CHAPTER 128: Getting To Know You

 

"Gooooooooooooooooooood morning Liberty!  Isn't it just a lovely day?  I've already been out for my run around the neighbourhood and I'm feeling pretty, pretty, perky and fired up!  And you?" 

"Summer, must you be so...perky and fired up at..." Liberty looked at her watch "...6:13 in the morning?"

"It's the best part of the day!  Why are you wearing sunglasses indoors?" asked Summer.

"Well, me and some of the others at work were celebrating that we're all going to go down to the Cape for the launch next month and we hit the Blue Velvet....hard in my case...so we had a few drinks, then Julia did a set at the piano...she's really good, by the way...and I stayed for a few more...." said Liberty, feeling her temples.

"Say no more!  I know a good hangover cure...let me whisk you up a dose." said Summer, opening up the fridge and grabbing a few ingredients.  

"Ugh, I need to be at work later today, I hope your cure works" said Liberty.  "Lots of things to get ready before I have to leave for the Cape"

Summer handed Liberty a lilac coloured drink and told her to drink it in one go.  Liberty looked suspiciously at the glass, pinched her nose and gulped it down as instructed.  

"That was....an interesting flavour" said Liberty, gurning afterwards.

"Never fails" said Summer.  "So have you told Gary about you going to Cape Canaveral?"

"Oh no!  I haven't!  I must do so as soon as possible...or at least very soon" said Liberty, shocked at her oversight.

"But you must tell him!" said Summer in surprise.

"I know...I'll tell him today but in person.  I'll phone him..." she said, looking at her watch again "...after 8am: at a more civilised time"

"You know, when I was growing up in the countryside we used to get our most urgent business of the day before 8am" said Summer.

"Well, this is Sim City, not the countryside!" replied Liberty.

Liberty left the kitchen but a clunk from Travis' bedroom indicated that he'd just woken up.  As was common in this house, everyone seemed to end up congregating there.  As Summer went to check in on him, she noticed that Liberty was already there.

"Travis, aren't you dressed yet?" said Summer.  "You wake up and start working on your electronics projects before you use the bathroom or have breakfast"

"I go with the electron flow, Summer" said Travis with a shrug.

"I'm jealous Liberty..." he continued.  "I wish I could go see a rocket launch.  The closet I ever got was when we launched Akiko Yamaguchi's '59 Buick from off the top of Acquisition Butte."

"What are you like, Travis Scott?" said Summer, rolling her eyes.

"I'm the way you like me, baby" replied Travis.  "Anyway, for your benefit Summer, I will go and have a shower, get dressed and have some breakfast" he said, getting up and walking out of the room.

"You know, that hangover cure you gave me is starting to work.  I'll freshen myself up and then give Gary a call.  Maybe we can meet down at the park?" said Liberty.

 "Sounds good...I wish I could go to the park as well" sighed Summer.

"Actually, I want you to be there...a bit of moral support for me:  I am nervous about telling him, what if he reacts badly?"

"But three's a crowd and he'll want to spend time with you" said Summer, awkwardly.

"Please be there...you can lurk a bit.  Take in the nature but be there just in case it all goes wrong and I'm crying and he's at his wits end..."

"Whoa!  That's a big assumption there!  But OK, I'll come along too"

"Come along where?" said Travis, entering the room again but this time fully dressed.

"Oh we're off to the park today" said Summer.

"I'm jealous.  Got to go to work soon" replied Travis.

"I'll phone Gary" said Liberty, leaving.

Travis sat down next to Summer on his old bed.  "We should trade this in for a couch" he said as he nuzzled next to her.

"I do like you in that jacket" said Summer.

"I like you with your hair down" Travis replied.

"Why thank you...what shall..." but at that moment Liberty burst into the room.

"He said he'll meet us down there soon!" said Liberty, loudly.

"Terrific" said Travis, flatly, as his little romantic moment with Summer had evaporated.

Travis headed off to work and the girls went down to Magnolia Blossom Park to meet with Gary.  Liberty saw him off in the distance so she shooed Summer away and headed off to greet him...Summer went for a bit of a nature ramble but always kept Liberty and Gary in sight as she really wanted to know the outcome of their meeting.

The two lovebirds gave each other a big hug and went to sit down on a nearby park bench.  They made some small talk before Liberty cleared her throat and got to the matter in hand.  

"Gary...I have to go away for work" she said, sombrely.  

"You do?  When?  Where?" he was taken aback.

"It's to Cape Canaveral for the launch.  I'll be gone for about two weeks at the end of this month and beginning of next one"

"I won't see you for two weeks?  And it feels like I've only just gotten to know you" he replied.

"I know, I know" said Liberty, looking downcast.  "But you know how much my work means to me and this is a really important mission...well, they all are really.  The deadline to get to the Moon..."

"...before this decade is out.  Yes, I remember the president's words very well" said Gary.  "What can I say, Liberty?  You're doing something of great historic importance.  I understand our relationship is not going to be spoken about in the centuries to come!"

"Well, it might" said Liberty.  "Depending on whether you'll still be here when I get back" she added.

"Why wouldn't I be?  Two weeks?  Pah!  It'll be difficult but I think I can manage that." he said.  "In the meantime, we should make the most of the time we have together" he said, smiling at last.

From a distance, Summer spotted the two kissing and did a little celebratory shuffle.  She waited, and waited....and waited...for the two to pull apart before heading back to them.

"Why Liberty, Gary, how wonderful to see you!  All is well I hope?" said Summer.

"Everything's fine" said Liberty.

"Well then, I saw a butcher's van drive through there and stopped him to buy some food for later on...but, heck, why not celebrate with a slightly early lunch right here?" said Summer.

"Sounds good...I'm hungry already" said Gary.

Liberty and Gary played some chess, Summer grilled and any fears that Gary would be devastated and storm off were dispelled.  Their little band was joined by Julia Epstein, who wanted to spectate on the chess game.  "Liberty, your Queen is exposed if you move it there....oh, too late..." said Julia, as she noticed that Gary had moved, quick as a flash to take Liberty's Queen and leave her King exposed.  It was checkmate 2 moves later.

Summer waved and said hello to Julia.  "Hey, I heard you played a great set last night.  You know, I must drag Travis down to the club to watch you play the next time...lunch is ready, will you stay and join us?"

"Is it Kosher?" said Julia.

"It's beef" replied Summer.  Julia nodded and stayed for a bite to eat.

The four of them sat, ate and chatted with each other for an hour before Julia made her way onwards and Liberty had an eye on the time as she had to get to work.  She and Gary took a short walk, away from prying eyes, and they kissed once more before she had to go.  Gary walked back towards the chess and BBQ area and slumped down in one of the chairs whilst letting out a sigh.

"Oh Gary" said Summer "are you bummed out about Liberty having to go?"

"Yes and not just now, but when she has to go to the Cape." he said.

"You know, Gary, that's part of her job and she does travel far with it.  She often has to go to Cape Canaveral, Houston and Huntsville.  I feel sorry for those in the military who have to go far away and for much longer times."

"Do you have any family in the military, Summer?" asked Gary.

"No.  I mean my dad was in the army in WW2 but I wasn't born then.  You?"

"None of my family are currently serving.  Like you, dad was in the army in WW2 but he spent the whole of it in the War Department in Washington.  I had an uncle who fought...but...he didn't make it back"

Summer nodded silently in sympathy.

"On a cheerier note" began Summer.  "You shouldn't worry about being apart from Libs for a couple of weeks.  I feel you're part of our little gang now, how about you come over to our house for a bit and hang out with Travis and myself?  If you've nothing else you want to do"

Gary nodded.  "I have nothing pressing right now and you think of me as part of the gang?  Wow, I mean you guys seem so close knit."

"You're Liberty's beau and that qualifies you for membership too!" said Summer, perking up again.

Gary was swayed by Summer's jollity and the two of them headed back to Garden Essence where Summer mixed some drinks for them.

"There you go; some Mint Juleps!" said Summer.  Gary took a sip

"Hmmm, this is nice, thanks" he said.  "Liberty tells me you're a chef" 

"Chef's a bit of a stretch...I work for a chef.  I mainly do food preparation although I do also tend the bar in the restaurant from time to time."

"Which do you prefer?" 

"Chef's a big responsibility...more skilled, better pay but longer hours and it is intense.  With bar tending it's better for meeting people and socialising." she said.

"You're very much a people person, I've noticed" said Gary.

"There's nothing nicer than putting a smile on people's faces, particularly when they've been sad" she replied.

"Liberty's never mentioned what you do?" she asked.

Gary smiled ruefully.  "Well, a bit of this and that for my father's company.  I'm a kind of troubleshooter, his eyes and ears really.  I visit the various branches, talk to the people on the ground there and feed back to dad and his close associates."

"Is that what you want to do, follow in your father's footsteps?"

"I don't know.  I'm not even the heir, you know?  I'm the middle child so I keep thinking I might branch out on my own one day" and his rueful smile turned into a warm, hopeful one.

Summer smiled and finished her drink and that that moment, Travis came home.  "Hey Summer....oh, hi Gary.  How's everyone?" he said, surprised to see that Summer was entertaining another man on her own.

"Fine thanks, Travis" said Gary.

"I invited Travis home so he could hang out with us and we could get to know the man who has swept our Liberty off her feet a little better" said Summer.  "Can I get everyone another drink?" she added.

The guys nodded and they went over to the bar.  Travis grabbed something to eat at the same time.  

"Travis, you should make an effort to be friendly to Gary" she whispered to him.

"What do I say?" replied Travis.

"Just strike up a conversation...maybe invite him out when you next have a guy's night out?"

"I don't know...I mean, we're a pretty tight bunch"

"Did I mention that his family's loaded?"

"Right...he can get the drinks in" said Travis, suddenly convinced.

Travis wasn't bad at talking with people either and soon the chat flowed and everyone relaxed.  

"It's a pretty nice little community you have here.  I think I've met most of your neighbours now" said Gary.

"Oh this place is just the best!" said Summer.  "You have Jeremy and Barbara and they're the sweetest, most adorable couple you could meet"

"Yeah, Jez is my best friend" added Travis.  "We hang out a lot.  You should join us some time"

"And then there's Suzy and her fiancé Neil.  She's so beautiful..." said Summer

"She sure is..." said Travis before realising what he'd just said.  "I mean, apart from Summer of course"

"...and adventurous as well." continued Summer "I'm often helping her with her journalism with the research and even stake outs!  She's getting married to a great guy as well"

"Then there's Action" said Travis.  "He's a cop and the coolest guy you could meet"

"And Julia you know from earlier.  She's sweet and so clever.  She might seem aloof on the surface but she's got a real heart of gold.  And now we've got you" said Summer, looking at Gary.

"I'm glad you think I'm part of the gang now" said Gary, bashfully.  "Well, this has been great but I too have things to be doing now.  Summer, you're a ray of sunshine and Travis, yes, let me know when you and the guys are doing something together, I'd like to come along."

Gary said goodbye and left and Summer was still buzzing.  "I'm so happy for Liberty...and it's funny to think they met completely by chance!" she said.

"You know, we're FINALLY alone, you and me.  How about we stop talking about everyone else and enjoy what time we've got before Libs comes home?"

"What do you have in mind?" asked Summer, kind of knowing the answer to that one.

Travis went to the record player and put on some music to set the mood.  Then he sat down right next to Summer.

"I was thinking of something like this to start with" said Travis as he put his arm around Summer.

"To start with?" said Summer, playfully

"Oh yes, we get a little close, we whisper sweet nothings in each others ears such as..." and he turned to say something almost inaudible to anyone other than her.

"Oh Travis!  That's a bit naughty!" she giggled when she heard his whisper.

"Not as naughty as this" he said, giving her ear a little, playful nibble.

"You know...I've fancied you for such a long time" she said, looking into his eyes.

"I knew there was some frisson between us when we first moved in here" he replied.

"No.  Before that.  I've fancied you since high school" she said.

"Wait!  We were at high school together?" he said, surprised.

"Oh yes...mind you I was a couple of years below you but even then I thought you were dreamy"

"I had no idea!"

"You had no idea I existed back then"

"Well...no.  You just didn't pay attention to girls two years below you.

"I was kind of fat and spotty as well"

"Hard to believe.  Wow, this is a revelation.  Kismet, eh?  Destiny"

"Destiny.  So...what else did you have in mind for this evening?" she said, flirtatiously.

Travis explained in actions rather than words:  First, they made out on the couch but things got very passionate very quickly and they were half out of their clothes whilst lying on it, kissing and fondling each other.  Then they agreed to rush to the bedroom whilst the intensity was still high.  Travis' jacket, which won him praise from Summer, soon went flying across the bedroom into a pile with Summer's dress.  They dived into bed and made love.  The dream that Summer Holliday had since 10th Grade had come true.

CHAPTER 127: Tinkling The Ivories

 

Ah, the peace and tranquillity of Desert Bloom Park in Oasis Springs on a warm sunny May morning was just what Julia Epstein had needed after the weekend she just had.  Her parents came to visit ostensibly to spend time with their only daughter but also, Julia suspected, to check up on her and snoop on her life.  They couldn't help it:  They were protective parents who didn't even like the idea of her moving out of the family home to come live in Willow Creek.  In between the meals and the time spent playing bridge, Monopoly or watching the TV came the incessant questions about her personal life.

"Are you saving up enough?  You're a doctor, they should be paying you more!" said her dad.

"Gideon, I'm sure she's doing just fine in the money department but the décor could do with a bit of sprucing up and frankly, Julia, so does your wardrobe....how are you going to land yourself a decent man if you dress like a beatnik?"

"Thelma, don't hassle our Julia with talk about men!  It's her financial security that's important!  Julia, you should move into private practice once your hospital rotation is finished."

Talk of men invariably brought up a few names, namely Kerry Fry.  "You know his mother's such a dear" said Thelma Epstein.  "Does a lot for the Rotary Club and her pot roast is divine!  The husband...meh...but he's a decent man.  What does Kerry do again?"

"He's in ecology" said Julia.

"Ecology..." said Thelma, shrugging her shoulders.  "Well, at least it's an -ology.  You should pursue him, Julia, before someone else does!"

Even a visit Saturday night by Aunt Elle added to the chaos but, fortunately, she had taken her medication so her mood was a lot less volatile.  But the overall feeling was that Julia felt like a visitor in her own home as it was taken over by her family.  So it was some relief when they went home early this morning and Julia sought some peace and quiet by visiting her favourite park.

A smartly dressed young man entered the park area and sat down at a table near where Julia was finishing up preparing some food...her idea was to make a batch of grilled sandwiches and take them to work to share around but this young man looked at them with keen interest.  Julia had noticed the man was dressed in what was currently very popular among men:  A pale coloured shirt and tie combination.  It was a look that Julia approved of and wished more men would adopt.

"Hey, good looking, what you've got cooking?" he said to Julia.

Momentarily taken aback, she ignored the attempt at flattery and merely said "Those are hamburgers; I made loads so please help yourself to one".

"I'll just do that" said the man, winking.

"Are you on your way to work?" asked Julia.

"Kind of...I'm ahead of the game today:  Got some time to spare to come down here and I just happened to have lucked out by getting some delicious chow and meeting a little desert blossom here" he said, again smiling flirtatiously.

"Where do you work?" asked Julia, avoiding responding to the attempts at flirting.

"I'm a senior....at Buckingham High...yeah, I'll be soon graduating and going on to Britechester to study law.  I haven't seen you around, do you go to another school?"

"I'm a doctor over at Willow Creek Hospital" said Julia, flatly.

"You mean...you're not in high school?  But I could have sworn...." said the young man, suddenly looking pale and shocked.

"I'm twenty two" said Julia.  "And to be fair, you look a lot older than....17 I guess?"

"Erm, yeah, erm, thanks for the burger, lady...I mean, Doctor...bye!  Got class in a few minutes" and with that he got up and ran off.  Julia did smile this time:  The boy was sweet thinking he could impress her by trying to sound mature.  But he was right about one thing...time was pressing on and she needed to get to work.

"No, to be fair he was really sweet and I felt sorry for him as he ran away in embarrassment" said Julia, recounting her story to Francesca and Harper at work.

"Your problem is that you dress like one of those bookish high school seniors, Julia" said Harper.  "One day you, me and Francesca will head on down to the Fashion District and give your wardrobe a thorough makeover!"

"Anyway, Dr Epstein..." interrupted Francesca "...we need to clear some bed space this morning so you'd better get on with it.  Here's a list of patients and their prescribed treatments"

"I will get on to these with pleasure....Harper, put your idea on hold...indefinitely!" said Julia.

The first patient was Judy Keith, age 17.  The girl was a very pretty blonde and Julia surmised that she was the type that was used to getting attention and didn't like it when she didn't.

"Finally, a doctor has come to see me!  I've been in here nearly 2 hours and have seen no one, no one!" said Miss Keith.

"That's because our doctors have been analysing your samples and making diagnoses, Miss Keith" replied Julia, checking her notes.  "Now it turns out that it was just a stomach upset, nothing more serious than that.  Here's some medication for you to take and it should sort out your problem over the next 24 hours.  Until then, get some rest"

"Get some rest!  I've got a date tonight!  Doc, tell me straight...this stuff you're giving me; it won't give me spots or make my hair fall out?" said Judy, worriedly.

"It won't...but I'd call a rain cheque on that date if I were you" said Julia.

"Well, I'm not you.  I've got a date with a real dreamboat tonight and I've got to be there otherwise he'll go off with that Lulu Strang!  Grrr!  Lulu Strang!  She's always sniffing around the guys I like!"

"I can tell you that if you do go on that date and you get a recurrence of your stomach problems then you'll be barfing all over the place and he won't like that at all.  Plus, if he's so easily lured away by this...ahem...Lulu Strang or whatever her name is then he's not the right guy for you in the first place"

"Ugh, you sound like my mom!" replied Judy.

"Just take the medicine, Judy" said Julia, handing her the cup.  Judy looked at it suspiciously for a moment before pinching her nose and gulping it down.  

After that, the young girl was told she could leave and she hurriedly put on her trendy street clothes and checked her makeup before running out of the hospital to meet her parents in the lobby.  Julia watched her leave; all flustered about being late and continually checking her hair and brushing any lint on her skirt away.  Teenagers, Julia thought, she didn't understand them any better now than she did when she was one.

The next patient was a Miss Michelle Prather, age 29.  "That's more like it" thought Julia.

"What seems to be the problem, Miss Prather?" asked Julia

"Ugh, I keep getting these headaches, hot flushes and jittery nerves" replied the patient.

"OK, I'm going to perform some tests and ask you a little about your health in general..." said Julia.  She felt around the head, then around the stomach...looking for some signs that might indicate whether Miss Prather was pregnant or not.

"Now are you sexually active at the moment?" asked Julia.

Miss Prather started to breathe rapidly and shallowly.  "NO!" she said, loudly, and with tears welling up in her eyes.

"OK...we can rule out you being pregnant" said Julia, awkwardly.  Clearly she'd touched an emotional raw nerve there.  "OK, let's get a scan of your head instead..." Julia led Miss Prather off to X-Ray.

The X-ray having been performed, Julia went to write up her case notes whilst she waited for radiology to report back.  As she typed up the diagnosis and treatment of Judy Keith and began a preliminary report on Michelle Prather she could detect that her supervisor, Dr Murakami, was looking up from her own work to cast a beady eye on her.  She never missed a trick to put Julia on the spot...well, she thought, I have to make these notes thorough.

As she typed, she noticed that one of the lab analysers had broken and the water reservoir inside it had sprung a leak, disgorging its contents all over the floor.  Murakami looked up, noticed the sparks and the puddle and looked over at Julia.  With a cough and and a tilt of her head, Murakami let her know that she expected Julia to deal with it.  With a supressed sigh, Julia got up, switched off the analyser and grabbed mop from the janitor's cupboard.

But there was to be no respite:  The reports on Miss Prather came back and it appeared that there was nothing on her brain...no injury, no tumour and nothing to cause immediate concern.  

"Miss Prather; your tests show that there's no injury or nothing on your brain.  I think it's to do with stress...do you currently take any medication for nerves?" she asked.

"Well, just some Valium...maybe 1 or 2 a day...or maybe 3 or 4." replied Miss Prather.

"In that case I would recommend cutting right down on those and take up something more involving and non-drug related like join an exercise class or even a yoga session.  I routinely attend yoga classes and it helps me stay calm and focussed...and, might I suggest, it's a good way to meet other people.  Other, single, people"  Normally Julia would counsel AGAINST romance but this young woman was clearly too stressed out and taking more and more Valium was not the answer for her.  

And after that there were more patients to see....businessmen who had injured themselves playing squash...

...and the return of Mr Savalani:  The man who thought he was god's gift to women doctors.  Well, what if she made it that he had to go for some tests at the same time as Miss Prather...maybe they'll strike up a conversation.

It was getting near the end of her shift and Julia had fixed the analyser, cleaned up the mess, cured 3 patients and diagnosed a couple more and then finished her reports.  She felt exhausted and in need of a rest...it was then that Dr Murakami appeared in the staff room.

"Doctor Epstein...I've read your reports and observed your performance today" said Murakami.

Julia's heart sank, Murakami usually spoke to her like this when she thought Julia hadn't done enough in one shift.  Here comes the rebuke...

"You've done very well, recently.  I'm promoting you one grade as of today" said Murakami.  Julia was lost for words.

"Well, don't rest on your laurels...more is expected of you now." said Murakami but Julia didn't mind that part so much; she'd been promoted!  However, she was in need of some fun...and she had an evening gig at the Blue Velvet this evening!  A bit of tinkling the ivories would help.

Julia was keen to perform her cool jazz set this evening to see if the regulars down at the Blue Velvet would like that kind of music.  It was known as a pretty hard core Blues venue but a little bit of jazz would broaden the repertoire.  As she played, more and more people started to gather around the piano and started to listen appreciatively.  This was cool jazz so no dancing or bopping here but people stood, sat and nodded along to the music.  Then the audience started to throw money into the large brandy glass placed at the end of the piano for tips.  The more she played, the more full that glass became.

The tips alone could buy her a meal at the club and have plenty left over so she made her way to the bar after her first set to get a plate of the chef's special.  Along the way she received plenty of plaudits for her playing.  This was, without doubt, the best public performance she had ever given:  The gamble to play a jazz set had paid off.

As she sat at the bar, enjoying a rest, Liberty Lee showed up and was full of bounce and joy.  "Julia!  Great set!  I should come down here more often to catch you performing!"

"I'm glad you liked it" said Julia.  "You don't think it was too...jazzy, do you?"

"I wasn't a fan of jazz before, I am now!  Anyway, let me buy you a drink and celebrate lots of good things!" said Liberty.

"Well...I got a promotion today" said Julia.

"It's your day today, isn't it!" said Liberty, enthusiastically.  "Well I have good news to celebrate as well:  I've been assigned as one of the pad crew for the next Gemini mission!"

Julia didn't know quite what that meant but she raised a glass of cheer to Liberty. 

"So I fly down to Cape Canaveral in a few weeks time and I'll be there, with the actual capsule, doing the pre-flight checks for the crew" continued Liberty.  Julia just about could work out what that might mean.

"So you're not actually going to go into space?" asked Julia.

"Oh no!  You still have to be a pilot to fly into space" Liberty shrugged.  "But this is the next best thing as I get to actually sit in the capsule and flick switches"

"Well, we do have a lot to celebrate tonight...let me buy you another drink from my takings" said Julia.

"Good set tonight, Julia" said the barman.  "You've packed the place!  You can have a weekly residency from now on"

"Wow!  Gosh!  Thank you!" said Julia, wide eyed with excitement.

"Just one suggestion..." added the barman.  "...the beatnik style really isn't the scene around here:  Could you spruce up what you wear when you gig here next?"

Julia let out a sigh...

CHAPTER 126: Mindbender

 

"Dang!  You are looking sharp today!" said Action to himself as he checked out his reflection in the bedroom mirror.  It was going to be a smooth day off:  A workout, a trip down to the old Spice Quarter for a bite to eat and then taking Katherine down to the club for a little dance and a date and finally back here, with girlfriend in tow for a little woohoo magic between the sheets.  

But his moment of self-satisfaction was burst when there was a loud and repeated banging on his front door and ringing of his doorbell.

"Sheesh!  Calm down, bucko, where's the fire?" he sighed in exasperation as he headed to the door.  The pounding and ringing weren't letting up and, as a precaution, Action reached for his .38 service revolver from his shoulder holster.

"Who is it?" he said, before he opened the door.

"Alan Cuffe!  This is a matter of urgency, Detective!" came the voice, which sounded like Cuffe's alright.  Action opened the door but made sure the chain was still in place.  Peering through the gap with his pistol at the ready, he could see it was Cuffe.  He slid back the chain and let him in.

"It's my day off, Cuffe.  This had better be urgent" said Action.

"It is, Action, otherwise I wouldn't be here!" replied Cuffe.

"OK, how about you tell me what's going down?" said Action, offering Cuffe a chair whilst he put the pistol back in its holster.

"I'm being followed, my every move observed" said Cuffe.  

"Who'd want to do that?" said Action, leaning back on the wall and folding his arms.

"Them!  The people who are out to get me!"

"OK, let's back this up here...so what happened that makes you think that?"

"I was playing chess in Desert Bloom Park with Victor Feng...we occasionally meet up to play or talk and today it happened to be the park...when I noticed this guy following us, watching us from the other side of the park and using something that looked like a diary only he wasn't writing in it.  He just held it in front of him but in our direction"

"How can you be sure he was following you?  What if he was following Feng instead?" Action felt Cuffe was being paranoid.

"Because after our game Victor went to do some fishing while I headed home...this guy followed me from the table to where I'd parked my car, still holding his diary thing in front of him as if it were some kind of camera" said an agitated Cuffe.

Action stood up and paced the room, slowly.  "This could have waited, Cuffe, until you could get to a police station.  This is my day off" he said.

"Action!  I know if I bring you in on this the job will get done!  These...people...they're getting closer to me and that can't happen!  I want shot of the lot of them, I want no further part of their plans!  Get them off my back, Action!"

Action stood before Cuffe.  "OK, what did this guy look like?" he said.

"Red hair, a little long at the back and Brylcreemed down the sides and at the front.  Pale skin, really pale, and with a tiny downwards pointing triangular beard...also red, like the hair.  Blue/grey denim jacket and faded red pants."

Action wrote this all down.  "OK, I'll make some enquiries" he said.

"Do it, Action...I know you want to catch these people and I think this guy's working with Leanne." said Cuffe.

Action took a deep breath.  "I was thinking the same".  That clinched it; if he could get this guy then maybe he could catch Leanne.  She was the key to the whole mystery.  So the work out will just have to wait...

On his way into town he bumped into his work colleague, Prisha Dhatta.  Action hadn't seen her in that dress before:  It was long with an abstract pattern but cut very, very low to reveal a whole different side of her than Action was used to.

"Dhatta, all dressed up...I hope you have somewhere to go" said Action.

"I'm meeting a guy, Action, it's my day off as well" she replied.

"I didn't know you had a man in your life, Prish" said Action, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

"There's a lot about me you don't know" she replied, coyly.  "And right on cue, here he is"

"Prisha!" cried the man, enthusiastically, as he walked down the road.  He was one of those button down types with neatly parted black hair and big, round glasses.  He approached Prisha and kissed her on the cheek.

"Action...this is Herbert" she said, making the introductions.

"Is your name really Action?" said the man.

"Is your name really Herbert?" replied Action, shaking the guy's hand.

"Anyway, we must get getting along now" said Prisha, fearful that Action would say something snide to Herbert.  "I'll see you on Monday, Action"

"Have fun you two" he replied.  Herbert!  He thought.  The guy even looked like one.

The Fashion District, San Myshuno was Action's destination...a diversion of his original plan to hang out in his old neighbourhood of the Spice Quarter where he would shoot some hoops, eat some Ramen and hang with the local cats down at the Waterside Warble.  The Fashion District was a different scene; hip, happening and in touch with the Now Generation.  It was also where Leanne, or one of her associates, tried to shoot Lily Feng and Madelyn Buchanan.

Action cased the area, half in hope that his suspects would show themselves.  Realistically he thought about a line of enquiry he and the police should have taken in the first place, but failed to do so.  They searched the immediate area, they questioned everyone who was in this specific corner of the Fashion District but they hadn't interviewed the food stall vendors or the bar staff.  Action was here to correct that oversight.

As he made his way through the district he came across an anti-war demonstration.

"1...2...3...4...we don't want your Vietnam War!" yelled someone holding a megaphone.  The others present held up signs with the peace symbol and other slogans on them.  Action looked on:  He'd been out there and he knew first hand what it was like.  He didn't have much time for the senior leaders who were mismanaging the war, in his opinion, and getting mired in the dirty business between North and South Vietnam but he still had buddies...fellow Marines...putting their lives on the line and doing their duty and he wondered what they'd think if they knew some folks back home weren't supporting them.  

One of the people at the protest looked on but didn't seem engaged by it.  Action approached her and showed her the photo-fit image of Leanne McGregor and gave a description of this new suspect, asking if she'd seen either of them.  She shook her head.  Action then headed over to the food vendor and was surprised to see that the guy behind the counter was the spitting image of the man Cuffe had described.  He sat down at a bench.

"Hey, can I get a hot dog with onions and mustard?" said Action.

"Yes, certainly sir" said the man, who flashed a momentary look of surprise when he saw Action.

Your hunch payed off, Action he thought to himself.  Yes, it made sense...if this guy was an associate of Leanne's then he'd be the lookout whilst she set up the hit on Lily and Madelyn.

When Action went to collect his hot dog he paid the guy and started to casually question him.

"Say, do you know either Victor Feng or Alan Cuffe?" Action asked.

"I might do, who wants to know?" said the man.

"Detective John Action, Sim City P.D." said Action, showing him his police badge.

"Look...I can't talk now, I'm still on my shift.  I finish in half an hour; I'll meet you over at Planet Honey Pop"

"You'd better" said Action, taking his hot dog and sitting down to eat...all the while observing the vendor.  Once he'd finished he headed over to the bar.

The place was half empty; most patrons were over at the bar..  Action scoped out a place where he could keep an eye on the vendor, in case he decided to slip away.  As he was surveying the scene a familiar looking woman approached him.

"Hi, Action" said Tasha, aka Miss Ginger, in a sultry voice.

"Are you here on business...or are you off duty?" she said.

"A little of both.  Say, do you know who that guy is over there?  The one selling hot dogs?" Action replied.

"Him?  Yeah, his name's Luke...don't know his last name though.  He works over there and usually comes in here at the end of his shift to have a few drinks." Tasha replied.

"Does he have any friends or a crowd he hangs out with here?"

"Not that I know of.  He usually comes and leaves alone but sometimes he'll chat with other customers.  I don't know, I can't quite put my finger on it but he kind of gives me the creeps.  Nothing definite, you know, but there's a creepy aura about him.  Why?  Is he a suspect?"

"Maybe...but I'll need something more to go on than a creepy aura, Tash.  Stay cool, I'll catch you later" said Action, giving Tasha a smile.

"You'd better" said Tasha, flirtatiously.

Action made his way over to the bar and noticed that he could see out the window to the food shack.  Luke continued serving until he pulled the shutter down, whereupon Action lost sight of him momentarily.  He got off the barstool and walked closer to the window, ready to pursue the guy if he tried to cut and run.  But, after a few minutes, this Luke character had changed his outfit from his work overalls to a shirt and tie combo and made his way to the bar.  He saw Action and walked over, sitting down next to him. 

"Detective John Action, I am here as agreed" said Luke.

"What happened to your moustache?" asked Action, noticing that the man's appearance had slightly changed from when he first saw him.

"Appearances can change" replied the man, flatly.

"And you're called Luke...what?  What's your last name?" asked Action.

"You don't need to know" replied Luke, in a cold voice that would chill anyone who was less resilient than Action.

"I think you've forgotten the fact I'm a cop and when I ask someone a question I get an answer; one way or another"

"Not today, John Action.  You have interfered with our activities enough.  Now you will stop."

Action laughed and shook his head.  The audacity of this guy!

"Listen, bud, I've dealt with people who've tried to beat, stab, shoot and blow me up since I began to crawl...many have tried to stop me; they've never succeeded.  Now for the last time, I want some answers to my questions and I'm not intimidated by a hot dog seller who stalks local businessmen."

Luke gave Action a hard stare before saying "You people are so linear thinking...I can hurt you with a thought.  With the power of my mind.  You do not know who and what you're dealing with, John Action." 

Action looked sceptical.

"Very well" continued Luke.  "You will have to be dealt with" and with that, he put his fingers to his temples before shutting his eyes and thinking hard.  Suddenly, Action started to shake and feel a hot, burning and painful sensation in his head whilst a pulsating noise pounded his brain.

"You will forget all about me, about Leanne McGregor, The Visitors, the shooting and the fire bomb...John Action.  You will remember nothing about them." Luke didn't say these things out loud:  He was transmitting them straight into Action's mind.  Action grabbed the counter hard, his knuckles white with the effort of holding on.  He tried with all his might to resist this intrusion into his mind but this was nothing like he'd ever encountered before.  

"Must...resist..." he gasped out loud as he tried to resist whatever it was that Luke was doing to him.

"Forget...it...all" went Luke's voice in Action's mind.

The burning sensation and pulsating stopped.  Action's head jerked forwards and he sat there, dazed.

"You look tired, Detective John Action:  You should go and have a lie down" said Luke.

"I...must...lie...down..." said Action, who stood up and staggered to one of the deep filled sofas in the bar.  He felt so sleepy, barely able to stay awake and when he reached the sofa he flopped down and drifted off.

"Sleep, Detective John Action...deep sleep" said Luke.  The world turned an inky black to Action.

_________________________________________________________________________________

"Action!  Action!  Wake up!" came a voice, a woman's voice that sounded familiar.

"Urrugghhhh....soup...soup's good for you...wha?  Wait...where am I?  Katherine?" said Action as he came around.

"No, it's Suzy" said the woman.

"Suzy Q?" said Action

"No.  Suzy Kent.  What happened, Action?  Did you have one too many?" asked Suzy as she helped him to sit up.

"No...I...I don't know.  Why am I here, at the Planet Honey Pop?  Is Katherine here?" he said, groggily.

"I haven't seen her." said Suzy.  Action indicated that he wanted to stand up and Suzy helped him to his feet.  Then she noticed that under his jacket he was wearing his shoulder holster with his gun in it.  "Are you on a case?" she asked.

"I don't know...I remember talking with Prisha Datta and her boyfriend and then...I was going to go for a run and meet Katherine.  But this isn't our usual haunt.  I'm...yeah...I'm meant to be off duty today.  Why have I got my gun on me?"

"You're not steady on your feet...let's talk over here where it's a little more private" said Suzy, indicating a table nearby that was away from the bar.  Action was still very dizzy and couldn't make sense of his surroundings or why he was even there.

"So, Action, Neil and I have discovered some more things about that mysterious tree...I'm not sure it's related to Leanne or not."

"Who? asked Action.

"Leanne McGregor...the woman we think is behind the hit attempts on Feng and Cuffe" 

"What hit attempt?  Who are you talking about?  Do you mean Victor Feng and Alan Cuffe?  I've never met them."

Suzy looked shocked.  "Action...this big case!  Don't you remember?  You've been chasing after this woman for over a week now!"

"Look Suzy, I've just busted that cross-dressing house thief...I know nothing about no attempted murder case."

"That cross-dressing thief you arrested over a month ago!" said Suzy.  "Action, what's happened to you?  How could you forget this case?"

"I...I don't know.  I don't know why I'm here...something happened, Suzy.  Something happened to me today and I just don't know what!"