CHAPTER 227: In The Bloodstream

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

"Why not both?" Action replied.

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

"Oh yeah, what's that?"

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

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

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

"How so?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                                                

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

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

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

"Clean."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Oh yeah, whereabouts?"

"Britechester Academy..." 

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

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

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

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

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

"Or what?"

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

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

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

"Do you know who did?" Action asked.

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

"Male or female?"

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

"By who?"

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

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

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

"That can be arranged"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Where's this dead drop located?"

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

Action nodded, "Very clever".

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

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

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

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

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

"And where does the meeting happen?" 

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

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

"What about me?" asked Aya.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"On this occasion I do."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Where?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CHAPTER 161: Windenburg Blues

 

John Action was surprised when he answered the telephone and it was Jeremy Saint calling him.  He didn't know where he stood with the guy right now:  They were once friends but then Jeremy was brainwashed by Geoffrey and Nancy Landgraab into hating Action and working against him.  Recently Action confronted his former friend with the truth about what had happened to him and it seemed to break the Landgraab's hold over him but were there still residual thoughts of hate?  Jeremy's voice on the other end of the phone didn't sound hateful...he was proposing the two men met up for coffee in town.

"We could meet at the Blue Velvet or there's a cafe next to my workplace..." suggested Jeremy.

"No...too many people know us there; how about going down to Windenburg?  I know a good place there:  Good coffee, decent chow.  And it will be away from prying eyes; you get a different crowd down there." replied Action.

The two sat down to talk, Jeremy wasted no time in getting to the point.  "I want revenge, Action.  Revenge on the Landgraabs for what they did to me!"

Action didn't respond immediately.  Instead he looked down and then took a deep breath.  Looking up he fixed his gaze squarely at Jeremy.  "Careful what you wish for.  The Landgraabs are more dangerous than you think.  I'm not sure how far they're prepared to go in getting what they want."

"That's why I want to do my part to stop them!  Bringing them down will be beneficial for all of us...for me, for you, for our city"

"OK, you want to do your part?  I need information....for starters, that basement room they use to brainwash people:  There's a control room on the 2nd floor.  Can you gain access to it?" said Action.

Jeremy drew a breath.  "I could.  It might be difficult, given security, but I'm established in the company now.  I could see if I can get in there.  If I do, what am I looking for?"

"Anything about their brainwashing programme:  Documents and files about it and who they're targeting.  I don't think you and I are their first victims."

"OK got it.  Anything else I can help with?" asked Jeremy.

"You leave the rough stuff to me...I don't want you getting hurt doing this.  Barbara would kill me if anything happens to you.  OK, let's get a coffee..."

Inside the café they got coffees and continued their conversation.  Action gave Jeremy a list of things he wanted Jeremy to look out for and relay back to him.

"You can count on me, Action...in the meantime while I'm around the Landgraabs I'll pretend I am still under their control" said Jeremy.

"Good idea...and in public you've got to keep up the pretence that you hate me....and Suzy." replied Action.

"Pretending to hate Suzy..." said Jeremy, shaking his head.  "...that's going to be tough; especially now we've renewed our friendship"

"You've got to!  You've got to focus!  Don't let the Landgraabs suspect you've broken their conditioning!  This is a dangerous game, Jez; you can't be worried about relationships"

Jeremy paused before he replied as he was about to bring up a sore point with Action.  "You were.  You were so worried for Katherine's safety you pulled away from her." he said, eventually.

"That's a low blow, man!" said Action, tersely.  

"I'm sorry, Action, but you've not been happy since you broke it off with her."

"Are you sure you've broken free of the Landgraabs?" said Action, putting his coffee cup down firmly.  "I don't talk about my personal life!  Catch you later, Jeremy!" he said, immediately getting up and walking out of the café. 

Action was upset that Jeremy brought up the subject of Katherine, but deep down he knew his neighbour was right.  He felt bad for chewing his friend out especially since he prized straight, no-nonsense talking instead of platitudes and Jeremy was being straightforward.  He cursed his impulsive nature.

Action decided to cool off and near to the café was a swimming pool.  A few laps to clear the mind and calm down was the order of the day.

The water was cool and refreshing and Action felt better instantly.  However, whilst swimming up and down the pool little things kept bringing back things he'd been supressing in his mind.  Like a old couple having a tender conversation by the side of the pool...the kind of conversation he could have been having if Katherine had been there with him.

He swam faster and harder, trying to push the memory of her away.  No, he was right...this case was too dangerous to get her involved; it was too dangerous for Jeremy but he was a useful conduit for information.  But Katherine....Action had dated other women very briefly since their break up but nothing had replaced her in his affections.

"Yo, Action!  Broken any swimming records today?" came a voice from the other side of the pool.  Looking around he saw it was a friend and contact of his:  Dean Lunn.  Action swam over to the side where Dean was sitting and hauled himself up out to sit next to him.

"Yo, Dean...keeping your nose clean?" 

"You always ask me that, Action, and my answer is always the same:  I'm always clean.  You seem to think I'm some kind of gangster" replied Dean.

"I know you're an honest...well, mainly honest, businessman but you have one foot in the underworld"

"I have friends in all kinds of places, Action.  Doesn't mean I do what they do."

"But you see and hear things, Deano.  What have you been hearing lately on the street?"

"Depends...do you have anyone specific in mind?"

"The Landgraabs" said Action, plainly.

Dean drew a deep breath.  "Top table, eh?  I don't mix in their circles, Action, but I know people who do and they tell me they're buying up a lot of land...farmland in particular." he replied.

"I didn't know they're into agriculture as a business venture" said Action.

"They're not.  It's something new but I don't think they're buying the land to grow fruit and vegetables"

"So what are they using it for?"

"That, detective, is for you to find out.  I'm just a source of gossip." said Dean.  Action nodded.

Changing the subject, Action said "So, Dean, are you still seeing that woman who hates cops?"

"I am...and she still hates you lot.  Are you still seeing that rich girl?" Dean replied.

"Not at the moment" here we go again, thought Action.

"Not at the moment?  What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means we're on a break but we haven't properly broken up"

"So you could get back together with her, is that what you're saying?"

"I thought you said you weren't a detective?"

"I can see it eats away at you...I think you should sort it out one way or another because being in between the two states is clearly getting to you.  And what kind of badass would you be with that gnawing away at you inside?"

"Do you know, I think the world is trying to tell me something...catch you later, Deano." said Action, making a pistol shape with his hand and pointing it at Dean.  Action then went to get changed out of his swimming shorts and into his suit but before he left the pool for good, he stopped by a payphone.  He got out a dime, picked up the receiver but hesitated before he started dialling.

"Is this a good idea?" he mused to himself.  "Aww, heck!" he muttered and then he proceeded to dial a phone number he knew by heart...

"Will she pick up?" he pondered.  The phone answered at the other end.

"Hello?" yes, it was her voice!

"Hi, this is...." he began.

"Action...well, well, well...what took you so long to call?" replied Katherine.

"You know why..." he replied.

"Guilt?  Or are things less dangerous now and you've decided to resume your normal life?" she said, sarcastically.

"Can we meet up to talk?" he said.

"Hmmm, let me check my diary?  I might have to squeeze you in between appointments....let's see, where are you going to be in the next hour?" she said, stringing him on.

"I'm in Windenburg, near that café that we...."

"That we used to go to together?  I know the place.  Stay there, don't move:  I'll be there soon-ish" she said before hanging up the phone.  Action was left standing, listening to the clicks over the receiver.

He made his way back to the café but he was too impatient to go inside and get a table.  "What's wrong with you, Action?  You're supposed to be a cool cat, not some kind of nervous groom on his wedding day and Katherine's certainly not your bride!" he muttered to himself.

He scanned the scene to see if he could see her and, approaching from the dockside end of Windenburg, was the unmistakable form of Katherine.  Although she wasn't exactly like he had remembered.

"You've changed your hair" was Action's opening line.

"You noticed" Katherine replied.

"I am a detective, after all" 

"So...what do you want to talk about?" she said, cutting to the chase.

"I wanted to see you.  See how you're doing"

"As you can see I'm alive and well"

"And with an amazing new hair-do as well.  Look, Katherine, I won't beat about the bush...I've been thinking about you a lot lately."

"Uh-huh" she said, blankly.

"Is that your only response?" he said, incredulously.

"Well, I won't lie; I've thought about you lot since you put us on ice.  So, what's the deal, Action?  Is the danger over?  Is it safe to see me again?  Did you get your memory back?"

"The danger isn't over, I don't know if it's safe and, no, my memory is shot full of holes" he said, dryly.

"Well, as it happens, I might be able to help with that last part..." she said, enigmatically.

"Oh" replied Action, raising an eyebrow in surprise.  "How so?"

"Well, since the last time I saw you I did some investigating of my own...well, more accurately, I hired a private investigator to look into your movements that day you lost your memory."

"You...hired a P.I.?" said Action, even more surprised at this turn of events.

"I'm a bored rich girl, Action, and you made life less boring for me so I decided that your bull in a china shop approach wasn't working so I decided to use more subtler methods to find out what happened to you."

"And what did happen to me?  Did your private dick find out anything?" he said, in a dismissive tone.

"He did...but we need to go to San Myshuno next...that is, if you're curious enough" she said, almost flirtatiously.

"I am" he said, smiling in excitement and anticipation.

"The Romance Festival, seriously?  You've brought me here?  Listen, Kat, if you wanted to woo me you could have out and out said it instead of bringing me here!" said Action, incredulously, as he looked around his surroundings:  Petals strewn everywhere, pink bunting and people trying to carry off fake Indian style clothing.

"We're not here for the festival...we're here to meet someone" said Katherine, calmly and enigmatically.

"And who would that be?"

"A witness...I can't see her yet but she's due to be here.  Let's sit down and I'll fill you in on what's been going on."

"An offer I can't refuse...." he mused.

"OK, then, what have you found out?" he continued.

"That day we were due to meet, when you lost your memory...apparently you were here" she said.

"I was?"

"Yes.  You were doing some investigations down here; that much I got from a woman you know called Tasha..."

"Yes, Tasha...she hangs out a lot down here at Planet Honey Pop.  So she knows why I was here?"

"Well....no.  She says she remembers seeing you in the bar but...and here's the strange part...she doesn't remember any conversation the two of you had.  In fact, she says her mind's blank from the time she went to sing and then waking up on a nearby bench at 3am when she was awoken and hailed a cab."

"That sounds uncannily like what happened to me" Action pondered.

"That's what I thought" replied Katherine.  "And here's another strange thing...people remember seeing you in the bar but everyone says you were talking to yourself all evening."

"That's not like me!  Did they say I was drunk?"

"No, they said you sat at the bar talking to an empty seat next to you but you didn't seem drunk...except for the weird thing of having a conversation with a bar stool"

"Well this answers nothing!  I don't talk to empty bar stools!" he said, angrily.

"Don't worry, not everyone thought you were talking to one...actually one person remembers you talking to an actual person, other than Tasha"

"The person you're looking out for this evening?"

"You're not as dumb as you look" she said, coquettishly.  "And there she is!"  Katherine pointed to an old lady in a Saree who was standing on the other side of the festival.  "That's who we've come to see."

"That's a love guru" said Action, blankly.  

"She's also a witness...you want to find out what's going on, don't you?"  Katherine stood up and turned to look at Action, wondering if he'd stand up and walk with her.  He shrugged his shoulders, stood up and waved Katherine through to take the lead.

"Mrs Sakamoto...this is the friend I was talking about with you that last time" said Katherine to the old lady.  

"John Action" he said, acknowledging the old lady

"Saya Sakomoto.  I do remember you Mr Action...I saw you here on that evening in question" the old lady said in a quiet but soft voice.

"From what I hear, you're the only person who remembers that I was talking to someone whilst everyone else thinks I was going mad and talking to thin air."

"You were most definitely talking to someone.  A man.  He had red hair slicked back and a tiny, triangular beard.  He wore a pink shirt and a black tie."

"That's more detail than I bargained for" said Action, looking impressed.  "Do you have a name for this man?"

"I see him here sometimes, working on the food stalls.  Others called him 'Luke'" said the old lady.

"Called him?  Past tense?  Why?  What happened to him?" asked Action.

"One day he was here and the next day he was not.  No one knows where he went."

"But you could see him?  How, when no one else could?" asked Action.

"Perhaps it's because I have the gift of the Insight" the lady said, enigmatically.

"I've had enough of this!" said Action, exasperated that he was being given some mystical garbage answer.

"Any more unusual than a strange woman who disappears into thin air, or a laser gun being fired at Lily Feng, or your mind being erased?  Do you have any stronger leads, Action?" interjected Katherine.  "For whatever reason, the hypnosis this Luke did to you and everyone around you didn't affect this lady.  What harm can come from following up this lead?"

"How much did you pay this private eye?  Oh, OK, I'll indulge you this time...Luke, used to work here, red haired guy with a small triangular beard." said Action, grudgingly.

They said their thank yous' to Mrs Sakomoto and wandered over to the Planet Honey Pop to discuss things further.  Action seemed troubled by this whole experience and Katherine sensed this.

"I should thank you for finding this stuff out...you really hired a P.I. to help me out?  That must have cost you"

"I can afford it" she said, diffidently.  "So, what did you want to meet me for...again?"

"To straighten things out....OK, I was wr-wr-wr-wr-ong about shutting you out!" he said, struggling to say the word 'wrong'.

"Yes you were!  It hurt like hell to have a door slammed in your face! she exclaimed.

"I did it for your safety!"

"I can handle myself!"

"You don't know what you're up against!"

"I've found out a lot about what we're up against"

"We?  It's not 'we'?  This is my life on the line!"

"Is that it?  Mr Tough Guy, John Action goes it alone...oh, except he has Suzy Humphries, her husband and your next door neighbours helping out but not his girlfriend! Oh no, she has to be excluded!"

"Those other people aren't the same!"

"How?  How come they can voluntarily risk themselves for you but I'm not allowed?"

"Because....because....dammit, woman! Don't make me say it!"

"So Mr Tough Guy Action can't say three words?" she pouted at him.

"You want those three words?" he scowled.

"Say...them if you're such a big man!" she glared back.

"Oh you want those three words...well I'm going to say them just to shut your pouty mouth up!"

"Pah, you're all talk!"

"OK...ready?  Here goes...I'm not backing down!"

"Blah, blah, blah!" she said, making a yapping mouth shape with her hand.

"DAMMIT!  I LOVE YOU, KATHERINE!"

"Wow, you actually said it...I'm impressed!" she said, smiling.

"So?  Now you know where you stand with me, where do I stand with you?"

"Well....." she said, her smile broadening.

CHAPTER 75: Burning The Candle At Both Ends

 

John Action staggered out of the Discotheque Pan Europa at 5am in the morning, putting on his shades to lessen the burn on the early morning sun on his eyes.  He'd completely lost track of time and it wasn't until the staff asked him to physically leave the premises that he realised he'd been there all night; dancing, drinking and flirting with the groovy chicks.  He went there...alone...without Katherine.  He was in two minds about her:  She'd teased him recently and that had got his back up.  She just didn't seem to take his experiences seriously and could display a coolness and haughtiness that comes from someone born with a silver spoon in their mouth.  That wasn't Action; a man hewn from the roughness of the ghetto and the jungles of South East Asia.

Action headed over to a nearby café that he knew.  They served breakfast and, more importantly, a decent cup of coffee.  This was going to be his fuel for the morning:  He had a full shift at the Precinct today and was existing on caffeine, sugar and adrenaline to compensate for the lack of sleep.

 

About halfway through his breakfast Danish and espresso, he was joined by a familiar face at his table.

"Hey, Action, this is a bit early for you" said the newcomer, a dapperly dressed man in his late 30s who was sporting the fashionable mod-Indian look enjoyed by men at least a decade younger than himself.

"Deano" said Action, smiling.  He'd known Dean Lunn for nearly a year now, since he joined the Sim City PD.  He kept his nose clean...for the most part...but was a good source for information and the low down.  "I might say the same thing about you"

"Got to get to the farmers' markets early, before the good stock gets sold out" replied Dean.

"Keeping your nose clean, Deano?"

Dean looked shocked and offended. "You know me, Action, I run with no gang and run a clean ship."

"It's too early for business anyway" said Action, pouring another cup of espresso into his and Dean's cups.

"I can sure smell the bacon at this table" came a harsh voice from behind the two men.  It was a woman's voice and she was not happy to see Action sitting there.

"Hey, Ashley, stay cool baby...Action's one of the good guys!" said Dean.

"There ain't no good guys on the Force" she said, practically spitting the words out.

"Who's your friend, Deano?" asked Action, trying to maintain his cool.

"Ashley's my particular friend, if you get my drift" said Dean.  "How about we all act civil?"

"My brother was busted by you guys on a trumped up charge!" said Ashley.  "They planted drugs on him...everyone knew it was a fix but you pigs know all the crooked judges and so they sent him down.  He's on appeal but no thanks to you lot!"

Action took a deep breath, trying to keep his cool.  "Hows about you give me some names of those cops you think are crooked?"

"So you can warn them?  No thanks!  Dean...I should be more careful about the company you keep!" she said, standing up and storming off.  Dean went to make an apology but Action held up his hand.

"No need, bro" he said.

OASIS SPRINGS, 11:46am

Action was on patrol in the smart end of Oasis Springs...the pleasant valley, charcoal burning everywhere.  There were some reports of fights breaking out, which was unlike that part of town, and Action was dispatched to check things out.  For a weekday in a residential area, the place looked busy with people hanging around on every corner.  Nothing illegal was obviously happening...according to Action's trained eye...but he noticed there was a strange vibe about the place.

"Hey, you! You're a cop, aren't you?" said an angry looking young man.

"What's it to you?" replied Action, cooly.

"I recognise you...you investigated that break in at my friend's house: The one where you noticed the chess pieces were in the wrong places"

"Oh yes, I remember you now...you're a friend of Travis Scott"

"Yeah, look man....see that lady over there?" the young man was pointing to an attractive, raven haired woman in mod gear.

"I sure do" said Action, with some approval.

"She's weird, man, like in up to no good.  She tried to hypnotise me!" said the man.

"How do you know that?"

"She was looking into my eyes really intensely.  She kept repeating the same things over and over like 'you're in my power' and then I felt a slap on my face but she didn't move her hands, man!  It's like I was slapped by a ghost!"

"Look, buddy, if you're high and tripping out don't waste my time" said Action, rolling his eyes in disbelief.

"I don't do drugs, Officer...she's weird, like crazy weird....look, those guys over there witnessed her doing it!" the man was pointing at a couple of other guys dressed as hippies who were standing nearby.

Action walked over to the two hippies and asked them what was going on.

"I ain't seen nothing, that guy's making it all up!" said the white hippy.  

"I saw her talking to this guy...but I didn't see any hypnotism or slapping or anything like that" said the black hippy who was wearing a far out Victorian military jacket.

"They're lying!" said the angry man.

"Hey! We were just chatting and didn't have anything to do with you or her!" said the white hippy, getting angry himself.  "Officer, get this crazy cat out of here!"

"I'm going to have to caution you for disturbing the peace" said Action to the angry young man.  "Now there's one person I haven't spoken to yet....YOU stay here!" he said to the man.

Action walked over to the young woman who seemed to be at the centre of this disturbance.  "Excuse me Miss?"

"McGregor.  No problem, officer" said the young woman.  She had an easy going charm about her, a delicate, lilting voice and she locked eyes on Action.  

"Do you know that man over there?" said Action, pointing to the complainant.  "He claims you were trying to hypnotise him"

"I have no idea who he is, I just asked him for the time and he freaked out" she said, calmly but with her eyes never breaking contact with Action's.

He asked her a few more questions, about who she was, what she was doing here and her alleged connection to the angry man but although she calmly answered them, Action thought the intensity of her gaze was off kilter...he couldn't put a finger on it, but something wasn't normal about it.  In the end he concluded that her intense stare was probably interpreted as being hypnosis by this uptight young man who, despite his protestations, had probably taken some uppers and as a consequence was hypertense.

Action thanked her for her time and told the angry man that he couldn't charge her with any offence as it was just her words against his with no witnesses.  The man skulked off but the woman was nowhere to be seen.

Action finished his patrol and headed back to the precinct house.  He went upstairs to the recreation room for his scheduled break, poured himself a coffee and sat down to think about a few issues on his mind.  That last patrol was crazy...he never felt in any danger but he got a glimpse of the kind of crazies he had to deal with:  Drugs, cults, weird new-age beliefs...it was all there.  He'd seen plenty of madness growing up and in the Marines but here it was, in quiet suburban Sim City as well.  He wanted a rock, something he could be sure of to anchor himself and then he thought about Katherine.  He'd been avoiding her recently; wondering if there was more to life than just hooking up with one woman who he shared little in common in terms of background.

"Hey, Action...ain't you got a home to go to?" said the Duty Sergeant.

"What?  My shift over already?" he said, checking his watch.  He went to the station pay phone to make a call; his hand hovering over the receiver for a few seconds as he thought about whether he should make that call or not.  Then he picked it up, put in the coins and dialled the number.

"Hi Katherine, it's Action.  Yes I know I haven't called in days....No, I haven't forgotten you.  Hey, are you free tonight?  Yeah, I know it's a bit much expecting you to be free on such short notice but, hey, you know I'm spontaneous....but you are free?  Great, see you at 8...my place"

Action put the phone back on the hook and smiled.  He was actually looking forward to seeing her.

...and there she was, already waiting for him...a vision in red and white.

"I must be a fool to be here" she said.

"I'm a bigger fool for not appreciating you more" he replied, happy to see her.

"You've got that right" she said, smiling.

They went inside his house where Action couldn't contain the urge to embrace her.  "Sometimes I don't know if I'm more messed up than the crazies I deal with on the streets"

"You're too harsh on yourself" she replied, stroking his face.  "I know you deal with things I can't imagine"

The two of them settled in for an intimate evening together; Action glad for the peace Katherine brought.  However, outside there was a lurker spying on his house:  Leann McGregor.  She made a mental note of where Detective John Action lived, how big was his house, what time he got home from work and what company he kept.  She also wondered how much of what he was told by that young idiot did he believe? 

Leann had much to consider:  How much did Detective Action put in his police report about that incident?  How many of his colleagues did he speak to about it afterwards and has he told his female visitor anything of it?  Perhaps that idiot, Yamaguchi, will have to be dealt with....many things to consider....