SUSPICIONS, PART SIXTEEN

Rachel had just arrived at Stark's office when an alarm bell started to clang. Ms Allen hurried in.

"What is it?" Stark snapped.

"Someone tried to break into the records room!"

"Seal the building! Excuse me for a few moments, Rachel."

Left alone, Rachel decided that this would be the perfect chance to do a little snooping. She took a set of picklocks out of her purse - Carl had insisted on teaching her to use them, saying that the knowledge might be useful some day - and opened Stark's desk. She found nothing there. Undaunted, she moved on the the filing cabinets. There, she struck gold - files marked CORY AMANDA, CORY MATTHEW and CORY HUTCHINS RACHEL -

The door burst open and three men in coveralls fell into the room.

"Who are you?" said Rachel.

"We're investigative journalists." said the bearded one.

"We've got to get out of here!" said the short one.

"This way!" Rachel stuffed the file folders under her arm and led the trio into the room where the Lumina Ball had been held.

"I hope it's still here!" she said, feeling along the wall.

A panel slid back, revealing a small elevator.

"It's express to the parking garage." she explained, as they all piled inside.

"How did you know about this?" asked the bearded man, "It's not in the blueprints."

"Once upon a time, this was the Frame Enterprises Building." said Rachel, "The penthouse was Steve Frame's bachelor apartment. He had the elevator put in so that he could come and go in privacy."

****

Meanwhile, down at Police Headquarters, Ben Hagen, alias Sergei Radzinsky, received an unexpected visitor.

"I heard you'd been arrested." said Tito, "Tough luck!"

"I guess you win our bet." said Ben.

"It's a draw. Remy skipped out on me, with the money. I'm leaving town. I just wanted to say goodbye. Hope you beat the rap!"

"So do I!" said Ben.

Elsewhere in the building, Joe was saying "Whadda ya mean, you're droppin' the charges against Lila Roberts? She nearly killed my kid sister!"

"There's not enough evidence to convict her of anything." said the DA, "If you want us to prosecute, you're going to have to try harder."

****

"Matt, there's no point in you hangin' around." said Sofia, "I told you how I feel!"

"You'll feel differently once your memory comes back." said Matthew.

"It already came back!" said Sofia, "I remember it all: how I let Nick down when he needed me the most, because of a crazy infatuation -"

"Love, not infatuation!"

"Infatuation!" Sofia insisted, "I could never love a man like you, Matt! You wouldn't give your own baby a name, and now you want to take her away from her mother! I got no respect for you! Nick is twice the man you'll ever be!"

"Nick is through with you." Matthew pointed out.

"Maybe." Sofia agreed, "I hurt him a lot. But I won't give up trying to get him back."

"You'll be wasting your time!"

"It's my time; I can waste it if I want."

****

The elevator had reached the parking garage. One step outside it would bring them into range of a security camera. As Rachel hesitated, the short man said, "It's okay! The security system is mysteriously malfunctioning."

"Now all we have to do is get past the guard at the gate." said the beard.

"Lie down in the back seat." said Rachel, unlocking her car. They complied, though not without a few mutters of "Watch your elbow!" and the like.

"I'm not supposed to let anyone leave the building when there's a security alarm." said the guard , prompting a mutter of "Mental midget!" from the back seat.

"Surely that doesn't apply to me!" said Rachel, giving him her best smile, "Just call Mr Stark and ask if Rachel Hutchins can leave!"

The guard made the call, then handed the phone to Rachel.

"Mr Stark?"

"Leaving so soon, Rachel? We haven't had a chance to talk."

"I figured you were busy." said Rachel, "And those alarm bells are giving me a headache!. Can't we take a raincheque?"

"As you wish." said Stark, "Tell the guard I want to speak to him again."

Rachel did, handing back the phone. He listened for a moment, said "Yessir!" and opened the gate.

Rachel pulled over a few blocks from the Lumina Building.

"I think it's safe for you to get out now." she said. Her three passengers scrambled out.

"Thank you very much!" said the bearded one, offering his hand to shake, "I'm John Byers."

"Melvin Frohike" said the short one.

"Ringo Langley." said the blonde.

"Rachel Hutchins." They shook hands all around. "If you're investigating the Lumina Foundation, we should join forces."

To be continued.