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!"
"STOP! IN THE NAME OF THE LAW!" Yelled Action as he gave chase to the mysterious woman who went by the name of Leanne MacGregor. She was the new chief suspect in the attempt to kill Policewoman Marina Beckett, Alan Cuffe, Madelyn Buchanan and Lily Feng. Action had been alerted to Leanne's presence in Foundry Cove by his neighbour, Suzy Kent, an intrepid reporter who had done much to uncover who was behind these crimes. Suzy had spotted Leanne in the street, confronted her and found out her name before being threatened by the strange woman. Suzy then immediately roused Action, who grabbed his .38 service revolver and set off in pursuit.
Action had an athlete's physique and was able to run at speed as soon as he shot out of his front door. Within seconds he had turned the corner into the main road and could see Leanne up ahead. He yelled his challenge, all the while preparing to ready his revolver in case she was armed. But the woman just walked casually ahead, not gathering pace but not slowing down either. She completely ignored the challenge he had shouted and walked on.
"STOP! POLICE!" he yelled again, gun in hand. She ignored him and walked on. Action was perplexed: He was running at full speed and yet despite the fact she appeared to be casually walking he hadn't gained on her: She was always constantly 30 feet away from him, he didn't understand how. He now considered firing a warning shot to stop her but, suddenly, the brilliant white headlights of a car which was heading towards him momentarily blinded his vision.
When he'd recovered his eyesight, seconds later, Leanne was nowhere to be seen.
Action was mystified by all this: Where did she go? How did she maintain that same distance from him despite his chasing after her? He looked down the road: It was the main road through Foundry Cove with no side streets for 500 yards in the direction she was heading so she couldn't have gone down there. He frantically looked into people's front yards and in the communal garden in case she was hiding but she was nowhere to be found. Perhaps she lived locally and had vanished into one of these houses? He decided to go door to door, prepared to wake people up if necessary, to find her. After two hours of this he'd turned up nothing: No one had seen her, no one had heard of her name and although some people had heard him shouting to her to stop, no one had witnessed anything. He went back home, called Precinct 13 and explained the situation to the head of the night shift. An APB was put out for any units in the area who had seen her: They were to detain her and take her to the precinct house.
The next day Action arrived for his shift despite only getting 4 hours sleep the night before. This case had now moved up a gear and he was too restless and fired up to take things easy. He headed straight to his desk in the squad room to file a full report on what he had seen and the actions he took the previous evening. Seeing Action working frantically at his desk, Duty Sergeant Kitchen approached him.
"Did Night Shift find anything, Sarge?" Action asked.
Kitchen shook his head. "They did a thorough house to house search and turned up nothing" he replied.
"Well, we've got a name, an age and a physical description so the next step is to get a photofit image of her and get it to all units." said Action.
"Have you considered that might not be her real name?" asked Kitchen.
Action said nothing but gave Kitchen a look that said "don't insult my intelligence".
A uniformed policeman entered the squad room and said "The chief wants to see you, Action". Action got up from behind his desk and went to the Chief's office.
Two other police officers were present, one of them being Cole Michaels of the Juvenile Investigation Team...or 'Mod Squad' as it was informally known as.
"Action!" bellowed the Chief. "What's the latest on this woman?"
"I'm getting a photofit image of her so we can distribute that to all our mobile units, witnesses and newspapers. We have a name...which is probably false but nonetheless a name she uses. She gave her age as 27, which fits her physical description and another clue is that she says she's originally from out of town."
There was more Action could have mentioned: The claims she was a hypnotist, or could levitate or that strange way she could just stay ahead of him as he chased her without breaking into a run. To bring up those things to the Chief would probably lead him to being suspended and sent off to see a psychiatrist. Instead, Action suppressed that information.
"So how did she get away?" said the Chief.
"She's skilled at escape and evasion, she managed to infiltrate Cuffe's house and plant a bomb and she's most likely the one who tried to shoot Lily Feng. My guess is that she's a spook" replied Action.
"A spook?" the Chief didn't recognise the term.
"A spy, a secret agent...maybe one of ours, more likely a foreign agent. That hint 'I'm from out of town' could be a clue. It fits that she's works or has worked for some Intelligence agency."
The Chief paced up and down the office. "Dammit! If that's the case then we'll have the F.B.I. and the N.S.A. on our backs! The paperwork...the paperwork!" he said.
"Sir...I want to get back out on the street, I want to shake down my informants...one of them should give us a lead." said Action.
The Chief nodded before turning to Cole. "And I want your team to work their contacts and informants as well. Apparently she's a fashionable young woman so she might be known in the latest trendy spots...your pimply squad should know where to look"
Cole said a brisk "yes sir!".
Action and Cole left the Chief's office and walked down the hall to the reception area together.
"So, Action, what avenue will you be pursing next?" Cole asked.
"Question everyone working for Cuffe and the Fengs. Maybe this Leanne works in either organisation or has a contact in them. I've asked one of Cuffe's Kittens to meet me here to give a statement.
"Well...if you need any help interrogating her then I'm available" said Cole. "I mean I could be good cop, you could be bad cop"
"Easy bucko..." said Action. "I know your angle: This isn't a pick-up joint. You get your squad out there into the clubs and I'll work with Miss Black Cat herself". They could see, at the front desk, a strikingly attractive black woman who Action recognised from the time he had attended a Kitten Club meeting. Her name was Yadira Rosado but was known publicly as Miss Black Cat: Kitten of the Month for May 1966.
"Yadira, good of you to come down" Action said. "I need to ask some questions about the fire"
"Sure" Yadira replied. "But I wasn't there so all I know is what I learned from Alan and Madelyn...oh, and what I saw on the news"
"Maybe you can shed some light on another matter" Action replied. "Does the name Leanne McGregor ring any bells for you?"
"No, can't say it does" replied Yadira.
"Take a look at this picture...does she seem familiar?" he said, showing her the photofit image. Yadira studied it for 10 seconds.
"Yeah, she does seem familiar. I've seen her about...we did a show down at the Blue Velvet club last month and I saw her in the crowd. It was weird; everyone was dancing and grooving but not her...that's why I remember...it seemed odd and out of place that she wasn't joining in. Then, last week, I saw her again outside the Kitten Club in Newcrest when we had the big grand opening. Again, she didn't come in to the club but she was hanging around for quite a while outside. I remember arriving at the club in my normal clothes, going in to change into my costume and when I was ready I walked past the entrance and she was still there! Half an hour after I'd arrived and still standing in the same spot!"
All this went into Action's notes but now he had to follow up this lead and head over to the newly built Kitten Club itself.
The club had opened only last week and was one of the brand new developments in Newcrest. It looked pretty smart on the outside and Action was impressed. He couldn't work out if Alan Cuffe, the founder of the Kitten Club and proprietor of Lothario magazine was the sexually liberated man of pleasure he made himself out to be or was he hiding something more sinister and criminal?
The interior didn't disappoint either. It was large, modern and decked out in black, white and red. Action sauntered past the bar and noticed the large dance floor in an adjacent room. He nodded to the bartender "Is the boss in?" he asked.
"Upstairs" the man replied.
Action headed straight upstairs to find Cuffe and noticed his assistant, Madelyn, dressed up in her Kitten outfit and talking to a smart looking business type.
"Why, Detective Action, is this a business visit or....are you here for pleasure?" she said, flirtatiously.
"It's business today. Is Cuffe around?" replied Action.
"He's over there...shame you're here on business. Why not visit another time and have a little fun instead?" she said, winking at him.
"I might just do that" said Action.
Action saw Cuffe in the distance, talking to a member of his staff. He sauntered over to the man and directly interrupted their conversation.
"Under no circumstances are the staff to reveal any of their personal details: Last names, addresses or phone numbers. You got that?" said Cuffe. The man nodded.
"Mr Cuffe" said Action.
"Detective...you have this unerring gift of showing up when I'm at my busiest" replied Cuffe.
"I need to ask some more questions"
"I figured that the moment I saw you enter...let's go over here; it's more discrete." Cuffe showed Action over to a seating area with deep, leather sofas. "Do you like the place, Detective? This is phase 3 of my grand business plan."
"What were phases 1 & 2?" asked Action.
"Phase 1 was the establishment of Lothario magazine, phase 2 was the creation of a social club and an image in human form..."
"The Kittens"
"That's right. This is phase 3: The building of a bricks and mortar venue for men of taste and sophistication to meet women who can satisfy those needs"
"Some might call that prostitution" said Action, cynically.
"Detective, I am disappointed with your grubby imagination. This is not vice...no money changes hands for 'services rendered'. This is a venue to facilitate liberated social interaction, I make money from club membership, food and drink and merchandising. Now I thought you were investigating the attempts on mine and Madelyn's lives"
"And also my colleague, Marina" said Action.
"Of course. I hear she's been discharged from hospital now. Excellent news. Now what do you wish to ask me about?"
Action pulled out the photofit image. "Do you recognise this woman? She goes by the name of Leanne McGregor" he said.
Cuffe took the image and looked at it, at one time holding it at arms length from his face. "Hmmm, can't say I do" was all he replied.
"Look at it again. This woman was standing for half an hour outside of your club on the opening day. One of your closest members of staff remembers seeing her and I bet if I asked around more would recognise her as well. Funny that you don't, seeing that you oversaw everything on that opening day."
"Well, the face does seem quite familiar..." said Cuffe, nonchalantly.
"She was also the woman seen standing outside your home on the morning of the fire, the woman seen talking to Nancy Landgraab."
"I was a little preoccupied that morning with Marina at that time, so to speak"
"I bet you were" said Action, cynically. "I'll ask you again; do you recognise this woman and believe me, Cuffe, I'll haul each and every one of your staff down to the station to interrogate them until I get a straight answer. You could save a lot of lost time and business if you level with me now."
Cuffed hummed and eventually said "Yes, I have met her...only the once. I met her at a bar in Willow Creek and got chatting. I thought she had the potential to become a Lothario Kitten and offered her a position in my organisation. She declined and looking back I think it was a good decision: There was something in her manner that was cold and remote...not the qualities I look for in a Kitten."
"And on the day of the opening?" continued Action.
"Well....yes..." Cuffe was getting defensive now. "A couple of times but I was too busy to take an interest in what she was doing there."
"I'm getting the impression you're not being entirely straight with me" said Action, a forceful tone in his voice. "This woman clearly makes you nervous just talking about her. What else do you know?"
"Look, Action, she's way above your pay grade. Don't ask me how I know, I just know that she's best left to the F.B.I. or C.I.A. or someone at that level. A local plod just won't cut it even if he does swagger around in a fancy suit."
"Is she a foreign intelligence agent? I have good reason to suspect she is" said Action, homing in on what Cuffe had just said.
Cuffe paused and looked at a random patch of the carpet as he composed his thoughts. "Yes...along those lines, Detective. Like I said, she's above your grade."
Action stood up, pointed his index finger at Cuffe's chest and pressed hard. "Don't hold ANYTHING back from me in future, Cuffe. Or else I might just have to run a background check on your staff"
Action walked away but paused to speak with Madelyn again. "Say, Madelyn" he began "do you recognise this woman?" he said, showing her the image.
"Yeah, that's the woman who came to fix the electrics in the living room" said Madelyn.
Action nodded and walked out of the club but as he did so he saw a familiar face, and not particularly a welcome one either. Aurora Ahmed: A career criminal who specialised in breaking and entry. He'd busted her a few months ago for her part in a string of robberies but the D.A. cut a deal before she went to trial where she gave up some names of pretty important organised crime bosses in exchange for a suspended sentence. Now she was here in the Kitten Club.
"Well, well, well, a bad penny always shows up" he said, sitting next to her. "You should be doing jail time"
"I cut a deal with the D.A....I don't want to do another stretch in the slammer so...get this...I'm now a paid police informant. Get a load of that" she replied.
"There's no justice in this world. But seeing as you're an informant now and I'm still the law I need to put you to work."
"I charge a fee" she replied.
"I'm sure you do. Here's 50 Simoleons to get you started. I want to find this woman" he said, once again showing the image. "The name's Leanne McGregor, age 27, probably foreign but speaks English fluently. We think she's with some kind of secret agent."
Aurora studied the photo. "And if I find her I want a bonus" she said.
Action then headed to downtown San Myshuno where he had more informants. It was the same routine: Show the photo and give out the name.
After pounding the beat, he did see one more person he was keen on speaking with: The woman who began this whole investigation when a folder containing photographs from a fashion shoot belonging to her was snatched by a local petty criminal working for someone higher up and unknown. That woman's name was Penny Pizazz.
"Miss Pizazz" said Action as he approached her.
"Detective....Action, is it?" she replied.
"That's right, do you have a moment to talk?"
"Sure, Detective, what's up?"
"Those photographs that were stolen from you? Were they all the photos that were taken that day?"
"Oh goodness me, no" she replied emphatically. "The photographer will shoot reels and reels of film but only select the very best for publication, which is what I had in that folder."
"What happens to the other photos, the one's not chosen?" asked Action.
"Well, the photographer will have the negatives of those and the proof sheets: That's a photo print of all the negatives...small, thumbnail sized images...on one photograph."
"Where can I find the photographer who took them?"
"His name's Michael Hemmingstamp but he's a British photographer who spends most of his time in the UK and only occasionally visits Sim City."
Action cursed under his breath. He needed to see those photographs to see if one of them captured the gunman more clearly. "Well, if you hear from him or he returns to the city can you give me a call straight away...here's my card. Thank you"
Action headed back to Precinct 13 to report on and type up everything he'd gathered today then he finished his shift and headed home...late. It had been a day of slow progress; of piecing together fragments of information about Leanne McGregor. He had done pretty much all he could have done, it was now in the hands of the police force as a whole to use that information and hunt her down.
As he arrived at Foundry Cove he saw a familiar face lurking on the street corner: Aurora Ahmed.
"Aurora, what are you doing here?" he asked.
"I've come to tell you, Action, I'm out." She looked bothered by something or someone.
"What? Did you find something out about McGregor?"
"I found things out and I don't want to be anywhere near your case...she's dangerous, Action, and you're out of your depth! Take my advice; quit this case as well."
"What did you find out?" said Action, forcefully. "Do you need more money?"
Aurora shook her head. "You can't afford to pay that much to keep me involved! This is my life, Action, and the risks are too great. McGregor is highly dangerous and you'll be a gonner if you mess with her."
"WHAT. DID. YOU. FIND. OUT?" He repeated, shaking her by the shoulders. She shrugged him off.
"No...I'm out. Drop the case...hand it over to the Feds...or the Army." and with that she walked off into the night.
"Yo, Rookie...what do you have for me?" said Action as he entered the squad room at Precinct 13 headquarters.
"The suspect...Damian Blount...in cell one needs interrogating. And I ain't no Rookie anymore; I served my probation time and am a grade 1 patrolman"
"Until I see you cut it on the streets when the crap hits the fan, you're a rookie to me. Now, who's Damian Blount?"
"He's the breaking and entering specialist who has a thing for women's shoes"
"Oh him!" Action said, remembering the first time he'd encountered Damian.
"Come on, Twinkletoes, time to sing" said Action as he let Damian Blount out of his cell to be interrogated.
"You had nothing on me last time, Detective, and you've got nothing this time" replied Damian, a sound of overconfidence and disdain in his voice.
"You got off on a technicality and were lucky the judge was weak...but wait 'till you see what I've got this time"
"Ooh, don't tease me!" said Blount, in a mock flirtatious voice.
Action gave Blount a big shove in the back and marched him off to the interrogation room.
"I know it's you hitting all those expensive houses, Damian, you have a distinctive M.O." said Action, shining the desk lamp into Blount's face.
"Oh do tell, Detective" replied a defiant Blount.
"You have expensive tastes and they need paying for...not only do you break in and steal cash, jewellery and other items of value....you like to take dresses, shoes and other ladies' apparel. That makes you a bit different"
"It's not a crime in this state to like women's clothes, Detective"
"Hey, if you want to dress up as a woman that's your gig: I don't care one way or another. But you can't do it in clothes you stole either" There was an awkward pause in the interrogation as Blount remained defiant.
"Prove I stole them, Detective"
Action said nothing but reached into a file and slid a document across to Blount.
"That dress is legitimately mine" responded Blount, still remaining calm.
"Then how come on the inside lining of the dress there's a pinned dry cleaning invoice MADE OUT TO NANCY LANDGRAAB?" Action raised his voice and jabbed his index finger down on a photocopy of the invoice in front of Blount.
"Erm....I....I" stuttered Blount; his composure collapsed. Action had his man bang to rights....Blount ended up confessing to a series of robberies and once Action had got a signed confession from the suspect and with that job done, he put him back in the cell.
That job done and dusted, Action headed to the Chief's office to update him on the case being closed and ready for trial.
"Well done, Action my boy, well done" said the Chief, enthusiastically when told the news that they'd got a confession out of Damian Blount. "We've been after that one for some time and you were the one that closed the case"
"It still has to go to trial but that confession will help secure the conviction" said Action.
"It'll go to the D.A.'s office and they'll sort it out...well, what are you waiting for, Action, go get out there and crack some more cases!" the Chief said, abruptly.
SAN MYSHUNO, 13:05 hrs
It didn't take long for something to happen downtown that Action needed to deal with. As he was talking to a local by the name of Arun Bheeda a very attractive but panic stricken young woman came running up to him. Looking at her she seemed vaguely familiar but he couldn't place where he'd seen her before.
"Officer! Officer! I need your help, urgently!" she said, out of breath as she came running to him.
"What's the matter, Ma'am?" Action replied.
"I had something of mine stolen, out of my hands, just around the corner from here!" she explained, pointing to a spot around the corner from where they were standing.
"What was stolen?" asked Action.
"An envelope containing some photos" she replied.
"That's all? Your bag wasn't taken was it as well?"
"No, just the envelope" she explained.
Action took a moment to think about the significance of an bunch of photos being taken but a woman's bag, presumably containing her cash and valuables, was ignored.
"And can you describe the man who took this envelope?"
"Yes, he was a black man, in a tank top and flat cap" she said.
"Hey, I've seen that guy around here a lot!" exclaimed Arun Bheena, all of a sudden.
"Ma'am, I'm going to have a look around this area and call in some back up" said Action, instinctively checking his .38 service revolver was still in its holster. "Here's my card; if you see the guy who robbed you, call this number"
"Can I have one of those cards as well, Detective?" asked Arun. "If I see this guy, and I'm pretty sure he hangs out around here a lot, I want to let you know"
"Sure Mr Bheeda, here you go" he said, handing a second card to the keen and eager young man. However, Action had another person he wanted to interrogate...someone who sees all but is hardly ever noticed.
"Howdy Cowboy" said Action as he approached the mime artist who was being a living statue for the day.
"Gnnnaaa arrraaayy" the mime replied.
"I have a few questions to ask you" Action said, flashing his warrant card.
"I shaid....gna array. G'naim trynggghhh to rorwk here" said the mime.
"I don't care if you're trying to work just standing around hoping a pigeon will crap on you...I'm the police and you will answer my questions either here or down at the precinct house"
The mime relented and stopped standing motionless. "Fine, what do you want?" she said.
"Snatch n' grab a little while ago. Black guy in a tank top and wearing a cap stole a large envelope. Did you see it happen or the guy who did it?"
"Yeah, I heard something...a scream then this guy hurtles past me at high speed carrying a big, yellow parcel or something like that. He went that way, towards the bar that's over there"
"And have you seen this guy around here before?" Action asked.
"Oh yeah...he's catcalled me a few times and shouted my act is garbage. I don't know his name though"
"Thanks for the help...and you say he went in that direction?" The mime nodded.
"Say, you should try being more still, Detective. Cast off the cares of the world and let your body be still and at peace"
Action scoffed. "I stand still for no man" he replied and he headed off to the bar where the suspect was last seen heading to. His eyes scanned all potential lurking spots but he couldn't help shake the feeling that something about this crime was amiss: Why steal photos unless there was something incriminating about them? And who do they incriminate?
Up ahead he saw Arun Bheena frantically gesturing off to his right. Action figured he'd seen something, possibly the perp himself. He quickly jogged over to Arun to find out what was going on.
"He's there...the guy who stole the envelope! By that payphone!" said an excited Arun.
Without saying a word, Action crept up on the suspect. Using his Vietnam jungle skills to move silently and undetected he was up on the perp in a flash and had his service .38 jammed into the small of the suspect's back.
"Don't move or you'll have a tunnel going all the way through your guts. Now drop the envelope you're holding right there and down on your knees, sucker!" said Action.
Action cuffed him, read him his rights and called for a Black & White to pick him up. Witness statements were taken from Arun, the Mime and the young woman at the centre of the theft.
"We've retrieved your photos and arrested the man who took them, Miss?" said Action, asking for the woman's name.
"Pizzazz. Penny Pizzazz" she replied.
The "penny" dropped for Action: "Of course, you're the gossip columnist and TV personality" said Action.
"That's me" she replied. "Can I have my photos back now?"
"They're material evidence, Miss Pizzazz. They'll be returned to you in time but for now we need to keep hold of them."
"But they're important for my work!" she protested.
"Don't you have copies? Can you make more from the negatives?" he said.
"Well...yes...I suppose" she said in a faltering manner.
"Good. We'll be in touch, Miss Pizzazz" said Action. His curiosity now piqued as he wondered what was in those photos...time would soon tell.
Back at the station, Action went to seek out the forensic unit. "Say, can you boys in the lab check these photos and this envelope out...I'm not just looking for fingerprints, I want those photos analysed for every last detail."
"Sure, Action" said the forensic chief. "What are we meant to be looking out for?"
"I don't know at this stage....look over them and enlarge any section that you think looks of interest or out of place". Action had a hunch the photos were stolen for something they contained that incriminated someone...but Pizzazz wasn't a known criminal with a habit of blackmailing people...or was she?
At the end of his shift Action headed home for a rendezvous with his girlfriend, Katherine. They were both pretty beat after their work days but perked up once they saw each other.
Action gave Katherine a massage. "Hmmm, that feels good!" she said. "You've got the magic touch"
"You should see all the other things I can do with them" he joked, flirtatiously.
"You've got my attention if it's anything like this massage" she replied. They headed to the bedroom to get more intimate.
"My day was so boring" began Katharine. "Attending all these meetings of charity bodies, organisations and listening to one dull speech after another. How was your day?"
"I got a confession from that thief who steals women's jewellery and clothes and arrested a street robber who mugged Penny Pizzazz, the lifestyle reporter on the news" he replied.
"Oh I know Penny" said Katherine. "Is she alright?"
"Yeah, she didn't get hurt...it was this package of hers that got stolen. Say, do you know her well?"
"A little" replied Katherine. "We attend some of the same events"
"Would you say she's on the level?" he asked.
"Penny? Sure! She's sweet, knows everyone who is everyone and is a positive kind of person. Why do you ask?"
"It was this envelope she was holding...it contained some photos and I was wondering if, in her line of work, the photos would be embarrassing to someone?"
"Penny's not a blackmailer if that's what you mean...well, she doesn't come across like one. I'm tired..." she said, yawning. "Let's go to bed"
"Sure thing" said Action, smiling and undoing his shirt. It was time to put work to one side and to enjoy some playtime. In the morning, Action looked forward to one of the treats of his day...Katherine's scrambled eggs for breakfast!
