CHAPTER 227: In The Bloodstream

Stay off the case, Action...we've got top men...TOP MEN...taking care of the Landgraab murder.  Just stick to your assignment...

Action was pounding the streets of Willow Creek hard this morning as he jogged around the neighbourhood.  It was often a good way to sharpen his thinking when he had a lot on his mind.

My assignment...a stolen diary and a drug overdose gone wrong.  I should be focussing on them but I keep thinking about the anomalies in the Landgraab death; someone tampered with the thermostat and locked the door from the outside.  It was no accident but Detective Schuster's going to write it up as one because he's lazy.

I've always said...'my job, my way'.  Dammit; I have a hunch all three cases are connected and I'm going to prove it!

 

At 13th Precinct HQ Action wasted no time in heading to the forensic lab to get some answers.

"Bibi..." he said to his favourite crime scene officer.  "...did that toxicology report I requested come in yet?"

"Which one?" Bibi replied in her clipped German accent.  "Your official case that you are meant to be working on; the Thomas Green case, or the one you insist on working on even though you have been told not to?"

"Why not both?" Action replied.

Bibi picked up two files from her desk and opened up the first one.  "Mr Thomas H. Green:  There was nothing in his bloodstream out of the ordinary...but we haven't been able to ascertain what caused his massive organ failure.  But there is something of interest."

"Oh yeah, what's that?"

"Something that was found on his person.  In one of his jacket pockets there was a handkerchief and wrapped up in it were two small pills"

"Drugs?  Illegal ones?" asked Action, his interest in the Green case suddenly piqued.

"They tested as amphetamines but one that is entirely new to us:  It is not on our database of narcotics.  But now things get interesting..."

"How so?"

"Traces of that amphetamine were found in Geoffrey Landgraab's bloodstream"

Action said nothing at first but instead looked straight at Bibi as he realised the implications of that bit of information.

"A narcotic that is entirely new, Green, a known drug dealing associate of Malcolm Landgrab has possession of it and Malcolm's father had ingested it.  I've got a lot of questions about this bit of news but my one to you, Bibi, is could the amphetamine caused Geoffrey's heart attack?"

"We don't know enough about this specific drug but in theory a pill that boosts your heart rate in the body of a middle aged man who gets stuck in a sauna..."

"...LOCKED in a sauna with the thermostat turned up to maximum.  Yes...it all adds up!  Bibi, once again you are a superstar" and with that Action gave her a kiss on the cheek as he strode out of the lab and towards the squad room.

"OK, listen up you turkey necks!  We've got a new lead in both the T.H. Green and Landgraab deaths..." he said, his loud baritone voice bellowing in the squadroom.

"But Action, I thought we were only supposed to be working on the Green case" said a young patrolman, Jesse Navarro.

"Turns out this lead is for both cases.  A new type of drug, an amphetamine, was discovered on both bodies.  Here's a tox report I want you all to read.  When you go out on patrol I want you to shake down every dealer, every dope head and fixer you know.  Find me the manufacturer of this drug!"

Action was prepared to lead by example and hit the streets himself, questioning his network of informants and those who he knew had an ear to the ground on the streets.

Of course once a policeman starts flashing his badge around in public they're going to encounter a moral busybody who demands the police do something about layabout delinquents/terrible litter/illegal parking/buskers...

One of his favourite places to hang out and get information from was The Blue Velvet bar on the Willow Creek high street.  Everyone knew Action there and when he entered he was satisfied to see a couple of regulars there who knew what was going down.

                                                

As soon as Action had entered the bar he was recognised by one acquaintance.  She wasn't enthusiastic to see him either.

"Action...you here?" she said with a resigned sigh.

"I sure am, Aime.  How are you keeping?" he replied.

"Clean."

"Good to hear...but maybe you can help me out on a little matter?" he asked.  Aime's eyes rolled; she knew what was coming.

"I just knew you were working.  OK, what is it this time?" she said, with a weary sigh.

"I'll make this worth your time.  The lowdown is this:  A new drug, an amphetamine, has hit the streets and we have two dead bodies on our hands, both related to this new thing.  Have you heard anything about it?"

"You know, Action, I have.  This kid...she's over there by the piano...came in here earlier and offered to sell me a couple of pills:  She said is was a new way of getting high, keep me going all night.  I told her I don't do that kind of stuff so she's been trying it on with some of the other customers but they're not exactly the kind who wants to trip out."

Action looked over towards the piano and saw a mixed race waif of a girl who was wearing a bright orange-red wig.  "Not exactly the inconspicuous type..." he muttered to Aime.  "...and she's no more than 15, I'll wager.  Thanks for the tip off, Aime" he said, passing a $20 bill to her.

Action sauntered over to her and flashed his badge.  "I need to see some I.D." he said to the girl, matter of factly.

"I ain't got none; they're in my other pants" she replied, defiantly.

"That's a shame...then you're going to have to come downtown with me and answer some questions"

"And what if I refuse?" she said, jutting her jaw out in stubborness.

"Kiddo, I'm John Action.  Ask around; I've never lost a fight.  You can come along peacefully or in cuffs; your choice.

The teenager, who went by the name of Aya Chatman, kicked up a stink when they arrived at the precinct house.  

"I know my rights!  I have to be in class in an hour!" she wailed.

"In class?  I thought you had I.D. proving you were an adult" Action replied.

"Erm...I'm a college student" she stammered.

"Oh yeah, whereabouts?"

"Britechester Academy..." 

"It's Britechester University.  So what are you studying there?"

"Erm...uhm...theorem?" she said, unconvincingly.

"Whatever, Einstein, just get in here and answer some questions." he said, shoving her into the interrogation room.

"Am I under arrest?" she asked as she sat down.

"No, not yet...although you illegally purchased liquor in a licenced establishment so I can charge you with that.  And those pills you were carrying on you can get you jail time as well...not least you were trying to sell them in that club, which witnesses will attest to.  So I can go through all that and charge you, then we bring in the lawyers and your legal guardians, you'll go to court, probably get probation if this is your first offence and you'll have a nice shiny criminal record.  Or..." 

"Or what?"

"Or you can help me catch some bigger crooks." he said, laying out his case file before her.

Aya said nothing.  Action continued by showing her a photo.  "Do you know this guy?"  he asked.  Aya took the photo and looked at it.

"Yeah, I know him:  Tom Green.  He died recently but I had nothing to do with that!"

"Do you know who did?" Action asked.

"I...I'm not sure.  One of his dealer pals, I reckon."

"Male or female?"

"Could have been both:  One to give the order and the other to carry it out.  That's the rumours, anyway.  I was told to keep my mouth shut."

"By who?"

"Man...I just told you!  I was told to keep my mouth shut otherwise..." Aya looked tense and anxious at that point and she shut her eyes and put her hands to the temples of her head.

"Who told you to keep your mouth shut?" said Action with more forcefulness in his voice.  "Who?"

Aya looked up at the ceiling and then all around the room before she spoke.  "OK, if I tell you I want police protection" she eventually said.

"That can be arranged"

"Malcolm Landgraab.  There.  He handles the business side, the distribution, but he doesn't get his hands dirty."

"I bet he doesn't...but go on, who does get their hands dirty?"

"This girl...Leanne's her name.  She doesn't look like much but there's something about her that's real scary."

Action's eyes lit up.  His suspicions confirmed by this girl and he wanted to spring into action.

"Aya, I'm going to get a police sketch artist to come and talk to you and I want a detailed description of this Leanne.  Don't leave a single detail out!"

"So it's that obsession with you, Action:  Leanne McGregor, that's responsible for the deaths?" said Chief Amos.  He had called Action in during his lunch break because he was worried his lead detective was going rogue again with his wild hunches.

"I know it is, Chief" Action replied before taking a bite out of his sandwich.

"But this sketch you've just had made looks nothing like the original APB sketch of McGregor that we have on file.  Explain the difference, Action"

"Same person, different look.  Plastic surgery, a wig, different clothing and make up..."

"So she changed from a Latin looking woman with black hair and dark brown eyes to a pasty faced, green eyed red haired girl about 10 years younger than she was?  Come off it, Action!"

"I can't explain how she did it, but it's the same woman, Chief.  If our initial assumption is correct and she's ex-KGB then she's already a mistress of disguise.  Look, let me play this hunch out, Chief.  I know this case better than anyone!"

"Ah, but which case, Action, which case?"

Action had gone home to change into a suitable outfit for where he was going to go next.  He had a plan and a couple of helpers along the way; one willing, one not so willing.  His destination was The Kitten Club, where he had membership...but strictly for professional purposes.

Action didn't immediately go into the club but instead walked a little down the road as he was waiting for the two people he had arranged to meet.  One was a fellow cop; Jesse Navarro and the other was his latest acquaintance, Aya Chatman.  Navarro was there to escort the troublesome waif and keep her out of trouble as a condition of her release.  She was there to provide some information.

"OK, Aya, talk me through how you would conduct your business dealings" asked Action when they got to Newcrest; the centre of this drug dealing ring.

"I'd get here at the Bowl-o-Rama about a half hour before the deal was to go down.  There's a dead drop point inside where a message would be left telling me my instructions for the evening." she replied.

"Where's this dead drop located?"

"There's a rack with a brown, chipped bowling ball on it:  No-one would want to use that one so it just sits there.  Down one of the finger holes a note would be placed, curled around on the inside.  I go there and it looks like I'm trying out a ball but when I withdraw my fingers from the hole, the message is now wrapped around my finger."

Action nodded, "Very clever".

"Then I carry out the instructions...either keep a look out for cops, help the client find what he 'needs' or taking the cash to a prearranged place after the deal is done." she carried on.

"But you don't actually conduct the deal yourself?"

"No.  Malcolm handled that and Leanne is his enforcer.  Anyone steps out of line and...." at this point Aya shuddered.

"What is it?  What does she do?" asked Action, now all excited.

"I've seen her....it's hard to explain but....she rarely touches anyone but when she does the first thing anyone says is how cold her hands are but she has a power...I don't know how she does it but she has a way of looking at people that can turn even the biggest, burliest and meanest guy into a quivering jello."

"And where does the meeting happen?" 

"Malcolm sets up the deal and concludes business at the Kitten Club down the road."

"OK, that makes sense; it's a plush and desirable location and I'm sure no one in the staff questions that he's under 21.  OK, that's where I'm going next."

"What about me?" asked Aya.

"You ain't going in there, sister.  I'll have my man, Officer Navarro, take you home.  You're done now."

Action went inside the club and found Navarro sitting by the bar, in full uniform.  Action let out a low grumble and strode over to him.

"Navarro, what the hell are you doing here?  You're on duty!  And what's with the uniform?  You're gonna scare all my informants away!" he glowered.

"Sorry, Action, I didn't think..."

"No you didn't!" said Action, cutting off the now sheepish looking young policeman.  

"Chatman's waiting outside.  Escort her home and check her place over; someone might be watching her.  Make sure the premises are safe."

"On it, sir" Navarro said, quickly getting off the barstool and heading outside.

"What are the Academy churning out these days?" muttered Action to himself.  He took a look around the joint, looking for someone he knew he could put the word out to.  There was no one downstairs so he headed up to the upper bar and gallery and spotted just the right person...

"Hello Deano" he said to a very old acquaintance of his:  Dean Lunn.

"Action, long time no see.  Digging that jacket; cool threads man, cool threads."  said Dean, laconically.

"Thanks ol' buddy.  I trust you're keeping your nose clean." said Action, knowing all about Dean's chequered past with the law.

"As always, Action.  I keep a toehold in the underworld but I don't cross the line into it." replied Dean.  "Now I take it this ain't no social call."

"Am I that obvious?  Yeah, I'm still working on the job."

"Then sit down, Action, I'll call a waitress and get us some drinks:  You do drink whilst on duty, do you?"

"On this occasion I do."

"OK...oh, waitress..." said Dean, clicking his fingers at a Kitten Club waitress who was bedecked in the iconic costume of a black strapless corset bodysuit, black pantyhose, high heels, a collar, white gloves and a cats ears tiara.

"Two bourbons, Miss" said Dean and the waitress nodded and went to the bar to get them.  "What a time to be alive..." mused Dean as he watched the young, shapely woman slink away.

"To business..." said Action, snapping Dean out of his mini-trance.

"OK, what do you want this time, Action?"

Action looked around the lounge to see who was nearby before leaning in closer to talk to Dean.  "There's a new kind of drug that's hitting the streets:  A completely new and largely unknown amphetamine.  Have you heard of it?"

"There's been rumours..." said Dean, in a non-committal tone.  "Ah, here are our drinks.  Thank you, Miss."  Dean and Action waited until she was out of earshot before they continued their conversation.  "You know I don't deal hard drugs, Action."

"I know, but you know who does.  I'm looking for someone in particular; a woman"

"Action, I thought you were steady with that rich white chick"

"Not that way!  She's a suspect.  Goes by the name of Leanne McGregor.  The best image I have of her is this police sketch." Action said, passing a sheet of paper, folded, across the table to Dean.  The other man opened it slightly and took a look.

"Yeah, I've seen her around." he said, calmly.

"Where?"

"Here and there.  Usually in the company of either Malcolm Landgraab or another guy called Luke Kendall.  I can't tell you much about him, unfortunately."

"Luke Kendall...Luke Kendall..." Action mused over the name.  "It sounds familiar but I don't know where from."

"What do you want to know about them?" asked Dean.

"Where they live, where they hang out, who they hang out with, what kind of things are they getting up to that might interest me."

"That's a long list....what do you want me to do with my other hand?"

"I'll think of something.  Can you do this, Deano?  There's a reward for helping me out."

"That goes without saying.  I wouldn't do this for free." said Dean, downing the rest of his drink.  "Leave this with me.  Don't try to contact me, I'll contact you if I find anything."

Dean got up and walked out of the club.  Action nodded, appreciatively. 

CHAPTER 202: Confession

 

As the sun rose and even the hardiest party animals were starting to head home, one man was left on the dance floor of the Orange Peel club.  His athleticism and skill impressed the other patrons of the discotheque and his endurance meant that no one could keep up with him.  He danced on his own and with every attractive woman there, seeming to everyone that saw him that he didn't have a care and he kept his cool by periodically heading to the bar to order cocktails.  No one who didn't know him could guess that he was a tough, hard bitten cop in his daily life for John Action kept his professional and social lives distinctly separate and he liked it that way.

The job had been getting him down lately.  It stuck in his craw that the big case he was working on kept hitting problems from suspects being easily bailed by the courts, interference from the Landgraab family and indifference from his bosses.  Only last week his #1 suspect in the Goth break-in case was bailed for next for nothing by a lazy judge...well, lazy was a generous interpretation:  Corrupt was a harsher one.

So Action had put it behind him for one night and partied on.  One night turned in to two...then three.  Now, with two hours to go before his next shift, he was living on what was left of his reserves and adrenaline.  Just before he headed off to 13th Precinct headquarters he went downstairs to the bathroom and popped a couple of "uppers" to help him on his way.

It only took a few minutes before the effects of the amphetamines kicked in and he said his goodbyes to the barman before heading off to the precinct house at a brisk pace.

As he turned the corner of the street where the Orange Peel stood and into the main boulevard that connected Newcrest to East Willow Creek he came across Geoffrey Landgraab, who was catching his breath after going for his daily run.  Action smiled wryly:  All that exercise the guy does and he never loses weight.  Geoffrey was directly in Action's path and there was no way for either man to avoid each other...even though there was definitely no love lost between them.

"Detective Action..." said Geoffrey, giving Action a disdainful look.  "Undercover at the city's hot spots, eh?"

"None of your business, Landgraab" Action replied.

"And yet you are constantly prying into mine...double standards, Detective?"

"I'm only interested in your business when it comes to the law and there's more than enough to investigate about you and especially your wife and son.  So many of my ongoing investigations seem to involve the Landgraab family in one regard or another."

"You've got nothing"

"...Yet.  The net is closing in, Geoffrey.  People tell me you're an OK guy but you're shielding Nancy and Malcolm.  One day you're going to have to choose:  Come clean and save yourself or go down to prison with them."

"The net", as Action put it, didn't just consist of himself investigating the supposed crimes and dark secrets of the Landgraabs.  It also consisted of others working from different angles in order to discover the truth about them.  Unbeknownst to Geoffrey, one of his employees was allied to Action and trying to dig out what dirt there was.  Geoffrey and Nancy thought their man, Jeremy Saint, was brainwashed into being their loyal servant and an enemy of Action but they were not aware that he had broken his conditioning and was once again friends with the detective.  Not only that, he was now only too willing to get revenge on those who tried to mess with his mind.

Last night his friend, Suzy, came to him with a request.  She had found out something about the Landgraab's home...or what lay beneath it...and she wanted Jeremy to use his insider access to company files to discover what that was.  The starting point of his investigation was Gregory Landgraab taking possession of the land that was now called Affluista Mansion back in the 1890s.  He had found something on the property that propelled him from an impoverished teacher to a millionaire almost overnight.

The records office had nothing on the subject in the open access department so he used his security clearance to check out the files in the "restricted documents" room but, again, there was very little about Affluista and surrounds although there were a few references to documents that did exist, but were in an even more restricted access file.

There was only a short window of opportunity for Jeremy to be away from his desk in order to look for the information he...and Suzy...needed and in between shuttling between his office and different company archive rooms he had to appear to look busy with his assigned work but there was this feeling burning within him that he had to find that information...that it existed and was here.  He couldn't concentrate on his work with that idea growing inside his head until it swamped every thought.  There was still one avenue of investigation he hadn't pursued yet...

Back at Precinct 13 headquarters Action was in search of answers as well.  The whereabouts of his chief suspect, Maddy Henson, for one.  She had easily made bail and had gone to ground.  If he could get to and question her he could find the missing Goth diaries.  In there he would find answers to bigger questions...

He was summoned to the Chief's office for what reason, he didn't know.  He had a strained relationship with his boss and didn't know quite where he stood with him.  A telling off, a suspension or a citation with a good conduct medal; it could be any of those things with the Chief.  Action went to his office and knocked on the door, awaiting the usual curt "enter!" from his boss.

Once that was said he went into the office where he found the Chief sitting still at his desk, motioning to Action to take a seat opposite him, which he duly did.  

"You wanted to see me, Chief?" 

"Action; I have some news on Maddy Henson" the Chief replied, not giving anything away with his tone of voice.

"Oh yes, anything positive?"

"That depends on your view.  She skipped a meeting with her lawyer and hasn't checked in with us for a few days...which goes against the terms of her bail.  That means..."

"We can go after her and bring her in?" asked an expectant Action, who didn't want to be cooped up at his desk filling out arrest reports.

"Precisely...and I thought you'd jump at the chance to be the one to track her down and haul her in for questioning."

"Thank you sir...I'd better get to it then.  Any last known location she's been seen at?"

"One of my informants...and, yes, Detective, I have my informants as well as you...tells me she's been spotted at Windenburg, trying to get a false passport and driver's I.D.  The name of my contact is Aime Berry....here's her phone number." said the Chief, sliding a piece of paper across the table to Action.

Action picked up the paper and took a look at it.  "No time to waste, Chief..." he said, waving it before putting it in his pocket.  The Chief just nodded...even if he didn't always approve of Action's methods he knew that, when assigned a task, nothing would stop him.

When he went back to his desk, Action looked at the name and phone number on the paper.  The name said "Aime Berry" and the name rang a little bell in his mind although he couldn't place where he had heard it before.  Picking up the phone receiver, he dialled the number and waited for an answer.

"Hi...is that Aime?  The name's Action, John Action.  I'm a detective with the SCPD...yeah, I hear you have some info on a suspect in a case I'm investigating.  Her name is Maddy Henson....oh you have seen her recently?  Miss Berry...I'd like to meet you...."

Meanwhile Jeremy had found the one person who could help him gain access to the most secret of files:  His work colleague, and co-conspirator in investigating Landgraab; Darrin Lew.

"Darrin..." said Jeremy, accosting him in one of the office corridors.  "...I've got a favour to ask of you."

"Is this a normal request or something that our employers would not approve of?" replied Darrin with a look of suspicion on his face.

"Definitely the latter." said Jeremy.  "A colleague of mine thinks they've uncovered some information about the Landgraab's own mansion up in Oasis Springs.  I need to get hold of the land records for that place but there's nothing in the regular files and I suspect what I'm looking for is stored in the company computer.  I need access to it and you're the one person I know who has that level of access."

Darrin drew a deep breath before replying.  "You're asking a lot, Jeremy." he said.  "We've only just gone through that corporate security check and that cute blonde number who's been tasked to shadow my department is still hanging around."

"I know this is a big ask but there maybe information in those files that will reveal a big secret about the Landgraab family they don't want the world to know about.  If we find out what that is we could use it to bring them down!  Isn't that what you say you want?"

"I know...I know...but....dammit, Jeremy.  I don't know..." Darring said, looking around to see if they weren't being observed.  "OK, how about this:  You tell me what you're looking for and I'll go and see if it's in the computer files?"

Jeremy shook his head.  "No, that won't work.  I don't know much myself except there's something underneath the property in some cave system.  I don't have much to go on but I'll know if if I find it.  Just give me the computer access code and I'll do the rest."

"It's highly irregular" said Darrin.

"I've used the computer once before so it won't seem unusual to be seen using it now.  I'll be discrete and low key...after all, my official job is to look after Landgraab's property assets.  I'll use that as cover."

Darrin again looked at Jeremy with doubt and trepidation on his face but eventually he relented.  "OK, here's the passcode...just do me a favour:  Don't get caught."

Down in Windenburg Action was looking for the informant, Aime, at the place they arranged to meet.  Outside of a local bar called The Old Quarter Inn.  Windenburg wasn't Action's favourite part of town...he thought it was trying too hard to be someone's idea of chocolate box European town or maybe it was a project dreamed up by Walt Disney.  He didn't like the stuffy, twee atmosphere of the place and although...statistically...it had the lowest crime rate in the city he had spotted more than one notorious criminal hanging around here.  This was the kind of place some of them would live in once they'd done a few successful capers and were looking to settle down...and they'd never rob their own neighbourhoods.

There was a red headed lady who looked about 30 standing on a street corner and her face rang a bell with Action.  He'd seen her around Foundry Cove a few times...often coming in and out of Travis, Liberty's and Summer's place.  That's it, he suddenly thought, she's their cleaner but she's also looking at her watch, looking around and waiting for someone.  That might be his contact.

He walked over to the lady and said "You Aime Berry?

"You Detective Action?" she replied.

"I am...my chief sends his regards.  I've seen you around Foundry Cove a few times"

"Yeah, I'm with a cleaning agency and I work at a couple of properties there.  Are you the guy with the flagpole and exercise equipment outside?"

"That's me.  Look, I haven't got much time for small talk so what have you got for me?"

"You're looking for Maddy Henson, right?" said Aime.

"Yeah, do you know where she is?"

"She's in that bar over there...catching up with some friends."

"How legit are these friends?" asked Action as he looked at the bar to see if he could see Maddy inside.

"I don't recognise them.  They may be legit.  But Maddy's been talking about some kind of 'big score' she did recently and is expecting a pay off soon" said Aime.

"How do you fit in to all this?" asked Action as he turned to look at Aime.  

"I spent time in the joint with Maddy back in '62.  She had the reputation of being a top cat burglar even then.  I was in for fraud so I was waaaaaaaaay out of her league.  I've been straight since I got out.  She and I know each other enough to say hello to and I overhear some of what she says about what her next job's going to be."

"Have you met or seen her fence?  She's got some hot items that a lot of people really want to get their hands on...including me." said Action.

Aime shook her head.  "I'm not that deep into what she's got going on, Action.  That, you're going to have to find out for yourself.  You wanted to know where she is right now and I'm telling you just that.  Now your chief and me have an arrangement about information and money...."

"If you want money for information then that's between you and my Chief.  Drop by the station tomorrow and I'll tell him you've been very helpful and he'll sort you out." said Action as he touched two fingers to his forehead and walked off towards the bar.

Jeremy had committed the password for the computer to memory and destroyed the piece of paper it had been written on as a precaution.  He chose a quiet moment to enter the computer room...when the regular operator was on a break...and set about his task, knowing that he wouldn't have much time to act.

He sat at the desk and powered up the machine, which took a few minutes.  Then he searched through the reels of computer tape to see if he could find if any of them had titles that suggested there could be information about Landgraab property on them.  Once the computer had achieved powered status he filled in a punch key card with the password on it and fed it into the card reader slot.  The machine beeped in acceptance of the code and he wound the tape onto the spool before sitting at the desk once more.

Jeremy sifted through the files, narrowing his research until he found the land records for Affluista Mansions including it's history.  Going back to the 1890s he at last found something of interest...

"What?  That's...impossible!" he said out loud when he saw the surveyor's report.  He got out a notebook and scribbled some notes.  "So THAT'S the source of the family fortune!"

Action entered the bar and went up to the barman to order a drink.  He wanted to appear as just another customer but as he stood at the bar counter he casually observed his quarry:  Maddy Henson.  She was sat at a table talking to another young woman.  Action caught snippets of their conversation and it appeared Henson was trying to convince the other woman to join in on some investment deal that would, Henson promised, would pay hefty returns.  The woman seemed reticent to commit but after Action had heard Henson essentially make the same pitch for the third time he finished his drink and walked over to the table where the two women were sitting.

"Maddy Henson...I'd need you to come down to the station to answer a few questions" he said to her.

"Detective...Action, isn't it?  I'm conducting a business meeting right now so if you don't mind leaving us alone."

"Meeting's over...this lady's not buying..." he replied, cutting her off.

"I think I should go now..." said the other young woman Henson had been talking to.  Action said nothing as he watched her grab her handbag and leave the bar.

"You just cost me $20,000, detective" said Henson.

"And you could get a 10-15 year stretch if you don't co-operate with me.  My car's outside with one of the City's finest waiting in it just in case you get any funny ideas about running like you did the last time we met."

He led her out of the bar and towards a black and white patrol car where the uniformed officer was waiting for them.  They then drove back to 13th Precinct station where Henson was led to an interrogation room.

"I want a lawyer" she said as she sat down.

"In time..." he replied.  "I thought we'd have a little conversation first and then maybe the two of us can present something to your lawyer and the D.A. that would suit us both."

"What do you want to talk about?" she asked, cagily.  

"I know it was you who burgled the Goth mansion.  And I've got plenty of evidence to put you away for all the silverware you took." he said, calmly.

"If you have all that then why are we having a 'conversation' before my lawyer gets here?" she asked.

"Because what I really want to talk about are those journals you stole as well....the real reason you broke into that house." he said, upping the ante with her.

"The...journals?" she replied, nervously.

"Those handwritten books Mortimer Goth values so much.  The journals you were paid to steal.  The silverware was just a rouse...and you were promised a cut of the sale of that but the up front payment was for the journals, wasn't it?"

"I thought they looked interesting..." she tried to reply, calmly but there was hesitation in her voice.

"And what was it about them that looked so interesting, Maddy?  Were they fun, exciting, informative?  Or did they contain secrets that someone would pay dearly for?"

"No comment"

"Maddy, I know you're the hired help in all this...not the mastermind.  If you tell me who hired you I can put in a good word with the D.A.  That's something you might like to mention to your lawyer when they get here..."

"A reduced sentence?  Time spent in an open prison?" she asked.

"All things that are possible...but only if you give me a name.  Who hired you?"

"This girl..."

"WHAT girl?  I need a name."

"McGregor.  Leanne McGregor"

Action paused for a moment when he heard the name and the revelation hit him like a slap in the face.  He reached into one of the manilla folders he had with him that various pieces of evidence in this and other cases and pulled out the artist's impression of Leanne McGregor.

"Is this her?" he asked, shoving the picture towards Henson but, to his surprise, she shook her head.

"That's not her.  Nothing like her." came Henson's reply.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive.  I've never seen that woman before in my life...either that or you've got a lousy police sketch artist working for you."

"OK, then describe the Leanne McGregor you hired you"

"Early 20s, waif-like with short red hair, hazel eyes and a real pale, pasty complexion.  Pretty in a cutesy way, like a pixie."

That sounded nothing like the Leanne McGregor he had dealings with; who was anything but pixie-like.  

"But this waif wanted you to rob the Goth residence?" he asked.

"Yeah...even though she looked like a perky student type there was this intelligence there about her, like she was sassy and smart beyond her years and she had this chilling way of looking at me as well.  Like she was looking straight into my soul.  Kind of creepy."

Now that sounded more like her, thought Action.  He nodded as Henson told him about her and made some notes at the same time.  

"OK, I'm going to get our sketch artist...a good one...to talk with you and you're going to describe her in detail if I'm going to cut a deal with the D.A." said Action, forcefully tapping his finger on the table.  "So where are the journals now?" he added.

"With her.  I dropped them off at a rendezvous point last week.  In exchange she left the money for the job in an envelope in a trashcan at Magnolia Blossom Park."

Action processed the information in his head before saying.  "OK, you can call your attorney now." He led Henson back to her cell and went back to his desk to wonder if Henson's Leanne McGregor was the same one he had various run ins with and how had she radically changed her appearance as well? 

Those questions turned over and over in his mind as his shift ended.  He didn't want to go home so he made his way over to the Arts Quarter.  His girlfriend, Katherine, had invited him to join her at the Humour and Hijinks Festival because her charity was supporting it and she couldn't bear the forced and puerile attempts at comedy and practical jokes alone.

"Looking fabulous as always, darling" said Action when he saw her standing outside of the Casbah Gallery.

"Thank you...you're not so bad looking yourself" she replied.  "Now...let's get a drink before I get a headache from hearing bad jokes..."

Action laughed and together they walked over to the Tiki Bar that was a feature of the festival.  Grabbing a couple of exotic cocktails they sat down at a nearby table and tried to blot out the worst excesses of the event.

"I've got to put in an appearance at these events" said Katherine.  "I wouldn't mind the festival so much if I hadn't heard most of the jokes at least a dozen times!  But...and this is important...it does raise a lot of money for good causes."

"We all have to endure a bit of pain for long term gain" said Action, thoughtfully.  "Do you want to hear something real crazy?"

"Sure"

"Leanne McGregor is back....only this time she's different.  I mean, totally different."

"Now that sounds intriguing" she said, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

"OK...I've got this suspect for the Goth break-in.  She's cool, methodical and a career criminal but she's also the hired help, not the mastermind on this case.  She swears Leanne McGregor hired her to do the job but when I show her a picture of McGregor she says that's not the woman and instead describes her as some red headed pixie like girl."

"Are you going to be adding 'Master of Disguise' to her list of abilities?" said Katherine.

"Looks like I'm going to have to....say, there's Jeremy over there.  Do you mind if I call him over?"

"Sure...but not for too long:  I want you to myself later" 

"Yo!  Jezza!  Over here, it's Action!" he said, calling out to Jeremy and clicking his fingers.  Jeremy saw him and wandered over to the table he and Katherine was sitting at.

"Hey, Action.  What's up?  Is this?...." he said, looking at Katherine.

"...yep, this is Katherine"

"Very pleased to meet you.  I hear lots about you but Action's been hiding you from his friends."

"Yeah, I noticed that as well.  And you're Action's next door neighbour...very pleased to meet you.  I'm off to get something to eat, would you two gentlemen like anything?" she asked.

"I'm good, babe" replied Action.  Jeremy shook his head and said "no thank you"

When Katherine left to go to a Mexican food vendor Jeremy looked at her and said to Action "Wow.  Just wow.  You said she was beautiful but that is an understatement."

"Thank you my man, and you speak as someone with impeccable taste in women" replied Action with a sly smile before his face turned serious.  "I called you over, Jeremy, because I hear you're working on an angle with this Landgraab case.  You got anything to share?"

"Oh wow, do I ever!  I need to tell Suzy what I've found...she got me to look into the Landgraab's property and the records show that the property is twice the size as it's official listing.  It also mentions "another level" and that some ancestor of theirs found a heap of rare metals on that site back in the 1890s which made them fabulously rich but there's no evidence of a mine existing there.  It's a whole bunch of conflicting information!"

"Tell me about it!  My end of the case is full of contradictions as well." replied Action.

Jeremy looked to his left and saw something that attracted his interest.  "Speaking of the Landgraabs, there's Geoffrey right over there!" he said.

Action looked in that direction as well and saw Geoffrey talking with a man with red hair, which made him think again of this 'new' Leanne McGregor.

"Do you recognise the guy he's talking to?" asked Action.

"No idea, I've not seen him before.  I know most of the senior management at the company and he's not one of them." replied Jeremy.

Jeremy frowned "I shouldn't be seen being friendly to you...Geoffrey still thinks I'm under his control and am programmed to hate you.  I'll just sneak away now...he hasn't noticed me here, he's too engrossed in his conversation.  We'll meet again soon, Action.  Good luck."

Jeremy silently slid his chair out and crept away from the festival without Geoffrey turning to notice him.  Katherine returned and noticed that Jeremy had gone and that Landgraab was just over on the next table.

"Jeremy had to go...he can't be seen with me." said Action.

"That's a shame, I liked meeting him.  I'd like to meet more of your friends but you never introduce me to them."

"I know, I know...hey, I get busy, you know..."

"Excuses, excuses...anyone would think you are embarrassed to be seen with me" she said, coyly.

"Now that's not true!" he exclaimed.

"Well..." she said, looking him in the eye in a sultry manner.  "...you can fix all that tomorrow.  Tonight, you are ALL mine!"

CHAPTER 104: Natural Born Grillers

 

"What?  No way!" Liberty blurted out in shock when she saw how much this month's household bills were.  "What are we spending this much on?  OK, there's taxes...but...meat?  How can our meat bill be so high?  And other food...there's only 3 of us; how come it looks like we're feeding a small army?  What's this?  'For services rendered'?  What does that mean?"

Liberty, however, saw the urgency and the impending due dates on these bills and hurriedly wrote out the cheques to pay them.  Once deposited in the mail box, she went back inside to have breakfast.  She just wanted some simple eggs and toast but when she opened the fridge she saw the entire cabinet was stuffed to the hilt with food and drinks.

"Hmmm, delicious breakfast, Libs...you should have some" said Travis pointing at his plate: He was tucking into a large dish of some grilled meat and a few token vegetables.

"Travis...is that roast lamb you're eating...for breakfast?" asked an incredulous Liberty.

"No, not roast; grilled with Mediterranean spices with some couscous.  It's delicious but if that's too heavy going for you I've got some tofu dogs on the BBQ which I was saving for my second breakfast but you could share some as well" Travis replied.

"No...wait, you have a second breakfast?" asked Liberty, still shocked.

"I love to grill!" said Travis.  "It's an old Scott family tradition:  We must never go short so we cook 2 meals at a time"

"So that's why our meat bill is so high!" said Liberty.

"Good morning guys!" said Summer, walking past the kitchen.  "I thought I'd get breakfast going...Travis, can I put your tofu dogs to one side so I can start grilling some steaks?"

"Not you too!" said Liberty.  "Summer, Travis...our bills have been really high of late and this is part of the problem:  Instead of cooking one meal at a time, we're cooking 3 or 4.  We simply can't eat this much and a lot is going to waste"

"But...I love to grill!" said a hurt Travis.  "Anyway, I've got to get ready for work...do try the lamb" 

"Not so fast, bucko!" said Liberty, jabbing a finger at him.  "Now, there's another item on the bills:  For services rendered.  What's that about?"

Summer piped up.  "Oh, that's for our cleaner"

"Yeah, we hired a cleaner after our house got trashed, remember?  She does a pretty good job" said Travis.

"The bill seems a little high for one cleaner.  I'll have a word with Mavis when she's next here" said Liberty.

"Who's Mavis?  Our cleaner's called Jeff" said Travis.

"No, it's Aime" said Summer.

Liberty looked puzzled and then the penny dropped.  "Oh no, I hired Mavis!"

"But I put in the call and hired Jeff!" said Travis.

"I didn't know either of you two had called the cleaning company so I called them and they sent Aime"

Liberty slapped her forehead.  "No wonder Mavis says she hasn't much to do!  Guys, this is a disaster and we're paying through the nose.  Right, One of us....ONE...calls the cleaning company and we settle on just the one maid.  Travis, stop buying in so much food!"

"But...but...Summer's just as guilty as that!" he said in a tone that reminded her of a naughty schoolboy.

 "We're going to cut down on the bills starting now.  And you don't leave the stereo AND the TV on at the same time!" said a stern Liberty.

"Marcus Aurelius Agrippa Pontus...died of exhaustion and cruelty from his master" mumbled Travis.

"What's that all about?" said Liberty.

"That's the name of your last slave and what he died of" said Travis, heading out the door to work.

Liberty had some work to catch up on so retired to her room, leaving Summer to sort out the cleaner situation.  As she had more contact with Aime, who was due to come clean the house that morning, it was decided that she should be the only cleaner for them.

"Phew, well that's sorted out" said Summer, bringing her a cup of coffee after Aime had finished cleaning the house.  "I just wasn't aware that we were spending so much money"

"I think that's down to the fact that we live together but don't co-ordinate the domestic arrangements." said Liberty.  "I know I've been a bit of a drag this morning about the bills...let's go down to the park for a bit?  A fresh change of scenery will do me good, I don't know about you"

"I'm all for that, let's go!" said an enthusiastic Summer.

Magnolia Blossom Park wasn't busy, but it was a warm spring day and the quiet was only broken by the sound of the bird life.  Liberty spotted an empty chess table and motioned to Summer that it was free.

"Every time I come here every chess table is occupied...why not grasp this rare opportunity to have a game" said Liberty.

"Sure...good idea.  Only one thing:  I don't know how to play chess" replied Summer.

"Right...." said Liberty, with a grimace.  "Well, there's never a bad time to learn, I suppose"

"OK, I think I've got this" said Summer.  "I'll start"

"Are you sure you don't want to play black instead?" replied Liberty.  "I mean, it might be easier if you...oh.  You took my knight"

"Is that good?" said Summer.

"Well....yeah, for you.  I didn't expect such an aggressive move early on.  OK, not a problem...I'll just move my bishop there....except if I do that makes it vulnerable to your queen.  Are you sure you've never played before?"

Summer just innocently shrugged her shoulders.

"Ah, the classic Queen's Indian vs the Botvinnik Defence" said a passer by; a smart lady in her late 30s who carried with her an air of superiority about her.

"Well...I call it more all hands to the pumps" said Liberty, pondering her now weak position on the board.

"I'm a newcomer to this game.  My friend here tells me I'm doing well" said Summer.

"Indeed you are" said the lady.  "I'm a keen student of the game and I'd say you're a natural at this if this is your first ever try."

Liberty spent a long time considering her next move, but then checked her watch.  "Oh no, I've got to get to work"

"Just when I was starting to really enjoy this game.  Say, chess is actually cool!" said Summer.

"Well, Black's position is difficult but not impossible" said the lady.

"Would you care to take over from my friend when she has to leave?" asked Summer.

"If you wouldn't mind" said the lady.  "My name's Yumiko"

"Oh, Summer.  And this is my friend, Liberty"

Yumiko took Liberty's place at the chess board.  "Hmmm, indeed a tricky spot for black but maybe if I move the rook here..."

Within 5 moves Summer's seemingly winning position was overturned and Yumiko triumphed.

"Very satisfying" said Yumiko.  "But well played" she added to encourage Summer.  "Very nice meeting you but I need to get back to work; I have a young intern who needs supervising...a lot!"

Summer headed home and grabbed a late lunch but then the doorbell rang and she went to check who was at the door.

"Hey, Suz....oh my!  I forgot you were meant to be coming over!" said Summer.

"Is this a bad time?" replied Suzy.

"Not at all, come on in...let's talk wedding plans!"

Suzy's visit was to go over some of the wedding planning with her maid of honour.  The date had been fixed now, for early June, and a venue booked:  The Newcrest Chapel.  Now it was time for Suzy and Summer to discuss wedding and bridesmaids dresses, a signature colour and....importantly...the Bachelorette party.

"I'm thinking either pale pink or powder blue for the signature colour..." Suzy began in expansive mode, as if she were creating a vast imaginary tableaux.  "...dresses for us; well, we must take a trip to the bridal shop in Magnolia Promenade and see what they've got and...help me here, Summer:  Do we do a nice meal for the Bachelorette Party at a swanky restaurant or do we go a bit wild and hit either the Orange Peel Club or Discotheque Pan Europa?"

"Why not both?" replied Summer.

"This is going to be a 3 cup of coffee discussion...at least!" said Summer, making a fresh pot.  So much to decide!  Have you done a guest list?"

"Not yet...well, family are a given and of course all you guys in Foundry Cove." said Suzy. 

"Seating plans:  We need to sit Julia on the same table as a nice, single guy" said Summer.

"Definitely" said Suzy.

Summer was making general notes on a pad of paper she found in Travis' room when who should appear but the man himself, holding a pick me up beverage.

"Now I hope you're not going through my drawers, ladies" he said, mischievously.

"We're making notes for Suzy's wedding" replied Summer.

"Should I be here?  I mean, secrecy about the dress and all that?" he said.

"You're not the groom, Travis" Summer corrected him.  "But be warned, it's going to get very technical and girly in a moment"

"I'll be a fly on the wall" he said.

 Suzy stood up to look in Travis' bedroom mirror.  "What do you reckon" she asked "long or short, tight fitting or loose and flowing?"

"Short and tight" said Travis.

"Travis!  This is Suzy you're talking about!" replied Summer.

"Hey, if you're maid of honour then you get to wear something similar as well!  I'm merely expressing an opinion about what I...and Neil...would prefer"

"Make yourself useful by fixing up some dinner....and NO excessive enormous platters of grilled meat either" said Summer.

"Awww" said Travis, leaving the room.  The girls continued doing some more wedding planning whilst Travis cooked.  Then, when Liberty came home, they all sat down together...with Suzy as a guest...to eat and talk.  Finally Liberty crashed out in her room, Suzy went home and Travis and Summer found themselves alone together at last.

"You're incorrigible, you know that?" said Summer, looking Travis up and down.

"If I fully understood what that meant I'd probably agree" said Travis with a cheeky, schoolboy smirk.

"Well, as long as the idea of a wedding doesn't freak you out..., you'll do" she said, smirking in response.

"Thank you, now when was the last time we kissed....hmm....Tuesday?"