Chapter Seventy-One: I'm your SISTER!
“What are you talking
about?” Mobster Marion raised her eyebrow at her sister.
about?” Mobster Marion raised her eyebrow at her sister.
“It's Chuckles and
Giggles!” Judith Jofrey cried. “They're Charlie Begly and Belle
Masters!”
Giggles!” Judith Jofrey cried. “They're Charlie Begly and Belle
Masters!”
Mobster Marion blinked.
Master Revolver cleared his throat.
Master Revolver cleared his throat.
“And how did you find
this out?” Mobster Marion asked, sipping on her champagne.
this out?” Mobster Marion asked, sipping on her champagne.
Judith gulped. She
couldn't tell them that without revealing that she'd been caught as
Sidewinder.
couldn't tell them that without revealing that she'd been caught as
Sidewinder.
“I just know, okay?”
She snapped.
She snapped.
Master Revolver gave a
small cough. He got up and walked to the rumpus room. Mobster Marion
motioned for Judith to sit down. Judith sat on the sofa across from
Marion, who poured a drink for her sister.
small cough. He got up and walked to the rumpus room. Mobster Marion
motioned for Judith to sit down. Judith sat on the sofa across from
Marion, who poured a drink for her sister.
“I'm telling the
truth.” Judith tried to convince her sister.
truth.” Judith tried to convince her sister.
“Could you be
mistaken?” Marion asked gently. “Belle Masters especially is the
LAST person you'd expect to by flying around Pleasantville. She's too
bookish.”
mistaken?” Marion asked gently. “Belle Masters especially is the
LAST person you'd expect to by flying around Pleasantville. She's too
bookish.”
“I know, okay?”
Judith groaned. “But I swear it's true!”
Judith groaned. “But I swear it's true!”
Marion sighed. She
loved her sister, and knew that her judgement was usually sound.
However, recently she'd been…troublesome.
loved her sister, and knew that her judgement was usually sound.
However, recently she'd been…troublesome.
“Judith…” She
sighed again. She wanted to believe her sister, but there was simply
no way that Belle Masters, junior lawyer, could be the agile
gunslinger Giggles. There was no way a blacksmith like Charlie Begly
could be the deadly swordsman Chuckles.
sighed again. She wanted to believe her sister, but there was simply
no way that Belle Masters, junior lawyer, could be the agile
gunslinger Giggles. There was no way a blacksmith like Charlie Begly
could be the deadly swordsman Chuckles.
“We'll talk about it
tomorrow, okay?” Marion smiled. Judith pouted. “C'mon, I have
some gold chocolate truffle you'll absolutely LOVE.”
tomorrow, okay?” Marion smiled. Judith pouted. “C'mon, I have
some gold chocolate truffle you'll absolutely LOVE.”
Judith sighed, and
sipped at her drink. Maybe sleeping on it would be a good idea.
sipped at her drink. Maybe sleeping on it would be a good idea.
—
Belle Masters had her
nose firmly in a book as she walked back to her desk in the
Pleasantville Council building. Mobster Marion watched her.
nose firmly in a book as she walked back to her desk in the
Pleasantville Council building. Mobster Marion watched her.
“See Judes? No way
could Belle be Giggles, she hasn't crashed!” Marion chuckled.
could Belle be Giggles, she hasn't crashed!” Marion chuckled.
Belle pricked up her
ears. Oh no…
ears. Oh no…
Marion patted Judiths
arm, before walking back into Mayor Jones' office, while Judith
Jofrey followed behind dejectedly.
arm, before walking back into Mayor Jones' office, while Judith
Jofrey followed behind dejectedly.
Of course, right after
they walked into the office, Belle completely missed her chair and
ended up on the ground.
they walked into the office, Belle completely missed her chair and
ended up on the ground.
“That's not really a
reason why Belle can't be Giggles.” Judith frowned as Marion helped
herself to Jones' whisky stash.
reason why Belle can't be Giggles.” Judith frowned as Marion helped
herself to Jones' whisky stash.
“Judith…” Marion
was starting to get irritated.
was starting to get irritated.
“Besides, everyone
knows Belle is a regular at the shooting range.” Judith tried,
almost pleading.
knows Belle is a regular at the shooting range.” Judith tried,
almost pleading.
“So is half the
bloody city!” Marion snapped. “I've tried to be nice about this
Judes, but you're really pissing me off.”
bloody city!” Marion snapped. “I've tried to be nice about this
Judes, but you're really pissing me off.”
“You're pissing ME
off! I'm your SISTER, remember?!” Judith fired back.
off! I'm your SISTER, remember?!” Judith fired back.
“Keep it down idiot!”
Marion hissed. “Do you want anyone to find out who you are?!”
Marion hissed. “Do you want anyone to find out who you are?!”
Judith went slightly
pale. “I'm sorry.” She swallowed. “But-,”
pale. “I'm sorry.” She swallowed. “But-,”
“Enough.” Marion
snapped. “Do you want me to take you to the metalworks? You can see
how Charlie Begly lumbers around carrying metal, without any of the
finesse required to wield the Lions Claw Blade?”
snapped. “Do you want me to take you to the metalworks? You can see
how Charlie Begly lumbers around carrying metal, without any of the
finesse required to wield the Lions Claw Blade?”
Judith grimaced and
stalked out of the office. Marion raised her eyebrow at her
retreating form. For whatever reason, she'd gotten this idea in her
head. If she would just tell Marion where the idea came from then she
might be inclined to believe her. For some reason though, Judith was
keeping mum on the subject.
stalked out of the office. Marion raised her eyebrow at her
retreating form. For whatever reason, she'd gotten this idea in her
head. If she would just tell Marion where the idea came from then she
might be inclined to believe her. For some reason though, Judith was
keeping mum on the subject.
Not for the first time,
Marion wondered if Judith was plotting to take over the Mobsters of
Misneach, breaking up the Death Valley Mobsters. It would spell
disaster though, surely Judith wouldn't be that stupid? Maybe Judith
was thinking of taking the Mobster assets for herself?
Marion wondered if Judith was plotting to take over the Mobsters of
Misneach, breaking up the Death Valley Mobsters. It would spell
disaster though, surely Judith wouldn't be that stupid? Maybe Judith
was thinking of taking the Mobster assets for herself?
Marion knew that her
Uncle had been killed because he'd wanted more power than he was
owed. He wanted to keep the assets for himself, and not hand them
over to his niece. She didn't want to have to get Master Revolver to
kill Judith, least of all because she didn't have an heir yet.
Uncle had been killed because he'd wanted more power than he was
owed. He wanted to keep the assets for himself, and not hand them
over to his niece. She didn't want to have to get Master Revolver to
kill Judith, least of all because she didn't have an heir yet.
There was also another
issue brewing.
issue brewing.
“Demon.” Marion
narrowed her eyes at Mayor Jones as he walked into his office.
narrowed her eyes at Mayor Jones as he walked into his office.
“Marion.” The Mayor
of Pleasantville, Demon, glared back. “Do what do I owe the
honour?”
of Pleasantville, Demon, glared back. “Do what do I owe the
honour?”
“I want to know why
Mark and Roger were in here.” Marion got straight to the point.
“What business to you have with the March Hill Crusaders?”
Mark and Roger were in here.” Marion got straight to the point.
“What business to you have with the March Hill Crusaders?”
“Nothing that
concerns you.” Demon sat at his desk. “Now get out of my sight.”
concerns you.” Demon sat at his desk. “Now get out of my sight.”
“I warn you, if you
betray us, you lose half of Pleasantville.” Marion warned him as
she walked out.
betray us, you lose half of Pleasantville.” Marion warned him as
she walked out.
Demon watched as the
door slammed behind her.
door slammed behind her.
—
“I have good news and
bad news.” Belle ran to her friends after work that day as they sat
at the tip. “Judith's figured out who we are, but Marion won't
believe her.”
bad news.” Belle ran to her friends after work that day as they sat
at the tip. “Judith's figured out who we are, but Marion won't
believe her.”
“WHAT?!” The others
cried.
cried.
“She must have
recognised my voice!” Daniel cried.
recognised my voice!” Daniel cried.
“And then she put two
and two together, which helped her recognise my voice.” Belle
groaned.
and two together, which helped her recognise my voice.” Belle
groaned.
“But you said Marion
didn't believe her?” Charlie raised an eyebrow.
didn't believe her?” Charlie raised an eyebrow.
Belle couldn't help it.
She started laughing.
She started laughing.
“She was after me all
day, trying to prove it without giving it away to me that she knew.”
She grinned. “But she didn't realise I'd overheard Marion flapping
her gums!”
day, trying to prove it without giving it away to me that she knew.”
She grinned. “But she didn't realise I'd overheard Marion flapping
her gums!”
Everyone else saw the
funny side of it too.
funny side of it too.
“Is Marion REALLY
that idiotic?!” Sammy laughed.
that idiotic?!” Sammy laughed.
“The power must
really have gotten to her head if she's being so arrogant as to
ignore her sister!” Petunia added.
really have gotten to her head if she's being so arrogant as to
ignore her sister!” Petunia added.
“I wish I'd been
there!” Charlie slapped Belle on the back.
there!” Charlie slapped Belle on the back.
“You should have seen
Judith's face when she realised no one believed her!” Belle roared
with laughter.
Judith's face when she realised no one believed her!” Belle roared
with laughter.
“She's probably going
to try following us around with cameras now.” TJ grinned. “And if
she does, we just remind her what's at stake!”
to try following us around with cameras now.” TJ grinned. “And if
she does, we just remind her what's at stake!”
“She's gotta be
furious.” Tammy grinned.
furious.” Tammy grinned.
Sammy was about to join
in, but then he noticed Daniel looking a little distracted. “Dan?
What's up?”
in, but then he noticed Daniel looking a little distracted. “Dan?
What's up?”
“Nothing.” Daniel
said, not paying attention.
said, not paying attention.
“You seem very
interested in that old car.” Sammy pressed. “Going to try and put
us a vehicle together again?”
interested in that old car.” Sammy pressed. “Going to try and put
us a vehicle together again?”
“After last time? We
don't need another Chuckles and Giggles annoying us.” Daniel
quipped.
don't need another Chuckles and Giggles annoying us.” Daniel
quipped.
“Don't be a dork!”
Charlie shoved him off the bonnet he was sitting on.
Charlie shoved him off the bonnet he was sitting on.
The group laughed.
“I'm thinking if I
can patch things up with Judy, if I can somehow influence her, and in
turn, Marion.” Daniel told them. “They own half the city and if
we can get them to turn on Demon, he's in big trouble at the next
election.”
can patch things up with Judy, if I can somehow influence her, and in
turn, Marion.” Daniel told them. “They own half the city and if
we can get them to turn on Demon, he's in big trouble at the next
election.”
“It'll be difficult
though. It's really hard to go against your family.” Sunny said, as
Melody slept against her chest. “Especially when it's what you've
been raised to believe.”
though. It's really hard to go against your family.” Sunny said, as
Melody slept against her chest. “Especially when it's what you've
been raised to believe.”
“And yet you did it.”
Belle put an arm around her friend.
Belle put an arm around her friend.
Sunny shook her head.
“I was…I was being
abused. It's easy to turn on someone when they're mistreating you.”
She sighed. “Judith and Marion are close. It's going to be really
hard to get between them. I mean, if it were easy, I could have
talked Dad around before he took over the city…”
abused. It's easy to turn on someone when they're mistreating you.”
She sighed. “Judith and Marion are close. It's going to be really
hard to get between them. I mean, if it were easy, I could have
talked Dad around before he took over the city…”
“It's not your fault
Demon is a jerk.” Charlie said. “Just like it's not your fault he
killed my grandfather.”
Demon is a jerk.” Charlie said. “Just like it's not your fault he
killed my grandfather.”
Sunny looked at
Charlie. That wound might have healed, but it had left a very painful
scar. Sunny had to marvel that he'd even considered dating her at one
stage after what her father had done.
Charlie. That wound might have healed, but it had left a very painful
scar. Sunny had to marvel that he'd even considered dating her at one
stage after what her father had done.
“Push comes to shove,
Danny'll just have to knock Judith up.” TJ grinned.
Danny'll just have to knock Judith up.” TJ grinned.
That suggestion was
greeted with loud boos and jeers. Stay classy TJ.
greeted with loud boos and jeers. Stay classy TJ.