CHAPTER 243: She's Behind You

With Barbara still off work ill, it was left to Jeremy to open the shop this day.  He had never run the store without her before and he resolved he would attend to the business and let their shop assistant, Toni, deal with the customers' queries.  

He was also brooding on Suzy and Neil's request to try and find out more about the Landgraabs and the mysterious 'visitors'.  He was persona non grata around their offices and wouldn't dare take one step into the Landgraab Building, lest he fell foul of their security.  Besides, they weren't above murder to further their aims...

Toni arrived just before opening time and Jeremy kept her informed about Barbara's condition and what he wanted her to deal with today.

"So you deal with the customers and fashion enquiries and I'll run the store and keep things spick n' span." he said to her.

"Is Barbara alright?  I hope it's nothing serious" said Toni, looking concerned.

"The doc says it's a 24 hour thing.  She's resting today and will be back tomorrow, hopefully."

"Wish her all the best from me, poor thing." 

Trade was brisk but a little on the light side that morning.  When it got around to lunchtime Jeremy pondered his predicament about the Landgraab Corporation...he did have one contact there that he could tap for information but whether they would help him was another matter.  He thought about the implications before he decided to make the phone call.

He picked up the receiver and dialled the number...waiting a few seconds before the operator answered.

"Landgraab Corporation, which department or specific individual do you wish to speak to?" said the pleasant sounding receptionist at the other end.

"Darrin Lew, Property Acquisitions, please"  Jeremy replied.

"Who shall I say is calling?"

"Just say it's Mr Jezza.  He'll know who that is."

Meanwhile at the Landgraab Corporation building, Darrin Lew was off to his office after attending a departmental meeting.  He was glad it was over because he was in danger of being overwhelmed by tedium.

At that moment he was intercepted by the new guy who shared an office with him.  Darrin thought that he wanted help operating the photocopier or wondering where the mail room was.  He was a nice enough guy, Darrin thought, but very green when it came to working in such a large company as Landgraabs.

"Darrin...phone call for you on your extension." 

"Who is it?" asked Darrin.

"Someone called Mr Jezza...said he knows you."

"Mr Jezza?  Hmmm, I can't place the name.  OK, I'm coming." said a puzzled Darrin.

Darrin headed back to his office and picked up the phone receiver on his desk.  "Darrin Lew speaking"

"Darrin...it's Jeremy, Jeremy Saint" came the voice from the other end.

"You!  I should slam the phone down right now!" Darrin replied, very annoyed but not raising his voice so his colleague couldn't hear him.

"Please...hear me out!  Can we talk about something important?"  said Jeremy, panicked.

"How important?" answered Darrin.

"It's continuing our work with the corporation...that level of importance"

Darrin shook his head, rubbed the bridge of his nose and let out a sigh.  "OK...let's meet.  But not around here.  There's a cafe in Windenburg we can meet, discretely..."

Jeremy noted down the address and said goodbye, the meeting was set for 2pm.

Darrin put down the phone receiver and said and did nothing for a few seconds as he wondered what it was the Jeremy wanted to talk about.

"Is everything OK, Darrin?" asked his young colleague.

"Yeah...fine..."

"Who was that, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Old business...before your time here..." was Darrin's vague reply.

Up one level and on the other side of the building, a meeting was taking place that affected Darrin Lew...although he was completely unaware it was taking place and that he was the subject of the discussion.

"I think I have discovered who Jeremy Saint's co-conspirator is within the company, Mrs Landgraab." said Alice Ethington; the eyes and ears of the Landgraab Corporation.  A seemingly efficient, courteous and pretty young secretary but who had the ability to be aware of everything that went on in the company and who answered only to Nancy Landgraab and her father, Malcolm Landgraab III or "Big Mal" as he was known.

Nancy's interest was piqued.  "I thought it was Fanshawe" she said.

"That's what most of us thought, Mrs Landgraab.  His rapid departure from this firm and back to Dewey, Cheathem & Howe after our internal investigation was seen as a sign of guilt but we never had any concrete evidence it was him.  However, our wiretap detected an incoming phone call from Pack's Clothing Boutique in Magnolia Promenade."

"A business owned by Jeremy Saint..." said Mrs Landgraab.

"Indeed, Mrs Landgraab.  The wiretap shows it was a man calling and he identified himself as 'Jeremy'"

"So who was he calling?" asked Nancy.

"Darrin Lew...he is deputy head of Property Management."

"Darrin Lew....well, well..." said Nancy, sounding surprised.  "I never suspected it was him."

"With all due respect, Mrs Landgraab, I did.  The two would often sit together at lunch times and I observed them having brief meetings now and again.  Although I was never able to ascertain what their conversations were about to gather any evidence of collusion between the two of them.  These meetings took place before we increased the security of the company, I might add."

"Yes, yes" said Nancy with a nonchalant wave of the hand.  "So what did Saint want with Lew?"

"Saint wants to meet up with Lew at the South Square Coffee House in Windenburg at 2pm"

"Well then, you'd better get there and see if you can find out more."

"Yes, ma'am." was Alice's polite and curt reply.

After his phone conversation with Darrin, Jeremy had a word with Toni.

"I'll be going for a little while.  If I'm not back by 5pm can you lock up the store?"

"Sure thing, Jeremy." she replied without asking why he was leaving early.

Jeremy got in his car and drove down to Windenburg for his meeting with Darrin.  After parking up and heading to the address he was given, he was met by a stern looking Darrin Lew.

"You've got a nerve!" said Darrin, angrily.

"Darrin, I can explain..." replied Jeremy.

"You jumped the gun!  I said we needed to play the long game, get more evidence and then go to the Feds but you had to go running to them as soon as one document came your way."

"Look, can we sit down and discuss things calmly before people notice us rowing?" said a nervous Jeremy as he looked around the square.

Darrin nodded and they went to sit down at a table outside of the coffee shop. 

 "I know that to you it looks like I acted prematurely and without thought but that incriminating dossier that came my way would implicate Geoffrey and his lackeys only for a short period of time.  If I held on to it they would have transferred that stolen money to their offshore account and the Treasury wouldn't have been able to find anything." said Jeremy, by way of explanation.  "Besides, they were going to arrest and charge Geoffrey later that day..."

"They would have just got him; I was planning on bringing the whole family and company down!" said Darrin, still seething.  "And wasn't it just convenient that he died that day as well...his crimes going to the grave with him.  Now I'm back to square one and you're no longer at the company to help me!"

"Aren't there others who would help?  Like Fanshawe?" asked Jeremy.

"Fanshawe jumped ship before he was pushed.  He's back at DC&H." said Darrin.

"I didn't know..."

"Well, now you do.  So what's the purpose of this meeting, Jeremy?"

"My colleagues who have been working from the outside to expose Landgraab have come across new information that is of potential interest.  It also involves Victor and Lilly Feng."

"Feng?  What is this information?" asked Darrin, now intrigued.

"Both the Landgraab family and the Fengs are working in collaboration with an organisation known only as 'The Visitors'.  Have you come across them before?"

"Can't say I have.  I know Landgraab and the Fengs collaborated on a few projects years ago but they seem to have gone cool on each other of late.  Do you have any more information on these visitors?"

"Not much...well, not much that I can tell you.  They seem to supply hi-tech equipment to the Landgraabs and have aided Victor's political career over the years.  I've heard rumours they may be a Soviet front...I was wondering if you could have a look around in the company files to see if there's any mention of them."

"Is this a reference to the source of Gregory Landgraab's great fortune?  Those files, along with every file that has anything to do with Oasis Springs is the highest level of security.  My clearance doesn't go that far."

"But you know how to sidestep clearance to get to them though?"

Darrin sighed.  "Yes I do...and you know I do.  But it's a risk..."

"But you said your operation to bring the company down has stalled.  I can tell you what to look for but I can't get the files in person.  You can but you don't know what you're looking for."

"The Visitors?" asked Darrin.  

"Yes, and more.  Try searching for them plus dirigibles and the tunnel that runs under Affluista Mansion.  Then try looking for material pertaining to the tree in Foundry Cove.  Finally 1947 seems to be an interesting year.  That's when the Visitors first made contact with Victor Feng and there may be references to that in the files."

Darrin made notes in a small pocket book and put it back in his suit jacket.  "I'll see what I can do.  The heat at the Landgraab Building has died down a little but I still need to look over my shoulder now and again..." he said.

What neither man knew was that they were being watched.  Alice Ethington had discretely followed them to the coffee shop and had taken cover in a cloister next to it where she could observe Darrin and Jeremy without being spotted.

"So will you help?" Jeremy asked Darrin.

"I'll get back to you.  I'm not promising anything; the information you want might be well above my security level, but if I find anything, I'll let you know." Darrin replied.

"Well, I'd better be getting back to the shop.  All the best, Darrin" said Jeremy.

Darrin still looked put out but with some reluctance said "you too, Jeremy"

Alice had overheard only a few words but they were enough to convince her something nefarious was going on.  She decided not to follow Jeremy Saint but to see what Darrin Lew did next.

Darrin stood up and walked away in a direction that was towards the Landgraab Building so Alice decided to follow him from a distance.  As she broke cover she found Jeremy walking towards her but he hadn't realised who she was.  Quickly, she turned her face towards the coffee shop and looked in the window in an effort to not be spotted.  He passed by, oblivious to her.

Back at the Landgraab Corporation Alice gave her report to Nancy.

"Unfortunately from my vantage point I could only make out a few things they were saying, Mrs Landgraab, but I thought it prudent to remain undetected."

"That's acceptable...but what did you hear?" Nancy replied.

"There was some talk about Geoffrey and the Treasury Department then they mentioned Victor and Lilly Feng..."

"Did they now?" said Nancy, intrigued.

"And then they mentioned something about visitors and that Saint wanted Lew to look into them.  I don't get the reference as to who they were talking about."

"Don't worry about that, Alice.  I get the reference." Nancy replied, cool and calmly.

"It looks like Saint wants Lew to pass on company information to him but Lew seemed very reluctant to do so."

Nancy sighed.  "I warned Geoffrey not to trust Jeremy Saint..." she said.  Then she slapped the palms of her hands on her desk and stood up.  "You did well, Alice:  You shall be rewarded for your diligence."

Alice smiled.  "Thank you, Mrs Landgraab.  If I can be of any other service..." she said as she took the cue to stand as well.

"You've done enough for now.  Please return to your regular duties.  I will deal with this situation from now on."

"Of course, Mrs Landgraab."

"I'm so glad we can count on diligent young people like yourself" said Nancy, with her best and most insincere smile she used to wrap people around her finger.

CHAPTER 242: A Career In Retail

 

"...and in world news the French President, Charles DeGaulle, concluded his world tour by visiting French Polynesia, which belongs to France..."

Barbara and Jeremy were having their breakfasts whilst watching the morning news on TV.  There was the image of a grey haired DeGaulle walking around a tropical island, pointing at this and shaking hands with various local officials.  France had a few islands in their possession in the Pacific, with New Caledonia and Tahiti being the most promient.  Jeremy noted just how tall DeGaulle was as he seemed to tower over everyone else.

"How old is that guy?" asked Jeremy.  "My dad spoke about him when talking about World War 2 and he was already a general."

"Mid to late 70s, I think" Barbara replied.

"You're not sure?  I thought you were French!" 

"I'm FRENCH-CANADIAN with the emphasis on 'Canadian'.  He's not my president, although my Uncle Pierre would like him to be."

"...the President also witnessed the testing of France's latest atomic bomb at the Mururoa Atoll."

Both Jeremy and Barbara then saw a massive nuclear explosion on the TV screen and an image of DeGaulle, surrounded by military figures, wearing a radiation suit.

"Well...that's one way to end a world tour" mused Barbara.  "Anyway, time to get dressed..." she added.

"I'm really looking forward to today..." said Barbara, who hadn't stopped talking since they turned the TV off.  She was pumped up after breakfast and her morning run and ideas and thoughts were flowing from her.  Jeremy mostly nodded and said "yes".

"...I know we've taken a big risk in backing a new designer but Poppy is a really out there label and I think their latest collection is going to be a hit with the young and trendy crowd." she said.

"Are there that many young and trendy in this town?" asked Jeremy.

"Absolutely, Jeremy.  I keep my ear close to the ground and know the teenagers and student types in Sim City pretty well.  They're all crying out for those European style fashions and we're the only boutique in town supplying anything like that.  But there's risk with the Poppy collection:  It's slightly more expensive than most ready to wear items, there's no menswear range to go with it and...well...the more straight laced won't like it, especially that League of Decency."

"We'll see by the end of the week what the receipts are...speaking of which..." Jeremy replied, pointing to the small office he had in the next room.  He left the bedroom and went into the study whilst Barbara got dressed.

He got to work going over the accounts and was going to write up a financial statement for the month's business when he noticed that they had gone into the red with the new line of clothing.  Deep down he thought Barbara's fashion hunch was going to backfire:  After all, the hype of the mini skirt, the total look and the Mod culture was bound to burst at some point.  It might be different in Europe or Canada but America might about to lurch back the more conservative Eisenhower days; the time when he was a boy and young teenager and which had left an impression on him.

Barbara had finished getting dressed and entered the study.  When Jeremy looked in her direction he saw that she looked anything but conservative.  Her striking pink and lilac outfit and white boots were the height of the current fashion and she had leaned completely into the new trends and why not?  She was young and beautiful but was she the present, the future or already the past, he thought.

"There's my businessman...how's it looking?" she asked, sitting down in the study's more comfortable chair.

"Like we discussed...we've taken a risk.  We're slightly in the red this month." he said, matter of factly.

Barbara shrugged her shoulders.  "I still believe we'll have a hit on our hands.  But isn't risk part of running a small business?" she said.

"It is...but as I've always worked for large businesses a single shop is a bit out of my zone." Jeremy replied.  "I've always been the nervous one out of us so forgive me if I sound more pessimistic."

"You're also the brave one, Jeremy.  Be straight with me; are you happy co-owning the boutique with me and being an independent businessman?"

"Wow...that's...erm...a question!  It's hard to put into words...when I lost my job at Landgraab I felt relieved.  I thought about asking for my old job with J.J. Gotcha again but I wanted to try something different.  I know precious little about fashion and only slightly more about running a business but...yeah...it's been rewarding these last few weeks.  I like being with you all day, that's for sure."

"I love having you by my side" Barbara replied.  "I'm not just being hopelessly naive about the boutique...we've had good word of mouth, trade has been decent and we got that ringing endorsement from Jean Shrimpton herself!  I know you don't know who she is..."

"Some kind of English model, I think"

"Yeah, she's a huge name in fashion.  The first woman to wear a miniskirt in public!  What she wears people copy and she came to our little shop, bought some items and told people about us.  That's what inspired me to go further with the mod fashions.  We got free publicity that day.  If we succeed then that's great, if it fails then it was all part of the adventure."

"I love your infectious enthusiasm, Babs.  It's just that I've been thinking of a house move for us and...well...other things which will...erm...improve our lives going forwards...with the whole...you know...settling down thing and...uhm...making things official with room to expand our...unit...I was thinking next Spring..."

"Have you got a diamond ring to go with that speech?" joked Barbara.

"Oh no!  This isn't an official....I mean, I want to make it official but consider this a placeholder proposal for now..."

"It's time to go to work, Jeremy"

The two of them would typically arrive at the boutique at 8am, in time to give the place a polish and to restock and redress the mannequins.  Barbara gladly accepted the help of Jeremy in getting the shop ready because it was exhausting when she had to do it on her own and their one shop assistant, Toni, could only arrive at 10 minutes before opening time because of how far away she lived.

Jeremy was poking at his belly with his index finger and Barbara paused from polishing the counter top to find out what he was doing.

"What....may I ask...are you doing to yourself?" she asked.

"This suit is a terrible fit and my belly is overhanging my belt just slightly.  I think I've piled on the pounds." he replied.

"I have a better one in your style out the back...you can wear that if it would be more comfortable" she responded, trying to be helpful.

"I'll take you up on that.  Meanwhile have I got time to have a quick jog around the block to work this off?  I usually find a bit of exercise helps fight the flab."

"OK, Toni's due any minute now and if it gives you piece of mind then go for it."

As Jeremy went for his run, Barbara went to put some music on for the shop and prepared for the 9am opening.

No sooner had Toni arrived and the sign on the door flipped from "closed" to "open" than the first customers arrived.  One was a very familiar face:  Liberty Lee.

"Libs...how lovely to see you!  I thought you'd be down at Houston" said Barbara, greeting her friend and neighbour.

"I fly down there this evening.  My shift on the Gold team isn't until tomorrow." Liberty replied.

"I lose track; I know there's a spaceflight launch today but I can't remember which number Gemini it is"

"XI:  Conrad and Gordon.  We're still trying to get better at docking and spacewalks." said Liberty.  "But today I want something special!"

"Ooh, how special?" said Barbara, intrigued at what Liberty had in mind.

"Well, it's Gary's birthday in just over a week and he's invited me to Chez Llama, then on to dancing at the Kitten Club so I want something smart, swanky and up to the minute that would look great at both places and will make his jaw drop.  I need to find something today because I fly out to Houston tonight and won't be back until the day before our date, and I'm likely to be too tired to go clothes shopping then."

"I think I have just the thing..." said Barbara, with a smile on her face as she envisaged the perfect outfit for Liberty.

Meanwhile Jeremy had returned from his run, freshened up in the staff bathroom and changed into a better fitting suit.  He then wasted no time in getting back to work, which consisted of customer service.

In the boutique was a young, blonde woman who was dressed head to toe in pale pink, including a pale pink beret which she kept on whilst in the shop.  When she saw Jeremy holding a clipboard of items for sale she correctly deduced that he worked in the shop and made a bee line for him.

"Excuse me, do you work here?" she said in a bright, pleasant sounding voice.  

"I do...in fact, I co-own this store.  How may I help you?" he responded.

Jeremy noticed that she was very pretty, with prominent cheekbones, bright green eyes and full lips.  Her blonde hair was trendily cut so that when it reached the shoulders it curled outwards.  A pretty face always froze Jeremy in his tracks.

"My, I am in luck...the co-owner no less.  I'm looking to buy an outfit that will...what's the word?  'Dazzle', that's it.  I want to buy an outfit that will dazzle when I wear it."

"Would it be for any special occasion?" Jeremy asked.

"Erm...nothing specific...I just want to impress people with what I wear.  Be noticed...but only by the right kind of gentleman or lady"

"Something aspirational, perhaps?" said Jeremy.  The woman put a gentle hand on his arm and smiled enthusiastically.

"You put it perfectly, yes, 'something aspirational'.  I feel you understand me on this one.  So intuitive, tee-hee." she said, with a coquettish giggle.  This just made Jeremy tense up more.

"Well, madam..." he began.

"Oh do call me Sally, Mr?"

"Saint, Jeremy Saint"

"Saint by name, saint by nature perhaps?  Silly me.  I am in your capable hands."

"OK...Sally...let's look at what's in our range that would be ideal for you..." he said, nervously.

At various times since the boutique had opened, there was a little drama being played out in it.  Whether it was the Sneedleys denouncing the store which led to George Sneedley having a panic attack or a bunch of mean teenage girls picking on fellow teenager, Lulu Strang, there were these moments when it looked like things might turn nasty and today was no exception.

The problem occurred when Jeremy, Barbara and Toni were all on the other side of the boutique and three customers had a set to at the front.  Jeremy noticed some raised voices and turned to see where they were coming from when he saw three customers, two men and a woman, getting tense and angry.

"You should be ashamed of yourself!  You belong in prison you do!" said the woman, a lady of around 40 who had blonde hair and wore a green pants outfit.  She had directed her comments at an older, grey haired man whose fashion choices were a mixture of old and new.  Alongside the traditional button up vest and classic cut pants he wore his shirts sleeves slightly rolled up, with a white cravat and his hair was longer than most men his age...it was practically like the Rolling Stones.

"And what crime have I committed?" said the man, who had a mischievous and slightly leering expression on his face.

"You know!  Your poor wife...." replied the lady.

"Habeus corpus...produce the body, dear lady.  Maybe I can explain the matter over dinner this evening..."

"Ugh, no thank you.  You disgust me!" she responded in a huff.  "In fact, I will telephone the police right now..."

At this point the second of the two me intervened.  A large black gentleman with a neatly trimmed beard stepped in between the two squabbling customers.  

"Now, now.  There's no need for that and, besides, you've got no proof of any crime to accuse Mr Villareal of."

"I could have you arrested for making a false allegation in public, Miss." retorted Villareal.

"Jacques, I'd advise you to stay quiet as well.  This is not the time nor the place for a spat." said the black man.

Jeremy excused himself from Sally and went over to find out what was going on. 

"Excuse me, is there a problem here?" he asked.

"Not anymore, sir." said the black man.  "I think everyone is going to go their way and cool down."

"Harumph..." said the lady, stomping off.

"I could have handled this, Eric" said Villareal.

"You were pouring petrol on the situation, Jacques.  Now play it cool for the moment.  Sorry, sir" Eric said, turning to Jeremy.  "sorry to have troubled you".

Jeremy and Eric walked away from Jacques Villareal and, in a soft voice, Eric informed Jeremy what was going on and Sally was nearby, hanging on every word.

"You see, that's Jacques Villareal.  He's a bigwig around town, owns a large estate out in Windenburg.  Well, back in '60 his wife went missing and no trace of her has ever been found so, naturally, folks around here think he must have bumped her off, catch my drift?"

"I did not know that.  Well, thank you Mr...."

"Lewis.  Eric Lewis, glad to know you.  You've got a fine establishment here and I hate to see a moment like that ruin the place."

"Thank you, Mr Lewis.  I will keep an eye out for any more potential trouble between those two" Jeremy replied.  Eric Lewis walked off to check out some clothing leaving Jeremy alone with Sally, who looked admiringly at him.

"You handled that very well.  I thought that man looked familiar!  If you ask me, he did it!" she said.

"Anyway, where were we?" said Jeremy, trying to change the subject.

"Something dazzling" Sally replied.

"Oh yes, now let me check my handy little clipboard here..."

"You check away...I like a man who's thorough..."

"Gulp"

"Ah yes, I see right here an outfit that might be right for you.  Do you like black or white or a mixture?" he said, regaining his composure.

"All of the above...don't let the pink fool you" she replied.

"Then here we go...it's the latest thing, it's from the hottest new designer in town:  Poppy.  It's a black and white patterned outfit...I believe inspired by World War One ship camouflage...or maybe a particular species of butterfly...erm, I'm not explaining it very well..." he stammered.  Once again, Sally put a soft hand on his arm.

"You're doing wonderfully..." she said.

He looked down at his clipboard again "It says here that it's inspired by the French Mod look with Pierre Carin flourishes and it's the Total Look:  The dress comes with complimentary stockings or tights, shoes, gloves and a pillbox hat.  I think it's called that because it resembles a WW2 pillbox."

Jeremy inwardly cursed himself for making military references when dealing with this woman.

Sally looked at the outfit up and down with a keen intensity.  "Yes...YES" she said out loud.  "I want to try it on...not all of it, just the dress and the hat"

"Certainly" said Jeremy, who then asked for her size before getting a dress and hat from the racks.

A few minutes later she emerged, looked at herself in the mirror and walked about the shop in glee.  "Oh, Jeremy, it's divine!  It certainly dazzles!"

"I'm glad you like it" he said, politely.

"I'll take it all!  The dress, the hat, the shoes...I'm a size 9.  And I'll have these absolutely adorable gloves and the tights as well.  Jeremy, you are a wonder!" she exclaimed.

"Thank you" he said, embarrassed.  He had to admit, though, that Sally looked amazing in that outfit.  "If you're satisfied I'll get those other items and ring you up at the till."

"You're so kind.  I'm buying this in expectation really, not for any special event.  I just want to look my best for...well, Mr Right...whoever he is."

"Looking your best is always a good thing in my opinion" he said, sheepishly, trying to find something complimentary to say to her without trying to flirt or encourage her flirtation with him.

"May I ask, are you a married man, Jeremy?"

"No...not yet.  I have a girlfriend...well, she's more than just my girlfriend.  She's my business partner, my best friend and my soul mate...." he said, turning to look where Barbara was, his face beaming with pride.

"...I just haven't gotten around to asking her to marry me, yet.  Oh, I'm sorry, I shouldn't be so personal at work.  You want these items, let's go to the till."

"Oh don't apologise, Jeremy.  You're a romantic at heart, I can see that.  Is that her, the strawberry blonde in that fabulous pink dress with the lilac circles?"

"Yes, that's her"

"Oh she's beautiful!  You lucky, lucky man.  I could tell, only the best for you.  Oh you must put a ring on her, Jeremy, make it official!" Sally gushed, her eyes fluttering in excitement.  "How wonderful it is to meet you...I just wished there were more men like you out there:  Kind, helpful and dedicated." she added with a sigh.

"I'm sure you'll find one...the outfit should help." he said, trying to find the appropriate words to say to her.

Across the shop Barbara and Liberty had found just the outfit for her date with Gary.

"This dress is amazing!" said Liberty.  "I want it!"

"OK, I agree...this season is all about colour and the bolder the better" said Barbara.

At the end of business Jeremy totalled up the receipts and gathered Barbara and Toni to announce the day's takings.

"We...made...a...profit!  A big one, actually.  Two men's 3 piece suits, high end so that's always good business and 3 complete outfits with accessories from the Poppy collection." he announced.

"I knew it!  I knew it would be popular!"  exclaimed Barbara.

"Well done, Barbara.  And Jeremy as well..." said Toni.  "Hang on, Barbara...you don't look well."

Toni had noticed that Barbara had suddenly developed a nasty rash and it covered her face and arms.

"That looks pretty bad." said Jeremy.  "Did you come into contact with anything?"

"I did go into the storeroom to open up a box of those Korean gloves...oh no, I remember feeling itchy after opening all those plastic bags...ow...OWWW...my skin stings!"

"Toni, can I leave you to lock up?  I'm getting Barbara back home immediately!"

Jeremy helped Barbara to their car and instructed her not to scratch the itchy parts of her body.  Then he drove back to Willow Creek as fast as was legally possible.  Once back home, he took her to the bed and unzipped her boots and took them off whilst she let down her hair and took out the large earrings she had been wearing.  

"Oh I feel tired and itchy..." she said, lying out on the bed.

"I'll phone the doctor" he said, heading out of the room and over to the telephone.

It turned out her skin had a reaction to the plastic packaging she handled in the stockroom and the doctor prescribed some lotion and tablets to treat the illness.  Barbara soon fell asleep and just as Jeremy was going to sit down in the lounge and watch some TV, his phone rang.

"Hello, Jeremy Saint here?" 

"Jeremy, are you free this evening?" it was Suzy Humphries' voice.  

"Erm...yes.  Barbara's not well and has gone to bed and I was just going to watch TV.  What's up?"

"Neil and I want to talk with you about something important...there have been developments in our little mystery..."

Suzy and Neil lived in the next neighbourhood along in Willow Creek and it didn't take long for Jeremy to get there.  When he got inside, he found them excited that he was there.

"So what's the latest development?" he asked.

"What do you know of Victor and Lily Feng?" Suzy asked.

"Practically nothing." Jeremy replied.

"Their names didn't come up when you worked at Landgraabs?" asked Neil.

Jeremy shook his head.  "No.  I don't remember them being mentioned by anyone.  What's going on?"

"I've been doing some more research into the secret workings of this city...I've covered the Landgraabs and now I've turned my attentions to the chapter in the book about the Fengs.  They too have a rags to riches story and somehow they're part of this Triangle of Power" said Suzy.

"Oh yes, that.  Landgraab, Feng and Goth." said Jeremy.

"No, not Goth.  They're not the third part." said Neil.

"Then who is?" asked Jeremy.

"That part we're not sure of.  It's not a family, it's more like an organisation." said Neil.

"This organisation seems to pop up in the lives of the Landgraabs and Fengs, giving them assistance and material benefits that greatly benefit them and propel them to vast wealth and power.  Now in your time at Landgraab did you ever hear anyone talk about 'The Visitors'?"  asked Suzy.

"I don't think so..." said Jeremy.

"Did you overhear any strange conversations, or see any documents that seemed more out of the ordinary than usual?" asked Neil.

"Well...there's that tree in Willow Creek.  The one that leads to a weird place we can't explain.  And there's the brainwashing machine in company headquarters.  Oh yes, and there was that time Nancy acted all hyper and paranoid after....Lily Feng was shot at!" Jeremy said, excitedly, when he remembered that last detail.

"Do you still maintain any contacts within the Landgraab Corporation?" asked Suzy.

"I've not spoken to anyone there since I was fired" Jeremy replied.

"I know it's a big ask but we really need to find out more of what's going on with Landgraab and the Fengs.  Could you dust off one or two of your old contacts and ask them to look into a little matter...."

CHAPTER 241: Feng

 

"Neil...I've started to read the section about the Fengs and...well, their story is even more perplexing than the Landgraabs" mused Suzy as she lay on their bed, thinking about the things she had recently read about Victor and Lilly Feng.

"How so?" Neil asked.

"The Landgraab story was one of a dynastical heritage, how they came to be prominent in Sim City and all that.  Yes, there were strange stories about Gregory Landgraab and where he got that wealth from..."

"And the dirigible scare, don't forget that!" said Neil.  That was the part of the story that he wondered about the most.

"Oh yes...that.  But apart from that the rest of their history is about Dirk stealing a ship filled with treasure, starting the company, marrying into a good family, cheating Hugh Sim out of his fortune and arranging his death under suspicious circumstances..."

"Just a regular family, pillars of the community" said Neil, sarcastically.

"But wait till you get a load of the Fengs!" said Suzy, her eyes wide in a mixture of excitement and confusion.  

"More crime?  More scandal?" asked Neil.

"Not exactly..." said Suzy, cryptically.  She sprung into action, stopped lounging on the bed lost in thought and grabbed the tome by Patrick Cornelius about the Hidden Secrets of Sim City.

"I'll read the chapter and you see what you make of it.  I could do with some feedback here..." she said.

Suzy began to read out loud from the book.  "Victor Feng's ancestors arrived in Sim City in the early 1900s, not much is known about them except they fled China after the Boxer Rebellion.  Lilly's family had recently arrived from Macau just after World War 1.  Both Victor and Lilly were born in Sim City within a month of each other in 1921."

"So far, so straightforward..." said Neil.

"That's just the preamble, the really interesting stuff comes next!" she replied with more enthusiasm in her voice.

"San Myshuno, 1937..." and as she continued reading, her voice sounded more dramatic.

Victor and Lilly had known each other practically since birth.  Their parents had fled China to start new lives...For Victor's parents it was a matter of survival:  They had supported the Boxers in the rebellion and wound up on the losing side.  For Lilly's they left the rigidly stratified Portuguese colony of Macau in search of new opportunities in America.  The children grew up within a block of each other and never knew a time when they didn't know one another...

"Awww, sweet"

"Shut up, Neil, I'm trying to tell the story here!"

"Sorry.  Carry on"

The two were playmates and then, as they entered their teenage years, they developed a crush on one another which turned into a bond that went beyond mere sexual attraction.  It was founded on something way, way deeper.

It was foretold in the I-Ching that Victor and Lilly's destinies would be entwined forever.  If he had some misgivings about ancient superstition, Lilly had not.  Her life was ruled by the I-Ching and her Taoist beliefs.  It was indeed fortunate that their love for one another was in harmony with the I-Ching's prediction but it might also be argued that their attraction was influenced by what the divination said.  I feel it is my duty as a scholar to add my own opinion on the matter here.  I am a man of reason and intellect but I offer no verdict on whether such superstitions and religious beliefs are real or otherwise, merely to point out that this is what Lilly and Victor believed and that it had a profound effect on their lives then and now.

"Love at first sight...do you believe in that?" Interjected Neil.

"There was this one guy...Tommy Daly, I had such a crush on him the moment I laid eyes on him" Suzy replied.

"Really?  When was that?" asked Neil, who was taken aback by Suzy's confession.

"When I was 7.  But since then the magic hasn't happened." she said.

"Not even when we first met?"

"You were hard work!  I admit, there was instant attraction but you were so, so shy back then!  I've had pickle jars that were easier to open up than you."

"I'm a sensitive artist!  And...well...I used to be paralysed with fear when pretty girls were around.  And you are the prettiest girl I've ever met so I was terrified to talk to you!"

"So less love at first sight with us and more like interest at first sight"

"Anyway, continue with the story..." said Neil, looking at the book next to Suzy.

Although Victor and Lilly were convinced they were destined for one another their parents were not similarly convinced.  The Fengs had to abandon their wealth when they fled so they were dirt poor when they arrived in America.  Victor's father had earned enough money to open a Chinese laundry in San Myshuno, the kind of work Westerners expected from Chinese immigrants, but money was still tight.  Lilly's family were more affluent and her parents had a hand crafted jewellery and ornament shop that did respectable trade.  However, Victor believed he was going to be a man of great destiny and was determined to rise above the slums of the Spice Quarter to become someone important.

"Well I know how that story turns out" said Neil.

"Neil, will you stop interrupting me?" said Suzy in exasperation.

"Sorry"

Lilly, in turn, vowed to do her bit in helping Victor achieve greatness and even had plans to become a great woman herself.  The first step, however, was how to escape the slum?

He worked hard, very hard, to make some money but it was seldom enough for a young man destined for greatness.  Lilly devoted herself to becoming a charming and erudite young lady who could get others to do her bidding for her.  She would harness fate itself to get what she wanted.

The 1930s was hard going for Victor and Lilly.  It was a hard time for everyone but for the children of immigrants during the last phase of the Great Depression it was especially so.  But the two of them ploughed on, working hard, helping each other, defying their parents and spurred on by the power of their deep love for one another and their belief in the powers that be.

That fate took the form of war.  When America entered World War 2 Victor immediately enlisted in the US Army.  He saw military service and the possibility of going overseas to fight as a way out of the San Myshuno slums.  By enlisting on the 8th December, 1941 he avoided the sad fate of many of his fellow Chinese immigrants:  Internment.  Even though the policy was meant for Japanese-Americans, many Chinese and other far Eastern immigrants were scooped up by the authorities and dumped into camps.  Victor had already passed his medical and was beginning basic training before the more lazy and stupid civil servants rounded up the Chinese of Sim City...Lilly and her family falling victims.

It took a year to sort out the bureaucratic mistake and release of Lilly's family by which time Victor was shipping out to North Africa and then Italy.  He had been assigned to the 442nd Infantry Regiment, a unit comprised of 2nd generation Japanese-Americans although some Chinese and Hawaiians were drafted into it as well.  Victor fought right throughout the Italian Campaign and won a Bronze Star during the battle of Monte Cassino.

But all the time while Victor was in the thick of action, he did not fear death nor did he believe he would be killed.  The I-Ching and his own sense of self convinced him he would survive the war and go on to do even greater things.

The war for him had ended after the defeat of Germany in 1945.  He had accrued enough points to be sent home so by the end of that year he returned to Sim City, a hero to his own community.

...and to be reunited with his love.

She was more beautiful than ever and hadn't wasted her time while he was away.  She had done her bit raising money for the war effort and had cultivated a network of useful business contacts in San Myshuno.  She was gifted in the ways of persuasion and had even promoted her father's business amongst the more affluent white members of Sim City society.  

Now they were reunited, it was time to put their plans into operation.  With Victor now a decorated war hero Lilly's parents could no longer object to him being a suitable match for her.  Besides, he was now eligible for the G.I. Bill so he could go to college.

Victor attended Britechester University where he majored in geology.  He was a hard working student and gained praise from his tutors and professors for his dedication and positive attitude to not only learning, but being the best.

He would also go on to make valuable contacts at Britechester as well:  People who would be helpful to him in his subsequent political career.  His humble, immigrant background did not stop him from joining a fraternity where he could meet and make friends with the sons of the wealthy of Sim City.

"What was Lilly doing whilst Victor was studying?" asked Neil at this point.

"She was learning the family business and becoming more entrusted with aspects of it.  Her father and brother would make the ornaments and jewellery and she was very good at selling it to high class people."  Suzy replied.

"OK, well so far this all sounds like the great American immigrant success story...'give me your tired and poor'.  Compared to some of the stuff the Landgraabs got up to, the Fengs seem like paragons." 

"Neil, we haven't even reached the truly crazy part...just hold on to your hat!" said Suzy, enthusiastically.

It was in June of 1947 that Victor's life would change dramatically again.  For some time he had been curious about discovering the source of the late Gregory Landgraab's fortune.  There were rumours that he had stumbled upon a rich seam of gold, silver, diamonds or other precious stones.  Others said that he had discovered long lost Conquistador or Native American treasure.  If the source of Landgraab wealth was indeed natural and geological in nature then who knows what other treasures lurked in the hills of Oasis Springs?  In that summer of 1947 he conducted some field research as part of his geology studies but also to see if he could also accrue some wealth.

He got close to Affluista Mansion, home of the Landgraabs, but the property itself was strictly off limits so a little further away form the mesa it sat upon, he went collection rock and mineral samples...which is where he stumbled upon the boarded up entrance to what looked like a mine.

The presence of a mineshaft would indicate that the precious metals or stone theory of the Landgraab fortune would be the correct one.  However, before he could pry apart the heavy wooden boards blocking the entrance, he was interrupted...

Two men appeared as if from nowhere.  They were dressed in black suits and wore black trilby hats...not out of place in a city street in the late 1940s but here, up in the desert hills?  They seemed incongruous.

These two men approached Victor as he examined the mineshaft entrance but what happened next is still largely a mystery.  I have been able to piece together a few, incomplete facts from statements Victor has made in private (although I cannot divulge my sources of information) along with the statements of a couple of witnesses that I was able to track down.

So the two mysterious men prevented Victor from breaking into the mineshaft but the encounter was apparently not a violent one.  Victor seemed to readily agree to stop his explorations and instead engage in conversation with them.

Alas, there are no records of what was said between the three of them.

There were a couple of witnesses who I managed to track down and interview a few years ago.  They were hiking in the region with a third companion and saw this meeting, but only from a distance.

They could, however, ascertain a few things from that distance.  The conversation seemed civil but at some point Feng shook his head and indicated he wasn't happy or satisfied by something one of the two men in black suits had said.

But then something happened that shocked the three hikers...they had noticed a rippling effect in the air emanating from one of the men in black's forehead which travelled straight at Victor and hit him in the eyes.

One of the witnesses said Victor reeled in pain but the other said Victor looked more uneasy and unsteady on his feet instead of being hurt.  This phenomena remains completely unexplained although there have been studies performed in the Soviet Union about whether telepathic powers are real and can be developed in human brains.  I remain neutral in such speculation.

Both witnesses agreed that Victor found it difficult to talk and let out a series of strangulated utterances that were unintelligible.  They said the brainwaves from the two men in black lasted for about two minutes.

And then, suddenly, it stopped and Victor was able to recover his balance and senses.  The three men quickly ran away before they could be spotted but one of them noticed that the expression on Victor's face was one of calmness and contentment.

After this encounter Victor's fortunes rapidly changed and for the better.  His mineral discoveries on that expedition proved to be very valuable indeed and he was able to sell them, to the Landgraab Corporation for a considerable amount of money.  He was now, essentially, set for life.  He graduated with honours, stayed on to do a Masters in economics and went into business by buying out Lilly's parents and running it jointly with her.  They became married, became doyens of Sim City society and eventually Victor entered into local politics by winning a seat on the City Council in 1958.  As was foretold, he and Lilly's fortunes were entwined and they achieved greatness in this city.

"Whoa, that is some crazy weird stuff right there!" said Neil, flabbergasted by what he just heard.  "So how did Cornelius find those witnesses?"

"That's an another fascinating part of this story...I'll read on..." said Suzy.

When I managed to track down these hikers they were still, to this day (as of 1963) frightened by what they had seen.  One had even begun to doubt that what he saw actually happened but his friend assured him that it most certainly did and, in the end, he admitted that he was just trying to rationalise what he had seen by attributing it to a bad dream.  I enquired about their third friend who was hiking with them but that brought forth more horror and dread from my witnesses.

"He was...absorbed...Mr Cornelius" said one of them.

"Absorbed?" I enquired.

"That's what they said...the men, the men in black.  They found us, me, Walt and Hank.  Tracked us down and made threats.  There was something about them, their eyes, those beady, dark and piercing eyes, that was menacing.  Anyway Hank said he wasn't scared of them and threatened to call the US Air Force because he'd heard they were looking for strange shit but the next day Hank had vanished and the men returned, saying he'd been absorbed.  Never saw Hank again..."

"Absorbed...now where have I heard that term before?" mused Suzy but Neil didn't answer; he was lost in thought.  Suzy reclined on the bed and put the book down.  "Neil, what does this all mean?  This is way weirder than the Landgraab chapter but if what Cornelius has written about the Fengs is true...well, what does it all mean?"

Neil thought for a moment then an idea hit him...

"The Dirigible People!"  He said, suddenly.

"The dirigible people?  What are you talking about?" asked an incredulous Suzy.

"Think back to the chapter about Gregory Landgraab.  There was this dirigible panic back in the 1890s, mysterious airships appearing from nowhere using technology that hadn't been known to have been invented.  Gregory goes up in a hot air balloon to find out what they are and then comes back telling everyone it's all OK and they have nothing to fear.  And he does it again over 10 years later.  The people he met with who flew the dirigibles...they sound similar to the men Feng met that day.  Think about it:  They arrive from nowhere, over that same stretch of ground near where Affluista Mansion sits today, they have a meeting with a man who's struggling in life and then, bam!  He becomes wealthy, marries the most eligible woman in Sim City and it's all success from then on out.  It's the same story."

"Could this mean that Patrick Cornelius is making this all up and rehashing his plots?" asked Suzy.  "Have I been wasting my time all the while since I discovered those pages?"

"No, that's not what I'm saying, Suz...I'm saying the Dirigible People, or the Men in Black or whoever they are have a modus operandi.  They have a patch of land in that region they jealously guard but somehow find a local who they deem worthy of bestowing their favour on and make them rich and powerful.  The two parts of the Triangle of Power!  First, the Landgraabs...a dynasty whose lineage is as old as the city's, who practically own it!  Then the Fengs, a couple of immense determination and intellect who control the political life of this town!  Yes, it all fits Suzy!  Two of the prongs that control Sim City; Landgraab and Feng."

Neil was up on his feet pacing around the room by now, excited by his own train of thought.

"And the third we thought were the Goths!" said Suzy, following Neil's way of thinking.  "And if it were the same dirigible people who had abducted Bella but somehow found that family not useful to them...then that makes sense as well!  Mortimer probably rejected them, but saved his family's life by promising to remain silent...and maybe Alan Cuffe has encountered the third group as well because he sure as hell is saying nothing about the strangeness that befell him recently.  Oh my gosh, Neil...this is seriously weird stuff and we haven't even had a puff on any bubbles!"

"So the third part of the Triangle of Power must be these dirigible people..." said Neil.

"The ones Cornelius describes as 'The Visitors'...yes, they're called that because they're not locals, they're outsiders from who knows where.  They mysteriously appear..."

"From the skies...in advanced flying ships.  Suzy, do you realise the implications of this?" said Neil with a look of seriousness and dread on his face.  For her, the penny dropped as well.

"Oh no...you don't mean..." she uttered in horror.

"Flying saucers, men from space..." said Neil, disconsolately.

Suzy shut her eyes and let out a sigh.  "Neil, I can't publish such an article.  They'll think we're mad!"

"Or maybe Patrick Cornelius has made up a clever work of fiction and used real people in it.  We can go with that and keep our sanity.  No wonder Aadvik went mad and killed himself."

Suzy shook her head.  "Neil...we can't ignore what we've learned.  A mysterious wooded glade that exists outside of our own geography, the fortune of Gregory Landgraab, the rise and rise of Victor and Lilly Feng, the assassination attempts on Alan and Madelyn, Action's missing memory, Geoffrey's mysterious death and Leanne McGregor...a woman with seemingly strange powers.  Maybe The Visitors are little green men, maybe they're Russians or something else.  But they're real and they are somehow behind it all!"

"So we carry on?" asked Neil.

"We carry on!" replied Suzy.