CHAPTER 215: EXPOSE (DOWNFALL PART 3)

"Our top story this morning...Police have seized documents at the Landgraab Corporation building in the ongoing investigation into fraud and murder allegations connected to that company.  There have been no arrests so far but police say that given the strength of the evidence they have so far it won't be long before some, or more, people in the company will be arrested.  Police also refuse to confirm or deny rumours that members of the Landgraab family themselves will be taken into custody..."

"Suzy, darling...come and see this!  It's all happening with the Landgraabs!" said Neil

She walked over to the sofa where he was sitting, watching the TV.

"Jeremy..." she said, softly.

"What's that?" asked Neil.

"Jeremy.  He must have found something really incriminating.  This is huge...when they say 'murder' that must relate to the attempts on Madelyn Buchanan's life and that murder case Action is working on.  That's going to drag Malcolm Landgraab into the investigation.  Wow.  This is it, Neil, the unravelling of all that family has been doing."

"And your article is going to hit the newsstands any day now..." he said, looking knowingly at her.

"The significance isn't lost on me..." she replied.  "I might get called in to be a witness"

At that moment the telephone rang.  "That might be the D.A. now..." said Neil, half joking.  Suzy went to pick it up; she had a knot in her stomach through nerves.

"Hello...Suzy Humphries speaking" she said.

"Hey, Suzy...it's Alan Cuffe here..." said the voice at the other end of the line.  Suzy let out a sigh of relief that it was Alan and not the authorities.

"Alan, nice to hear from you, it's been ages since we last spoke."

"It has, Suzy; far too long.  Say, have you got some free time today to drop round the mansion?  I want to talk with you about...recent developments.  I don't want to say more over the phone, you never know who's listening."

"Erm...I'm due in the office today but I can swing by your place this morning.  Sure."

"Great.  See you then." and he rung off.  Suzy turned to Neil and shrugged her shoulders.

"That was Alan Cuffe of all people" she said.  "Wants to see me about 'recent developments'"

"How did he sound?" asked Neil.

"Quite positive, almost happy." she replied.

"Could be a good sign...another who's happy that the Landgraabs are getting their just desserts." he said, turning back to watch the news.

Suzy grabbed her handbag and house keys and kissed Neil just before we left.  "I'll see you later, darling.  I'll head straight to Alan's and then to work." she said.

She rang the doorbell but instead of a butler appearing at the door it was Alan Cuffe himself.  He was smiling and seemed genuinely pleased to see Suzy.  

"Suzy, wonderful to see you, just wonderful.  Come inside...actually, let's go out the back to the garden because it's a beautiful day" he said, welcoming her enthusiastically.

"I see you're in fine spirits, Alan" she noted.

"I am feeling very well thank you.  As you may have heard I had to go into a private hospital to undergo some treatment brought about by overwork, stress and some fever the name of which I can't pronounce.  Ha-ha.  And Madelyn and the Kittens have been taking very good care of me in the interim."

"I bet they have..." said Suzy, knowingly.  There's nothing Alan loved  more than to have all his Lothario Kittens, in their skimpy cat outfits, fawning all over him.

Suzy was impressed by the garden.  "It's mainly a project of Madelyn's" he said.  "I'm not much of a horticulturalist but she is"

"So I've heard..." said Suzy.  During her research into Malcolm Landgraab, Madelyn's name was often mentioned in relation to drug cultivation and sales.  It made sense that she 'grew her own'.  "It's lovely out here, Alan, and I can see a painting in progress on that easel.  Do you paint?"

"I do.  Something I've taken up recently in order to help my state of mind.  I know your husband is a very talented artist who has found some success."

"Neil is so gifted as a painter...and, yes, his work is now selling enough that he was able to quit his day job.  He paints mainly landscapes...that view over the lake and the mountains here must provide plenty of inspiration for painting." 

"I paint mainly nudes" he said.  Suzy was not at all surprised.

"Did you want to see me about something specific, Alan?" Suzy asked.

"Yes.  As you know I own a significant stake in your magazine, Hey Wow.  When your article about the Landgraabs was read by the editorial board there were....shall we say 'mixed' feelings about whether to publish it or not.  The key issue in the sceptics minds were what the legal ramifications for the magazine would be if the Landgraabs sued."

"I can assure you, and the editorial board, that everything I wrote in that article has a credible source."  said Suzy.

"I'm sure it does, Suzy.  That's why I'm confident the magazine would win if it went to court.  I think the Landgraabs have overstepped the mark in trying to silence me and my close associates and the city would be better off if they had their wings clipped.  That is why I'm going to personally foot the bill for the legal defence of the magazine...and you."

Suzy was taken aback and didn't respond immediately.  Eventually she managed to say "that's very generous of you, Alan."

At that moment Madelyn Buchanan appeared and she too seemed happy to see Suzy.

"I'm so glad you were able to come" she said.  "As you can see, Alan and myself are entirely at ease with...recent developments." she said, trying to sound cryptic but Suzy knew she was referring to the troubles the Landgraabs were currently going through.

"Have you spoken with Detective Action, Madelyn, about his recent investigations?" asked Suzy.

"That there have been two attempts on my life, specifically?  Yes he has.  Sadly, we can't rest easy until this McGregor woman is behind bars but at least her paymaster might soon be." replied Madelyn.

"The article Suzy wrote is damning evidence against Malcolm, that's for sure" said Alan.

Madelyn looked at Alan and nodded approvingly.  There was something in her expression and body language that outwardly seemed calm but betrayed an underlying anxiousness as well.  You're still concealing something, Madelyn... Suzy thought.  

She also suspected that Alan was unaware of Madelyn's secret that she was holding back.  She may be his right hand woman, a confidant and much of the reason why the Lothario company was a success but whereas she knew all of his life, he had still much to discover about hers...

Suzy didn't want to dig deeper at this stage.  Alan's offer of legal protection if the Landgraabs threatened to sue was very generous and his influence in getting her article to be published couldn't be understated.  To now dig up dirt about the goings on of his personal assistant would be ungenerous of her after Alan had been so helpful.  Unprofessional conduct for a journalist?  Maybe.  But Suzy felt that Madelyn's secrets didn't have the same amount of maliciousness and destructiveness of the Landgraabs'.

"Well, I must be getting to the office now.  Alan, Madelyn, thank you so much for your hospitality and generosity.  Goodbye."

Within the hour Suzy had arrived at the offices of Hey, Wow! and found a flurry of activity there.  Photographers, advertising reps, printers, staff writers and about a half a dozen gophers were all scurrying around the place.  One of the sub-editors called Suzy into his office the moment she arrived.

"Suzy, sit down, I have to brief you on what's going on today" he said, motioning towards the sofa opposite his desk.

"What's up?" she replied as she sat down.

"You.  You're what's up"

"What's going on?  It seems like everyone is on panic stations" she said.

"They are.  It seems your article is causing a stir and the issue's only just hit the news stands.  We've got press from all the major newspapers and TV networks pestering us for a comment and...an interview with you."

"Wow." she said, shocked.

"Yeah, 'wow' just about describes it.  Now the editor has said that you're not to do any interviews until we've checked things through with our legal department first.  You're to lie low here, in the office, until it's time to go home.  You don't answer the phone, you're not available and we'll bring lunch to you so you're not ambushed by reporters if you go out."

"So what am I supposed to do in the office all day?" she asked.

"You were hired as a fashion journalist...do some fashion journalism for a change!" he said and with a wave of his hand he dismissed her from his office.

As she went back to her desk she saw Gillian, a teenage aspiring model, parading around the photo studio.  A few months ago Suzy had provided her with contacts in the fashion industry in exchange for information about Malcolm Landgraab.  It seemed Gillian had put those contacts to good use because she was here modelling clothes for the in-house stylist.

"OK...give me more, sweetheart!  Give me your left!  Now your right!  Turn and look over the shoulder!  Look up!  Look down!  Great!  I'm loving it!  Now I'm spent...OK, Gillian, take 5.  Sharon, I want my coffee now!  SHARON!"  Today's photographer had a voice that bellowed throughout the office and Suzy wondered if he would end up shattering a window.  Gillian stepped away from the backdrop and lights and came over to greet Suzy.

"Suzy!  Hi there!" she said with a big smile all over her face.

"Gillian, you're looking great.  How's this gig going?" Suzy replied, looking all around the photo studio.

"Oh this is the best!  I'm going to feature in next month's issue!  Suzy, thank you so, so much for giving me a start in my dream job!"

"That's alright.  You've taken to it well"

"Gillian, love, we need you in the next outfit:  Number 6" called out the photographer.

"Oops, that's me!  Gotta go!" said Gillian to Suzy.

"Well, I'm meant to help out here so I'll be hanging around.  See you after you've changed.

"OK, give us more attitude, Gillian...challenge the camera...defy it!" said Suzy, trying to coax a particular look out of her.  "That's it!  That's what we're looking for!"

"OK, Suz, I've finished the roll" said the photographer. 

"Perfect, Gillian, you're a natural." said Suzy.

When the work day ended, Suzy went to leave the office building by the main front door but she could see that there were reporters out the front, presumably there to try and doorstop her with questions about her article.  She was worried and hesitated about going out through that door as other work colleagues were pestered by the reporters as they left.

There was a noise behind her.  "Psst!"  Suzy looked around and saw Neil standing at the other end of the reception lobby.  "Suzy...this way, we'll get you out via the loading bay!" he said in a loud whisper.  She didn't hesitate to take him up on the offer of escape.

"Neil, what are you doing here?" she asked as he maintained a 5 foot lead on her, checking left and right to see the coast was clear.

"The TV news has been running a LOT of stories about the Landgraabs and you made the midday news.  I knew the press would be down here like a pack of wolves trying to catch a wounded deer so I thought I'd act as your bodyguard."

"It's greatly appreciated, love!" she said, admiringly.

"I say we don't head straight home; the press are probably camped out there as well.  We need to lie low for a few hours, go somewhere where they'd never think of finding us..." said Neil.

"Do you have anywhere specific in mind?" asked Suzy.

"The Romance Festival!" he declared.

"This is a great idea...no press and only a handful of middle aged couples; as it always is.  Absolutely the worst place for a single person under the age of 40 to meet another single person." said Suzy, giving Neil a kiss out of appreciation for his concern for her and quick thinking.

"Hey, we met at the Romance Festival" He protested.

"Oh yeah...so we did.  But how random was that?"

"Not random...providence!"

They got some exotic food from a vending stall and sat down to eat and discuss things.

"The article gets published tomorrow..." said Suzy.

"Great publicity for Hey, Wow...and you of course.  Are you ready?" asked Neil.

"I've been ready for months now.  The more I've learned since the beginning of the year, the more I've been horrified by what that family has done...not just recently, but for the last 150 years.  But I feel I've barely scratched the surface in this investigation." 

"More about the Landgraabs?  We still don't know what's underneath that mansion nor what Gregory Landgraab's role in it all was."

"Not just that...the book alludes to dark secrets of the Feng family.  Once the fallout from the Landgraab article settles you can be sure two smart cooklies like Lily and Victor Feng will have their guards up."

"That's for another day to think about..." said Neil, raising his glass in cheers.  "Hey, there's the Goths over there and...do my eyes deceive me?  They're smiling and having a good time!"

"They are smiling!  I've never seen Mortimer smile before and I've seen him twice and the Humour and Hijinks festival where he did not even crack a grin.  I wonder what they're so happy about?"

"A rival gone?  Or at least going?" suggested Neil.

Mortimer noticed Suzy and Neil and he looked at them both.  He just stared for two seconds and then smiled, nodding at the pair.  Suzy nodded back in acknowledgement.

"I think you maybe right, Neil" she said.

CHAPTER 199: The State Of The Nation

 

ONE DAY IN SIM CITY

The day was just beginning as the people of the night shift exchanged places with those who lived and worked during the day.  Central Willow Creek was just gearing up for another fine, Summer day.  There was an optimism in the country right now:  The space programme was just starting to deliver results and, for the very first time, it seemed like America was just ahead of the Russians in getting to the Moon.  The war in Vietnam was going in the Allies favour as well.  On the cultural front the Beach Boys were riding high with their critically acclaimed album, Pet Sounds but word was that within weeks The Beatles were going to launch their next album and word was it was going to be revolutionary in sound.  Plus there was a tour by them in America soon after release of the record.

In Pack's Clothing, Barbara Dubois was doing one final stock check before opening the shop.  Business was going well; there was now enough money for her to hire a full time shop assistant and word on the street was that Pack's was the place to shop for all the latest Mod gear.

So business was good, very good, and it was certainly keeping her on her feet.  The choosing of what clothes to sell and putting outfits together for display was a real buzz but dealing with customers who wanted to be at the cutting edge of fashion...especially young people who wanted to look as cool as the top British Carnaby Street models...much like Barbara herself, made her feel like she was doing an important job for her community.

If she had any worries right now they concerned her boyfriend, Jeremy Saint.  He was always considerate, caring and loving towards her and their time together was a joy.  But he was clearly troubled by his thoughts.

Jeremy was leading a double life.  On the surface he was a conscientious employee at the Landgraab Corporation with a brief to raise the public profile of the company.  It was "yes sir, no sir" in public and he always handed his reports in on time and perfectly typed...

But he was also working to uncover the corruption and criminality of the very company he was working for.  The Landgraabs had brainwashed him to turn on his friends, they wanted to destroy his neighbourhood and they knew the truth about the tree just outside of his house that was a portal to a mysterious grotto that seemingly defied science.

He had been working with a colleague to gather that information but with the recent high security checks in the corporation building they had to be extra vigilant to avoid being noticed.

...because the Landgraabs were always just around the corner, an ever present threat...

There were moments when Jeremy felt his courage might desert him.  He just wasn't used to a life of intrigue and investigation...unlike his neighbour, John Action...

Like Jeremy, he wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on with the Landgraabs and their schemes.  He knew things about the mystery that Jeremy didn't; darker, more sinister intrigues but like Jeremy he too had been subjected to a form of brainwashing...someone had wiped certain, specific memories from his mind.  Two people were responsible but he only had the name of one...and she had completely vanished from view:  No one could find her but Action was certain she was out there, somewhere.

The other person was a barely remembered face but, like his cohort, he was proving difficult to find as well.

Action gave the punchbag one last, powerful belt before he hit the shower and got dressed.  He pushed thoughts of his investigations to the back of his mind as he headed into town to enjoy some time with his girlfriend, Katherine.  Other than she was rich, intelligent and stunning what turned him on about her was her doggedness and that she wouldn't take his crap about "keeping safe from danger".  She was the one person in his life who could speak frankly to him and keep his impulsiveness in check.

Action was getting known around town...he had his network of informants and his presence was well known in the bars and clubs in the inner city.  An undercover cop he was not...

Another man who was known all around town was Alan Cuffe.  He was keeping a watchful eye over his newest business venture, The Kitten Club.  A popular night spot for the young, not so young but definitely fashionable.  A physical, bricks and mortar representation of his magazine, Lothario, and the lifestyle it espouses:  Free, sexually liberal and with the veneer of sophistication.

There were others who disagreed though...some called him a pornographer and that his magazine, with pictures of naked ladies in them, was pure smut but Cuffe played by the letter of the law and had avoided a couple of attempts to have him put out of business.  Then there were the "Kittens".  If the club was the bricks and mortar incarnation of Lothario and Cuffe's ideas, then the Kittens were the living embodiment.  They were young, stunning women who adorned the pages of the magazine and who were a presence at the club in their figure hugging costumes; stylised cat outfits.  Again, the detractors claimed they were being objectified and exploited but every one of them were there out of their choice.  The life of a Lothario Kitten wasn't for every one of them...a couple had quit because it became too much, too intense and not what they hoped the experience would be...but the image of the Kittens seemed to embody the permissive society of today.

As Cuffe walked around his club, meeting and greeting the clientele and entertaining them with his anecdotes one would be mistaken for thinking he had reached the pinnacle of his life:  He's the man who has a successful business empire, a millionaire living in a mansion in the most exclusive part of Sim City and surrounded by beautiful women.  Yet his bonhomie was a facade:  He knew too many dark secrets and was haunted by what he had seen and knew.  There were things he discovered recently that almost drove him to madness.  His live in assistant and sometime lover, Madelyn, had kept his growing fears and paranoia secret from the world and effectively ran the company on his behalf whilst he sought ways to regain his sanity.  Few people knew that the slightly older Kitten, in her figure hugging outfit, was the one person Cuffe depended on but even she didn't know what his darkest secrets were.

In another hot nightspot in town, not too far away from The Kitten Club, another couple were dancing the night away but this couple had no secrets between them.  Travis Scott and Summer Holliday had recently become engaged and tonight was a double date with their housemate, Liberty and her boyfriend, Gary at the Orange Peel Club.

This was perhaps one last opportunity to spend time going out as a group before the serious business of wedding planning began.  Travis had been living with Summer for 2 years now and he knew, deep down, that he was always in love with her but it took him all that time for him to realise it.  For Summer, she had loved him from afar for even longer:  Back when they were in high school but Travis was that little bit older and was in an upper year from her so he never even knew who she was until they moved in together.

Marriage...he had only vague ideas what would be entailed on the day and then afterwards but he had resolved to learn on the job.  Summer, however, was brimming with ideas; ideas she had since she was 12.

The houseshare happened by chance and their third friend, Liberty, wasn't to be left out or be a third wheel.  She had found love with Gary; a young man with a romantic heart and a rich father.  Liberty's cool, scientific mind complemented Gary's poetic and gentlemanly style.  Would they go the distance?  Well, so far, so good...

One marriage that seemed to be going the distance was that of George and Edna Sneedley.  18 years and still together.  The late 1940s saw them emerge into the landscape of post-war America, where the rebuilding after the twin catastrophes of The Depression and WW2 began.  They had an austere wedding but after the Korean War and George's discharge from the US Navy they had thrived under Eisenhower's presidency in the 1950s.  The values of hard work, stable family life and love of community and country appealed to the Sneedley's and Edna's paranoia meant that she was kept busy trying to root out Communist spies wherever they lurked.

By the time of Kennedy's presidency the Sneedleys had it made.  They had Sneedley Burrow, their home, constructed out of their own money, in 1962...complete with underground nuclear bunker.  Edna adored the First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, and her style and modelled her wardrobe on hers.

And she wasn't the only one who admired the Jackie style...her husband, George, envied it as well (although he would never say so to Edna).  His transvestism was starting to take over his life.  Once an occasional hobby, he now had a fully fledged female alter ego:  Beulah Boutee.

Now he was working and living a double life.  As George he was a hotel chef, as Beulah he was a maid at the Landgraab mansion, working two days a week and no one suspected his real identity.  How long could he keep up this life?  He put that question well to the back of his mind.  He was enjoying being Beulah too much.

So too was Joanna.  She had her own secrets; once a streetwalker and now a college student.  She was just starting to get ahead in life so absolutely no one could find out about her background.  

But she had resolved to look forwards, not back.  She would earn her place in the world and she figured she had time on her side, just starting out and trying to find who would be good to have by her side as she progressed...

It would be a hard sell trying to convince young Jamie McGregor that time was on his side.  His parents would tell him that his life in high school was here today and gone tomorrow...that he had college, work and decades of life and opportunity ahead of him.  Jamie couldn't see beyond next week.  His social progress was at a snail's pace and he found that girls still struggled to remember his name or be impressed with him.

His main hope now was with his band, The Bluestones.  If he could get a set list, practice some and get some gigs he would crack it with all the girls.  They'd want to be with him and jocks like David Watts would envy him as well.  He just needed his own guitar and not having to rely on borrowing one.

It had been a long while since Suzy had picked up her guitar and played.  It sat there, in the living room, in between the TV and a bookshelf and it had more dust on it than either of the others.  There just wasn't time to play with everything that was going on.

"OK, keep still just a moment longer..." said her husband, Neil.

"My nose is starting to itch" she replied.

"Let it...I'm almost finished here!"

"Why are you painting me?  You specialise in landscapes, Neil."

"I want to branch out and try my hand at a portrait...and who better to paint a portrait of than the most beautiful woman I have ever met!"

"Awww, that's so sweet of you!"

"DON'T MOVE!"  

Eventually she had to but only after another half an hour of standing still for Neil.  For there was something that was weighing heavily on her mind, maybe the culmination of months of work that began with a torn page from an unknown book that promised all the secrets of Sim City.  She now had the book the page was torn from but she approached reading it with trepidation.  She had been threatened, chased, had her career attacked and had discovered many unsavoury things about certain citizens of the city.  Scandals involving crime, drugs and even murder.  There had also been a hint that Soviet or some other foreign power was meddling in the affairs of Sim City.

So many questions that needed answers and they lay in that book.  She picked it up, sat down and began to read...The Hidden History of Sim City by Patrick Cornelius.

CHAPTER 171: The Mystery Of The Goths

 

Action gulped down the protein drink whilst he checked the mail.  Bills, and bills...and his Police Detective's salary just about stretched to cover them.  "Dang, I need a case to secure a promotion and soon!  My bank account's gonna be drier than Arizona at the rate I'm going!" he said to himself.  But Action was a man of taste and style and it cost him money to maintain his lifestyle.

As he popped the last cheque in the mailbox he saw playboy millionaire, Alan Cuffe, jogging past his house.  It had been a while since he'd seen Cuffe and rumour had it that the guy was losing his marbles over some incident.  Well, Action had a hunch what caused it:  A deep, dark secret that Cuffe refused to share with anyone.  Maybe the good fortune of having the guy jogging past him right at this moment was too good opportunity for Action to miss out on.  

"Alan, have you got a few minutes to spare?" 

"Sure, Action...what's up?  Is this about work or a friendly chat?"

"Mostly just friendly.  How have you been?  Anyone tried bothering since we last spoke?"

"You said this was a friendly chat but it sounds more like work"

"The two often collide...so?  Life settled down to whatever it is you call normal, Alan?"

"Have I seen that strange woman since the fire?  No, Action, I have not.  Nor have I seen the man who I thought was following me...it must have been my imagination:  I've been working too hard."

Action noticed that Cuffe's fist was clenched and that he looked nervous.  His eyes darting left and right to see if anyone untoward was about.

"Well, we never did catch those people who tried to get you...or your assistant.  You know where you can find me if there's anything bothering you.  We can even keep it off the record." said Action, knowing that Cuffe was hiding something but that he wouldn't confess straight up here and now.

"Thanks for the offer, but I'm doing fine.  Gotta keep moving, you know?" said Cuffe before he continued his run.

"Yeah, I know..." muttered Action.

Later, at 13th Precinct Headquarters Action saw that Officer Marina Beckett was helming the front desk.  Now Marina had some 'history' with Cuffe and Action's curiosity was aroused by his encounter with the man this morning.

"Marina...I bumped into a friend of yours this morning" he said to her.

"Oh yeah, who?" she replied.

"Alan Cuffe."

Marina hesitated a moment before replying.  "Oh yes, did he have anything interesting to say?" she asked.

"Absolutely nothing at all, but I know something's bothering him.  You know him a lot better than I do; do you know what's eating away at him?"

Again, Marina hesitated before answering.  "He's not been the same since the fire.  He's acting...erratic."

"You've not said much since the fire either.  Do you know if those responsible have confronted either you or him since then?"

"Wait!  No!  You don't think I've held anything back since that day!  My loyalty is beyond question!" she said, indignantly.

"I never said it wasn't.  Listen, Marina, anything that Cuffe confides with you that pertains to the case...you let me know, OK?"

"Isn't the FBI handling it from now on?" she asked.

"You don't think the people who've been trying to kill Cuffe and do all those other things have left Sim City, do you?"

At that moment a young woman entered the station and made her way to the front desk.

"Well, Action, you've got a lot of work on today...you can either deal with this young lady's problem or deal with a breaking and entry at the Goth Mansion." said Marina.

Action looked the young woman up and down and liked what he saw...but he knew where the big case was.

"I'm sure this young lady's problem can be dealt with by Detective Michaels and his team.  I'll take the Goth Mansion case."

Marina handed him a folder with some case files in it and Action went to the squad room to take a look at them and familiarise himself with the case.

The Goth Mansion was one of the oldest residences in Sim City, it's construction dating back to the 1870s.  Mortimore Goth was a well-known author and his wife, Bella, a onetime model, bit part actress and now full-time housewife and socialite.  They have two children and no priors...except for a few years ago when Bella Goth had gone missing for a time but had suddenly shown up alive and well some time later.  Police didn't treat that as a crime at the time..."strange", thought Action.

He made his way to the Goth Mansion, keeping a look out for the officer who was first on the scene:  Patrolman Jesse Navarro:  A young, keen but somewhat reckless cop.  Action would take charge of the crime scene once he was there.

The house was in an old and wealthy part of Willow Creek.  Even among the "Gay Nineties" architecture of the surrounding neighbourhood, the Goth Mansion stood out as it was darker, more gothic and sinister looking...and that was just the outside.  Inside the decor matched the exterior...apparently the Goths weren't big on lighting.  Action walked up the stairs to find Officer Navarro, half expecting Vincent Price to emerge from the shadows.

Upstairs he found Officer Navarro pondering over an antique chess set.

"There's no time to be playing games, Officer" said Action.

"Oh, Detective Action!  No...erm...I wasn't...I was waiting for a forensic team to dust this chess set."

"Why?  There's nothing missing there" replied Action.

"Well, I thought that Chess obsessed thief you arrested might have been responsible for the burglary.  I hear she's out on probation." 

"She is, but she didn't do this..." Action knew that the woman was a reformed criminal and one of his informants.  "So, what is actually missing?" Action added.

Navarro pulled out his notebook and started to read what he had written down earlier.  "Let's see...a crystal decanter and goblet set, a bronze bust of an Ancient Greek lady...said to be an original from about 300 B.C....some silverware and various books and papers."

"Books and papers?  Why steal those?  Are they especially rare editions?" asked Action.

"From my notes, not especially."

"OK, can you show me where the books and papers were stolen from?" asked Action.

"Yes...but aren't you more interested in the ancient sculpture or silverware?" asked Navarro.

"Not now..." said Action, curtly.

Navarro showed Action the bookcase that had volumes stolen from it.  "Has it been dusted for prints?"

"Erm, yes sir...the only prints they could find match the family's and Miss Joiner's"

"Who's Miss Joiner?" asked Action.

"Mr Goth's research assistant.  She's downstairs being questioned as a witness."

"Send her up here, Navarro"

Miss Janice Joiner was a nervous and distraught young woman in her early 20s.  She was in the house when it was broken into and was now traumatised by what happened to her.

"I was downstairs, at Mr Goth's desk arranging papers for him, when these two people...wearing masks...burst into the room.  They grabbed me and shoved me in the cellar, locking the door.  I must have been in there for half an hour when a neighbour came to investigate what was going on and heard me banging on the door."

"Can you tell me what books are missing from this bookshelf?" asked Action.

"Oh that's Mr Goth's reference library.  It's where he keeps books he uses for research for his novels.  Oh..." she said, but suddenly she stopped in mid sentence.

"What's wrong?" asked Action.

"Well, as you can see these books are about the paranormal.  The top shelf is the ghost section, then mythical beasts, legends and lore and so on but one section is completely missing." Miss Joiner replied.

"Which one?" 

"UFOs and aliens" she said.

"Are those books particularly rare or valuable?" 

"Not particularly.  But Mr Goth likes writing notes in the margins of his reference books so they're unique.  And there's a couple of books I'm not allowed to touch or read.  Those are strictly private and for his eyes only.  They're missing as well."

Action nodded his head.  "Thank you, Miss Joiner, you've been very helpful."  The distraught young lady left the room.

Checking the room one more time Action noticed a scrap of paper on the floor, probably torn from one of the pages of the books that was stolen.  He put on a disposable glove and picked the scrap up gently with his thumb and forefinger.  Examining it, the scrap had two handwritten words on it:  WHY BELLA?

"Why indeed?" muttered Action.

He made his way downstairs where he was greeted by Sergeant Kitchen, who had taken over command of the investigation team.

"We've got a full inventory of what's been stolen...those busts should give the insurance company a nightmare." he said.

"That's a ruse...so was the stolen silverware" Action replied.  "The real target for the thieves were his papers and reference books.  We're not dealing with common criminals out to make a quick buck.  Whoever did this wants information that only Goth has."

"A bunch of books about little green men?  Come on, Action, why would anyone want those?" said Sergeant Kitchen.

"Because of what Goth wrote in them.  He scribbles notes in the margins.  I bet he's the kind of guy who slips notepaper with his ideas into books as well.  Where is Goth, anyway?"

"In Europe on a speaking tour.  He won't be back for another week."

"Dang!  Any other witnesses?" Action asked.

"Oh yes...and you'll just LOVE her" said Kitchen, sarcastically.

Action went to see this other witness...another young lady in her early 20s but blonde, bubbly and wearing large glasses.

"Hi, I'm Honey...Honey Pleasance" she beamed.

"But of course you are" replied Action.  "Can you tell me what you saw?"

"Well, I live nearby and I love to take walks along the beautiful tree lined boulevards, especially on a day like today with all the flowers and blossoms from the trees..."

"Just cut to the bit where you saw something suspicious"

"Oh, OK...well, normally I quicken my pace when I walk past the old Goth mansion on account of all the strange stories that you hear about the place but today I notice two people run out of the building and down the street clutching large, army style rucksacks."

"Did you get a look at their faces?"

"No, they were wearing masks.  But they left the front door open so I summoned up enough courage to step inside the house because, as I said, you hear stories about the Goths and their home and those creep me out.  Anway, isn't it an amazing place?  I mean, still creepy but so much interesting stuff as well....oh, sorry, I'm just shooting my mouth off here, I really should focus you know?  My tutor at college is always saying I should be more succinct in my speech....oops, I'm doing it again, aren't I?"

"Just a bit" said Action.

"To cut a long story short, I heard a banging noise from behind a door and I opened it and there was that woman trapped in a cellar.  Then I phoned the police.  Maybe I should have given chase to the thieves instead!"

"No, you did the right thing.  The thieves may have been armed." said Action.

"Oh, I hadn't thought of that!" replied Honey.

"You mentioned that you've heard stories about the Goths...any ones in particular?" asked Action.

"Well, they do talk about that time Mrs Goth went missing." she replied.

"Was it a kidnapping or did she just walk out and return sometime later?"

"Oh none of those things..." Honey looked nervously around the room and leaned in closer to Action.  "They say supernatural forces were at work.  She was here, then gone and with no trace, then she returns with her memory all gone from that period of time."

That struck a chord with Action:  A complete memory wipe of an event....just what had happened to him.

"Thank you, Miss Pleasance" he said.

"Call me Honey" she said, smiling broadly again.

"I sure will" he replied.  "You've been most helpful."

After she had left Officer Navarro had a quiet word with Action.  "That one is clearly tripping on something.  I should pull her over to see if she's carrying any narcotics"

"Leave it" said Action, putting a hand on Navarro's arm to restrain his eagerness.  "We've got a lot to do with this case.  Is there another witness?"

"Just one more" said Navarro.  "A Mrs Giordano"

"Si, I saw them run away from the building" said Mrs Giordano in a thick Italian accent.  "And I tell you; one of them was a woman"

"A woman?" said Action.

"Si!  Yes!  I said a woman.  I could tell....her shape, the way she run.  A woman"

"You seem very certain.  Well that's very helpful." said Action, writing down her statement and closing his notebook.  With forensics moving in to do more analysis it was time for him to head back to the precinct house.

He typed up his initial findings in a report including his assessment that the papers were the real objective of the thieves and that the theft of a few objects d'art and antiques was merely a cover.  He wasn't sure that would go down well with the Chief though as it wouldn't be a simple open and shut case...

He went to the station archives to find information about Bella Goth's disappearance.  There were crime scene photos of her abandoned car, found in the outskirts of Oasis Springs, and the surrounding area but it was still a cold case...made freezing by Mortimore Goth's insistence that no charges would be pressed and that, in his view, no crime had been committed because Bella had returned alive and well, no ransom was ever demanded and nothing had been stolen; therefore, no crime had taken place.

But there was a mystery nonetheless and one that related to a crime that had just taken place.  Mortimore Goth had done his best to conceal it but someone knew the truth of what happened to her and had obtained the evidence for themselves.  Goth was out of the country right now but not Mrs Goth.  Action determined to go and question her in person.

He travelled back to Ophelia Villa to see her.  The forensic team had just departed and he saw Bella Goth standing outside the house with a small boy of about 8 years of age.  Action deduced that he was her son.

Everything he'd heard about Bella Goth was true:  She was alluring to the point of hypnotic, her very presence had a magnetic and sexual allure; this was accentuated by her dress which clung to every smooth curve of her body, her long arms and smooth finely sculptured shoulders exposed, the shortness of the hem revealing a perfect set of legs, accentuated by expensive dark hosiery.  Her eyes and lips enticed as she looked directly into Action own eyes...it was an effort just to concentrate on asking her questions.  She had to have been in her late 30s at least and yet she looked 10 years younger.

"Mrs Goth, I'm Detective John Action of the Sim City PD.  I'd like to ask you a few questions." he asked, composing himself.

"Certainly but I did tell your colleagues everything I know about what was stolen.  I'm afraid I don't know who could have committed such a crime or who had the motive or means.  As for the items, we are insured." she replied, her voice a soft purr.

"Even your husband's files and notes that he wrote in all those books he had about UFOs?" 

Bella paused before answering.  "Alexander, dear, run along inside.  I will join you soon." she eventually said.

"Yes Mother" replied the boy, looking sullen.  He trudged off inside, pausing once to turn towards his mother for some reassurance, which she gave by nodding and smiling at him.

"So, Mrs Goth, about those books of your husbands..." said Action.

"I know of them but I've never read any.  That is my husband's affair" she replied.

"So you don't know what he wrote in them or why he's interested in the subject?" asked Action.  "Somehow, Mrs Goth, I don't quite believe you."

"Dectective Action, I resent that insinuation!" she said proudly and indignantly.

"Let me tell you my own story, Mrs Goth, a true one.  A few weeks ago I was on a case and I found a lead, a really juicy one, and something happened.  I went to meet someone to get information and I went missing for a few hours.  Then I emerged, unscathed but with my memory of that meeting and the case I was working on completely gone:  Sound familiar?"

Bella Goth said nothing.

"I have a good buddy of mine whose mind's been messed with as well.  He went for a job interview but can't remember anything about what happened.  A few days later and he's working at that company but now he's developed a hatred for people he once liked.  Turned out he was subjected to brainwashing but he can't remember how it was done...again I ask you, Mrs Goth, is this ringing any bells?"

"Detective, I honestly cannot remember a single thing that happened to me during that time I went missing.  That is the truth." she said, nervously.

"But your husband has an idea, which he wrote down in those books and which someone has stolen.  So that means a few people know what happened...has he said anything to you about it, over the years?"

"My husband is extremely protective of me.  He refuses to talk to anyone about my disappearance and that includes me."

"And you're not curious?"

"Of course I am curious, Detective!  Six weeks of my life...SIX WEEKS...was stolen.  When I got back I was prone to blackouts and falling into semi-consciousness for months afterwards.  Mortimore cared for me but he also wanted to know what happened.  So he went searching and...well...wrote in those books and kept a journal of the whole affair...what he knew of it.  But he refused to share that with me, no matter how much I pleaded.  Eventually caring for Cassandra and Alexander and my charity work occupied all my attention and when I recovered, I stopped asking Mortimore for information."

Action nodded and took a step closer to Bella.  He could smell her exotic perfume and she seemed more alluring than ever to him.  "When your husband gets back from his trip, I want to see him and he will see me!  You tell him that."

FOUNDRY COVE, WILLOW CREEK

Geoffrey Landgraab huffed and puffed his way along the empty streets of Willow Creek.  No matter how much he ran, he could never shift that bit of extra weight around his stomach.  But, like his wife, he pushed himself onwards and onwards to try to keep fit.

"Geoffrey Landgraab" came a voice behind him.  Geoffrey stopped and looked around.  He saw a young man with red hair and casual attire walking towards him.

"Geoffrey Landgraab...we need to talk" said the man.  Geoffrey instinctively knew who this person was despite never actually having spoken with him before.

"Ah...yes..." Geoffrey said nervously.  "I usually deal with a young woman from your...organisation."

"She has been altered and reassigned.  You will now deal with me: I am Luke Kendall.  I am concerned information about our activities becoming known by others.  Leanne McGregor had to be altered.  What are you doing about the leaks, Geoffrey Landgraab?"

"I have conditioned one of my employees...a man who lives just over there...to be a willing puppet to our cause.  He will provide no obstacles.  And I believe you dealt with Detective Action."

"Affirmative"

"Nancy has arranged for Goth's evidence against us to go missing...as a matter of fact she's already accomplished that.  That only leaves Suzy Kent.  Shall I deal with her or will I leave her up to you?" said Geoffrey, sinisterly.