CHAPTER 216: Big Mal (Downfall part 4)

 

"Thank you, Leonard, you can drop me off here"

"Would you like me to wait for you, sir?"

"No.  I'm staying here for a while.  You can go home now, thank you and here's a little bonus for you" the old man sat in the back of the Cadillac limousine reached in to his jacket pocket and pulled out a wallet.  He handed the chauffer a $20 bill.

"Thank you, Mr Landgraab"

The old man, whose full name was Malcolm Landgraab III, stepped out of the car and watched the limo drive off before he strode purposefully towards Affluista Mansion.  Once it had been his home and now he had business there...

"Mom, a big limo just pulled up outside our house...who is it?" said Malcolm Landgraab IV.

"It's your grandfather" replied Nancy.

"Oh...this is going to be...interesting" the youth replied.

Nancy went dowstairs to answer the door, Malcolm Sr did not look happy.

"Daddy!" she said, enthusiastically.

"Nancy..." he said, walking straight past her and in to the mansion.  "I find myself being dragged from my retirement in Sulani to deal with this mess you've found yourselves in.  Where's Geoffrey and the boys?"

"Geoffrey's at the company building and Malcolm's here" she replied.

"And Jonathan?" asked Mal.  Nancy looked downwards and said nothing.

"Oh, we still don't talk about Jonathan, is that it?" said Mal, gruffly.  "Fetch Young Malcolm, here, what I have to say affects him."

Young Malcolm was not far away and heard everything his grandfather had said.  He took two steps to make his presence known.

"Grandpapa" he said, in a flat tone.

"Drug dealing, eh?" said Mal.  "Is that your 'independent business' is it?"

"I applied the lessons of business that you taught me, Grandpapa:  See a market, exploit a demand..."

"You forgot lesson number 3:  Don't get caught" said Mal.  "Who is this Suzy Kent?"

"A muck-raking journalist..."

"They're all muck-raking, boy.  Is there some personal connection between you and her that's gone sour?"

"What?  No!  I've met her twice in person but she's one of those moralistic busy-bodies, thinks she's clever and oh-so moralistic.  I can have her dealt with, Grandpapa."

"Like you dealt with your former business colleague?  I know what you've been up to; I have my spies in the company who keep me informed.  You've outsourced your problem solving to Them, haven't you?"

"They have methods we don't..." Malcolm began to explain but Mal cut him off.

"I know that!  I've dealt with them long enough but you always keep them at arms distance!  I never let them get inside my head...please tell me you haven't let them inside your mind!"

"No!" Malcolm said, lying to his grandfather.  He thought the old man just didn't understand how powerful he could be with the Visitors' help.  Malcolm had seen what he could do with his followers that day at the Orchid A-Go-Go club when he got them to stare down Suzy Kent or Humphries or whatever that witch was called now.  

"Good to hear...you NEVER let them inside there.  You must maintain the power dynamic with them:  They need us, need our resources and can't save themselves without our help so you don't let them gain advantage over you.  I think you turning to them for help in dealing with your problems risks inverting that dynamic, young Malcolm.  Your father shares the same weakness, unfortunately..."

"They can be very persuasive, Daddy.  You've not seen things from where we're standing right now but they've become...more demanding of late." said Nancy.

Mal didn't directly respond to what Nancy said.  He looked between his daughter and grandson and then spoke.  "One thing remains unanswered:  How did this Suzy Kent know about our activities and family history?"

"She obviously bribed or cajoled my former business associate, Madelyn Buchanan...backstabbing bitch that she is!" exclaimed Malcolm.

"That Buchanan woman only knows about your drug dealing, Malcolm.  Did either of you two bother to read Kent's article?" asked Mal.  Nancy shook her head.

"Why would I waste my time reading that nonsense?" said Malcolm, contemptuously.  

"Because it's very revealing, boy!" snapped Mal.  "She mentions Dirk Landgraab starting the company, our family history and makes reference to my father and where he found his wealth!  No one outside of this family knows about these things so where did she find this out from?  Hmm?  Any guesses....apparently not."

"Let's bring her in and use the machine on her, Grandpapa"

"I agree with Malcolm; we can break her will in a few hours" added Nancy.

"This family is facing massive fraud allegations and two murder enquiries and you want to add kidnapping to the list.  YOU TWO ARE NOT THINKING!" Mal bellowed.  He took a moment to calm down whilst the others stood by, not saying a word.

"Right.  This is not a time to double down on what has got us to this point" Mal started to explain.  "We need to consolidate, close ranks and not pour gas on the fire.  This Kent woman can wait for now.  What do we know of your whistleblower, Jeremy Saint?"

"He's middle management, we thought we could trust him...he underwent security checks and we had him subjected to the machine for treatment." said Nancy.

"And why would you do that if you trusted him, eh?  Why brainwash someone who's already on your side...unless?" said Mal.

"Well...because...we had to groom him for our purposes, Daddy." 

"But you said you trusted him..."

"Eventually.  But...but..."

"He's friends with Suzy Kent, Grandpapa" interjected Malcolm.

"Well, well, well, he's friends with Suzy Kent.  And you let this man rise through the company ranks, knowing who his close associates are."

"But we used the machine on him to make him hate her and another friend of his:  Detective John Action."

"Clearly that didn't work otherwise HE WOULDN'T HAVE TURNED OVER OUR COMPANY SECRETS TO THAT SAME DETECTIVE ACTION!" Mal yelled.  "Incompetence!  You should have had Saint monitored at all times!  The machine can only break a person's will for so long...we haven't figured out how to make the brainwashing permanent yet.  Was this all your idea, Nancy?"

"No...it was...it was..."  she began to speak but found it difficult to say the words.

"I can guess...it was Geoffrey's idea." said Mal.  "Leave us, Malcolm, your mother and I have to have a discussion in private."

"Mom...I'm so sorry about my role in this but I can explain!"

"Later, perhaps, son.  You leave your grandfather and I to talk."

"Is the upstairs lounge still there or have you converted it into something else?" Mal asked Nancy.

"It's still much the same as the last time you were here" she replied.

"Good." said Mal, heading straight upstairs.  Nancy followed him.

As soon as he had reached the top of the stairs, to the only room on the third floor, he sat down in one of the lounge chairs.  Nancy felt anxious about what her father wanted to say to her and, in a defensive action, went and stood by the easel where she had begun a figure painting only the day before.  She couldn't sit down with all the nervous tension she felt.

"You're looking well, Nancy.  Very well.  You've kept yourself in good shape, I can see you maintain your looks and it hasn't escaped my notice that you've had some 'enhancements' as well."

"Thank you...Daddy" said Nancy, nervously.

"Geoffrey looks tired by comparison.  Based on what I see of him in the news." continued Mal.

"He has a lot to deal with"

"Yes, I'm sure he does.  Are you still committed to one another or do you find yourself heading in different directions?" 

"Father!  Everything's...fine" said Nancy, shocked.  She didn't mention her growing suspicion that Geoffrey was infatuated with their cleaning lady.

"I want to see how the land lies around here" said Mal.  "You see, there will be some changes soon..."

"Changes?"

"I'm afraid, Nancy, that we can't just ride out the crisis out this time.  Too much information has been leaked now and not even our army of extremely well paid lawyers can make it all go away."

"But they'll mitigate the damage, certainly" said Nancy.  "The police and press don't know even a fraction of what we do.  My side of the company is still functioning well and hasn't been implicated."

Mal shook his head.  "What is needed is a scalp to throw at the authorities.  We need a fall guy..." he said.

"We've got a couple lined up; middle manager types who have done some 'delicate' work for us in the past and who will we will compensate handsomely..." replied Nancy.

"No.  That won't do." said Mal, coldly.  "It's an election year in the city, the D.A. is desperate to get a win in a big case to help his gubernatorial chances.  The press won't settle for a middle manager being thrown to the wolves either.  Someone higher up needs to take the fall.  Someone with the Landgraab name..."

Nancy went pale and started to feel nervous.  "Not Malcolm!  Not my boy!"

"What young Malcolm needs is firmer guidance and coaching.  One day the company and all that's in it will be his.  He is the future." said Mal.  "You are the present.  Geoffrey is the past."

"You mean one of us must go on trial..." said Nancy, gulping.

"Geoffrey must" said Mal, blankly.  "It was on his watch that all of this has happened.  He made serious errors of judgement.  You have always been headstrong and impetuous, my dear, so I hold you to a different standard.  Geoffrey has been logical, methodical and calculating over the years but his touch has deserted him recently.  Can you not see that?"

"He has let things slide...father, I believe Geoffrey might be having an affair with one of our staff"

"That wouldn't surprise me.  It's common with the modern executive with all their reliance on gadgets, secretarial pools and opportunities to stray more than in my heyday.  I have thought about this hard, Nancy, and I don't want to have to do this but I feel I must for the sake of everyone else."

"What will happen to the rest of us?" asked Nancy, with trepidation.

"You will be kept out of this and continue to help run the company.  I will come out of retirement to act as interim CEO and Malcolm will be kept on a shorter leash but will be gradually given more responsibility and put on the correct path.  And we must come to an accommodation with Jonathan..."

"No, father!  He is not part of this family anymore!  He will not take one step into this house!" said Nancy, defiantly.

"I don't know what happened between you and him but he's going to be put under immense pressure by our enemies and the press to spill the beans about our family and as things stand he has no incentive to be kind to us!  I will figure something out with him"

"You don't know what he did!" declared Nancy with venom in her voice.

"Whatever it was it's nowhere near as bad as the situation we find ourselves in now!"

"That is my plan, Nancy, and we will stick to it.  As for Geoffrey, I will make sure to mitigate the trouble he will go through."

At that moment Malcolm had appeared at the top of the stairs.  "Grandpapa" he said "there's a Visitor at the door."

"Tell them to go away" replied Mal.

"No...I mean a Visitor."

Mal realised what young Malcolm was referring to and he nodded and said "I'll be right down"

When he got to the front door he found a solemn looking young man lurking out the front of the house and Mal figured this was the Visitor in question so he approached him.

The young man spoke first.  "What we have heard concerns us greatly, Malcolm Landgraab the Third"

"Ugh, why can't you people ever use contractions?  Call me Mal Landgraab so you don't confuse me with my grandson...and to save time as well."

"You have returned from your retirement, Mal Landgraab, we are troubled by what we have observed in the newspapers."

"I'm here to sort the matter out so you have no need to worry"

"But we do worry, Mal Landgraab.  We have an arrangement."

"My arrangement with you was made through John, I shall speak with him"

"John Tom O'Connor has returned home, Luke Kendall is now in charge.  My name is James Sprague and I act as liaison"

"Well, you go and tell Luke that I have things firmly in hand.  Oh, and in future, under no circumstances are you to involve my grandson in your schemes."

"He came to us, Mal Landgraab."

"Nevertheless, if he tries to contact you again, say no to him.  And then refer the matter to me.  Do you understand?"

"I understand, Mal Landgraab"

With that bit of business done, Mal returned to the mansion.  Now the next pressing bit of business was to wait until Geoffrey came home.

Geoffrey arrived in the early evening, exhausted.  He found Malcolm doing his homework in the kitchen.  Usually when he arrived home his son would greet him with a shrug or indifference as he had his head buried in either homework or some personal project of his own.  This time Geoffrey found Malcolm to be more attentive when he entered the room.

"Hi Dad...we have a guest with us." said Malcolm.

"Oh yes, who?"

"Grandpapa"

That news wasn't warmly received by Geoffrey, although he did his best to hide it.  If Big Mal was here, it must be serious and Geoffrey knew why:  News of the scandal had reached Sulani already.

"Where is he right now?" asked Geoffrey.

"I'm here, Geoffrey my boy" came Mal's voice as he entered the kitchen.  "Geoffrey, good to see you.  How are you bearing up?"

"As well as can be expected.  How much do you know?" asked Geoffrey.

"Virtually all of it."

"OK then, well at the moment I'm trying to keep a lid on things the best I can" said Geoffrey.

"Isn't it a bit late for that?" said Mal, knowingly.

"What do you mean?" asked Geoffrey, suspiciously.

"Sit down, Geoff..." said Mal, motioning Geoffrey to one of the dining chairs.

"I'm not going to sugar coat this..."

"That's not your style, Mal"

"For sure.  It's like this, Geoff.  This is the biggest challenge this company has ever faced since the Civil War.  Things got ugly back then with Congressional hearings, threats of indictments and the company being ruined over war profiteering.  I needn't bore you with the details, you know the family history.  We're in those times again even though the charges levelled against the company...and the family...are different."

"We just have to ride it out, Mal.  I've got top men...top men...in the legal department..."

"You don't have to tell me, I hired half of them in the first place.  Now listen here, Geoff, you've done a lot of good work here since I retired.  For many years before that you were my right hand man..."

"I thought you didn't want to sugar coat things..."

"I'm just stating a fact.  You were groomed as a young man to be in the inner circle of this family; I know it was hard growing up without much whilst your cousins were living in mansions, I get it.  You had ambition and I saw the potential in you.  And you've done well in keeping Nancy in line whenever she gets impulsive and threatens to wreck everything through her greed.  But you've lost your touch in the last couple of years.  No, let me finish.  Jonathan gets banished, Malcolm indulges in crimes far beneath his station in life, Nancy is once again making decisions based on pure emotion and not sense and you're turning increasingly towards the Visitors for help.  And I know about you and the cleaning lady"

"What?  I've not cheated on Nancy with her!  Honest, Mal!"

"Maybe not yet but it's on your mind.  I know also that Nancy's been going to fancy events without you.  But bigger than all that is the witch hunt that is forming amongst our enemies and I can tell you let things slide, which has led to the current mess.  You let a fashion journalist, a negro cop, a mild mannered functionary and a home brewing drug dealer who works for a pornographer get the better of you.  Stop me if I say anything that isn't true, by the way."

Geoffrey said nothing.

"I've come up with a plan that will save the company and protect the family.  I will not see Nancy and Malcolm out on the streets in poverty or being humiliated."

"But as for me..."

"As for you, someone has to take the fall.  There's no other way.  It has to be someone prominent and close to the top, if not the top.  It has to be you"

"What's your plan for me?  I get arrested and go to prison for the rest of my life?"

Mal shook his head.  "Not the rest of your life.  Plead guilty to the fraud, blame the murder attempts on some fictitious flunky who doesn't exist but who we'll say has fled the country and Malcolm does community service for his part in the drug dealing.  As you said, you have top lawyers:  We can get that sentence down from life to 20, I'll make sure you are sent to an open prison and you'll be out in 7 to 10 with a very handsome renumeration for your loyalty and dedication to the family."

"That's it?  That's the deal?" exclaimed Geoffrey.  "I'm paying for the mistakes of others here!"

"Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, Geoffrey.  You nearly cost us the kingdom:  In less enlightened times they'd cut your head off for treason.  You're lucky:  Take the hit, bide your time and you'll be out to enjoy retirement."

CHAPTER 212: Malcolm Landgraab Lives

 

Suzy entered the kitchen and the sight there filled her with dread:  Neil was making breakfast and he was very inexperienced as a cook.  It wasn't that she was worried about the meal not tasting nice but it was only recently that Francesca's husband, Rod, was killed in a kitchen fire because of his lack of experience using cookers.  The memory of that tragedy was still fresh in the minds of everyone who knew the couple.

"Ah, good morning, Darling.  I thought I'd surprise you and make breakfast" said Neil.

"It certainly is a surprise...you don't have to, really.  I have more experience and it's no fuss to make breakfast for us both." she said, concerned about the large chef's knife that was laying right next to the cutting board.

"I'm almost finished" Neil replied.  "I've been able to cut fruit without cutting myself...so that's an achievement" he added.

"OK...I'll get some plates and cutlery but if you need any help..."

"I don't, Suzy.  You shouldn't look so worried, I've got this sorted" he interjected.

The fruit salad tasted good and Suzy's fear about Neil seriously hurting himself disappeared.  

"You've got something on your mind, I can tell" said Neil.

"I have lots of things on my mind right now" she said with a warm smile.  "I've got to interview this starlet over at Del Sol Valley this afternoon but first I'm this close to finishing that Malcolm Landgraab expose"  she said, pinching her index finger and thumb to indicate a tiny distance.

"Do you think it will be accepted by your editor?" asked Neil.  "I mean, what we've learned about that family in recent weeks is going to be dynamite!"

"If she doesn't, I'll sell it to Alan Cuffe over at Lothario.  He's no fan of the Landgraabs"

"Well, this might be the article that puts you on the map" he said, patting her on her knee. 

"I'm hoping it doesn't put me in the hospital!" she replied.

"Don't even joke about that" said Neil with a look of concern.

Suzy finished her breakfast and went to smarten herself up in the bedroom.  As she viewed herself in the mirror, she felt that she was on the cusp of publishing her most dangerous and provocative piece of writing that she had ever done.  Once the story was out, there was going to be an eruption of anger from Affluista Mansion. 

"To print, or not to print?" she mused.  "PRINT!" she said, defiantly.

With that decided, she returned to her typewriter to finish the piece:  THE TRUTH ABOUT MALCOLM LANDGRAAB.

To the left of her typewriter were her research notes and tucked away, between the folders, was the mysterious book about the dark history of the Landgraabs...and probably the Fengs as well but she hadn't read that section yet.

Neil entered, clutching his stomach.  "I think I overdid it with the cherries...ugh" he said, sitting down on the couch.

"I thought they were nice" said Suzy.

"Yeah, but while you weren't looking I ate a whole load more from the bowl.  Now I'm regretting it.  Before I forget, you need to keep an eye on the time so you're not late for your interview"

"Oh, good thinking!  I haven't kept track of time.  I've finished this now so I'm going to put it in an envelope and post it." she replied, brandishing the manuscript.

She stood up, tightly clutching the envelope with the precious document inside it, and shut her eyes before exhaling.  "This is it, Neil" she said, opening her eyes once more.  "This is my magnum opus"

"It might be the first of many" he replied, standing up and placing his hand on her shoulder.  "Whatever happens; rejection, acceptance, awards or bricks lobbed through our windows by an irate Malcolm Landgraab...I will always be here for you"

"Thanks, sweetie.  Well, time to go.  We've got some Alka-Seltzer in the bathroom so take care of yourself" 

He nodded and she headed out the door, stopping to put the manuscript into the mailbox.  

"I'll keep an eye on it until the mailman comes" said Neil, standing at the doorway.  "No one's getting their hands on that beforehand"

Suzy headed across town to Del Sol Valley and the Orchid A Go Go club where she would be meeting this starlet.  Her editor assured her Vanessa Jeong was one of the "Faces of 66" and going places.  After all the excitement of her work investigating the Landgraabs, interviewing an up and coming actress with only one screen credit to her name:  "Pirates of Brindleton Bay" as "Serving Wench".

At the club Suzy noticed a well known actress resplendent in a long, sparkling gown and expensive jewellery but for the life of her, she couldn't place the woman's name.  She became famous in a soap opera, won an Emmy award and is being tipped to star in a big screen adaptation of a popular novel but the name was eluding her!  She had spent so much time invested in her investigative journalism she had fallen out of touch with the pop culture world:  A world in which she used to live and breathe.

"Excuse me, you're Suzy Kent aren't you?  I'm Vanessa" said the girl with trepidation.

"I am" replied Suzy, who still wrote under her maiden name.  "Nice to meet you, Vanessa.  I hope I haven't kept you waiting"

"I've only just got here myself." said Vanessa.

"Well, let me get some drinks in and I'll ask you a few questions about your background, how you got into acting and we'll take it from there"

Once settled at the bar, Suzy got out her notepad and pen and started the interview.  Vanessa was originally from Strangerville but had now moved to Sim City, specifically Del Sol Valley in the heart of showbizland.  She had always loved acting ever since she appeared as a singing star in her local nativity play, age 6.  

The interview kept on getting disturbed by a lot of fans of the soap opera star who were fawning all over her to get an autograph.  Suzy was jostled as she tried to find somewhere quieter to conduct the interview.  One fan was so overcome at getting the actresses' autograph and shaking her hand that she fainted.

The two of them found a booth that afforded some peace and quiet and the interview continued.

"It's not a big role, I had three lines, but I have a comedy moment when Dash Riprock slaps me on the butt and I go tumbling.  That's got me an audition for a guest spot on The FBI" Vanessa continued.

"Very good.  OK, so our readership are interested in personal style, music tastes and where you get your clothes.  That's a great jacket, by the way..." said Suzy.

"Well, I'm not exactly loaded so most of my clothes are from Penney's or Target...but I like The Beatles, Manfred Mann and Dionne Warwick" Vanessa replied.  Suzy made a note of all of this and then asked the girl if she wanted another drink.  She said yes and Suzy headed to the bar once again.

Just then, Malcolm Landgraab entered the club and immediately saw Suzy pass right in front of him.

"Ah, the gutter press are here.  I might have known" he sneered.

"Today, for once, the story isn't about you" she replied, defiantly.

"Taking a day off from your pathetic vendetta against me and my family, are we?" he snorted contemptuously.  All of a sudden he winced with pain and touched the side of his head.

"Headache?" asked Suzy, in a sarcastic manner.

"I...I...don't have time to waste talking to you.  My crowd are expecting me and you're not part of it!"  

"Oh deary me" she said in a deadpan snark.

"DON'T trifle with me, Kent, I am a very, very dangerous person to cross as others have found to their cost!"

There was an intensity to his gaze that actually frightened Suzy.  She had not noticed that in him before and suddenly there was a sinking feeling in her stomach again as she considered her article that was due to be published that would make Malcolm even angrier.

Suzy went back to the bar and Vanessa but she kept an eye on Malcolm as she resumed her interview.  He was laughing and fooling around with a crowd of young women (although most were a few years older than him) but she noticed that every so often he would wince and touch the side of his head.

"Miss Kent, are you OK?" asked Vanessa, who had noticed that Suzy was distracted.

"What?  Oh yes...sorry.  It's busier here than what I thought it would be" Suzy offered as an apology.

They talked more for about ten minutes before Vanessa had to go to meet a date.  Suzy had got what she wanted for an article but still the draw of observing what Malcolm was up to was preoccupying her mind.

Suzy went back to the bar to take a look at her notebook before she too headed off when she heard Malcolm's voice from behind her.

"Still here, Kent?"

"Apparently so..." she answered, dismissively.

"I wouldn't be so nonchalant if I were you...I have power in this town!"

"I wouldn't count on that..." she said, trying to sound cryptic about what she meant.  In the next few days the expose of his criminal activities will drop.

"Oh but I am counting on it..." he said with a malevolent smile on his face.  "...you don't know about the hold I have on people around here.  Everyone!" he called out loud, grabbing the attention of the bystanders standing around them.  "This is Suzy Kent...she is your enemy!" he said, clicking his fingers.  Suddenly the people in the club went silent and they all turned to glare at her.

Suzy was unnerved but this sudden turn but Malcolm was laughing.  "And there you were thinking you're popular!  Ha ha ha ha!  You know nothing, Kent...absolutely nothing and you're a nobody in this big old world!"

Suzy picked up her bag and slowly made her way out of the club with everyone still staring at her with blank expressions on their faces.  How did he do that? She thought to herself.  Just as she was at the door, Malcolm went from laughing to suddenly letting out a wince of pain which made him touch his head once more.

The whole experience spooked her as she headed back to Willow Creek.  She couldn't even think about the interview she had with Vanessa with what she subsequently witnessed with Malcolm.  Did he have his followers all hypnotised? 

Suzy stopped by at the Willow Creek Archive to take a look at a land registry book to see what sites the Landgraab Corporation owned in the entire city and surrounding county, making a note of every location.

Then it was time to return home.  She was pleased to see Neil there; his presence made her feel more secure after her bizarre encounter at the Orchid A Go Go.  He was also looking a lot better than when she'd last seen him.

"Yep, nothing a couple of Alka-Seltzer couldn't cure...say, you look bothered" said Neil.

"I'm not" she replied.

"Come on, I can tell something's got under your skin...didn't the interview go well?"

"The interview was fine it's just that...Malcolm Landgraab was there and...Neil, this is going to sound weird..."

"Suzy, there's been TWO dirigible scares, a secret mine underneath Affluista Mansions, a missing, presumed dead mad artist, a strange book, a tree that leads to somewhere impossible and a mistress of disguise who's tried to kill various people...including you...and you think what you're about to say next is going to sound weird?"

Suzy shrugged and looked sheepish.  "Well, in that context...you're right.  OK, so Malcolm is there and he's being a jerk, as usual.  I'm not bothered but then at one point he snapped his fingers and everyone in that bar stopped dancing, talking and schmoozing and....well...they all turned to stare at me but the looks on their faces; like animals who have seen a threat in the distance.  How did he do that?  And there were other weird things like he kept rubbing his head in pain..."

Neil took a sharp intake of breath and looked down at the kitchen counter as he gathered his thoughts.  "Now that is weird..." he said, tapping a finger on the counter top.  "Wasn't Jeremy brainwashed by some machine they have in the basement of the Landgraab building?  Maybe Malcolm's been using it...or something like it...to have his own personal, loyal army so to speak?"

"That might be it!"  Said Suzy, wide eyed at the revelation.  "And my article is going to go out in a few days!  What if he sends those people out after me in revenge?"

"They'll have to get past me first" said Neil, calmly.  He got up from the bar stool and walked over to her.  "I'm not leaving you alone whilst there's a threat" he said, taking her in his arms.

"Neil, you can't be my bodyguard when we're out and about!  You've got your work!"

"I am my own boss.  I'm taking time out and that's that.  We'll contact Action and tell him what's going on and Jeremy can investigate that machine as well.  No one is going to lay a hand on you!"

Suzy smiled.  "Neil...where did this man of action and purpose spring from?  When we first met you were all tongue tied, nervous and terrified of doing the wrong thing"

"I found a new purpose when the greatest woman I've ever met showed up in my life"

"...and when she wasn't available you hooked up with me?" she replied with a smirk.

"Silly.  Love, honour, cherish...I take my vows seriously.  You keep on telling the truth, I'll keep the barbarians away"

Suzy was overcome by Neil's brave and comforting words and she leaned forwards to kiss him.

CHAPTER 209: What The Maid Saw

 

There was something about the way George looked this morning that was bothering Edna.  She looked at him suspiciously as he was eating his breakfast...He was wearing the blazer and sweater she had bought him recently; inspired by the same one Geoffrey Landgraab often wore, but that wasn't it.  Finally, the penny dropped.

"George...you're not wearing your glasses" she remarked.

"Well...I...didn't want to wear them today.  I've got my contact lenses in." he replied.

"But you don't normally like wearing those" said Edna.

"No...but we're cooking a lot of spicy food in the hotel kitchen today and there are times when contacts are better to wear than glasses whilst cooking certain food" was his reply, which was a bluff.  He had put his contact lenses in for other reasons which he would never explain to his wife.

"Oh well, I'll defer to your professional judgement.  You look very smart without your glasses, especially in that blazer and sweater I bought you." she said with a hint of pride in her voice.  "Anyway, I must go and get changed for work.  This is the big one today, George; today I submit my candidacy papers for the City Council!"

"There'll have to be an election first, Edna" he replied, sounding a note of caution.

"Pshht!  A mere formality!  I mustn't be late...I want to hand in my candidacy papers as the official League of Decency representative!"  she said, standing up and pointing to the ceiling.  

As she went to the bedroom to get changed, George put the dishes in the dishwasher.  He checked his watch:  He was due at work in just over an hour...not his regular job at the hotel but his secret, second job.

She had booked a taxi to take her to City Hall and as soon as it had arrived and she headed off George quickly ran to the basement bunker to get his special suitcase.

...and then back upstairs to begin his transformation into Beulah.

He had the use of the car today so he drove to Affluista Mansion being careful to park the car on a nearby road down the hill so to protect his true identity from his employers:  The Landgraabs.  As he walked towards the mansion he cleared his throat and practiced his Southern Belle voice.

"Ah dew declay-ah.  Oh mah, Mistuh Geoffreh!  Another mint julep, Mistress Nanceh?"

He was met at the door by young Malcolm Landgraab who seemed indifferent to Beulah's presence, which was a contrast from his father's flirtatious fawning and his mother's amiable patronising.

"Oh it's you, Beulah.  I'd forgotten today was the day you come to do the cleaning.  Come on in, I trust you know where all the equipment is?" he said in a bored tone of voice.

"Why thank you, Masteh Malcolm.  Yes siree ah know where everything's kept..." Beulah replied.

"Oh good God, I hope not..." he said, enigmatically.

Malcolm went to the downstairs living room and flopped on the sofa to watch TV.  He was using a new fangled remote control to switch from channel to channel, never settling on any show for too long.  Beulah got on with the job in hand, starting to clean the rooms from the upstairs to the down.  Eventually she got to the lounge where she saw Malcolm, still seated on the couch and watching television.

"Ahm done in all the bathrooms, Masteh Malcolm.  Ahve also vacuumed your bedroom and the upstairs office so if y'all got work and stuff to do you can go right ahead." she said.

"That's fine, thank you.  I will be going upstairs in a moment." he replied.

As Beulah went to leave the lounge, Malcolm turned to her and called out her name.

"Come here, I want a brief word with you" he said.

"Ah trust everything's satisfactory, Masteh Malcolm?" she replied.

"Everything is satisfactory, I just want to bring up something that is going to happen.  You can sit here..." he said, patting the space next to him on the couch.

"I will be receiving a visitor any time around now..." he continued.  "A young lady..." he said with a wry smile.  "When she arrives show her straight in and tell her I am in the upstairs study; she knows the way.  Now this is the important point, Beulah:  Under no circumstances are we to be disturbed, except that if my parents arrive home and she is still here you are to alert me, do you understand?"

Beulah nodded.  She had heard that Malcolm was quite the ladies' man around high school.

"That's a good girl...and if all goes well there will be a little bonus from me to you when you leave" he said.  "Now I'm going to my room, please show the young lady up when she arrives"

"What name does she go by?  So I can tell if it's her who comes a' callin'" asked Beulah.

"There's no need for names...it will be her, just show her in"

Again, Beulah nodded to signify she understood.  

Beulah then cleaned the kitchen and the two other bathrooms located on the ground and 2nd floors before she heard the doorbell chime.  She suspected this was Malcolm's mystery girlfriend so she answered the door like a proper household maid.

"Y'all be the young lady Masteh Malcolm is expecting" said Beulah.  The young lady merely nodded and walked past her.  

Beulah followed as the woman walked upstairs to the top floor and along to where Malcolm was.  This young waif's age couldn't be determined:  She looked as though she might be a high schooler but at the same time there was a maturity in her walk and poise and even though her dress was so short it almost gave Beulah/George one of their funny turns it was clearly expensive and beyond the resources of a mere teenage girl...unless she came from money like Malcolm.

"Masteh Malcolm, you're lady caller is here" said Beulah.

"Thank you, Beulah, that'll be all for now" he replied.  Beulah started to go downstairs.

"Leanne, good to see you...please, come on in to my study" said Malcolm to his visitor, who followed him in to the room.

They sat down on a couch side by side and Malcolm looked at the girl from head to toe.

"I can't get over how completely different you look these days." he said.

"The transformation was extensive" she replied, flatly.

"So I can see...you even look younger.  What my mother wouldn't give to have access to the technology you use"

"She would not like it.  It is not a very comfortable process" replied Leanne.  "So this is where you run your little empire, Malcolm Landgraab?"

"An ever growing empire, Leanne" he interjected.

"Of course..." she replied.  "Anyway, to business.  I did what you requested and Mr Green is no more."

"Did you erase every trace of him as you promised?" asked Malcolm.

"That proved more difficult.  He resisted absorption too much...I had to dispose of him using other means but, rest assured, his cause of death will keep your law enforcement baffled."

"You mean there's a body!" said Malcolm, loudly in panic.  "If there's a body then the cops will examine it and they might trace Green's death to you...and eventually me...and that can't happen!"

"Relax...there is no way to connect you, him and me unless you have been careless at your end.  As I said, there is a body but the causes of death and motive will keep the police too busy to come looking for you.  They will suspect Alan Cuffe's assistant; I have planted clues to ensure they go after her and not us.  Besides, they are sure to assign detective John Action to the case and he has had his memory wiped of my existence."

Meanwhile Beulah had heard Malcolm's shouting and went upstairs to see if he was alright.

As she approached the upstairs study she could start to hear the conversation between Malcolm and his visitor.

"You assured me there would be no trace, no body...he would just disappear!" exclaimed Malcolm.

"You need to calm down and be less emotional, Malcolm Landgraab." the girl replied.

"You should have been more careful!" he fired back at her.

Beulah was now starting to become concerned at what she was hearing but what happened next truly shocked her.

"I am now starting to think you are the unreliable one here, Malcolm Landgraab" said the girl.  "I must know if you are to be trusted anymore"

"Wait...no!  Not that!" the boy exclaimed, the look on his face was one of terror.  The girl put her fingers to her temples and Beulah watched green waves of light shoot out from her head and into Malcolm's.  The boy's body quivered and convulsed as he let out an unnatural sounding gurgle.

Beulah had seen enough and ran down the stairs, terrified.  She remembered to grab her purse on her way out as she sprinted to her car.

"Oh my God, she's a mentalist!" she gasped.

Beulah got to her car, quickly started the engine and sped off back home.  She was almost hyperventilating all the way.

Parking up the car she got out, got her front door keys and went to go inside when she saw her path was blocked by a young, smartly dressed black man.

"Excuse me, Ma'am?" said the man.

"WAAAA!  What do you want?" exclaimed Beulah, trying to maintain the feminine accent.

"Sorry to disturb you like this but are you part of a cleaning agency or do you work freelance?"

"What?" said Beulah, incredulously, before realising that she wearing a maid's uniform.  "Oh...no, no agency, I work alone." she added.

"The thing is, I need a cleaner for my home and I've seen you around and about here and thought I'd ask if you're looking for more work" continued the man.

"I'm, ah mean ahm not lookin' to take on any new clients, sah" replied Beulah.  The man's eyes narrowed suspiciously as soon as Beulah spoke in that broad, Southern accent.

"Is it because...I'm a negro?" he said, looking at Beulah with suspicion.

"Oh no, sah, not at all!  Ah mean, I know what y'all must be thinkin' with me being from the great state of Georgia but ahm not racially prejudiced an' all that!"  Beulah was frantically backpeddling now and still coming to terms with what she'd witnessed back at Affluista mansion and now being cornered by a passer by who was thinking she was a racist....and not forgetting that Beulah was a fabrication created by a man who was born in California and now lived in Sim State.

Beulah composed herself before continuing.  "Look...ahm very busy n' all with my current list of clients but ah don't want you to get the wrong ide-ah about me.  If the gentleman has a business card ah could have ah could see if I have space in mah diary for another client....oh you do?  Ah see sir works for that fine company; Dewey, Cheathem & Howe.  Well, that right there tells me y'all a fine gentleman."

"Are you....alright, ma'am?" asked the man as he saw Beulah acting all flustered.

"Oh it's just....women's things, that's all." she replied, fanning her face.

"Well, you have my card...call me when you can and I hope to engage your services.  Good day, ma'am"

"Y'all have a fine day, sir!" Beulah said, suddenly smiling and cheery.  The man walked on, turning briefly to see if Beulah was indeed alright.

Once inside Sneedley Burrow, Beulah headed straight downstairs to the bunker and poured herself a stiff drink.  She was hot and flustered and the wig was becoming uncomfortable so she took it off and started to become George again.

Once fortified with some drink, George began taking off his female attire, stowing it and putting on his regular male clothes.  Then he went back upstairs to ponder what he should do now?  Did he want to work for the Landgraabs anymore?  Edna was keen for 'Beulah' to work for them so that George could feed her information about their activities so if he did quit he'd have to come up with some cover story why Beulah couldn't be around anymore.  Another thing, did he even want to be Beulah anymore?  She had only come into being because he dragged up one day and got spotted by Geoffrey Landgraab, who has a crush on her!  George's little past-time was now in danger of getting out of hand.

"You assured me there would be no trace, no body...he would just disappear!" 

The words of Malcolm Landgraab heavily implied that someone had been murdered.  That sent another shiver down George's spine...what to do, what to do?  He was still pondering that when he realised he had to go to his regular job now...and forgetting that he hadn't taken his make up off...

As for Edna, things couldn't have gone better.  She had lodged her paperwork to stand for election for the City Council and then decided to treat herself to a new hair-do, make up, manicure and outfit...and she felt great.

Whatever her mood she found a drink or two enhanced it and so, knowing that George would be at work and desiring to show off her new look and start canvassing for votes she headed to her favourite social venue:  The Solar Flare Lounge.

"Hello, Mrs Sneedley, may I say you're looking radiant today?" said the barmaid.

"Why thank you; it's a brand new outfit...from Seares, no less.  My usual, please" 

The barmaid nodded in approval and poured Edna a large glass of red wine whilst Edna settled herself at the bar.  One of the things she liked about The Solar Flare was it attracted a more mature clientele and not a bunch of frightfully dressed teeny-boppers like other establishments.  Soon she got talking to an older man who was bemoaning how he never sees his kids these days as they're far too busy with their work and themselves...

"I know...it's so terrible with young people these days, and it's just getting worse.  That's why, when I'm elected to the City Council, I'm going to bring more community service programmes and make the youth of today sign up to work in them."

In the background there was another regular; the teenage musical prodigy, Eliza Dudley.  The old man looked at her exquisite playing with joy on his face.

"She's very, very good...now that's the kind of community service we need around here" he said.

Edna was more circumspect.  "That gown, though...reveals far too much shoulder and the sequins are overdone..." she muttered.

She could only stop for two drinks as she wanted to go and see the Landgraabs about the possibility of campaign funding.

"Edna, I hear congratulations are in order" said Geoffrey when he opened the door to her.

"Thank you, Geoffrey, but today was merely the beginning.  I am an official candidate for office, that is all at the moment" she replied.

"Come inside and tell me more about it...would you like a drink?" he asked.

"Well...normally at this time of day I would say no, but on this occasion I will make an exception" she replied, somewhat dishonestly.

Drinks were served and the two of them retired to one of the many studies in Affluista Mansion to discuss matters.

"Edna...you strike me as a person with vision and purpose and I like that, I like it a lot" said Geoffrey.  "I...and my company...are prepared to support your candidacy for the local council and, perhaps, even higher office in due course"

"Oh Geoffrey, thank you for thinking me capable of such an honour!" said Edna, outwardly feigning modesty but deep inside she felt validated.  "You know I, and my league, want what's best for our fair city...a city your family has been at the centre of since its founding."

"Indeed, the Landgraabs and Sim City are intertwined and I don't wish to see it being undermined and subverted by the very people you and I despise....if you know what I mean?"

"I do, Geoffrey, I certainly do." she replied.

"So we will back your campaign; with money for advertising, TV and radio slots, posters and feet on the ground to convey your message.  Only....please leave our names out of your business; for form's sake we have to appear neutral." said Geoffrey.

"Of course, I will be the soul of discretion" said Edna, smiling obsequiously at him.

"Very good.  Just between you and me I think City Hall needs shaking up...Victor Feng has let things slip in this city and I will no longer be supporting him or his party." Geoffrey stood up "Alas, I have very pressing business to attend to, Edna, so goodbye for now and all the best."

Edna took the cue and stood up as well.  "Thank you, Geoffrey.  Give my regards to Nancy"

"I shall...and the same for George and that wonderful cleaning lady you found; Beulah.  She is such a treasure!"

"Hmm, do you know, Geoffrey...I still haven't met her" said Edna.

She went outside to wait for her taxi to take her back home but was shocked and horrified by the appearance of a young, teenage girl who was dressed scandalously.  Edna couldn't restrain herself and felt it was her duty to berate the urchin.

"What on earth are you wearing?" she yelled from across the street as she advanced on the girl.  The outfit in question consisted of a pair of extremely short denim shorts that showed signs of being torn and shredded and a billowy, Asian inspired top that exposed the girl's midriff.  The look was completed by a pair of fake-jewel sandals.

"That outfit should be declared illegal!" exclaimed Edna.

"Hey, don't get heavy with me!" replied the girl, with gusto.

"Heavy?  What are you talking about?" sneered Edna.

"Listen, lady, quit twisting my melon!  You know, man, this is what all the groovy people are wearing up in Haight Ashbury"

"Hate what?" asked Edna, not understanding a single thing this girl was saying.

"Haight Ashbury, it's like, you know, in San Francisco"

"Ugh, a Californian!" said Edna, shaking her head.  

"You know, lady, it's a free and beautiful place and it's happening, baby, it's really happening"

The girl could have been speaking in a foreign language to Edna, who shook her head disapprovingly and was only too happy to leave in the taxi when it arrived.

Back home Edna brushed aside the confrontation with the silly girl and took a moment to inspect herself in the mirror.  She was sure George would like this outfit on her, it was a shame he was still at work.  Still, the biggest and most exciting prospect was that now she was going to take on the big political parties and, with Landgraab support, she was going to enter the public stage...big time!