CHAPTER 214: The Whistle Blower (Downfall, Part 2)

It was at the 11am coffee break time that Jeremy slipped out of the office to have another clandestine meeting with his colleague, Darrin.  He had meant to find out the contact details of the Landgraab's cleaner but he could only find out her name:  Beulah Boutee.  When he went to visit George and Edna Sneedley to find out where he could find her he found George acting strangely defensive and evasive.  It had been playing on his mind since that day:  What was George worried about him asking him for a cleaner's phone number?  What was he covering up?  Does he know the Landgraabs well and is acting to protect them?  So many questions...

Darrin looked more positive when they met.  "So, Jeremy, any luck?" he asked.

"I got the cleaner's name; Beulah Boutee, but that's about it.  No phone number, no address, no way to contact her."

"Beulah Boutee?  Is that even a real name?" Darrin said, shaking his head in disbelief.  "So your contacts came up short handed then?"

"Yeah, and the weird thing about that is how defensive they were...he was.  The husband.  He really did his best to avoid giving me any information and was scared by me even asking about this cleaner."

"Hmmm, maybe he's having an affair with her?" mused Darrin.

"George Sneedley?  Co-chair of the League of Decency having an affair?  Sounds a little out there if you ask me" said Jeremy.

"All is not lost, Jeremy..." continued Darrin  "We have a name, and an unusual one at that.  She's bound to be on the system.  Maybe even in the personnel files.  That's your department; can you handle that?"

"Yeah, sure..." said Jeremy with a resigned sigh.

"Attaboy..." replied Darrin, tapping Jeremy on the arm with a folder he was carrying.

Attaboy was what his first boss, J.J. Gotcha, used to say to him a lot when Jeremy was working at Dewey, Cheathem & Howe and it was usually said just after he had been given a particularly onerous task.

Jeremy returned to the office building and started looking around in the personnel files for any mention of Beulah Boutee.  The name was to be found in a file marked "supernumeraries", which contained a list of one-off contractors, seasonal workers, occasional employees hired on an ad hoc basis and those who were hired to perform tasks for the Landgraab family themselves without being Landgraab Corporation employees.

The file itself had been difficult to find, tucked away in a murky and almost unnoticeable corner of the records section.  It was such an obscure section that not even Alice, the member of the usually hyper-efficient secretarial pool that spied on Jeremy's and Darrin's every move, knew about it...but Jeremy did.  Months of digging around for dirt about the Landgraabs had led him to some of the hidden areas of the company.

He took all the files that referenced Beulah Boutee and took them back to his office so he could inspect them in detail.  It meant pushing aside his regular workload for the moment but he figured he could make up that up at some point; he was driven by Darrin's cajoling to find some juicy information.

After nearly an hour of scanning the files he found a name...but it wasn't Beulah Boutee; it was another name, familiar and sinister.

Leanne McGregor...for services rendered.  Paid in kind.

Leanne McGregor!  The mysterious assassin who Action was intent on finding.  She was linked to assassination attempts on Alan Cuffe, Lily Feng and Suzy.  So the Landgraabs had paid her to do various jobs, and more than one, by the looks of it, thought Jeremy.  There was a recent payment as well for "client removal", whatever that meant.  Jeremy had a sinking feeling that it wasn't going to be good.

Using his accountancy skills he noticed that company funds were being channelled to an account owned by Malcolm Landgraab IV; the son and heir apparent.  But Malcolm's legally a minor, he can't have a business account like this, thought Jeremy.  And it showed that Malcolm was paying Leanne for more 'client removal' and illegal surveillance operations.

Oh my!  This is it!  The smoking gun!  These files implicate the family in illegal money transfers, hiring wanted criminals and other financial misdeeds...The significance of what he held in his hands now truly sank in.

What to do?  What to do? He thought.  He shut the file he was reading and put it in his briefcase.  Then he went to meet Darrin to tell him what he found...

"So we can turn this information over to the police now!  We've done it!" said Jeremy, enthusiastically.

"Or we can push for more now we know their weaknesses!  If you go to the cops now, Jeremy, sure there'll be an investigation but with their lawyers they'll just shift the blame on to some middle management flunky.  If we build in what you've discovered, lay low and bide our time we can bring the entire company down!" Darrin said with intensity in his eyes.

"Every day we do that, Darrin, we risk getting caught!  I say what we've got is good enough.  It'll cost them millions in legal fees, there'll be bad publicity and maybe Geoffrey, Nancy or Malcolm will be arrested and put on trial.  The Landgraab Corporation will take a huge hit that will take years to recover.  If we go to the police now it'll certainly shut down many of their activities...including plans to redevelop Foundry Cove because that project is being funded by their illicit activities.  Come on, Darrin...we've done more than enough, let's quit whilst we're ahead."

"But we can do so much more!  Give it more time, Jeremy, so we can finish this job!"

Jeremy drew a deep breath and sighed.  "Darrin, I'm tired.  I'm tired of living a double life, tired of being a corporate spy.  I have a girlfriend who I want to marry and a life completely outside of the business world that I want to keep.  If I turn this file over to the police, then that's it for me at the Landgraab Corporation.  That's probably going to be the end of my career in business but do you know what?  I'm fine with that.  I'm going to include a personal witness statement from me plus some extra evidence that I have about their brainwashing machine and turn it all over to my friend in the force.  Darrin, I wish you all the best of luck in your investigations but my part in this is done."

Darrin said nothing but just looked off into the distance whilst throwing his hands up in the air in a mixture of resignation and frustration.

"Good luck and have a nice life" he said before walking off back to the office.  Jeremy let out a sigh and took a few moments to gather his composure.  He put the files he'd shown Darrin back in the briefcase, shut it and locked it and then instead of heading back to the office, he left the area completely to head downtown.  This was noticed by none other than Geoffrey Landgraab, who was taken aback by seeing one of his main employees leaving in the middle of the work day.  Maybe it was nothing, some personal errand that needed his attention, Geoffrey thought, but there was also a sinking feeling in his stomach; a harbinger of some unforeseen doom...

WILLOW CREEK

"...So I headed straight downtown to the police and handed all the files I had to Action.  So that's it.  It's done.  I've blown the whistle." said Jeremy to Barbara when he got back home.

"Does this mean it's over?  Your investigations?" Barbara replied, wide eyed in amazement at this sudden development.  She had hated Jeremy risking his life and safety to try to bring the Landgraabs down.

"It's over...well, my part is at least" he replied.  "It's the police, FBI and Justice Department's responsibility now.  I've given an official statement to the police as well so, yeah...I'm free"

Barbara looked upwards at the ceiling, threw her arms up and smiled.  "Oh that goodness!  You made it!" she looked back down at Jeremy and there was pure joy in her expression.

"I have!" he replied.  He stood up and grabbed her hand to get her to stand with him.  "We have, darling" and with that they embraced each other tightly, both of them letting all that tension flow out of them.

"I want to celebrate!" said Barbara, excitedly.  "Let's go out...doesn't have to be elaborate, nowhere where we have to book ahead...let's just go out, get some drinks, maybe dance a little and somewhere far, far away from those Landgraabs."

"How about the Salty Paws Saloon?  That's somewhere they never go." suggested Jeremy.

"Perfect" Barbara replied.

"OK...and to draw a line under my former job and the rest of my life, I need to change out of this suit!" he said, smiling.

BRINDLETON BAY

Jeremy was a changed man by the time they'd got to the saloon.  He was smiling now, light hearted and ready for a fun night out with his girlfriend.  Barbara hadn't seen him this happy for months and she felt a wave of relief that the burden he had been under had been finally lifted.

They drank and danced and for a moment the cares of Jeremy evaporated but he suddenly became serious looking again and Barbara wondered what had happened.

"I just thought of something" he said to her.  "I haven't got a job!  Tomorrow morning I'm going to wake up and....not have a job to go to!"

She smiled.  "There are other jobs.  Why not take a break before getting a new one?" she said.

"I think I've burned my bridges in the business world.  No other company is going to want to hire a stoolpigeon."

"A what?" sometimes American slang wasn't all that obvious to her French-Canadian ear.

"Stoolpigeon.  A snitch.  A tittle-tattle."  

"Oh that.  I didn't realise..."

"So I'm afraid all our plans to move house and get married are going to have to go on hold while we live on the profits of the boutique."

"You're good at business and accounting.  Why don't you work at the shop with me?  With Toni that'll be three of us to handle the increased business, we won't have to hire an accountant and your business savvy will come in handy....PLUS I get to see you all day!" she said with a big smile on her face.

"I know nothing about fashion" he said.

"Oh you'll learn, my dear, you'll learn"

CHAPTER 213: The Trigger Effect (Downfall pt 1)

 

Jeremy approached Sneedley Burrow with his stomach tied up in a knot.  He didn't want to come here and he didn't want to pursue this investigation into some cleaning lady that the Landgraabs and the Sneedley's employed but his gung-ho colleague, Darrin, had egged him on in his usual dramatic style.  Jeremy was angry at the Landgraabs and wanted some justice for what was done to him by them but Darrin's hatred burned passionately and he wondered what they had done to him to make him so vitriolic in his hatred?

George Sneedley was sitting outside on the large front porch of his home, polishing a chess set with glee.  The man seemed engrossed in his task and Jeremy was reluctant to disturb him but he'd come all this way to Oasis Springs so it was pointless to turn back now.

"Oh, hello George" he said when he stepped on the front porch.  George just glanced in Jeremy's direction for a moment before returning his attention to his chess set.

"Hello Jeremy, I didn't expect to see you here" came George's reply.

"Well, I was in the area and I thought I'd come and say hello.  This is a very nice place you have"

"Thank you.  Edna and I have worked hard to keep it so."

"I see you take good care of your chess set"

George looked at this shiny chessmen and puffed out his chest with pride.  "Yes...a memento from my time in Korea.  I polish the set monthly because Edna and I like to have a game almost every day.  Do you play, Jeremy?"

"Oh I'm still learning the game, George...so much strategy to take in."

"By the way, is Edna in?  I wanted to talk with her about something" he asked, his stomach tightening as he thought about using a plausible cover story in order to get information out of the Sneedleys.

"She's inside...if you have time, maybe you could join me in a game of chess?" said George.  

Jeremy smiled nervously "Maybe, George, maybe...I'll just go inside and say hello to Edna" he said as a way of an excuse.

He went inside and found the lady of the house straightening a painting on the wall.  "Ahh, Jeremy, I thought I could hear you outside talking with George.  So lovely to see you...can I get you a drink?"

"It's a bit early for me, Edna" he replied.

"I hope you don't mind me having one..." she said, opening a bottle of gin and getting a glass.

"Not at all.  I was in the area and thought...." he said, trying to find the right words for what he was about to say "...do you know, you've got a really great house here, Edna?  I mean, it's so tastefully decorated and so clean!"

"How kind of you to say so, Jeremy.  George and I maintain it to a high standard; it's what separates us all from the riff raff." she said, glaring out of the window towards the shabby looking trailer home that sat opposite their house.

"So...." he said, building up to the point he wanted to make "...do you do this all yourself or...do...you...have something like a cleaner or maid who comes in?" the words came out awkwardly as he didn't want to appear to have an obvious agenda.

"I do most of it myself but I get very busy these days with my ever growing political career so lately we've got a woman who comes in once a week to add some finishing touches and sparkle."

"She sure does an impressive job, Edna"

"Well....I still do most of it myself, Jeremy" Edna said, not wishing to share the credit too much.  "This woman, I believe her name is Beulah, is also cleaner for the Landgraabs, you know" she said in a haughty tone to let Jeremy know that her life and the Landgraabs overlapped.

"You don't say!" said Jeremy in reply, pleased that he got that bit of information from her without difficulty.

"Are you in need of a cleaning lady, Jeremy?  I can understand that looking after a fashion boutique takes up most of your girlfriend's time and that she neglects her household duties." she said with a hint of acid in her voice, especially the way she said 'girlfriend' as Jeremy hadn't married her yet.

"Actually we're both pretty busy so....yes...it would be helpful to have someone do all those cleaning chores." he replied.  "You don't happen to have this Beulah's phone number, do you?"

"I don't, she was arranged by George.  He'll have her contact details.  Oh George..." she called out, before adding as an aside to Jeremy "...I do hate yelling so but often my George is in a little world of his own"

"Yes dear?" came a muffled voice from another room.

"Jeremy has a question to ask you" said Edna.

"I'm in the study working on this week's menus...come in, Jeremy" came George's voice again.

Jeremy went to the Sneedley's dark study, which was in stark contrast to the rest of the house with it's old fashioned bookcases, chairs and desk compared with the modern and sleek design of the rest of the home.

"Take a seat, Jeremy.  What do you wish to ask me?" said George.

"I'm looking for a cleaner...for my house.  I hear you know of an excellent and reliable one.  Could you tell me her name and where I can contact her?  Edna says you have her phone number." asked Jeremy.

"Oh..." George exclaimed; a worried look on his face.  "Well...that's not as easy to obtain as you think..." he spluttered.

"Really, why's that?" asked Jeremy, taken aback by George's nervous response.

"Well, she's really busy working here and at the Landgraabs.  She cleans for them, you know."

"I know, that's how I came to hear about her.  But I also know she only cleans there twice a week and how often does she visit here?"

"Once a week, isn't it, George?" said Edna from the doorway.

"Yes...once a week, but she has other clients" stammered George.

"I'm looking for a one off clean of my house.  Between you and me, George, Barbara and I are thinking of moving house and we will need our present home to be cleaned inside and out before we put it on the market.  Why don't you give me her phone number and she can say yes or no herself when I speak to her?"

George started to pat his desk and look around as if he was searching for something.  "Now...now...erm...I had it written down here somewhere..."

"In one of the desk drawers, maybe?" Jeremy offered as a suggestion.  He thought to himself; why is George acting so nervously?

"Oh yes...a-ha...silly me.  Yes, a desk drawer." said George opening one up and looking inside, humming to himself as he did so "hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm no.  Not here" he said, shutting the drawer.

"That's a pity" said Jeremy.  "So how do you contact her if you or Edna have to change your plans suddenly?"

"That...is a good question, Jeremy.  Yes.  A very, very good question indeed.  Well....we....she...has her own key and she lets herself in and out when we're not around."

"You didn't tell me you gave her a house key" chimed in Edna.

"I'm sure I did" said George, with a frown on his face as he adjusted his shirt collar.

"You didn't.  That's something you should have asked me in advance, George.  I mean, I've never even met Beulah."

"Haven't you?" asked Jeremy, turning in his seat to face Edna.  

"I...er....well, she has never let us down.  LISTEN, I will search this office thoroughly, yes sir I will, and I will call you when I have her number.  It's just that...I'm very busy right now but once I've done these menus I will get straight on to looking for it." George's voice was going up and down with a nervous croak to it and Jeremy thought the man was hiding something, why else would he be so evasive?  At that moment he wished he was like Action and could sweat the information out of him in an interrogation.

CHAPTER 212: Malcolm Landgraab Lives

 

Suzy entered the kitchen and the sight there filled her with dread:  Neil was making breakfast and he was very inexperienced as a cook.  It wasn't that she was worried about the meal not tasting nice but it was only recently that Francesca's husband, Rod, was killed in a kitchen fire because of his lack of experience using cookers.  The memory of that tragedy was still fresh in the minds of everyone who knew the couple.

"Ah, good morning, Darling.  I thought I'd surprise you and make breakfast" said Neil.

"It certainly is a surprise...you don't have to, really.  I have more experience and it's no fuss to make breakfast for us both." she said, concerned about the large chef's knife that was laying right next to the cutting board.

"I'm almost finished" Neil replied.  "I've been able to cut fruit without cutting myself...so that's an achievement" he added.

"OK...I'll get some plates and cutlery but if you need any help..."

"I don't, Suzy.  You shouldn't look so worried, I've got this sorted" he interjected.

The fruit salad tasted good and Suzy's fear about Neil seriously hurting himself disappeared.  

"You've got something on your mind, I can tell" said Neil.

"I have lots of things on my mind right now" she said with a warm smile.  "I've got to interview this starlet over at Del Sol Valley this afternoon but first I'm this close to finishing that Malcolm Landgraab expose"  she said, pinching her index finger and thumb to indicate a tiny distance.

"Do you think it will be accepted by your editor?" asked Neil.  "I mean, what we've learned about that family in recent weeks is going to be dynamite!"

"If she doesn't, I'll sell it to Alan Cuffe over at Lothario.  He's no fan of the Landgraabs"

"Well, this might be the article that puts you on the map" he said, patting her on her knee. 

"I'm hoping it doesn't put me in the hospital!" she replied.

"Don't even joke about that" said Neil with a look of concern.

Suzy finished her breakfast and went to smarten herself up in the bedroom.  As she viewed herself in the mirror, she felt that she was on the cusp of publishing her most dangerous and provocative piece of writing that she had ever done.  Once the story was out, there was going to be an eruption of anger from Affluista Mansion. 

"To print, or not to print?" she mused.  "PRINT!" she said, defiantly.

With that decided, she returned to her typewriter to finish the piece:  THE TRUTH ABOUT MALCOLM LANDGRAAB.

To the left of her typewriter were her research notes and tucked away, between the folders, was the mysterious book about the dark history of the Landgraabs...and probably the Fengs as well but she hadn't read that section yet.

Neil entered, clutching his stomach.  "I think I overdid it with the cherries...ugh" he said, sitting down on the couch.

"I thought they were nice" said Suzy.

"Yeah, but while you weren't looking I ate a whole load more from the bowl.  Now I'm regretting it.  Before I forget, you need to keep an eye on the time so you're not late for your interview"

"Oh, good thinking!  I haven't kept track of time.  I've finished this now so I'm going to put it in an envelope and post it." she replied, brandishing the manuscript.

She stood up, tightly clutching the envelope with the precious document inside it, and shut her eyes before exhaling.  "This is it, Neil" she said, opening her eyes once more.  "This is my magnum opus"

"It might be the first of many" he replied, standing up and placing his hand on her shoulder.  "Whatever happens; rejection, acceptance, awards or bricks lobbed through our windows by an irate Malcolm Landgraab...I will always be here for you"

"Thanks, sweetie.  Well, time to go.  We've got some Alka-Seltzer in the bathroom so take care of yourself" 

He nodded and she headed out the door, stopping to put the manuscript into the mailbox.  

"I'll keep an eye on it until the mailman comes" said Neil, standing at the doorway.  "No one's getting their hands on that beforehand"

Suzy headed across town to Del Sol Valley and the Orchid A Go Go club where she would be meeting this starlet.  Her editor assured her Vanessa Jeong was one of the "Faces of 66" and going places.  After all the excitement of her work investigating the Landgraabs, interviewing an up and coming actress with only one screen credit to her name:  "Pirates of Brindleton Bay" as "Serving Wench".

At the club Suzy noticed a well known actress resplendent in a long, sparkling gown and expensive jewellery but for the life of her, she couldn't place the woman's name.  She became famous in a soap opera, won an Emmy award and is being tipped to star in a big screen adaptation of a popular novel but the name was eluding her!  She had spent so much time invested in her investigative journalism she had fallen out of touch with the pop culture world:  A world in which she used to live and breathe.

"Excuse me, you're Suzy Kent aren't you?  I'm Vanessa" said the girl with trepidation.

"I am" replied Suzy, who still wrote under her maiden name.  "Nice to meet you, Vanessa.  I hope I haven't kept you waiting"

"I've only just got here myself." said Vanessa.

"Well, let me get some drinks in and I'll ask you a few questions about your background, how you got into acting and we'll take it from there"

Once settled at the bar, Suzy got out her notepad and pen and started the interview.  Vanessa was originally from Strangerville but had now moved to Sim City, specifically Del Sol Valley in the heart of showbizland.  She had always loved acting ever since she appeared as a singing star in her local nativity play, age 6.  

The interview kept on getting disturbed by a lot of fans of the soap opera star who were fawning all over her to get an autograph.  Suzy was jostled as she tried to find somewhere quieter to conduct the interview.  One fan was so overcome at getting the actresses' autograph and shaking her hand that she fainted.

The two of them found a booth that afforded some peace and quiet and the interview continued.

"It's not a big role, I had three lines, but I have a comedy moment when Dash Riprock slaps me on the butt and I go tumbling.  That's got me an audition for a guest spot on The FBI" Vanessa continued.

"Very good.  OK, so our readership are interested in personal style, music tastes and where you get your clothes.  That's a great jacket, by the way..." said Suzy.

"Well, I'm not exactly loaded so most of my clothes are from Penney's or Target...but I like The Beatles, Manfred Mann and Dionne Warwick" Vanessa replied.  Suzy made a note of all of this and then asked the girl if she wanted another drink.  She said yes and Suzy headed to the bar once again.

Just then, Malcolm Landgraab entered the club and immediately saw Suzy pass right in front of him.

"Ah, the gutter press are here.  I might have known" he sneered.

"Today, for once, the story isn't about you" she replied, defiantly.

"Taking a day off from your pathetic vendetta against me and my family, are we?" he snorted contemptuously.  All of a sudden he winced with pain and touched the side of his head.

"Headache?" asked Suzy, in a sarcastic manner.

"I...I...don't have time to waste talking to you.  My crowd are expecting me and you're not part of it!"  

"Oh deary me" she said in a deadpan snark.

"DON'T trifle with me, Kent, I am a very, very dangerous person to cross as others have found to their cost!"

There was an intensity to his gaze that actually frightened Suzy.  She had not noticed that in him before and suddenly there was a sinking feeling in her stomach again as she considered her article that was due to be published that would make Malcolm even angrier.

Suzy went back to the bar and Vanessa but she kept an eye on Malcolm as she resumed her interview.  He was laughing and fooling around with a crowd of young women (although most were a few years older than him) but she noticed that every so often he would wince and touch the side of his head.

"Miss Kent, are you OK?" asked Vanessa, who had noticed that Suzy was distracted.

"What?  Oh yes...sorry.  It's busier here than what I thought it would be" Suzy offered as an apology.

They talked more for about ten minutes before Vanessa had to go to meet a date.  Suzy had got what she wanted for an article but still the draw of observing what Malcolm was up to was preoccupying her mind.

Suzy went back to the bar to take a look at her notebook before she too headed off when she heard Malcolm's voice from behind her.

"Still here, Kent?"

"Apparently so..." she answered, dismissively.

"I wouldn't be so nonchalant if I were you...I have power in this town!"

"I wouldn't count on that..." she said, trying to sound cryptic about what she meant.  In the next few days the expose of his criminal activities will drop.

"Oh but I am counting on it..." he said with a malevolent smile on his face.  "...you don't know about the hold I have on people around here.  Everyone!" he called out loud, grabbing the attention of the bystanders standing around them.  "This is Suzy Kent...she is your enemy!" he said, clicking his fingers.  Suddenly the people in the club went silent and they all turned to glare at her.

Suzy was unnerved but this sudden turn but Malcolm was laughing.  "And there you were thinking you're popular!  Ha ha ha ha!  You know nothing, Kent...absolutely nothing and you're a nobody in this big old world!"

Suzy picked up her bag and slowly made her way out of the club with everyone still staring at her with blank expressions on their faces.  How did he do that? She thought to herself.  Just as she was at the door, Malcolm went from laughing to suddenly letting out a wince of pain which made him touch his head once more.

The whole experience spooked her as she headed back to Willow Creek.  She couldn't even think about the interview she had with Vanessa with what she subsequently witnessed with Malcolm.  Did he have his followers all hypnotised? 

Suzy stopped by at the Willow Creek Archive to take a look at a land registry book to see what sites the Landgraab Corporation owned in the entire city and surrounding county, making a note of every location.

Then it was time to return home.  She was pleased to see Neil there; his presence made her feel more secure after her bizarre encounter at the Orchid A Go Go.  He was also looking a lot better than when she'd last seen him.

"Yep, nothing a couple of Alka-Seltzer couldn't cure...say, you look bothered" said Neil.

"I'm not" she replied.

"Come on, I can tell something's got under your skin...didn't the interview go well?"

"The interview was fine it's just that...Malcolm Landgraab was there and...Neil, this is going to sound weird..."

"Suzy, there's been TWO dirigible scares, a secret mine underneath Affluista Mansions, a missing, presumed dead mad artist, a strange book, a tree that leads to somewhere impossible and a mistress of disguise who's tried to kill various people...including you...and you think what you're about to say next is going to sound weird?"

Suzy shrugged and looked sheepish.  "Well, in that context...you're right.  OK, so Malcolm is there and he's being a jerk, as usual.  I'm not bothered but then at one point he snapped his fingers and everyone in that bar stopped dancing, talking and schmoozing and....well...they all turned to stare at me but the looks on their faces; like animals who have seen a threat in the distance.  How did he do that?  And there were other weird things like he kept rubbing his head in pain..."

Neil took a sharp intake of breath and looked down at the kitchen counter as he gathered his thoughts.  "Now that is weird..." he said, tapping a finger on the counter top.  "Wasn't Jeremy brainwashed by some machine they have in the basement of the Landgraab building?  Maybe Malcolm's been using it...or something like it...to have his own personal, loyal army so to speak?"

"That might be it!"  Said Suzy, wide eyed at the revelation.  "And my article is going to go out in a few days!  What if he sends those people out after me in revenge?"

"They'll have to get past me first" said Neil, calmly.  He got up from the bar stool and walked over to her.  "I'm not leaving you alone whilst there's a threat" he said, taking her in his arms.

"Neil, you can't be my bodyguard when we're out and about!  You've got your work!"

"I am my own boss.  I'm taking time out and that's that.  We'll contact Action and tell him what's going on and Jeremy can investigate that machine as well.  No one is going to lay a hand on you!"

Suzy smiled.  "Neil...where did this man of action and purpose spring from?  When we first met you were all tongue tied, nervous and terrified of doing the wrong thing"

"I found a new purpose when the greatest woman I've ever met showed up in my life"

"...and when she wasn't available you hooked up with me?" she replied with a smirk.

"Silly.  Love, honour, cherish...I take my vows seriously.  You keep on telling the truth, I'll keep the barbarians away"

Suzy was overcome by Neil's brave and comforting words and she leaned forwards to kiss him.

CHAPTER 211: Give Me What You've Got

 

"...and with that we can calculate our profits for the first quarter" said Jeremy as he helped Barbara type up the accounts for Pack's Clothing now that had completed three months of trading.

"I'm really glad you're here to help with this stuff, Jeremy" she replied.  "It's one thing to work out what are the latest trends and order stock it's quite another to do the accounts for it all.  I would have to hire an accountant if you were not around.  Another benefit of having you as my boyfriend."

"Wait, I haven't sent you a bill for my services yet" he said with a wry smile.

"Silly...anyway, I need to finish my make up and then I'll be ready for work" she said, getting up from the desk and giving his shoulder a stroke as she walked past him.

As she inspected herself in the mirror she was wondering if she had selected the right outfit to wear today?  Was this what a woman of business would wear?  Well, if that business was owning a mod fashion boutique it might be.  It was her boldest outfit, for sure, and she thought about the contrast between how she looked and the staid, traditional attire of Jeremy and his work.  Yes, Jeremy and his work...there were still nagging doubts...

"You look perfect" came his voice from the bedroom door.  She turned around to see him smiling warmly at her.  "I too have to get changed for work.  I can't wear this sports jacket and no tie to the office."

"Do you have a busy schedule today?" she asked.

"Actually, I do...I have a meeting with my contact who is closer to what's going on with the Landgraabs.  We're going to pool information again"

"Oh Jeremy, each time you have one of these meetings I worry that you're going to get caught" she said with a sigh.

Jeremy sat down on the bed and Barbara went and sat down next to each other.  He then took her hand and gave it a soft stroke of reassurance.

  

"Last month we got through a really intense security check without being detected.  Darrin and I are just going to have lunch in the park, like two regular office workers on their lunch hour.  It'll be fine"

"Can you trust this Darrin?  What do you know about him?" she asked.

"Enough, darling.  He takes more risks than me but he knows a lot of the ins and outs of the company so we're always staying ahead.  Now I don't want to make you late for the shop's opening...you worry about the sales, I'll worry about the rest."

She worried about both on her way to work as the goal was to make enough money to move to a bigger house and then....well, the sound of wedding bells would be next.  A traditionalist like Jeremy would feel the urge to propose to Barbara but his sense of fiscal responsibility meant he wasn't going to unless their personal finances were right to move house, get married and then start a family.

Barbara's new assistant, Toni, had arrived at the boutique wearing a very brightly coloured striped dress.

"What do you think?" Toni declared.

Barbara looked Toni up and down whilst the assistant described the outfit.  "I ordered it direct from Biba in London.  This is what all the shop girls are wearing there."

"OK, it's bright, it's breezy and I like it!" said Barbara.

"The accessories are my own choice, but at Biba the girls wear all kinds with the dress.  So everything's OK?"

"It's fine, just fine, the whole thing.  OK, I'll open up the shop and we'll see if the customers dig it" said Barbara, her concerns about Jeremy disappearing for the moment.

As for the new staff uniform, that went down very well with the customers.  The girls, particularly the teens, all wanted one and the guys appreciated how it looked on Toni.  

Meanwhile at the offices of the Landgraab Corporation things were duller looking but there was intrigue afoot.  At the beginning of lunch hour Jeremy met Darrin Lew and the two exchanged brief, but polite greetings.  Whilst seemingly calm and giving off the appearance of two work colleagues who were more acquaintances that cohorts, the two men gave small nods to one another and made their way downstairs to the building's main entrance.

"We'd best get out of the building quickly" said Darrin.  "The insufferably omnipresent Miss Ethington is around and about."

"Gotcha" replied Jeremy, and without another word the two men quickly made their way out of the building and away from the watchful eye of their personal assistant, but in reality a company spy:  Alice Ethington.  Darrin, in particular, was very keen to get out and away from all those prying eyes and ears.

"Phew, Darrin...slow down a bit!  What's the rush?" gasped Jeremy when they got near some park benches.

"We don't have much time to exchange information.  Did you bring your lunch?  If we're seen eating it then it looks less suspicious" replied Darrin, producing a paper bag with a sandwich in it from his jacket pocket.

"Yeah, it's here" said Jeremy, taking out his own sandwich.  "OK, let's talk"

"Have you heard the rumours?" said Darrin, looking left and right to see if anyone was nearby.

"No.  What's going on?" replied Jeremy.

"There's trouble in Landgraab paradise:  Apparently young Malcolm was found at home spaced out, on a trip, you know?"

"I'm sorry I don't know.  A trip?  Has he been somewhere?" Jeremy asked, confused by Darrin's jargon.

"Yeah, an LSD trip or some kind of chemical."

"You mean some kind of drug?"

"Man, you really are behind the times, Jeremy.  LSD, it's what all the kids and freaks are trying.  It's powerful stuff and messes with your mind...as they all say 'turn on, tune in and drop out'.  Well, Malcolm dropped out big time and Mommy and Daddy found him at Affluista Mansion gibbering on the floor."

"Wow!  So what's that got to do with what we're doing?" asked Jeremy.

"It's more bits of information we can use against them, Jeremy!  Malcolm hasn't kicked his drug habit by the looks of things and as he's the heir apparent Nancy's very keen to get him clean and focussed on business; especially the dirty side of it."

"Yes, but can you prove any of this?" asked Jeremy, still concerned.

"Everything I've heard so far is from the rumour mill.  I have a contact at the local hospital who told me about Malcolm's admission, another contact who overheard a phone conversation Nancy had with her personal doctor and a certain memo in her handwriting that said 'NO POLICE' was carelessly thrown in a trashcan which I just happened to have gone through."

"That's not going to be enough if we do call the police in" said Jeremy with a sigh.

"No, but there might be a witness.  The Landgraab's cleaning lady; she was in the house at the time he dropped the acid...that's the LSD.  Find her and we can get the dirt and maybe a bit more about what goes on in the ol' mansion, if you get my drift."

"I do.  But who is this cleaning lady?" 

"Unfortunately I don't have a name" replied Darrin, with a frown on his face.  Jeremy could see that he was all pumped up with this new bit of information but annoyed he didn't have all the answers.  Even if he had this cleaning lady's contact details Jeremy couldn't work out what good it would do.  Malcolm taking drugs is scandalous but hardly the meaty bit of information that would bring their crooked empire down.

Darrin turned to Jeremy once more.  "This is where you come in, buddy boy.  Not much about this cleaning woman is known; she started working there only in the last few weeks.  Someone said she's from the Deep South but the only other thing I've heard is that she's known by Edna Sneedley, the political activist.  I hear you know Mrs Sneedley as well."

"Yes, but only casually and not very well." Answered Jeremy.

"You must use that contact, Jeremy.  Have a word with Mrs Sneedley and see if you can get some more information about the cleaning lady."  Darrin jabbed his finger towards Jeremy.

Jeremy let out a sigh; of all the tasks he had undertaken in this investigation asking Edna for the phone number of her cleaning lady wasn't the most difficult challenge but still, he didn't think it was worth bothering about, not when he had information to pass on to Darrin.

"By the way, that data on the mine under the mansion is inside that sandwich bag I am leaving on this bench." Jeremy said, softly.  Darrin nodded and then in a louder voice Jeremy said "well, I must get back to my desk, see you later." as he stood up.

"By the way, Darrin...I have one question for you:  Why are you doing all this to get back at the Landgraabs?"

Darrin looked at Jeremy with a severe look on his face but then suddenly turned away and looked off into the distance towards the skyscrapers of San Myshuno.  "I have deep, personal reasons.  That's all you need to know." he said.

Jeremy didn't respond but instead went back inside the building.

At the end of his shift he headed over to Magnolia Promenade to meet Barbara and catch up with her.  She had just closed the shop for the day so they sat by the little playground and shared their respective days with one another.

"I'm telling you, we had one of the busiest days ever!  Toni is a godsend...I get serve customers, restock outfits and clean the place so much quicker with her help.  Here's the receipts for today..." she said, passing a cardboard folder with them over to Jeremy.

"Wow, you're not joking about business...that's great.  Another step forwards for Project: New Home." he replied.

"And you, my dear?  Did you trigger any alarms whilst skulking around your work?" she asked.

"Barbara....how do you feel about getting a cleaning lady?" he replied, enigmatically.