Chapter Eighty: Sneaky
“The LIBRARY?!” TJ
groaned loudly as he sat with Tammy at the Pleasantville Library.
groaned loudly as he sat with Tammy at the Pleasantville Library.
“Shhhhhhh!!!!”
Hissed the Librarian.
Hissed the Librarian.
“Sorry!' TJ ducked
his head.
his head.
“Trust me, the
Pleasantville Library is the one place where everyone comes for a bit
of privacy.” Tammy whispered. “Judith is here all the time, Demon
shows up on occasion with Daryl, and when Mark was alive he used to
love the Aquatics section.” Tammy took TJ through the History
section. “We won't talk about how Belle spends all her free time
here.”
Pleasantville Library is the one place where everyone comes for a bit
of privacy.” Tammy whispered. “Judith is here all the time, Demon
shows up on occasion with Daryl, and when Mark was alive he used to
love the Aquatics section.” Tammy took TJ through the History
section. “We won't talk about how Belle spends all her free time
here.”
“When she's not
stepping on her wicket.” TJ pouted.
stepping on her wicket.” TJ pouted.
“SHHHHHH!!!!” The
Librarian hissed again.
Librarian hissed again.
“Geezus…is he
always that vicious?” TJ hissed as Tammy picked a book from the
Contemporary Arts section.
always that vicious?” TJ hissed as Tammy picked a book from the
Contemporary Arts section.
“Mr. Bookley is the
sweetest man ever thank you.” Tammy glared at her friend.
sweetest man ever thank you.” Tammy glared at her friend.
“I was just
saying…” TJ started.
saying…” TJ started.
“SHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!”
The Librarian looked ready to kill.
The Librarian looked ready to kill.
“I'm not going to
speak for the rest of the day.” TJ grumbled under his breath.
speak for the rest of the day.” TJ grumbled under his breath.
“Good, because
Richard Dickson just arrived, and we need to scope him out today.”
Tammy took her book down to a table and opened her bag, pulling out
her laptop. “We're gonna find out why the Service is in
Pleasantville.”
Richard Dickson just arrived, and we need to scope him out today.”
Tammy took her book down to a table and opened her bag, pulling out
her laptop. “We're gonna find out why the Service is in
Pleasantville.”
TJ immediately grabbed
the nearest book and threw himself into the seat next to her, earning
a filthy look from Mr. Bookley.
the nearest book and threw himself into the seat next to her, earning
a filthy look from Mr. Bookley.
Dickson looked at the
the library catalogue, then went to the Adult Fiction section. He
grabbed a mystery and sat down near a window. He began to read
quietly.
the library catalogue, then went to the Adult Fiction section. He
grabbed a mystery and sat down near a window. He began to read
quietly.
TJ looked at his book,
“Self-Care after Pregnancy”. He groaned inwardly. Tammy shot him
a Look, before continuing with her studies.
“Self-Care after Pregnancy”. He groaned inwardly. Tammy shot him
a Look, before continuing with her studies.
Dickson read quietly
for a while, before another man walked in. He picked up a mystery of
his own and sat by his commander. TJ noticed that Tammy sat back and
appeared to relax a bit while reading her book. He sighed, and tried
to enjoy the book he'd picked up.
for a while, before another man walked in. He picked up a mystery of
his own and sat by his commander. TJ noticed that Tammy sat back and
appeared to relax a bit while reading her book. He sighed, and tried
to enjoy the book he'd picked up.
“This is stupid.”
The lackey said to Dickson. “Why'd they give us such crap supplies
for?”
The lackey said to Dickson. “Why'd they give us such crap supplies
for?”
“Because you KNOW
they don't want us to fix anything.” Dickson replied bitterly. TJ
and Tammy nearly fell off their chairs when they heard the feminine
voice of the big, strapping Dickson! “Pleasantville is where they
take care of their shady business, and they don't want to lose it.
It's disgusting.”
they don't want us to fix anything.” Dickson replied bitterly. TJ
and Tammy nearly fell off their chairs when they heard the feminine
voice of the big, strapping Dickson! “Pleasantville is where they
take care of their shady business, and they don't want to lose it.
It's disgusting.”
“You're gonna try
anyway aren't you Sir?” The other man asked.
anyway aren't you Sir?” The other man asked.
“Of course. I didn't
sign up to be a whitewasher.” Dickson snapped.
sign up to be a whitewasher.” Dickson snapped.
“SHHHHHHHHH!” The
Librarian looked ready to burst.
Librarian looked ready to burst.
“I want to get a hold
of the main two. Chuckles and Giggles. I hear they have ties to the
Masters and Begly families who hold a bit of weight around here.”
Dickson said quietly.
of the main two. Chuckles and Giggles. I hear they have ties to the
Masters and Begly families who hold a bit of weight around here.”
Dickson said quietly.
“I'll see what I can
do Sir.” The lackey nodded, before returning to his mystery. “No
good, I've read this one a million times, it's lost it's charm.”
do Sir.” The lackey nodded, before returning to his mystery. “No
good, I've read this one a million times, it's lost it's charm.”
TJ looked at Tammy, who
looked deep in thought.
looked deep in thought.
“What was THAT all
about?” He asked her.
about?” He asked her.
“SHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Both the Librarian AND Tammy shushed TJ this time.
Both the Librarian AND Tammy shushed TJ this time.
“What?!” TJ asked.
Tammy groaned, and dragged TJ out of there.
Tammy groaned, and dragged TJ out of there.
“The whole point of
the library is that it's QUIET and people DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'RE
EAVESDROPPING!” Tammy scolded him. “This is why I'm Lady Silent
and you're a chump.”
the library is that it's QUIET and people DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'RE
EAVESDROPPING!” Tammy scolded him. “This is why I'm Lady Silent
and you're a chump.”
“Hey, give me a
break!” TJ groaned.
break!” TJ groaned.
She ripped into him all
the way back to the tip.
the way back to the tip.
—
“This goes deeper
than anything I could have imagined. Oh the drama!” Belle listened
intently to what Tammy and TJ reported back at the tip.
than anything I could have imagined. Oh the drama!” Belle listened
intently to what Tammy and TJ reported back at the tip.
“A global conspiracy?
Awesome.” Charlie drawled, sitting on a pile of old mattresses.
“I'm sure you'll find some way to make it boring.”
Awesome.” Charlie drawled, sitting on a pile of old mattresses.
“I'm sure you'll find some way to make it boring.”
“So, how do we help
them?” Sammy asked as Charlie went flying to the ground, the pile
of mattresses destroyed.
them?” Sammy asked as Charlie went flying to the ground, the pile
of mattresses destroyed.
“This is where TJ
gets involved. Be sure to say hi from Chuckles and Giggles for us!”
Daniel thumped TJ's back.
gets involved. Be sure to say hi from Chuckles and Giggles for us!”
Daniel thumped TJ's back.
“Hopefully he does
better than he did at spying.” Tammy frowned.
better than he did at spying.” Tammy frowned.
Suddenly, TJ's phone
began to buzz.
began to buzz.
“Constable Jacobs
reporting…yes Sir, will be there soon Sir.” TJ hung up. “Bad
news, Demon has called the police to make sure the Noble Knights of
the Last Order are caught!”
reporting…yes Sir, will be there soon Sir.” TJ hung up. “Bad
news, Demon has called the police to make sure the Noble Knights of
the Last Order are caught!”
“Not good.” Petunia
moaned.
moaned.
“It isn't.” Daniel
rubbed his chin. “Okay. Lady Silent and Sir Dark will remain
on…well, THAT detail.” He couldn't help giggling. “Lady Luck
will remain here and keep things running. Lady Courage, Sir Hyper and
myself will help Chuckles and Giggles fight crime, should it pop up.”
rubbed his chin. “Okay. Lady Silent and Sir Dark will remain
on…well, THAT detail.” He couldn't help giggling. “Lady Luck
will remain here and keep things running. Lady Courage, Sir Hyper and
myself will help Chuckles and Giggles fight crime, should it pop up.”
“Right.” The
Knights nodded.
Knights nodded.
“Teej, it's up to
you.” Daniel looked at one of his two best friends. “You have to
get to Dickson.”
you.” Daniel looked at one of his two best friends. “You have to
get to Dickson.”
“I'll try.” TJ
sighed.
sighed.
—
“You're distracted
love.” Petunia rinsed off plates and handed them to TJ, who loaded
the dishwasher.
love.” Petunia rinsed off plates and handed them to TJ, who loaded
the dishwasher.
“How am I supposed to
talk to Dickson? This is a job for Belle or Dan or even Tammy.” TJ
sighed. “I'm just a cop.”
talk to Dickson? This is a job for Belle or Dan or even Tammy.” TJ
sighed. “I'm just a cop.”
“You know how to talk
to people.” Petunia pointed out.
to people.” Petunia pointed out.
“Yeah…but…” TJ
sighed.
sighed.
“But what?” Petunia
looked up at him.
looked up at him.
“I can't change
anything. None of my coworkers ever listen to me when I try to steer
them towards not being corrupt, and bloody Dingbat is the worst
Inspector I've ever heard of. He won't promote me to Senior Constable
because he's got his favourites.” TJ told her. “I wanted to do my
Dad proud, but I can't do anything.”
anything. None of my coworkers ever listen to me when I try to steer
them towards not being corrupt, and bloody Dingbat is the worst
Inspector I've ever heard of. He won't promote me to Senior Constable
because he's got his favourites.” TJ told her. “I wanted to do my
Dad proud, but I can't do anything.”
“Maybe you should
talk to your Dad.” Petunia suggested, finishing the rinsing.
talk to your Dad.” Petunia suggested, finishing the rinsing.
“I guess.” TJ put
the last dish in the washer.
the last dish in the washer.
“Don't I guess me.”
Petunia smiled at him with a giggle.
Petunia smiled at him with a giggle.
TJ smiled back, and
hugged her tightly. “What would I do without you to keep me
straight?”
hugged her tightly. “What would I do without you to keep me
straight?”
“You'd probably be
married to Dan and cheating with Sam right now.” Petunia poked him.
married to Dan and cheating with Sam right now.” Petunia poked him.
They laughed. As long
as they had each other, nothing else mattered.
as they had each other, nothing else mattered.