Chapter Ninety-Two: Delicious
“Oi, Jacobs.”
TJ was sat at his desk
at work, when suddenly he was surrounded by Officer Wallace Dingbat
and three officers.
at work, when suddenly he was surrounded by Officer Wallace Dingbat
and three officers.
“How can I help,
boss?” TJ asked.
boss?” TJ asked.
“Well Jacobs, I think
you can be very, very helpful indeed.” Dingbat sat on the edge of
the desk, making it groan ominously. “You see, a little birdie tells
me that you might know a thing or two about the Knights of the Last
Order.
you can be very, very helpful indeed.” Dingbat sat on the edge of
the desk, making it groan ominously. “You see, a little birdie tells
me that you might know a thing or two about the Knights of the Last
Order.
TJ did his best to look
surprised. Inside, he was seething. He knew this was probably payback
from Richard Dickson.
surprised. Inside, he was seething. He knew this was probably payback
from Richard Dickson.
“Don't give me that
look Jacobs. You're the one who gave them to Dickson.” Dingbat
sneered. TJ groaned inwardly. Damn! “Mayor Jones is giving us a lot
of heat to get the Knights under control. If you know where they are,
and you're holding out on us, then we have a little bit of a
problem.”
look Jacobs. You're the one who gave them to Dickson.” Dingbat
sneered. TJ groaned inwardly. Damn! “Mayor Jones is giving us a lot
of heat to get the Knights under control. If you know where they are,
and you're holding out on us, then we have a little bit of a
problem.”
TJ stood up. “Sir, if
I really knew anything about the Knights, don't you think I would be
the first to talk? I have a reputation to uphold.”
I really knew anything about the Knights, don't you think I would be
the first to talk? I have a reputation to uphold.”
“Oooh, he's playing
the Daddy card.” Dingbat chortled. The other officers laughed.
“Well Jacobs, if you really don't know anything, maybe you can help
us another way.”
the Daddy card.” Dingbat chortled. The other officers laughed.
“Well Jacobs, if you really don't know anything, maybe you can help
us another way.”
“And?” TJ was
starting to get irritated.
starting to get irritated.
“Your friends. The
Masters.” Dingbat leered.
Masters.” Dingbat leered.
TJ might have looked
calm, but inside he was piping hot. He was being backed into a corner
and he didn't like it.
calm, but inside he was piping hot. He was being backed into a corner
and he didn't like it.
“Mayor Jones wants
them out of City Hall. You're going to give us the evidence to do
that.” Dingbat told him.
them out of City Hall. You're going to give us the evidence to do
that.” Dingbat told him.
“And if there is no
evidence?” TJ snapped.
evidence?” TJ snapped.
“Find some.”
Dingbat got up off the table, his eyes laughing in victory. He and
the other officers went back to work.
Dingbat got up off the table, his eyes laughing in victory. He and
the other officers went back to work.
—
“You're not the only
one who's been recommended to dob us in.” Belle assured TJ after
work that day.
one who's been recommended to dob us in.” Belle assured TJ after
work that day.
“Yeah, today at work
we had a big staff presentation about doing the right thing and
speaking up if you think anything is wrong.” Petunia scoffed.
we had a big staff presentation about doing the right thing and
speaking up if you think anything is wrong.” Petunia scoffed.
“You too? We had one
at the school today.” Sammy told the group as they walked into
Bills restaurant. “Spent the entire day listening to kids dobbing
on each other for the stupidest of things.”
at the school today.” Sammy told the group as they walked into
Bills restaurant. “Spent the entire day listening to kids dobbing
on each other for the stupidest of things.”
“Maybe I should give
the same talk to my staff.” Charlie mused as they sat down.
the same talk to my staff.” Charlie mused as they sat down.
“You? Lecture?”
Belle teased. Charlie cuffed her, sending her sprawling to the
ground.
Belle teased. Charlie cuffed her, sending her sprawling to the
ground.
“I see you two have
as strong a friendship as ever.” Bill walked out of the kitchen
just in time to see his niece flying to the ground.
as strong a friendship as ever.” Bill walked out of the kitchen
just in time to see his niece flying to the ground.
“BFFs.” Belle
groaned as she got up.
groaned as she got up.
“So, what are we all
having today?” Bill asked, pad ready.
having today?” Bill asked, pad ready.
“What's the newest
dish?” Daniel asked.
dish?” Daniel asked.
“Thai Basil Fish.”
Bill replied.
Bill replied.
The group thought for a
moment.
moment.
“Chips.” Was the
consensus.
consensus.
“You lot…” Bill
grumbled as he went back to the kitchen to get their meal.
grumbled as he went back to the kitchen to get their meal.
“So, anyone see the
latest from the Brisvegas Leos?” Charlie poured himself and Belle
some water, raising a few eyebrows.
latest from the Brisvegas Leos?” Charlie poured himself and Belle
some water, raising a few eyebrows.
“I give it another
week before Matthew Boss is gone from the coaching job. Peter Kanga
has been sniffing around.” Sammy replied.
week before Matthew Boss is gone from the coaching job. Peter Kanga
has been sniffing around.” Sammy replied.
“No way, he's off to
the Sportsbourne Devils.” Sunny shook her head. “No way would the
Leos dump Boss.”
the Sportsbourne Devils.” Sunny shook her head. “No way would the
Leos dump Boss.”
The bell on the
restaurant door tingled. No one really noticed who walked in, except
Belle, who went exceptionally pale.
restaurant door tingled. No one really noticed who walked in, except
Belle, who went exceptionally pale.
“Good evening Mr.
Masters.” Mayor Jones said in his slick, deep, oily voice.
Masters.” Mayor Jones said in his slick, deep, oily voice.
Sunny heard that voice
and hugged Melody close to her. Jones turned to look at her.
and hugged Melody close to her. Jones turned to look at her.
“It would be nice to
sit with my daughter and her friends tonight.” He said.
sit with my daughter and her friends tonight.” He said.
Bill clutched his pad.
“Very well. Let me get you a seat.”
“Very well. Let me get you a seat.”
Jones smiled pleasantly
as Bill got his seat for him. Bill looked apologetically at Sunny,
who sighed.
as Bill got his seat for him. Bill looked apologetically at Sunny,
who sighed.
“What do you want?”
She asked her father accusingly.
She asked her father accusingly.
“Now, now. Is that
any way to speak to your father?” Mr. Jones looked down his nose at
his daughter.
any way to speak to your father?” Mr. Jones looked down his nose at
his daughter.
“It is when you're a
crap parent.” Sunny muttered.
crap parent.” Sunny muttered.
Jones pretended he
hadn't heard. “I just want to reconnect with my daughter, get to
know my grand-daughter. Is there anything wrong with that?”
hadn't heard. “I just want to reconnect with my daughter, get to
know my grand-daughter. Is there anything wrong with that?”
Just as Sunny was about
to tell him everything wrong with that, Mobster Marion and Master
Revolver walked in.
to tell him everything wrong with that, Mobster Marion and Master
Revolver walked in.
Belle shared a Look
with Charlie. Jones frowned, but continued to talk.
with Charlie. Jones frowned, but continued to talk.
“It would be nice to
talk to my employees too. Miss Masters and Mr. Jacobs.” He smiled
politely.
talk to my employees too. Miss Masters and Mr. Jacobs.” He smiled
politely.
“Nothing like work on
your personal time.” TJ muttered.
your personal time.” TJ muttered.
“Nonsense! This is
just a friendly dinner together!” Jones beamed at them all, making
them all want to vomit and giving Sunny severe violent urges.
just a friendly dinner together!” Jones beamed at them all, making
them all want to vomit and giving Sunny severe violent urges.
“I think it would be
nice to sit with the Mayor and his friends, don't you?” Master
Revolver asked Marion as Bill arranged their seating.
nice to sit with the Mayor and his friends, don't you?” Master
Revolver asked Marion as Bill arranged their seating.
“Hmm? Of course.”
Marion seemed distracted and twitchy. Daniel noticed. Her mental
health was definitely on the decline!
Marion seemed distracted and twitchy. Daniel noticed. Her mental
health was definitely on the decline!
Jones flinched slightly
as the pair sat down, but maintained his impossible smile. “It's
nice to see you both.” He said.
as the pair sat down, but maintained his impossible smile. “It's
nice to see you both.” He said.
“Nice to see you
too.” Revolver said roughly, not meaning it at all. Belle and
Charlie gripped each others hands. There was definitely tension
between Demon and Master Revolver!
too.” Revolver said roughly, not meaning it at all. Belle and
Charlie gripped each others hands. There was definitely tension
between Demon and Master Revolver!
“Even though you
should be in gaol.” Jones growled under his breath.
should be in gaol.” Jones growled under his breath.
“Shoulda, woulda,
coulda. There's nothing you can do about it, unless you want more
blood and secrets spilled.” Revolver shot a glare at the Mayor.
coulda. There's nothing you can do about it, unless you want more
blood and secrets spilled.” Revolver shot a glare at the Mayor.
“So much for a
friendly dinner.” Petunia groaned.
friendly dinner.” Petunia groaned.
Then, JUST to add more
fuel to the fire, Crusader Roger walked in with three of his
henchmen…one of them being none other than the former Ruby Warrior
Daryl Jones!
fuel to the fire, Crusader Roger walked in with three of his
henchmen…one of them being none other than the former Ruby Warrior
Daryl Jones!
“Okay, which one of
you walked under a ladder with a black cat while smashing a mirror?!”
Sunny glared accusingly at her friends as the new group came and sat
down at the table.
you walked under a ladder with a black cat while smashing a mirror?!”
Sunny glared accusingly at her friends as the new group came and sat
down at the table.
“As much as I don't
like sharing a table with murderers and snitches, I believe I shall.”
Roger sat down next to Belle, who nearly backhanded him furiously.
like sharing a table with murderers and snitches, I believe I shall.”
Roger sat down next to Belle, who nearly backhanded him furiously.
“You liar! Everyone
knows it was you pretending to be my father that got
the…government…involved.” She tried not to giggle.
knows it was you pretending to be my father that got
the…government…involved.” She tried not to giggle.
“Oh?” Roger looked
down his nose at the young Masters. “And your proof is?”
down his nose at the young Masters. “And your proof is?”
“We went to Brisvegas
and saw the communication for ourselves. It came from the town of
Fallsville. You know, where March Hill is?” Charlie narrowed his
eyes at Roger.
and saw the communication for ourselves. It came from the town of
Fallsville. You know, where March Hill is?” Charlie narrowed his
eyes at Roger.
Revolver, Marion and
Jones all turned to stare at Roger. He brushed it off.
Jones all turned to stare at Roger. He brushed it off.
“Very clever.” He
admitted.
admitted.
“So we wasted our
time going after the Masters brat after all.” Revolver grumbled.
time going after the Masters brat after all.” Revolver grumbled.
“I'M SITTING RIGHT
HERE!” Belle yelled.
HERE!” Belle yelled.
“Please Miss Masters,
this is a fine dining establishment…although it looks otherwise.”
Jones frowned at the décor of the restaurant. Charlie had to
restrain Belle from retorting.
this is a fine dining establishment…although it looks otherwise.”
Jones frowned at the décor of the restaurant. Charlie had to
restrain Belle from retorting.
“Forget it Gangster,
you've lost Pleasantville.” Roger gloated.
you've lost Pleasantville.” Roger gloated.
“I wouldn't be so
sure after the last stunt you pulled that nearly cost me!” Jones
fired.
sure after the last stunt you pulled that nearly cost me!” Jones
fired.
Roger growled. Darn it!
“I'm not entirely
happy with anyone at this table.” Jones continued. “You're all
either vying for power or keeping secrets.”
happy with anyone at this table.” Jones continued. “You're all
either vying for power or keeping secrets.”
“Pleasantville was
built on secrets.” Marion said, making everyone jump. “Secrets
all over the place. One day all the secrets will come undone.”
built on secrets.” Marion said, making everyone jump. “Secrets
all over the place. One day all the secrets will come undone.”
“Sooner rather than
later I hope.” Charlie said.
later I hope.” Charlie said.
“If wishes were
trees, the trees would fall down.” Revolver said. Belle eyed him
warily.
trees, the trees would fall down.” Revolver said. Belle eyed him
warily.
“The fact is, I have
no reason to work with any of you.” Jones continued.
no reason to work with any of you.” Jones continued.
“Except that most of
us know too much.” Roger smirked.
us know too much.” Roger smirked.
“That may be the
case, however I think I could deal with that.” Jones said. “If I
had the right people behind me.”
case, however I think I could deal with that.” Jones said. “If I
had the right people behind me.”
Belle winced in pain as
Charlie squeezed her hand tightly.
Charlie squeezed her hand tightly.
“Whomever can bring
me the Lions Claw Blade and the Lucky Seven Gun will help me rule
Pleasantville.” Jones declared.
me the Lions Claw Blade and the Lucky Seven Gun will help me rule
Pleasantville.” Jones declared.
Thankfully everyone at
the table looked shocked, so Belle and Charlie didn't look too out of
place with their looks of terror.
the table looked shocked, so Belle and Charlie didn't look too out of
place with their looks of terror.
“Oh hey look, the
Haunted Maze Troupe are here.” Sammy pointed to a window, where two
Troupers were peering in. Because of course they were.
Haunted Maze Troupe are here.” Sammy pointed to a window, where two
Troupers were peering in. Because of course they were.