SUSPICIONS, PART FIFTEEN

"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Thou art more lovely, and more temperate.

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May

And summer's lease hath all too short a date."

Jordan Stark was listening to a tape recording when Zack entered his office.

"He did read poetry beautifully." Stark said.

"Who is it?"

"Rachel's husband, Carl Hutchins. She was devestated by his death." said Stark, "If the Lumina Foundation can put her in touch with her lost love, she should have no objection to paying for the privilege."

"Put her in touch -? How? You know we've never established reliable communication with the dead!" said Zack.

"The sound of his voice - his face appearing in a mirror - Rachel won't be too critical."

"You - you're talking about - conjuring tricks!" said Zack, "That's not what Lumina is about! We're not fakes!"

"Lumina needs money, so that we can continue with our work." said Stark, in a reasonable tone of voice, "Rachel Hutchins is a wealthy woman. We give her what she wants - she gives us the money we need - everybody's happy!"

"But - what about our integrity?"

"Integrity won't even buy you a cup of coffee."

****

"Peaches?" Tito knocked on the door of the apartment Remy shared with Sofia; the door swung open.

"Peaches? It's me! Did you get the money?"

He opened the door of Remy's bedroom. It showed every sign of hasty departure - drawers left open, closet empty - "You ran out on me!" said Tito, "You lying - where's my half of the $50,000?"

He ransacked the room, but found nothing, not even a note.

When Tito turned to leave, he found Nick standing in the doorway. Before he could speak, Nick knocked him down with a punch in the jaw.

"Ow! What was that for?" said Tito.

"For trying to scam me."

"I don't know what you're talking about!" With a wary look at Nick, Tito got to his feet.

"Remy admitted the truth - how you two came to Bay City together, how you stole those medical records -" said Nick.

"If you're looking for Remy, she's gone!"

"I just came by to make sure she kept her word and left town." said Nick. "Now it's your turn."

"To do what?" Tito's natural obnoxiousness was resurfacing.

"To get out of Bay City. If I see you again - "

"You'll call the cops? Try it! Without Remy, you've got no proof!"

"No," Nick said, "If you don't leave town, I'll kill you."

"You're bluffing!" said Tito, "You haven't got the guts!"

"Try me."

****

Sergei entered Felicia's suite with his arms full of packages.

"It looks like you bought out the stores." said Felicia, "On my credit cards!"

"Sergei is husband of famous novelist," he said, "He cannot dress like slob!"

Felicia looked at the names on the packages: Armani - Versace - Gucci -

"You have expensive tastes." she said, "I hope you kept the receipts, because all this is going back."

"Beautiful Felicia - "

"I didn't give you permission to use my credit cards." she said, " When this little farce starts costing me money, it ceases to be amusing. Cass! Josie!"

The two of them entered the room. Before Sergei knew what was happening, Josie clapped on the cuffs.

"You are under arrest for theft." she said, "You have the right to remain silent -"

"Bye bye, Sergei, or whatever your real name is." said Felicia, "It was fun while it lasted."

"I guess the honeymoon is over." said Cass.

Sergi dropped the Cute Russian act.

"A divorce is going to cost you big bucks!" he hissed, "You cow!"

"Divorce?" said Felicia, "That minister was as phony as your Russian accent."

"WHAT?" said Cass.

"I'm surprised you didn't recognize him." said Felicia, "He's the actor who does those commercials for Taco Bill's restaurant."

"Whew-ee, that's what I call Tex-Mex?" Cass quoted.

"That's him."

"He looked different without his ten-gallon hat." said Cass, "I apologise, Felicia. I should have had more faith in you."

"Really, Cass! I'm smart enough to know that when a handsome young stud comes on to a wealthy woman my age, it's not because I'm so beautiful! Besides, I called Immigration and asked to speak to Agent Hill or Agent Thomas. It turns out they don't have an Agent Hill. They do have an Agent Thomas, but he works in Los Angeles. And nobody there ever heard of Sergei Radzinsky."

"So - why didn't you just kick him out?'

"I enjoyed being waited on hand and foot." said Felicia, "He gives great - foot massage."

"I'll bet!" muttered Cass.

****

"You seem troubled," said Tensing Norgay.

"I just found out that Jordan is a crook!" said Zack (DUH! :-D), "He wants me to help him scam Rachel Hutchins!"

"Are you going to do it?" said the Lama.

"I don't know what to do!" cried Zack, "Tell me what to do!"

"Call the police and turn him in."

"How can I? I'm in love with him!"

(That much was obvious, from the bedroom looks he kept giving Stark :-D)

****

Rachel had finished making alterations to her bust of Jordan Stark. Now she stood and looked at it.

"I knew it!" she said.

To be continued.