Blind Date

[Maid of Marvels]

Leaving the agency in Sandy's capable hands...

I went home to pack, the boys greeting me by the door as usual. "I really need to get away and think things out, guys. It's only for a couple of weeks."

Midir blinked and swished while Godfrey yawned and Pablo turned and walked away. I nodded my head. "Oh, come on you guys. It won't be so bad. Honest!"

"It's like a self-fulfilling prophecy. I'm talking to cats. Yup. Cats. A houseful of cats and a dead old maid." Midir and Godfrey got up to join Pablo in the other room.

"Great! Even the cats don't want to spend time with me," I grumble. "Dead old maid with NO cats. You hear that? NO cats!! That means you guys," I call after them.

"Even worse... Dead old maid with no cats who talks to herself. I'm worse off than I thought. Hurry up, Kate! You need this vacation more than you thought."

Finally, an hour and a half later, I have the car loaded and I'm on my way to Adams Cove with some decision making to do.

 

[Yoc]

Mr Jehanox's Man

The man in the black car waits as Kate gets into her car and pulls away. Giving her a few seconds, he starts his engine and proceeds to follow...

 

[Tibxo]

A week of bliss...

"Goodnight, boy!" I say to my dog as I put down the book and reach for the lamp. Tib just looks at me and wags his tail. With the bedroom in darkness, I settle down to sleep.

I can't believe a week has gone already!

But I feel better for it. My nightmares are all but gone and I feel so relaxed.

True, my fear for doctors may take some time to deal with. I may even need therapy.

But I can worry about that later.

My eyelids getting heavier, I slowly start to drift off to sleep. Dreaming of what tomorrow will bring...

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Pulling into the driveway...

I lean back in the seat and take a deep breath. The traffic for most of the six hour drive was hellish and I'm weary but glad to be here.

The key is under the mat where it's supposed to be, so I quickly unlock the door and begin to unpack the car. This vacation stuff is exhausting!

What seems an eternity later, I've finally unpacked. Next time I'm going to buy everything I need when I get where I'm going and make arrangements for it to be shipped home when I leave!

A creature of habit, I run a bath in the old claw foot tub and pour the bubbles in while I undress. The worries of the day begin to fade as I sink into the fragrant water, immersing myself all the way up to my chin. Heaven.

I think I'll just have something light to eat and head for bed. Tomorrow morning is soon enough to go exploring.

 

[Yoc]

In the middle of the night...

The ringing phone cuts into the silence of the darkened bedroom. A few seconds later, a lamp is switched on and Jehanox is picking up the receiver.

"Yes." He grumbles.

"It's Simpson, Sir!"

"Yes, Simpson."

There had better be a good reason for waking him up in the middle of the night!

"Sorry for the late hour, Sir. But you did say I should contact as soon as I find out Murphy's whereabouts."

Jehanox sits up, now awake.

"You found him?"

"Yes, Sir." replies the little man on the other end of the phone. "We followed his wife and found out that he's staying in a cabin at a place called Adam's Cove."

"Never heard of it!" comments Jehanox.

"Well, Sir. It is actually very nice and..."

"I don't have time for a tourist description." Jehanox breaks in. "Just get me some accomodation. I want to be there before first light tomorrow. Send the car round to pick me up in 30 minutes." He doesn't even wait for Simpson's acknowledgement before slamming down the phone.

He doesn't even give his sleeping companion a second glance as he gets out of the bed. After a quick shower and change of clothes, he leaves the house precisely 30 minutes later.

Back in the bedroom, the woman pulls herself up and lights a cigarette.

He's off to see that bitch from the party. I just know it! She pulls back the sheets, revealing her naked body.

So warning off her husband wasn't enough. Now it looks like I have to take some direct action.

She reaches for the phone...

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Sunshine came softly through my window today...

Mmm... Stretching languorously, I lay still for a moment and take a deep breath. Coffee. Need coffee.

Slipping on my robe, I head for the kitchen and rummage around through the supplies I brought with me. Just the essentials: My portable radio, coffee, creamer and Sweet 'n Low.

I turn on the radio and set up the pot then stumble back toward the bathroom to wash my face, brush my teeth and... Yikes! Now that's a nifty hair style, I think to myself as I look into the mirror. *shudder* One of these days I'm gonna leave it this way just to see if anyone notices. They'll think I've adopted a new coif, most likely.

Finishing my morning ablutions, I dress quickly. Coffee's done and I need a shot of vitamin caffeine. No work. No morning rush hour traffic. No hassles. Just time for gathering my thoughts and finding a little peace.

My first cup down, I make another and wander out onto the porch, as I hadn't had a chance to see much last night when I got in. The sun shining brightly on the water drew me down to its edge. Still barefoot, I let the water lap gently over my toes. Nice. Too bad it wasn't warm enough to go in.

As I stroll along the beach, I see a little furball come running toward me, yipping away. Oh, brother. I knew I should have asked if there was anyone else up here. That's what I get for assuming. If that little bugger bites me, I swear I'll toss it into the middle of the ocean.

Bracing myself against the inevitable onslaught of the rapidly approaching dog, I use my hand to shade my eyes. It kind of reminds me of... "My God! It's CHUMLEY!!"

I drop down onto my knees as the little schnauzer takes a leap, licking my face and spinning in circles. His little stub of a tail is going a mile a minute as I gather him into my arms. "Where'd you come from, sweetie?" I looked around and didn't see anyone so went back to schmoozing with my little man. "Where are your bows, sweetie? You were so handsome. Yeah, I'm glad to see you, too."

Suddenly, the enormity of little Chumley's presence here hits me. Tim! My heart takes a lurch and I set Chum down.

"Go. Go find your master, sweetie pie. We'll visit again real soon." Chumley cocks his head to the side and looks at me curiously. "Go! I have to think. Go."

 

[Yoc]

Good morning, Sir...

Jehanox wakes up to the sound of his manservant holding out a cup of coffee and the morning paper.

"What time is it?" He asks, sleepily.

"8.25." Replies the manservant, helping his master into his robe as he gets up.

"Is he up yet?"

"Not exactly, Sir. But we have seen his dog running around the beach."

Walking into the dinning area, he finds the table fully laid out. Sitting down, he takes a mouthful of orange juice.

"So his wife is definitely staying in a separate cabin from him?"

"Yes, Sir and she is already up and out. She was last seen with the dog."

"Excellent!" Jehanox smiles, as he bites into a piece of toast. "So my suspicions are correct. I knew that he couldn't be happy with her even if she is having his baby."

Finishing his toast, he starts to tuck into his plate of food...

 

[Maid of Marvels]

I watch Chumley run back up the beach...

in the direction that he had come, then turn and walk slowly back up to my cottage. What I really want is a glass of wine, but it's way too early and I put on a pot of coffee instead.

The purpose of this getaway was to do some thinking, but now I feel as though I have been thrust into the eye of the storm. Of all the places that Tim Murphy could have been. What were the odds, I wondered. Both of us at Adams Cove.

The beep of the coffee maker indicates the coffee is finished. I pour a cup and take it with me out to the little porch. Pulling up a chair, I put my feet up on the rail and lean back watching the waves break.

I can't help noticing the "suit" walking along the water's edge. Talk about dressing up for an occasion... NOT. He looks my way for an instant and I smile and nod politely. Just as suddenly, he turns and walks away in the opposite direction. Well... to each their own.

In the distance I can hear little Chumley barking. Protecting Tim from the approaching stranger, no doubt. I half wish that the little sweetie would run back down this way. Oh yes. And followed by his master.

 

[Tibxo]

Morning already...

I lay in my back, listening to the waves, the seagulls, to Chum barking?.

Who is he barking at? I groan as I pull myself off the bed.

Pulling on a robe to cover my naked body, I stride out of the cabin onto the beach.

"Chum! Come here, boy!" I shout out and a few seconds later, I see a white bundle running over to him. "There you are!"

I get a greeting from him as if he hasn't seen me in weeks. I look at him, suddenly picturing the bows and ribbons. My entire body shivers in disgust.

"Come on. We'll get you something to eat and I'll take you out for a walk."

Chum wags his tail as we re-enter the cabin with me just stopping for a moment to look up and down the beach, noticing that one of the cabins look occupied (I can see someone sitting outside).

A woman.

Wonder what she's like?...

 

[Yoc]

Mr Jehanox

He watches Murphy go back into his cabin, lust in his eyes.

"As you can see, Sir. It's only him and his dog. His wife is in the other cabin." Says Simpson.

"Indeed. Very strange though, wouldn't you agree. Why go away with your wife only to stay in separate cabin?"

"Perhaps it is what you would call a modern marriage." Offers Simpson, not having a clue what he is talking about.

Jehanox disregards his remark. Instead, his attention centres on the suited man further up the beach.

"Who's that?" He points.

"Lambert, Sir! For your security. We can never be too careful."

"If he's got to be there, at least make him blend in more. Who wears a suit on a beach at 9 o'clock in the morning?"

"Don't worry, Sir. I'll get on to it." Simpers Simpson.

"See that you do." And Jehanox heads back for his cabin, planning on how to get Murphy over and into his bed...

 

[Yoc]

Trixie

Parked up the hill, she has spent the night in the car.

Still tired, her hair a mess, she drags herself, blinking back the sun, she peers down and see Jehanox on the beach.

Good! Now where is that bimbo?

Ignoring what is obviously is one of Freddie's bodyguards, she begins to continues to scan the beach.

Where is that bitch? I know she is here somewhere, the tart!!!

Even as Trixie fumes with hatred, a motorbike pulls up down on the beach below. Pulling off his helmet, the face of a haunted man comes into view, his eyes bloodshot due to sleepless nights, his hair greasy, his face full of stubble. Not that the man cares, all he can think about is getting revenge on the people who had cost him his job, his career...

 

[Tibxo]

Running on the beach...

After feeding Chum his Fidomunch, I take him out for a run.

"Last one up the beach is a cat!" I shout to my pet as I start running.

I watch my dog quickly overtake me and race off ahead, towards the cabin where I saw the woman.

"Oi! Come back!"

I'm not sure that I want him to go there. Especially since I haven't really spoken to a woman ever since that night. The very thought brings me out in a cold sweat.

"Chum! Come back! Don't go there!" I shout after him.

Too late, I see the woman come out of the cabin.

I stop dead as for the first time I can clearly see her face.

Oh no!

Immediately, I feel my throat tightening up, my little friend in my pants almost making a whimpering sound.

No, God! Please! Not her!!

Then she is looking at me, waving even as I collapse...

 

[Yoc]

Tom!!!!

Jehanox had just started his daily jog. He was planning to run and 'accidently' bump into young Murphy when he saw him fall just ahead of him.

My God!

Putting on a spurt, he arrives next to Murphy just before his wife.

"What happened?" He shouts as he kneels next to Murphy's prone figure.

"I don't know!" Kate replies as she runs up. "I just waved at him and he collapsed."

Jehanox looks up at her for a moment.

She looks different!

"Well, I can't see anything wrong with him. His pulse is fine." He says after giving Murphy a quick once-over. "But just in case, I better give him the Kiss of Life!"...

 

[Tibxo]

Where I am....???

Dazed, I find myself lying on the beach just in time to see Mr Jehanox bending down to kiss me????

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!...

 

[Yoc]

Meanwhile...

In the commotion, no-one sees the dishevel man creeping up to the side of Kate's cabin.

Looking over, he sees Jehanox bending over Tim.

I knew it! I knew that guy is gay!

He looks over at Kate, watching her rounded bum cheeks as she bends over...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Up above, Trixie sees everything from her car.

"Oh my God!!!! My poor little Freddieweddie! Not only is the woman after him, so is her husband!!!"

"Those bastards! How dare they take advantage of my man's good nature!"

Her knuckles go white as she continues to watch, her blood boiling...

 

[Maid of Marvels]

'scuse me while I kiss this guy...

As I walked out of my cabin, I saw little Chumley come racing up the beach with a man close on his heels. TIM! I tentatively raised my hand to wave. He stood still for a moment, unsure whether to continue after his dog or turn around and run back the other way. Or so it seemed to me, but the decision was taken from his control as Tim fainted.

I ran off the porch toward him as a jogger approached from the other direction. Kneeling down beside Tim, I looked at the jogger. It took a moment to register. Jehanox!! What the hell was he doing here? Tim was vacationing with his boss??

The corpulent older man nearly pushed me out of the way as he murmured something about the kiss of life at the exact moment when Tim decided to open his eyes, only to begin screaming. What the hell was going on here?

I gave Freddie a shove that knocked him over onto his ass. That brought the 'suit with the sunglasses' guy running toward us from out of nowhere and some wildly screaming madwoman down from the main road.

I made a split-second decision as I looked from one face to the other. I didn't know what Tim had gotten himself into, but things didn't look good. I scooped up little Chum and grabbed Tim by the hand, pulling the reluctant jerk to his feet.

"Don't argue with me, Murphy! Get your ass moving!"

I guess he figured I was the lesser of three evils because he didn't quibble as we ran into my cabin and locked the door behind us.

 

[Messalina]

Trixie

Watching as Murphy raised his head to kiss Freddie, all sorts of scenarios began to play out in her mind. The BITCH all decked out in leather, brandishing a cat o' nine tails as her husband prepared to have his way with her husband who was tie helplessly to a bed...

"Noooooo!"

Trixie barrelled down the hill from the main road, oblivious to the fact that her boobs had bounced free of her tiny halter. She had to save Freddie from those two... degenerates! It wasn't bad enough that that slut was after her man, but her husband as well??

"Get away from him, you perverts!!" Her face twisted with rage, she screamed as the twosome got up and raced toward the nearest cabin with Freddie and one of his 'men' close behind.

Trixie veered off to chase after the escaping couple in what was undeniably becoming a bad scene from a Keystone Kops movie. Bare-chested and heaving, she barely made it up the four steps to the porch.

"Wh... what are you doing here, Freddie? Did those bad people hurt you?"

 

[Tibxo]

"Don't argue with me, Murphy! Get your ass moving!"

Everything is happening all at once.

First I see Mr Jehanox looming over me as if he's going to kiss me. Then I am being pulled to my feet and forced to run, almost colliding with a screaming woman running with her tits hanging out???

It is only when I am standing behind a locked door do I finally get my breath back and my bearings.

"You!!!" I cry out as I recognise my 'saviour'.

Oh no! Please Lord, say it is a dream!

"Yes, it's me! Now can you tell me what in Hell is going on here?"

What is going on here? Hell if I know!

I glance out the window and find that the beach is empty.

Did it happened? Or is this madwoman playing games with me?

Judging from what has happened before, I decide to go for the latter.

"I don't know what you are playing at, Lady." I finally say. "But I'm not interested. Now if you could kindly unlock the door."...

 

[Yoc]

Mr Jehanox

What is the hell is happening here?

He was about to kiss Murphy the "kiss of life" when he is literally snatched away from him, and knocked on to his ass to boot.

Angrily, he gets up and gives chase, his man right behind him. Within moments, they are at the cabin where Murphy and his wife had ducked into.

"Wh... what are you doing here, Freddie? Did those bad people hurt you?"

Trixie!!!???

The voice cuts into him like a knife.

What is she doing here?

Swallowing hard, he turns to see his girlfriend standing there, hands on hips. Her bare breasts heaving.

"I-I-I... You remember Tom Murphy from the party? Well I saw him faint on the beach and I just wanted to see how he was."

Trixie's face lights up.

"Really, Freddie? Oh you are so wonderful!" And with a cry she flies into his arms. "I feel so silly. I thought that perhaps something was going on. Especially when you took off so suddenly without telling your little Trixie."

"Really?" Jehanox replies, his voice a narrow squeak. "What could possibly be going on?" He tries to keep his heartrate down.

Finally stepping apart, Jehanox makes to leave only to find that Trixie is just standing there.

"Honey?" He says, confused.

"Well? Aren't you going to knock and see how they are?"...

 

[Yoc]

Doctor Dave

The man watches what transpires from the safety of the bushes.

His heart lurches as he watch Kate bravely dive in and save Murphy from the clutches of the old pervert.

What a woman!

Suddenly a relevation hits him. It's not Kate's fault at all that he has lost his job, his career, his life.

It's Murphy's!

All this brave woman has done is to be foolishly loyal to her man.

But he doesn't deserve her. I do!!!

Then another relevation strikes him.

He is in love with Kate!!!...

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Spotting the "boys", little Chumley wriggles out of my arms...

and hurries over to check them out, sliding across the bare wooden floor and right into Eldrich who objects and reacts most rudely by swatting him on his nose. Chumley jumps back with a yelp and an indignant growl, while Midir, ever the lover and peacemaker, swats the Crotchety One and sniffs at the pup's nose to soothe him. Godfrey, now thoroughly annoyed at being awakened from his third or fourth nap of the day, spots a possible cat hater and heads right over to Tim who is standing with his arms splayed and his back pressed up against the door with his mouth open.

I look up at him as I finish checking battle wounds. "DON'T!!" I warn him. "Don't you dare scream." Shaking my head, I murmur (more to myself than anyone) "This is so not how I pictured things turning out."

Tim closes his mouth and glares at me. "So you admit it! All of this is YOUR doing!!"

"MY doing? What the hell are you talking about? Those crazies out there? You're the one who decided to go on a nice little holiday with your boss and got caught out by his girlfriend."

Once again, Tim's mouth opens and he begins to sputter something about not being gay, but now I'm angry and I don't want to hear any of it. What could I have been thinking? ME? In love with this gay madman? It was more than evident that he had no interest in me. In fact, he was appalled by the very thought of being near me.

Shooing the 'boys' off into the other room to play, I turned back toward Tim, my fists clenched in fury and frustration. Grabbing him by his shirt sleeve, I marched him into the kitchen and sat him down at the kitchen table.

"I've had it! Now you're going to listen to me, Tim Murphy. No screaming. No running. Just sitting and listening. Do you hear me?"

As Tim opened his mouth to speak, I stuffed a donut into it. "I said SHUT." God he looked pitiful.

"You really do need to relax, Tim... You look absolutely apoplectic."

Squaring my shoulders back, I swore that he was NOT going to make me feel badly and I most certainly was NOT going to take the blame for any more of his nonsense.

Sitting across from him at the table, I couldn't help asking, "Do you want milk or coffee with that?"

I guess that was the final straw. He snatched the donut from his mouth and threw it to the floor as he jumped to his feet. "You're a mad woman, you are. Insane. Crazy. Batty. Nuts. Screwy. Possessed. EVIL!! That's it! You're frigging EVIL!! Chum!! Let's go, boy. NOW!"

"Well, Tim. You can believe what you like. The door and your lover, his girlfriend and the 'suit' are that way. Don't let it hit you in the ass."

Tim stormed from the kitchen in search of his dog who was nowhere to be seen.

"He's probably hiding from you. It's you who is the evil one," I called out after him.

Sighing, I wondered why this man always seemed to bring out the very worst in me? Getting up from the chair where I had sat through all of this, I went to help Tim round up the little fur ball.

 

[Tibxo]

I gotta get out of here...

"Chum! Chum! Where are you?"

But I couldn't see my dog anywhere. I see Kate come into the room.

"Well?"

"Well what?" The stupid woman asks me, not understanding my question.

What is it about her that infuriates me so?

"What have you done with him?" I ask again, trying to keep patient.

"Your dog? I don't have him."

Then I hear the whimpering coming from the other side of the door next to me.

"No? Then why can I hear him crying from in there?" I tell her, pointing to the door.

Before can she answer, there is a knock on the front door...

 

[Messalina]

Trixie

Freddie was just soooo wonderful! Any previous thoughts Trixie might have had of her Freddie being abducted and seduced by that strange couple forgotten, she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him voraciously. In fact, she was so relieved that Freddie had just been doing a good deed, she hardly noticed how hesitant he was to intrude on the poor couple.

Breaking away from her man, Trixie hiked up her halter, raised her hand and knocked on the door. She needed to apologize to Tom and his wife for thinking they were after her poor brave Freddie when all along he had been saving the poor sap's life.

"Hello? Are you in there?" she called out.

 

[Maid of Marvels]

There's something happening here, What it is ain't exactly clear...

The knock on the door stops me from speaking. I had almost forgotten about those people on the beach. Jehanox and that madwoman girlfriend of his, Bunny or whatever her name was.

"Okay, smart ass. What now?" I whispered loudly to Tim. "Do I let your boyfriend and his paramour in? I bet he sure has some 'splainin to do, Lucy..."

Tim looked from me to the door and back again as if he were deciding which was the worst of two evils.

 

[Tibxo]

Lucy?

"My name's not Lucy! It's Tim!" I growl at her.

But she's got a point. What do I do?

Suddenly I wish I am at home watching Wrestlemania 18. Instead I am trapped inside a cabin with a woman who could on her own take out Hulk Hogan and the Rock together.

Or...

I could go outside and face a man who would make Hogan and the Rock look sexy (if I was that way inclined).

"Come on!" A woman voice's outside shouts. "We know you are in there!"

I look at the door.....I look at the madwoman....the door.....the madwoman...

Suddenly there is a howl and I turn in time to see Chumley dive through the window with three cats chasing after him.

Forlorned, I watch through the window as my dog runs off into the distance with her three cats at his heels...