by Leona Fox
Paul then excused himself as he was accosted by more fans. So Andy and Ellen took the opportunity to slip away.
“I'm still not sure about this,” he said.
“Just go with it, it'll be fine,” Ellen replied, and then the two of them spoke with the people of the town.
Scampy loved it as well. He scurried in between people's legs and his barking could be heard in among the excited chatter. People were slipping him food as well. Ellen looked carefully to make sure he wasn't being fed too much, or else he wouldn't be able to keep up with her when she went for her run.
Everyone in the cafe was having a pleasant time and from her brief conversations with Alison, Ellen knew it had been a success. The charity would benefit greatly from the evening. However, while everyone was having fun inside, out in the darkness of the night there was a nefarious crime being committed. The streets were filled with cars, and a mysterious figure was going up to them, one by one. Skulking in the shadows and crouching down so as not to be discovered, the figure was siphoning off the gas, then leaving before anyone could discover he had been there.
Chapter 2
As the evening went on people gradually grew weary and began to leave. There was a big exodus at first, with a few people staying to talk more intimately now that there was more room in the cafe. Ellen was looking forward to getting to bed, although she was wary of having to clean up after everyone left, so was silently urging people to make their way home. Andy had stayed relaxed, and Ellen put this down to the fact that Paul Diamond had been preoccupied with all his adoring fans, some of whom only had met him that evening. At first Ellen had been wary of him but she had to applaud his attitude. It would have been easy for him to tell everyone to leave him alone but he spent the time speaking with them and answering their questions about Hollywood and the life of a movie star. It gave her hope that he would give Andy the respect he deserved and that, ultimately, both he and Andy would benefit from it.
Feeling weary, she was glad for the night to be over soon. Yet, she should have known better than to think she was going to get a good rest. For as soon as people began going outside, she heard angry cries as the engines of their automobiles coughed and spluttered, and eventually gave out. One by one, they checked their gas gauges and looked at each other with puzzlement. Upon hearing these cries Ellen and Andy walked outside, followed by Paul, and found out everyone’s gas had been stolen. Andy had a grim look on his face but Paul slapped his hands together excitedly.
“Guess I will get to see you work after all! This isn't exactly a murder but I suppose a gas bandit will have to do!”
Andy growled at him, and it was only because of Ellen's presence that he did not snap at the actor. With a heavy sigh, Andy walked through to the throng of people who all were talking at once. He raised his hands high above his head to get them to calm down. Some of the headlights were turned on, and the beams from them streamed forward, sending slashes of light through the darkness. The mood quickly had turned from one of jubilation to paranoia, and there was a sinister mistrust running through everyone standing outside. Confusion reigned supreme and wild theories were thrown about. There was much consternation as people lamented the fact they had to get up for work the next day, or that they had a trip scheduled and now their plans had been scuppered. While they were rushing about in a panic, however, Ellen's mind was racing. Why would somebody steal all this gas, and how did they do it unseen? It was rather brazen of them to commit this crime when the owners of the cars were located in the cafe nearby, but sadly there were far more questions than answers.
“What happens now?” Paul asked, looking on with wonder as he was in the midst of a small-town crime, exactly what he had come here to see. Andy tossed him an annoyed glance and sighed heavily.
“Now we get to work,” he said, sounding slightly aggrieved as he was weary, too.
Back in the restaurant the others all had flocked out to see what the commotion was. The noise levels increased as now they, too, needed an update about the night’s events. This, in turn, led to lights being turned on in houses and windows opening. People began to pour out of their homes. A crime like this was always a thing of public interest, especially since it happened outside The Chrome Cafe. So many things revolved around Ellen's cafe that there were more than a few pointed remarks of this ilk. Ellen brushed them off, although it did irk her that this location seemed the prime place for people to break the law.
A rather large crowd now had gathered and Andy blew out his cheeks.
“Are they always like this?” Paul asked.
“They're people,” Andy replied dryly, “when have you not known them to be curious about things?”
Paul shrugged, accepting Andy's point. Then the police chief got to work as the noise level rose. People were complaining loudly and due to the tension they had begun arguing with each other, each claiming their own situation was the most dire. Some cars still had a bit of gas in them, and some had been unaffected, yet the owners of these vehicles had remained to see the outcome. However, the others, who had been affected, now were begging and pleading with those who had gas to share it, and they were reluctant to do so. This led to an outpouring of aggression and Andy had to step in to calm matters. He strode through the crowd with purpose and confidence and put on the voice that had practiced authority.
“I know it's late and this is annoying for a lot of you but we're not going to get anywhere by arguing. I'll take down your statements and I will phone the station to get some replacement cars so you all can get home. This is an unusual crime but we will do our best to solve it quickly. It's late, and we're all tired, so let's try to wrap this up as quickly as possible and we can all go home and get some sleep.”
This was met with a surge of chatter but it soon plateaued as Andy and Ellen went through the crowd to get their statements. Paul was like a shadow, lurking behind Andy as the police chief went to work. He observed how Andy spoke, how he stood, the way he tilted his head slightly, and it was only because of Andy's professionalism that he did not react. Ellen, however, did see this out of the corner of her eye and found it slightly amusing.
Speaking to the victims of the crime was a rather fruitless task as none of them had any information to offer, and, in the darkness at least, there didn't appear to be any clues. Soon enough, reinforcements from the station had arrived with cars and buses to take people home. Andy began talking to someone about setting up a special bus service to take people to work the following day, while others worked on getting these cars moved. Gradually people were herded into the cars and buses, grumbling away, until it was just Andy, Ellen, and Paul left standing there with a row of cars before them, ghosts of machines. The owners had turned off the headlights so the moon and the streetlights were the only sources of illumination.
“We're going to have to come back in the morning to look for clues aren't we? It's too dark right now,” Ellen said.
“Seems that way,” Andy said, and he, along with a couple of the officers who were making a report, cordoned off the area with yellow tape.
“What time are you coming back here in the morning?” Paul asked.
“This is a crime scene, we really shouldn't allow members of the public here,” Andy replied.
“Can't you make an exception? It is the only way I'm going to learn anything about you and I do want to make this an accurate portrayal. Besides, I mean, it's not like there's a dead body I'm going to disturb,” Paul said.
Andy was about to deny Paul his request when Ellen shot him a look in the dim light of the evening. Andy acquiesced and told Paul to meet them there first thing in the morning. Paul grinned, and was about the only person that left that crime scene feeling happy. As he walked away to his hotel Andy shook his head.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” he said.
Ellen wrapped her arm around his waist and the two of them walked back home, looking forward to some much needed rest before they got around to the business of solving t
he crime.
Dawn arose, fresh and rosy-fingered, and with it came a brand new day. The sun streamed in through the window and warmed Ellen's skin. She took one moment to breathe in the new day and enjoy the contentment of it before she rose, wasting no time in getting ready. When she arrived at the crime scene there were already people there looking at the cars. The vehicles were arranged haphazardly, pointing in different directions and parked at different angles. They were like mighty beasts locked in a slumber.
“It's ironic, isn't it? These cars cost so much money and they're such a part of our lives now, and really they're kind of a symbol for human ingenuity itself. Yet, they're brought to a standstill so easily by removing liquid. It renders this massive, expensive construct completely inert,” Ellen said.
Andy murmured in response but it was clear he barely had heard what she had said. “You're thinking about Paul again, aren't you?”
“If he so much as does one thing that interferes with this investigation I'm taking him out of there. It's only because of you that I'm giving him as much leeway as I am.”
“And I thank you for that, but he's just curious, and this is part of his work. I'm sure it'll be fine. I know you're against the whole thing in the first place but I don't think you should let that cloud your judgment of the man. He seems to be a good sort so far. I mean, you saw him last night, he was really good with all the people who wanted to talk with him. I couldn't have dealt with that and I run a cafe for a living!”
“Hmm, yes, well, I'm sure it's not the hardest thing in the world to talk to adoring fans when they're all pretty girls.”
“I love her, but I think the day you describe Mrs. Morris as a pretty girl is the day I either know you've gone blind or insane...or both.”
Andy huffed. “Alright, point taken. I will try to be more patient with him,” he said, but it was clear he still was bristling with tension.
Then again, Andy never had been a morning person, unlike Ellen. To their surprise Paul was there waiting for them, looking as fresh as the night before. He greeted them warmly and asked them about the procedure.
“We're just going to inspect the crime scene now to see if there are any clues. Please keep your distance and try not to touch anything. We don't know what might be important,” Andy said.
They crept around the cars, looking at the ground and the vehicles themselves. Drops of oil stained the ground, but it provided no assistance in trying to ascertain the identity of the gas bandit.
“Have you ever found a clue at the crime scene that has solved the murder instantly?” Paul asked.
“It's not usually as simple as that. But sometimes, yes,” Andy replied.
“And do you have a method you use to go through a crime scene or does it depend on where the crime was committed, and is it hard when the crime scene is outside like this because the weather is a factor?”
Andy answered the questions patiently, but there was no end to them and the constant stream was taking its toll. Each answer became terser and Ellen could see Andy was growing more and more irritated, although Paul seemed oblivious to it. The actor began talking about a previous role of his where he had played a cop and it was nothing like what Andy was doing now. Andy managed to hold his tongue, but Ellen knew it was only a matter of time before he would snap and say something that he possibly would regret. When they had finished going around the cars they stood in the middle and pursed their lips. There was no sign of anything.
“I still don't understand how they could have gotten all the gas away without anyone noticing. I mean, with the amount they stole they would have needed a truck or something,” Ellen said.
“Yeah, it's going to be another one of those cases isn't it? The ones that are never easy,” Andy replied.
“Are any of them?”
They shared a weary smile, but it soon was broken up by Paul, who interrupted with an unimpressed tone, “Is that it?” he asked.
That was the moment when Ellen saw Andy's face change and she knew if she didn't do something, her boyfriend was going to erupt with anger at the actor. Before Andy could reply, Ellen stepped in and pulled Paul aside.
“You know, there's not really much going on here at the moment. All we're going to do now is collate the reports from the previous night and ask around if anyone saw any trucks drive by. It's not very exciting and I imagine you'll be bored. Why don't you go around town and ask people their impressions of Andy? It might help you develop the character if you see how people feel about Andy and what they think.”
Silently, she sighed with relief when Paul nodded in agreement and said that was a good idea. When he bid them farewell, Andy became visibly relaxed.
“Thank you for that,” he said. “Just the sight of him being here annoys me, but at least now we can get some work done.”
“Yeah, but where do we start?” Ellen said.
The two of them had their hands on their hips as they looked out at the cars before them, none of them holding any clue as to who committed the crime and where they went afterward. It was the worst type of crime scene because it meant that all they had were theories when they needed cold, hard facts.
Chapter 3
For a Hollywood star who was used to the glitz and glamour of the movie business, East Pender was a far cry from what Paul knew. The small town was quaint, and reminded him of movie sets he had worked on. His career had taken him to a few different countries and yet, he never had been in a place quite like East Pender. There was some innate quality about the town, some wholesome feeling that perfectly captured the essence of America. He had to admit it was nice to have a break from the rigors of Hollywood. He also was surprised at the politeness of people.
In Los Angeles everyone was selfish and had no time for each other, and usually when he went to other places they expressed some kind of ownership of him, as though because they knew him from films that somehow entitled them to treat him as an object to pose at their whims. He enjoyed interacting with fans when they respected him as a person, and when they didn't treat him as if he owed them his time, and in East Pender so far he had been met with nothing but friendliness. A few people perhaps had been a little star-struck but that was to be expected. Yet, nobody had yelled out abuse for any of his movie roles. People had been more curious about his lifestyle than anything.
The day was pleasant and he enjoyed the smell of the sweet, fresh air, which was a sharp contrast to the thick smog that was layered over the city of angels. This was a place in which he could see himself living upon retirement, a quiet place where he could allow himself time with his thoughts and simply enjoy the slow, languid passage of time. In some respects, he enjoyed Los Angeles for the things it offered, but he never had felt an emotional attachment to the city. People always thought Hollywood was a place where dreams come true, but if that were the case then The Sunset Strip in L.A. is where they went to die.
He had seen so many people end up on the streets, thinking they could make it as a star, and those who failed far outnumbered those who succeeded. He knew he was one of the privileged, and that if things had gone in another direction he may well have ended up as one of those unfortunate souls himself. The people of East Pender didn't seem to have those types of problems, though. From what he had seen so far everyone was friendly and had a healthy respect for each other and their town. One of the things that struck him was how clean the streets were. The sidewalks were not dirty and there was no litter flying about, which was a problem that plagued The Strip. All in all, he was impressed with the small town, and he was glad he had taken the role.
As he strolled along the sidewalk he didn't really know where to begin, but floating on the air was the sweet smell of freshly-baked bread. This tempted him into the bakery, where he was greeted by a friendly woman with ruddy features. An array of treats was laid out in front of him and his eyes widened at how delicious they looked.
“You made these all yourself?” he asked in wonder, and the woman nodded proudly.
“Well, in that case,” she said, gathering up a few sticky buns, placing them in a bag, and handing them over, “these are for you.”
“Oh, really, that's so kind but I must insist that I pay for them,” Paul said, but the baker would not hear of it.
“No, no, I always have said if anyone famous came into my shop I would offer them a free treat. I've enjoyed your films and this is what I have to offer you. This is my talent so please take it in the spirit in which it is given,” she said, and Paul was unable to say no to that.
He pulled out one of the buns and took a bite, and instantly he was sent to heaven. It was filled with cream as well, and this poured out and filled his mouth. He groaned in pleasure.
“Now I really feel guilty for taking these for free. These are the best buns I've ever tasted! Have you ever thought about selling the recipe? Many people would love these, and I bet you even could open up a location in a city, maybe start a brand or something?” he asked, but the baker only laughed softly.
“Not all of us are meant for the bright lights like you. I'm quite happy where I am. This bakery has been in my family for generations and we've always lived in East Pender, it's in our blood. I always say these buns taste as good as they do because they're made in East Pender. If I took them out I don't think they'd be the same, but thank you all the same,” she said. Paul promptly insisted on buying a few other things, which the baker eventually agreed to.
“My personal trainer is going to hate me for this,” he said as he popped another bun into his mouth and began eating it heartily.
As he spoke he began asking about Andy, telling the baker about his role and that he was looking for what people thought of the police chief.
“Oh, Andy, he's wonderful, much better than the old one. We all were a bit wary, you see, because he was coming from the big city. We didn't know if he'd really take to heart the way of the town but he's as much one of us as anyone else. I don't know what we'd do without him. We've seen some bad things, you know, but he and Ellen really have been a force for good. I've got nothing but praise and I'm glad you'll be playing him because I know you'll do him justice,” she said.