CHAPTER 123: The Closet

 

GRANADA PLACE

"Alan, Kerry Fry is here to see you" said Madelyn, calmly and efficiently, to her boss Alan Cuffe.

"Excellent, show him in" Alan replied.  His office at the newly built Kitten Club in Newcrest wasn't finished yet so he still received business visitors at his home.  Fortunately the place was large enough to be a home, party and workplace all in one.

"Kerry!  How are you doing?" said Alan in a very familiar and relaxed style.  "I read your article and I liked it.  I liked it a lot" 

"I'm glad Mr Cuffe" replied Kerry.

"Call me Alan and step this way to the lounge...on second thoughts let's do this in the dining room; we can use the table to write down some notes." said Alan, still recoiling at the memory of the last time he had a meeting with someone in the lounge when the fire bomb went off.

"So I liked your article about conservationism, very good ideas which you expressed well.  It'll need a bit of editorial polishing so it can read more fluently and to fit the two-page format in the magazine but your article is the kind of thought provoking material Lothario needs in between the more...titilating...fayre our readers come to expect." said Alan.  Kerry looked pleased.

"The Friends of Gaea are a growing organisation; we hope to open our own dedicated office and staff it full time; as long as we can get more backing and investment." replied Kerry.

"Well this publicity from your article in my magazine should help that" said Alan.  "Although not with some types..." Alan set the bait and waited to see if Kerry bit.

"...you mean those fuddy-duddy types?" said Kerry.

"Yeah, the League of Decency and all that" said Alan with a chuckle.  Now he waited to see how Kerry would respond.

"Oh them" replied Kerry.  "Funnily enough, I know one of them..." he added.

"Oh really?" said Alan in mock surprise.  "Tell me more over a drink...Oh Madelyn!  Two sweet n' spicies if you've got a moment"

___________________________________________________________________________

SNEEDLEY BURROW

"Good morning, my sweet" said George, giving his wife Edna a kiss on the cheek.

"George!  Really!  This is most forward of you...out on the front patio: What would the neighbours say?" replied a shocked Edna.

"What neighbours?  Johnny Zest is probably still asleep and there's no one else."

"Ah, I heard a rumour that a family is going to be moving in to the house next door in the next few weeks.  We have to keep standards high and lead by example.  Not that I didn't appreciate the kiss but such things should only be done indoors with the curtains firmly shut."

"Sorry, dear." said George.

"Never mind, I have some exciting news I want to share with you" she said.

They sat down at the chess table and Edna took a moment to compose herself before speaking.  "George, the League of Decency is doing well so far but I need political contacts to further our cause.  So I've contacted a local citizens legal and civic group which is campaigning for more police action in fighting crime.  I think I can raise our points with them and get them accepted."

"That is exciting news, dear" said George.  "It will go well with our recruitment of that policeman; Vance Mannero.  A bit of what they call 'legal muscle' will do us no harm"

"Indeed" said Edna.  "However, it will mean me having to go into the City a couple of days a week.  I won't be around the house as much.  It's been such a long time since we haven't been able to spend at least half the day together." 

George hummed thoughtfully and said that it was a shame but after they had their conversation he walked off to the bedroom and looked at himself in the vanity table mirror.

"Maybe..." he thought to himself.  "...If Edna's going to be out of the house for a few hours a couple of days a week then She could make a return.  Hmmmm."

THE VILLA BOVINE

"Thank you for inviting me here, Alan.  I can't normally afford to eat here on my wage"

"Not at all, Marina" replied Alan Cuffe.  "It's good to see you back on your feet"

"My feet were one part of me that didn't suffer burns" replied Marina with a chuckle.  She was badly burned when a fire bomb planted in Alan Cuffe's house exploded and she was caught in the blaze.

"How's the recovery going?"

"Well.  There's some scarring on my arms and body but fortunately my face, legs and vital organs weren't harmed.  I'm back home now although not back at work yet."

"Anyway, this lunch is my treat....if you hadn't visited my house that day..." said Alan.

"It would have been you or Madelyn caught in that fire" said Marina, soberly.

Alan nodded, it had been a close shave.  "But here's to recoveries" he said, raising his wine glass.

They enjoyed some small talk before Alan steered things towards what he wanted to talk about.  "Any news on the investigation you're allowed to tell me?"

"Well, we have a prime suspect now" replied Marina.  "Leanne McGregor.  Do you know her?"

Alan thought about his response before saying "I've seen her about but only met her the one time.  She didn't leave much of an impression at that time."

"Well, she has now" replied Marina.  "The theory we're working on is that she's some kind of spy: Probably Soviet"

A Soviet Spy?  Alan smiled to himself.  So that's what they think?  If only she was...

_______________________________________________________________________

SNEEDLEY BURROW

Edna was in a flurry of activity:  There was to be a meeting of the League of Decency today and she wanted everything to be just right from the food and drink, literature to read and...of course...the minutes of today's agenda to prepare.  George was busy sorting out the former, and Edna was typing away in the study to prepare the latter.

Then it was a matter of putting on the official League uniform; Edna was particularly fond of the boots.  As George put his blue turtleneck sweater on she grilled him on the preparations.

"This is a very important meeting today...we have our newest member joining us for the first time.  Now are the canapes ready?"

"Yes, Edna"

"And did you sent Vance the uniform?"

"I did...including the jacket"

"Excellent" said Edna, clapping her hands in delight.

All was ready and Edna checked her watch to see who would arrive on time.  On the stroke of the hour she saw Scott Urban and newest member Vance Mannero at the front door.  She brushed herself down one more time, checked her hair in the mirror before sauntering over to the door to greet them in an apparently effortless glide.

"We're just waiting for Julia to arrive..." said Edna.  "And if she's not here in the next 5 minutes we shall begin our meeting.  Scott, I want to introduce you to Vance.  Vance is a policeman" she continued with a note of pride at saying the word "policeman".

"Good to know you, Vance" said Scott, shaking his hand.  Both men had iron like grips.  "Did you serve?"

"101st Airborne" replied Vance.  "You?"

"2nd Armoured" said Scott.  Both men nodded in silent respect to one another.  "But I'm with the postal service these days."

"It's still public service" replied Vance.

Julia then arrived not long afterwards and they commenced with the meeting with Edna handing out the agendas.

"First of all I'd like to extend a warm welcome to our newest member, Vance Mannero...or should I say more accurately...Police Officer Grade 3 Vance Mannero." she said.

There was a polite ripple of applause among the others and Vance nodded in acknowledgement.  

"Now we were to protest outside of the Kitten Club this weekend but it has been brought to my attention that the League of Decency are under suspicion of starting the fire at Alan Cuffe's home so we need to change our tactics for the time being.  Rest assured, the protest of Cuffe's businesses will take place at some point in the future."

"But it's obviously not us trying to actually harm Cuffe!" said Julia.  "Surely the police can see that!"

"I'll tell you something for nothing, little lady..." said Vance.  "...most cops are looking for the easy bust.  Your...I mean, our...group aren't going to say boo to a goose if we're suspected.  The cops investigating the fire aren't exactly the City's brightest and best."

"Nevertheless we must let caution be our guide." said Edna.  "So we're going to shift our focus away from Cuffe and onto that scurrilous rag that's corrupting our youth:  Hey, Wow"

They talked a bit about tactics they could use against that publication and at the coffee break Vance took George to one side to have a talk.

"I hope you're liking our society, Vance" said George.

"I am, and I see a lot of potential here" Vance replied.  "But..." he said leaning in closer to George "...I'll let you in on another bit of information:  Cuffe, Hey Wow, all the stuff you see on TV...that ain't the root cause of the problem"

"It isn't?"

"No.  It's the Communists behind it all" said Vance.  "Communism, George.  The cops know who's trying to kill Cuffe and his associates.  It's a Russian spy, a Communist agent.  But the weaklings over at the Commissioner's office don't want to stoke tension with the Soviets so they keep it quiet."

"Really?  I didn't know" said George, shocked.

"So we've got to keep an eye out for these infiltrators and spies running amok about our city, George.  You a military man?"

"US Navy for 10 years" replied George.

"Navy, good man!" said Vance, punching George in the upper arm.  "You see, we gotta protect the womenfolk, our communities, George.  That's why I've joined the League.  Now Edna's a great ideas woman.  She's got spunk and I like that.  But you're the strong, silent type, I can tell that.  You and me and Scott; we've got to step up to the plate, take a big swing and score a touchdown against the subversives who are funded by the Soviets.  Edna's the drive, Julia's the brains but we've got to be the muscle, do you hear me, George?"

"Erm...yes!" 

"Good man!  Good man!" said Vance, punching George enthusiastically in the arm again.

It was agreed that the next step shouldn't be a public protest but instead running exposes on what Hey Wow magazine prints, calling in on radio talk shows, TV shows and other media to raise public awareness of the alleged 'debauchery' in these publications and others like them.  The public protest side was too risky when the police were looking for any signs of public disorder.

After the meeting concluded Edna was exhausted and needed a little pick me up.  She changed her clothes and headed to the basement bunker the Sneedleys had built, back in '62 in the wake of the Cuban Missile Crisis, where they kept a wet bar.

"Phew!  So much to do, Edna, so much...and it's going to get busier now I'm going to get more politically involved" she said to herself as she poured herself a stiff drink.

"Ahhhhh, that's better" she said, downing the drink.  "Now where's George?" 

George was tidying up as Edna returned upstairs.  He looked at her with pride but Vance's words were still ringing in his ears:  He, George Sneedley, had to protect his wife from the evil subversives in the world!

"You know I will protect you from any harm, Edna" he said.

"Of course I do, George." she replied.

"I mean, I'm just as capable of physically taking down any attacker as Vance or Scott.  When I'm stirred up I don't hold back."

"Now what's brought this on, George ?" said Edna, wondering why he was talking about protecting her from harm and beating attackers up.

"Well..." he said, trying to gather the words he wanted to say.  "I know I've had a couple of turns in public lately and that some people think that because I'm a cook I'm not....very....erm....manly".  That last part was difficult to articulate for him.

"Not manly!  Nonsense!  You're all the man I ever need" said Edna with a huff but then she thought of another reason why George might be talking about this.  "George...are you having trouble with your particular organs?"

"My particular organs?  Oh, no!  There's no trouble there I can assure you.  I mean, anytime you want to...well...you know...do THAT I am more than capable."

Maybe it was the drink inside her, maybe it was the rush of adrenaline Edna felt whenever she hosted a League meeting or maybe it was George declaring that 'anytime you want to...', she now suddenly felt amorous.  

"George..." she said, coquettishly.  "...how about we put that to the test?"

 "What, now?" said a surprised George.  "But we haven't done this since November 1965!  Let's not stand out here where everyone can see us.  Let's go to the bedroom!"

"Not the bedroom, I've just changed the bedding" said Edna.

"Then you don't mean...."

"Yes!  The closet!" said Edna, her eyes wide with excitement.

They ran off, hand in hand, to the big walk in closet down in the bunker, giggling like teenagers.  

"Oh George!"

"Oh Edna!"

They fell into a passionate embrace just outside the closet and George had to open it by sliding it across with his foot as he had Edna's lips firmly attached to his face.  They stumbled backwards into the closet, somehow slid the door back and were there in the pitch black.

"There's something exhilarating about doing this in a pitch black atomic bunker where no-one and I mean no-one can ever find us!" said Edna.

They fumbled around undoing George's belt and pants and pulling them down, lifting up Edna's skirt and trying to undo her garter straps without being able to see anything but the awkwardness actually turned them on even more.  There was banging and crashing and even shouting but the two of them had the best time they'd had since they threw a small party to celebrate Alan Cuffe moving out of their neighbourhood.

Finally, it all came to an end and while they nuzzled in a pile of fallen coats, Edna thought that it was time to face the world again.  She, miraculously, emerged without a single loose hair or smear to her make up.  George, on the other hand, could only stagger out.

"We must do that again in the Summer...." he muttered with an inane grin on his face.

CHAPTER 122: Travis Get Your Gun

 

"Travis, you look worried" said Liberty Lee to her housemate one morning.

"That's because I am worried, Libs." he replied, earnestly.  "That maniac that was in our street the other day...the firebomber and assassin...walked right past our house.  Right past it!"

"And?" said Liberty with a shrug.

"What if they hadn't walked past but entered our home instead?  What then?  We'd be all dead, that's what!"

"Why would they have entered our home?" asked Liberty, still not understanding Travis' concern here.

"Why did that last bunch of criminals break in our home and vandalise it a few months ago?  Because we and this house are here.  That's twice now we've been at the epicentre of some criminal activity and we can't be complacent anymore!" Travis was emphasising his point and Liberty sat up and didn't even try to ridicule his concerns even if she didn't share them.

"So, what do you propose we do?" she asked.

"What I do, Libs.  I need to step up and become the protector of this household.  I don't want anything bad happening to you or Summer and it's my responsibility to keep you two safe here.  I'm going to buy a gun."

Liberty said nothing but took a deep breath.  Travis owning a gun, keeping one around the house?  She was not comfortable with that idea.

"Right...I've done thinking about this" continued Travis "and now I'm going to do some research".  He stood up and left the room.  A minute later, Summer entered and sat down next to Liberty.

"Summer...you have to stop him!"  said Liberty.

"Stop him from what?" Summer replied.

"He wants to buy a gun!"

"WHAT?  Why?"

"He wants to protect us from maniacs breaking into the house"

"OK, this has come right out of the blue...I'm going to have to talk to him.  Wait here" said Summer, getting up and marching off to confront Travis.

She found him, strangely, in Liberty's bedroom reading a copy of Guns & Ammo magazine.

"I'm torn between getting a revolver or semi-automatic pistol" he said, not looking up from the magazine.  "What do I want to go for?  9mm is easier to shoot, .45 has more stopping power.  Ooh, a .44 magnum; I wonder what they're like?"

"Travis, can you put that magazine down for a moment and talk about this?" said Summer.

Travis turned his gaze away from it and at her.  "Your safety is paramount with me" he said.

"I realise that.  But let's sit down and talk about this.  You, who have never wielded anything more lethal than BBQ tongs in your life, now want to get a gun."

"Why not?  It's a wild, wild world out there" he replied.

"I'm worried that you're going to harm yourself instead of protecting us.  You've got no experience of handling a gun:  You're not like Efrem Zimbalist Jr in The F.B.I. you know."

"So I should go with the lighter calibre pistol then?  Something I could manage?" 

"No!  That's not what I'm saying.  I'm saying getting a gun is too big a step for you.  For us.  Do you know what you're doing?"

Travis nodded.  "You're right.  I need some more expert advice.  Say, I could get something like what Action has:  A Colt .38 Detective."

Summer rolled her eyes but then an idea hit her.  Action:  Get him to talk Travis out of this crazy gun fixation.  As he went back to his magazine she went to the phone and called their neighbour.

Within minutes Action had arrived and Summer went to meet him on the front porch, out of Travis' ear shot.

"So what's this I hear about Travis wanting to pack some heat?" asked Action.

"He's serious!  He's out the back there going through a gun magazine and reading the reviews." replied Summer.

Action shook his head.  "Some cats can handle a piece but I can tell Travis ain't one of them.  Leave this with me."

Travis emerged from the back room and saw Action out on the porch talking with Summer.  

"Hey, Action my man...cool to see you and you're just the kind of guy I wanted to have a talk with.  I want to buy a gun; is the .38 Colt Detective a good one?"

"Good for me, bad for you.  You need to knock that crazy idea out of your head that you need to pack a piece." said Action, bluntly.

"Oh..." Travis didn't predict Action would cut him down so curtly.  "It's just that with, you know, that maniac running around and that break in we had I needed to step up and do my civic duty in protecting the...you know...womenfolk."

"Womenfolk?  Who do you think you are?  Some 1880s homesteader?" said Action.  "Let's go inside and talk facts."

The two men went inside whereupon, without saying a word, Action produced his sidearm from a shoulder holster, emptied the cylinder of ammo and handed the empty revolver to Travis. 

"Go ahead, take it.  Hold it.  Aim it...NOT AT ME!"  Said Action, suddenly grabbing Travis and pointing his gun hand away from him and to a picture on the wall.   "How does it feel in your hand?  Could you aim that at someone and shoot them?  Could you?  Because if you're life is threatened by someone coming at you, you have to shoot to kill.  Can you actually do that?  Your hand is trembling" he said, looking at Travis holding the gun.  Travis lowered it and shook his head.

"Maybe I should get lessons first.  Go to a range" he said, meekly.

"That makes more sense" said Action.  "That woman we're after; she's not coming for you or Summer or Liberty.  You want to help us get her and others like her?  Keep your eyes open and report anything suspicious you see.  Watch out for our neighbours and leave the violence to the professionals."

Summer and Liberty invited Action to stay and while Travis made the drinks the girls thanked their cop neighbour for his help in talking sense.

"Well, I've made Foundry Cove a little bit safer today but I've got to get moving:  I'm a man with a lot going on" said Action, downing his drink and getting up to leave.

"I guess you must think I'm a prize chump" said Travis, sheepishly to Summer.

"Not at all...you just got carried away.  I find the idea of you wanting to protect us very noble and gallant" she replied.

"I could always fend off attackers with my BBQ tongs" he replied.

"Come here, give us a kiss you great big loveable white knight!"

Their moment of romance was abruptly interrupted by a ring on the doorbell.  "Did Action forget to take his gun back with him?" said Travis.  However it wasn't Action, it was Jeremy Saint.

"Oh hey, Jeremy, how's it going?" asked Travis.

"Fine thanks.  Barbara's gone off to some fashion trade fair for the day and I've got a spare ticket for the Humor & Hijinks Festival.  Fancy coming along?" said Jeremy.

"We haven't been to that in a long time" replied Travis.

"Well, I'm off to work soon so you should go and have a good time" said Summer.

"Hell...why not?" said Travis.

As the two guys arrived at the festival they could see it was already in full swing.

"Say, Jeremy, are you with either the Pranksters or Jokesters?" asked Travis.

"Neither.  I never bothered.  Barbara supports the Pranksters" Jeremy replied.

Travis nodded, a thought had just come to him.  "Jeremy...this festival contains a metaphor for life.  You're either a prankster or a jokester.  Jokesters like words, they like talk, they think and they work things out in their heads.  Pranksters are the practical ones, the do-ers, the ones prepared to get their hands dirty."

"O.......K" said Jeremy, sceptically.

"Take the two guys I know the best:  You and Action.  Now you, Jeremy, are a Jokester.  You deal in words, ideas, you read a lot...you think a lot"

"I'm not sure how to take that" said Jeremy.

"No, buddy, that's not a bad thing at all.  But Action, he's a Prankster.  He sees, he acts.  He's like a tiger ready to spring into action."

"That is his name after all" replied Jeremy.  "So which are you?" he added.

"I'm not sure...yet.  Today I tried to be a Prankster but I think in my heart I'm a Jokester.  I've got to work that one out"

"Do you really need to?  I mean, really?" said Jeremy.

They were more interested in talking and eating from the vendors than the comedy on offer at the festival.  As they chatted and Travis tried to expand on his new idea they were joined by a young woman who had declared for the Pranksters.  She gave her name as Ulrike Faust.  

"So what made you choose the Prankster team, Ulrike?" asked Travis.

"It's part of a dare.  I've been challenged to cause as much mayhem as possible on the Jokesters this evening and I never back down from a direct challenge." she replied.

"You see, Jeremy?  That's classic Prankster behaviour.  My theory holds" said Travis.

"OK...I'm now going to plant a big custard pie into that person's face!" said Ulrike, getting up and reaching into a bag.

"It's funny being back here" said Jeremy.  "The last time you and I were here I met Julia for the first time"

"Oh yeah, I remember!  She wouldn't stop talking to you...I think she liked you back then" replied Travis.

"Yeah, maybe" said Jeremy, a little embarrassed.  "That night I almost asked her out.  I chickened out though and thank goodness I did because a week later I met Barbara!"

"You liked Julia?" asked Travis.

"Well...yeah, she's a bit of a know-it-all and talks the back legs off a donkey but...she's smart, decent, cute..."

"I'll let you in on a little secret: I found her cute as well.  Do you remember that first party we threw?  She wore this blue dress and, man, for a while I was attracted.  But Summer was always the one for me..."

"What about Liberty?  Didn't you say you liked her for a while?"

"I wasn't serious.  Nope.  I was always faithful to Summer."

"That red head you met at the Waterside Warble...what about her?"

"Oh that was a one night stand!  She doesn't count!"

Ulrike returned to their table.  "Ha!  I snuck up on them as they were preparing to light a firework and BAM!  They'll be washing the whipped cream out of their hair tonight!" she said.  "You two still just sitting here?"

"Hey, Ulrike...what about this for a prank?  I talk normally to someone and then, suddenly..."

"I don't think you're Prankster material, Travis" said Ulrike.  She smiled, patted his cheek and left.  Travis sauntered over to where Jeremy was watching the stand up comedienne.

"Travis.  Why don't you stop trying and just kick back and take in the evening?" said Jeremy.

"It wasn't that long ago that I was trying to give you the same piece of advice." Travis chuckled. 

CHAPTER 121: Stretch

"So this is the fancy place you like to go to, eh?  Looks impressive" said Francesca Griffith to her friend, Julia Epstein."

"It's great here" replied Julia.  "It's better than a gym, I can tell you...it's a beautiful, quiet setting and not filled with sweaty bodies"

"That depends on whose body is sweaty" said Francesca in a risqué manner.  "OK, this sounds good...I've not been to a spa before, or done any yoga.  I attend jazz dance classes but that's about it."

Francesca had taken Julia's invite up to go visit the spa with her as she'd been very busy with work and family lately.  Her daughter, Stefanie, had only just recovered from a nasty illness and was back at school and catching up on her ballet classes, which she loved.  Her husband, Rod, had taken their daughter into town to resupply Stefanie with school items as she was always losing pencil cases, bags, books and shoes.  This afforded Francesca the chance to hang out with friends.

They entered the Perfect Balance Spa and the décor took Francesca's breath away.  "Indoor fountains and streams!  Hmmm, the smell of incense and Jasmine...why haven't I heard of this place before?" she said.

The two women went to get changed into their exercise clothes and headed upstairs to the yoga lesson.  They were the first ones to arrive so Julia clued Francesca in on what generally happened.

"It's not exhausting but there is a lot of bending, stretching and balancing" said Julia.

"The first two I can manage...not sure about the third" replied Francesca.

Julia and Francesca waited for the yoga instructor to arrive and they got their hopes up briefly when the door to the room swung open.  However, it wasn't the instructor...instead it was someone Julia knew:  Kerry Fry, and he looked surprised to see her.

"Hey, Kerry, I didn't know you worked here...are you our instructor?" asked Julia.

"No...I work in reflexology and massage" he said, jerking his thumb in the direction down the corridor.  "I just came in to say we've had a call from the yoga teacher to say he's running a little late.  I must say it's nice to see you here" he said, looking Julia up and down "...and your friend; I don't believe we've met...hi, I'm Kerry" he said with a smile as he made eye contact with Francesca.

"Francesca..." she replied.  "I'm a work colleague of Julia's"

"Francesca, lovely name and healing the sick, wonderful" said Kerry, still looking at Francesca; his eyes being drawn to her legs.  "Well, I play my small part in that line as well but in a more therapeutic way than actual medicine" he added.

"I've never tried reflexology" said Julia.

"Well maybe you should pop along to my little neck of this place and give it a go after you're done here" said Kerry.  "Oh, by the way...my 'Friends of Gaea' group are having a little fund raiser this weekend...it'd be wonderful if you could come along.  You and Francesca" he said, handing out a business card with the name of the organisation and address on it to the two of them.  

"This weekend I'll be very busy with my husband and daughter" replied Francesca.

"Oh..." said Kerry, his face dropping at that revelation.  "...well, anyway, I've got clients waiting.  Julia, if you'd like to visit afterwards I'll have a chair waiting just for you".  Kerry winked at Julia and left the room.

"How do you know that guy?" asked Francesca.

"Oh he's the son of some friends of my parents...they set me up on a blind date with him some weeks ago and...well...he's pretty nice..." said Julia.

"Yeeessssss" said Francesca, with a tone of scepticism in her voice that Julia didn't pick up on.

Then things started to happen all at once.  More people arrived for the class and the instructor eventually showed up.  Julia noticed a late arrival and another person she knew:  Her auntie Elle, who was wearing all white exercise clothing.  Elle had suffered from long term psychological problems and Julia was worried if she was on her medication or not...if not she could act very violently and unpredictably.  Elle didn't seem to notice Julia's presence as she took her place at the front of the class.

Francesca leaned closer to Julia and whispered "isn't that?"

"Yes, my aunt Elle...she hasn't spotted us.  I should go over and say hello" replied Julia.

However the instructor clapped his hands to signal the start of the lesson.  "Hello everyone, sorry I'm late.  If you'd all like to take off any shoes you're wearing and take your positions, one person per mat, then we'll begin...."

This was a beginners class so the stretches and positions weren't too difficult.  A lot of it involved controlled breathing.  It was only when it came time to balancing on one leg that there was trouble:  Francesca's knee gave way and she collapsed onto her mat in a heap.  Julia's first instinct was to rush to her aid but the class was moving on to the next step and she instead dithered while Francesca gathered up her wounded pride and got back on her feet.

"Psst...are you alright?" said Julia at a whisper so she wouldn't incur the ire of the instructor.

"More embarrassed than hurt, Jules" replied Francesca.  She stood up, brushed herself down and resumed the lesson with only a hint of redness in her cheeks.

After the class they had a joke about it and all was well but Julia had another thing on her mind.  She saw Elle leave the class abruptly and wanted to see if her aunt was alright so she told Francesca she'd meet her downstairs whilst she had a catch up with Elle.

"Auntie Elle!  It's me, Julia...we were in the same yoga class just now" said Julia, catching up with Elle; who was just about to have a massage session.

"Oh yes, Julia...sorry, I didn't see you in there.  How funny that we're here together" replied Elle, serenely.

Julia turned to the masseuse and asked if she could speak with her aunt in private for a few minutes. The young lady said "of course" and stepped outside.

"Auntie Elle, how are you?" asked Julia.

"Doing better, Julia, thanks" replied Elle.  "I'm taking my medicine and my therapist recommended I should try yoga to help keep my negative feelings and outbursts under control."

"And has it?"

"I think so...I'm taking things slowly at the moment.  Is that friend of yours back there the one I insulted and threatened?"

Julia nodded ruefully.  "She's a nurse, she understands"

"I'm so, so sorry about that...and all the times I was nasty and cruel to your other friends.  Tell her I'm sorry if I don't see you before I leave"

"Will do, Aunt Elle....hey, if you're doing this yoga regularly then maybe I'll see you here again next week?"

"Yes.  That would be nice." replied Elle.

Julia headed downstairs to have a shower and get changed and there was now a little spring in her step as she was happy in the knowledge that her aunt was looking the best and most healthy she'd had been in months.  Francesca was just touching up her make up as Julia finished getting dressed and she asked how Elle was...Julia was pleased to say she was fine.

"Well, that was actually quite fun and I feel energised" said Francesca as they left the spa.

"Will you go home now to see Rod and Stefanie?" asked Julia.

"Actually I was going to meet up with Harper...she wants to hit the clubs" said Francesca, rolling her eyes a little at the idea.  "Say, why not join us?"

Julia bit her bottom lip.  "Won't I be muscling in on you two?  After all, three's a crowd" she said.

"Well in that case you must have a friend you can ask to bring along too.  Harper wants to go to the Orange Peel club as neither of us have been there before."

"I've been a couple of times" said Julia.  "If we can find a payphone I know just who to call to join us"

"Barbara...so good of you to join us!" said Julia.  "I would have thought you'd be off with Jeremy this evening."

"Boy's night out with Travis and Liberty's boyfriend.  Just me, my lonesome and I Dream of Jeannie" replied Barbara.  

"I'm with work colleagues, I'll introduce you to them" said Julia. 

"Nice...and I hope you're going to hit the dance floor instead of perching on a stool by the door!" said Barbara, tugging at Julia's arm.

Francesca saw Harper Newell up at the bar and went to greet her.

"Hey, Harper" said Francesca.  "Sorry I'm a bit late...Julia and I were over at the spa just now"

Harper turned around and saw Julia and Barbara in conversation on the far side of the dance floor.  "You brought Dr Epstein with you?  We're the rank and file, she's officer corps" she said.

"Don't be silly.  Julia's not just a doctor, she's my friend and you and her get on great at work.  We're always having a good gossip at break times."

"Yes, that's at work, this is play" said Harper.  "I'm here to have a good time, I just hope I don't have to mind my P's and Q's with one of the doctors around"

Julia went over to Harper and Francesca and introduced the both of them to Barbara.  Then she ordered what she knew to be a house specialty at The Orange Peel Club:  The giant pretzel.  Meanwhile Harper was impressed that Barbara owned Pack's Clothing.

"I was in there last week and that place is great!  You own and run that?  Wow, amazing!  I love your stuff!" she said.

"I'm glad to hear that" replied Barbara.  "I'm trying to convince Julia to come in one day but she's a bit resistant"

"Only because I don't do fashion, Barbara.  I like things not too with it" replied Julia.

"You are so in need of a makeover, Doctor...I mean, Julia" said Harper.  "Barbara can do your outfit, Francesca can do your hair and I will do your make up"

Julia gulped nervously and munched on her pretzel more.  

"Anyway, we didn't come here to chat!" said Francesca.

"We didn't?" said Julia.

"We came here to DANCE!" 

"Oh...well, I suppose I can do a little bop" said Julia.  The other girls goaded her onto the dance floor where they formed a tight little group.

"It's a bit short on men tonight" said Harper, dismissively.

"Who needs them?" said Francesca.  "I'm a married woman.

"I've got a steady boyfriend" said Barbara.

"I'm not really into dating" said Julia.

"Oh yes, what about that Kerry guy?" asked Francesca.

"Ooh, Julia's got a beau, has she?" said Harper.

"No!  Not at all!  It's not like that!  We've been on two platonic dates, that's all" said Julia.

"He does have an eye for the ladies though" said Francesca.

"He's very into conservationism and natural healing" said Julia.

"I didn't think all that hippy stuff would appeal to you, Julia?" said Harper.

"Well, not normally, but...well...he makes it sound interesting.  Anyway, can we go for one evening without talking about men?  It should be a challenge, a test.  Go one evening where no one mentions men."

The other three girls all looked at each other and shook their heads.  "Nah!"

It got late and the four of them staggered out of the Orange Peel to head home.  Harper, tipsy, hugged Julia.  "You're alright, Doc...for a doc" she said.

Julia and Barbara headed home to Foundry Cove, exhausted.  "It looks like Jeremy's made it back home.  Well, goodnight Julia; thanks for inviting me and introducing me to your friends."

"My pleasure.  Goodnight." 

Julia went inside her home, took off her clothes and changed into her nightgown.  Of everything that happened today the thing that pleased her most was that her Aunt Elle was improving.

CHAPTER 120: The Chase

"STOP!  IN THE NAME OF THE LAW!" Yelled Action as he gave chase to the mysterious woman who went by the name of Leanne MacGregor.  She was the new chief suspect in the attempt to kill Policewoman Marina Beckett, Alan Cuffe, Madelyn Buchanan and Lily Feng.  Action had been alerted to Leanne's presence in Foundry Cove by his neighbour, Suzy Kent, an intrepid reporter who had done much to uncover who was behind these crimes.  Suzy had spotted Leanne in the street, confronted her and found out her name before being threatened by the strange woman.  Suzy then immediately roused Action, who grabbed his .38 service revolver and set off in pursuit.

Action had an athlete's physique and was able to run at speed as soon as he shot out of his front door.  Within seconds he had turned the corner into the main road and could see Leanne up ahead.  He yelled his challenge, all the while preparing to ready his revolver in case she was armed.  But the woman just walked casually ahead, not gathering pace but not slowing down either.  She completely ignored the challenge he had shouted and walked on.

"STOP!  POLICE!" he yelled again, gun in hand.  She ignored him and walked on.  Action was perplexed:  He was running at full speed and yet despite the fact she appeared to be casually walking he hadn't gained on her:  She was always constantly 30 feet away from him, he didn't understand how.  He now considered firing a warning shot to stop her but, suddenly, the brilliant white headlights of a car which was heading towards him momentarily blinded his vision.  

When he'd recovered his eyesight, seconds later, Leanne was nowhere to be seen.

Action was mystified by all this:  Where did she go?  How did she maintain that same distance from him despite his chasing after her?  He looked down the road:  It was the main road through Foundry Cove with no side streets for 500 yards in the direction she was heading so she couldn't have gone down there.  He frantically looked into people's front yards and in the communal garden in case she was hiding but she was nowhere to be found.  Perhaps she lived locally and had vanished into one of these houses?  He decided to go door to door, prepared to wake people up if necessary, to find her.  After two hours of this he'd turned up nothing:  No one had seen her, no one had heard of her name and although some people had heard him shouting to her to stop, no one had witnessed anything.  He went back home, called Precinct 13 and explained the situation to the head of the night shift.  An APB was put out for any units in the area who had seen her:  They were to detain her and take her to the precinct house.

The next day Action arrived for his shift despite only getting 4 hours sleep the night before.  This case had now moved up a gear and he was too restless and fired up to take things easy.  He headed straight to his desk in the squad room to file a full report on what he had seen and the actions he took the previous evening.  Seeing Action working frantically at his desk, Duty Sergeant Kitchen approached him.

"Did Night Shift find anything, Sarge?" Action asked.

Kitchen shook his head.  "They did a thorough house to house search and turned up nothing" he replied.

"Well, we've got a name, an age and a physical description so the next step is to get a photofit image of her and get it to all units." said Action.

"Have you considered that might not be her real name?" asked Kitchen.

Action said nothing but gave Kitchen a look that said "don't insult my intelligence".  

A uniformed policeman entered the squad room and said "The chief wants to see you, Action".  Action got up from behind his desk and went to the Chief's office.

Two other police officers were present, one of them being Cole Michaels of the Juvenile Investigation Team...or 'Mod Squad' as it was informally known as.

"Action!" bellowed the Chief.  "What's the latest on this woman?"

"I'm getting a photofit image of her so we can distribute that to all our mobile units, witnesses and newspapers.  We have a name...which is probably false but nonetheless a name she uses.  She gave her age as 27, which fits her physical description and another clue is that she says she's originally from out of town."

There was more Action could have mentioned:  The claims she was a hypnotist, or could levitate or that strange way she could just stay ahead of him as he chased her without breaking into a run.  To bring up those things to the Chief would probably lead him to being suspended and sent off to see a psychiatrist.  Instead, Action suppressed that information.

"So how did she get away?" said the Chief.

"She's skilled at escape and evasion, she managed to infiltrate Cuffe's house and plant a bomb and she's most likely the one who tried to shoot Lily Feng.  My guess is that she's a spook" replied Action.

"A spook?" the Chief didn't recognise the term.

"A spy, a secret agent...maybe one of ours, more likely a foreign agent.  That hint 'I'm from out of town' could be a clue.  It fits that she's works or has worked for some Intelligence agency."

The Chief paced up and down the office.  "Dammit!  If that's the case then we'll have the F.B.I. and the N.S.A. on our backs!  The paperwork...the paperwork!" he said.

"Sir...I want to get back out on the street, I want to shake down my informants...one of them should give us a lead." said Action.

The Chief nodded before turning to Cole.  "And I want your team to work their contacts and informants as well.  Apparently she's a fashionable young woman so she might be known in the latest trendy spots...your pimply squad should know where to look"

Cole said a brisk "yes sir!".

Action and Cole left the Chief's office and walked down the hall to the reception area together.

"So, Action, what avenue will you be pursing next?" Cole asked.

"Question everyone working for Cuffe and the Fengs.  Maybe this Leanne works in either organisation or has a contact in them.  I've asked one of Cuffe's Kittens to meet me here to give a statement.

"Well...if you need any help interrogating her then I'm available" said Cole.  "I mean I could be good cop, you could be bad cop"

"Easy bucko..." said Action.  "I know your angle:  This isn't a pick-up joint.  You get your squad out there into the clubs and I'll work with Miss Black Cat herself".  They could see, at the front desk, a strikingly attractive black woman who Action recognised from the time he had attended a Kitten Club meeting.  Her name was Yadira Rosado but was known publicly as Miss Black Cat:  Kitten of the Month for May 1966.  

"Yadira, good of you to come down" Action said.  "I need to ask some questions about the fire"

"Sure" Yadira replied.  "But I wasn't there so all I know is what I learned from Alan and Madelyn...oh, and what I saw on the news"

"Maybe you can shed some light on another matter" Action replied.  "Does the name Leanne McGregor ring any bells for you?"

"No, can't say it does" replied Yadira.

"Take a look at this picture...does she seem familiar?" he said, showing her the photofit image.  Yadira studied it for 10 seconds.

"Yeah, she does seem familiar.  I've seen her about...we did a show down at the Blue Velvet club last month and I saw her in the crowd.  It was weird; everyone was dancing and grooving but not her...that's why I remember...it seemed odd and out of place that she wasn't joining in.  Then, last week, I saw her again outside the Kitten Club in Newcrest when we had the big grand opening.  Again, she didn't come in to the club but she was hanging around for quite a while outside.  I remember arriving at the club in my normal clothes, going in to change into my costume and when I was ready I walked past the entrance and she was still there!  Half an hour after I'd arrived and still standing in the same spot!" 

 All this went into Action's notes but now he had to follow up this lead and head over to the newly built Kitten Club itself.

The club had opened only last week and was one of the brand new developments in Newcrest.  It looked pretty smart on the outside and Action was impressed.  He couldn't work out if Alan Cuffe, the founder of the Kitten Club and proprietor of Lothario magazine was the sexually liberated man of pleasure he made himself out to be or was he hiding something more sinister and criminal?

The interior didn't disappoint either.  It was large, modern and decked out in black, white and red.  Action sauntered past the bar and noticed the large dance floor in an adjacent room.  He nodded to the bartender "Is the boss in?" he asked.

"Upstairs" the man replied.

Action headed straight upstairs to find Cuffe and noticed his assistant, Madelyn, dressed up in her Kitten outfit and talking to a smart looking business type.

"Why, Detective Action, is this a business visit or....are you here for pleasure?" she said, flirtatiously.

"It's business today.  Is Cuffe around?" replied Action.

"He's over there...shame you're here on business.  Why not visit another time and have a little fun instead?" she said, winking at him.

"I might just do that" said Action.

Action saw Cuffe in the distance, talking to a member of his staff.  He sauntered over to the man and directly interrupted their conversation.

"Under no circumstances are the staff to reveal any of their personal details:  Last names, addresses or phone numbers.  You got that?" said Cuffe.  The man nodded.

"Mr Cuffe" said Action.

"Detective...you have this unerring gift of showing up when I'm at my busiest" replied Cuffe.

"I need to ask some more questions"

"I figured that the moment I saw you enter...let's go over here; it's more discrete."  Cuffe showed Action over to a seating area with deep, leather sofas.  "Do you like the place, Detective?  This is phase 3 of my grand business plan."

"What were phases 1 & 2?" asked Action.

"Phase 1 was the establishment of Lothario magazine, phase 2 was the creation of a social club and an image in human form..."

"The Kittens"

"That's right.  This is phase 3:  The building of a bricks and mortar venue for men of taste and sophistication to meet women who can satisfy those needs"

"Some might call that prostitution" said Action, cynically.

"Detective, I am disappointed with your grubby imagination.  This is not vice...no money changes hands for 'services rendered'.  This is a venue to facilitate liberated social interaction, I make money from club membership, food and drink and merchandising.  Now I thought you were investigating the attempts on mine and Madelyn's lives"

"And also my colleague, Marina" said Action.

"Of course.  I hear she's been discharged from hospital now.  Excellent news.  Now what do you wish to ask me about?"

Action pulled out the photofit image.  "Do you recognise this woman?  She goes by the name of Leanne McGregor" he said.

Cuffe took the image and looked at it, at one time holding it at arms length from his face.  "Hmmm, can't say I do" was all he replied.

"Look at it again.  This woman was standing for half an hour outside of your club on the opening day.  One of your closest members of staff remembers seeing her and I bet if I asked around more would recognise her as well.  Funny that you don't, seeing that you oversaw everything on that opening day."

"Well, the face does seem quite familiar..." said Cuffe, nonchalantly.

"She was also the woman seen standing outside your home on the morning of the fire, the woman seen talking to Nancy Landgraab."  

"I was a little preoccupied that morning with Marina at that time, so to speak"

"I bet you were" said Action, cynically.  "I'll ask you again; do you recognise this woman and believe me, Cuffe, I'll haul each and every one of your staff down to the station to interrogate them until I get a straight answer.  You could save a lot of lost time and business if you level with me now."

Cuffed hummed and eventually said "Yes, I have met her...only the once.  I met her at a bar in Willow Creek and got chatting.  I thought she had the potential to become a Lothario Kitten and offered her a position in my organisation.  She declined and looking back I think it was a good decision:  There was something in her manner that was cold and remote...not the qualities I look for in a Kitten."

"And on the day of the opening?" continued Action.

"Well....yes..." Cuffe was getting defensive now.  "A couple of times but I was too busy to take an interest in what she was doing there."

"I'm getting the impression you're not being entirely straight with me" said Action, a forceful tone in his voice.  "This woman clearly makes you nervous just talking about her.  What else do you know?"

"Look, Action, she's way above your pay grade.  Don't ask me how I know, I just know that she's best left to the F.B.I. or C.I.A. or someone at that level.  A local plod just won't cut it even if he does swagger around in a fancy suit."

"Is she a foreign intelligence agent?  I have good reason to suspect she is" said Action, homing in on what Cuffe had just said.

Cuffe paused and looked at a random patch of the carpet as he composed his thoughts.  "Yes...along those lines, Detective.  Like I said, she's above your grade."

Action stood up, pointed his index finger at Cuffe's chest and pressed hard.  "Don't hold ANYTHING back from me in future, Cuffe.  Or else I might just have to run a background check on your staff"

Action walked away but paused to speak with Madelyn again.  "Say, Madelyn" he began "do you recognise this woman?" he said, showing her the image.

"Yeah, that's the woman who came to fix the electrics in the living room" said Madelyn.

Action nodded and walked out of the club but as he did so he saw a familiar face, and not particularly a welcome one either.  Aurora Ahmed:  A career criminal who specialised in breaking and entry.  He'd busted her a few months ago for her part in a string of robberies but the D.A. cut a deal before she went to trial where she gave up some names of pretty important organised crime bosses in exchange for a suspended sentence.  Now she was here in the Kitten Club.

"Well, well, well, a bad penny always shows up" he said, sitting next to her.  "You should be doing jail time"

"I cut a deal with the D.A....I don't want to do another stretch in the slammer so...get this...I'm now a paid police informant.  Get a load of that" she replied.

"There's no justice in this world.  But seeing as you're an informant now and I'm still the law I need to put you to work."

"I charge a fee" she replied.

"I'm sure you do.  Here's 50 Simoleons to get you started.  I want to find this woman" he said, once again showing the image.  "The name's Leanne McGregor, age 27, probably foreign but speaks English fluently.  We think she's with some kind of secret agent."

Aurora studied the photo.  "And if I find her I want a bonus" she said.

Action then headed to downtown San Myshuno where he had more informants.  It was the same routine:  Show the photo and give out the name.  

After pounding the beat, he did see one more person he was keen on speaking with:  The woman who began this whole investigation when a folder containing photographs from a fashion shoot belonging to her was snatched by a local petty criminal working for someone higher up and unknown.  That woman's name was Penny Pizazz.

"Miss Pizazz" said Action as he approached her.

"Detective....Action, is it?" she replied.

"That's right, do you have a moment to talk?"

"Sure, Detective, what's up?"

"Those photographs that were stolen from you?  Were they all the photos that were taken that day?"

"Oh goodness me, no" she replied emphatically.  "The photographer will shoot reels and reels of film but only select the very best for publication, which is what I had in that folder."

"What happens to the other photos, the one's not chosen?" asked Action.

"Well, the photographer will have the negatives of those and the proof sheets:  That's a photo print of all the negatives...small, thumbnail sized images...on one photograph."

"Where can I find the photographer who took them?"

"His name's Michael Hemmingstamp but he's a British photographer who spends most of his time in the UK and only occasionally visits Sim City."

Action cursed under his breath.  He needed to see those photographs to see if one of them captured the gunman more clearly.  "Well, if you hear from him or he returns to the city can you give me a call straight away...here's my card.  Thank you"

Action headed back to Precinct 13 to report on and type up everything he'd gathered today then he finished his shift and headed home...late.  It had been a day of slow progress; of piecing together fragments of information about Leanne McGregor.  He had done pretty much all he could have done, it was now in the hands of the police force as a whole to use that information and hunt her down.

As he arrived at Foundry Cove he saw a familiar face lurking on the street corner:  Aurora Ahmed.

"Aurora, what are you doing here?" he asked.

"I've come to tell you, Action, I'm out."  She looked bothered by something or someone.

"What?  Did you find something out about McGregor?"

"I found things out and I don't want to be anywhere near your case...she's dangerous, Action, and you're out of your depth!  Take my advice; quit this case as well."

"What did you find out?" said Action, forcefully.  "Do you need more money?"

Aurora shook her head.  "You can't afford to pay that much to keep me involved!  This is my life, Action, and the risks are too great.  McGregor is highly dangerous and you'll be a gonner if you mess with her."

"WHAT.  DID. YOU.  FIND.  OUT?" He repeated, shaking her by the shoulders.  She shrugged him off. 

"No...I'm out.  Drop the case...hand it over to the Feds...or the Army." and with that she walked off into the night.