CHAPTER 109: This Is Awkward

 

Julia Epstein was ready for another day healing the sick...or mopping the floors and making the beds in the hospital: The trouble was she didn't know which it would be when she stepped through the doors every morning.  

"We're at 3/4s capacity today" said Nurse Harper Newell to Julia.  "Plenty to keep you busy"

Julia grabbed a patient chart and headed off to see her first call of the day.

"Ah, Mr Copley...those are very interesting.....erm....stripes...you have there" said Julia upon entering the room.

"People at work have been referring to me as 'Tigger'" said the man, with a heavy sigh.

"Well you've come to the right place...no need to feel tigerish *chuckle*...I can see you're a cool cat...*snort* but you'll certainly get the lion's share of my attention *chortle*" said Julia, trying to lighten the situation.

"That doesn't really help, Doc" said Mr Copley.

"No, of course not" replied a chastened Julia.  "Right, let's perform a few tests to see how we can cure your stripes"

"Oh man....I feel really bad...like I'm going to be sick!" said Mr Copley.

"NURSE!" cried Julia.

Once the vomit had been cleared up, Julia was able to get on with taking swabs, temperature and blood samples from the patient and getting them analysed.  He had a rare condition, but fortunately the right treatment was easily found especially when the specialist doctor was called in to help.  Mr Copley could be discharged that very day.

Her day was getting better when she was called in by her supervisor, the fierce taskmaster Dr Murakami, to observe a paediatrics case:  Murakami knew that was an area of medicine Julia was interested in and it was a rare act of generosity to invite the young doctor to observe and make notes.

"And that, young lady, is why you shouldn't eat crayons" said Dr Murakami, sternly.

The little girl looked contrite and Julia finished making notes on the case before her, and Dr Murakami, stepped outside and retired to the staff room.

"I trust that case was of some interest to you" said Murakami.

"It was...gastric problems in children.  I've made some useful notes." Julia replied.

"All part of the learning process, Dr Epstein.  And well done on diagnosing that case this morning.  We don't often see that condition but given the patient's medical history and the part of the world he was returning from it was a most logical diagnosis and you should be pleased...but not too pleased...that you caught it"

"Thank you, Doctor.  Yes, when he said he'd returned from a walking vacation to that particular country it began to make more sense"

"You are making most excellent progress, Dr Epstein...most excellent"

Julia could be forgiven for feeling smug about her work day, given that Dr Murakami was stingy with praise most of the time.  When she got home, she whipped up a light dinner and sighed with happiness about all that was good in her life right now.  Her mood was interrupted when the telephone rang.

"Hello...Julia Epstein speaking" she said in a formal tone which she reserved for answering the phone.

"Hi, it's Jolene...is it convenient to stop by for a chat?  I've got some things on my mind and I'd dearly value your opinion"

Jolene Scholl was a friend of Julia's.  The fact they were friends would appear unusual to an onlooker.  Jolene was a blonde, blue eyed beauty with a curvaceous figure and legs that went on forever.  Julia was a gawky brunette with brown eyes covered by large spectacles, had skinny legs and her hair in pigtails.  But the differences weren't just physical:  Jolene was a nightclub singer, Julia a doctor.  Jolene was of Scandinavian, Lutheran stock whereas Julia was Jewish whose ancestors were from somewhere in Central Europe.  But the biggest difference between the two young women was that Jolene was a member of the libertine Kitten Club...she had appeared as Miss April in a recent issue of 'Lothario' magazine as the centrefold whereas Julia was a member of the ultra-conservative League of Decency.  The two groups being sworn enemies of each other and yet, across the divide, Julia and Jolene had formed a friendship.  But Julia was happy to see Jolene again as it'd been a few weeks since their last get together; life was very busy for both of them.

When Jolene arrived, Julia greeted her enthusiastically.

"Jolene...it's been ages since we last got together" she said.

"I know...when we went to Skye Fitness and performed that duet down at the Blue Velvet" replied Jolene.

"That long ago?  Golly.  Well then come inside and tell me what's going on with you?" said Julia, ushering her friend indoors.

"Julia, I want to share some of my thoughts that have been troubling me of late...I know you to be a trustworthy and discrete person and someone who's opinions I value" said Jolene after sitting down on Julia's couch.

"Wow, this sounds serious" said Julia, sitting down next to her.

"It is.  Julia, I'm thinking of quitting The Kitten Club"

Julia sat stunned in silence for a few seconds.

"I don't think it's working out for me anymore." Jolene continued.

"Why is that?  I thought you liked being a Lothario Kitten: You talked about how empowering it is, how much fun you have" said Julia.

"And it was.  When I joined I was shy, awkward and coming out of a bad relationship.  I wanted to be a professional singer but I had no contacts.  When I met Alan Cuffe he saw my potential...he changed my image, introduced me to people in the music industry and I was sold on the free, liberated and playful lifestyle the Kitten Club presented."

"So what went wrong?" asked Julia.

"I reached a point where it wasn't fun anymore.  The parties and events....well, it was exciting at first but I was beginning to find them too wild, too excessive.  I had a relationship with Alan...relationship?  Is that the right word?  Well, we had...have...a friendship but we also had sex.  Quite a lot of sex."

Julia squirmed at this bit of information.  She found Cuffe repulsive as a human being and couldn't even imagine why anyone would have sex with him...but she was here for her friend and kept quiet at that point.

"The thing is, Alan has a lot of sex with other women as well.  He's slept with all the Kittens and a few more besides.  His little black book is actually four volumes.  But that's not all...I began to have sex with other club members"

Again, Julia kept quiet.

"At one Lothario party I lost control of myself.  I was feeling giddy and heady with excitement, I felt so sexy in my kitten costume and...well...I was with this other member and we were both feeling hot and spicy at that point and...and this is the part I struggle with...we threw caution to the wind and snuck off to one of the spare bedrooms to WooHoo.  I liked this person, and they're very, very good looking but I'd not had sexual thoughts about them before...it was spontaneous and out of character of me to just have random sex without building a relationship first."

"And did he feel the same way about you?" Julia asked at last.

"That's just it...it wasn't a he, it was a she!  Another Kitten!"

Julia's jaw hit the floor.  She did not expect that revelation.

"I...see...." she stumbled.

"But I'm not a lesbian though...although I've now ventured into that territory.  She's openly bisexual and has had WooHoo with another one of the Kittens as well as Alan and..."

"OK, I get the picture" said Julia, interrupting Jolene before she could hear any more.  "And now you're regretting it?" she asked.

"Yes and no.  It was fun...and exciting at the time but is that where I want my life to go?  I do think about men and families and finding a one, true love.  But what I truly want is incompatible with being in The Kitten Club."

"So you think you should resign?  Well, I would agree and not because I hate Cuffe and the club, but because if you stay you'll find yourself more miserable trying to reconcile what you want with what it provides and the longer you stay, the more difficult it will be to leave as you get involved in....let's just say you'll be involved in more things you really don't want to do."

Jolene nodded.  "That's very wise.  Thank you for listening, Jules.  I know all this talk of WooHoo with men and women is uncomfortable for you..."

"I think I should make some coffee..." said Julia, sitting up straight.  "No, wine, I should open a bottle of wine....I know I need a drink right now!"

Julia got up and went to the kitchen to open a bottle of wine and get a couple of wine glasses.  She was glad her friend was sorting her life out but those tales of the Kitten Club?  How shocking!  Without mentioning any names she might raise the issue of what goes on at their meetings at the next League of Decency event.

As Julia opened the wine, Jolene noticed something out the window and called to her.  "Jules...there's a cute guy at the front door" she said.

"What?  Who on Earth could that be?" she said, putting down the bottle and walking to the door.

When she opened it she saw that Jolene was right...there was a guy at the door and even Julia had to concede that he was, by the standards of the day, 'cute'.

"Oh hello, I'm looking for a Doctor Julia Epstein?" said the man.

"I am she" replied Julia, haughtily.

"Oh...I didn't expect you to....erm....be...."

"A woman?  So young?  I get that a lot" she said, unimpressed at this man so far.

"I guess I got off on the wrong foot there...I don't want to insult your credentials, Doctor.  My name is Cole Michaels and I'm a police officer over at the 13th Precinct.  We have a friend in common; John Action, he told me you could help me with some medical knowledge."

Julia paused while she looked at his warrant badge.  So this was a professional call?  She could handle that.  "Do come in...let me introduce you to my friend, Jolene."

"Well hello there..." said Cole, who couldn't believe his luck meeting two cute women at once.  "I hope I'm not disturbing...I could come back another time"

"Not at all, Officer Michaels is it?" she said, very enthusiastically.  "We're always happy to help our boys in blue"

"Are we?" asked Julia.

"Yes we are, Jules" replied Jolene, hoping Julia would get the hint that Cole was most welcome here.

"And this medical knowledge that you seek, what is it specifically?" asked Julia.

"Well, it's about blood stains...I'm working on a case where there's four different blood types at the crime scene and I'm trying to learn more about the forensic side of investigation."

"I have some books here you can borrow" said Julia.  "And I can answer any questions you may have"

"Blood stains?" asked Jolene, shocked at the sound of this case.  "What happened, Officer?"

"Call me Cole; I'm off duty...well, it's not a murder but instead a violent gang fight" he explained.

"Is that something you deal with often?" asked Jolene, intrigued whilst Julia went off to check the bookshelf for books on blood.

"Quite often:  I'm part of a police group called the Youth Crime Task Force.  We investigate crimes committed by teenagers and students or those of student age.  We're quite a young task force because we've been selected for our ability to be young, hip and in touch with the Now Generation."

"So a kind of Mod Squad then?" said Jolene.

"Yeah...I guess you could call us that...The Mod Squad" he said, liking the idea.

"I remember there's a book in the other room that you'd be interested in" said Julia, getting up and walking to her bedroom...leaving Cole and Jolene alone in the living room.

"Jolene...you seem familiar.  Where would I know you from?" he asked.

"I sing at the Blue Velvet nightclub in Willow Creek" she replied.

"I've not heard of it.  Hmmm, someplace else?"

"I'm also April's Miss Kitten in Lothario"

The penny dropped but Cole looked embarrassed.  "Of course, I only read it for the articles" he said, nervously.

"That's what they all say" she replied.

"Here we go..." said Julia on entering the room.  "Principles of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis" she said, brandishing a book.

"Oh...yes...thank you" said Cole, gathering his practical thoughts again.  "That seems ideal"

"Jolene is very talented you know" said Julia, making conversation.

"So I've noticed" said Cole.  "I'm grateful for your help but I don't want to take up any more of your time"

"Nonsense, we like having interesting people around here, don't we Julia?" said Jolene, trying to encourage Julia to loosen up and not be so business like.

"We do?  Oh yes, we do" Julia replied as she started to guess what Jolene was up to.

"Julia is also very talented" said Jolene.  "Not only is she a top doctor, she's also a fantastic pianist as well...we often do duets at the Blue Velvet, you must come and see us one evening"

"I'd like that very much" said Cole.  He'd come for a book about blood stains, he stayed for the company.

As the women went to get more snacks and wine, Jolene pulled Julia to one side.  "So, what do you think?  Dishy or what?"

"Erm...well...he seems pleasant and well....you know...handsome?" she said, hesitantly.

"I need to get myself in a better place right now but if you don't make a play for him, I might just have to" said Jolene.

"What?  Me!  I...I...I..." Julia stammered.

"Are you interested in him or not?" 

"I got a kind of a warm feeling sitting next to him...is that normal?"

Jolene nodded.

"Oh" said Julia.  "Just one thing....how does one go about 'making a play'?"

"For starters...when you give him that glass of wine, just kind of sashay past him.  You know, glide a little...entice him.  When you walk over there, just think in your head 'and a 1...2...3...hello!' 1...2...3...hello!' Give your walk a little rhythm."

"Something like.....this?"  Julia gave it a go but she had never knowingly 'enticed' before.  Of all the Doctors in all the residential houses in all of Willow Creek...Cole Michaels had to walk into hers!

CHAPTER 108: Just Like Buck Rogers

 

"BLAM!" The case was eating at Detective John Action as he let out his frustration on the punching bag at Builders & Burner's Gym.  So many unresolved questions: Who tried to shoot Lily Feng OR Madelyn Buchanan and why?  He couldn't even work out who was meant to be the target of the attempted assassination.  Today he resolved to clear up those mysteries...if he could establish who the target was then he could get the motive.

"Hey, Action" came a light, familiar voice.  Jeremy Saint, his next door neighbour, had just arrived at the gym and gave his greetings.

"Yo, Jeremy" replied Action before giving the punch bag one last clobber.  "Are you going to spar or use the apparatus?"

"If I tried punching one of those it'll probably just punch back...I'll go for a jog and a bit of weightlifting instead." said Jeremy.

"You should try boxing...it's good discipline for the mind and body" said Action.

"I might just do that one of these days..." said Jeremy, noticing a look of concern on Action's face.  "...is everything OK with you?"

"Mostly...just work issues bothering me.  Got a case I really want to crack but I can't tell anyone about it just yet.  That's another reason to take up boxing...so you can let out your frustration with...one...big...PUNCH!" and with that, Action gave the bag a jab so hard Jeremy felt the floor vibrate.

"And that's where I'll end today's session" Action said.  "Take it easy, Jeremy...catch you later"

After showering and getting dressed Action had a meeting he was pumped up to make:  With his colleague, the on-loan forensic expert from Munich, Bibi Stahler.  They were going to meet at Magnolia Blossom Park instead of the Precinct HQ because Action preferred to conduct his investigation into this case far from the prying eyes of the Chief.  He had little evidence to go on, no suspect, no clear victim and no witnesses to a crime that only almost took place.  With such flimsy evidence to go on, the Chief could...and would...easily take him off the case and reassign him to something mundane and akin to pencil pushing.  But Action knew deep down in the pit of his stomach that he was on to a major crime that needed investigating.

At 10 in the morning down at the park, Action met up with Bibi.  He was taken aback at seeing her in her civilian outfit, instead of the lab coat he associated her with.

"Well, Miss Stahler, I was wondering what you looked like without your lab coat on" he said.

"Does it meet with your approval, Detective?" she said, coolly.

"Yes indeed it does" he said in a tone that bordered on flirtatious.

"We are here to discuss your attempted murder case, not my appearance...Detective Action" she said, haughtily.  That clipped German accent, the look of coolness and slight disdain only made her look more attractive to him but she was right; they were here in a professional capacity and he had to focus his mind on that.

"Let's sit over there and talk about what you've found out" said Action.  Bibi nodded and they went and sat down at a park bench.  Bibi produced a folder with a typed up ballistics report.

"So, what did you discover about the weapon?" he asked.

"Not much.  From the photo it is a non-standard design that does not match any commercially available pistol." she said.

"OK, how about military or foreign military?" he asked.

Bibi shook her head.  "I did a thorough check" she said with an arrogant confidence.  "and the pistol matches nothing on any file...civilian, military or foreign"

"So are we looking at a custom design?  A one of a kind?" he asked.

Bibi nodded cautiously.  "Perhaps.  We have nothing else to go on" 

"What about ballistics?  What calibre was the bullet?"

"Unknown" she replied.

Action looked frustrated by the lack of information coming from Bibi.  "What do you mean, 'unknown'?  Didn't you find a bullet?"

"We did not" she replied, calmly.

"So the gunman went back and retrieved the bullet before we could but surely it hit something?  Imbedded in a wall, tree or street lamp?"

"We found only scorch marks on a street lamp post, no bullet hole.  But those scorch marks match the trajectory and line of sight of the pistol in the photograph."

Action was intrigued.  A gun that left no bullet hole but only a scorch mark.  "What caused these scorch marks?  The bullet ricocheting off the lamp?"

"No.  The marks are burns...as if that area of the lamp was subjected to a high concentration of intense heat." she said.

"I don't follow" 

"Imagine something that produces the heat and narrow beam of a....what is the word?  Like a welding torch but used to cut instead of join?"

"You mean an oxy-acetylene torch?" he said.

"Ja.  That.  Only fired from 20 yards away, not point blank."

"How is that possible?"

"Some kind of weapon that fires a narrow beam or burst of intense heat would be my guess"

"You mean some kind of ray gun?  Like out of Buck Rogers?"

"I do not get the reference...'Buck Rogers'" she said, quizzically.

"A death ray from one of those science-fiction stories" he elaborated.

"How melodramatic, Action.  But in a roundabout way, that is a distinct possibility" again, she remained cool and Teutonic in her speech.  Action, however, found it difficult to take in.

 "Oh that's just great!" he said, in frustration.  "That's just swell...I've got a threadbare case already, the Chief is going to chuck me off it any moment now and here you are telling me the weapon is a ray gun!  That just takes the cookie!"

"Facts are facts, Action, whether we like them or not" said Bibi.

"Well, maybe I can get some information that makes sense from...him!" said Action, pointing a finger at a man jogging past them.  It was Alan Cuffe, who's assistant might have been the intended target of the assassin.

"Mr Cuffe, may I have a word with you?" said Action.

"For you, Detective Action, you can have five" replied Cuffe.  "And you haven't introduced me to your delightful friend" he added, smiling at Bibi with intent.

"Forensic Officer Bibi Stahler...also of the 13th Precinct" said Bibi, introducing herself very formally.

"The work days must fly by with you around, enchante" said Cuffe, bowing slightly to her.

"This case" began Action, trying to get Cuffe's attention "we're still trying to establish whether your assistant was the target of the gunman"

"I can't think why anyone would want to kill Madelyn" said Cuffe.

"Rumour has it she's been making deals with some criminal types" said Action.

"I wouldn't know anything about that" said Cuffe, defensively.

"Well, just to be sure I need to ask you and your assistant more questions" persisted Action.

Cuffe paused for a moment before saying "Of course, Detective.  But I would like this questioning to be done discretely....could it be at my residence instead of your police station?" 

"I could settle for that" said Action.  "I'll swing by this afternoon...don't either of you go out until after I've been"

"So noted, Detective" said Cuffe before he resumed his run.

"He's hiding something" said Bibi.

"You don't say..." said Action, sarcastically.

Bibi returned to the Precinct HQ whilst Action headed over to the Blue Velvet for a lunchtime drink.

"Hey, Action, what can I get you?" said the bartender.

"The usual, Thalia" he replied.

"You look like you've just received some bad news, is everything OK?"

"Thalia...if I told you what was bothering me you wouldn't believe a word of it"

He was pondering what to do with this new information that some kind of death ray gun was used to shoot at one or both of the targets.  "Makes some sense with what Feng and Buchanan said...they didn't hear a gunshot, more some kind of whoosh or fizzing noise...or maybe Bibi's completely mad, I don't know" he thought as he downed his drink.  He thought about who might know about such weapons and realised...he didn't have to look far; he lived next door to a scientist and engineer.

"Hey Travis, Summer....is Liberty around?" Action had made his way from the bar to his street to get more information from a couple of people who might have expert knowledge in...death rays.  Travis was some kind of electronics engineer who worked with computers and Liberty worked for Space Y, a subdivision of NASA.

"Yeah, she's out back somewhere" said Travis.  "What's it about?"

"It's purely a work related visit, Trav" said Action.  "Say, do you know anything of the real science of death rays you see in those B movies?"

"Do you mean Lasers?" Travis replied.

"Yeah, that's the word I'm looking for: Lasers.  Know anything about them?"

"Not much; they're new technology and we don't use them where I work.  Liberty will know more"

"Thanks...I'll go and see her about it" said Action, getting up and walking off towards the back of the house.

Action tensed up in anticipation of seeing Liberty.  They'd had a one night stand a few months ago and since then Liberty in particular was always nervous around him.  They never spoke about that night, other than to acknowledge it was fun in that moment but that it wouldn't lead anywhere but, still, there was some tension in the air whenever the two met.

"Liberty, I hope I'm not intruding" he said, entering the room where she was in.

"Action!  Oh, no.  Nice to see you.  How's it going?" she said, startled to see him.

"It's a work related matter...do you work with Lasers?"

That question she did not expect from him and she didn't respond straight away.  "Well...yes..." she said in reply "sometimes.  We use them for precision measuring mostly.  We can use a Laser to project a spot on the Moon..."

"...or at closer range cut through solid metal!  Goldfinger, James Bond" said Action.

"Well, yes, that too.  Why the interest?" 

"Could a Laser be used as a weapon, pistol sized?" 

Liberty raised her eyebrows in surprise.  "A weapon?  I mean it can do serious damage but the size of a pistol?  No way...it's brand new technology, only six years since it was invented.  They require enormous power supplies and coolant to function.  No, Laser pistols are only the stuff of science fiction."

"But could someone be working on one?  The military?  A foreign power?" 

"As a scientist and engineer I'd say not a chance.  We're years, maybe even decades off making a hand held Laser weapon."

Action said nothing but thought about this information...he'd hit a brick wall on this line.  Maybe, just maybe, the Landraabs had access to this fantastical weapon but that was a huge reach with no evidence to back it up.  Maybe Bibi was just plain wrong about a Laser pistol.

He said goodbye to Liberty, Travis and Summer and decided his next port of call was to take up Alan Cuffe's invitation and go to his place to interrogate him and Madelyn Buchanan.  He headed over to Oasis Springs and when he arrived at the Cuffe residence he could see there was some kind of party going on with people coming and going and loud music playing.

After Action had parked his car he noticed this wasn't just any party Cuffe was throwing, it was a meeting of the Kitten Club.  As he approached the front door he noticed a few of the fabled Lothario Kittens enter the premises all wearing their provocative outfits, complete with fake cat ears.

Action was momentarily distracted by the Kittens walking past him that he didn't notice someone approaching him.

"Can I help you?" said a soft, feminine voice.  Action turned around to see another Kitten standing before him.

"I certainly hope so" said Action, looking the young woman up and down.  He recognised her from a previous issue of 'Lothario' magazine and...crucially...she was the model in the photos the day the attempted assassination took place.  "Now...I believe your name is Jenny and you are Miss March, 1966."

"Actually I was Miss February" she corrected.  "But well remembered Mister...?"

"Action, Detective John Action, Sim City PD"

"Oooh, a detective...have you come to take down my particulars?" she said, playfully.

"Don't tempt me...no, I'm here to speak to your boss but actually I think you might be able to help my investigation as well.  Do you remember a photo shoot you did about 2 weeks ago?  One down at the Fashion Quarter, San Myshuno?"

"I do" she said, assuredly.  "What about it?"

"Do you remember anything unusual about that shoot?  Like strange lights or noises?"

"Actually I do...I remember at one point I looked across the plaza and I saw this bright red flash of light in these bushes and I was startled.  Michael...the photographer...got really angry at me...well, he's a temperamental artiste at the best of times...and I tried to explain what I'd seen that startled me"

"Did you see anyone near that bright flash of light?" asked Action, very intrigued by now.

"No.  No one.  But that was the only thing that I remember being unusual...the bright red light and a whizzing sound, like electricity crackling"

"Jenny...you are very observant and bright; you'd be my nomination for Kitten of the Year" said Action, smiling.  He also noticed that by now other Lothario Kittens had gathered around him.

"Who's this?" said one of them, a woman Action identified as Miss January.  "A new member?  Well meowwwww!" she said in a suggestive voice and mimicking a cat holding out its paw.

"This is Detective John Action from the police" said Jenny.

"Ooh, we are lucky to have one of our brave boys in blue here" said a third Kitten who Action didn't recognise but who looked mighty fine in his eyes.  Action forgot his duty for a moment and enjoyed the attention he was receiving but just then a familiar figure stepped from out of the house and greeted him enthusiastically.

"Detective Action, so good you accepted my invitation.  I trust the girls are taking good care of you?" said Alan Cuffe, looking dapper in a tuxedo and shaking Action's hand.

"They've been most helpful" said Action.  "But I'm here on business, not pleasure, remember?" he added, wishing it was the other way around.

"I do...step inside and we'll discuss matters in my office" said Cuffe, ushering him in.  "Now are you one of those officers who refuses a drink because they're on duty?"

"I'd better stick to Coke on this occasion" said Action, noticing that the place was buzzing with guests:  Sharp dressed men in tuxedos or smart suits and the Kittens themselves in costume.

They went to Cuffe's office where already there were a few people gathered.  One of them was Madelyn Buchanan, who was wearing a Kitten outfit as well.

"Miss Buchanan, I'd like to have a follow up discussion about the attempted shooting" said Action.

"Please, call me Madelyn" she said, in a flirtatious manner.  She seemed tipsy or high; Action couldn't figure out which.

"OK, Madelyn, I've got information...reliable information...that you've been in business with Malcolm Landgraab selling drugs"

Madelyn's face dropped and she looked nervous.  "It's just a little personal transaction...for my own use, plus a few friends"

"Sure it is" said Action, sceptically.

"Listen...I broke off contact with him:  I don't deal anymore!" she said.

"And how did he take that news?"

"Fine...OK...I guess; Mommy thought it was time he stopped anyway.  He gets frightened by the cops"

"So could Nancy Landgraab think you're a bad influence on her son and might she feel resentful enough to have you shot?"

"What? No! I get on with Nancy...I've known her for years.  That's how I met Malcolm.  Detective, if I were the target then I can assure you it wasn't Nancy who was the shooter."

"I think you'll find that we have nothing to do with the shooting" said Cuffe, who had ambled up to Action.  "Now why don't you enjoy our hospitality a little" he said, ushering Action away from Madelyn.

"Cuffe, I know what you're trying to do and why you wanted me to come here!" said Action, angrily.  "You want to distract me from my investigations with the booze, the pretty girls and the atmosphere.  Well what about if I look around the place, what would I find?  Maybe I should do just that..."

"Detective, I run a legit enterprise here." said Cuffe.  "You'll find nothing illegal here.  But this whole affair could be bad for my business and I don't want you stirring up trouble where there is none"

"An attempted shooting is not 'nothing' as you put it.  And I won't be bribed either.  Good day, Mr Cuffe" and with that Action got up and left.  Cuffe finished his drink and thought about matters.  He'd assessed Action wrong; the man was a bloodhound and wouldn't be swayed.  Cuffe put down his glass and walked over to Madelyn.

"Has he gone and is she here yet?" he asked her.

"She's just arrived and that is Action driving off into town right there" replied Madelyn.

"Good.  I will come and greet her" he said walking to the door.  "Lily, so good of you to drop by" he said to Lily Feng.

"Lily...that was Detective Action who just left and he won't leave this attempted shooting case be.  That's bad for both our businesses as he goes around digging stuff up trying to find his gunman" said Cuffe.

"I'm sure we can apply some top down pressure to get the case dropped, or at least reassigned to someone less diligent than him" said Lily.

"I don't think he's the kind of man who'll give up that lightly.  By all means, bring your influence to bear on getting this case dropped but in the meantime it would be well if you and I pooled our information and sorted out who might want to harm either one of us."

"Action seems to think it's the Landgraabs" said Madelyn.

"Is it?" Cuffe asked Lily.

"Maybe it would be convenient to let the police think that" said Lily.  "Or maybe it was them.  Either way, it would get them out of our hair"

"I have no axe to grind with the Landgraabs, and neither does Madelyn.  I think you were the target, Lily, what do you say to that?

Lily said nothing.

"You know who did it, don't you!" said Madelyn as the penny dropped in her mind.

Meanwhile Action had finished his shift and was frustrated: Instead of making solid progress on the case he had more questions than answers.  Now he was dealing with Laser guns and a mystery assassin not connected to the number 1 crime family in the city.  Back to square one.  He headed off into the city to meet up with his girlfriend, Katherine.

After a day spent mostly in the company of beautiful women:  Bibi, Summer, Liberty, Madelyn, Jenny and the rest of the Kitten Club he would now add another on to the list...his own girlfriend.  Action had an active libido and could never be tied down by one woman but Katherine seemed to "get" him more than any other girl he'd been with for a long, long time.  He loved being with her, loved her instincts and she was a great lover as well but his eye was too easily distracted and that didn't sit right with him when he was with her.

"You look like you could do with a drink" she said, taking one look at him.

"You got that straight" he said "and I could do with your company as well"

They went into the bar, Planet Honey Pop, and ordered drinks.  Katherine told Action of her day with the charity and Action, for his part, found it very difficult to explain how his work was going.  "Let's just say I'm still compiling a list of suspects" he said, non-commitally.

"And now" came a voice over the loudspeakers "Planet Honey Pop is proud to announce tonight's very special act.  The voice of a songbird, please give it up for the fabulous Jolene!" 

A young woman dressed in a figure hugging sky blue outfit came out on stage to the applause of the clientele.  Action recognised her at once...she was one of the Lothario Kittens:  Miss April.

"I'm just going to get a better look...and listen, sweetheart" he said to Katherine.  Katherine raised an eyebrow in surprise that Action took an interest in this singer.

"She's good" said Action.

"She is...why the sudden interest?" said Katherine, beginning to feel jealous.

"She's tangentially involved in this case I'm working on.  She works for Alan Cuffe but she has a sideline as a singer...I'm thinking I might need some insider information on Cuffe's business dealings or, more accurately, his assistant's."

"As long as your interest in Jolene is purely work related" said Katherine, casting a suspicious look at Action.

"Hey baby, you know my heart is with you!" he said, shocked.

"It's the rest of you I sometimes worry about" she replied.

"OK, let's say we quit this joint, head on back to my place where I'll cook you up some dinner and you can have my undivided attention?" he said, seductively.

"Now you're talking" Katherine replied.

"I hope you like Italian" said Action, as he stirred the pasta sauce one more time.

"I love Italian and that smells delicious" replied Katherine.  "Say, Action, you seem less pre-occupied now we're back home"

"That's because I am...my case is so messed up I can't waste any time being exhausted and frustrated with it anymore.  That's one of the reasons I like having you around: You take me away from all the muck and the mess of the job."

"I hope that's not all I am of use to you"

"No way...you're so much more.  Companion, confidant, sounding board, inspiration and....lover" Action took hold of Katherine and held her close to him as they kissed.  The faces and memories of all those other women vanished from his mind as they kissed...only the bubbling sound of the cooking pot distracted him.

CHAPTER 107: Plans Within Plans

 

"I'm telling you, the Goths can't be the third part of the Triangle of Power" said Neil to Suzy at breakfast.

"Why not?  It makes sense; they're an old established family with a lot of secrets...probably more than the Landgraabs and the Fengs" she replied.

"I know...but the third group are referred to as 'The Visitors'.  Why is that?  Why mention the Landgraabs and the Fengs by name but not the Goths?  And besides, they're the original founding fathers of Sim City so they're hardly visitors by the other's standards."

"So if the Visitors aren't the Goths, who are they then?"

"I've got two theories" said Neil, warming to his point.  "One, it's another family...looking into old, established families in the city the other one of note that has a complicated past are the Villareals."

"I haven't met any of them" said Suzy.

"They're very private and don't socialise much...but the other theory is that the third group might not be a family but an organisation.  Who they are, what they do and who's a member I just don't know...yet"

"Well look at who's doing my job better than me right now!" said an impressed Suzy.

"I'm your researcher...you do the interviews and the writing part" said Neil.

"Well there's one bit of research I DON'T want you involved with today!" said Suzy, getting up from the dining table.  "Summer and I are going to try on bridal dresses today and you're to be nowhere near us"

"Aww, spoilsport!" said Neil.  "Good luck with that...I'm sure you'll choose something breath-taking with all your expert knowledge."

"And once I've sorted out the wedding and bridesmaid dresses, I'll sort out your suit!" said Suzy.

"What?  Wait!" said Neil.

An hour later Suzy had met up with Summer Holiday outside of JF&S Clothiers; purveyors of bridal and formal wear.  Both women were filled with a combination of excitement, trepidation and a sense that this made the impending nuptials seem ever more impending: It was about to get real!

 "Well, we're here" said Summer, looking anxiously in the shop window.  "Have you got any ideas of what you want?"

"I've been flooded with bridal magazines, catalogues and advice from my colleagues" said Suzy.  "And at the end of it all I have no idea"

"Will you go with white?"

"Yes....definitely.  Or maybe.  Maybe not.  Pink?  Blue?  Red?  Oh this is so difficult!"

"Well we're not going to find any answers standing around out here: As your bridesmaid I insist we march into that shop right now!"

They entered JF&S's and were taken aback by the sheer variety of formal wear.  A smartly dressed woman in a black Chanel suit approached them.

"Hello, how can I help you?" she said.

"Well, I'm getting married..." said Suzy.

"Oh congratulations" said the woman, graciously.  "We will endeavour to help you look wonderful on your happiest of days"

"That's why we're here....this is my Maid of Honour" said Suzy, indicating Summer.

"And we will make sure you look divine as well" said the shop assistant.  "Now have you thought about a theme?  Are you going with classical, modern, vintage, short, long, very long, very short..."

"We've come here with a blank slate" said Suzy.  "So we're in your capable hands"

"Excellent" said the woman, with an excited look in her eye.  "Then let us begin your odyssey!" 

"I think that's an excellent choice, Madam" said the shop assistant after an epic session trying on different dresses.  "Flattering and romantic if I may say so"

"Thank you, the more I think about it, the more I love it" said Suzy.  "And Summer, your dress will be the perfect accompaniment" 

"Now you young ladies make sure you don't put on or lose weight between now and the happy day" warned the assistant.

As Summer and Suzy left the shop they stood in the bright Spring sunshine and took a deep breath.  "I think we made the right choice, don't you?" said Suzy.

"Well, a bit late now if you want to change: You've put the deposits down on them"

It was time for the two friends to go their separate ways to work and Suzy had some research to do down at Willow Creek Archive.

She went straight upstairs to the most obscure, dusty and out of the way part of the archive to find out more about the local history of Sim City.  There had to be more clues about who 'The Visitors' were.  She pored over volume after volume in the hope that more of the book where that mysterious page she found a couple of months ago would be found in the collection.  She researched the Landgraabs, the Fengs and the Villareals: Family histories, newspaper archives and general history books of the region but she was coming up blank.

After a frustrating time at the library, it was time to go home for dinner.  Neil was already there, changed into his work outfit.

"Hey, darling" he said "how did it all go today?"

"Well....I have a wedding dress now" Suzy replied.

"Ooh, nice.  And I take it I'm not allowed to know what it's like?"

"Absolutely top secret until you see me coming down the aisle"

"I didn't know you were so traditional"

"Only when it comes to weddings" she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Well, I'm off to work now..." said Neil.  "By the time I come back you'll have probably booked the Sim City Philharmonic for the wedding band"

"Don't tempt me!  See you later"

 The grilled fruit for dinner...a choice motivated by having to maintain her figure from now until the wedding...was filling but still she had the feeling that she'd hit a wall in her investigations.  Restless, she sought out the one person she knew well enough to help answer her questions.

"John...hi, I'm not intruding am I?" 

"Suzy...long time no see, girl!" said Action, answering the door with a smile.  "Come on in...what can I do for you?"

"Thanks.  Well, I'm looking for some answers to many questions I have"

Action's face changed from jovial to serious.  "Is this about your investigations into the Landgraabs?  I warned you that could be dangerous"

"I know, but it's more than that...it involves them, and the Fengs and Jacques Villareal as well"

Action shot Suzy a piercing glare at the mention of the name, Villareal.  "What do you know about Jacques Villareal?"

They sat down on the couch together.  "I know his family are one of the oldest in the city and that he's a widower" said Suzy.

"She disappeared without a trace and he's the leading suspect.  She was legally declared dead but not one shred of evidence could be found to connect him to her vanishing, even though he had motive, means and opportunity"

Suzy was shocked to hear this.  "Do you think he could be connected to the Landgraab's criminal activities?"

"Heck, I can't even pin anything on them either!" said Action, in frustration.  "Look, let's share some information...strictly off the record, of course"

"Of course" replied Suzy.

"There's this case I'm working on that I believe might involve all the different strands you're interested in" began Action.  "Last week someone tried to shoot Lily Feng....or a woman called Madelyn Buchanan.  Ever heard of her?"

"No, I haven't" said Suzy.  "Who is she?"

"She's Alan Cuffe's personal assistant.  Here's a photo of her" he said, handing her a photo from his case file.

"Wait! I've seen this woman before!" exclaimed Suzy.  "Yes, I've seen her with Malcolm Landgraab: They were conducting some kind of shady deal at the Bowl-O-Rama."

"Now that is interesting" said Action.  "Now we don't know who the gunman is or who they were working for but either this Madelyn or Lily Feng were the targets."

Suzy thought for a moment before saying.  "If the target was Cuffe's assistant then it's likely a rival of the Landgraabs.  Could it be Jacques Villareal?"

Action shrugged his shoulders "Could be...worth following up.  If the target was Lily Feng then we're in the dark about who would want her dead:  She's got no criminal record, nothing in her background about receiving threats."

"Maybe whoever it was wants to get at Victor by getting her?" mused Suzy.

"Dang!  Nothing is connecting up neatly" said Action, 

"If I find out anything more, I'll let you know" said Suzy.

"I'd appreciate that" said Action.  "But that information about Madelyn and Malcom is very useful to me.  Very useful indeed."

Suzy then headed back home but just outside Action's house she saw Bakko Jang walking past.

"Hey, Suzy...how are the plans for the big day going?" he asked in his usual, jovial manner.

"Oh, fine...fine..." she responded, flicking her mind from her investigations to wedding planning.  "Say, Bakko, you're on our guest list but I was wondering if you'd like to do the music for the reception as well?"

"Suzy, Suzy...you don't have to ask.  Consider it my wedding present for you guys." said Bakko.

Well, that was another thing on the wedding list to cross off.  If only her investigation was this straightforwards.