CHAPTER 235: You May Know Me From...

 

Suzy was finding it difficult to start her next expose:  A look at the background and activities of Sim City's next most prominent family after the Landgraabs:  The Fengs.  She had all her notes and the forbidden text of Patrick Cornelius' book on the hidden secrets of the city right by her side but whereas the Landgraabs were awash with scandal, even at times revelling in it, the Fengs remained largely a mystery.

What she could determine is that Lilly and Victor Feng had known each other all their lives.  They fled the chaos of the civil war in China with their parents in the early 1920s and began new lives in Sim City.  Then nothing was known about what happened to them until a mention in a local newspaper from 1944 that Victor had won the Silver Star in Italy as a member of the 442nd regiment.  Then nothing until 1951 when, suddenly, both of them are married to one another, they set up this successful electronics business and then it's upwards from there.  Now they're entering politics and Victor is already on the City Council, looking to become the next mayor.

"Suz, can I get your opinion on this?  I've been commissioned to create some Pop Art for a mod gallery and...well...I'm not so sure about this" said Neil, who had been working assiduously alongside her in their study.  She wrote, he painted.

Suzy turned her desk chair around to have a look at what Neil was working on.  "I like it a lot" she said.  "Pigs Might Fly...yeah, I dig it."

"Hmmm, I'm not sure Pop Art is my style.  But at least I gave it a go" he sighed.

"It's good to know you can do something even if it isn't to your taste.  Your talent still shines through" she said to reassure him.

"I'm hungry.  Shall we get some lunch?" he said, putting down his brush and palette. 

"Good idea" she replied.

As they sat next to each other on the sofa and enjoyed their lunch Suzy tried to reassure Neil, who seemed bored and unenamoured with his latest work.

"The commissions are coming in regularly now...you should be pleased." she said.

"I know, I know...but I think I should be concentrating more on my signature work instead of taking the quick money to make something I don't really enjoy doing."

"It is building up your reputation though"

"Sigh...I know.  I should be more upbeat.  Anyway, the Flying Pig is almost finished.  And speaking of finished, that was delicious.  Say, if you're not too busy right now how about we sit outside and gather inspiration for our work?"

That inspiration turned out to be largely making goo-goo eyes at each other and being romantic...they didn't notice anything going on in the street.

"You know, we should go out and hit the town this evening" said Neil.

"Yeah, we haven't done that in ages.  It'll be fab!  Do you have anywhere in mind?"

"It's been a while since we visited the Pigeon Toed Orange Peel"

"That's pretty with it"

"That's my drift.  What do you say?"

"Count me in!"

"Then it's a date.  Anyway, I must head off in to town to see a gallery owner so I will see you later on." said Neil, giving Suzy a kiss before he left.  She went inside to clear up the lunch dishes but as soon as she had loaded the dishwasher, there was a ring at the door.

When she looked through the window on her door she couldn't see anyone so she opened the door a little bit in order to poke her head around and see if there was anyone lurking and, sure enough, there was a man...a stranger...sitting on the love seat on the porch where she had been sitting only minutes before.

"Excuse me, can I help you?" she asked.

"You're Suzy Kent, aren't you?" he replied.  Suzy guessed that this was a work related visit as she only used her maiden name these days when it came to her writing career.

"I am.  If this is business related to either 'Hey Wow' or 'Lothario' magazines then can we make an appointment to meet at my office?"

"This is about both...and neither.  I have information you might find useful."

"About?"

"The Fengs.  Victor and Lilly Feng.  I know you do exposes of the rich and powerful in this town."

Suzy didn't immediately reply but this guy could know something of use for her and the Fengs were a subject she intended to research.

"Alright, come inside.  Go straight through to the door on the left.  That's my work area, we can talk in confidence there."

The man scanned the house as he walked through it and Suzy noticed his intense gaze and almost unblinking eyes.  She was hoping that Neil would return any moment now just in case this guy was crazy.

"Nice place you got here" said the man.

"Thank you...Mister?"

"Coburn, Spencer Coburn."

"This is my study, Mr Coburn.  Can I get you a drink?" she asked.

"No.  I will be brief and then I must go."

"Then take a seat and tell me your story" she replied, motioning him towards the sofa.

"It's like this, Miss Kent.  I'm currently working on a campaign advert for Victor Feng...he's standing for Mayor in November"

"I know about that, Mr Coburn.  So what's your role in this advert?"

"Nothing special.  I'm on the set but I'm not one of the creatives.  It's just I've seen things that seem odd."

"Odd in what way?"

"Mysterious people who have no names or titles just show up on set and they seem to be giving Mr and Mrs Feng orders..."

"What kind of orders?"

"I'm not sure...they reference things I don't know the meaning of.  Something about triangles of power..."

Suzy sat bolt upright when Coburn mentioned that term.  It was something that had appeared in Patrick Cornelius' mysterious book.  Suzy got out a notepad and pen."

"I'm very interested in these mysterious people, Mr Coburn, can you describe them?"

"They wear black suits, often with these broad brimmed fedora hats...you know, the old fashioned kind.  And they have these intense stares...like they stare into your soul..." Coburn shivered at this thought and Suzy remembered the time Action had described the same sensation whenever he had encountered Leanne McGregor.

"Ach, that sounds crazy, I know..." said Coburn, throwing up his hands.

"No...not crazy at all, Mr Coburn.  I have had seen quite a few things that are hard to believe whilst doing investigative journalism." 

"Well, this is the craziest part.  I've lost a whole day of memory from my mind.  It only happened 2 days ago but I cannot remember a single thing from the time I showed up to work to the time I got back home.  Nothing.  A whole day gone from my mind!" he said, clicking his fingers.

"What was your last memory?"

"I show up to work, I say hi to some of my colleagues then I go to check on something and...that's it.  The next thing I know I'm back at home.  I asked my colleagues what happened that day and they all tell me I clocked off early and that I looked ill....like deathly pale and mumbling incoherently.  I went to the doctor's yesterday and they couldn't find anything wrong with me.  Whilst I was in the waiting room I read your article on the Landgraabs and their strange history and then I thought the Fengs are another bunch of super-rich people who have some secrets and odd associates as well."

"And you sought me out?" said Suzy.

"Miss Kent...this blackout.  It bothers me...I'm getting headaches and nightmares of strange men in black who suck out my brains...."

"I'll look into this, Mr Coburn" she said, brandishing her notebook.

"Thank you.  You seem remarkably calm considering what I've just told you" said Coburn, inquisitively.

"Believe me, Mr Coburn, this isn't my first dance with the strange and unexplained"

Coburn got up to leave and as the two of them headed back to the door he spotted one of Neil's paintings on the wall.

"That's beautiful...it looks like an original" said Coburn.

"It is.  It was painted by my husband.  We honeymooned there as a matter of fact."

"You can tell him I like his work very much, Miss Kent"

She showed Coburn to the door but paused to look at the Patrick Cornelius book...she needed to dive deeper into the Fengs' lives.

Coburn left and went home, looking like a haunted man.  Suzy's curiosity was piqued as she could see similarities between his story, the Landgraab's story and the Leanne McGregor case.

Suzy couldn't get the Fengs out of her mind that morning and, on an impulse, she decided to pay an impromptu visit to them.  Her cover would be an article she would be writing about the election campaign.  She did have a vague promise of an interview about their fashion style that was made some months ago so now was the time to cash that in.

Their penthouse apartment looked out over the entire downtown of Sim City and all the way out to the bay and beyond.  Suzy figured the Fengs would like to live somewhere where they could watch over everyone.

She rang the doorbell and it was Victor Feng who answered it.

"Well, well, Miss Suzy Kent...star reporter for 'Hey, Wow' magazine...or is it 'Lothario'?  Maybe even the Sim City Chronicle...it's hard to determine who exactly you work for." he said in a passive-aggressive tone of voice.

"Technically, I work for all three.  Do you have some spare time right now to have an informal chat...about the election campaign and your public image?"

"Is this for one of your fashion articles or about politics?" he replied, dryly.

"Why not both?"

Feng peered at her but eventually said "Sure.  Go right in and make yourself comfortable".

Suzy had never set foot in the Feng apartment before and she was struck by the modernistic decor and minimalist design.  It appealed to her own Mod tastes very much.  She then started to think how they would have made the money to pay for such a place.

Victor was behind her and he ushered her into the living room.  They sat down on the sofa and, again, Suzy was struck by the views here; a veritable panorama. 

"How is the election campaign going, Mr Feng?"

"Good.  I'm currently 5 points ahead in the polls over my rival." he replied.

"That would be the candidate backed by the Landgraabs?" she enquired.

"Yes it would.  But their money can't buy this election...not this time."  His face turned sour at the mention of the Landgraab name.

"The vote might be split by a third party this time...I'm thinking of the League of Decency and Edna Sneedley."

"Pah, she's an irrelevance.  A fringe crackpot at best." he said, dismissing Sneedley with a wave of his hand.

"Mr Feng, returning to the subject of campaign fundraising...who are your main contributors?" Suzy asked, remembering what Spencer Coburn had told her about the mysterious people in Feng's campaign.

"They mostly like to remain anonymous, Miss Kent" he replied, evasively.

"And that's our final word on the subject" came another voice, a stern female one.  Lilly Feng had just entered the room.

"Miss Kent...I didn't know we'd scheduled an interview with you today" said Lilly, haughtily.

"Well, this is an impromptu visit...remembering your offer of one from earlier this year."

"Yes, well when we made you that offer you were just a fashion reporter.  Since your article about the Landgraabs and Geoffrey's death you've changed your job description somewhat."  Lilly's tone and body language was confrontational.

"I'm still very interested in your personal style, Mrs Feng." said Suzy.

"What you mean is who pays for this?  We pay for this, Miss Kent, we do." came Lilly's sharp reply.  The woman sat next to Suzy on the sofa without her stern, piercing gaze ever leaving her.

"Now listen here.  If you wish to interview myself or my husband you must make an appointment first.  We will not discuss our finances with you, nor will we break the confidences of our backers.  Is that clear?"

"But..."

"I SAID IS THAT CLEAR?"

"Maybe we can schedule a more formal interview later on?" said Suzy, not rising to Lilly's bait.

"That would be acceptable" Lilly replied.

"In which case I'll thank you both for your time and I'll see myself out" said Suzy, getting up.

After Suzy had left Victor turned to Lilly and said "You know, I was handling the situation well"

"That one is trouble, Victor.  I have always said so.  The I-Ching tells me she is our enemy and we should treat her as one."

"Enemy?  She did us a favour by exposing the Landgraab scandal.  We can use her." said Victor.

"You must trust me, Victor, as you always have.  Our destinies are intertwined...forever, as was foretold!"

COURTYARD LANE, LATER THAT DAY

"How did it go with the Fengs?" asked Neil after he and Suzy had come home.

"Not well...give us a hug, I could do with some love and affection right now" she replied.

"I'll fix us some dinner and you can tell me all about it" said Neil, giving her a big hug.

As they were eating Neil had some words of encouragement.  "Well, they were hardly going to welcome you with open arms.  I say you're over the target and if you're rattling them you're doing something right"

"I know...I just don't like the confrontation.  I just wish..." she said, trying to find the right words to say next.

"...they'd just spill the beans as to what's going on?  I know, but you're going to have to play detective again."

Suzy sighed.  "Yes...and I've known this all along."

Neil put down his empty bowl and stood up.  He walked over to Suzy and patted her on the shoulder.  "But you're having the night off.  Let's get ready to go and hit the town!"

                                            

"Wow, this place is really swinging tonight" remarked Neil as they entered the Pigeon Toed Orange Peel.  The music wasn't the usual top of the hit parade stuff, but had a more edgy garage beat sound.  The customers were all hard core dancers who were probably hopped up on amphetamines, he thought.

They grabbed a seat along the side of the club as the sofas there were made of plush velvet and were ideal for snuggling up with your loved one, which they'd discovered on previous visits here.

"Hmmmm, I'm digging the vibe here tonight" said Suzy.

"Yeah, I know what you mean.  It seems more intense and happening tonight" Neil replied.  "I don't know this song though"

"It's a cover version of Taxman by The Beatles but I don't know who the band is.  I know the song because I've had endless discussions with Travis about whether Revolver is a better album than Pet Sounds."

"What does he think?"

"Pet Sounds but that's obviously incorrect.  Revolver is the best thing The Beatles have ever done"

"I've not heard either" said Neil.  Suzy just gave him an incredulous stare but said nothing.

"I've been too busy to check out the music scene!" he said in defence.  "Anyway we didn't come here to debate music" he said, making a move and moving closer to her.

After they had shared a moment of intimacy Neil stood up, grabbed Suzy by the hand and led her to the dance floor.

At one point Suzy looked across the dance floor and caught the eye of her friend, Julia.  She was with Travis and another guy she didn't recognise.  Suzy waved and her friend seemed excited to see her so she walked over and joined the little group.

"Julia what a pleasant surprise!" said Suzy, giving her friend a hug.

"Suzy...I'm not surprised to see you here" Julia replied.  "I don't come down here that often but Travis convinced me to get out of the house and have a little of what he calls 'fun'" Julia replied.

"And are you having fun?" asked Suzy.

"Actually, I am" said Julia, thoughtfully.

"So who's your friend?" asked Suzy, nodding at the suave looking man with fair hair and a sharply cut suit.

"Well, now, that's an interesting story..." said Julia.

"So, Travis, how's the wedding planning going?  What is it, three weeks to go?"

"24 and a wakeup" replied Travis.

"Well, as a newly wed husband I can advise you on the dos and don'ts of your big day."

"This is David, and we were at college together" said Julia.

"Hi, I'm Suzy" she said, introducing herself.

"Suzy Kent...I recognise you from your press photo" said David.  "I find your recent work very interesting"

"Why thank you.  So were you a fellow med student?" asked Suzy.

"No.  History and psychology.  But Julia and I met in our freshman year at the college book club and, well, we became friends throughout our time there.  We haven't seen each other since... well... graduation."

"What do you do now, David?" asked Julia.

"I'm a post-grad at Britechester as well as doing some fieldwork and research over at Strangerville."

"Strangerville?" asked Julia, noticing that the obscure town just outside of Sim City was where Bella Goth was abducted a few years ago.  "Is there anything of historical interest out there?"

"You'd be surprised" replied David, cryptically.  He clearly didn't want to talk about it any further and suddenly turned to Julia.

"Jules...can I buy you a drink?" he asked.  Julia seemed like a giddy school girl in his presence all of a sudden.

"Oh gosh, yes please.  Just a coke, thanks" she replied, all wide eyed.

"Can I get you one as well, Suzy?" said David.

"Sure, the same" she replied.

As David walked over to the bar Suzy gave Julia a knowing look.

"What are you looking at me like that for, Suz?" asked Julia.

"You have a type" Suzy replied.

"A type?  You mean men?  Pshaw!  You know me..."

"Yes I do" said Suzy, cutting Julia off because she knew it would be a lame justification about liking men for their brains.  "You like intellectual fair haired men.  If he's got blonde hair, an easy going smile and has 'Doctor' or 'PhD' in his title you go all soppy for them"

"Harumph...I've never been so insulted in all my life" huffed Julia, before her indignant facial expression changed to that of a naughty smile.

David came back with the drinks for the girls and said "It's local celebrity night down here.  I've just seen that Lilly Feng by the bar.  She's talking politics, as usual, probably trying to win votes for her husband." 

Suzy looked over at the bar and saw her talking intensely with a man she didn't recognise.

The group chatted more and there was a dance or two but Suzy started to feel uncomfortable the more time went on.  She caught up with Neil and took him to one side.

"Lilly Feng is here.  I don't feel comfortable staying here, can we go home?"

They made their way back home where they had a little night cap and Suzy was filled with enthusiasm about all that happened in her day.

"I could tell she likes him and he seemed very happy to see her again.  I wonder if there was a little romance between them back in college!"

"Suzy, you really should stop trying to act as a matchmaker for Julia.  She fancied that doctor, he swanned off to Africa, and if you ask me she's determined to remain a spinster."

"Oh you're so anti-romantic at times!  That guy is exactly the kind of man Julia's interested in only she won't admit it.  He's handsome, intelligent, well educated and has some kind of mysterious field work assignment in Strangerville..."

"Oh no, you're not going to do an expose of him as well..." said Neil in exasperation, as he had seen Suzy fired up with questions and mysteries so many times before.

"No!  Well, not yet."

"Right...that's me done for the day.  I'm off to bed.  Are you coming?" said Neil.

"Soon, darling.  Soon" she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

Suzy went to the study and looked at her notes about the Fengs.  "Strangerville can wait...I want to know why the Fengs are so secretive." she said to herself.

CHAPTER 234: Dinner At Eight

Class had ended and Joanna was thankful that it had...now she had a clear weekend ahead of her.  After finding her early psychology work easier than she expected, her second semester was ramping up the workload and complexity.  This week's lectures, seminars and coursework were much harder.

She heard a voice behind her calling out her name.  Turning around she saw that it was her fellow psychology student, Pace Tye, calling to her.

"Joanna...wait up!  It's been a while since I last saw you" he said as he jogged up to her.

"I've had to hit the ground running this semester.  It's nothing personal although it's real good to see you" she said with a suggestive smile and tone in her voice as she looked him up and down with approval. 

"Are you going into Darby's now?" asked Pace.

"Yeah...if you are?" was Joanna's expectant reply.

"I sure am.  After you..." he said, making a gesture to usher her in that direction.  She led the way but he opened the door to Darby's Den for her.

They found a sofa to sit down on where they could continue their conversation.  The Den was a hive of activity from people having their main meals to a couple of people debating just around the corner from where Joanna and Pace were sitting and they had attracted a crowd.  Others were sitting around and talking by the fireplace.

"So, am I right in thinking you've got Professor Fen for psych?" asked Pace.

"Yeah...he's a real taskmaster, you know?  I mean, he's OK in some ways and I'm learning a lot from him but he keeps bugging me about how I express myself." Joanna replied. 

"And how do you express yourself to him?"

"I kind of use a lot of street slang and shit like that..."

"Including profanities"

"You mean I swear a lot?  Yeah, I shoot the shit a lot 'cos that's the way I grew up:  You had to have a big mouth or else you got nuffin'.  Catch my drift?"

Pace smiled "Yeah, I dig it but cats like Fen want a lot of flowery, high falutin' words and terms.  I'm in my second year here and I've had all my rough edges smoothed out..." he said, making a smooth gesture with his hand.  "When I go back home my folks can hardly understand what I'm saying.  To them I now sound like Laurence Olivier!" he added with a chuckle.

Joanna let out a little laugh as well but inside she felt awkward.  Her lack of polished language was yet another sign of her rough upbringing and she was keen to get away from the pain and sadness of those years.

Pace in the meantime had picked up a book and handed it to her.  "Go on" he said "if you want to sound more sophisticated and collegiate read a few fancy poems" and he nodded at the book she was now holding.

"I'll borrow this and read it tonight" she replied.

"No.  Now.  And out loud as well.  No good reading it to yourself alone in your home because you've already shown you're smart and understand the coursework.  Now you have to sell your ideas by saying them out loud to other people."  Pace then turned his attention to the microphone stand that was nearby and Joanna saw what he was looking at.

"You're not serious..." she said, smiling suspiciously at him.

"Oh I certainly am.  Do a live poetry recital right here, right now" he replied.

"I'll look like a ditz" she said.

"This place is loaded with them...go on, have a gas with it.  I dare you"

Joanna was never one to back down from a dare so she took the book, stood up and walked to the microphone, opened up the book at a random page and started to recite one of the poems.

"I wandered lonely as a cloud....oh come off it!  Seriously?" she said.

"Keep going, you're doing OK" said Pace, trying to be encouraging.  Joanna took a deep breath and continued.  

"...That floats on ooer...is that 'ooh-er' or 'oh-errr'?"

"It's short for 'over'"

"Then why not write 'over'?  It'll still scan"

"It's called 'poetic licence'"

"I'll take your word for it...let's read on.  Hey, this isn't bad once you get over the first two lines.  I get it; this dude digs nature."

"And he's really into daffodils.  It's by a Limey called Wordsworth and if you read works by him and by some of his contemporaries you'll enrich your writing skills."

"Can you recommend any American poets?"

"Walt Whitman.  He's pretty much the go-to guy.  You could try the beat poets like Furlinghetti but they write like you talk now."

"I'll read Whitman for tips and Furlinghetti for fun" said Joanna, nodding.

"I like your style" Pace replied.  Looking at Joanna in an admiring way he then said "how about we take a walk by the canal?"

"Yeah, I'd like that...although no making me do some kind of Shakespeare performance whilst we're there" she replied.

"It's beautiful along here.  I've been here one semester and I've only been to lectures, then Darby's, then Pepper's Pub and finally back home.  I didn't know about this area." she said, taking in the tranquillity of this little bit of land around the back of Darby's Den.

"I come here when it gets too noisy back there" said Pace, jerking his thumb towards the main campus.  "They've tried to make the whole campus like those European ones with the network of canals, the granite buildings and the ornate gardens."

Joanna took it all in but said nothing.  She still had to pinch herself to remind her that she was a college girl now and that her everyday life was going to be nothing like she had ever known.  She also worried that she was coming across as an unsophisticated slob to Pace...he was having to explain everything to her, everything that other people from better homes took for granted.

 

"Do you like it here?" he asked.

"Yeah, it's neat...I don't mean to make it sound like not much but I've already said it was beautiful here and I don't want to repeat myself." she replied.

"I meant do you like it at Britechester?"

"Oh that!  Yeah, I dig it.  It's challenging, sure, but it's stretching my mind in ways I didn't expect but that's what I want.  That's why I came here."

Pace nodded.  "That's what I like about you, Joanna.  You've got drive, energy and a will to succeed."

No one had ever said that to her before; not even Action and certainly not any of her family.  All she could respond with was a shy "thanks".

"Say, are you free this evening?" he suddenly said.

"I haven't anything scheduled" she replied.

"Would you like to go out for dinner with me?  I was thinking of somewhere off campus, somewhere nice and groovy."

"I'm up for that" she said, her thoughtful expression changing to a sultry smile.

"Dinner at 8?  I'll pick you up from your place."

"You got a date, Mister" she said.  A dinner date!  Hell yeah!

She went home, showered and looked for something fancy to wear but she only had one "formal" dress, or at least a dress that could be worn to swanky places and she had bought that back in the springtime...before she came into her inheritance and when she was still on the game.  It was the dress she wore to impress clients.

Nevertheless it was her one smart dress and still a damn fine one so she wore that with a pair of white heels and white fishnets to complete the look.  Along with styling her hair differently, some striking make up and a pair of brand new earrings she was all ready to be wined and dined by Pace.

She saw him walk up the driveway to the front door and noticed he polished up very nicely in his drainpipe pants, sky blue blazer and narrow black tie.  The blazer was tailored in such a way that it showed off his lean frame and broad shoulders and she liked it.

Joanna opened the door and stood in the doorway, a hand on her hip in a seductively expectant manner.  Pace stopped in his tracks for a moment to take in her beauty.  "Whoa, you look sensational" he said.

"You're not so bad yourself" she said, smiling.

"I'm parked just there, would you care to be escorted?" he said, offering his arm.  She smiled and took it.  'Escort'....she thought....it had a different meaning in her world.

They drove to Newcrest where there were a number of restaurants, many of which were high quality.  Pace parked up and the two, yet again, walked arm in arm to the place where Pace had booked a table.  Joanna, however, recognised where they were going.

"Oh, the Villa Bovine!" she exclaimed.

"Do you know it?" Pace replied. 

"Um, yes.  I've been here once or twice before" she stammered in reply.  Yes, she had been here before but with clients.

"Great!  I've not been but it comes highly recommended.  Maybe you can suggest what's good on the menu"

I don't really remember the menu, Pace... she thought to herself.

As the two of them were chatting away a family of three very blonde white people barged past Joanna and Pace and entered the Villa Bovine.  

"Say, what's that little princess' problem?" said Joanna in annoyance as the daughter, a very snooty blonde girl who was dripping with a sense of self-superiority, swanned past her and making bodily contact along the way.  There were no apologies or acknowledgement from the girl that she had bumped into Joanna.

"Relax, Joanna.  No need to sweat it.  You don't want to lock horns with a teenager." Pace replied.

Joanna was still glaring at the girl and noticed once she'd got inside her expression changed from haughtiness to sadness.  There was definitely some kind of discord in that family, Joanna thought.

Pace opened the door for Joanna and ushered her into the restaurant.  The maitre d' took a look at the couple and his facial expression wasn't warm or friendly.

Pace went up to him and said "Table for two under the name of Tye"

The maitre d' looked at his booking list and hummed.  "Hmmmmmmmm, no sir.  I don't have anything under that name."

"What?  I called earlier!  Check again!" said Pace.

"Is there a problem?" Joanna said as she approached the podium.  The maitre d' gave her a harsh look and Joanna could tell he recognised her.

"As I was explaining to your....gentleman associate...we have no record of your booking and, as you can see, we are fully booked tonight" The man had said the words 'gentleman associate' with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.  Oh he knew who Joanna was alright...she thought.

"Listen, Mac, is this a race thing?  Don't you serve coloured people in here or what?" said Pace with anger in his voice.

"Certainly not, sir!  I can assure you we comply with the Civil Rights Act here!" The maitre d' looked behind him, towards the outdoor seating area at the back of the restaurant where a black man, Asian lady and their mixed race daughter were seated and being served with civility by the staff.

Joanna looked at the family, then to the maitre d'.  "It's not us...well, it's not you, Pace.  Isn't it, Mister?" she said to the man.

"Madam is correct.  This is a high class and family environment." the maitre d' replied, still in that stern and haughty tone.

"Wait...I don't get it" said a very confused looking Pace.

"I'll explain outside, Pace..." said Joanna.

This time it was Joanna's turn to usher Pace outside.  He was confused and bewildered by what had happened.  It wasn't racial but something to do with his date.

"Pace...it's about time I told you the truth about me" she said. 

"The truth?" Pace was astonished and dreaded what was to come.

"Let's sit down over here and I'll tell you all about it.  Now I happen to have crossed paths with that Maitre d' before and he knows a bit about my past.  You see, I used to come here with clients"

"Clients?"

"Yes.  Gentlemen clients.  It's like this, Pace, how do I put this nicely as possible but honestly at the same time?  I was....I was a professional escort."

"Escort?  As in..."

Joanna leant close to Pace and whispered in his ear "I was a hooker"

"A HOO....erm, I mean *a hooker*" he whispered.  "No!  You?  I can't believe..."

Joanna just nodded.

"But...you...I mean...you're so don't seem the type!  You're intelligent..."

"A lot of hookers ain't dumb, Pace.  I told you; I'm from the streets and I grew up rough.  There weren't a lot of options for a black girl with my looks in a neighbourhood controlled by crime and gangs.  It's like I didn't have a choice."

Pace didn't say anything at first but looked down at the ground.  When he looked up to Joanna he had a pleading, searching look in his eyes.

"You didn't lie...you just left out some details.  So the stuff about the inheritance?"

"That's all true and it was my escape out of that ghetto" she said.  "I used the money to move to a better part of town, get an education and cut all my ties with my past.  I have no parents, no other family and no one I want to remain in contact with."

"It makes sense now...that guy who came up to you at the Waterside Warble...he was..."

"One of my old Johns.  Look, Pace.  If you want to end this evening and whatever we had cooking between us, I understand.  I come with a lot of baggage and I certainly ain't no virgin either."

Pace drew a deep breath and looked Joanna in the eyes.  "I'm no choirboy either.  What kind of free spirit and live and let live kind of guy would I be if I held someone's past against them...especially when they're trying to start a new life?  No.  I thank you, Jo, for being candid with me.  I can handle this....I hope I don't come across as too stuck up?"

Joanna smiled.  "Not at all.  So...what now?" she said.

"I promised you a nice evening out and that's what you'll get." Pace replied.  "The only thing is, where?"

"I know a place that's still open at this time of night and who won't turn us away..." said Joanna.

"Two of your finest bowls of chilli with a side order of tacos, my good man"

"Hey, Joanna...look at you all dressed up fine like that.  Two bowls and some tacos, comin' right up."

As the street vendor got her order he still chatted away to her.

"I thought you didn't hang around here no more?" he said.

"I don't...usually.  I moved to Willow Creek and enrolled at Britechester U."  She replied.

"Good for you, little lady.  I always knew you were too good for this place...I don't mean stuck up, I mean you always had it in you to do better.  And that guy over there?"

"He's my boyfriend.  I don't turn tricks no more.  I should say 'anymore' as I'm a college girl now and should talk like one."

"He looks a smart guy...college as well?"  Said the vendor, handing over the food to Joanna as she paid him.

"He's waaaay smarter than me and, yeah, that's how we met.  On campus.  Anyway you take care:  Great to catch up with you" she said, winking at the old man before taking a seat next to Pace.

"Hey there..." she said to Pace.  "...I know it's none too fancy but you can always get a seat here."

Pace took a taste of chilli and nodded "My compliments to the chef....and to my date for saving this evening"

"Saving?  I thought I ruined it" Joanna replied.

"Nah...it'd take a lot more than being refused a table at a restaurant and finding out your date was...well...I won't elaborate...it would take a lot more than that to ruin my evening with you."

"I can't get rid of you that easily, huh?"

"Only if you want to get rid of me first"

Pace finished his meal and stood up.  "I get where you've come from but I always look forwards, never backwards.  I think we've got a lot of groovy things going for us; I feel a vibe, a connection.  I hope you feel it too but if you think the past and the fact that I now know something of it is too much of a barrier I will split and maybe we'll see each other on campus as just friends."

"Pace...I'm going forwards as well.  I'm sitting here, looking around this old hood and although some of the old friendly faces remain I feel no attachment to it.  I do feel an attachment to you, though.  You've been like a guide, helped me navigate my way around the campus, deal with the rich kids and the old money...heck, what's the word for someone who helps you like that?"

"Mentor?"

"Yeah, that's it.  You've been a mentor and now, hopefully, something more..."

"A lover?"

"You're a bold one Mister Pace Tye.  So let's move things along to where we both know this is heading.  We could go back to your college room where no doubt your dorm mates are chugging beers and singing rude songs or we could go back to my nice, private and quiet house...." she said, smiling at him seductively.

It turned out to be a good choice as Pace was impressed by her home.  "Now this is a groovy pad.  Interesting and nice to look at...it reflects you well." he said.

"Would you like a nightcap, Pace?" she asked.

"I'm good thanks...how about we skip that part and move straight on to..."

No words needed to be exchanged.  The two of them were utterly focussed on each other with no room for small talk.  They held each other in a warm, increasingly passionate embrace, kissing, fondling and gazing at one another until they had lost all track of time.  Then things reached their inevitable culmination.

It was later, as the hour approached midnight, that the first words were spoken since that first kiss.

"Pace...would you stay with me the night?" she said, softly.

He realised the significance of those words.  By staying he would be a lover, not a client.  He saw a pleading look in her eyes that told him that sex with her would be consensual and loving with no trace of a transaction or business to it.  He stroked the side of her face.

"Of course I will.  I'm not going anywhere tonight" he said.  She smiled warmly at him and whispered "Thank you".

He laid back down in the bed and she snuggled next to him, with him putting his arms around her before they both fell asleep.

The next morning they arose...not knowing what time it was but as it was a Saturday it didn't matter.  Pace went to the bathroom and after he had finished he found Joanna standing in front of him.  He was naked but she still had her underwear on.

"Hey there...you have me at a disadvantage" he said, looking down at his exposed privates and looking around for something to give him some modesty.  The only thing to hand was a tea towel.

"I do indeed..." she said, saucily before kissing him passionately.

When they broke apart she said "Thank you for last night.  It means a lot to me that you accept me for who I am."

Pace smiled but said nothing.

"Hmmm, I think I need a new bed.  My shoulders are sore this morning" she said, grimacing and touching her left shoulder.

"We were quite physical last night..." said Pace.

Joanna let out a short laugh "yeah, I guess we were".

"Now as it so happens Pace Tye has healing hands..." he said, immodestly.  "Turn around and let's get that knot out of your shoulder..."

This was looking to be the start of a beautiful relationship.