"You know I'm never going to get the hang of this game, Libs" said Summer, her mind getting as exhausted as her body. The two young women had just done a calisthenics routine in their back garden and now Liberty had challenged her to a game of chess straight afterwards. For Summer it seemed like a good idea at the time but now she was two pawns and a knight down and Liberty hadn't lost a piece.
"Be patient. It's all about developing the mind..." said Liberty.
"I'm already aching from those exercises and now you want to give me a headache!" Summer replied.
"Feed the body, exercise the body...feed the mind, exercise the mind" said Liberty, emphatically.
"I need feeding that's for sure! A bowl of natural yoghurt and peppermint tea isn't my idea of breakfast!"
"You need to keep your figure for the wedding!" said Liberty, tapping the chessboard.
"So you keep telling me..."
"...and Checkmate! Well, Summer, thanks for the game but I've got a ton of things to do today so I'm going to shower, get dressed and get right on it."
Summer looked down at the chessboard and sighed. Once, just once, would she like to beat Liberty at chess but it wasn't going to be today.
"Same with me...Travis and I are going to take a little trip to Tartosa" she said. Liberty raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"The wedding capital of the State? Very nice. Have a great time." she said as she got up to go to the bathroom.
Summer stood up and stretched her arms and legs...she could hear some creaking from her tired muscles and bones and let out a sigh of exhaustion. On top of all the stresses of wedding planning, she now had to deal with her housemate, who had turned into some kind of P.T. instructor.
"Well hellooooooooooo nurse!" came Travis' voice from behind Summer. She turned around to see her fiance standing there, eyeing her up and down with approval. At least none of this build up to the big day seemed to have a negative impact on him, she thought.
"I never get bored with the sight of you in skin tight clothing..." he added.
"Tsch, you have a one track mind, Travis Scott!" she replied.
"I only have eyes for you, darling. Now, are we ready to head off to Tartosa?"
"I can't go dressed like this..." she said and, on sniffing her armpits "...or smelling like this either. I need a shower first and then make myself look presentable."
"You could be wearing a potato sack and you'd still look presentable" said Travis.
"I think I can do a lot better than a potato sack...we'll leave in about an hour." she replied.
"An hour! Sigh, alright, I'll twiddle my thumbs until then" he said, looking resigned to waiting that time.
Tartosa! Wedding Capital of [state] and just 20 miles south of Sim City. Secluded in a bay that gives the small town a Mediterranean style microclimate of its own, it was land once owned by the Landgraab brothers; Malcolm I and Gordon, but sold to Italian immigrants in the 1870s and they built a charming and beautiful town in the Italian style. It wasn't until the 1920s that it gained a reputation of being a wedding destination. The beautiful beaches and hills made for a splendid setting for weddings, hotels, guest houses and restaurants sprang up all catering for newlyweds but also tailors, dressmakers, bakers and florists all specialising in The Big Day. Travis and Summer decided to head here for the day in order to finalise things for their own nuptials, looking to get flower arrangements and a wedding cake.
"Oh Travis, it's even more beautiful than I remember..." said Summer, gazing lovingly at her surroundings and then back at her fiancé.
"Do you know, I've never been here" Travis replied "but I'm going to make up for lost time now" he said, holding her hands.
Summer was swept up in Travis' romanticism. He didn't display that side of him often but when he did, he could charm her off her feet.
"Sigh, much and all that I want to walk hand in hand with you along the beach we're here on business." she said.
"Very serious business" Travis replied.
"Indeed. So, enough of this lah-di-dah...let's do what we came here to do"
They sampled cakes, took advice on flowers and browsed all the wedding paraphernalia shops in town. They managed to order table decorations and embossed name cards for all the guests. At one point Summer wanted to visit a bridal boutique in order to get some accessories for her gown but because she had to describe to the shop assistants what her dress was going to be like, she sent Travis away so the secret of it would be kept from him.
He strolled around the square and encountered two older ladies who were doing a spot of painting. He was trying to work out what the painting was of when they turned to greet him.
"Do you like art?" said the lady holding a brush. She was a negro woman who wore a green cardigan and white skirt.
"Mostly. That's nice what you're doing there...groovy...but you're going to have to help me out here...what is it meant to be?" Travis replied.
"It's an abstract, it's more an impression, a mood than a literal representation" said the other lady, who Travis guessed was either mixed race or whose ancestry was Latin American or even Mediterranean.
"Oh yeah, I get it now. I like it, especially the colours you've used" said Travis.
"Now a young, fashionably dressed man like yourself is usually in Tartosa to arrange a wedding..." said the woman in the green cardigan.
"Yep, I certainly am. I'm with my fiancée but because she's in that bridal boutique I'm banned from finding out what her dress is going to be like."
"Aww, sweet. You two sound like you're doing things the traditional way."
"That's us. Well, that's Summer...my intended. She's got it all planned. My name's Travis, by the way."
"I'm Dominique, this is my better half Camille."
"By better half you mean? Oh...I get it. Well, that's groovy too." said Travis, a little awkwardly because he wasn't used to meeting same sex couples, especially two women but he didn't want to sound judgemental.
"We live in Tartosa and love it" said Dominique. "The irony being that in the wedding capital we can't get married ourselves"
Travis chuckled with the two women. He was taken with their very openness about their relationship.
Summer soon came to join them and as Travis looked at her walking towards this little group he was once again taken aback by how beautiful she was.
"Wow...Travis...is that her?" said Camille.
"It certainly is" he said, beaming with pride.
"She is lovely!" said Dominique.
"Hello Travis...making new friends?" said Summer when she got to the group.
"Yeah, this is Dominique and Camille and they're locals around here." said Travis.
"Hi, I'm Summer and you're already getting to know Travis"
"Yes, he's been telling me about your upcoming wedding. I hope all went well at the boutique; it has an excellent reputation" said Dominique.
"Not that we ever visit it" added Camille.
"Oh really? I suppose you're already mar..." began Summer but Travis quickly interrupted her before she could put her foot in it.
"...settled. But they've been telling me all about how wonderful Tartosa is."
"To answer your question, we're lesbians" said Camille. Summer raised an eyebrow.
"Oh...ah...well..." said Summer, taken aback and trying to find something appropriate to say.
"And isn't it groovy, Summer? And open about it as well." said Travis, trying to help his girlfriend.
"Well, why hide it anymore?" said Dominique.
"Which we've had to do for years now but with you kids showing us the way with the peace and love, we decided to stop hiding and be open about it." added Camille.
"Like the Beatles said, 'hey, you've got to hide your love away'...although in your case you're doing the opposite" said Travis.
"Well, I do love your painting" said Summer. "Do you paint professionally?"
"Semi-pro. I've retired from regular work but I now paint mostly for enjoyment although I do exhibit my work in the local gallery here" said Dominique.
"Well, Travis, we must be getting along...I do love that painting though."
"Hey, how much would you sell it for? It could be a wedding present" said Travis.
"For you, 50 Simoleons" said Dominique. It'll be finished in a couple of days and you can either come back or I can sent it to you...are you from Sim City?"
"We are. 50, sure. We'll sort out the details after Summer takes me to the next place on our itinerary!"
The ladies recommended a bar for Travis and Summer to check out once they had done their shopping and it was there that the young couple took stock of what they had achieved and what was still left to be done.
"Well, that's it...we're pretty much sorted" said Summer. "And you've got the honeymoon destination arranged, Trav?"
"Oh...yes..." in reality, he had narrowed the possibilities down to three places but he hadn't told Summer that nothing had been booked for definite yet.
"Great. Oh, Travis, I wish the wedding were tomorrow!" Summer said with a gleeful sigh.
"Steady on! Let's enjoy these last 3 weeks before the big day"
"I suppose so..."
They moved from the bar to a cosy seat that overlooked the bay and enjoyed a romantic break in the middle of their busy day. Summer knew at some point they had to get back to Foundry Crescent in time for her to go to work and Travis had planned to meet up with Jeremy for a guy's night.
"What have you got planned with Jeremy?" Summer asked.
"There's a new sci-fi series on TV that's debuting tonight; we made plans to check it out" replied Travis.
"Would that be the new series of Llamaman?"
"That's not science fiction!" said Travis, rolling his eyes.
"I'll never get the appeal of those kinds of shows...anyway, we're here, a glass of sparkling wine inside us and the mood is very...romantic. Don't you think?"
"Oh yes! Picturesque...hey, Summer, are you snuggling in closer?"
"We should come here more often..." said Travis.
"Absolutely"
"Sigh, I've got to make a move to get to work now. You take the car, I noticed there's a bus that goes from here right to the centre of the city so I'll catch that"
"You sure?"
"Yeah, you'll need to get the snacks and beers in before Jeremy's visit so you'll need the car more than me. See you tonight...lover!"
After she left, Travis got another drink and found that the locals here were very outgoing...a woman at the bar started a conversation.
"I can spot a couple planning a wedding a mile off" she said.
"That obvious, eh?" replied Travis.
"When you've been here long enough you can spot the signs. So, got everything planned?"
"Nearly everything. Just got the honeymoon destination to sort out"
"Now that's important! When are you getting married?"
"First week of October"
"Cutting it fine...do you have anywhere in mind?"
"Either Granite Falls or Sulani"
"Granite Falls will be cold and rainy at that time of year. Sulani's more expensive; great if you have the budget"
"I know, I've seen the prices of hotels and rentals out there."
"Do you know there's the Villa Vigna that's for rent? Very popular with honeymooners and I happen to know a scheduled booking has fallen through and the owner wants to rent it out asap. I could give you the details if you're interested?"
"Count me in! That sounds ideal! My fiancé and I have kind of fallen in love with Tartosa..."
A trip to the other side of Tartosa, a conversation with the site manager and a deposit cheque laid down and Travis had secured the honeymoon destination. Now it was the drive back to Foundry Cove and for his guys' night in with Jeremy. This new show had better be good...
"What are you doing, Travis? You never cook anything unless it's on the BBQ" said Liberty, emerging from her room and seeing Travis frantically at work mixing something up in a bowl.
"I'm making a salsa dip for when Jeremy comes around."
"Jeremy's coming around?" asked Liberty, for whom this was the first she'd heard about it.
"Yeah, we're going to watch that new sci-fi show on NBC. Star Wagon or something like that"
"Oh that! Oh can I watch too! I've heard good things about it."
"You can be an honorary guy for the evening...now let's get the nachos and the beers and Jezza will be here soon."
Just then the doorbell rang and Travis went to answer it. "Oh, Liberty...can you finish off that salsa? It just needs a bit of Tabasco and it's done."
"Yes....sir!" she said, sarcastically.
Travis greeted Jeremy enthusiastically "Thanks for coming...so I've got the beers in and Liberty's just finishing off the snacks and in 10 minutes we'll see if this show's worth it or not."
"I saw the preview and it looks exciting" Jeremy replied. The two men settled down on the couch, turned the TV on and got their first beers.
"There's been a lack of sci-fi on TV since they cancelled The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits" said Travis.
"Well, this show isn't an anthology series from what I hear. It's kind of like Forbidden Planet with a spaceship crew solving alien problems each week." Jeremy replied.
"Ooh, it's about to start!" interrupted Travis.
"And now on NBC...we are proud to present a brand new action drama set in space: Prepare to embark on a....Star Trek!"
"Captain's log....Stardate 1531.1....Our position, orbiting planet M-113. Mr......SPOCK is in.....temporary command of.....the....Enterprise.....whilst Doctor......McCoy and.........myself beam down to the planet"
"That is a cool looking ship" said Travis.
"Yeah, and they have a teleportation device by the looks of it" Jeremy replied.
"Hey, is that William Shatner? He's so dreamy!" said Liberty, who had brought the dips and chips over and sat down next to the guys on the couch.
"I'm.....Captain......James T. KIRK of the........Starshipenterprise....SPOCK! You've GOT to get us......out of here!"
"I'm digging the uniforms" said Travis.
"Yes...the female one is particularly......comely" said Jeremy.
"Gotta get one for Summer....oh, and you'd look great in that uniform as well, Libs"
Liberty didn't say anything but instead raised her eyebrow, suspiciously.
"This isn't Nancy, it's the creature! If it were Nancy could she take this?" SLAP!
"Steady on, Spock!" cried out Liberty.
"They killed the creature, even though it was the last of its kind" mused Jeremy.
"Yeah, but it was rampaging, killing everyone. They had to do it" said Travis.
"I know....but there might of been another way...."
"You're sounding like the characters on this show"
"That....was awesome" said Travis.
"Same time next week then?" asked Jeremy.
"For sure. I'm not missing this show. Cool spaceship, creepy monsters and hot, hot crewwomen!"
"I hear you, buddy. How's the wedding planning going?" asked Jeremy.
"Smoothly...I even got the honeymoon sorted. We're going to Tartosa!"
"Tartosa? Great place. Well done you."
"Anyway, must get going now...good to catch up, Travis, well done on the honeymoon and yeah, let's watch more Star Trek."
Yep, for Travis it had been a good day. He'd remember September 8th, 1966 for a long time......
1986
"Parker! Melody! Come on...we'll be late for the movie!" Yelled Travis at his teenage children.
"Whoa, Dad, calm down...I'm here already" said his son, Parker.
"I do wish you wouldn't hide yourself in the same room I'm in: It's creepy" said Travis. "Now where's your sister?"
"I'm ready to go" said Summer, emerging from the master bedroom.
"And looking wonderful as ever" said Travis, beaming at his lovely wife. They'd just celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary and for him, she was always his one true love after all these years.
"Where's Melody?" asked Summer.
"Still perming her hair and slapping on more make up" said Parker with a shrug.
"Melody darling..." said Summer, "it really is time to go"
"Hurumph...I know!" replied Melody from her bedroom in a testy manner. "I'm doing something important here!"
Melody strutted from her bedroom, flapping her hands. "My nails still haven't dried properly!"
"Well, we'd better get going...the movie starts in a half hour." said Travis, picking up the car keys from the counter top.
As they stepped outside and walked to the car, Melody asked "What movie are we going to see again?"
"Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" replied Travis.
"Rad!"
"Gnarly!"
"It'll be great! I've taken you kids to see every Star Trek movie and we have every episode on VHS" said Travis, proudly.
"Your father is quite the Trekkie" said Summer.
"Trekker, Summer, it's Trekker, not Trekkie" corrected Travis.
"Did you know, kids, that your father and your Aunt Liberty and Uncle Jeremy watched the very first episode the night it was broadcast? They've been die hard fans ever since."
"How many fake uncles and aunts do we have?" said Parker. "I mean, there's Uncle Jeremy, Auntie Liberty, Auntie Julia...and the mysterious Auntie Suzy. What happened to her?"
"We....don't like to talk about that" said Summer, her face suddenly becoming sullen.
Suzy was finding it difficult to start her next expose: A look at the background and activities of Sim City's next most prominent family after the Landgraabs: The Fengs. She had all her notes and the forbidden text of Patrick Cornelius' book on the hidden secrets of the city right by her side but whereas the Landgraabs were awash with scandal, even at times revelling in it, the Fengs remained largely a mystery.
What she could determine is that Lilly and Victor Feng had known each other all their lives. They fled the chaos of the civil war in China with their parents in the early 1920s and began new lives in Sim City. Then nothing was known about what happened to them until a mention in a local newspaper from 1944 that Victor had won the Silver Star in Italy as a member of the 442nd regiment. Then nothing until 1951 when, suddenly, both of them are married to one another, they set up this successful electronics business and then it's upwards from there. Now they're entering politics and Victor is already on the City Council, looking to become the next mayor.
"Suz, can I get your opinion on this? I've been commissioned to create some Pop Art for a mod gallery and...well...I'm not so sure about this" said Neil, who had been working assiduously alongside her in their study. She wrote, he painted.
Suzy turned her desk chair around to have a look at what Neil was working on. "I like it a lot" she said. "Pigs Might Fly...yeah, I dig it."
"Hmmm, I'm not sure Pop Art is my style. But at least I gave it a go" he sighed.
"It's good to know you can do something even if it isn't to your taste. Your talent still shines through" she said to reassure him.
"I'm hungry. Shall we get some lunch?" he said, putting down his brush and palette.
"Good idea" she replied.
As they sat next to each other on the sofa and enjoyed their lunch Suzy tried to reassure Neil, who seemed bored and unenamoured with his latest work.
"The commissions are coming in regularly now...you should be pleased." she said.
"I know, I know...but I think I should be concentrating more on my signature work instead of taking the quick money to make something I don't really enjoy doing."
"It is building up your reputation though"
"Sigh...I know. I should be more upbeat. Anyway, the Flying Pig is almost finished. And speaking of finished, that was delicious. Say, if you're not too busy right now how about we sit outside and gather inspiration for our work?"
That inspiration turned out to be largely making goo-goo eyes at each other and being romantic...they didn't notice anything going on in the street.
"You know, we should go out and hit the town this evening" said Neil.
"Yeah, we haven't done that in ages. It'll be fab! Do you have anywhere in mind?"
"It's been a while since we visited the Pigeon Toed Orange Peel"
"That's pretty with it"
"That's my drift. What do you say?"
"Count me in!"
"Then it's a date. Anyway, I must head off in to town to see a gallery owner so I will see you later on." said Neil, giving Suzy a kiss before he left. She went inside to clear up the lunch dishes but as soon as she had loaded the dishwasher, there was a ring at the door.
When she looked through the window on her door she couldn't see anyone so she opened the door a little bit in order to poke her head around and see if there was anyone lurking and, sure enough, there was a man...a stranger...sitting on the love seat on the porch where she had been sitting only minutes before.
"Excuse me, can I help you?" she asked.
"You're Suzy Kent, aren't you?" he replied. Suzy guessed that this was a work related visit as she only used her maiden name these days when it came to her writing career.
"I am. If this is business related to either 'Hey Wow' or 'Lothario' magazines then can we make an appointment to meet at my office?"
"This is about both...and neither. I have information you might find useful."
"About?"
"The Fengs. Victor and Lilly Feng. I know you do exposes of the rich and powerful in this town."
Suzy didn't immediately reply but this guy could know something of use for her and the Fengs were a subject she intended to research.
"Alright, come inside. Go straight through to the door on the left. That's my work area, we can talk in confidence there."
The man scanned the house as he walked through it and Suzy noticed his intense gaze and almost unblinking eyes. She was hoping that Neil would return any moment now just in case this guy was crazy.
"Nice place you got here" said the man.
"Thank you...Mister?"
"Coburn, Spencer Coburn."
"This is my study, Mr Coburn. Can I get you a drink?" she asked.
"No. I will be brief and then I must go."
"Then take a seat and tell me your story" she replied, motioning him towards the sofa.
"It's like this, Miss Kent. I'm currently working on a campaign advert for Victor Feng...he's standing for Mayor in November"
"I know about that, Mr Coburn. So what's your role in this advert?"
"Nothing special. I'm on the set but I'm not one of the creatives. It's just I've seen things that seem odd."
"Odd in what way?"
"Mysterious people who have no names or titles just show up on set and they seem to be giving Mr and Mrs Feng orders..."
"What kind of orders?"
"I'm not sure...they reference things I don't know the meaning of. Something about triangles of power..."
Suzy sat bolt upright when Coburn mentioned that term. It was something that had appeared in Patrick Cornelius' mysterious book. Suzy got out a notepad and pen."
"I'm very interested in these mysterious people, Mr Coburn, can you describe them?"
"They wear black suits, often with these broad brimmed fedora hats...you know, the old fashioned kind. And they have these intense stares...like they stare into your soul..." Coburn shivered at this thought and Suzy remembered the time Action had described the same sensation whenever he had encountered Leanne McGregor.
"Ach, that sounds crazy, I know..." said Coburn, throwing up his hands.
"No...not crazy at all, Mr Coburn. I have had seen quite a few things that are hard to believe whilst doing investigative journalism."
"Well, this is the craziest part. I've lost a whole day of memory from my mind. It only happened 2 days ago but I cannot remember a single thing from the time I showed up to work to the time I got back home. Nothing. A whole day gone from my mind!" he said, clicking his fingers.
"What was your last memory?"
"I show up to work, I say hi to some of my colleagues then I go to check on something and...that's it. The next thing I know I'm back at home. I asked my colleagues what happened that day and they all tell me I clocked off early and that I looked ill....like deathly pale and mumbling incoherently. I went to the doctor's yesterday and they couldn't find anything wrong with me. Whilst I was in the waiting room I read your article on the Landgraabs and their strange history and then I thought the Fengs are another bunch of super-rich people who have some secrets and odd associates as well."
"And you sought me out?" said Suzy.
"Miss Kent...this blackout. It bothers me...I'm getting headaches and nightmares of strange men in black who suck out my brains...."
"I'll look into this, Mr Coburn" she said, brandishing her notebook.
"Thank you. You seem remarkably calm considering what I've just told you" said Coburn, inquisitively.
"Believe me, Mr Coburn, this isn't my first dance with the strange and unexplained"
Coburn got up to leave and as the two of them headed back to the door he spotted one of Neil's paintings on the wall.
"That's beautiful...it looks like an original" said Coburn.
"It is. It was painted by my husband. We honeymooned there as a matter of fact."
"You can tell him I like his work very much, Miss Kent"
She showed Coburn to the door but paused to look at the Patrick Cornelius book...she needed to dive deeper into the Fengs' lives.
Coburn left and went home, looking like a haunted man. Suzy's curiosity was piqued as she could see similarities between his story, the Landgraab's story and the Leanne McGregor case.
Suzy couldn't get the Fengs out of her mind that morning and, on an impulse, she decided to pay an impromptu visit to them. Her cover would be an article she would be writing about the election campaign. She did have a vague promise of an interview about their fashion style that was made some months ago so now was the time to cash that in.
Their penthouse apartment looked out over the entire downtown of Sim City and all the way out to the bay and beyond. Suzy figured the Fengs would like to live somewhere where they could watch over everyone.
She rang the doorbell and it was Victor Feng who answered it.
"Well, well, Miss Suzy Kent...star reporter for 'Hey, Wow' magazine...or is it 'Lothario'? Maybe even the Sim City Chronicle...it's hard to determine who exactly you work for." he said in a passive-aggressive tone of voice.
"Technically, I work for all three. Do you have some spare time right now to have an informal chat...about the election campaign and your public image?"
"Is this for one of your fashion articles or about politics?" he replied, dryly.
"Why not both?"
Feng peered at her but eventually said "Sure. Go right in and make yourself comfortable".
Suzy had never set foot in the Feng apartment before and she was struck by the modernistic decor and minimalist design. It appealed to her own Mod tastes very much. She then started to think how they would have made the money to pay for such a place.
Victor was behind her and he ushered her into the living room. They sat down on the sofa and, again, Suzy was struck by the views here; a veritable panorama.
"How is the election campaign going, Mr Feng?"
"Good. I'm currently 5 points ahead in the polls over my rival." he replied.
"That would be the candidate backed by the Landgraabs?" she enquired.
"Yes it would. But their money can't buy this election...not this time." His face turned sour at the mention of the Landgraab name.
"The vote might be split by a third party this time...I'm thinking of the League of Decency and Edna Sneedley."
"Pah, she's an irrelevance. A fringe crackpot at best." he said, dismissing Sneedley with a wave of his hand.
"Mr Feng, returning to the subject of campaign fundraising...who are your main contributors?" Suzy asked, remembering what Spencer Coburn had told her about the mysterious people in Feng's campaign.
"They mostly like to remain anonymous, Miss Kent" he replied, evasively.
"And that's our final word on the subject" came another voice, a stern female one. Lilly Feng had just entered the room.
"Miss Kent...I didn't know we'd scheduled an interview with you today" said Lilly, haughtily.
"Well, this is an impromptu visit...remembering your offer of one from earlier this year."
"Yes, well when we made you that offer you were just a fashion reporter. Since your article about the Landgraabs and Geoffrey's death you've changed your job description somewhat." Lilly's tone and body language was confrontational.
"I'm still very interested in your personal style, Mrs Feng." said Suzy.
"What you mean is who pays for this? We pay for this, Miss Kent, we do." came Lilly's sharp reply. The woman sat next to Suzy on the sofa without her stern, piercing gaze ever leaving her.
"Now listen here. If you wish to interview myself or my husband you must make an appointment first. We will not discuss our finances with you, nor will we break the confidences of our backers. Is that clear?"
"But..."
"I SAID IS THAT CLEAR?"
"Maybe we can schedule a more formal interview later on?" said Suzy, not rising to Lilly's bait.
"That would be acceptable" Lilly replied.
"In which case I'll thank you both for your time and I'll see myself out" said Suzy, getting up.
After Suzy had left Victor turned to Lilly and said "You know, I was handling the situation well"
"That one is trouble, Victor. I have always said so. The I-Ching tells me she is our enemy and we should treat her as one."
"Enemy? She did us a favour by exposing the Landgraab scandal. We can use her." said Victor.
"You must trust me, Victor, as you always have. Our destinies are intertwined...forever, as was foretold!"
COURTYARD LANE, LATER THAT DAY
"How did it go with the Fengs?" asked Neil after he and Suzy had come home.
"Not well...give us a hug, I could do with some love and affection right now" she replied.
"I'll fix us some dinner and you can tell me all about it" said Neil, giving her a big hug.
As they were eating Neil had some words of encouragement. "Well, they were hardly going to welcome you with open arms. I say you're over the target and if you're rattling them you're doing something right"
"I know...I just don't like the confrontation. I just wish..." she said, trying to find the right words to say next.
"...they'd just spill the beans as to what's going on? I know, but you're going to have to play detective again."
Suzy sighed. "Yes...and I've known this all along."
Neil put down his empty bowl and stood up. He walked over to Suzy and patted her on the shoulder. "But you're having the night off. Let's get ready to go and hit the town!"
"Wow, this place is really swinging tonight" remarked Neil as they entered the Pigeon Toed Orange Peel. The music wasn't the usual top of the hit parade stuff, but had a more edgy garage beat sound. The customers were all hard core dancers who were probably hopped up on amphetamines, he thought.
They grabbed a seat along the side of the club as the sofas there were made of plush velvet and were ideal for snuggling up with your loved one, which they'd discovered on previous visits here.
"Hmmmm, I'm digging the vibe here tonight" said Suzy.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. It seems more intense and happening tonight" Neil replied. "I don't know this song though"
"It's a cover version of Taxman by The Beatles but I don't know who the band is. I know the song because I've had endless discussions with Travis about whether Revolver is a better album than Pet Sounds."
"What does he think?"
"Pet Sounds but that's obviously incorrect. Revolver is the best thing The Beatles have ever done"
"I've not heard either" said Neil. Suzy just gave him an incredulous stare but said nothing.
"I've been too busy to check out the music scene!" he said in defence. "Anyway we didn't come here to debate music" he said, making a move and moving closer to her.
After they had shared a moment of intimacy Neil stood up, grabbed Suzy by the hand and led her to the dance floor.
At one point Suzy looked across the dance floor and caught the eye of her friend, Julia. She was with Travis and another guy she didn't recognise. Suzy waved and her friend seemed excited to see her so she walked over and joined the little group.
"Julia what a pleasant surprise!" said Suzy, giving her friend a hug.
"Suzy...I'm not surprised to see you here" Julia replied. "I don't come down here that often but Travis convinced me to get out of the house and have a little of what he calls 'fun'" Julia replied.
"And are you having fun?" asked Suzy.
"Actually, I am" said Julia, thoughtfully.
"So who's your friend?" asked Suzy, nodding at the suave looking man with fair hair and a sharply cut suit.
"Well, now, that's an interesting story..." said Julia.
"So, Travis, how's the wedding planning going? What is it, three weeks to go?"
"24 and a wakeup" replied Travis.
"Well, as a newly wed husband I can advise you on the dos and don'ts of your big day."
"This is David, and we were at college together" said Julia.
"Hi, I'm Suzy" she said, introducing herself.
"Suzy Kent...I recognise you from your press photo" said David. "I find your recent work very interesting"
"Why thank you. So were you a fellow med student?" asked Suzy.
"No. History and psychology. But Julia and I met in our freshman year at the college book club and, well, we became friends throughout our time there. We haven't seen each other since... well... graduation."
"What do you do now, David?" asked Julia.
"I'm a post-grad at Britechester as well as doing some fieldwork and research over at Strangerville."
"Strangerville?" asked Julia, noticing that the obscure town just outside of Sim City was where Bella Goth was abducted a few years ago. "Is there anything of historical interest out there?"
"You'd be surprised" replied David, cryptically. He clearly didn't want to talk about it any further and suddenly turned to Julia.
"Jules...can I buy you a drink?" he asked. Julia seemed like a giddy school girl in his presence all of a sudden.
"Oh gosh, yes please. Just a coke, thanks" she replied, all wide eyed.
"Can I get you one as well, Suzy?" said David.
"Sure, the same" she replied.
As David walked over to the bar Suzy gave Julia a knowing look.
"What are you looking at me like that for, Suz?" asked Julia.
"You have a type" Suzy replied.
"A type? You mean men? Pshaw! You know me..."
"Yes I do" said Suzy, cutting Julia off because she knew it would be a lame justification about liking men for their brains. "You like intellectual fair haired men. If he's got blonde hair, an easy going smile and has 'Doctor' or 'PhD' in his title you go all soppy for them"
"Harumph...I've never been so insulted in all my life" huffed Julia, before her indignant facial expression changed to that of a naughty smile.
David came back with the drinks for the girls and said "It's local celebrity night down here. I've just seen that Lilly Feng by the bar. She's talking politics, as usual, probably trying to win votes for her husband."
Suzy looked over at the bar and saw her talking intensely with a man she didn't recognise.
The group chatted more and there was a dance or two but Suzy started to feel uncomfortable the more time went on. She caught up with Neil and took him to one side.
"Lilly Feng is here. I don't feel comfortable staying here, can we go home?"
They made their way back home where they had a little night cap and Suzy was filled with enthusiasm about all that happened in her day.
"I could tell she likes him and he seemed very happy to see her again. I wonder if there was a little romance between them back in college!"
"Suzy, you really should stop trying to act as a matchmaker for Julia. She fancied that doctor, he swanned off to Africa, and if you ask me she's determined to remain a spinster."
"Oh you're so anti-romantic at times! That guy is exactly the kind of man Julia's interested in only she won't admit it. He's handsome, intelligent, well educated and has some kind of mysterious field work assignment in Strangerville..."
"Oh no, you're not going to do an expose of him as well..." said Neil in exasperation, as he had seen Suzy fired up with questions and mysteries so many times before.
"No! Well, not yet."
"Right...that's me done for the day. I'm off to bed. Are you coming?" said Neil.
"Soon, darling. Soon" she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
Suzy went to the study and looked at her notes about the Fengs. "Strangerville can wait...I want to know why the Fengs are so secretive." she said to herself.
