Edna couldn't quite put her finger on it but George was acting out of character lately. He seemed more emotional and quick to change mood. One minute he was talking about his work in great detail, the next he would look furtively out of the living room window as if he had feared something that lurked outside...
"George, is there something bothering you? You seem a bit jumpy at the moment" she said, quizzically.
"Oh nothing in particular, my love...I've got a lot on my plate work wise..." he said defensively.
"My love? You don't usually talk in such a flowery manner..."
"Don't I? Well, maybe I don't heap enough praise on you for all the wonderful things you do, Sugar Pie"
"George! Mind your language! We have a League of Decency meeting later today and it sends out the wrong message if you go around calling me 'sugar pie' in public."
"Sorry dear...I will mind my manners when we're out there"
And out there was Uptown San Myshuno, the heart of the city. Edna was scoping out the scene because in a few hours the League of Decency were going to hold a rally there. Already hanging around there was a young man with a Beatnik style beard and glasses (at least Edna thought he looked the Beatnik type) who was checking a large and professional looking camera. She decided to approach him.
"Hello there, Edna Sneedley; the League of Decency...thank you for coming along today. Now we shall be assembling over there, by the fountain, where there will be some speakers and a more informal discussion with members of the public. You can position yourself anywhere you like as long as you don't block the speaker whilst they're giving a talk and if you want any shots of myself then please don't hesitate to ask....after all, I have a great respect for our Fourth Estate...."
The man looked confused. "Excuse me, Miss Sneedley...I have no idea what you're talking about."
Now it was Edna's turn to look confused. "But aren't you here to cover the League of Decency rally?"
"No, ma'am, I'm here for a publicity shoot for rising pop star Lisa Richardson"
At that moment a lively young blonde woman popped up next to the photographer and introduced herself. "Hey there, Lisa Richardson...Lil' Lisa according to my publicist. Groovy to meet you...I don't discriminate against my older fans."
Edna shook her head and just walked off.
She went to get a drink from somewhere but there was only one coffee shack in the area and none of the bars around here were open so a coffee it would have to be. She cursed under her breath that she didn't bring along a hip flask of something stronger with her today. However, she didn't have much time to rue that decision as a very flamboyantly dressed young man who sported a very thin moustache and obviously dyed blonde hair approached her.
"This much talent..." he said, cryptically, holding his thumb and forefinger close together to indicate a tiny amount.
"I beg your pardon?" replied Edna.
"That Lisa Richardson, she's got practically no talent, no personality but she has a good agent and can pout for the camera. May I join you?" said the young man, indicating an empty seat opposite Edna.
"Erm, why, yes...I don't see why not. So you know that young, brash and overly self-confident girl, do you?"
"For my sins, alas yes." he replied, sitting down. "I have to in my line of work: Style critic."
Now Edna wouldn't normally approve of a man like this one who dressed in an outrageous manner, dyed his hair blonde and with a camp voice but something about his blunt cynicism appealed to her.
"A style critic you say? And how are you with all the latest styles and fads?" she asked, probingly.
"Fads come, fads go...style endures. I don't care if it's mini, midi or sackcloth as long as it's worn with class. I mean, look at the models...Suzy Parker, Jean Shrimpton and Colleen Corbett; all classy. Marianne Faithful and Lisa Richardson; trashy. By the way my name is Diego Lobo...and you are?"
"Edna Sneedley; Chairwoman of The League of Decency."
"Oh so YOU'RE the Edna Sneedley I've heard about. Enchante, madam"
He had heard of her...now she was liking him more.
"Yes I am, Mr Lobo. I hope what you've heard is all good."
"Honey, I've heard so many things about you: Good and bad. I neither approve nor disapprove of your organisation: If it gets rid of nasty, cheap fashion I'm all on board. Now might I say you have a strong look going there, Mrs Sneedley...may I call you Edna? Good. You look a lot like Joan Crawford but I would suggest updating the look: Jackie Kennedy's Chanel style needs an update. Do check out Pierre Cardin, I think he would suit you."
"Oh Mr Lobo, you do flatter me....but DO go on..."
Meanwhile George was about to begin the opening speech of the League's meeting. "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is George Sneedley, vice-chair and membership secretary of The League of Decency...today we have many guest speakers addressing a wide variety of topics including lawlessness, the fight against Communism, jaywalking, littering, public health and sexual mores....but first up is Dr Julia Epstein of Willow Creek Community hospital to talk about the importance of child health in our local community..."
There was a small ripple of applause from the small crowd as Julia walked up to the podium. Acknowledging her audience she began her talk in a hesitant tone until she found her confidence as her topic became more technical about medicine.
Afterwards Edna was approving of Julia's speech but still took the time to lightly criticise her presentation. "On the whole, very good, young Julia but you need to hook your audience in with your opening statement... I recommend beginning with something startling and terrifying to really grip the crowd!"
George came over to chat with the two ladies. "What did you think, George? About Julia's speech?" asked Edna.
"Oh quite nice, actually. Quite nice" he said, in a faintly vague manner as if his mind was elsewhere.
Edna was too busy looking around for a member of the public in attendance to give a League leaflet to so she didn't notice George's manner, but Julia did.
"George..." Julia began "are you alright? I saw you at the Blue Velvet Bar last night and you seemed distracted..."
"No you didn't" snapped back George.
"I'm sure I did...we spoke outside the bar..."
"I wasn't in the bar and if I were I wasn't distracted" he again snapped but in a hushed tone that wouldn't alert Edna.
"Now here comes our next speaker, Scott..." interjected Edna, who hadn't paid any attention to Julia and George. "Now have you still got that schedule George? We must keep to the schedule"
"Yes dear...it's your turn to announce the speaker, Edna" he said, glancing at his clipboard.
"Right, best get to it!" she replied. She then made a clicking noise with her lips, as if to indicate thirst. "I wish there was a place to get a drink around here..."
She approached the podium and smiled at the crowd. "I am very pleased to introduce our next speaker. A brave young man who gave 4 years of his life to our fine military in defence of our nation against the Communist aggressor...Technical Sergeant Scott Urban, now Mr Scott Urban..."
Scott stood behind the podium and began his speech. "It was during basic training back at Fort Hood, Texas, where I had a personal epiphany...It was on viewing a training film about syphilis..."
Whilst the speech went on and Edna watched on, enthralled, Julia took the time to approach George privately.
"George, I did see you in the bar last night...if there's anything you want to talk about, remember I am a doctor and what you tell me is in the strictest confidence."
George bit his bottom lip before responding but eventually he spoke. "Yes...I was in the Blue Velvet last night but please don't tell Edna! It's not her kind of establishment. She went in there once but ended up having a furious row with that Suzy Kent woman. I don't know what possessed me to go in there last night but...lately...things have been a little...erm...how can I describe this? Well...it's like I have two lives at the moment...and it's juggling them with the knowledge that I have...I...I...well, it began as a simple thing, really, and it got out of control...and now I know things I shouldn't and I don't understand them either..."
Julia couldn't make head nor tail of what he was saying but it sounded like he was trying to confess to having an affair. She tried to respond, tactfully.
"Is there...another woman, George?" she asked.
Again, he didn't immediately respond but looked down at the ground at his feet and then he did another thing she found strange: He looked at hers and with a tilt of his head his gaze went slowly upwards, looking at Julia all the way.
"No...well, yes...well, kind of, but not in an infidelity way. You know in the Bible there's the part about thinking about another woman is the same as knowing them? I mean, you must have that in your version..."
"The Talmud? Yes, I know the reference. So is this about desiring another woman?"
"No...well, possibly, only...well, this other woman's more of an ideal than an actual person. It's something within me...except it's not that simple as it's about what I...and she...witnessed..."
"But this person doesn't exist?" asked an increasingly confused Julia.
George shook his head and said "No, forget it...just don't tell Edna that you saw me in that bar!" before he walked away.
Everything after that was an anti-climax for both George and Julia but Edna was buoyed up by a crowd of nearly 30 people showing up and listening to the speeches; not all at the same time, however. George went home to get changed for work but Edna wanted to continue her canvassing by going to see an old acquaintance: Nancy Landgraab.
Nancy was there to answer the door and she greeted Edna with a warm-ish smile. "Edna, what a pleasant surprise, do come in."
"Thank you, Nancy...once again, my condolences on dear Geoffrey's untimely passing. How are you coping?"
"Well enough; fortunately I'm kept busy with the business, the Landgraab Foundation and all our subsidiaries. My father has returned to help run the company and Malcolm has been such a blessing in this troubling time. Come through to the sitting room...would you like a drink?"
"Oh would I ever!" said Edna, smiling enthusiastically.
They walked through to the spacious lounge where Nancy poured Edna a whisky and soda. "So..." began Nancy as she handed Edna the drink "...how have you and George been keeping?"
"We're fine...in fact doing quite well. We had a League of Decency rally today and it was a qualified success if I do say so myself."
"Do have a seat, Edna. I know my Geoffrey was always supportive of your cause."
"He was, Nancy, our biggest supporter. I've also spoken with your father; a great man and he too was enthusiastic about what we do."
"Was he really?" replied Nancy, raising an eyebrow. "Well, we've got some shared values, Edna. You and your organisation are broadly aligned. We do still have the same enemies..."
"Oh yes...pests. As it happens I'm running for office; for city councillor."
"Yes, but there's still people that need bringing down, Edna. I think that needs to be a priority." Nancy said, emphatically.
"Well, I can be more effective if I'm on the council"
"Yes, indeed. And, frankly, the Fengs need pulling down a peg or two."
"So can I count on your support?" said Edna, pushing her point.
"Hmmm....yes, I think you can. Anyway, I must be getting on Edna. I'll see you to the door and hope to see you again." said Nancy.
The two women stood up and Nancy escorted Edna to the door. Edna felt pleased to secure Landgraab support and she felt emboldened as she headed back down the valley to Bedrock Strait. George wasn't home yet but Edna felt she deserved a victory drink.
"To finish my set I'd like to perform a song by a favourite band of mine...Jefferson Airplane. This one's called 'High Flying Bird'...thank you" and with that the singer started to strum and sing the song. Neil and Suzy looked on, impressed with this young woman's musical ability.
"She's very good...but we need to go, we've got a lot to do today" said Neil.
"Oh a few minutes more watching her won't dent our schedule. I want to stay until the end of the song" replied Suzy.
Neil said nothing and continued to watch the young lady perform the song...although he did check his wristwatch a few times during the remainder of the performance.
Eventually, the woman finished. "Thank you, my name's Lisa Richardson and I'll see you cats real soon." and with that she bowed and then went to put her guitar back in its case.
"Now we really should get going" said Neil. "We've got to get all the way back to Willow Creek"
"I know, darling, but we don't have to see the first place until 10 and it's only 9:15 now...Willow Creek isn't that far away..." she pleaded.
"I'm worried about finding a suitable parking spot when we're there...I don't know that part of town" he replied.
"Oh there's plenty of parking! If it's where you say it is you have lots of quiet, residential roads with parking lots and lots of side streets. It's such a beautiful morning in San Myshuno, let's just take a wander for a bit...please?"
She fixed Neil with her bright blue eyes...he couldn't resist that wide eyed, keen and eager look of hers. Suzy really was the most beautiful woman he had ever met and she was now his wife! She was even wearing his favourite outfit on her...a vision in purple, right down to her eye make up. He couldn't say no to her.
"OK...five more minutes then" he said.
"The flowers are in full bloom I see..." said Suzy, noticing the elaborate planters in the square.
"Maybe we'll find a place with a garden to grow some of our own?" mused Neil.
"Hey, is that Suzy Kent...I mean, Suzy Humphries?" came a voice from across the square. Both Neil and Suzy looked in the direction it had come from and saw a familiar figure walking towards them. It was Burr DeBenning; crazy name, crazy guy. He was an old friend of Suzy's...someone who had been of great help to her when she was investigating the suspicious activities of the Landgraabs. But since she'd been with Neil, she'd seen less of him.
Neil stiffened at the sight of Burr. He thought the guy was pleasant and decent enough, but he had a feeling in the pit of his stomach that Burr fancied Suzy and that didn't sit well with him.
Burr's heart skipped a beat when he saw her. He still rued the missed opportunity of getting together with her. Neil was a decent guy...that was the problem; he couldn't hate the man who stole the woman he longed for.
"Wow, I haven't seen you since the wedding!" exclaimed an excited Burr. How's married life treating you, Suz...oh, and Neil?"
"It's wonderful" replied Suzy. "And how are you doing, Burr? Still working at the council? Still keeping an eye on Geoffrey and Nancy?"
"Yes to both. Man, you look so vibrant, Suz. Are you still pursuing the mysteries of Sim City?" asked Burr.
"I am...research is coming along slowly, I'm afraid but today I'm taking a day off" she said.
"We're going house hunting, Burr" Neil interjected.
"Oh, moving up in the world?" asked Burr.
"Something like that...but as my husband..." she said, emphasising the word "keeps saying to me we have to get to see our first place very soon. We must catch up soon properly..."
"All of us" interjected Neil, again.
"Yes, all of us...lovely to see you again, Burr!" said Suzy, all bouncy and positive.
As Suzy and Neil headed to the parking lot to pick up their Volvo sports car, she commented "How lovely to see Burr again, I hope he's doing well"
"Yes" said a less convinced Neil.
COURTYARD LANE, WILLOW CREEK, 11:30am
"Well, that last place was very nice..." said Suzy, diplomatically...she hated it.
"Well out of our price range and I don't think we need 4 bedrooms either" said Neil. "You liked it? I thought it was too run down."
"I hope the other houses in this area are nice...I've heard a lot of good things about this neighbourhood but so far the houses haven't matched up"
"OK..." Neil continued. "Last place on our list...Rindle Rose. A 2 bedroom, single storey house which is about 1/3 larger than our current home"
"Hmmm, I like it from the outside...very sweet. I like the porch and the garden is very pretty. Let's look around" Suzy replied.
Suzy's impression of the house grew after they'd looked around inside. Neil was warming to it as well.
"OK, the place is a bit messy, a lot of the furniture is very old fashioned and not with it" said Suzy.
"From what I understand the current owner is clearing out the inside and furniture so we'd be furnishing virtually from scratch" replied Neil.
"The outdoors I wouldn't want to touch" Suzy continued.
"Well, I was thinking I could put my easel up there, overlooking the river" said Neil.
"I think that would be acceptable. Oh Neil, I really like this place: It's a bit like our existing house but that much bigger and we don't get views of that horrible industrial cargo warehouse either....and I'm not taking my life into my hands every time I cross that busy road at the end of our street if we lived here."
"I'll confess...when I was looking at properties this came out as my favourite. OK, if you like this and you can see us living here then I'll get the paperwork going" said Neil, happy that Suzy liked Rindle Rose as well.
"One thing though; I'm going to miss living next to the gang and seeing them everyday..." said Suzy "I wonder what our neighbours would be like here?"
"Coo-eeee! Suzy and Neil! Over here!"
The Humphries both looked over to the house next to them, where the voice was coming from. It was none other than Eliza Pancakes; a friend of theirs who'd they'd known for some time and invited to the wedding but they'd never been to her house before.
"Hello Eliza, keeping well?" asked Suzy
"Well, as well as I can be...so rushed off my feet these days with the baby" replied Eliza. "Oh you must come and see the little one! Have you time?"
Suzy looked to Neil, who nodded and they accepted Eliza's invitation.
"I must say your house looks lovely, Eliza" said Neil.
"Is Bob around?" asked Suzy.
"Thank you, Neil, well we try to make it lovely but it's a bit of a handful right now...Bob's around here somewhere; I sent him to check on the baby."
"Oh yes, congratulations again...is it a boy or a girl?" asked Suzy.
"It's a boy...his name is Armand and, well, yes, he's a typical baby you know! Needs feeding, cries a lot, and a lot and...a...lot..." replied Eliza, her voice trailing off.
"Are you two thinking of starting a family yet?" continued Eliza/
"NO!" exclaimed Suzy.
"Well, it's too early for that..." added Neil. "I mean, we'd have to move to a bigger place if we did...I mean, we have to move to a bigger place anyway what with my work and Suzy's."
"We're in no rush to start a family. Get married life sorted first" said Suzy.
"Well, good luck with that! I don't think any of us married types ever get it sorted" said Eliza, looking crestfallen at the ceiling.
Suzy and Neil gave a polite, but nervous laugh.
Just then they heard heavy footsteps coming down the stairs. A heavyset black man with a tight afro and a bored expression on his face entered the room. Although Suzy and Neil had never met him in person, they knew that was the often absent husband, Bob Pancakes. He barely acknowledged the presence of visitors as he walked in.
"Look who's come to visit us, Bobby?" said Eliza. "You've heard of my friends Neil and Suzy, haven't you?"
"Erm...I think so. Don't they live with a Chinese girl who's a rocket scientist?" said Bob.
"No! That's Travis and Summer. This is Suzy and Neil...I was at their wedding last month...you couldn't come due to that stomach bug you caught the morning of it."
"Ooooohhhhh yes. Stomach bug. Erm, yeah, that was it." said Bob, defensively. "It's stuffy in here, let me open a window." he said, turning to one of them. "By the way, we're out of fresh coffee, this is the last cup" he said, gesturing to the mug he was holding. The atmosphere was pretty tense right now and Eliza was quietly seething as Bob still hadn't said hello to their visitors.
Neil tried to break the ice a little. "I was saying to Eliza that you've got a nice place here, Bob. Did you do much of the decor yourselves?"
Bob lightened up a little at this question. "Oh yeah, sure. You know I did the floors, the walls, knocked a doorway through there so these rooms could interconnect, expanded upstairs and added a room, a second bathroom, changed the electrical wiring and all that. Are you a home improvement kind of guy, Nigel?"
"Neil. Well...erm..." he said, trying to recall his one moment of handyman success. "I replaced the toilet in our current home. The whole home improvement thing is something I'm looking into if we buy the place next door."
"Yeah, next door man. That place could do with a new owner now that Advik has been declared legally dead." said Bob with a rueful shake of his head.
"Advik?" asked Suzy, apprehensively.
"Oh my gosh, when did you hear about that?" exclaimed Eliza. "I thought they were still looking for him."
"Not any more they're not." said Bob, sitting down and taking another sip of coffee. "They found his shoes at the top of Granite Falls...and nothing else" he said, mysteriously. "No trace of him has been found...tracks leading up to the falls, then nothing coming back."
"That sure sounds like a mystery" said Suzy with a tinge of keen interest in her voice. Neil immediately picked up on that and knew his wife's mind would be occupied at the thought of investigating it.
"This Advik had no family then?" asked Neil.
"No. So the land agents want a quick sell and are prepared to drop the price" said Bob. "Mind you, the guy was a bit of a slob...looks good outside but it's a mess inside."
"Wow, this looks like our luck's in with this one, Eliza! We should put an offer in!" said an enthusiastic Suzy.
Their conversation was then interrupted by cries from upstairs.
"Oh it's Armand, again. Didn't you feed him when you went upstairs?" asked Eliza, with frustration in her voice.
"You said to go check on him...you never said anything about feeding the little guy" replied Bob, defensively.
"Tsch, I'll have to do it...Suzy, would you like to meet Armand...leave the menfolk to talk about smashing walls and varnishing floors." said Eliza.
"That would be lovely...give you and Bob a chance to get to know each other" said Suzy to Neil. The women left the room and Neil and Bob were left alone in the living room. Bob took one last swig of his coffee.
"Shame that was the last of that. Damn fine coffee" he said, matter of factly.
Meanwhile the girls headed upstairs in the direction of the crying. In one daintily decorated bedroom there was a traditional basinet all in white and in the middle was a squirming, writing and crying baby.
"Awww, did naughty daddy forget to feed you?" said Eliza, picking up Armand. She carried him over to a side table where there was a bottle of baby formula waiting. She picked it up, put the teat in his mouth and started to feed him as she cradled him in her arms. The crying stopped, to be replaced by a succession of "a-goo...a-goo...a-goo" noises.
"Aww, that's such a cute sound, and what a lovely little boy you have there" said Suzy, smiling at the little infant.
"He is when he's feeding and he does love a feed!" replied Eliza. "He's also sweet when he's sleeping. Takes after his father that way."
Armand came off the bottle and let out a tiny burp. Then Eliza put the formula back on the table and cradled him some more. "I'm hoping having a baby will bring some joy into our home...I mean, some extra joy..." she said. "Say, do you want to hold him? Get some good practice in for the future?" she continued with a wink.
"Oh...well...I've never had much experience with babies. I wouldn't want to drop him or anything...OK, here goes....my, he's quite light. Awwww, I think he smiled at me!" said Suzy, holding him gently.
After a few minutes Eliza took Armand back into her arms and snuggled him. He was quite content so she put him back in the basinet. They decided to leave him and go back downstairs but Suzy could see a mixture of exhaustion and frustration on her friend's face.
"It must take a lot out of you, having a baby to look after" said Suzy.
"Oh Suz...it's draining! It doesn't help that my husband is a lazy son-of-a-bitch at times! I sometimes think he doesn't care at all about us!" she said, desperately trying to keep her voice down.
"I'm so sorry to hear that, Eliza. I'm only a newlywed and I haven't had a serious fight with Neil since our wedding day so I can't offer much in the way of help"
"Oh you're so blessed, Suzy, and don't take Neil for granted! I think I married too soon, too much on the rebound...and Bobby...well, he was always there, you know? Other guys came and went and, gosh, my own family background isn't much to write about...I was a bit of a wild child back in the day! I'm a lousy wife and I'm worried I'm going to be a lousy mom!"
Suzy reached out and gently touched Eliza on both arms in comfort. "I think there's hope, Eliza, when you said 'Bobby is always there'. I don't know him much at all, but he's here, he hasn't left you or Armand. Maybe he needs a bit of coaxing out of his shell? I'm sure you know what makes him tick."
"Yeah, hopefully a bomb!" Eliza said, with a chuckle. "I know, cruel joke but thanks for your friendship, Suz. Hey, it'll be great being neighbours, won't it?"
Back at Foundry Cove Neil and Suzy had time to ponder their house hunting experience.
"I really like the house, really like it. I'm already thinking about interior design" said Suzy.
"I like it too" said Neil. "How do you feel about our prospective neighbours?" he asked.
"Eliza? I've known her for ages! And that little baby is so sweet..."
"Careful now..."
"Bob...I know what you mean; we might have to get used to hearing a lot of rows from next door" mused Suzy. "Mind you, the noise Action puts out at all hours on his stereo isn't much better"
"They're a bit of a handful, the Pancakes. I think I can handle both of them at the same time in small doses" said Neil. "But you're right about the house; we should put in an offer. I'll make the call to the agents."
Whilst Neil was making the phone calls Suzy took a walk around the Cove, her home for so long she could only just remember the day she moved in. Meeting Travis, Summer and Liberty...then Jeremy. This was before Julia and Action had arrived, heck it was before Julia's house had finished being built! Rubber Soul by The Beatles had only just been released...ahhh, the memories.
Suzy walked down to the river, past Jeremy and Barbara's house and down to the little fishing spot there. In all the time she'd lived in Foundry Cove, she never tried fishing there. She'd also not noticed the little crystalline rocks that lay around the area either, nor the old moss covered logs where tiny frogs would hop in and out of. Just when you thought you knew your own hometown, something comes along to surprise you, she thought.
She also looked across the river and saw the ugly old container facility...she wouldn't miss seeing it when they moved but it was also part of the mystery of the Cove...if the glade wasn't somewhere within that facility, then where could it be from here?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the voice of Barbara, who had come along to see her. "Suzy, gathering inspiration down by the river?" she asked.
"Oh Barbara, ha, not at all...I'm just enjoying the sights of our little neighbourhood in this lovely evening. Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to block your way..." said Suzy to a passing teenage girl. The girl, an elegant blonde with a haughty manner about her said nothing as she walked past Suzy and Barbara. Barbara couldn't quite place it, but that girl seemed familiar...perhaps she had been a customer at the shop?
"There's something on your mind, I can tell" said Barbara. "Is married life still treating you well?"
"Oh yes...in fact, Neil and I have made an important decision about what we should do next..." said Suzy.
"Oh, Suz...you're not!" exclaimed Barbara.
"No! We're not going to have children...yet. We're going to move house. Not far, though. We've found a place over at Courtyard Lane we really like. That's only just up the river there."
"Oh Suz...that's great! But bad! But bad in a great way! Sure...I get you need a bigger place but it'll be sad that we can't keep popping in and out of each other's places for impromptu chats and drinks."
"I know...but just walk along that path behind me and in 20 minutes you'll find us." said Suz, apologetically. "I'll still be around here quite a bit though" she said, looking at the mysterious tree. "I don't want to miss my friends."
Barbara nodded and gave Suzy a big hug and wished her luck before heading back to her own home. Yes, the tree, Suzy thought. I'm not done with you yet!
As she sauntered back home, taking in the sights and musing about how this news would impact on her friends, she saw Summer approaching the house. Yes, Summer, her best friend. What adventures they had had together. Trying to track down Malcolm Landgraab, setting up stake outs, those quests to find boyfriends when, in Summer's case, he was living under the same roof as her all along. All those girly chats, the giggles, the bottles of wine consumed along the way...
"So I just bumped into Barbara" said Summer as Suzy approached the house. "You're not!"
"We are, we're moving house. Not for a while I mean our offer's got to be accepted and then we have to sell this place and plan a moving out date....but don't worry, we're only moving to the next neighbourhood along."
"Oh Suzy...I don't know what to say! Of course, you must have a house moving party and then a house warming one after that! Don't worry, I'll organise it!"
"Of course you will, Summer! I have learned never to get in the way of Summer Holiday planning a party! We'd love it."
John Action didn't particularly like days off...technically, he never had them. Even though his presence wasn't required at the precinct house and he was technically off duty, he always had to channel his energies into something practical. This morning, after breakfast, it was calisthenics.
"Hey, Action, how's it going? Giving that punch bag hell?"
Action stopped his workout and turned to see who it was who was talking to him. It turned out to be Spenser Lam: An old contact from his days pounding the San Myshuno beat. Spenser saw all, heard all, and knew what was happening on the street. He used to own a convenience store, until it got robbed, hit and firebombed too many times. Now he lives on his retirement fund, but he was still the man to seek out if you needed information or a favour.
"Hey, Spenser! How's the old neighbourhood?" asked Action.
"A lot quieter when you sent that mob packing" replied Spenser. "Still, you're not missing much these days...it's become an artist's haven and that just gives them the excuse to paint their horrible, brightly coloured scribbles all over the walls, the sidewalk, anything really. So how's life in the 'burbs? Suiting you well?"
"Well enough...at least I don't have to worry about my neighbours here..." said Action, looking around at all the houses and it was true: He was fortunate enough to be living around decent folk, some groovy, some square but all of them honest and good company. But one of them, one who was a good buddy, had lost his way a bit: Jeremy Saint. Action suspected he'd been brainwashed by his new employers, the Landgraabs, into hating him and another neighbour, Suzy Humphries. But based on new information Jeremy's girlfriend, Barbara, had given him he was hatching a plan. Maybe Spenser could help?
"Say, Spenser, do you still have contacts on the street? I need a few items; nothing that would get you into trouble."
"What do you need, Action?"
"Workmen's overalls, one with the name of an electrical company or something that like...you know, the kind electricians wear when they're fixing something for a client. I'll need a suitable hat to go with it, like a cap, and a fake I.D. badge."
"Fake I.D., Action? I thought you said this was not going to get me into trouble!"
"No, it's not like a driver's licence or passport. I mean a badge giving a false name, fake company, you know like a costume piece. I want a complete outfit that would make me look like an electrician going to a place to fix some wiring."
"I won't ask why you need it, but I'll look into it" replied Spenser. Action was going to elaborate on his plan a little more but he noticed Nancy Landgraab jogging past so he put his finger to his lips to hush Spenser.
"Appreciate it, Spenser. Let me know how you get on and...this is between us, OK?"
"You got a deal, Action"
Spenser not only delivered on the goods, he did so by that same evening. Action thought through his plan once more in his mind. Get in, have a nose around, get the evidence and...importantly...get out again.
THE NEXT DAY
Today was another day off for Action, but he had made such plans it was virtually a work day anyway. A lot of what he'd be doing would rely on his police training. He headed over to the central business district in order to go to one building in particular: The headquarters of The Landgraab Corporation.
Action was carrying a dark brown carpet bag. Inside were some of the things he would be needing for this adventure. The rest had been concealed by Spenser in a warehouse adjacent to the Landgraab building.
First, he snuck behind a large pile of crates, well out of view from the street outside and changed into workman's overalls.
Next he searched the top of a crate, as Spenser had instructed him, and found a toolbox and the fake I.D. Now, equipped, he was ready for the next part.
Getting into the Landgraab Corporation building entrance was easy. No one suspects just another tradesman, but what to look for when inside? Barbara mentioned an underground level that Jeremy could only barely remember, but where could that place be? He tried a few doors and found one heavy one locked. The one opposite it in the corridor was at least open. He began his investigation there.
This place wasn't well kept with a lot of plain, cardboard boxes just lying around. There was also no one else here, a typewriter with no paper inserted in the roller and shelving with all kinds of random stuff there. He looked in a random box. Just newspaper cuttings, scrap pieces of paper and pages of scribble that didn't make much sense. It was the same thing in other boxes. He looked in a filing cabinet and it was the same. Folders with vague titles that read "accounts knowable", "ideas ongoing" and "insubstantials" were filled with the same, random junk.
"This place is just a cover!" muttered Action under his breath. "The real business is conducted elsewhere!"
He was no closer to finding out what was going on here than before, so he left the room and went searching for someone who could give at least a hint as to where he could find this underground room. Acting the part of the hopelessly lost and frustrated workman he collared a woman who was coming down the stairs and heading for the room he'd just left. He figured she might just work here.
"Hey, lady, I'm trying to find the buildings manager for this joint" he said, trying to sound unsophisticated.
"Mr Stevens? He's off sick today. Can I be of assistance?" she replied.
"Just my luck!" Action replied, in character. "Yeah, I'm from Acme Electronics..." he said, waving the fake ID card past her so quickly she didn't have time to look at it properly. "...My boss got a call from your Mr Stevens about an electrical problem in your basement level. I've been sent to fix it."
"Basement level? We don't have a basement level" she replied.
"I got told the problem was in the basement level...Miss?"
"Loh...Anahi Loh"
"You have a lovely name, Anahi, and I'm sure you can sort out this little problem I have here. You see I can't go back to my boss and say 'there's no basement at the Landgraab Building so you must have got that wrong' because he hates being wrong and tends to get a little crazy if you suggest he is. So is there anywhere...anywhere... in this building where Mr Stevens might have meant 'basement'?"
"Well...erm..." she began to say.
"If I don't sort this problem out then the wiring might degrade even more and that'll cause more headaches, troubles and cost your bosses more money down the line. I just need to fix it, get back to my boss and then everyone's happy."
Miss Loh looked around, her gaze settling on the big, heavy locked door on the other side of the corridor. "Well, there's that room over there...I'm not sure what's in it; I've heard it contains the boiler, junction boxes and telephone cables. But it's always kept locked."
"That'll be it then" said Action. "Oh, you wouldn't happen to have a key to that room, would you?"
"I'm Mr Stevens' assistant; I can get one for you. Wait here."
"I'll come with you...that way you don't have to trouble yourself coming all the way back down here" he said with a smile. Just in case you get any smart ideas about checking up on whether I'm meant to be here or not with your bosses.
She duly went and got the key and Action made sure he paid attention to his surroundings, again trying to find something suspicious. No basement they say, yet Jeremy said there was...interesting.
Once he had the key in his possession he went to the big locked door. There was a closed circuit TV camera on the wall next to him. He pulled the cap down firmly to obscure his features from it.
Once through the door he could see what the room contained. Huge machinery, pipes, ducts, control panels and boilers. Some looked like the kind of machinery you'd expect in the maintenance room of a large office building but there were others that looked advanced in technology or would look more at home at Cape Canaveral.
On the far wall was an elevator. Action walked over to inspect it and discovered it only had one button on it...marked 'down". So there's no basement level, eh? Naturally, he pushed the button. The elevator doors opened and he carefully stepped in.
The doors shut and the elevator went down. Action was wondering what lay at the bottom, what was down there that even the everyday staff of Landgraab's didn't know? The doors slid open and he soon found out.
It was a large, dark room and mostly featureless. The lighting was along the walls in little recessed sconces. On the opposite wall to the elevator was a large projector screen flanked by two big stereo speakers. In the centre was a square, raised dais which contained a futuristic looking white chair in the shape of a hollowed out egg.
"What the hell...?" muttered Action as he stepped out of the elevator and into the room. He took a look around, trying to work out what this room was for. Geoffrey or Nancy's private movie viewing room, perhaps? He thought. Why only the one chair though?
Action walked over to the chair and sat in it. Its shape engulfed him but other than its unusual shape there wasn't anything suspicious about it. It faced the projector screen front and square on and if he had to guess, he surmised that the chair was so shaped so that the viewer couldn't be distracted by anything other than what was shown on that screen.
There were no buttons, no control panels or anything that would make the projector work from here, so Action figured that must be controlled from another room....but where? He didn't want to linger here much longer in case he was discovered so he made his way back up to the ground floor.
He had discovered something suspicious but what the significance of that room was still a mystery. He decided to continue his investigation and do some more digging. He figured that the secret room must have a control centre that fed whatever sounds and images to the projector screen. So he was looking for a room that had some kind of video feed that was connected to the projector. Well, he was disguised as an electronic repairman...
Heading upstairs to where the corporate offices were he stopped another company type, who seemed that bit more senior by the way she walked around and bossed some of the other staff around.
"Excuse me, ma'am" said Action to her.
"Yes, what is it?" came a stern reply from the woman.
"I'm from the Acme Electrical Repairs Company...Mr Steven's called me yesterday to fix an electrical problem you have here."
"Mr Stevens is off sick today"
"So I gather...shame, if he were here I wouldn't have to trouble you now. I traced the electrical fault..."
"Really? Well done but it's not my department..."
"Like I said, I don't want to trouble you but is there anyone who's responsible for the security cameras because that's where the fault is?"
"Security video footage is handled from computer room" she replied. "And access to there is restricted"
"Dang! You see, the fault is in the camera cables but not downstairs...it's more likely to be a fault at the point of origin. You couldn't quickly arrange it so I can have a quick inspection of the computer room to see if the fault's there?" said Action, tilting his head and looking the woman in the eyes in order to put her on the spot for a quick response.
"The machinery in there is highly sophisticated and delicate. It's beyond a mere electrician's area of expertise"
"I'm sure it is, but I won't be touching any computer tapes or punch cards...I just want to look at the wiring" he never blinked once whilst talking to her.
She didn't say anything at first as she thought about the problem. Biting her lip she eventually nodded assent.
"Thank you, Miss. Can you show me the room?" he asked.
The woman reluctantly let him into the room in question. Before him Action saw a computer console very much like the one they had down at the 13th Precinct HQ. It was state of the art, that was for sure.
Action put his toolbox on a nearby desk and crouched down on the floor, looking for the wall power socket the computer was attached to. He looked back to see the woman still looking at him with an air of disapproval.
"It's often at the socket that you'll find the problem." he said, as a way of pacifying her. He unscrewed the socket from the wall, looked at the wiring, pretended to fix some loose ones, dusted off the fuses and then popped the socket back into the wall.
Standing up, he looked for an on switch on the computer. "Just switching it on to see if everything's working again..." he said.
"NO! DON'T TOUCH!" protested the woman.
"Oops, sorry. I hope nothing's wrong..." he said, looking at the viewscreen of the computer. It showed 9 images from cameras situated around the building. The one at the top left showed the mysterious basement room. So that room is controlled from here...interesting. He thought.
He switched the console off, packed up his tools and shut the box. "Well, everything seems to be working again. Sorry to trouble you, ma'am. It was a routine fix...nothing to trouble your bosses about." He made his way out of the building, briskly, before that woman could call security.
He quickly stepped back into the warehouse, found where he stored his clothes and changed back.
As he was about to take a seat, he heard a voice calling his name.
"Detective Action!"
Action looked around and saw Geoffrey Landgraab sitting at one of the outdoor tables. He was waving to Action and was dressed in his athletic gear. Action couldn't blank Landgraab so he took up the offer to sit next to him.
"This isn't your neighbourhood, Detective. Is there trouble in this part of town?" Landgraab asked.
"You tell me" Action replied.
"It's a peaceful, law abiding area. I doubt there's anything here you'd be interested in."
"My interests are many and varied"
"As are mine, Detective. However they do seem to come into contact from time to time."
"I investigate crimes, Landgraab. If your interests are in conflict with mine then that tells me you're up to no good."
"Please, call me Geoffrey...I feel we are beyond stiff formalities now. I didn't say our interests are in conflict; I said they came into contact and, believe me, there's no crime to investigate here."
"What about the attempted assassination of Lily Feng or the arson attack on Alan Cuffe?"
"I keep telling your department that has nothing to do with me or my company. You're barking up the wrong tree." said Landgraab, dismissing Action's question with a wave of his hand.
"Speaking of trees...what about the one in Foundry Cove? Your company seems very intent on buying up that area but more intent on preserving the tree. What's on the other side of it?"
Landgraab looked Action sternly in the eye. "So you know about the tree? Well, I have submitted the plans to City Hall about purchasing the area and the tree is special so we fully intend to protect it. Again, there's no crime."
"What's that area beyond the tree all about? Some kind of scientific experiment of yours?"
"That, Detective, is none of your business." Landgraab was getting agitated but he took a moment to calm down. He looked around and eventually started speaking again.
"Detective Action...Neither I, nor Nancy nor any of my employees had anything to do with those attacks. I mean, why would I want Lily Feng killed? She's important for my business plans. As for Alan Cuffe, he's an overgrown teenager more interested in ogling women than being an actual threat to my company. But I am very protective of my family and its achievements. Nancy comes from an old, distinguished Dutch trading family that settled here in the 1690s. Look at the Landgraab Building...built by her grandfather in the 1920s; the very first skyscraper in Sim City. Achievement, Detective, that is what defines the Landgraab family. Everything you see around you is because of that family. I won't let anything jeopardise that."
"You speak as an outsider looking in, Geoffrey." said Action, calmly. "I notice you don't call it 'your' family."
"Detective, I must congratulate you on your powers of observation. No, I am not the lineal descendant of the Landgraab family. I am a distant cousin at best, from one of the forgotten branches. But I was granted the opportunity by Nancy's father to be closer to the main line. He put me through college then I worked as the family lawyer before marrying his daughter and heir, Nancy. My Landgraab blood might be thinner, but I am bound to the name, to my wife and to my son and will not let petty trivialities and distractions get in the way of our business. And I will caution you and your nosey friend to keep out of it."
Action nodded and didn't speak at first. Then he leant over to Geoffrey and looked him in the eyes.
"Everything you tell me is a half-truth, Geoffrey. You didn't pull the trigger, but you know who did. You didn't plant the bomb, but you know who did. You know more about the land beyond the tree than you're telling me and the only reason you haven't bought up Foundry Cove is that Victor Feng is blocking you. And you're trying to manipulate a friend of mine to turn against me. And do you know how I know you're being dishonest with me?"
"How, Detective?" said Landgraab, smiling smugly at Action's clutching at straws.
"Because I know you don't have one son, like you claim, you have two." Action saw the smug grin vanish from Landgraab's face. "Your coffee's gone stale" he said, standing up, wiping his mouth with a napkin before throwing it at Landgraab. Action went back inside the cafe and bought another coffee. Yes, it was good to make Geoffrey Landgraab squirm but the job wasn't over yet: He had to get proof that Landgraab brainwashed Jeremy and find out what he knows about who tried to kill Lily Feng and Alan Cuffe and why.
Action sat back down to drink his coffee and consider what he'd learned today. He was in no doubt that Jeremy was brainwashed in that room he discovered. How did it work? Well, he'd have to investigate further. Was it the same method that wiped his memory of the case before Suzy and Barbara had brought more details to him? One thing was for sure; Landgraab was right...there was no evidence of him or Nancy committing any crimes. He watched Geoffrey up at the counter, complaining about the coffee. "Good...I've got him rattled" muttered Action.
It was time to burn off some excess energy, after two coffees and a rich cannoli, so it was back home to Willow Creek and hit the weights at the Burner's & Builder's gymnasium.
By coincidence, Jeremy Saint was also at the gym: Puffing furiously at what appeared to be an extremely strenuous work out. Action had noticed Jeremy had been pushing a keep fit regime lately; was it a side effect of the brainwashing, he thought?
Once he'd finished lifting weights, Action towelled himself off and walked over to speak with Jeremy. However, someone else had got to him first...
The lady's name was Lisa Richardson, a student from one of the city's colleges...Action forgot which one...and she had just moved into the area. She also liked to hit on all the men in the gym as well; the other day she tried it on with Brent Hecking only to incur the wrath of Brant when he caught her flirting with him.
"You sure are working up a lot of sweat" she said, suggestively. "Don't wear yourself out"
"I...*gasp*...won't...*gasp*....who are you again?" said Jeremy.
"I'm Lisa, and I'm free this evening if you are"
"He might have other plans, excuse me" said Action, walking over to them and facing Jeremy. "Yo, bro. Got a moment to talk?"
"What? Right now? I'm busy!" said an annoyed Jeremy.
"OK, when you're done with your run" replied Action.
"And hello there...I'm so sorry, I forgot your name" said Lisa to Action.
"It's John. I see you're settling in nicely" replied Action.
"All these handsome men in one place! It makes a girl's heart skip a beat"
"I'm sure it does" said Action, noticing how her leotard was low cut, revealing her cleavage. "But a word of advice...My man Jeremy here is taken: He's a got a girlfriend. So does another friend of mine, Travis, over there. And that guy you were talking to the other day...Brent? He's both taken and he's not your type."
"Oh, doesn't he like blondes?" said Lisa.
"Blonde men, maybe, but that guy with the beard who got cross with you? Brent and him are an item"
Lisa looked shocked and then giggled. "Now that makes sense. Although I did make Brent's mind wander."
"Lisa, in that leotard you could make any man's mind wander."
"So what about you, John, are you an item with someone?" she said, flirting some more.
"Not right now...but let's talk about this another time. I have important business to attend to but maybe I'll see you around here another day?"
Jeremy finished his run, grabbed a towel and approached Action. "So what's up, Action?"
"Got time for a drink? I've found some information out that I think you should hear" replied Action.
Jeremy nodded and both men hit the showers and got changed.
They walked next door to the bar but Jeremy was feeling agitated. "Look, Action, stop being mysterious for one moment and tell me what it is you want to talk with me about? I haven't got time for games..."
"This ain't no game, Jez, but someone's been playing you and you gotta know who" Action replied. "Here we are, let me get you a drink"
As it turned out Jeremy's girlfriend, Barbara, was in the bar as well. "Hey, Babs" said Action. "I'm glad you're here...keep your grumpy boyfriend in check while I tell him what I found out"
"You found something out? Was my information useful to you?" replied Barbara.
"Oh boy it certainly was!" said Action.
They got drinks and sat down at a table where Action spoke with the couple.
"Jeremy, when you went in for your last interview..." began Action. This annoyed Jeremy.
"Oh not that again! Everyone keeps asking me 'what happened during that interview?'...Look, I don't remember, OK?" Jeremy said, slamming his drink on the table.
"Yeah, and there's a reason why you don't remember: It was erased from your memory" replied Action. "and I can prove it!"
"What kind of crazy talk is that?" answered Jeremy.
"Jeremy, listen to Action...he's found something out!" said Barbara.
"You have a vague memory of being in a dark room...a room underneath the main Landgraab Corporation building, do you not?" said Action.
"Well, yeah, I guess...it was just a room, a bit dark...black walls and floor..." said Jeremy.
"Black walls with small lights embedded along them, a black metallic floor with a square raised platform in the middle and on top of that is a white chair, shaped like an egg."
Jeremy's gaze drifted off into the distance as a memory was stirred within the deep recesses of his mind.
"Yes....YES!" he eventually said. "A chair like a large egg, and you sat in it and it kind of envelops you. And...and...in front..." said Jeremy, struggling to remember more.
"A large projector screen with stereo speakers on either side of it." said Action.
"As a matter of fact...yes! I remember this room now!" said Jeremy.
"What was on the projector screen, Jeremy?" asked Barbara. "What did they show you?"
"I don't remember..." said Jeremy. "I'm struggling...."
"Was it a film that told you Nancy Landgraab was....?" asked Action.
"M-m-mother!" stammered Jeremy.
"I'm guessing so" said Action. "And that Geoffrey Landgraab is....?"
"The kindest, bravest, warmest most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life" said Jeremy, almost by command.
"Suzy Kent?"
"Is my enemy!"
"and me?"
"John Action is my enemy!" Jeremy looked around him for a moment looking confused, then he turned to Action once again. "What am I saying?"
"Things you've been brainwashed into saying! That room's purpose was to indoctrinate you. I even found the control room where they would have shown you a film...probably filled with propaganda techniques...that nestled in your brain and got you to behave against your natural instincts!"
"Oh my goodness!" exclaimed Barbara. "We all thought that Jeremy would infiltrate the Landgraab Corporation but instead they used him and messed with his mind! Oh my darling, I'll never forgive them for this!"
Jeremy looked shocked and his hands were shaking. "Oh my God, what have I done?" he said.
"Nothing to hurt us" Action tried to reassure him. "Don't worry, we'll get you help."
"I'm going to throw up!" said Jeremy and then he got up and ran upstairs to the bathrooms.
"Babs...stay by his side. Make sure he doesn't do anything harmful to himself" cautioned Action.
"Of course...excuse me" she replied.
Action went back to the bar to get another drink. He was relieved that, gradually, Jeremy was coming back to his senses. He probably needed to see a shrink or someone who could help him medically. He noticed out of the corner of his eye Dr Julia Epstein herself was at the Blue Velvet as well this evening. Well, that's a good co-incidence, Action thought.
"Yo...Jules. How's it hanging?" said Action to her.
"Hanging? What do you mean? Oh, is this some kind of local parlance, a bit of slang?" she replied, looking very serious.
"Yes, it's slang...it means, how are things? Listen up, sister, you've got to smarten up to the street lingo and get with the vibe!" Action replied.
"What? Anyway, in answer to your question I am fine. Not too busy, not too inactive" she said.
"Jeremy and Barbara might need some advice from you, if you could help them. Jeremy's not been well in himself...I can't say much more but just go and have a talk with them sometime, will you?"
"It is my duty as a Doctor to help" she replied. "Of course."
It had been a busy day for Action, but he was pleased at what he'd accomplished. One step closer to unravelling the big mystery of Sim City. Still, he wished he could get all his memory back...maybe that machine at Landgraab's messed with his brain?
He sat down at a table and a young woman at the one next to him nodded and smiled at him. She seemed vaguely familiar.
Action smiled back at her and said "Now I never forget a face but sometimes I struggle with names"
"I'm Jade...we've met a couple of times before" she replied.
"Of course. I remember now. I'd just moved to this part of town and on my first night here I was at this bar where I met you."
"You've got it in one!" she said, smiling warmly at him. "And you're called John, but most folks call you Action. And you're a cop as well."
"You remembered all that! Now the second time we met was...."
"Ugh! That was very much unpleasant. I'd had a messy break up with my boyfriend, this real jerk of a photographer from England...."
"Wait! I remember...he was hassling you on the street and I came to tell him to beat it. And then this punk attacked me so, yeah, I remember that time."
"I was impressed you kept your cool that day." She said.
"That's how I live my life" replied Action, with a nonchalant shrug. Then a thought occurred to him.
"This photographer you were dating....you said he was from England?"
"That's right. His name is Michael Hemmingstamp"
Then a lightbulb went on in Action's head. Michael Hemmingstamp...of course! The man who took the photos of Penny Pizzazz's fashion shoot, the man who might have seen who shot at Lily Feng, but who was out of the country. When they wiped Action's memory of the case, they neglected to wipe his initial encounter with Penny....only the parts that related to Leanne McGregor.
"This is going to sound strange, Jade, but would you know if Michael is back in Sim City?" he asked.
"Michael? Oh yes, he called me a week ago to see if I wanted to hook up for old time's sake but I told him no way! Look, Action, I don't want to talk about my horrible ex...can we move on?"
"Sure thing, I won't mention him again..." said Action. This evening....but I have to find this guy!
