The End

 Federal Agent Carol Danvers meets with Maisie Barnes. 

Carol:  Are you going to deny any of this?  Your family, their possible ties to organized crime?  I know the incident at the dam is not related to any of this, but I find it alarming that you've moved into town and cozied up to the mayor. 

Maisie:  I have nothing to do with my birth family.  I don't even know how my mother keeps getting my phone number to harass me every time she gets in trouble.  I suspect she was involved with the fire back in the day, but beyond that I know nothing about that place or those people.  And as for cozying up to the mayor, I've known Rose-Grace since I was a kid.  I'm only here because I promised Dionne I'd help with Helena House and I'll be gone as soon as my husband is stationed stateside.  You don't need to worry about me.  

Carol:  Just know you're cleared on this dam business, but I'm going to be watching you.

*****  

After Maisie leaves, Carol meets with a motley crew.  

Hank:  I don't believe we've met.  I'm Hank Higgins, realtor.

Gage: I'm a private investigator.  I hope this meeting has something to do with my job because I just keep hitting dead ends.  

Gage:  Good afternoon, Mrs. Smith.  I hope your presence means Agent Danvers is going to help me find your father.  

Pocahontas:  I wish you'd just leave that deadbeat lost.  We're all better off without him.

Hank:  What is she doing here?  All this time, you've been riding me to avoid her, and now you call us into the same meeting?  

  

Gage:  Why would she tell you that?  Why are you answering to a federal agent about anything?

Pocahontas: You had no problem not-avoiding me when you sold me and John our house.  

Carol: Cash Nedakh entered the Witness Protection Program.  As part of the deal, he insisted on being put in Barbieville.  You remember receiving flowers at your office for a while?  It was him, unaware that your mother had passed away.  He hoped to reunite with her.

Pocahontas: After leaving us for damn near twenty years?  Not a chance.  Me and Nakoma both would've fought that idea.  We saw what she went through after he took anything that wasn't nailed down.  (She realizes.)  Wait a minute... are you saying what I think you're saying?

Carol:  Hank Higgins is Cash Nedakh.  Not for much longer, though.  Turns out the dam was sabotaged by the very people we were hiding him from.  (To Hank)  You're being moved.  

Hank: You can't do that.  You need my testimony for -- 

Pocahontas:  (Redacted for language.  This is a PG13 blog.)  

Carol:  Losing your testimony might hurt the case, but you have proven such a liability that the program is ready to drop you.  This is your last chance.  (She turns to the PI)  Unfortunately, your client is one of the people we're hiding him from.  They followed you here. 

Gage:  Oops?

Once she's seen Pocahontas and Gage out, Carol fills Hank in on his new life.  A life far from Barbieville.

Hank:  It's just as well.  There's nothing here for me, with Kida gone. 

This concludes my "soap opera".  Maisie (and Charlotte Jackson) will continue their own stories at Our Toy Story on Facebook.  Maisie in "The Sons" and Charlotte in "Nearly Famous".  

Please see my previous post titled Changing Things Up.  I've already begun reorganizing and rearranging my doll area, which I'll continue to refer to as Barbieville even though that show's been cancelled.  Stay tuned!

The Investigation Part Five (The Fed Arrives)

 Outside Barbieville Police Station

Hank:  How are you lovely ladies this morning? 

Midge: On my way to work, Mr. Higgins.  (pulls up her neckline) I guess you've finally decided to give Lynch your statement?  

Nakoma: We've got the okay to get back to work on the Overlook.  Lost two days so the police could make sure they had everything they need. 

Hank: Aren't you a little young for that?

Nakoma: I'm part owner of the largest employer in Barbieville.  (laughs)  At least that's what my sister tells me.  Never mind that she's still holding my hand every step of the way. 

Midge: From what I saw at the crime scene, she's got absolute faith in you. 

Hank: Did I miss something?  The crime scene's up by the lake.

Midge: Second victim was found on Witch's Cove property, Mr. Higgins. 

Hank: Really, Miss Sherwood?  Who was it?

Nakoma: I think you mean Doctor Sher--  (Someone shouts at Hank from across the parking lot.)

Hank: Settle down.  We were just passing the time of day.

Carol: You are to avoid any and all contact with that girl and her family.  You know that.  

Hank: So I should be rude?  Wouldn't that draw unwanted attention?

Carol: I don't care if you run away screaming.  Stay away from all of them or you're out of the program.   The agency already made a grave mistake letting you come here.  Get inside.

Lynch: Are you ready to give us your statement, Mr. Higgins, since Agent Danvers is here? 

Hank: I don't know why you're all acting like I'm out of line.  It's my legal right.

Lynch: In order to cover for the fact that you're in the program, my department has had to request federal help in this investigation.  That's how we're explaining her being here.  It makes us look incompetent as hell.

Carol: You're a small town department.  Something like this is bound to overwhelm you. 

Lynch: Let's just get this over with, shall we? 

After Hank has gone, Lynch apologizes to Carol.  

Carol:  I understand.  I'm no fan of him, myself.  If he wasn't so important to the case - you know, our case - I think we'd just cut him loose.  What are we dealing with here? 

Lynch: Our second victim was jogging in this area.  She was hit hard enough to toss her across the inlet and onto Witch's Cove property.  A security camera at the Overlook caught footage of her hitting the ground.  Tire track across the grass indicate the same type of vehicle used in the first attack, so we're assuming a connection. 

Carol: Large vehicle chases woman across grassy area in order to hit her hard enough to kill.  It's a hell of a coincidence if it's not connected. What about that nature preserve? Do they have cameras?  

Lynch: The first victim worked for the county park services, there were three foals dumped at the preserve, but we've got nothing on the preserve's cameras.  For the horses or for this case. 

    

Lynch: This is where the first victim was found.  So far it appears she was hit at the same speed, but differences in the terrain and the body mass of the victims means she wasn't launched as far as the second.  

Carol: I see you've been brainstorming commonalities. 

Lynch: Yeah.  Both women were white and in the same age group, but that's where any physical resemblance ends.  First one was an amazon and the second incredibly petite, one with black hair dyed partially blue and the other a platinum blonde.  One divorced, one married.  

Carol: Let's get to work. 

Getting Answers

 Barbieville Police Station

Lynch: You found the body, ran into Shore Thing, and had them call 911. I need a little bit more than that to go on.  Why were you there? What did you see specifically? 

Hank: That's all you're getting until my man from Witness Protection shows up. 

Lynch: Hank, you stumbled upon a crime scene. Giving me a statement about that is not going to have any impact on your status with the feds. You don't need to bother them with this. 

Hank: I don't care if I'm bothering them. (Stands up) Unless you call them in, or arrest me, I'm going back to my office.  I'm a busy man, Chief Lynch. 

Lynch: Fine, I'll call them. We'll make an appointment to get your statement.

Hank completely misses her sarcasm and leaves. Lynch goes back to her paperwork, what little she has at this point, and is startled by the abrupt appearance of Midge Sherwood, county coroner.

Midge: I've brought over copies of all my documents. The autopsy supports the obvious cause of death, unless something really weird shows up in the lab report. 

Lynch: Is it casual day at the morgue? 

Midge (laughs): No, I shower there and put on my civvies before heading home. 

Lynch: Not a bad idea. Sometimes I feel like I never take this uniform off. 

Midge: We might have a problem with Mr. Higgins. He tried to stop the CSI team from taking photos. 

Lynch: You have no idea. I'll handle him. How's Kamala settling in? 

Midge: She hasn't left my house. But it's not like I've had time to show her around town. 

*****

Windu Acres

Tanner: More dogs? 

Mace: I wondered when you were going to ask about that.  They came with the horse, and I know a few people who might adopt them.  Your girlfriend for one. She was disappointed when your folks decided to keep Cujo and Yeti.

Tanner: Yeah, but then Santa brought Anakin a cat. 

Mace: I know some other people, too.  Nakoma just gets first dibs. 

Tanner: I bet Four and Tris will take one, now that they're in their own place. She really misses her parents' dogs. 

 

Mace: Now you're thinking. (changes the subject) We buy the young rejects and breed them. There's less money in it, short term, but that's how we get the strong work horses Windu Acres is famous for.  People will reject a foal for all kinds of reasons.  

Tanner: Yeah, this one's got socks on the left legs but not on the right legs.  Big deal.

Mace: Don't be a snob. Some jobs require a certain look for the horse.  (Mace eyes Tanner for a moment.) You know, I'm really glad you decided to work with me. I retired because neither of Rosie's girls cared to follow in my footsteps.  Then y'all came along, and those foals turned up in the Nature Preserve, and I figured someone up there was telling me something.

Tanner: Did they ever catch the jerk who dumped those three? (Mace shakes his head.) Hagrid needs more trail cams. 

*****

WDOL studios

William: Good Afternoon, ladies. Is there a problem? 

Bertie: Yes. A major one. Have you seen the garbage they expect us to say on the air?

William: I can't say I have.  I trust my people to do their jobs largely unsupervised.

Becky: Good journalism should not be biased, Mr. Darling. I learned that on the high school newspaper.

Bertie: One of the reasons I took the pay cut to take this job was so I didn't have to cater to partisan interests. You promised our coverage would be balanced. 

William: Ladies, you are my anchors. You're the boss down there. 

Becky: So you've got our back when we tell them off? 

William (chuckles): Yes, Miss Weasley, I've got your back. 

After The Shower

 Reminder and warning:  Dirty talk and invisible-to-the-reader masks.

Midna:  We should keep these decorations, for the wedding.  Even if you aren't going all traditional, it'll be a nice touch.  At least around the area where the signing of the document is going to happen. 

Tris: Way ahead of you.  Four and Bapo are picking me up when they get done at the realtor and we're headed out there to get an idea where we want to set up.  The decorations won't go up until the day of, but we'll take them with us.

Midna:  Realtor?  

Hank:  Unfortunately, I don't seem to have anything available within your price range, gentlemen.  Unless you're willing to pay more, I'm afraid there isn't much I can do for you. 

Four: I've got an idea, Bapo.  Dad and Mom are giving us that money as a wedding gift...  

Django: Absolutely not.  That's meant to get you a start in your married life.  

Four: We could find a property that serves as both home and business.  Maybe a place with a detached garage we could convert?  You know Jessie would help.  All these commercial lots are way too big for what we need, anyway. 

Django: It's a thought.  I'm not too keen on you investing so much, though.

Four: I'd be investing in a home, too.  Two birds with one stone. 

Django: Tris would be okay with that? 

Four: It was her idea. 

Tris: You're late.

Four: Yeah, I had to talk Bapo into your idea.  Higgins tried to sell us things like the old grocery store.  

Tris:  He went for it? 

Four: Only after Higgins flat told us we couldn't afford anything on just his money.  (looking at the gifts)  We got some good stuff.  There's a whole kitchen here.

Zenobia (teasing): Just in a big hurry to get away from me.  I see how you are.

Four: Actually, we had an idea about that.  Bapo is renting camper space at The Point, but I told Jessie you might be willing to take her on as a roomie when we move out.  

Tris: I know you two don't know each other very well, but I was practically a stranger when you let me move in with you.  

Zenobia: I like Jessie.  Missed her today, but she couldn't make it.  She works too much.  

Midna: Okay, I think everything is stable.  Unless y'all go rip-tearing around, it'll make it to Django's car intact.  Just be careful and take it slow. 

Four (snickers): Seems I heard that advice earlier today.  (exchanges a significant glance with Tris)  Talked to Bapo. 

Tris: I hope he was more help than these guys were. 

Midna: I don't know what you wanted.  Step by step diagrams? 

Zenobia: I think I have some books at home with those.

Tris: No, Zenobia, you have smut. (sticks her tongue out)  I looked through your bookshelves.

Zenobia: Don't stick it out unless you intend to use it. 

Four:  She does intend to use it.  Just not on you. 

Tris:  Mariko ran home real quick and brought me this.  It's a pamphlet from her parents' old counseling office.  It's for people with sexual dysfunction, but she said the advice in it is good for a couple of virgins, too. 

Four: Mariko never fails to surprise me.  (Looks around)  Where is she? 

Tris: She said she had somewhere important to be, but I think she was just getting out of clean up duty.  

 

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. 

Zenobia's Weird Day At Work

Draco and Albus have been working hard at getting Witch's Cove ready for the winter.  

Albus: You've done very well today, considering that you've never done manual labor before.  

Draco: I still don't understand why you wanted me to do it.  Why didn't you just send me to Juvie?

Albus: I suggested you help me as your community service because, like many who have grown up in privilege, you fail to understand that manual labor profits a man in non-monetary ways.  Did you feel a level of satisfaction upon seeing the results of your work?

Draco: Yeah... I guess I did.  But I destroyed your home.  Aren't you mad?  

Albus: Of course I am.  I'm not a fan of the prison system, though, and I feel you can learn a valuable lesson this way.  You saw today that, if not for people like me, you would have none of the things your wealth buys you.  Everything you eat, all your material goods, came from people like me.  

Draco: How much was the damages?  I know Dad offered to pay it.

Albus (chuckles): I hope that by the time you've finished your community service, you'll see that the dollar value means little to me.  The simple fact, Draco, is that I haven't given up on you.  I've only given up on one person in my entire life.

*****

At another table, Hank is waffling over what to order.  

Zenobia: You should try the taco plate.  Pern has already mastered that one.

Hank: Oh, well....  Wait?!  Who did you say?!

Zenobia: Pern.  Our new cook.  You know Anakin Nadekh?  She's his mother.

Hank jumps to his feet and runs out of the building. 

Zenobia: Um... Okay, then.... 

Can You Go Home Again?

As the weather cools, Nancy and McG find fewer people when they go for their evening swim.

Nancy: We're going to have to start going to the Y, I think.  The lake is downright frigid.

McG: If you'd like.  I find the cold quite invigorating, myself.

Nancy: I'm so glad I found you to swim with.  My husband prefers the home gym to keep in shape.

McG: Lee never was much of a swimmer.  He always likes me in a bikini, though. 

She's interrupted by a passing woman. 

Charlotte:  Mrs. Guinness?  Is that you? 

Nancy: Charlotte.  I heard you'd moved back home. (To McG)  Charlotte is a former student of mine.  

McG: Charlotte Jackson? Gabriella's aunt? 

Charlotte: You know Gabriella?  

McG (coldly): I am Taylor Pike's grandmother.   

Charlotte: Oh, Rose-Grace's mother-in-law.  I heard she lost her mother recently, but I've not seen them at the country club.  Would you convey my condolences?

McG: Rose-Grace is a busy woman and Mace is hardly country club material.  I doubt you and they travel in the same circles, but I will tell them you send your thoughts.

Charlotte goes on her way and Nancy just stares at her friend for a moment.

McG: Have you not heard about that woman?

Nancy: You aren't being fair.  Charlotte had a very rough life. 

McG: So did Batgirl, but I don't see her treating her children as Charlotte treats hers. 

Nancy: Charlotte has children?  Do tell! 

******

Hank Higgins, of Barbieville Real Estate, shows Pocahontas and John a few homes.

Hank: This rustic cabin on the shore of Muneca Lake has...

John: Sorry to interrupt, but I can already tell this house isn't for us.  I might as well go home and drown Kelly in the bathtub.  

Pocahontas: Really?!

John: Yes, really.  We told him we have four kids.

Pocahontas: Not crazy about the white exterior.

John: Me, neither.  But we can always paint. A few safety features around the pool is all I think we'd need here. The kids could even each have their own room.

John: Brick exterior, lots of light from the windows... 

Pocahontas: Definite maybe.  

John: I think we've seen enough for today, Hank.  We'll have to put our heads together and talk to the kids before making a choice.  I know it's our call, as the adults, but they... 

Hank: I understand.  I do have one more I'd like to show you today, if you have time?  

Pocahontas: I love that tower entryway.

John: My girls would think we lived in a castle.  

Pocahontas: Only three bedrooms, though.  The girls would all have to share one. 

The prospective buyers gone, Hank confers with the homeowner before finding a police cruiser parked behind his car.

Lynch: What are you doing? You know you aren't supposed to have contact with...

Hank: They came into my office!  I couldn't exactly turn them out! 

Lynch: You should have passed them over to another agent.  Do it or the program will hear about this.  We can't protect you if you keep doing things like this. 

Hank: What do I tell the other agent for my reason? 

Lynch: I honestly don't care.