Part Three:Do you wanna dance?

"HE'S DOING WHAT?" the Acme detectives cried in response to Valerie's message
early evening.

"It's the truth," Valerie answered. "Nigel got an invitation from Sara
Bellum. I have no idea why he didn't tell you first. He just left."

"Well, why don't we follow him?" Ivy suggested.

Zack agreed. "Yeah, we can hide in a corner or something."

Armando looked doubtful. "But what if someone sees us?"

"What can they do to us?" Aileen reasoned.

"There is strength in numbers," added Tatyanna.

Nigel opened the door of the dance hall with caution. "I can't believe I'm
doing this. I'd rather be Jacob's butler than go to this dance," he muttered
to himself as he slipped in.

Carmen greeted the distraugt detective. "So glad you decided to come." She
motioned for two people on the sidelines to come over. The couple passed a
banquet table, never suspecting that Nigel's Acme teammates were hidden
underneath.

The detectives could hear Carmen say, "This is Stuffy Vandersneer and his
wife, Tuffy."

"Stuffy? And Tuffy?" Zack repeated. "Hope life at VILE doesn't get too
roughy."

Ivy elbowed him. "Zack, that's enoughy! I mean, enough."

Tatyanna peeked over the tablecloth. "Now Sara's in."

"That's bad," Valerie said.

"Nigel's trying to turn away."

"Ooh, that's good," Aileen remarked.

Valerie took over the watching. "Now's Sara's pointing to the dance floor."

"That's bad," Armando decided.

"It's getting worse," Valerie noted. "Now Sara's talking to the DJ--"

She was cut off by the sound of the Reflections song, "Just Like Romeo and
Juliet."

"Ooh, that's bad," Zack gasped.

"On a number of levels," added Armando.

"I'd like to dedicate zis number to zee man of my dreams, Mr. Nigel
Skeffinger," Sara yelled above the noise.

Tatyanna resumed the spying. "Oh, Nigel looks ready to disappear. Now Sara's
grabbing him, going to the dance floor."

"Oh, that's bad," Ivy proclaimed. "Let me look. OK, Sara's swinging him by
the arm.

Nigel looked around. He spotted a pie on the refreshment table, snatched it,
and swiftly shoved it into Sara's face. The amorous professor let go. The
music stopped.

A minute of dead silence filled the air.

The silence was broken by VILE operatives all laughing.

Sara didn't move, only looked on confused, with pie running down her face.

Nigel gave her a "Have I myself clear" expression and walked off the dance
floor, head held up high.

"Whoa, that was serious for Nigel. He just gave her a pie in the eye!" Ivy
reported.

"Ooh," the detectives said in unison.

The next morning, Nigel entered the Acme control room, finding his fellow
Acme members. "What is it? New case?"

"Are you  kidding?" repeated Aileen. "After what you did last night?"

Nigel's face fell. "You know about that? You all were there. Oh, well. At
least I don't have to tell you about Muffy and Buffy."

"That's Stuffy and Tuffy," Ivy corrected.

"Whatever," Nigel amended.

"Which was which?" wondered Aileen out loud.

Nigel threw up his hands. "I don't know. I'm going to the hospital to work
some extra shifts."

"Good luck," Valerie called. "Jacob's on the warpath!"

"Oh, let him be in a murderous mood! Getting on his bad side beats being
chased by Sara Bellum!"

To be continued...