Whew! It's been a while since I last updated this, but it's still going. This chapter is one of my longer ones, since I didn't really want to split up the pattern of following both story arcs in my chapters. And I just made it under that 25 picture limit with 24 images.
Just a few quick responses to comments first:
So the secret is out. I hope that Susan has a pleasant pregnancy. Boyd and Blair are taking it well. Although I don't think I'd employ Cycl0n3 for a PI if he can't put two and two together and figure out that Space Invader is indeed Boyd.
I'm so enjoying this story Cheezey! It deserves a million smiley faces. 
Thank you, Magz! The praise means a lot. I'm glad you like it so much!
I admit, I'm looking forward to writing Cycl0n3's reaction to finding out the about his online buddy. He's on the right track, at least...
You just had to tease us with the possibility of Cycl0n3 figuring out Boyd's online identity, I got quite a few chuckles out of this chapter .
Glad it amused! I'm having fun with this little internet game they have going.
Have I ever commented here? Hmm, if I have it's been ages! I am loving where this is going, all the normal day-to-day stuff just makes me love your sims more! Cycl0n3 really needs to get with it and think like a PI lol I mean really, what are the odds that your girlfriend's dad plays Tarz warz and his wife is pregnant AND your squad/team mate on Tarz warz, who just happens to be an older man with a grown daughter, finds out his middle aged wife is knocked up?!?
Thank you! I enjoy writing the slice of life stuff, so I'm glad others enjoy it too.
Funny story, though I question why Cycl0n3 went into PI if he's Absent-Minded and can't figure out such a thing. Emma's comments were interesting to note; makes me wonder where Stiles and Tamara were at that moment.
In the game this was based off of, I was playing Boyd and Susan's household, and Cycl0n3 ended up assigned to that career through my story progression mod. It's not something I've seen often, and all I can guess is it had something to do with his genius trait and logic based lifetime wish, and how I had my settings. I thought it was a fun twist so I went with it in the write-up. As for Tamara and Stiles, when I took those screen shots, he was at work and she was just somewhere else in the house.
Chapter 18
One nice change from Cycl0n3’s corporate journalism job to that of a self-employed private investigator was being able to set his own hours and do whatever he wanted on the computer while technically on the clock. He was technically working, but while he was waiting for a call back from someone about a case and there was nothing else going on, he wasn’t going to chastise himself for getting in a little time on TarzWar.
It was the perfect time for some solo play, since not many of his guild mates logged on before evening due to their work and school schedules. Only Smack Pod was likely to be on at any random time, and that was because he built and sold stuff from home for a living. That day he wasn’t on, but to Cycl0n3’s surprise, Space Invader was. He was collecting scrap components for a ship upgrade in a remote corner of the game’s galaxy when Cycl0n3 messaged him.
Cycl0n3 Sw0rd: Didn’t expect to see you on. Are you on stealth at work?
Space Invader: Nope. I get Wednesdays off now. Perk of a promotion I got recently.
Cycl0n3 Sw0rd: Promoted to do less work? I didn’t know you had a government job. 
Space Invader: Ha! Never. You don’t even want to know what kind of shady stuff goes on in government labs.
Space’s offhand mention of a lab reminded Cycl0n3 of how he had things in common with Blair’s father. He’d known for ages that Space worked in some scientific lab job, since he made a reference to it every now and again, but Cycl0n3 hadn’t ever thought about it in that context before. That was one more coincidence, considering how Blair’s parents both worked at Landgraab Industries as biologists.
But if he’s Space, there’s no way he wouldn’t realize I was me, Cycl0n3 rationalized. If he had, why wouldn’t he have said anything? He and Space had always had a friendly rapport online, and aside from that time Boyd had made the facetious (he hoped) threat to feed him to a cow plant, he never felt like Blair’s parents disliked or disapproved of him. Besides, TarzWar was a massively popular MMO with many different servers, and his guild was just a handful of players on one. The odds that one of his guild mates would even be from his town, let alone turn out to be his girlfriend’s father…
Space hasn’t ever said where he lives, Cycl0n3 realized as he thought about it. From past in-game chatting he knew that Smack Pod, BlizzEgo, and Warz Lordz were from the Twinbrook area, and that Girbits was a high school kid that lived in Starlight Shores. There were a few others he had an idea about, and a couple he had no clue on. Space was in the latter group. But there was one way to find out, he decided. Just ask a few questions.
Cycl0n3 navigated his ship to a zone that gave easy solo experience.
Cycl0n3 Sw0rd: Where do you work, anyway?
Cycl0n3 Sw0rd: You know, in case this whole entrepreneurial PI thing doesn’t work out? I might like a job where I can get promoted to extra days off.
Space Invader: A local science and research facility.Cycl0n3 frowned at the vague answer that neither proved nor disproved his theory. Could ‘local’ be Sunset Valley local, or had Space meant it was just ‘local’ to wherever it was that he lived?
Cycl0n3 was halfway through typing up a follow-up question when his phone rang. “Cycl0n3 Sw0rd, Investigator,” he answered in a professional tone. “How can I help you?”
“Hello, Mr. Sw0rd,” a young-sounding female voice spoke on the other end. “I got your message for calling me back after I called you about my stuff that got stolen. You said you could take my case?”
“Yeah.” Cycl0n3 felt a mixture of optimism and confusion. Back when he got the message, he’d thought the caller sounded young. Now that he was talking to her live, she did not just sound young. She sounded like a child.
This better not be a prank call. “What can I help you with?”
“Someone in my house stole from me, and it’s really important I get it back,” the girl said insistently. “I need your help because you’re a detective and I know you can find it.”
“Right.” Cycl0n3 tried to ignore the feeling that he was about to have his time wasted on a colossal level. “I’ll need your name and the address that needs to be investigated.”
“Bella Bachelor. My house is at 12 Sim Lane, Sunset Valley.”
Bella Bachelor? The caller shared the last name of the department head, his former boss’ boss, at his old job at Doo Peas. Cycl0n3 had never interacted with Simis Bachelor more than superficially, but he had never seemed particularly approachable or easygoing. In fact, he remembered Victoria complaining that he was “cheap” with the budget and how she could never predict what kind of reaction she’d get out of him when something came up.
Great. I wonder how it’ll go over when I tell the guy his kid called to say someone in the house stole something.“All right,” he answered Bella. “Are you at home? We can do a preliminary interview there and work out the details.”
“Yup! I’ll see you soon!” she said cheerfully, and hung up.
“I—I guess I’ll be right over,” Cycl0n3 said to the empty space, shaking his head. He hoped the Bachelors had a sense of humor, and that he would still get a paycheck.
When Cycl0n3 arrived at the Bachelor residence, it was Simis that answered. “Cycl0n3 Sw0rd?” There was a puzzled look on his face as he greeted him.
“Hi,” Cycl0n3 said, mustering the best please-take-me-seriously smile he could. “How’s it going, Mr. Bachelor? Things going well over at the newsroom?”
“Well enough,” Simis said, still looking at him oddly. “What can I do for you?”
“Well, I…” His voice trailed off as he tried to think of the best way to explain, and then he decided to just go for broke. “I’m working as a private investigator now, as you might’ve heard, and I got called for a case by a Bella Bachelor that lives at this address. She wants me to investigate something that’s gone missing that she thinks was stolen.”
Simis’ dubious expression intensified. “My daughter is eleven years old.”
Eleven? Are you freaking kidding me?! Oh, plumbob, I’m not going to see a single simoleon for this, am I? “Really. Well, she’s… apparently quite determined for her age. Anyway, she left me this message soliciting my services, and when I got back to her, she asked me over to discuss the specifics.” He played the message for Simis, who sighed and shook his head.
“Come on in.” He motioned him inside. “Bella! Your, uh, investigator is here to see you?”
A girl with long dark hair wearing a red dress came down the stairs and greeted Cycl0n3 with a sweet and polite demeanor. “Thank you, Daddy. Hello, Mr. Sw0rd. Thank you for coming.”
“No problem.”
Simis gave Bella a stern look. “Now please tell us what this is all about.”
“Can I talk to Mr. Sw0rd alone, please?” She gave her father a pointed, if not suspicious, look, and Simis let out a sigh.
“Very well. I’ll be in the kitchen.”
Cycl0n3 gave the girl a humoring smile. “All right, Miss Bachelor, how about you tell me what’s going on?”
“It’s terrible,” Bella said with a frustrated look. “Someone here stole my mouthwash, and no one will admit who did it! It’s minty bubble gum flavor, and I think they did it just to be mean because they know it’s my favorite! Michael’s is the icky green stuff my mom likes, and my dad uses the listy-rene smelly stuff that tastes like medicine. I think someone took it ‘cause I ate their ham sandwich in the fridge, but nobody said I couldn’t have it, so I did. I know Michael wanted the sandwich, so I bet he stole my mouthwash to get even. I don’t think my mom did it, even if she did say I couldn’t call the police to arrest him for stealing it. But she didn’t think of calling a detective to prove it like I did!” She folded her arms proudly.
Cycl0n3 was not sure whether to laugh or bang his head against the wall. He knew that private investigators could get stupid cases, but his one had to take the cake. The only thing that kept him there was the fact that the kid was adorably sincere, and looking around, he guessed the Bachelors could afford to pay him for his time, if for no other reason than to keep the embarrassment of calling a PI over something so ridiculous a secret. “I see.” Cycl0n3 pulled out his notepad. He played along and asked her for a description of the sandwich and the time and place she ate it, and then for her to describe the missing mouthwash bottle and its last known whereabouts. Bella gave him a detailed account, and he told her he would look into it and interrogate the rest of the family for her.
He started with her father. “So, here’s the deal. Your daughter ate someone’s ‘very yummy ham sandwich with extra mayo on sourdough’ out of the fridge without asking, and she’s convinced someone stole her ‘Minty Bubbilicious Burst’ mouthwash bottle from the bathroom out of revenge. She suspects it might be because they could detect the ham sandwich on her breath, even after a vigorous tooth brushing. She first approached your wife, one Mrs. Jocasta Bachelor, with a report of the crime naming her brother, Mr. Michael Bachelor, as the prime suspect. Mrs. Bachelor informed her that she was not to call the cops and report this theft, so your daughter took it upon herself to call me to solve the crime. She claims she’s searched her brother’s room to no avail, but since they’re both minors, I feel it’s appropriate to first ask your permission to search the premises for the missing property.”
Simis chortled. “Bella called you over the mouthwash she lost yesterday? And you took this job?”
“A case is a case.” Cycl0n3 frowned. “Although she never mentioned it was mouthwash, or that she was eleven.”
“I can tell you what happened to the mouthwash, Cycl0n3. I took it. I found out she was gargling through it three to four times a day because she likes the taste of it, and while it’s great to fight tooth decay, it’s also one of the most expensive brands out there, ounce for ounce. I asked her to cut it to just once a day, and to use the generic any other time she needed it, but she didn’t listen to me. When I saw half the bottle was already gone so soon after I’d just bought it, that was enough. I locked it in my bathroom. I was going to tell her after a little while, to give her some time to get used to the new brand, and hopefully get over it without making a big deal about it.”
“Suffice it to say, she didn’t get over it.”
“So I see,” Simis said irritably. “I’m sorry she wasted your time. I’ll see to it that such nonsense doesn’t happen again.”
“No harm done. So, I guess that’s that. I’ll let her know the case is solved, I’ll write up the bill, and we can just move on.”
Simis raised an eyebrow. “Your bill?”
“I am on the clock, and your daughter retained my services. Don’t worry, though. It’s only a couple of billable hours.” Cycl0n3 quoted to him what he thought was a reasonable figure.
“She’s eleven,” Simis argued. “Your detective work amounted to asking me about what my daughter said about some missing mouthwash.”
Cycl0n3 shrugged. “Some cases are easier to solve than others. But I did invest time, energy, and gas into this.”
“You seriously want to bill me for this.”
Cycl0n3 smiled. “Yup.”
“And if I don’t pay?”
“I don’t think you want to do that. While I wouldn’t bother to take you to court over something so petty… remember, I do still have friends in the newsroom.”
“And what is that supposed to mean?”
“Victoria and Fiona sure love a good gab session at the water cooler. I wonder what they’d think of this? I’m sure Connor would fill them in. I know! I’ll text him and find out…” He picked up his phone.
Simis pulled out his checkbook. “Point made. I’ll pay.”
Cycl0n3 took the check and shook his hand. “Thank you. It was a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Bachelor. Should you or your family find yourselves in need of my services again, call anytime!”
Cycl0n3 was watching TV with Tamara and Stiles when Blair came in. She had gotten off work at her usual time, but stopped at the gym with Justine afterward. She sat down with Cycl0n3, and a grinning Tamara spoke up before Cycl0n3 could say anything. “So, Cycl0n3, going to tell Blair about your epic PI case today?”
“Epic PI case?”
“We’re calling it the case of the Bad Breath Bandit,” Tamara teased.
Blair sat down beside Cycl0n3. “Bad Breath Bandit, huh?”
“I’m partial to the Listerine Looter myself,” said Stiles.
“You know that case I told you I got a call about?” Cycl0n3 asked Blair, who nodded. “Well, she got back in touch with me. It was an eleven year old girl who called to help me find her missing mouthwash. Except she didn’t really say that on the phone, and I found out all the dental details when I got to her house and talked to her dad. Her dad who just happens to be my former boss’ boss over at Doo Peas.”
Blair broke down into giggles. “A little girl called you to help find her mouthwash?”
“You don’t understand, Blair. This was a very serious case of halitosis! It required the expertise of Cycl0n3 Sw0rd, part time PI, part time plaque fighter!” Emma said as she checked the oven.
“Oh, bite me,” Cycl0n3 groused.
“Not unless you provide dental insurance.”
“So what did you do? Did you find the poor girl’s mouthwash?”
“Yeah.” Cycl0n3 shook his head. “She thought her older brother had it, but it turned out it was her dad. He’s a cheapskate and thought she was wasting too much of it, so he hid it. Never mind the waste of my time that could’ve been spent doing something that wouldn’t make me the butt of dental hygiene jokes for the foreseeable future.” He shrugged. “I did convince him to pay me, though, so it’s something.”
“Well, look at it this way. You closed your first case. You got paid for it right before Leisure Day weekend. It’s the perfect time to do something fun.” Blair gave his leg an affectionate pat. “And I promise not to pick on you with any mouthwash jokes.”
“That’s real sweet of you, Blair.” Stiles flashed a grin at Cycl0n3. “This case has taken a real bite out of his ego.”
Cycl0n3 just sighed. Leisure Day and distraction couldn’t come fast enough.
While Cycl0n3 was eager to enjoy a Leisure Day with Blair free of ribbing about mouthwash mysteries, Blair’s parents were getting ready for a Leisure Day full of sun at the Goth manor. Although the Bunches had invited them to their backyard barbecue, it was a bit of a tradition that they went to Boyd’s friend Gunther’s place on Leisure Day. He threw a party every year, and even though Susan thought the gloomy Goth home was the last place anyone would associate with summer fun, they did have a nice pool overlooking their backyard cemetery, and to the best of her knowledge, none of the Goths or Crumplebottoms resting there had drowned in it.
“You about ready?” Boyd called into bathroom, where Susan was examining her belly before changing. Her pregnancy was only starting to show a little bit, but she still wondered if it would be obvious in a swimsuit.
“I wish I didn’t have to wear a suit. I think I just look fat. Not pregnant.” Susan was irritated because her regular shirts had all gotten tight already, and she was wearing maternity clothing for comfort’s sake. “I hope I can still fit in my one piece.”
“See? I told you there was nothing to worry about. You look great,” Boyd said as he and Susan sat down to enjoy some refreshments at Gunther’s party.
“It still feels tight to me.” She picked at her food and looked down self-consciously.
“Only a little up top, maybe.” Boyd gave her an appreciative look. “But I wouldn’t call that a bad thing.”
After bringing out some stuff from the kitchen, Gunther caught up with Boyd and Susan. “Glad you two could make it. Hope you’ve been having a good time.”
“Always do. Thanks.”
“Oh, you’re going to love the fireworks we got this year. They had a fantastic deal going this week, so I went all out on the deluxe ones.”
Cornelia joined them. “Let’s just hope those fireworks stay the main attraction, and the unintended ones from the guest list don’t overshadow it.”
Boyd and Susan exchanged curious looks. “What do you mean?” asked Susan.
Gunther waved away Cornelia’s concern. “It’s because I invited the Landgraabs, after she already invited the Altos.” That surprised both of the Wainwrights. The Landgraab/Alto rivalry was well known throughout Sunset Valley and went way back. Although it had not started with Nancy Landgraab, her father, Chester, had publicly and vocally made enemies of the Alto family as far back as almost thirty years ago, back when they were still in Bridgeport and only had business dealings in Sunset Valley. When Nick and Vita moved in years later, it only ratcheted up. Even though Chester Landgraab had been dead for some time, there was still no love lost between the two families, and both Nancy Landgraab and Nick Alto worked directly for Gunther at Doo Peas. Gunther got along fine with both, however. “I say, we’re all adults here, and if Nancy and Nick can be professional at work, they can happily not socialize with each other here. It’s not like there’s no one else to talk to, and Mortimer and Malcolm are having a great time over there in the pool.”
Cornelia was not convinced. “Well, we’ll see.”
Gunther grabbed a couple of drinks from the cooler, handed one to Boyd, and sat down with him. “So, how are things? I’ve got to say, I was surprised to hear you and Susan have a baby on the way.”
Boyd chortled. “So was I.”
“I had a feeling that was the case,” Gunter remarked wryly. “That’s a challenge, having a kid that close to retirement. Sometimes I feel like Cornelia and I cut it too close with Mortimer, and you’re already a couple years past where we had him.” He paused. “If it had happened just a few years earlier, our kids might’ve grown up together like we did.”
“Morty’s a good kid. In a few years, I’d be happy to have him babysit. Back in the day, I remember you were stuck watching me a couple of times when our parents all went out somewhere. Plus, at that age, extra cash is always nice.”
“Let’s be honest. Is there an age where extra cash isn’t always nice?”
“Beyond toddlerhood?” Boyd replied. “Nope.”
While Boyd and Gunther chatted, Susan went to grab another hot dog. To her disgust, she found them overcooked and burnt. “Wow. Are these hot dogs or oddly shaped charcoal briquettes?”
Vita Alto, who overheard her remark, let out a light laugh. “I love Cornelia dearly, but someone needs to tell her to stay away from that grill and leave it to Gunther. I’ve seen the Sunset Valley Fire Department called out for less.” When Susan snickered, Vita extended her hand. “Vita Alto. Pleasure to meet you.”
“Susan Wainwright,” she introduced herself. “You’re on the town council, right?”
“Yes,” Vita said with a charming smile. “And throwing my hat in for that mayor’s seat opening next election season, too.” She set her plate down. “So, are you another friend of Cornelia and Gunther’s? I don’t recognize you from any of the Doo Peas picnics Nick and I have gone to.”
“Oh, I don’t work with Gunther, no. My husband’s known him since they were kids. Actually, we’re both scientists.” She stopped just in time to avoid saying “at Landgraab Industries” in case it was a sore subject.
“Scientists? That’s great. Innovative minds are what drives progress. I’ve always admired our scientific community. What field?”
Susan relaxed. “Biology. I’m heading some groundbreaking research in aquatics and marine ecosystems. Or rather, I was until I was put on medical leave.”
“Medical leave?” Vita gave her a contrite look. “Oh. I’m sorry, I had no idea you were ill.”
“Not ill. Pregnant. Somewhat risky with complications, enough that they don’t want me working. Which is a little frustrating, since I love my work, and the idea of others tinkering with it while I’m gone, not so much.”
“Oh! In that case, congratulations. As for your frustrations, I completely understand,” Vita said. “There’s nothing more aggravating than having a vision for something, or a project you’ve put work into, only for someone who doesn’t get it to come along and muck it up.”
“Exactly!” Susan agreed. “I guess that’s universal, no matter what field you’re in. Probably worse in politics. At least science is science. You can only change so much with hard facts and data. The problems start when decisions get made on subjective interpretation, or budgets.” She made a face. “Some of the worst calls come from accountants and corporate morons who’ve never been in a lab.”
Vita laughed, for she had already guessed that Susan worked for either Landgraab Industries or at the hospital, both of which had heavy funding and corporate influences from her rivals. “I can imagine. I’ve always been of the mindset that we should encourage and support our scientific community. You’re our brightest and smartest, the ones who’ll come up with the technologies and discoveries that’ll revolutionize the world. Too many decisions get made only on the simoleon, without looking at the big picture. Sometimes, you not only should take a calculated risk, you
need to.”
“Absolutely.” As the breeze died, Susan started to feel the heat of the day, and fanned the air in front of her.
“Well, between you, me, and those burnt hot dogs,” Vita said, leaning closer, “I can promise that if I do get that mayor’s seat, you’ll have someone in this town who understands that. I believe in rewarding innovation.” She straightened. “I’m roasting out here, and it looks like you are, too. I’m going to get a drink. Would you like me to get you one?”
“Thanks. That’d be great,” Susan replied as she settled into a chair.
Susan and Vita continued their conversation, and after it was over, Susan came away with a very different impression of Vita than she’d had going in. Vita was a politician, to be sure, but she did not strike her as evil, as some described her, or dangerous. Even when they talked politics, Susan did not find any of Vita’s views particularly objectionable. Of course, she knew the rumors about the Alto family, but gossip did not necessarily mean truth.
Afterward, Susan joined Boyd, who was chatting with Cornelia. “It’s weird.” He stared at the golden glow on his skin after a day in the sun. “I don’t… I mean, I hardly ever tan. Usually I go from pale to boiled lobster with no in-between.”
“Maybe something in your sunscreen did it?” Cornelia guessed. “But at least it’s not a burn. I’m going to have to put some more on myself if I don’t want one.”
“So, what happened to Gunther?” Susan noticed the bottles on the table. “And how many of those did you two knock back?”
“He’s getting out the fireworks. As for these,” he picked up an empty bottle, “just a few. Not that many.”
A smirk crossed Cornelia’s face. “Well, I wouldn’t worry about you handling it anyway, considering your experience with a keg.”
Boyd groaned. “Oh, come on. That was how long ago now?”
“Told you it’d be a while before you lived it down.” Susan patted Boyd on the shoulder.
Once the fireworks were out, Gunther set out a few noise-making rockets to start. Unfortunately, he found himself thwarted by the child safety feature on the lighter, and ended up cursing at it after a few unsuccessful attempts to light it.
“Just let me do it,” an exasperated Cornelia said.
“I know how to use a lighter,” Gunther groused.
She raised an eyebrow. “Clearly, you don’t.”
“Give it to me,” Boyd offered. “I’ve been used to this kind for years.”
“He got the child-proof type because he was afraid Blair would play with it and burn the house down,” Susan told them.
“Even smart kids start fires by accident,” Boyd said as he took the lighter from Gunther. “And the phrase ‘too smart for your own good’ has definitely applied to our daughter at times.”
Susan folded her arms. “Would this be a bad time to bring up a certain camping trip where
someone set his arm on fire the first time he tried to light the camp fire?”
“I seem to recall you experiencing some backdraft too, honey,” Boyd retorted, lighting the fuse.
“Oooh. That one had some flash.” Susan was impressed. “I didn’t think it was dark enough to see them that well yet.”
“Gunther’s got a whole box there. Let’s grab some more.”
Gunther passed some to Boyd. “Have at it.”
Nick Alto joined them. “Yeah, let’s get this nice and loud, huh?”
“I learned a couple tricks for this back in Bridgeport,” Nick said. “Check this out.” He took some smaller fireworks, and tied them to the rocket. “Kids, don’t try this at home!” he announced with a laugh, and then lit all the fuses. He waved everyone to back away, and a few moments later an ear-shattering boom exploded above them. “Now that’s how it’s done,” he said triumphantly, and set up a second one.
“If he means shattering eardrums, then yeah, he’s got that down pat,” Geoffrey Landgraab quipped.
That lit Nick’s fuse, and without even waiting to admire his handiwork on the second one, he got in Geoffrey’s face. “Oh, you’ve got a problem with this? Your sensitive ears can’t take it?” He let out a snort of derisive laughter. “And everyone says you’re the Landgraab that doesn’t have a stick up his—”
BOOM!
“Ridiculously dangerous or not, that explosion was pretty cool,” Boyd said, although only Susan heard his enthusiasm.
“Much better than that one.” Susan glanced over at Nick and Geoffrey. Cornelia stepped between them to defuse the situation, while shooting Gunther I-told-you-so looks. Vita and Nancy were there as well, playing the I’m-superior-and-taking-the-high-road card to each other, declaring how they were above the pettiness, and telling their husbands to ignore the other, obviously wrong, party.
Aggravated, Gunther picked up some plates and took them inside.
“Well, I think that’s the end of this party.” Susan gathered some dishes for the cleanup effort. “At least Gunther can say it went out with a bang, and the fireworks were indeed unforgettable.”
Noting the way Gunther stomped up the stairs, Boyd both chuckled and cringed as he pushed in a chair. “Yeah, just don’t tell him that right now.”
After they left the Goths’ party, Boyd and Susan spent the rest of their Leisure Day relaxing at home. They watched one of their favorite movies, and then went online. On a bathroom break, Susan noticed fireworks being set off downtown as she passed by the window. They headed up to their rooftop patio to watch the show from there.
“We’ve got a pretty good view,” Boyd remarked. “Sure beats fighting for prime seating in the crowd at the park, doesn’t it?”
“Mmm-hmm. And we don’t have to deal with the nasty public bathrooms, either.”
The fireworks went on for a good hour before the finale. Once it was over, the Wainwrights were about to head back into the house when they saw another flash of light in the distance, followed by a rumble. Strangely, it was not near the park, but way up by the Summer Hill Court area of town.
Susan was surprised. “Was that lightning? But it’s so clear out.”
“It doesn’t feel humid enough for a thunderstorm,” mused Boyd. “Weird. I wonder what caused it.”
“Some geothermal or electromagnetic phenomenon reacting to atmospheric conditions?”
Boyd stared off in the distance. “Maybe it wasn’t lightning.”
“What do you think it was, then?” Susan gave him an amused look. “And don’t say aliens.”
“Of course it’s not aliens. There’s no UFO. Maybe it was a secret military weapons test, or top secret government project? Or maybe even an inter-dimensional rift.”
“Hmmm, I think I’ll stick with the mundane lightning theory myself. It could easily be more humid that close to the beach, and it is up on a hill.”
Boyd chuckled. “You just have to go Scully on the fun possibilities, don’t you?”
“Sorry. I look dreadful in tin foil,” she teased as they headed down the stairs.
Across town, on a vacant lot on Summer Hill Court, a strangely dressed man groaned as he rolled over in the grass where he had seemingly just appeared. “Oh… ow. That was rough. Test pocket portal needs work.”
Emit Relevart regained his bearings and got to his feet. “A lot of work,” he muttered, looking around. “I don’t think I’m when I think I am.”
