Touring The Mansion

 Picking up where we left off... 

Maisie:  Don't say anything that's gonna give away where we are.  She still thinks I'm in Arizona.

Dionne:  I got your back.  (Answers the phone)  Stop calling Maisie.  She can't afford to bail you out, financially or emotionally.  Grow the hell up, you lunatic!  (listens for a moment)  Oh, it's never your fault, it is?  Who's to blame this time?  Your lover of the week?  The president?  Godzilla?  Get over yourself.  (disconnects the call)

Maisie:  That bought me a couple of hours while she tells all the cops what a bad daughter she has, at least.  Or how you're brainwashed her innocent little baby.  (heavy sigh)  I wish I knew how she manages to find me.   I never even told her my married name, but she...  

Dionne: I know.  We better hurry, we're gonna be late to meet Boudica at the place.  

****

Boudica:  These last few rooms are basically attics.  They were servant's quarters back in the old days, but over the years we had fewer live-in help and more junk.  Especially considering that both my parents were historians.  

Dionne: You're leaving all this stuff?

Maisie:  Zenobia said they've removed anything of value to them.  We can use all this stuff for our foster children!  

Dionne:  I guess we don't need to worry about the place looking too institutionalized.  

Maisie: No wonder your aunt was so confident we could do this at low cost.  She knew it was coming with furniture and all!  

Dionne: I have to ask.  Why are you giving all of this away?  It must be worth millions and, as you said, it's been in the family forever. 

Boudica:  We're doing it to spite Dad, frankly.  Can't pay expensive defense lawyers if we give away the bulk of the estate, can we?  (notices Dionne's confusion)  Oh, you don't know about our dad, do you?  I thought Rose-Grace would've told you.  

Dionne: I have no idea what you're talking about.  

Boudica:  He's a murderer and one of his victims was Mom.  And no, he didn't do it here.  Anyone who died here did it a century ago and not through violence.

Maisie:  I like this room.  Very light and airy, if you know what I mean.   Way different from the rooms I had when I was a foster kid.

Boudica:  I didn't realize you'd been in the system. 

Maisie: My mother and I left my dad when I was little, and then she got into all kinds of legal trouble.  I spent most of my life going in and out of care, never knowing where or with who I'd end up.  That's why our big thing is stability - this way any Doll County foster kid will know exactly where they are going.

Dionne: There's also a level of supervision that's just not available in individual homes.  Most foster parents mean well, but there's always the abusers.  And sometimes the kids abuse each other.  

Boudica:  We do have one request.  Would you consider calling the place Helena House?  After Mom? 

Note to readers: 

Backdrops inside the mansion are from a book called Find The Cat. 

Nepotism or Networking?

 After the very long road time, Candy parks at Windu Acres and strolls into the house.

Candy: Anybody home?!  We're gonna raid the fridge!

Rose-Grace (from the kitchen): You'll do nothing of the kind!  I've sent Tanner to pick up a couple of giant pizzas.

Maisie:  Nice place.  Oh, look, babies!  (plops onto the floor with Orlando and Samara)

Rose-Grace:  Group hug!  That way neither of you can say I'm playing favorites! 

Candy: You've seen me more recently than Dionne and Maisie.  They get dibs.

Dionne:  Maisie doesn't do hugs.  Besides, she's found those babies.  We're gonna drag her out kicking and screaming when it's time to go. 

Rose-Grace: I swear, Candy, every time you come back from an assignment, you look different.  

Candy: Well, you know us creative types,  We gotta keep you normies guessing.  (to Dionne)  I was going through a fitness and tanning phase last time I was in town. 

Dionne: All the family sends their love, Aunt Rose-Grace.  Where are Taylor and Nikki? Hell, where are any of the kids?  Besides the babies there, I can see them. 

Rose-Grace: My dad and Nikki are picking Taylor up.  She's interning with a local seamstress shop.  The boys are off with their respective girlfriends.  Pike's parents took Stacie and Fred for the night, trying not to overwhelm you.  They'll be here tomorrow. 

Taylor and Nikki run in and hug Dionne.  

Rose-Grace:  Dad! You told them! I wanted to see their faces when they saw her!

Mace:  Rosie, you know I can't keep secrets.  

Candy (laughing):  What am I, chopped liver? 

Mace: I'm Grandpa Mace.  You may have heard of me.  You're Maisie. 

Maisie: I have indeed heard of Grandpa Mace.  Nice to finally meet you. 

Mace: Can I have one of my grandbabies now?

Maisie: Oh, I don't know about that.  I'm pretty baby-crazy and I don't share well. 

Nikki:  I can't believe you've come to live in Barbieville!  I'm so excited!  Is anyone else coming? 

Dionne:  Right now, it's just me and Maisie.  Your mom's finally found a place for my group home.  

Taylor: Cool.  Where's it at?  Or is that top secret mayor stuff? 

Candy: Zenobia and Boudicca donated the manor.  

Taylor: You mean Zenobia did.  Boo don't come out of her textbooks any more than Maisie does - I bet they'll be study buddies! You are transferring here, right, Maisie?

*******

Monday morning, bright and early, at the mayor's office.  They settle at a conference table after introductions are made. 

Zenobia:  I'll send you PDFs of the floor plans.  We are keeping a few acres, which are a tad removed from the manor itself.  No problem there that a fence won't solve.  

Dionne (looking at the tablet):  This is fantastic.  How many bedrooms? 

Boudicca: Ten, officially.  But there's also two home offices that could be converted.   Each of them with a private bath.  Any of those first-floor rooms could be your office, but I suggest the one marked Library.  It's centrally located.   

Rose-Grace:  This red line?  Is that the fence you mentioned? 

Boudicca:  Yes.  The guesthouse has more than enough room for the four of us to live there, but we were not about to give up the pool.  We'll admit to being that spoiled.  

Dionne:  You could probably donate some of this land to the county parks.  A group home won't need that much acreage.  

Zenobia: Not a bad idea.  It does abut the nature preserve.  

Lies and Gossip

 Zenobia and Boudicca have been summoned to Judge's Chambers.

Judge: It is unusual for me to speak directly with witnesses, but both attorneys have agreed provided they are present.  What I want isn't evidence, per se.  It's context to help me decide on sentencing. Both of you had obvious reactions to your father's testimony, which intrigues me. 

Zenobia: If Mom knew about my van, she wouldn't have kept quiet.  She would have told me and encouraged me to prosecute the thief.  If there'd been drugs in it, she'd have seen to it I was prosecuted. She was very into teaching us that actions have consequences. 

Boudicca: I'm beginning to think Dad needs psychiatric help.  That entire scenario sounds more like him protecting the family name than anything she would have done.  

Zenobia:  You were always more forgiving than me.  The man is a liar, plain and simple. 

Andre: Your Honor, I have to object.  Miss Malfoy is accusing my client of perjury.

Judge: Objection noted.  Is there anything else you'd like me to consider? 

Boudicca:  He's always been more concerned with the family's public image than with our own feelings.  He wanted to legally disown Zenobia a long time ago, but Mom wouldn't hear of it.  Personally, I think he's the one who hid the vehicle away.  Whether he's lying or delusional I'll leave to the experts. 

Zenobia: His first-born was supposed to be a lot of things I'm not. But none of that really bears on the case, except the van.  And the question of why it was in hiding doesn't change the fact that he used it to do what he did.

Judge: I'll take Boudicca's advice and consult with the professionals already on the case.  Thank you for your time. ladies. 

**** 

As a result of this meeting, the keytar player for Sarcastic Fringehead is late for rehearsal. 

Zenobia: Thanks for waiting, guys.  Talk to me about anything that's not my dad, please! 

Whitney: Finnick was telling us he doesn't think Maddie Sulu needs guitar lessons and Nakoma wants to punch Esperanza in the nose.

Tanner: I wanna punch Esperanza in the nose.  Just because she gets you so worked up.  

Whitney: I just worry that she might be right.  Even just a little. 

Tanner: Well, she ain't right.  If I had a problem with our relationship, I'd talk to you about it.  

Nakoma: It's not just you, anyway.  She's spreading tales about Finnick and Mattie, too.  Among others. 

Zenobia: It's just gossip.  Do you have any ideas how many times the gossip mill's had me pregnant?  

Nakoma: Mattie is a minor.  Finnick could get arrested. 

Zenobia: Nobody's gonna get arrested based on gossip.  Investigated, maybe, but not arrested. 

The Giant

 

Zenobia's phone chimes as she's leaving The Tor.  It's her boss.

Midna: I got Esmeralda to stay over until you get to work, just in case this meeting runs late.  Is it true your dad hired The Giant to defend him?  Doesn't seem to fit what I know of him.

Zenobia:  He's good at ignoring your defects if you are of use to him.  The Giant's the best defense attorney on the planet, so it only follows that Dad hired him.  

Midna: I was shocked the first time I saw the guy.  I expected... well, a giant. 

Zenobia: He's a giant in the courtroom.  Also, there's probably some irony there.  

Midna: Like calling a skinny guy Fatso.  Anyway, don't sweat it about work.

Andre: I suppose you're wondering why I asked you to meet me here, at Mr. Rhee's office.  

Boudicca: He's Family Law, and we are here about family matters.  It's only logical to have him involved. 

Andre: Exactly!  Your father told me you were smart.  And Zenobia, you've moved back into the family home to help.  That must be a sacrifice for you.

Zenobia (not sure if he's being sarcastic): Mom instilled a strong sense of family duty in all of us.  My siblings need me, so here I am. 

Andre: Excellent.  Since the matters of home and family fall under his purview, I'll give the floor over to Mr. Rhee. 

Jimin: Thank you, sir.  (To Zenobia and Boudicca) There was some question of locking down your father's finances, but given the needs of  minor children, I managed to keep some funds available.  Household and educational expenses, for example.  Boudicca's tuition and books are paid from her own accounts, so we don't need to worry about that. 

Zenobia:  Yeah, Mom saw to that.  When I decided against higher education, he tried to take my college fund. She didn't want him doing that to the others if they pursued unseemly careers. 

Jimin: There are some formalities, papers to sign regarding custody of Draco and Leia, but no surprises.  Besides a collective tightening of the proverbial belt, I think life will mostly go on as usual for them. 

Andre: There were some questions as to Zenobia's ability to fulfill her role. 

Zenobia: Yet I was the first person he called to do it.  (imitating Paris) You are the eldest child, it falls upon you.

Andre (trying not to smile): Questionable morals aside, you pass muster as a responsible adult.  

Boudicca: I think Draco might have sealed that deal, anyway.  Shot himself in the foot, telling the investigator what a sleazy slimy slut you are and then praising your friends as good people.  Albus in particular. 

Zenobia: He does have a lot more respect for Albus than I would've expected. 

Andre: Well, then, once these papers are signed, we can all go about our day.  I'll be back in touch with you regarding Paris's defense. 

Success!

Morning, on Muneca Lake Beach.   

Zenobia: Because the village of Barbieville stopped hosting Pride Events, it's been unfairly labeled.  Mayor Rose-Grace Pike has been accused of homophobia and transphobia, but nothing could be farther from the truth.  (laughs) The 1810 village charter contains the following:  "Private acts by adults, inflicting no harm upon others, shall not be governed by law.  If such is sin, each of us will answer a higher authority."  The simple fact of the matter is this: Behavior of celebrants at past events brought private acts into the streets.  Celebrants who chose to be more discrete were openly mocked.  (pause for effect) This event is being hosted by me, Zenobia Malfoy, as a private citizen.  It's not fancy because almost everyone participating has volunteered.  Love is love, the details don't matter, so let's not focus on them. 

Crowd cheers.  

Zenobia: We've got no parade, but a nice little festival.  Including live music by my band Sarcastic Fringehead, which starts as soon as I pass this microphone to the lovely Whitney Darling. 

*****

Later, down by the floodwall. 

Ken: Hey, your band is good!  

Tanner: Yeah, we do all right as long as some jackass isn't yelling "Free Bird" from the crowd. (To Peeta) What the hell is that? 

Peeta: We won these for Tommy at the arcade.  Cost us a good bit, but it was totally worth it. And by the way, that was his mom yelling Free Bird.  She laughed so hard when the entire band "freed their birds" at us I thought she was gonna hurt herself. 

Tanner (shrugs): We're gonna do another set later, but Whitney had to go to work, so it'll be when she gets back.   You guys more comfortable here?  No one telling you to act more gay?

Ken: Our matching outfits and holding hands doesn't seem to be upsetting anyone on either side of the fence.  I really wish people'd stop thinking all gay men are flamers.  

Tommy: Your dad looks more like people think a gay dude should than my brother does, and he's walking around with a pretty woman! Is that your mom?  Did she rainbow her hair just for today? 

Casey: You know Dad.  He ain't gonna let being straight keep him from looking fabulous.  And no, Mom's hair is always like that.  (to Stacie) If Angus is here, who is pulling the carriage?  

Stacie: Our new mare, Ka-Gae.  She's kinda scary looking, almost totally white and she's got the blackest eyes!  Really sweet, though.  Angus will get his turn later, when Ka-Gae is tired. 

Tommy: Hey, Mommy, did you meet Casey's mom and dad?  They're so cool. 

Doreen: Yes, I met Iris and Coby at teacher conferences.  Coby is one of Ken's college instructors, too. 

Coby: You kids can ride the carriage together, if it's okay with Doreen. (laughs when Tommy and Casey get excited)  I thought you'd like that, but y'all better behave for Mr. Windu. 

Speaking of the carriage rides, The Hernandez family is returning from a pleasant jaunt around town.  

Esperanza: This is the worst Pride Festival ever.  I keep waiting for the hog-calling contest. 

Daisy: It is a little dull, but I don't mind.  (To Bertie) How did we raise a city slicker? Small town life is so much nicer. 

Bertie: Probably because we were living in a city for most of her life.  Of course, she is a grown woman and could go back if she chose, but I don't see her packing.  

Tate: I'm thinking, now that I've got the house in some kind of order, of getting a job here.  Do the rest of it at my own pace, you know?  It's not like I've got anything to go back for. 

Albus: Witch's Cove is always hiring, but it's mostly summer.  What kind of work are you looking for? 

Tate: Well, I've worked lots of janitor type jobs.  Some construction. 

Albus: Joe Montez is a contractor.  I don't know the number, but you can google him.  

Leia: Who is that fine looking slice of man? 

Boudica: Which one? 

*****

The evening winds down.  

Luna Jones relaxes at her face-painting station on the beach, listening to Sarcastic Fringehead perform requests.  One of twins is singing a duet with Whitney, some ancient love song.  Luna hopes Mom or Aunt Gwen picks her up soon - it's gotten chilly since the sun went down. 

 

 

The Video

 Barbieville Police Department

Lynch: Adding Candy Pike skews our victim profile.  She's only got two of these things in common, and one of them just barely. And she was nowhere near water, so we can ignore that little side note. 

Carol: She wasn't college educated or "a strong personality".  Is that code for something? 

Lynch: Absolutely.  (chuckles) Helena was a nice enough lady until you wronged her, but Charlie was a total bitch.  Candy, on the other hand, is very mellow.  She has made something of a name for herself in the photojournalism field, so she's a professional, but since she's free-lance, she doesn't really have an office or any of the trappings.  And she's a mother.  

Carol: And we have a connection between her sons and one of Helena Malfoy's daughters. They're in a band, correct? 

Midge (from across the room): Alright, ladies, the lab's sent over the go-pro footage.  Shall we see what we've got? 

Lynch: I hope we can see the tag.  Candy remembered the FCP part because that's two of her boys' initials, but she didn't get the number.  A partial is better than nothing, but still... 

Midge: A good look at the driver would be nice, too.  

Carol: Let's not get our hopes up. (Midge starts the video, then pauses before Lynch can ask.)  There's your tag.  

Lynch: FCP 409, Doll County.  Got it.  (She gestures for Midge to continue, winces as the video continues.)  Was that the windshield?  Did Candy actually look the guy in the face? 

After a few tries, Midge manages to stop the video on the split-second Carol noticed.  

Midge: Well, Agent Danvers, what were you saying about getting our hopes up? It's blurry, but who does that look like to you? 

Lynch: Paris Malfoy

Carol: James Potter

******

Later, as the crew closes Sunburst for the night

RM: Sure you don't wanna come home with us?   Daddy Jimin won't be home to poop on our party. 

Zenobia: I'm exhausted.  Everyone in the state decided to eat here!  

Tris: I have a husband. 

V: No one propositioned you, Tris.  You can have Four meet us there, if that'll...  (A sports car comes careening into the lot and the driver jumps out.) 

Zenobia:  Boo?  Boo, what's going on?

V: I don't know she had a boo.  I thought she was footloose and fancy-free. 

Tris: That's her sister.  Boudicca.  

RM: Damn.  Do all the Malfoy girls look that good? 

Boudicca: You've got to get out of town, Zen.  Take my car. 

Zenobia: Calm down.  It can't be that bad.  

Boudicca: The cops are at the house.  That van that hit Mom, they got the plate number.  It comes back to you!  

Zenobia: That's nuts.  I don't even have a car, I haven't since... (realization) ... oh, shit. 

A Lucky Break?

 Note: COVID masks are invisible to readers.  The hospital allows up to two people to be in the ER waiting room if they're with an ER patient. 

After Pike and Rose-Grace leave in a hurry, Mace gathers the kids. 

Fred: Sumpin bad happened!  Maybe somebody got dead! 

Mace: It's Candy.  That mad bastard who's running over people hit her, but she is alive. 

Stacie:  Mom?  Why would anyone want to runover Mom?

Tanner: Me and Finnick need to go.  Mom said, since we're adults now, she was going to change the paperwork so Dad's not POA any more. 

Whitney: We can't invade the ER.  That'd be bad even if there wasn't a pandemic on.  

Taylor: Yeah, if you go, everyone's gonna want to.  And don't start with how you'd stop us.  You know damn well you wouldn't argue if we managed to get into the car before you got it started. 

Finnick: She might not have done it yet, though.  You know how she procrastinates stuff like that.  

Nakoma: She's a tough woman.  I bet she's gonna be fine. 

Finnick: I just need to sit tight.

*****

At the hospital.

Pike: They've got medical students working the front desk?  

Boudicca: I help out everywhere, at least until my actual residency starts.  (Goes over the file, updating information as needed.)  This says her maiden name was Barr?  Candy Barr? 

Rose-Grace:  That's one of the reasons she kept Pike's name after they divorced.  Her parents were easily amused.  

Boudicca: All right, then.  It does say that the twins are listed as POA, but I don't think we need to contact them until Dr. Eaton makes a determination on her condition.  I'll be around if you need anything and someone will update you ASAP. 

Pike:  She'll be fine, honey.  She's survived worse.  

Rose-Grace: Are you trying to convince me or yourself? 

Pike:  I'm not sure.  This guy going after Candy makes me wonder if she was working the case.  But don't the cops have their own photographers? 

Rose-Grace: She could have been working on a story about the case.  Probably with someone from the Journal or WDLC.   I can make some calls if you want.

Pike: Maybe later.  Right now, I just need my wife.  Not the mayor. 

*****

When Gabriella and Claudia hear the news, they rush to their best friends' sides.  

Taylor: When they got the call, Mom and Grandpa were giving Dad a hard time for being racially insensitive.  He told me the exact same thing he told the twins - you know, those white boys!  I thought it was great that he treated me equal to them, but no.  They gotta ride him for his word choice.  

Gabriella: Well, it's tricky.  Maybe his word choice could be better, but his heart's definitely in the right place.  He's been such a great dad for you and Nikki.  

Taylor: Candy's been awesome, too.  Oh, Gabriella, I hope she's okay! 

Claudia: Not knowing what's going on is the worst.  

Nikki: Is it weird to be this worried about her?  I mean, she's just my... what... stepdad's ex? 

Claudia: I think of her kind of as your aunt or something.  Would it be weird to worry about Morgan? 

Whitney: I was so mad at you about Esper, and now this.  You could lose your mother. 

Tanner: Hey, Mom getting hurt has nothing to do with that.  You have every right to be mad at me. Even if you're wrong.

Nakoma: Because Esperanza is a meddling drama queen.  Sorry, Whit, I'm with the guys on this one. 

*****

Finally, after an eternity....

Marcus:  Candy's stabilized, but still unconsious.  I've called in a specialist for one of her legs - her knee took the brunt of the impact and is pretty much shattered.  Her vitals look good, all things considered.  

Rose-Grace: That's all?  This guy killed the others. 

Marcus (chuckles):  The others didn't see him coming and jump onto his hood.  By the way, I let the federal agent take Candy's go-pro.  Might be some useful footage on it. 

Battle Lines

Early morning.  PJ Granger sips a hot drink at the Doll County bus depot.  

PJ: I hope my receptionist is dealing with the canceled appointments okay.  Good thing most of my patients like to sleep in.  

Belle:  Who are you talking to, Mom?  

PJ: Myself.  It's a bad habit, I know.

Belle: It's quite common, actually.  Just frowned upon, so most people don't admit to it.

PJ: How was your trip?  Are you hungry?  

Belle: I'm starving.  I hope James is cooking up a huge country breakfast for us! (They both laugh, knowing James can barely boil water.)  Dad said to apologize for the last-minute notice. 

PJ: He doesn't need to apologize. It's not like they gave him decent notice that he was being deployed into a war zone.  

********

Back in Barbieville, at the Mayor's office.

Rose-Grace: How long has this been going on?  Why wasn't I, as the mayor, notified of it?!  His very presence in this town is a threat to my citizens...  (takes a moment to calm down)  I guess I need to yell at the Feds for that part, don't I?  Your hands were tied.

Lynch: I wasn't even aware of most of the details, myself.  I just knew he was allowed to relocate here under certain conditions.  But now that he's messed up so royally, they've just dropped him in our laps.What do we do? 

Hank: I swear, none of this is my fault!

Rose-Grace: Don't hand me that crap!  I've got an eight year old at home with a better understanding of personal responsibility!  You made the choices that put you here!  (Turns to Lynch) Well, I guess we should get this over with.  (Buzzes Kyra to let in Pern.)

Pern takes one look at Hank and lunges across the room, clearly intending bodily harm.  

Hank: Pern, calm down so I can explain.

Pern: Oh, hell, no.  You don't talk to me.  You don't come anywhere near me, or my boy, or even the cat he got for Christmas!  I'll kill you!

Lynch: The mayor and I will handle this, Hank.  You stand there with your mouth shut.  (To Pern) I'll let go if you can control yourself.  

Pern: HANK?!  (starts laughing bitterly) OK, Chief, I'll behave.  I wouldn't want to hurt Hank.

Rose-Grace: Mr. Higgins came here as part of the Witness Protection Program.  Although he'd been strongly advised that a return to a previous home was a bad idea, it was the only way they could get him to cooperate.  

Lynch: He was confident that he wouldn't be recognized by anyone here and agreed to avoid all members of the Nedakh family, but we still had a few incidents of people thinking he looked familiar.  Albus even confronted him once, but...   

Pern: He had his face rebuilt after a car wreck.  (to Hank) That and a couple decades of aging was enough, wasn't it?  None of them knew you.

Rose-Grace: Don't talk to him, Pern.  Talk to us. 

Pern: I guess y'all want me to keep my mouth shut.  If he's involved in something that bad, I'll do it, but not for him.  For this town, because it's been so welcoming.  For my boy and his sisters.  But not for Hank.  Never for Hank.  

Lynch: Pretend he's a guy you just met.  If you can't hide the anger, write it off as bad vibes.  Hell, make up a lie that he called you ethnic slurs at work if you want.  (Hank mutters something.)  Didn't we tell you to keep your trap shut? 

Pern (slyly): He bolted from Sunburst when he found out I was cooking because I'm a junkie.  He didn't want me putting AIDS or Hepatitis into his taco plate.  (If looks could kill, Hank would be dead.)  Way to undermine my sobriety, jackass.

*******

And at the Medical Center: 

Marcus: First of all, I want to tell you that you've done nothing wrong.  Your work is superlative.  But we have to remove you from the team caring for Billy Jackson.

Boudica: It's his wife, isn't it?  Because of my mother locking horns with her? 

Marcus:  The reason she gave was tensions between your families. She claims not to believe he is aware of us, but every time you work, there's a clear improvement in his vital signs.  Simply put, you're good for his morale, but I can't convince her of that. 

Boudica: Isn't there anything we can do?  She's undermining his care.

Marcus: There's no obvious abuse or neglect, so I'm not sure.  I've got a call in to the legal department.  We'll do what we can.