"BLAM!" The case was eating at Detective John Action as he let out his frustration on the punching bag at Builders & Burner's Gym. So many unresolved questions: Who tried to shoot Lily Feng OR Madelyn Buchanan and why? He couldn't even work out who was meant to be the target of the attempted assassination. Today he resolved to clear up those mysteries...if he could establish who the target was then he could get the motive.
"Hey, Action" came a light, familiar voice. Jeremy Saint, his next door neighbour, had just arrived at the gym and gave his greetings.
"Yo, Jeremy" replied Action before giving the punch bag one last clobber. "Are you going to spar or use the apparatus?"
"If I tried punching one of those it'll probably just punch back...I'll go for a jog and a bit of weightlifting instead." said Jeremy.
"You should try boxing...it's good discipline for the mind and body" said Action.
"I might just do that one of these days..." said Jeremy, noticing a look of concern on Action's face. "...is everything OK with you?"
"Mostly...just work issues bothering me. Got a case I really want to crack but I can't tell anyone about it just yet. That's another reason to take up boxing...so you can let out your frustration with...one...big...PUNCH!" and with that, Action gave the bag a jab so hard Jeremy felt the floor vibrate.
"And that's where I'll end today's session" Action said. "Take it easy, Jeremy...catch you later"
After showering and getting dressed Action had a meeting he was pumped up to make: With his colleague, the on-loan forensic expert from Munich, Bibi Stahler. They were going to meet at Magnolia Blossom Park instead of the Precinct HQ because Action preferred to conduct his investigation into this case far from the prying eyes of the Chief. He had little evidence to go on, no suspect, no clear victim and no witnesses to a crime that only almost took place. With such flimsy evidence to go on, the Chief could...and would...easily take him off the case and reassign him to something mundane and akin to pencil pushing. But Action knew deep down in the pit of his stomach that he was on to a major crime that needed investigating.
At 10 in the morning down at the park, Action met up with Bibi. He was taken aback at seeing her in her civilian outfit, instead of the lab coat he associated her with.
"Well, Miss Stahler, I was wondering what you looked like without your lab coat on" he said.
"Does it meet with your approval, Detective?" she said, coolly.
"Yes indeed it does" he said in a tone that bordered on flirtatious.
"We are here to discuss your attempted murder case, not my appearance...Detective Action" she said, haughtily. That clipped German accent, the look of coolness and slight disdain only made her look more attractive to him but she was right; they were here in a professional capacity and he had to focus his mind on that.
"Let's sit over there and talk about what you've found out" said Action. Bibi nodded and they went and sat down at a park bench. Bibi produced a folder with a typed up ballistics report.
"So, what did you discover about the weapon?" he asked.
"Not much. From the photo it is a non-standard design that does not match any commercially available pistol." she said.
"OK, how about military or foreign military?" he asked.
Bibi shook her head. "I did a thorough check" she said with an arrogant confidence. "and the pistol matches nothing on any file...civilian, military or foreign"
"So are we looking at a custom design? A one of a kind?" he asked.
Bibi nodded cautiously. "Perhaps. We have nothing else to go on"
"What about ballistics? What calibre was the bullet?"
"Unknown" she replied.
Action looked frustrated by the lack of information coming from Bibi. "What do you mean, 'unknown'? Didn't you find a bullet?"
"We did not" she replied, calmly.
"So the gunman went back and retrieved the bullet before we could but surely it hit something? Imbedded in a wall, tree or street lamp?"
"We found only scorch marks on a street lamp post, no bullet hole. But those scorch marks match the trajectory and line of sight of the pistol in the photograph."
Action was intrigued. A gun that left no bullet hole but only a scorch mark. "What caused these scorch marks? The bullet ricocheting off the lamp?"
"No. The marks are burns...as if that area of the lamp was subjected to a high concentration of intense heat." she said.
"I don't follow"
"Imagine something that produces the heat and narrow beam of a....what is the word? Like a welding torch but used to cut instead of join?"
"You mean an oxy-acetylene torch?" he said.
"Ja. That. Only fired from 20 yards away, not point blank."
"How is that possible?"
"Some kind of weapon that fires a narrow beam or burst of intense heat would be my guess"
"You mean some kind of ray gun? Like out of Buck Rogers?"
"I do not get the reference...'Buck Rogers'" she said, quizzically.
"A death ray from one of those science-fiction stories" he elaborated.
"How melodramatic, Action. But in a roundabout way, that is a distinct possibility" again, she remained cool and Teutonic in her speech. Action, however, found it difficult to take in.
"Oh that's just great!" he said, in frustration. "That's just swell...I've got a threadbare case already, the Chief is going to chuck me off it any moment now and here you are telling me the weapon is a ray gun! That just takes the cookie!"
"Facts are facts, Action, whether we like them or not" said Bibi.
"Well, maybe I can get some information that makes sense from...him!" said Action, pointing a finger at a man jogging past them. It was Alan Cuffe, who's assistant might have been the intended target of the assassin.
"Mr Cuffe, may I have a word with you?" said Action.
"For you, Detective Action, you can have five" replied Cuffe. "And you haven't introduced me to your delightful friend" he added, smiling at Bibi with intent.
"Forensic Officer Bibi Stahler...also of the 13th Precinct" said Bibi, introducing herself very formally.
"The work days must fly by with you around, enchante" said Cuffe, bowing slightly to her.
"This case" began Action, trying to get Cuffe's attention "we're still trying to establish whether your assistant was the target of the gunman"
"I can't think why anyone would want to kill Madelyn" said Cuffe.
"Rumour has it she's been making deals with some criminal types" said Action.
"I wouldn't know anything about that" said Cuffe, defensively.
"Well, just to be sure I need to ask you and your assistant more questions" persisted Action.
Cuffe paused for a moment before saying "Of course, Detective. But I would like this questioning to be done discretely....could it be at my residence instead of your police station?"
"I could settle for that" said Action. "I'll swing by this afternoon...don't either of you go out until after I've been"
"So noted, Detective" said Cuffe before he resumed his run.
"He's hiding something" said Bibi.
"You don't say..." said Action, sarcastically.
Bibi returned to the Precinct HQ whilst Action headed over to the Blue Velvet for a lunchtime drink.
"Hey, Action, what can I get you?" said the bartender.
"The usual, Thalia" he replied.
"You look like you've just received some bad news, is everything OK?"
"Thalia...if I told you what was bothering me you wouldn't believe a word of it"
He was pondering what to do with this new information that some kind of death ray gun was used to shoot at one or both of the targets. "Makes some sense with what Feng and Buchanan said...they didn't hear a gunshot, more some kind of whoosh or fizzing noise...or maybe Bibi's completely mad, I don't know" he thought as he downed his drink. He thought about who might know about such weapons and realised...he didn't have to look far; he lived next door to a scientist and engineer.
"Hey Travis, Summer....is Liberty around?" Action had made his way from the bar to his street to get more information from a couple of people who might have expert knowledge in...death rays. Travis was some kind of electronics engineer who worked with computers and Liberty worked for Space Y, a subdivision of NASA.
"Yeah, she's out back somewhere" said Travis. "What's it about?"
"It's purely a work related visit, Trav" said Action. "Say, do you know anything of the real science of death rays you see in those B movies?"
"Do you mean Lasers?" Travis replied.
"Yeah, that's the word I'm looking for: Lasers. Know anything about them?"
"Not much; they're new technology and we don't use them where I work. Liberty will know more"
"Thanks...I'll go and see her about it" said Action, getting up and walking off towards the back of the house.
Action tensed up in anticipation of seeing Liberty. They'd had a one night stand a few months ago and since then Liberty in particular was always nervous around him. They never spoke about that night, other than to acknowledge it was fun in that moment but that it wouldn't lead anywhere but, still, there was some tension in the air whenever the two met.
"Liberty, I hope I'm not intruding" he said, entering the room where she was in.
"Action! Oh, no. Nice to see you. How's it going?" she said, startled to see him.
"It's a work related matter...do you work with Lasers?"
That question she did not expect from him and she didn't respond straight away. "Well...yes..." she said in reply "sometimes. We use them for precision measuring mostly. We can use a Laser to project a spot on the Moon..."
"...or at closer range cut through solid metal! Goldfinger, James Bond" said Action.
"Well, yes, that too. Why the interest?"
"Could a Laser be used as a weapon, pistol sized?"
Liberty raised her eyebrows in surprise. "A weapon? I mean it can do serious damage but the size of a pistol? No way...it's brand new technology, only six years since it was invented. They require enormous power supplies and coolant to function. No, Laser pistols are only the stuff of science fiction."
"But could someone be working on one? The military? A foreign power?"
"As a scientist and engineer I'd say not a chance. We're years, maybe even decades off making a hand held Laser weapon."
Action said nothing but thought about this information...he'd hit a brick wall on this line. Maybe, just maybe, the Landraabs had access to this fantastical weapon but that was a huge reach with no evidence to back it up. Maybe Bibi was just plain wrong about a Laser pistol.
He said goodbye to Liberty, Travis and Summer and decided his next port of call was to take up Alan Cuffe's invitation and go to his place to interrogate him and Madelyn Buchanan. He headed over to Oasis Springs and when he arrived at the Cuffe residence he could see there was some kind of party going on with people coming and going and loud music playing.
After Action had parked his car he noticed this wasn't just any party Cuffe was throwing, it was a meeting of the Kitten Club. As he approached the front door he noticed a few of the fabled Lothario Kittens enter the premises all wearing their provocative outfits, complete with fake cat ears.
Action was momentarily distracted by the Kittens walking past him that he didn't notice someone approaching him.
"Can I help you?" said a soft, feminine voice. Action turned around to see another Kitten standing before him.
"I certainly hope so" said Action, looking the young woman up and down. He recognised her from a previous issue of 'Lothario' magazine and...crucially...she was the model in the photos the day the attempted assassination took place. "Now...I believe your name is Jenny and you are Miss March, 1966."
"Actually I was Miss February" she corrected. "But well remembered Mister...?"
"Action, Detective John Action, Sim City PD"
"Oooh, a detective...have you come to take down my particulars?" she said, playfully.
"Don't tempt me...no, I'm here to speak to your boss but actually I think you might be able to help my investigation as well. Do you remember a photo shoot you did about 2 weeks ago? One down at the Fashion Quarter, San Myshuno?"
"I do" she said, assuredly. "What about it?"
"Do you remember anything unusual about that shoot? Like strange lights or noises?"
"Actually I do...I remember at one point I looked across the plaza and I saw this bright red flash of light in these bushes and I was startled. Michael...the photographer...got really angry at me...well, he's a temperamental artiste at the best of times...and I tried to explain what I'd seen that startled me"
"Did you see anyone near that bright flash of light?" asked Action, very intrigued by now.
"No. No one. But that was the only thing that I remember being unusual...the bright red light and a whizzing sound, like electricity crackling"
"Jenny...you are very observant and bright; you'd be my nomination for Kitten of the Year" said Action, smiling. He also noticed that by now other Lothario Kittens had gathered around him.
"Who's this?" said one of them, a woman Action identified as Miss January. "A new member? Well meowwwww!" she said in a suggestive voice and mimicking a cat holding out its paw.
"This is Detective John Action from the police" said Jenny.
"Ooh, we are lucky to have one of our brave boys in blue here" said a third Kitten who Action didn't recognise but who looked mighty fine in his eyes. Action forgot his duty for a moment and enjoyed the attention he was receiving but just then a familiar figure stepped from out of the house and greeted him enthusiastically.
"Detective Action, so good you accepted my invitation. I trust the girls are taking good care of you?" said Alan Cuffe, looking dapper in a tuxedo and shaking Action's hand.
"They've been most helpful" said Action. "But I'm here on business, not pleasure, remember?" he added, wishing it was the other way around.
"I do...step inside and we'll discuss matters in my office" said Cuffe, ushering him in. "Now are you one of those officers who refuses a drink because they're on duty?"
"I'd better stick to Coke on this occasion" said Action, noticing that the place was buzzing with guests: Sharp dressed men in tuxedos or smart suits and the Kittens themselves in costume.
"I'd better stick to Coke on this occasion" said Action, noticing that the place was buzzing with guests: Sharp dressed men in tuxedos or smart suits and the Kittens themselves in costume.
They went to Cuffe's office where already there were a few people gathered. One of them was Madelyn Buchanan, who was wearing a Kitten outfit as well.
"Miss Buchanan, I'd like to have a follow up discussion about the attempted shooting" said Action.
"Please, call me Madelyn" she said, in a flirtatious manner. She seemed tipsy or high; Action couldn't figure out which.
"OK, Madelyn, I've got information...reliable information...that you've been in business with Malcolm Landgraab selling drugs"
Madelyn's face dropped and she looked nervous. "It's just a little personal transaction...for my own use, plus a few friends"
"Sure it is" said Action, sceptically.
"Listen...I broke off contact with him: I don't deal anymore!" she said.
"And how did he take that news?"
"Fine...OK...I guess; Mommy thought it was time he stopped anyway. He gets frightened by the cops"
"So could Nancy Landgraab think you're a bad influence on her son and might she feel resentful enough to have you shot?"
"What? No! I get on with Nancy...I've known her for years. That's how I met Malcolm. Detective, if I were the target then I can assure you it wasn't Nancy who was the shooter."
"I think you'll find that we have nothing to do with the shooting" said Cuffe, who had ambled up to Action. "Now why don't you enjoy our hospitality a little" he said, ushering Action away from Madelyn.
"Cuffe, I know what you're trying to do and why you wanted me to come here!" said Action, angrily. "You want to distract me from my investigations with the booze, the pretty girls and the atmosphere. Well what about if I look around the place, what would I find? Maybe I should do just that..."
"Detective, I run a legit enterprise here." said Cuffe. "You'll find nothing illegal here. But this whole affair could be bad for my business and I don't want you stirring up trouble where there is none"
"An attempted shooting is not 'nothing' as you put it. And I won't be bribed either. Good day, Mr Cuffe" and with that Action got up and left. Cuffe finished his drink and thought about matters. He'd assessed Action wrong; the man was a bloodhound and wouldn't be swayed. Cuffe put down his glass and walked over to Madelyn.
"Has he gone and is she here yet?" he asked her.
"She's just arrived and that is Action driving off into town right there" replied Madelyn.
"Good. I will come and greet her" he said walking to the door. "Lily, so good of you to drop by" he said to Lily Feng.
"Lily...that was Detective Action who just left and he won't leave this attempted shooting case be. That's bad for both our businesses as he goes around digging stuff up trying to find his gunman" said Cuffe.
"I'm sure we can apply some top down pressure to get the case dropped, or at least reassigned to someone less diligent than him" said Lily.
"I don't think he's the kind of man who'll give up that lightly. By all means, bring your influence to bear on getting this case dropped but in the meantime it would be well if you and I pooled our information and sorted out who might want to harm either one of us."
"Action seems to think it's the Landgraabs" said Madelyn.
"Is it?" Cuffe asked Lily.
"Maybe it would be convenient to let the police think that" said Lily. "Or maybe it was them. Either way, it would get them out of our hair"
"I have no axe to grind with the Landgraabs, and neither does Madelyn. I think you were the target, Lily, what do you say to that?
Lily said nothing.
"You know who did it, don't you!" said Madelyn as the penny dropped in her mind.
Meanwhile Action had finished his shift and was frustrated: Instead of making solid progress on the case he had more questions than answers. Now he was dealing with Laser guns and a mystery assassin not connected to the number 1 crime family in the city. Back to square one. He headed off into the city to meet up with his girlfriend, Katherine.
After a day spent mostly in the company of beautiful women: Bibi, Summer, Liberty, Madelyn, Jenny and the rest of the Kitten Club he would now add another on to the list...his own girlfriend. Action had an active libido and could never be tied down by one woman but Katherine seemed to "get" him more than any other girl he'd been with for a long, long time. He loved being with her, loved her instincts and she was a great lover as well but his eye was too easily distracted and that didn't sit right with him when he was with her.
"You look like you could do with a drink" she said, taking one look at him.
"You got that straight" he said "and I could do with your company as well"
They went into the bar, Planet Honey Pop, and ordered drinks. Katherine told Action of her day with the charity and Action, for his part, found it very difficult to explain how his work was going. "Let's just say I'm still compiling a list of suspects" he said, non-commitally.
A young woman dressed in a figure hugging sky blue outfit came out on stage to the applause of the clientele. Action recognised her at once...she was one of the Lothario Kittens: Miss April.
"I'm just going to get a better look...and listen, sweetheart" he said to Katherine. Katherine raised an eyebrow in surprise that Action took an interest in this singer.
"She's good" said Action.
"She is...why the sudden interest?" said Katherine, beginning to feel jealous.
"She's tangentially involved in this case I'm working on. She works for Alan Cuffe but she has a sideline as a singer...I'm thinking I might need some insider information on Cuffe's business dealings or, more accurately, his assistant's."
"As long as your interest in Jolene is purely work related" said Katherine, casting a suspicious look at Action.
"Hey baby, you know my heart is with you!" he said, shocked.
"It's the rest of you I sometimes worry about" she replied.
"OK, let's say we quit this joint, head on back to my place where I'll cook you up some dinner and you can have my undivided attention?" he said, seductively.
"Now you're talking" Katherine replied.
"I hope you like Italian" said Action, as he stirred the pasta sauce one more time.
"I love Italian and that smells delicious" replied Katherine. "Say, Action, you seem less pre-occupied now we're back home"
"That's because I am...my case is so messed up I can't waste any time being exhausted and frustrated with it anymore. That's one of the reasons I like having you around: You take me away from all the muck and the mess of the job."
"I hope that's not all I am of use to you"
"No way...you're so much more. Companion, confidant, sounding board, inspiration and....lover" Action took hold of Katherine and held her close to him as they kissed. The faces and memories of all those other women vanished from his mind as they kissed...only the bubbling sound of the cooking pot distracted him.
