CHAPTER 247: The Card

Jeremy had entered the living area of his home to be greeted by the sight of Barbara doing her exercises.  He took a look at her in all her glory, appreciating every elegant curve all the way down to those amazing legs she has.  Every day he quietly gave thanks that they had found each other.

"Enjoying staring at me?" she said as she touched her toes.

"Sheer admiration, sweetheart"  he replied with a smile.  She then stood up, put her hands on her hips and smiled back at him.  

He then changed the subject.  "You're up early this morning" he noted.

"I'm going to the shop this morning to receive a delivery of new stock.  I wanted to do my exercises now before showering and then heading off."  She replied, finishing her routine and heading to the sofa.  The two of them sat down on it.

"Do you need any help at the shop?" Jeremy asked.

"No.  It's not a big a job; just be there for when the delivery men arrive, sign a document and they put the gear in the storeroom.  All I have to lift is a pen.  Have you made any plans?" she replied.

"Not really...although there's something bugging me in my mind...about Darrin.  He's just disappeared."

"It's only been two days.  Maybe he's out of town visiting family or on business and he's forgotten to call you?"

Jeremy shook his head.  "No.  He's such a single-minded guy that if he says he'll contact me about the Landgraabs he will do it come rain or shine.  I think something bad has happened to him."

"And you've spoken to Action about this?"

"Yes.  He's doing some digging and I'll see him later about what he's found but...there's something I'm missing here.  Maybe he did get a message to me but I haven't figured out how or what yet."

"Well, I hope you work it out.  Anyway, I have to take a shower and get dressed.  I'm meeting the delivery men in an hour.  Don't fret though..." she said, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek before getting up and heading to the bathroom.

Jeremy went to the study and his desk and picked up the birthday card Darrin had sent him before his disappearance.  He studied it in minute detail trying to find a single clue.

And then he realised something....something potentially big.  He put the card in his jacket pocket and headed straight over to Action's place next door.

"Sup, Jezza?" said Action as he opened the door. 

"Have you had a chance to look into what happened to my missing friend?" asked Jeremy.

"I've started an investigation and it looks like your hunch about foul play is probably correct." Action replied.

"What have you found out, Action?"

"Your friend lost his family back in 1962 when they were poisoned by a chemical spill...caused by the Landgraabs!  And then they went out of their way to avoid taking responsibility!"

"That makes sense!  That's why Darrin was set on bringing them down!" replied Jeremy.

"So I go over to his place to see if I could find any clues and...nada.  Not one thing.  The place has been cleaned out and sterilised.  It's like no one has ever lived there."

"And you think Landgraab has something to do with that?  Making him disappear?  Surely that would be too obvious, even for them!  A company employee of his level just vanishing like that and his house cleared out with no trace...even your superiors would think suspiciously of the Landgraabs!"

"Even my chief would suspect them.  But they're involved...somehow.  Maybe they hired a hitman or something.  Say, there's one clue though:  That birthday card he sent you, I'll need to examine it."

"Do you think it contains a clue?"

"You're damn right I do!  Think about it.  This cat Darrin Lew is methodical, he has a hatred of the Landgraabs and he's got compromising material on them.  But he's also a smart cookie...he knows he's being spied on....what does he do?"

"He disguises the information as something normal and innocuous!" Jeremy blurted out as the penny dropped.  "The birthday card!  But Action, it's just a simple happy birthday message...there's no information there."

"Or is there and you can't see it?  You say the card contained a typewritten message, not handwritten?"

"That's right"

"I've looked into his background.  He was in the army in the late 50s AND in cryptography.  I was a grunt in the Marines so we didn't go into all that fancy intel stuff but I know those spooks in those branches learned all about codes, concealing messages and sneaking information out under the enemy's nose.  I'm thinking a microdot here.  Now get me that card!"

CHAPTER 246: Missing Persons

John Action had just returned from a lunch date with his girlfriend, Katherine.  They had wined and dined at the Kitten Club; now that he had been given membership by the owner, Alan Cuffe.  It was a great time and Action wanted their date to continue but Katherine had a family engagement to attend and so they parted with a kiss and a hug, promising to resume their romance as soon as both had a day off.

But when Action had arrived home he found his neighbour and friend, Jeremy Saint, waiting at his front door and looking agitated. 

"Yo, Jeremy...what are you doing hanging around out here?  Locked yourself out again?  Babs thrown you out?  What gives my man?" 

"I have something weighing on my mind...it could be nothing, it could be something big.  I need to get your expert opinion." said Jeremy, rubbing the back of his neck in worry.

"On chicks, yeah, on drinks, I'm your man...but police business?  That should be done down at the station house." Action replied.

"It might be of interest to the police...let me explain..." began Jeremy.  "I have a friend...well, more like a work colleague...actually it's former work colleague.  I knew him before I was fired from Landgraab..."

"Get to the point" interjected Action.

"OK, this colleague...former colleague.  I was working with him to get the dirt on the company; he hates them as much as I do.  Anyway we fell out when I went to the police early and he wanted to wait until we had gathered more evidence."

"From what I could tell, Jeremy, Landgraab security were closing the noose around you...if you hadn't had gone to the cops when you did you could have ended up in more trouble than just getting fired."

"That's what I told him...anyway, we eventually patched things up and were working together again to get more compromising evidence against them."

"And have you?" asked Action.

"Darrin...that's his name...said he had got something and was going to get it to me so I could pass it on to you and Suzy.  That was supposed to be yesterday but he never showed up to the rendezvous point we'd agreed on.  I phoned him, no answer.  I visited his home, still no answer.  He's usually so precise and a man of his word that it's not like him to fail to show up for a meeting and then not tell me."

"Hmmm" said Action.  "When was the last time you had any contact with him?" he asked.

"Four days ago.  Is it too soon to launch a missing person's case?" asked Jeremy.

"Does he have a wife?  Any family in the city?" said Action, not answering Jeremy's question right away.

"No.  I know hardly anything about his background other than he had deep, personal reasons to hate the Landgraab family."

"So did he find any extra information and pass it on to you?" asked Action.

"He called me to say he had something and wanted to meet.  Oh, and he sent me a birthday card yesterday...but my birthday's in February!" 

"Hmmm, now that is interesting." said Action, stroking his chin.

"I thought he'd made a mistake..." said Jeremy.

"You said he was precise and methodical...so he'd have your birthday written down in a diary and would consult it if he were wishing you a happy birthday." Action replied.

"So you think he was trying to send me a message?" asked Jeremy.

"Yeah, he's one smart cat.  OK, now you've got my interest...let me look into the matter and, oh, do you still have the card?"

"Yes...do you want it?" 

"Not now.  Keep it in a safe place and DON'T throw it away!  I'll be needing it later..."

The next day at work Action thought about this missing person's case.  He consulted his colleague, Cole Michaels.

"Yo, Michaels...I'm looking into a missing persons case:  The guy's name is Darrin Lew, he's from Windenburg and he was last heard from two days ago.  Any of your 'Mod Squad' hear of anything.?"

"How old is this Mr Lew?" Cole replied.

"36.  I've got a description of him as well.  5'11", medium brown hair, average build and with a goatee beard."

"My squad covers the teen beat but I'll put the word out to see if any of our street contacts have heard of anything.  Is this Mr Lew connected to the underworld or in some important position?"

"He's an insider at Landgraab and was one of the people who got us information about Geoffrey's criminal activities so, yeah, he's important."

"You know who becomes the leading suspect if something bad has happened to him...?"

"Yeah, don't I know it!  I'm gonna be locking horns with that family again...OK, later, Michaels"

Action then proceeded to records to look up the case files he had on the Landgraabs.  Maybe there was something that could link Lew's disappearance with either Geoffrey's murder or young Malcolm's drug dealing empire.  It was there where he found his most trusted work colleague:  Bibi Stahler.

"Bibi, just the person I wanted to see" he said the moment she walked into the room.

"And what is it this time, Action?  Is what you're working on an official case or one of your side projects?" she replied.

"Maybe something that can link the the two.  It's a missing person case right now but it has links to the Landgraab Corporation."

"You are still going after them even though the Geoffrey Landgraab case has been turned over to the FBI?"

"New information, Bibi...and I've been entrusted with it.  A man named Darrin Lew was one of our informants...working alongside Jeremy Saint.  Now Lew's gone missing."

"Alright, let's assume for this moment his disappearance is linked to the Landgraabs?  Have you checked his home?  Known hang outs?"

"I'm off to check those right now...In the meantime can you run a full background check on Lew?  Any criminal record?  Where he's from originally?  Known associates, family, the works.  Can I leave all that with you?"

"Leave it with me, now...schnell!  You'd better get moving on your end." said Bibi, coolly.

WINDENBURG:  1420hrs

Action arrived at the address he was given and from the outside it looked neat and well looked after...and quiet.  After looking around the outside and seeing nothing noteworthy he tried knocking at the door to see if anyone was in and he wasn't surprised when there was no answer.

Taking a look around to see no-one was watching he pulled a set of skeleton keys from his pocket and used them to get in the house.  He would bother with a search warrant later, for now it was all about having a look around.

Once inside the first thing that struck Action was how sterile the place was.  Sure, there was furniture and all the basic comforts but no personal touches, no artwork, photos or mementos of any kind.  There was also no dust, not even under the sofa or chairs.  The whole place was impeccably clean.

Looking through the bookcase didn't reveal anything either.  Two dictionaries, a cookbook, a guide to Sim City...it was all so generic.  There wasn't a single novel or anything to indicate what Darrin Lew's taste in books were.

And it was the same upstairs:  Clean, spotless and ordered.  The bed was made with the precision you would find in a hospital.  The drawers and closet contained clothes, all perfectly folded and stored but, again, no personal effects.  Action thought about this...was this really Darrin Lew's home or merely some kind of front?  The other possibility is that someone had been here and removed all his personal belongings, anything that would reveal what kind of man he was.

Eventually Action gave up searching around.  A look for some kind of secret compartment revealed nothing and so he left, pausing to search the empty letterbox out the front.  If Lew did have compromising material on the Landgraabs it wasn't in this house.  He considered the possibility that Nancy, or whoever was running her security, had the place searched, cleaned and stripped of that material.  As for Lew...Action didn't hold out much hope of finding him alive.  He had no proof of that, just his gut instinct.

As he went back onto the streets of Windenburg he pondered what his next move would be and then he noticed there was a bar just across the way from Lew's house.  Could that be a place where he was recognised and known?  Well, only one way to find out.

It was a nice, cosy establishment...well kept but nothing outstanding about it.  Action had arrived just before the place started to fill up so he found getting to the bar and getting served no problem.  He also found striking up a conversation with the attractive barmaid no problem either.

"Say, sister, I'll have a bourbon on the rocks" he said to her.

"You got it...we don't get many cops in this joint.  You here on official business or is this a social call?" she replied as she poured him his drink.  There was definite sass to her voice and Action liked that in a woman.

"A little of both.  Nothing heavy...Miss?"

"Call me Emily" she replied.

"Call me Action" 

"Yo shittin' me?"

"No, my name really is Action.  John Action."

"You look it.  So what's the official part of your business or do we skip straight to the social?"

"I'm looking for a man..."

"And there I was getting my hopes up"

"Steady, sister, that's not what I'm talking about.  The cat I'm looking for is called Darrin Lew.  White guy, mid 30s, brown hair and a light beard.  Lives nearby."

"Darrin?  Yeah, I know him.  He visits here regularly.  What's up?" she said in surprise.

"When was the last time you saw him?"

"He was in here three nights ago.  Had a couple of drinks, chatted a bit but then said he had an early start the next day so went home about 9"

"Was he with anyone?"

"No, that evening he was alone.  He usually comes in here not with anyone but just to have a few drinks and talk to some of the regulars.  Poor guy, he's still reeling from losing his wife and child a few years back.  Likes to come here to forget all the pain."

"Do you know what happened to his family?" asked Action, now very intrigued by this new information.

"I don't know the details...it happened back in '62 I think.  Some kind of accident, chemical spill, like I said I don't know the details and I didn't want to be curious and bring up bad memories for him by asking too much.  Say, is he in trouble?"

Action took a sip of the bourbon before answering.  "We're just looking for him, that's all." was his eventual reply.

The bar was starting to fill up with more customers and one of them looked in Action's direction and tried to get his attention.  Emily the barmaid noticed her.

"One of your girlfriends has just breezed in" she said, nodding towards the door.  "Tall, willowy redhead in a yellow dress"

Action looked around and saw Bibi right where Emily was indicating.  "A work colleague, Emily.  Thanks for the drink...here's a tip" and he passed her a $10 bill before getting up and going to greet Bibi.

"Ah, Action..." she began.  "I had a guess that you would be in a nearby bar...investigating, of course.  You were investigating this case of the missing man, ja?"

"You doubt that?  Yeah, got some good information as well.  His house; it's immaculate, I mean it's spotless, clinical...as a German you would love it." Action replied.

"I think that's a compliment.  Anyway I did some looking into the files of the missing gentleman and I discovered his name in one file:  Back in 1962 there was an accident..."

"And his wife and child were killed.  Yeah, so I heard.  Any specifics in the file as to how they died?"

"Yes.  At that time he was a land surveyor for the State.  In June 1962 he was doing a survey of the national park and invited his family to join him as a kind of small vacation...I think that's the proper term.  In German it is mini urlaub.  There was a chemical spill and a lot of people were hospitalised...including the Lew family.  Darrin Lew pulled through after a few days, his wife and daughter were not so fortunate."

"I was in the Marines back then and out of country so I missed that story.  Did they find who was responsible for the spill?" asked Action.

"Yes.  It was a tanker truck that crashed into the lake.  The brakes were faulty.  It was a Landgraab Corporation vehicle filled with highly toxic chemicals."

"Landgraab!" muttered Action, disparagingly.  "No wonder he wanted to bring the corporation down!  So was no-one held accountable for the deaths?"

"Landgraab were not charged, the matter never went to court."

Action pounded his right fist into the palm of his left hand in frustration.  "Damn you, Landgraab!  I tell you this, Bibi.  If anyone is capable of making a man vanish, it's that family!  You've done great work and...wait a minute!" he said in a moment of revelation.

"Vas is das?" asked Bibi, looking puzzled.

"Lew's a family man yet there were no family photos in his house.  No mementos, no pictures, no love letters from his wife, no keepsakes of their daughter growing up.  You know, the kindergarten picture on a fridge or the first school report, that kind of thing.  Landgraab had their agents clean the place out!  Those heartless bastards!  I'm going to hunt them down and make them pay!"

CHAPTER 237: Look Around You

More depressing news today, thought Action.  The war in Vietnam was becoming a stalemate, all that hard fighting and gains won just a year ago was being squandered now.  And there was a threat of a coup d'etat in Syria.  The world's getting more unstable...or is it that I've only just noticed? He thought, sombrely.

"And later this evening on SBS..." the TV announcer said in an overly merry and positive voice that clashed with the news about war around the world.  "...action and adventure in outer space with the brand new series, Star Tr..."

Action firmly hit the off button on the TV remote control.  "Man, I hate science fiction" he muttered.  Instead he put on the radio and tuned it to his favourite soul station.

"That's more like it!" he said, smiling to himself.

But Action wasn't a man who could sit still for too long.  It was his day off but he was always the cop, always thinking of solving a case and in his mind he had the death of Geoffrey Landgraab, probably at the hands of an assassin, going around and around his brain.  He also had a hunch who that assassin was:  Leanne McGregor.  He could use his time productively by doing some snooping around but first he wanted to feel invigorated and his second favourite way of doing that was working out at the gym.

He was a regular at Movers n' Shakers Gym and well known by all the regulars.  It helped that many of them were his neighbours as well.  Sure enough, after he had changed into his PT gear, he saw Barbara having a work out.

"Hey, Babs" he said, laconically.  "I would have thought running your own business was exercise enough!"

"It is, but I need to keep trim as well.  Remember that time when I put on a lot of weight?" she replied.

"Yeah, but you still looked smokin'"

"Oh you flatterer, Action!  But I never want to be that shape again, thank you.  The cost of replacing all my clothes....sheesh!  Anyway, will you be able to make Summer and Travis' wedding?  Not long to go now..."

"I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"I love weddings.  I loved Suzy's especially." she said wistfully.  Action could detect the subtext.

"It'll be your turn soon enough.  Jeremy's not going to let you slip through his fingers if he has any sense." he said.

"Sigh...I know.  But I'm starting to get a little....impatient, you know?  Not for the wedding itself but waiting for him to get down on one knee..."

"Jeremy's a straight up kind of guy.  If he hasn't proposed yet it's because he doesn't want to steal Travis and Summer's thunder.  Relax.  Once those two have tied the knot it'll be your turn next.  Trust me, Action knows."

"I'm sure you're right.  And what about you?  When will be your turn with Katherine?"

"Me?" said Action, wide eyed.  "Hey, I'm not ready to settle down just yet.  Action is a cool cat."

Barbara smiled, mischievously.  "Sure you are, no one's cooler but you're also not going to let someone like Katherine slip through your fingers either."

"Touché, madam, touché.  Anyway, stay cool, Babs.  I've got an appointment with that treadmill!  Catch you later."

After his workout Action was still restless.  Working within the confines of the SCPD was restrictive:  One moment he was on a murder case, the next it was taken away from him to hand over to the Feds or a specialist Homicide department.  He was gathering an idea of a criminal sub-set working within the city:  Working for the Landgraabs one moment, working for a shadowy cabal who hate the Landgraabs the next.  The attempt on the lives of Alan Cuffe and his assistant, on Geoffrey's, the bankrolling of Malcolm Landgraab's drug dealing...some group was involved in it all.  However, all he had to go on was a name, an out of date description of them and an image in his mind of a red headed man's face.  It was time to start talking to his informants on the street...

"Sorry, Action, I can't help" said one of them, a lady who worked in the hospitality business and who knew a lot of people...law abiding and criminal...but on this occasion the names 'Leanne McGregor' and the description of a red headed man with a goatee beard didn't register with her.

There was another lady, an old retired woman Action had met whilst working on a case that involved lots of local burglaries.  She was a 'curtain-twitcher', a woman with a lot of time on her hands who saw everything in her local neighbourhood.  Getting the old folks to keep their eyes and ears open might be a good strategy, Action thought.

But then he spied a figure off in the distance and a bell went off inside his head.  A red headed man with a goatee beard.

"Excuse me...sir!" Action called out.  The man ignored him and kept walking.  

"Sir!  Stop!  Sim City Police Department!" Action called out again.  The man hesitated and then stopped.

"I'd like to you to help with my enquiries" said Action.  "Could you spare some time now...or down at the station?" that last part was said not as a request but more like a threat.

The red headed man hesitantly turned around and walked slowly towards Action and the old lady.

"What is the matter, Police Detective?" the man said, coldly.

"Hey, I think I know you..." said the old lady.

The red headed man shot her a glare and for a moment Action noticed that she suddenly looked unsteady on her feet.

"No...we have never met" said the old lady, as if in a daze.  "And I love all people who come to visit us".  Action thought that statement came out of absolutely nowhere.

The lady started walking off without saying any kind of farewell.  Action turned to the man, a suspicious look on his face.

"You sure have a way with women" he said.

"What is it that you need me to help you with, Police Detective?" said the red headed man, flatly.

"First, what is your name?" asked Action.

"My name?  You wish to know my name?" the man replied.  Action nodded.

"Well, I suppose it won't cause any harm in telling you...it is Luke Kendall.  Now what is this about?"

"I'm sure we've met before, Mr Kendall"

"If we had then one of us would remember"

Action didn't immediately respond but instead looked Kendall squarely in the eye.  Finally he said "do you know someone called Leanne McGregor?"

"What does she look like?" came Kendall's response.

"Average height, slim, long black hair, dark brown eyes, Mediterranean complexion."

"I do not know anyone who conforms to that description."

"Can you tell me where you were on the 18th August this year?"

"I was working" came Kendall's very prompt response.

"All day?"

"I worked a double shift that day.  Business was intense."

"And what business are you in, Mr Kendall?"

"Catering.  I manage a group of street vending stalls"

"OK, Mr Kendall, I'm going to need some contact details for you...now I'm sure we've met before and I KNOW it'll come back to me at some point."

"It shouldn't..." said Kendall and almost immediately, he realised he had let slip something that a smart detective like Action would pick up on.

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Action.

"I am very busy, Police Detective Action...I must go now..."

"Wait...I never said my name"

"I noticed it on your ID badge"

Just as Action thought it would be better to haul Kendall downtown for more questioning he was interrupted by a work colleague:  A rookie cop called Jesse Navarro.  He had been working out at the gym as well.

"Hey, Action!  Glad I caught up with you!  I have some more information about that break in case the Chief assigned you!"

"Not now, Navarro..." Action replied.

"No, this is really important!  I know it's your day off but I know the Chief is anxious to make progress on the case.

Whilst Navarro was gushing all this information to Action, Kendall wandered off.

"Thanks a whole bunch, Navarro!  I was just about to get some low down from that guy and you come bounding in and ruining it!"

"Hey, I wasn't to know and...well, who is he?"

"He could be the man I can't remember..."

"What?  Wait?  That doesn't make sense..." replied a puzzled Navarro.

"Never mind.  I'll fill you in some other time"

That afternoon Action called on all his informants and those who had their ear to the ground in the underworld.  Despite it's often rustic, Southwestern charm, the Rattlesnake Juice Bar in Oasis Springs was a place where ex-cons and grifters hung out.  But when he asked around about Leanne McGregor he drew a blank from his network.

Disappointed, he went to sit at the bar and ordered a scotch and soda.  And then a second one soon after.  This mystery network of McGregor's and her cohorts did not leave a physical trace anywhere and yet he had met her in the flesh...twice...had evidence that she pulled the trigger on Madelyn Buchanan and that her name struck fear with some of his snitches.

Why can't I make any progress?  He thought to himself as he became more sullen.  And I'm sure that guy I met earlier has something to do with it.  I have a vague memory...I'm in a bar in downtown San Myshuno, I'm meeting someone...someone who's involved in the case...he looks like that Kendall guy and then....BLANK!  My memory goes.

But soon another thought enters Action's mind, and it's a voice not of his own.

"We ArE aLl ArOuNd YoU"

Action sat up to attention and looked around the bar.  Who said that?  There were only a handful of other patrons in the bar plus one barkeep and none of them were speaking to him.

"wE aRe AlL aRoUnD yOu...JoHn AcTiOn"

The voice was in his head and it sounded detached, as if someone had intruded into his mind.  He shook his head to try to clear it of this sinister voice.

"CeAsE, jOhN aCtIoN...yOu CaNnOt StOp Us"

Action stood up, briskly strode to a window and looked out.  Something was up, but he wasn't sure what.  A man walked past the bar and looked slowly at the window Action was looking out from.  His expression devoid of any emotion but for one brief moment he felt this man's gaze pierce straight into his soul.

Action looked again and saw another man with the same, expressionless look on his face and he too turned to face Action for a few seconds.

"We ArE eVeRyWhErE, jOhN aCtIoN...aLl ArOuNd YoU...cEaSe, GiVe In, Do NoT gEt In OuR wAy, We ArE eVeRyWhErE, eVeRyWhErE, aLl ArOuNd YoU...cEaSe..." over and over these words repeated themselves in Action's brain until they became deafening.

"Stop!  Stop the voices!  STOP THE VOICES!" Said Action, clutching his temples and shutting his eyes as the pain increased.

"Hey, Buddy, are you OK?" said a calm, soothing voice.

"What?  What's happening?" said Action.  There were two men sitting at the bar next to him.  Action didn't remember going from the window back to his seat.

"You started shaking and calling out in pain.  Do you need an ambulance?" said this voice, which turned out to be that of the man sitting next to him.

"I....was looking out the window..." said Action, pointing to where he'd been standing.

"Erm, you've been sat here the whole time.  Are you sure I can't call for an ambulance, or someone else who could help you?"

Action looked startled and his eyes darted all around the room.  What was going on?  He nodded and said to the man "call me a cab" and he swiftly downed the rest of his drink.

CHAPTER 230: Friendly Neighbourhood Summer Holliday

The last day of Summer was a wistful time at the BFF household.  Liberty, as was her wont, was dreaming about the stars, the Moon and her boyfriend.  She thanked her blessings that she had a loving companion, good friends and the most amazing job anyone could wish for.

 

Summer and Travis were in the kitchen talking about wedding preparations.  It was now a month to go before they tied the knot and there were seemingly endless tasks still to do.

Whilst Travis just wanted the thing over and done with, Summer was relishing the planning and had typed out list after list of what needed to be done.  The church had been booked, and the catering, music and a whole slew of other things but now it was a matter of chasing up those invited guests who had been slow or unresponsive in replying.  She was loving all of this right down to exercising vigorously in order to maintain her shapely figure so the wedding dress would still fit. 

Travis brought her a cup of coffee and said "Summer...don't burn yourself with all this.  We've got all the things sorted that we need to sort out:  Let's just coast and relax before our big day."

"Relax?  Travis we have dozens of little tasks left to do!  The little name cards for each guest at the reception still needs chasing up.  The florist gave us square centrepiece vases instead of round...that will clash with the shapes of the tables!"

This sailed completely over Travis' head.  "OK, if you're sure you want to go down this route to madness, be my guest.  I'm heading off to work now; don't wear yourself down." he said.

Summer finished typing out her revised wedding schedule, showered and got dressed and then decided that she would check in on all her friends.  She didn't want to be alone at home on her day off because that was boring.  Once dressed, she went to visit Barbara and Jeremy but they weren't in:  It was probably another busy day at their shop.

Next she moved on to visiting Action who was at home, albeit in a somewhat undressed state...

"Come on in..." boomed Action.  "...Excuse my state; I worked the nightshift last night."

"That's cool..." she replied, noticing his bulging biceps for a moment before recovering her senses.  "How did it go?"

"The usual:  Muggers, hookers, drunks and pimps for the most part.  I'm still working these two murder cases though and I think I may be close to a breakthrough."

"I can't imagine doing your job.  You need to be tough, I guess.  Tough and well built to handle anything..." she said, her voice trailing off when she saw his muscular physique again.

"I keep in shape because you never know who or what is coming at you next!" he said, with steely growl in his voice.

"Hmmm, I can't say I relate to that but it's so nice that the police department have you working on our side."

They discussed his work and her wedding plans, which were two topics diametrically opposite to each other.  After 20 minutes, and Action saying he really needed to take a shower, Summer decided to pay a visit to another neighbour.

She found Julia looking bleary eyed and surrounded by medical textbooks and journals.

"Sorry the place is in such a mess..." Julia said by way of apology but to Summer the house seemed in pristine order with the exception of all the books lying around.

"No need to apologise, Jules.  Say, I could help you put this stuff away and do a bit of tidying." said Summer, ever her cheerful self.

"That's kind, Summer, but I'm sure you have more important things on your mind like your wedding preparation." said Julia.

"Well, yes, but I've done all I can on that front for now which is why I'm visiting all my friends today!"

"I welcome the break from the studies" Julia replied.  "And how's Travis coping with the wedding planning?"

Summer let out a sigh.  "He's relaxed...maybe TOO relaxed about it.  He doesn't want to get too involved in the planning though:  He just thinks all that happens is that we show up at the chapel and that's that.  He's leaving most of the work to me.  I just hope he doesn't go on another eating binge and he ends up not being able to fit into his suit!"

"Sounds like some of my uncles!  In my family, we have so many festivals, get togethers and special events my mother is a mistress of organisation:  Rumour has it she was on General Eisenhower's staff during the war...SNORT!" She laughed in her unusual, nasal style.

"Well, she will sure come in handy when it comes time for you to get married!" said Summer but Julia's smile suddenly vanished when she said that and Summer immediately recognised that romance was a subject that made Julia uncomfortable.

"Sorry to mention that, Jules."

"No...no...you made a reasonable point that most people wouldn't think twice about...it's my hang up, I know.  It's not like I never want to get married but...it's difficult to explain.  I just hate the process of courting, that's all."

"One day it'll all come together for you, I'm sure, Jules." Summer nearly patted Julia on the knee as a way of encouragement but thought better of it.

"...let me help with that pile of dishes" Summer added.

Next on her list of people to visit, it was the turn of their newest neighbour, Joanna.  She was a college student but lived off campus so she could usually be found in half the time.

"Come on in, excuse the mess..." came Joanna's voice after Summer had knocked on the door.  When Summer went inside she thought the place looked great and couldn't see any mess.

"You shouldn't apologise...you've got the place looking great OH MY GOSH WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?"

Summer suddenly caught sight of Joanna and the girl was covered head to foot in a thick layer of soot.

"Yeah, excuse the mess...I mean, me" Joanna replied.  "I was clearing out the chimney and...well...I got it wrong and the soot came rushing down and covered me, and the kitchen.  Now I'm having to clear it all up.  Have a seat."

"So how's college going?" asked Summer.

"Great...I've never experienced anything like it.  Such a world away from what I'm used to but the course is really interesting and it's keeping me busy." Joanna replied.

"I never went to college" said Summer.  "I spent a year at catering school but that's what I like:  Hospitality and all that."

"Well you've got your big day and all that.  That's one heck of a catering event!"

"Yes it's going to be and I've personally scrutinised and chosen the meal and canapes.  Listen, Joanna, when I got engaged you'd only just moved in and we didn't know you well but these last couple of months have seen us get friendlier and you're now part of our little community.  We still have a couple of places left at our wedding:  Would you like to come as our guest?

"Yeah, sounds cool.  I've never been to a fancy wedding before.  Thanks, Summer." said Joanna, her face lighting up with joy.

"Never been to a wedding before?  Wow." replied Summer, slightly shocked.

"It's just that where I grew up, people didn't tend to get married..."

Summer hadn't realised just what an impoverished background Joanna hailed from before.  It was eye opening to get a glimpse into a world of poverty, desperation and the grim life of the ghetto.  After leaving the cosy confines of Foundry Cove she headed over to the more wealthy and genteel neighbourhood of Courtyard Lane:  Home of her second best friend, Suzy, and her husband Neil.

Being married and moving away from Foundry Cove hadn't hurt their friendship and Suzy was overjoyed to see her friend.

"Summer, wonderful to see you.  Now how is everything going with the Big Day?  Let me tell you from experience that the last month just races by!"

"Yep...I feel there's no going back now!  I've been going through a rollercoaster of emotions from initial excitement, feeling overwhelmed, purposeful and now I can't wait for the day itself!"

"And how's Travis bearing up?  No cold feet from him?" Suzy joked.

"Oh he's being his usual self:  'maintain an even strain' as he says.  He's not as gushing as I am about getting married but I can tell he's keen on it."

"That's great..." Suzy was about to say something else but she was interrupted by the arrival of Neil."

"Honey, have you seen the Burnt Umber?" he called out.

"Erm...is that a shade of paint?  You left some tubes in the lounge; it could be there." Suzy replied.

Neil entered the lounge and he was startled to see Summer there; startled and embarrassed as he was still in his pyjamas.

"Oops, ahhh, yes.  Sorry about my, erm, appearance" he said apologetically as his cheeks turned red.  "It's just that I had a flash of inspiration for my latest painting and I just leapt out of bed this morning and forgot to shower and get dressed."

"No need to apologise, Neil" said Summer, turning her head away from him to spare him any further embarassment.

"I tell you what, Sum." said Suzy, standing up and clapping her hands.  "How about you and I go somewhere for a drink and a catch up and we'll leave our resident artiste to find his Burnt Umber?"

The place they settled on was the Rattlesnake Juice Bar; somewhere where they hadn't been for some time.  Suzy advised not going to a bar that was more local because of all the press attention she'd been receiving lately and that reporters had been known to camp outside of the Blue Velvet Nightclub.

The bar was busy but the girls found room to order a couple of glasses of wine and have a conversation without having to raise their voices in order to be heard.

"My advice for the big day..." said Suzy "...is make sure you can get a drink.  You'll be buffeted by family, friends, photographers and caterers all wanting to say congratulations or ask you questions and whilst they'll manage to get a drink quite easily, you won't.  So if you're feeling parched, you just give me the nod and I'll make sure you get a drink!"

"That's great advice, Suzy, and I'll remember about the nod." Summer replied.

"Excuse me, are you Suzy Kent?" said a young woman suddenly butting in to Summer's conversation with her friend.

"I am" said Suzy.

"I just love your column in 'Hey Wow' and congratulations on that big article in this month's issue.  I had no idea about the Landgraabs" continued the woman.

"That's nice of you to say so" said Suzy, respectfully.

Suzy returned to speaking with Summer.  "So can you give me a hint about what your dress is going to be like?"

"No.  That's a secret known by only me and Liberty..." said Summer.

"Hey, you're that Suzy Kent from that magazine!" said another woman, suddenly recognising her.

"Yes, yes I am.  Are you a fan?"

"A BIG fan...so, about Malcolm Landgraab..."

And it continued this way for about an hour.  Summer and Suzy would be talking and a fan would show up and interrupt them.  Suzy would always be polite and answer a couple of questions but to Summer it appeared that fame was starting to take over Suzy's life.

Eventually Summer said goodbye to Suzy and made her way home.  There was a small matter of bringing in the mail, which contained junk, bills and a few RSVP returns from wedding guests confirming their attendance.  As Summer checked her mailbox, an acquaintance stopped to say hello.

"Hello, it's Summer, isn't it?" said the woman who Summer recognised as model and night club hostess Tiffany Lawson.  They had met once earlier on in the Summer at Suzy's old house when she was being interviewed for Suzy's magazine.

"That's right:  You're Tiffany from the Lothario club" Summer replied.

"You've got a good memory.  I was just passing and thought I'd call in on Suzy but she doesn't live there anymore."

"No, she moved out and bought a house in Courtyard Lane with her husband" said Summer.

Tiffany nodded as she had been at the wedding herself.  "Yeah, that makes sense.  Going up in the world and all that.  I see she's doing really well after those articles about the Landgraabs.  Good for her"

"I can write down her new address and phone number if you like." said Summer, ever the helpful one.

"Thanks, yeah, that would be great.  And you're keeping well?" Tiffany asked.

"Sure...couldn't be better.  In fact I'm getting married myself soon." said Summer, beaming with pride.

"To that same guy you've been dating?  What's his name?  Trent?"

"Travis...and here he is now.  I'll go and write down those contact details for you" said Summer passing Travis on the steps as she went inside.

"Now I know you from somewhere..." Travis said to Tiffany.

"A lot of men say that" said Tiffany, raising an eyebrow in a suggestive manner.

"Don't tell me...It's...erm...were you in the news not that long ago?"

"Not the news but you're probably thinking of a magazine.  Shall I tell you?"

"No.  I'm keen to guess.  A magazine you say?  Hmm, not a music one.  What genre?"

"Men's lifestyle"

Travis thought for a moment before his eyes went wide.  He was about to say something as the penny dropped but Liberty, who had recently arrived back from work, suddenly interrupted him.

"From Suzy's wedding, Travis" she said.

"That must be it...although you seem more familiar from somewhere else" he said.  Summer then appeared on the porch and handed Tiffany a piece of paper with Suzy's phone number on it.

"Thanks, Summer.  I gotta go now but nice seeing you again...and you, Travis.  Meowwww" she said, mimicking a cat raising its paw.

Back inside the house the three housemates sat down for dinner and when Travis excused himself to go to the bathroom, Summer and Liberty could have a private talk.

"She's never been rude to me or anything like that but that Tiffany always rubs me up the wrong way.  There's something there, I can't put my finger on it, that doesn't seem right."

"If you ask me she always looks like she's on the prowl for men" replied Liberty.  "Not surprising considering she poses naked for magazines."

"I was asked to pose for Lothario magazine once..." said Summer.  Liberty just stared agog at her.

"Really?  How did that happen?" she asked, shocked at her friend's revelation.

"I once met Alan Cuffe and he asked me.  I said no, of course"

"Of course.  I wonder if Travis reads Lothario?" mused Liberty.

"Well, if he does he won't be doing so after October 8th, that's for sure!  I shall be enough for him." she said, haughtily.

Once the dishes had been put away and Liberty went off to do some reading before her bedtime, Summer and Travis found themselves alone in the kitchen together.  

"Travis my dear..." she began.  "Do you read Lothario magazine?"

He sensed a trap being set and gulped.  "Only for the articles, Summer my love"