said as a thought occurred to her.

"However?" Action replied.

"However...hmm...this is a bit of a stretch but already the Chief is looking at another suspect."  

Action's attention had been grabbed and he focussed intensely on Bibi.  "Another suspect?  Who?"

"A petty thief by the name of Erin O'Malley.  She has red hair too which is why the Chief is hoping she's the one we're looking for instead.  I need some hair samples plus her fingerprints as I have a theory developing..."

"Sounds interesting, what theory?"

Bibi shut her eyes and waved her hand in front of her face a few times.  "No, no.  I will not share it until I am certain.  I do not want to give the detectives, whoever they are, false hope.  Just get me the hair and fingerprints then, after careful examination, I will tell you what I find.  Now, go." she said, giving Action a dismissive gesture with her hand, wafting him away.

Action cracked a wry smile at Bibi's typical Teutonic bluntness and headed off to lock-up to process this Erin O'Malley.

 Action found a red headed lady in the lock up room.  She was in her mid-30s and had a dough like quality to her face as it was jowly and very pale and was crowned by shoulder length bobbed hair with a straight fringe.  It was difficult to tell if she was slim or overweight in those garish orange overalls suspects wore in the lock-up.

"OK, Miss O'Malley, I'm gonna take you to get fingerprinted" said Action, blandly; as if he had become bored with the same old routine with a suspect.

"Sure...go ahead.  I did nothing!  I certainly didn't do that Goth Mansion job." she replied, defiantly.

"So you know about the burglary there?" said Action.

"Sure.  It's in all the newspapers.  So I take an interest in local crime stories; that's not illegal."

"So long as it's just an academic interest and not a practical hobby" Action replied.

He took her along a short walk to the fingerprint station where he carried out the routine with the printed sheet and ink pad just as he had done a hundred times before.  O'Malley had very pale and soft hands that only had a few wrinkles on them.

"I've read your rap sheet, Erin, and you've got form for stealing" said Action.

"Yeah, both for petty pilfering from shops.  First time I was let off with a caution and the second time I did six months in prison.  The Goth Mansion is way above my pay grade.  I wouldn't know how to burgle it...they probably have vampire bats for guards."

"Well, sometimes criminals get too ambitious:  We know the thief was a woman with red hair..."

"IT WASN'T ME!" Said Erin, sternly.

"You'll probably make bail and if I were you and were sure of your innocence...I'd try to snoop around to clear my name." said Action, languidly.

"Why you...you want me to do your job for you!" she snarled.

"It would help both of us if you did" Action replied.  After fingerprinting he led her back to the lock up.  "Think about it" he said as a parting gesture.

Action went back to forensics carrying the fingerprint sheet but he knew trying to pin the Goth mansion job on Erin O'Malley was a fool's errand.  Bibi was still there, along with Cole Michaels and they seemed deep in conversation when Action entered the room.

"I got O'Malley's fingerprints, for all the good it will do this case" he said, flinging the sheet on to Bibi's desk.

Bibi picked it up and looked at the prints, intensely.  Then she went back over to the database where Cole was sitting.  "Please to be finding any matches between these and what were recovered at the crime scene" she said to Cole, in that German way where the pleases and thank yous came at the beginning of a sentence instead of the end.

Cole went through the microfiche records of prints whilst Action gave a small evidence bag to Bibi that contained a few of Erin's hairs.  Bibi wasted no time in taking it to her lab bench to perform some tests on it.  And with that, Action had nothing left to do other than wait for results.

It was Cole who made the initial breakthrough, and even then it was hardly revelatory.  "Action!  I've cross referenced O'Malley's prints with the crime scene and nothing.  Her prints were not to be found there." he said.

"I could have told you that" Action replied.  "O'Malley is a dead end, always was."

"What shall we do next?" asked Cole.  Action gave it some thought.  "Put a tail on Henson.  Watch where she goes and who she meets.  If she meets with the fence again, I want to know who that is."

"There is one thing, Action..." Cole continued.  "We have a list of Henson's last 5 known addresses and get this:  When she got out of prison the last time, in '63, she was briefly living at Sage Estates in Willow Creek."

Action let out a long whistle and shook his head.  "Sage Estates, expensive place. Someone must have been bankrolling her lifestyle.  Let's find out who."

"Where are you going?" asked Bibi.

"I think I'm gonna take a stroll around Sage Estates for a while" Action replied, with a wry smile.

The drive from Precinct 13, which was down by the river, up to the low hills of Willow Creek saw a gradual increase in the wealth and opulence of the residences.  Sage Estates was the most expensive area in the suburb; where the fine architecture of the antebellum period mixed in with the ultra-modern, minimalist style.

He parked his car near a small municipal park and started looking around the place, making a note of the place Maddy Henson had allegedly stayed in on her last release from prison.  She had a been a successful thief in her day...still is...Action thought, but she couldn't afford Sage Estates...who's your patron, Maddy?  He thought again as he scanned the area.

His thoughts suddenly came crashing to a halt when he saw a very attractive red headed young woman, wearing a purple and pink outfit, hanging around one of the mansions.  It wasn't lust that made his gaze linger on her but more the fact he knew who she was and his heart sank;  this girl was trouble...not in a criminal way but in an interfering and counter-productive way.  He hoped she was here just passing time and not here for work...He approached her, hoping to find out which.

"Miss Blake, what brings you here?" he asked.

"Detective Action...thank goodness you're here!" she replied.

"What's the problem?" he asked.

"Well, nothing yet...but we're on a case and we might need your help at any moment!" she said, with a keen look of excitement and wonder in her face.

"So what's this case you've got on?" 

"We've stumbled upon an old legend of the Marshman..." she began "...and he's been sighted all along here, terrorising the residents and forcing some of them to leave their homes!"

"A marshman...OK, I'm outta here..." said Action, turning to walk away but Daphne grabbed his arm and stopped him.

"I mean, it might not actually be a Marshman but something else that's why Fred and Velma are checking the houses along the clifftop whilst Shaggy and Scooby..."

"You have members of your team called Shaggy and Scooby?" asked an incredulous Action.

"Yes...Scooby Doo, our dog...remember?"

"Remember?  That mutt bit one of my officers:  They had to go to the hospital to get shots and stiches!"

"They frightened Scooby and he'd not had anything to eat..." protested Daphne.

"If I see that dog of yours anywhere near it I'll call the Dog Pound and have him hauled away!" Exclaimed Action.  "Meanwhile I'm going to investigate a real crime and not some local myth concocted by drunks!"

And with that he turned heel and left Daphne and her stupid friends to their nonsensical ideas.  His troubles not over yet, he saw two women having an all out fight nearby.

"Take THAT you bitch!"

"Why you lying, cheating WHORE!"

"OK, ladies...calm it right down!  I'm Action, Sim City PD so break it up you two!"

He grabbed one woman and dragged her away from the other then stood in between them, arms outstretched to keep them apart.

"OK, now that you've calmed down tell me what the issue is" said Action, forcefully.

"Well...isn't it obvious?" said the red headed one of the two.

"Don't tell me, you've been invited to the same social event and you're wearing the same outfits.  Oh dear.  How sad.  Never mind." he said, sarcastically.

"If only it were that simple!" said the one with black hair.  "MY boyfriend bought me this dress!"

"Tsch, as if he's your boyfriend!  I've been seeing him for weeks" said the other.

"WELL I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR YEARS AND HE IS MY BOYFRIEND!"

"He isn't or else he wouldn't be seeing me and buying me this dress!"

"Why you lying little bitch..." and with that the black haired woman lunged at the red head.  Action pulled her back in the nick of time before she had hit the other one. 

"None of that, ladies, unless you want to both end up in jail.  OK, who's this boyfriend you've both been seeing?"

"His name is Michael.  Michael Hemmingstamp" said the red head.  Action put his hands on his hips and shook his head in despair.

"What is it, Detective?" asked the raven haired woman.

"Michael Hemmingstamp, I might have known!" he answered.

"Do you know him?"

"I've met him once and believe me, ladies, you're both better off without him.  So is he back in the US?"

"Yeah, got back 3 days ago where me met up and renewed our romance" said the red head, smugly.

"OK, ladies, I'm not gonna bust you this time but if you see Hemmingstamp you tell him Detective Action of the 13th Precinct wants to talk with him...he knows where he can find me."

Action's focus of his patrol was the address he was given and he saw it up ahead.  As he got closer to it he could see the old fashioned balconies with their intricately carved wooden balustrades and the many shuttered windows that lined the entire house.  It looked immaculately kept but there was no sign of activity or life in the property.

Action wanted to know more about what went on in there so he decided to bend the law a little bit.  He found a spot along the front wall where he could haul himself over it and, checking to see no one was looking, he clambered over it and landed in the front courtyard.

The grounds looked immaculate.  Someone tends to this place or pays someone to do it, thought Action.  He crept closer to the house, staying low to avoid being spotted until he reached one of the shuttered windows on the lower floor level.  He pressed his body tight up against one of the walls, took a peek around into the window and noticed that the windows were spotless and that inside there were dust covers all over the furniture but the floor and carpets were dust free.

Someone comes around to keep this place tidy but no one lives here.  This would make a good safe house, he pondered.

Action didn't want to chance his arm too much so he climbed back over the wall and ran back to his car.  Back at 13th Precinct he went straight to Bibi to tell her what he had found.

"Bibi...that address Cole found, I reckon it's used as a safe house.  Immaculately kept but no one lives there and everything's under dust covers." he said.

"Hmm, possibly" she replied in her usual cautious way.  "I suppose the reason you're telling me this is that you want to find out who owns it, how often it's used and is there anything my criminologist eye can spot that you cannot?"

"You've read my mind, Bibi" said Action with a smile.

"No, I know you all too well" she replied.

It was now the end of the shift and Action headed home but before he set off he went to a nearby phone booth to make a call to someone who could help him...in an unofficial capacity.

When he got home his unofficial contact was waiting for him outside his house.  It was Aurora Ahmed:  A former criminal turned informant for Action.  Aurora still looked every inch the tomboy and when he arrived she looked impatient as she had her arms folded and was tapping her foot on the ground.

"What's up, Action.  Be warned, I can't hang around here for long so make it snappy" she said.

"I want some information about a couple of things.  One, a property in Sage Estates called Oakenstead.  Who owns it?  Who uses it?  The other; I want the complete low down on Maddy Henson...where she lives and who she's hanging around with these days."

"Maddy Henson...now there's a name I haven't heard for some time" said Aurora.  "OK, leave it with me.  Same rates?"

"Same rates...and I want receipts this time!"  Action replied.

"OK...I'll be in touch when I find something out.  Gotta go...stay lucky, Action" she said and with that she abruptly headed off.  Action smiled and went into his house; Aurora was the best informant he had and he knew she'd dig something up that he would find useful.

When he got inside he saw his answerphone flashing a light that meant he had a message.  He rewound the cassette tape and pushed Play.

"Hi...It's Katherine.  Fancy hanging out down Windenberg way?  I'm at the pool and the water's delicious.  Bring your swim shorts..."

The machine beeped and Action switched it off.  A swim with Katherine?  Yeah, he could do with that after this day's shift.  He grabbed a set of swim shorts, spare civilian clothes, a bottle of men's cologne called 'Mondo' and put them all in a bag.  He was imagining Katherine in a bikini with wet hair and floating on her back in the pool.  That very image made him waste no time in getting what he needed and getting down to the pool at Windenburg in double quick time.

He parked up, grabbed his bag and walked on over to the pool, which was situated right on the quayside of the Lykke Centre.  Who should be waiting out the front but Katherine and she was wearing a white bikini as well.  She didn't have wet hair but in all other ways she lived up to Action's imagination.  

"Aren't you cold?" he said, leaning towards her to give her a kiss.

"It's a lovely warm evening...I've just had a paddle but the water's inviting." she replied.

"So are you...lead on."

She grabbed his hand and led him in, past the queue of people waiting to gain admittance.  Clearly Katherine had used her influence to be able to wander in with a guest without the staff batting an eyelid, Action thought.  Still so much about her, her background and what she got up to during the day was still unknown to him.  Despite her occasional protestations that she wanted to be at the centre of everything he did and to be kept informed she had an enigmatic quality about her that kept a lot hidden from him.

He went to the men's changing rooms and got into his speedo trunks before heading out to find Katherine already in the water, encouraging him to jump right in.  From her perspective he heart skipped a beat when she saw him in those tight briefs.  His body was so chiselled, almost like a statue of a Greek god, and the trunks left little to the imagination.  

"Just jump right in, lover" she said, entincingly.

"I'm going to...but from up there" he said, pointing to the diving board.

"Show off" Katherine replied.

Action climbed the ladder and walked to the end of the board.  His toes overhung it as he lined up to perform his dive.  He shut his eyes, took a deep breath and held his arms out to his sides.  Then, with a short bounce, he launched himself into the air, the arms swung around to point right in front of him and then...splash...he was in the water, plunging downwards.  He felt the cool water all over his entire body and as his fingertips touched the bottom of the pool he swung himself to point upwards and, breathing out, he surged to the surface.  Those few seconds cleansed his thoughts of all cares, hassles and strife.  Now on the surface, he looked around the pool to see where Katherine was and one by one those cares started to creep back in.

If only he could get hold of those diaries it would answer everything.  He deliberately didn't tell Aurora that the theft of the diaries could be linked to the people that had scared her the last time he asked her for information.  The diaries, Maddy Henson, Leanne McGregor, the Landgraabs...all linked somehow and then there were the journals Suzy and Neil had found...

"Nice?" asked Katherine as she swam towards him.

"Beautiful...like you" he said, smiling at her as he trod water.  He then put his arms around her waist and they bobbed together in the water.  "Will we get thrown out if we did this?" he asked as he smiled invitingly at her.

"This is OK...I don't think it counts as heavy petting thought.  They will throw us out if we did that."

"So noted.  Well a little swim, a little of this and maybe a little of lounging by the pool suits me just fine" he said, looking at her lithe, supple body just about clad in a very tiny bikini.  Everything about this girl was classy, he thought.

They had done a few laps and Action did a whole length swimming underwater.  He made it with just one lungful of air but was gasping when he surfaced.  He grabbed the side of the pool and took in a few deep breaths of air as he recovered.

"Pushing yourself again, Action?" asked Katherine as she swam next to him.

"Always the way, baby" he replied.

"I hope nothing's worrying you about work" she followed up.  She could tell he was holding something back from her and that was probably work related.

Action turned his head sideways to glare at her.  Not because he was angry with Katherine but, dang it, how was she able to read his mind and mood all the time?  He'd often thought this.

"I feel that all the bits of rumour, information and all those strange incidents are coming together, Katherine.  Just a bit more and I'll have the case solved!" 

"Which case, though?" she asked.

"All of them!" he replied with excitement in his voice.  "The fire at Cuffe's, the assassination attempt, Goth's diaries stolen, the glade, the Landgraabs...all of it, almost within my grasp!"

"I about understood half of what you said there.  But do you really think it's all connected?" she asked.

"Pretty sure.  My hunches usually turn out to be right"

"Hunches are just experience plus a bit of psychology thrown in there...minus the jargon, of course" said Katherine.  "So if you think there's a connection there probably is."

Action didn't immediately respond or even look her in the eye.  Instead he just floated there at the edge of the pool, looking out over the bay.  Eventually he nodded and turned towards Katherine.  "I'm hungry, are you?"

"A little" she replied.

"Let's get a bite to eat" he said, hauling himself up and out of the pool.  Katherine knew when his mind was made up to do something so she swam over to the ladder and got out as well.

Once dried and dressed they headed over the road to the Hare & Hedgehog cafe.  It held fond memories for them...it was where they decided to go steady all those months ago.

It was busy in there with the lights turned down lower than normal and a smooth bit of funk jazz was playing on the cafe's speaker:  Action looked around for a place to sit.  It was counter service so he said to Katherine "what do you want?  I'll order and you find us a table" 

"A slice of New York cheesecake and an espresso" she replied.  "Hey, that's Mortimer Goth over there" she added, nodding subtly in Goth's direction.

"So it is...but it's food and drink first and Goth later" Action replied.  Action went over to the barista and placed the order and leant on the counter top, watching Goth's every move.  The man was on his own and seemed completely uninterested in what was going on around him.  He drank his coffee whilst peering at his diary with his eyes never venturing upwards from his book.

The barista put Action's order on a tray and the cop walked over to where Katherine was sitting, at a communal bench area as the other tables were either occupied or else had signs that people had gone to the bathroom or somewhere else and left their unfinished food and drink...and jackets in some cases...on the table.

"I hope this is OK, seating wise.  What we lose in face to face contact..." began Katherine

"I can make it up with fondling your knee."  Action replied.

"You're fresh!...but if you want to play cops first then we're right next to Mortimer Goth and he hasn't noticed us."

"He hasn't taken his eyes off of that book he's reading either."

"Must be interesting"

"Riveting.  So much so people want to steal his books"

"Is that what this is about?  OOH!  You weren't joking about fondling my knee either!"

"Hmmm, silky smooth"

"Stake outs with you are certainly lively"

"Yeah, but Cole doesn't like his knee being fondled" said Action with a wry smile.

"What do you think he's reading?" Katherine said, not rising to the joke and instead concentrating on watching Goth.

"The latest instalment of his epic mystery story" said Action, dryly.

"A novel?"

"Anything but"

They finished their meals and drinks and whilst they chatted they observed Goth continuing to read.  At one point a barista approached him with a pot of coffee and asked if he wanted a top up.  Goth just nodded without even looking at them.  The barista duly topped up his cup and walked over to another table to serve the customers there.

"Will you speak to him now?" asked Katherine.

"Yep...at some point I'm going to interrupt his reading."

"I need the bathroom so now's your chance" she said, getting up.  Action nodded and put his coffee cup down.

He slowly made his way over to where Goth was sitting and stood there, looming over him.

"Mr Goth" Action said, sombrely.  Goth didn't lift his eyes from his book at first but he wasn't ignoring Action either.  

After a few awkward seconds Goth still didn't look up at Action but merely said, in a soft voice, "Detective" as a way of returning a greeting.

"Do you mind if I sit down here?" said Action, pointing to a chair next to Goth.

"Can I stop you?" replied Goth.

"Not really...I want to talk with you about the burglary of your house"

Goth said nothing but indicated for Action to sit down.  Action took his place next to him.

"I must thank you for the swift return of my silverware, Detective.  You and your team have my personal gratitude." said Goth, who for the first time since arriving at the cafe had put his diary down.

Now it was Action's turn to pause before speaking.  He fixed Goth with a cool, intense stare before saying "how important are those missing journals to you?"

Goth gulped and looked nervous.  "Well...I...they contain ideas, thoughts, plot outlines for a future novel..." he said, almost stammering.

"...notes on your wife's disappearance?"  Action interrupted Goth's speech.

"As I've told you and that reporter, Suzy Kent, before that is none of your business!"

"It wasn't until those books were stolen.  Do you have any idea who could have taken them?"

"I wish to deal with the return of those journals myself, Detective.  I will approach certain individuals and offer a deal..."  Goth continued to remain dignified even though his voice was trembling with nervousness.

"Who, Goth...who are you going to contact?" said Action, with a glimmer of intensity in his gaze.

"It need not concern you..."

"WHO, GOTH?"

"This is a private matter, Detective, I want you to respect my wishes..."

"Bullshit, Goth!  A top thief was hired to steal those books, a woman was set on fire by the same people, someone was shot at and your wife was abducted...either by the same people or by someone affiliated with them.  That's a whole lot of crimes you're covering up for, Goth!"

"I...I...it's...complicated, Detective..." Goth stammered; he was clearly rattled now.

"I'll be the judge of that, Goth....now spill the beans or I'll throw you in the slammer!"

CHAPTER 189: The Man Maid's Tale

"Today I'm going to push ahead and put my name forward with the party to be the next district representative!" said Edna, with a mixture of pride and determination in her voice.  She had been working extra hard, pressing the flesh, kissing babies and sucking up to the party bigwigs because she wanted that nomination so badly.  Once a city councillor for Oasis Springs, she could really push her policies.

"I wish you well dear.  I know you'll be brilliant as a city councillor" said George.

"Thank you, George.  I don't want our lives to be all about me, me, me and my upward trajectory.  What about you?  How are you days whilst I'm not here?"

"Oh just boring paperwork for the hotel..." said George, waving away any suggestion that his day was going to be anything but dull.  But that wasn't true:  He had something potentially exciting lined up for today but he couldn't tell Edna.

"Is that cleaning lady, Boombah..." said Edna.

"Beulah"

"Yes, Beulah.  Is she coming today to clean our house?"  

"Yes, Edna dear...about an hour after you leave for work."

"Such a shame our paths don't cross:  I'd like to meet her.  Anyway, I must finish typing up my speech."  And with that Edna got up from her seat and made her way to the study.

Whilst Edna was doing that, George secretly did some dusting and polishing to make it appear that Beulah had cleaned the house.  Edna must never know the truth about their cleaning lady, never know the truth about who Beulah actually is.

Edna finished her speech and was preparing to go to work when she saw a pile of unwashed dishes on the dining table.

"When Beulah gets here, tell her to start with those disgusting plates.  Standards around here are really slipping!"

A car horn sounded right outside of their house, indicating that Edna's taxi had arrived to take her to work.  Gathering up her shoulder bag and portfolio case she quickly strode out to the waiting car, pausing momentarily to say goodbye to George.

"Try not to wear yourself out, George, while I'm gone" she said.

George waved goodbye and watched her get into the taxi.  When it sped off and turned the corner at the end of the road he waited at the window for another minute, just in case it should happen to return if Edna had forgotten something.  When it did not reappear, he ran downstairs to the basement, fetched his special suitcase and ran back upstairs to the bedroom where he transformed into Beulah.

It was to be Beulah's first day at her new job as the Landgraab's maid so clothes, make up, prosthetic boobs and wig had to be near perfect in appearance.  George squeezed into the bustier that gave him more of a figure and pushed his fake breasts up and spent longer in doing his make up.  He put a tight fitting stocking cap over his head so the hairpins could hold his wig firmly in place with hairpins.  Once the dress and shoes were on, George became Beulah and after an inspection in the mirror, a brief practice of his Southern Belle accent, and a walk up and down the hall to make sure his feminine walk was OK, he left the house and ventured forth on a new adventure.

George was getting so used to walking around the neighbourhood as a woman that no one batted an eyelid at him...or her.  He didn't talk much in public either, just a polite word to the bus driver that she was going to Acquisition Butte and a thank you when he gave her the ticket was all she needed to say.  She also knew she was going to get to wear a maid's uniform and that gave them a thrill just thinking about it.  Would it be all frilly like a French Maid or more classical like you would get from a period costume drama?

The bus stopped just at the crest of the hill on Acquisition Butte and Beulah did a polite thank you to the driver before stepping gently out of the vehicle.  Up ahead was Affluista Mansion, the ultra modern home of the Landgraab family.  Beulah walked up to it in her most 'feminine' flouncy manner and stopped at the end of the driveway to check her hair and make up were in top condition before venturing further.  You pass she thought.

She rang the doorbell and was greeted by none other than Geoffrey, who was delighted to see her and ushered her in more like an honoured guest than hired help.

"Beulah, you look wonderful as ever" he said, gushing and fawning over her.  "Come through to the lounge, Nancy is waiting for you."

"Oh mah, such kindness Geoffreh" said Beulah, the Southern Belle accent working like a charm as she sauntered through to the lounge.  Nancy was there, pondering a chess game but it was unclear who her opponent was meant to be.

"Nancy, dear, Beulah's arrived" said Geoffrey.

"Ah, yes, welcome Beulah...and on time as well.  I do value punctuality in a person" she said with that characteristic haughtiness in her voice.  Good breeding thought Beulah.

"Speaking of punctuality, Beulah, alas I have to now get ready to go in to the office.  I wish you all the best for your first day with us and I hope you're not daunted by the size of our abode."

"Size has never daunted me in the past" replied Beulah with a giggle.

"Then I bid you adieu" and then he did an extraordinary thing:  He leant forwards and gave Beulah a big, tight hug right in front of Nancy, who hardly paid attention.

Geoffrey then left and there was an awkward silence as Beulah just stood there in the middle of the room and Nancy was ignoring her as she peered intensely at the chess board.  Then, after what seemed an age, her attention suddenly snapped back to reality, she stood up and walked over to Beulah.

"So sorry to leave you just standing there, Beulah, it's just that my attention was gripped by the game.  Such a fascinating pastime, chess, do you play?"

"Not a great deal, Nanceh, ah have to confess" replied Beulah.

"Anyway, take a seat and let's get to business" said Nancy, ushering Beulah to a seat.

Beulah was hugely impressed at how Nancy had kept her figure at her age and after having a child and how bold she was with her fashion sense.  Daring, she thought, but carried off with elegance.  There was more than a hint of envy in Beulah.  To get a figure Beulah had to use girdles, corsets and other enhancements.

"You know the layout of the house, don't you, Beulah?"

"Ah certainly do"

"And just between you, me and Geoffrey you can address us by our first names but if we have visitors you will address me as either Mrs Landgraab or ma'am.  Is that clear?"

"Oh yais, I understand"

"And be careful and sensitive when it comes to cleaning Malcolm's room.  I've told him he must put anything he has just lying around on the floor away but please do not go through his drawers, closets or other private spaces...he's very adamant about that."

"Master Malcolm won't hardly know ahm there"

"Good, good...now I have a uniform for you..." said Nancy, standing up.  Beulah was suddenly excited.  "Here we go..." continued Mrs Landgraab as she opened a closet and pulled out a short black dress with white collar, trim and apron.  It wasn't the frilly French maid option Beulah had hoped for but it looked the part.

"You can get changed just over there" said Nancy, indicating one of the many rooms in the mansion.  "I did order it in the size you indicated" 

"Ahm sure it will fit just dandy" Beulah replied, taking the outfit, doing a little curtsey before walking off to the room to get changed.

The dress fitted well but Beulah noticed the short hemline.  It just about covered her dignity...amongst other things she'd rather the world not know about...but she felt good in it, thrilled to be exact.  Another costume she'd long wanted to try ticked off the mental checklist.

After that it was straight to work.  She began by dusting and vacuuming the downstairs living areas and giving the glass tops a polish.  Nancy was still pondering her chess game but none of the pieces had moved since Beulah had arrived.  Instead it appeared as though Nancy was more engrossed at the placement of the pieces.

After that Beulah cleaned, scrubbed and polished the bathrooms and kitchen and all the while marvelled at the expensive and well designed furnishings the Landgraabs had.  All built within the last three years and with that space age trim.  She figured the place must have cost at least a million to build.

The whole of the downstairs of Affluista Mansion was the same size as Sneedley Burrow and there were still two floors to go.  Heading upstairs, carrying the heavy vacuum cleaner, mop and bucket, Beulah stopped in on Malcolm in his room.

"Masteh Malcolm...it's jus' lil' ol' me, Beulah come to clean yah room" she said.  She saw Malcolm sitting at his desk which was cluttered with papers, school books and magazines. 

"Oh, Beulah...yes, of course.  Just confine yourself to vacuuming and a little light dusting on the window sills...don't clean or polish my desk." replied Malcolm, who Beulah noticed was looking tired and bleary eyed.

"Did y'all have a late night, you look mighty tired Master Malcolm?"

Malcolm looked as if he'd been asked a trick question and was busy trying to work out an appropriate answer.  "Ummm, yes.  I had...erm...a lot of French to catch up on" he said, thinking about his girlfriend, Marie.

"Ah, French is such a romantic tongue!" said Beulah.

"It is how I use it..." said Malcolm with a mischievous grin.

"Well, ahl leave y'all to get some rest; don't overdo it with the French now"

"I think that ship has already sailed..." he said, still looking mischievous.

"Oh fiddley dee, you're such a card, Master Malcolm!" said Beulah with a giggle and a skip in her step as she left his room.

Beulah continued through the house, cleaning yet another bathroom...just how many did they need?  The one nearest Malcolm's room was the filthiest with discarded towels, soapy water on the floor and uncapped toothpaste tubes leaking minty smelling gunge all over the sink and bathroom mirror that had hardened into some kind of a fluoride and peppermint resin.  Beulah had to get on her hands and knees to clean this area and as she stood up one of her legs caught the sharp edge of the bathtub and she heard a faint ripping noise.  Looking down at her legs she noticed a big run in one of her stockings.

"Damn...and they were a new pair as well!" she muttered.

George was finding out that taking on a woman's role in life wasn't all pretty frocks, wigs and flouncing about...which is what most of his transvestism was up until now.  He had taken a step out into the world...in the guise of a woman...and was now having to live with the more realistic, everyday annoyances from having to put up with the advances of men you don't fancy and having wardrobe malfunctions with clothing that is designed to look nice but not made for durability.

Once that bathroom was done Beulah made her way to a study area that lay just off the master bedroom.  She found Nancy at her desk, looking at her diary and making notes.

"Oh, excuse me...Nanceh...but is it ahl right if ah vacuum n' dust here or should ah come back later?"

"No, I'm not doing anything special..." said Nancy, shoving the diary and notebook quickly into a drawer.  "...please do continue your work" she added, smiling.

Beulah did a little curtsey and proceeded to dust all the surfaces with a feather duster.  Nancy observed Beulah at work; her facial expression was one of intense scrutiny.  She noticed Beulah's legs.

"Oh dear, a run in your hose...it happens all too often I find.  I go through about a dozen pairs a month" said Nancy.

"Ahm sorry for mah appearance...ah should have bought a spare pair" said Beulah, wondering if she had offended Nancy with the way she looked.

"It's forgetting the little details that can cause problems later on" said Nancy.  "You can have a pair of mine to wear...If I receive visitors, which I often do, I think it would be advantageous to look your best."

"Ah don't want to put y'all to any trouble..."

"No trouble.  Come through to the bedroom." said Nancy, standing up and inclining her head towards the bedroom.  Beulah followed and thought I'm going to wear something of Nancy Landgraab's!

Nancy walked over to the chest of drawers, opened the one second from the top and pulled out a pair of black nylons which she handed over to Beulah.

"These pantyhose should fit you...they're one size" said Nancy.

Now George had a hatred of the modern pantyhose...he considered them vulgar and inelegant compared with stockings that were fastened with a garter belt.  But this was what was being offered to him by a woman he admired for her social status and glamourous image....what to say to her?

"Ah don't suppose you have stockings instead...it's just ahm an old fashioned kind of woman..." said Beulah.

Nancy nodded.  "I can see that...a real, homely Southern Belle, aren't you?  Normally I would say yes but I only have two pairs of stockings and they're of the finer, more expensive kind...not for everyday wear." Nancy sidled up close to Beulah.  "I only wear those when I want to entice Geoffrey...or another man...into doing something I want" she said, raising one eyebrow and smiling the same mischievous smile that Malcolm flashed earlier.

Beulah giggled.  "Oh Mrs Landgraab...ah know what y'all mean.  Got to keep them menfolk enticed!" she said.  "Well, in that case I'll just slip into these and ah thank you...I mean, y'all...for your kindness and generositeh!"

Beulah took the pantyhose from Nancy and left the room to head to a spare bedroom on this floor.  She took off the ruined stockings and threw them in the waste basket, took off the superfluous garter belt and then put on the dreaded pantyhose.  Once on, Beulah noticed they weren't that bad and, after all, they were Nancy's.

It was back to work after that, tackling the third floor of the house, emptying all the waste baskets and bins and giving the place one last tidy up before ending her shift.

Beulah went back to Nancy in her study and politely knocked on the open door to gain her attention.

"Ah reckon ahm done here for today, Nanceh" she said.

"Everything looks fine, Beulah, you've done a good job.  So here's some money for you, it's all there" replied Nancy, handing over a plain, unmarked envelope.  Beulah didn't wish to insult Nancy by opening it and counting the money...she just took it on trust.

"Oh, and you can keep the pantyhose.  I have dozens of pairs, I won't miss one." Nancy added.

"Y'all have been so kind to me, Nanceh, ah thank you...y'all" Beulah replied.

"Not at all...same time next Monday, Beulah?"

"Oh yes, Nanceh, ah'll see y'all then" said Beulah, curtseying again.

Beulah changed out of her maid's outfit back into her everyday clothes and headed home.  By the time she got back to Sneedley Burrow she was exhausted.  It turned out to be a more physically demanding job than George had realised and his back was aching with all the bending down and being on his hands and knees whilst wearing women's clothing.  He staggered into the bedroom, kicking off his shoes, taking off his dress, taking off his wig which had made his head very hot and then he slumped on the bed for a while whist he got some energy back.  Lying there he pondered on all the things he'd experienced today as Beulah.  Yes it was tiring doing all those chores but it was also thrilling and exciting at the same time to be doing them whilst disguised as a woman.

He couldn't spend much time lounging on the bed in his lingerie because Edna would be home in an hour so the painstaking process of de-feminising began:  False fingernails off, clip on earrings off, fake breasts removed, lingerie off and put in a laundry bag along with the dress, make up removal so that every trace was gone, men's clothes back on, hair combed and all of his drag stuff put back into a case and returned to its hiding place in the downstairs bunker.  Tomorrow he would wash all his feminine clothes ready in time for his next day as either Georgina or Beulah.

If he had been exhausted before de-feminising he was absolutely drained after it.  He had just enough time to make himself a coffee before Edna returned home.  Outside another maid walked past the burrow; either returning from or going to a job.  George looked at how she was dressed and wasn't that impressed. "Tsch, no hose and wearing sneakers...slack" he thought to himself.  "I look more the part than she does!"

Edna duly returned home with a smile on her face and a spring in her step.

"Hello, dear, I trust that things went your way at work?" said George.

"Pretty much...I am now officially one of the two nominees for the councillor position" she said, beaming with pride before giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Well done, you deserve it" said George.

"Thank you, George..." Edna replied.  She started to walk towards the kitchen but paused to turn to George.  "I think this calls for a celebratory drink, care to join me?" she said.

"Oh yes, that would be fahn, erm, I mean fine" he said, accidentally slipping into a Southern accent over the word 'fine'.

Edna went to the kitchen cupboards, pulled out a bottle and poured two glasses of neat whisky which she handed one to George and kept one for herself.  They sat on the couch in the lounge where George raised his glass to her.

"Congratulations"

"Thank you George.  Yes, one step closer to securing the nomination.  I've only Abe Aveleyman to beat and rumour has it he's having an affair with his secretary.  Fortunately there's no hint of scandal with my candidacy!" Edna said, gulping her drink down in one.  Then she did a sniff as if she had detected an unusual smell.  "That's a strong fragrance...did Beulah come today?"

George looked startled for a moment before he figured out what to say.  "Oh...yes.  Yes she did!  As you can see by all the dirty dishes having been cleared up."

"Hmm, she forgot to put away that book over there" said Edna, pointing to a book that had been left out on the couch.

"Oh...that was me, I was looking at it just before you came home" George replied, defensively.

"But enough about her, let's talk about what we're going to do next?" said Edna, getting up to pour herself another drink.

"We?"

"Yes, we, George.  We need a high profile success for the League of Decency.  Let the party know that our little group means business."

"What do you think we should do?" asked George.

"We'll work on that together...maybe a protest outside of the Kitten Club or a public speech about standards or something like that.  Details, George, we can work on them later."

Edna finished her second whisky and felt a lot more satisfied about things.  She went to her handbag and pulled out her diary to see what she had on for the rest of the week when she noticed an entry under today's date.

"Oh George, dear...I've just looked in the diary and do you know what day it is today?" she asked in a sly, sultry tone.

"The anniversary of the start of the Franco-Prussian War?" George replied.

"No, Dear, it's that time of the month...you know, our special time?  What my old Scottish grandmother called 'houghmagandie'" she said, fixing her gaze at George.

"Oh!  That..." he responded.  "Do you mean...now?"

"Yes, now, George.  We agreed, once a month and now that time is upon us again. Unless you don't want to...."

George looked wide eyed with glee.  "Oh no!  Let's do this!  It's our special time and why wait out here, let's get to the bedroom!"

"Oh and George..."

"Yes dear?"

"Can I go on top again?"