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Aug-10-2009 07:47

Have you ever considered that you would chase a suspect 80 days,all around the world? That would be amazing,right? Well,it happened to me and some friends of mine. It all started back,80 days ago of this day....

I was just relaxing in my chair,when Joseph Zeo came walking in. "How ya doing Vulkie" and Joseph shaked my hand. "I'm doing fine Joseph. I've got some great Cuban cigars from Camille,out of Costa Rica. Have one" I replied.

As Joseph was looking for a big cigar,the phone began to rang. "Detective Vulkie,private eye,how may I help you" as I said in the phone,while looking at Joseph.

As I heard more and more information,Joseph saw my face turning into despair and trouble. Then,I hung up the phone and told Joseph what I heard.

"We need to catch a guy. The only trouble is,he's disappeared and his wife says that he likes to travel around the world. He left a note for her,saying the first city he was going to visit was London. His wife can't life so long without him,since she is terminally ill. She has 80 days left..." I said to Joseph and his face also began to turn.

"Nah,I don't know. Travelling is not what I like. Unless,I get a great sum of money and personal expences are covered."

As I told Joseph the amount we could get,his face began to turn happy and he immediately packed his suitcases. But first things first. We needed to check the apartment of the man. His name was Gregory Louson and his wife Laura,was desperate to find him. She heard that I solved many cases (already a 1000 cases) and that I could probably find him.

So,Joseph and I went to the apartment...

Aug-14-2009 12:46

Day 8 - London

On our way to the bar, our new acquaintance Riza Hawkeye hung back. Vulkie felt uncomfortable and looked back. "What is it? Why are you looking at us like that?"

Riza smirked and turned away. I could see the displeasure on Vulkie's face, and grabbed her shoulder, preventing her from getting into an argument with Riza. "We're here." Anais announced. Quickly I pulled Vulkie into a bar.

We looked around but no one resembled the Mr. Louson we were looking for. "I am sure he was here just a moment ago!" Riza said defensively.

"Hey Riza, back so soon?" The bartender said. "I though you are done with--"

"Bernie!" Riza warned him with a fierce stare. The bartender got the point and hushed up immediately.

As usual, Shady was in the back corner of this bar. The girls boldly approached the person we all loathed.

Aug-14-2009 13:50

"Shady!" I exclaimed, swooping down to give him a kiss on hes grizzled cheek. "It's been ages! How have you been? Did ya get my latest novel?"

I noticed some eye rolling from Riza, heard Vulkie snort, and, with a quick glance at the mirror behind Shady, saw Joseph's look of- jealousy was it? Strange. I ignored them all, focused on Shady. Now, Shady and I, while not exactly friends, (Shady doesn't seem to really have friends), have corresponded a bit. See, I feel that he needs a bit of cock-eyed optimism in his life, and figured that I might as well give him some of mine. So I write him regular long letters, which he calls novels, and hope that he isn't quite as pessimistic as he was. He also once said that I "warmed his shriveled heart".

"Anais Nin. Yer always have been a babblin at me, ain't ya? Do ya need me ta be clearin yer record, now? Gots too many o those False Accusations under yer belt?" Shady said with a growl. But, looking closely, I thought I saw a glimmer of friendliness in his eye, twinkling at me. Cock-eyed optimism, you know!

"No, Shady! I'm doing quite well on my cases as of late. You should be proud, except I'm not helping put gin in your tummy now, am I? You really should cut back-" I stopped that line of thought at the glare he was giving me as he deliberately tossed back the rest of his shot.

"What Anais is here about, Mr. Shady, is a case," Vulkie broke in, while elbowing me in the ribs.

"Hey!" I protested.

"Shady? I just saw you talking to a brown haired, middle aged, balding man with a Yankee cap on, do you know where he went?" Riza elbowed me on the other side.

"Why do yo-" I was cut off by Vulkie.

"His name is Gregory Louson." She looked anxious.

*continued*

Aug-14-2009 14:08

Shady looked from Vulkie to Riza and then to me. I thought I saw his lips curve upward a bit. When he spoke, there was a faint tinge of humor in his voice, so subtle I doubt the others heard it. "Well then, Anais. Yer lookin for a way to not have to pay 'ol Shady here his due, are ya?"

"Aw, Shady, how could you even think that of me?" I said, sitting myself down in the chair across from him, leaving Riza and Vullkie to stand behind me. "We just need some information, and everyone knows that when someone sees you, Bernie never does breath a word. And we all thank him for that, since we don't want him tellin everyone when we come to see you. But, you- no one ever seems to ask you, do they? And we really need to know. His wife is on her deathbed, and he hasn't a clue!" So, maybe I was stretching the truth a bit, but it is for a good cause, isn't it? "Shady, just tell me if he mentioned where he was going next, will you?"

"If anyone else came, I'd say no," Shady said. "There'll be a messenger delivering a note at yer flat. Half past ten, I figure. Now git," Definitely a twinkle, I thought as I took in his words.

"Thank you Shady," I got up and kissed him full on his lips, gave him a hug, and flounced my way out, aware of the shocked looks I was getting. Who in their right mind would kiss Shady for goodness sake?! Once outside, I wiped my mouth, ridding myself of the taste of gin and cigars.

"What was that about?" Joseph asked me, voice low, controlled.

Startled, I looked at him. "Just thanking Shady. Why?"

Riza and Vulkie were leaning against the wall, watching Joseph and I with interest. Vulkie was whispering in Riza's ear, and Riza looked like she was tring not to laugh.

Joseph glared at me, then turned, glared at the girls, and stalked back into the bar.

"Joseph?" I called, worried.

"I'll meet you all back at your flat, Anais," Joseph called back without looking back.

*continued*

Aug-14-2009 14:10

"What was that all about?" I wondered, as Riza and Vulkie burst into laughter, each grabbed me by an arm, and left me in my totally confused state.

Aug-14-2009 14:19

((((Sorry I posted so much. Not really, but I thought I'd apologize anyway. Teehee!))))

Aug-14-2009 19:20

'What was that all about?' I wondered about Anais as I stalked back into the bar. 'She didn't need to thank Shady that way. Was she doing that in front of us just to get on my nerves?' I sat on a bar stool by the counter and ordered a shot of Vodka and cleared it in one go. 'Jeez Zeo, who do you think you are? You're definitely thinking too highly of yourself!... but then, she had been so friendly with me back in her house... maybe she just wasn't being herself.... she did 'push me away' back the dock, yes, that was definitely her.... pushing me away..."

I continued to down alcohol down my throat, eyeing Shady in the corner. The dark figure was not paying attention to me at all, although I was sure he noticed my ceaseless stares. Who would pay attention to loser? "Give me another double Bernie." I ordered.

After another dozen shot of gin, whiskey and vodka, everything began to blur a bit. I felt that my mouth was grinning, but my heart was not feeling any better, so I thought I should do something to make it so. I took out my gun and pushed myself away from the counter, intending to go up to Shady and finish him off; but as I got up the ceiling began to spin. "Easy there mate!" Bernie exclaimed, "You should put that back where it belong--" I didn't hear what Bernie had to say next, because i crashed onto a booth seat and fell asleep.


Hours later I woke up. The foul taste in my mouth told me that I drank too much, which seldom happened. There seem to be two wrestlers pounding inside my head, but i tried to ignore it. I noticed that I had my gun out. What the heck was I doing with it? Then I remembered. I sneaked my head out of the booth and looked at Shady at the back. He noticed me and gave me his usual straight face. Was that a tinge of a smirk in the corner of his mouth? I wasn't so sure. I looked at my wrist watch and noticed it was past 10pm. I gave Shady a hard stare and left the bar.

Aug-14-2009 19:23

When I returned to Anais's flat I pretended nothing happened, although I was sure they could smell my breath. The girls were reading from a note; for some reason I wished that Shady never fulfilled his promise.

"Louson is in Paris. He was looking for a painting, so he might be visiting the galleries there." Vulkie stated, looking up from the note.

Ah, the city of love! I was dreading the trip ahead of us already.

Aug-14-2009 20:54

Day 9 - Paris.

Ah,city of love,history and especially paintings. Paris,c'est magnifiqué. As Joseph,I and Riza (Anais stayed behind in London,looking for more information) arrived by boat (called Ye Olde Marooned Narwhal xD), we immediately checked into a hotel and went to visit some local galleries to ask if they've seen the man around here. "Non Monsieur et Mesdammes,le monsieur Americán n'est ici pas." the guard said at one of the galleries (The american man wasn't here,sir and ladies).

The only gallery that was left was.... The Louvre?!. And so the three of us departed towards the Louvre.

As Riza tried to enter the building,she was being stopped by a gendarme. "Interdit Madame. Une crime est ici commit" the gendarme said. I translated it for Joseph and Riza and we observed the surroundings of the Louvre. Just as we walked around it,we saw a man rushing away. It fitted the description the lady gave us.

Joseph took out his gun,I took out my revolver and Riza didn't have a gun. "Halt,Sleuth Police. Stop!" I shouted and so we chased the guy through the city.

We ran through all kinds of small alleys and streets,we went under "The Arc of Triumph/Arc du Triomphe",passed the Eiffle Tower and when we were at the end of the street that crossed the Eiffle Tower,the guy slipped into the sewers.

Joseph hesitated,I immediately sprung down and Riza almost threw up of the stench. "Come on,he's getting away" I shouted and the 2 of them soon followed me.

The guy had stolen a painting,it was obvious because he ran with it in his hands (he had the canvas in his hands).

Joseph carefully fired a shot and the sound of it rang through the whole sewer system.

"Don't do that,he might get hurt" Riza said,but Joseph didn't care. So did I.

Eventually,the guy escaped us,by going upstairs into a busy street.

As the three of us went out of the sewers,the French people looked strange at us and hold their noses tight and secure. "Don't worry" I said...

Aug-14-2009 21:02

As we went back to the hotel,the manager came towards us and said : "Zhere is a telegram for you,from a certain ladie". As he guided us to the reception desk,he was also holding his nose tight and secure. "Don't mind,we've taken a "scenic" route" I said and accepted the message. "We'll fresh up and we'll won't bother you today" Joseph said and so we went up. Riza and I shared a room and Joseph had his own room.

Riza and I played rock,paper,scissors to decide which person would go first in the shower and fresh up and Riza won two of three times. As she went in the shower,I opened up the message. Of course,it was coded and I decoded it in few minutes.

"New info about person you seek. Gone to Belgium,plans to steal something there for his wife. Will meet you in Amsterdam about 2 days from now. Anais". I tore the message,lit a small fire on one piece and threw it with the other pieces in the ashtray,watching it "burn" away.

Just then,Riza came out of the shower and I went in and thought about some old cases. Ah,the good old times with Joseph and Anais. Yeah... Just when I was done,a small knock on the door and Riza peeked through the peephole and saw Joseph was in front of the door,all freshed up with some new clothes and his hair combed.

Riza let Joseph in and I was already dressed up with a new dress and told Joseph and Riza what Anais's telegram was.

"Then we must go to Belgium immediately. We'll have him in no time!" Joseph said.

I wished that was true people. As you may all know now,it took us 80 days to get this guy and till now,only 9 days have passed yet. What a hell,those other 71 days were.

And so,the three of us departed towards Belgium by train. It took us one day to arrive at Belgium and when we were at Antwerp,we stepped out of the train...

Aug-15-2009 00:05

Day 10 - Belgium

I was glad Anais didn't go to Paris with us, not that we had any time for a romantic stroll down Champ Elysee or anything like that. I had no idea why Riza was willing to come with us, since Mrs. Louson paid for the travel expense and detective fee for Vulkie and myself only. Riza took it out of her own pocket, and i could smell hidden agenda all over her wallet.

The three of us walked to the hotel with all our luggage in tow. Me being the only gentlemen around of course helped with carrying most of it, not without a quiet grunt here or there... That's when i smelled chocolate in the air. I followed my nose and it took me to a store window where a chocolatier dripped some red ripe cherry into a creamy bowl of melted chocolate sauce. "Joseph, let's go! The sun is setting and we need to get to the hotel quickly."

I saw a cabby (drawn by horse, which is still fashionable there) and hailed it down. I piled the luggage onto the chariot, paid the driver and asked him to take the luggage and the ladies to the hotel.

"What are you up to Joseph?" Vulkie asked. I didn't reply her, and whipped the horse to giddy along.

"I'll be back by dinner." I yelled as the cabby went down the street. I then turned my attention to the chocolate shop, purchased a box of Anais' favourite, and sent the package to Amsterdam along with a note at the post office. I just hope she'll receive it soon.

I then walked into the most famous watch maker's shop and looked at all his handiwork.
"I think you're too late, Mr. Zeo." I turned around to see an old watchmaker with snow white beard wearing odd optical pieces.
"How did you know my name..." I looked at the old man curiously.
"Mr. Louson told me you and Ms. Vulkie are after him. For reason you two don't even know." The clock maker said with a tinge of accent.
"And you do?"
"I'm only the messenger. I don't know anything." The old man smiled and held out a seal envelop toward me. Hesitantly I took the envelop and opened it.