AUTHOR'S NOTE: This was originally going to be one of my crossover stories, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought it would be better as a Josie fic. Anyway, this is a "sequel" let's say, to the episode "Never Mind a Mastermind." Also, minor OC appearance here, my "Jack of All Trades," if you will, Robert Sanderson. You won't be seeing much of him, that's about all I've got to tell you.
Another day, and another gig for Josie and the Pussycats. They were playing at a hotel in the San Francisco area. A friend of Valerie's got them the gig. Her friend was a photographer, who had taken some photos of the Pussycats awhile back. He was staying at the hotel when he heard the manager talk about needing a good band for the weekend, and Valerie's friend showed him a photo he took of the Pussycats, and they were hired on the spot. After Valerie's friend make a quick call to Alexander, the group was on it's way to San Francisco.
"I can't believe they want us to play without hearing what we sound like first," Josie said.
"Robert said they liked the photos he took of us playing," Valerie replied. "He also said this guy doesn't care what we sound like. He just wanted someone who looked good."
"Your friend Robert can make anyone look good," Alexandra said. "Even the three of you."
"Golly, thanks, Alexandra!" Melody shouted with a giggle. "Now, why on earth don't people think you're sweet?"
Only Melody would think that was a compliment. No one said anything, though. Alan decided to turn on the radio for the time being. A song by the Primates was playing. Halfway through the second verse, the song was interrupted.
"We interrupt this program for a fast breaking news story," the announcer said. "The diabolical criminal master of disguise known as The Mastermind has escaped from an Amsterdam prison early this morning."
"The Mastermind?" Josie repeated. "Wasn't he that faceless guy who tried to steal that anti-gravity device?"
"That's him," Valerie said, turning off the radio.
"You don't think he'd come after us, do you?" Alex asked, nervously.
"Relax, Chicken Little Brother," Alexandra said. "He escaped from Amsterdam this morning, and we're in San Francisco. There's no way in the world he'll find us."
But, as usual, Alexandra was going to be proved wrong, for at that very moment, at San Francisco International Airport, a plane flying in from Amsterdam had just made it's landing, and the passengers were getting off. One passenger went to the baggage claim and picked up a suitcase labeled "A. Nonomuss." Once Mr. Nonomuss rented a car, he drove out onto the highway, and headed for the city. He drove around, until he came to what looked like an old factory. He stopped the car, climbed out, and looked around for signs of life. There was no one around, and the factory was silent. Mr. Nonomuss found the front door unlocked, and he walked inside. The factory was practically empty. Some of the machinery was still there, enough to tell him that this had once been a cannery. All he knew was that it had obviously been abandoned for years. Mr. Nonomuss smiled and laughed under his breath.
"This will do quite nicely," he said. He put down his suitcase, and proceeded to take off his face, which was actually a latex mask. When the mask was removed, it revealed a faceless man. It was none other than The Mastermind himself.
"Now then," he said. "To find those meddling Pussycats. We'll see how resourceful they are now."
The Mastermind opened his suitcase, which was filled with several disguises for several occasions. He pulled one out that made him look like a typical American tourist, hopped into the rental car, and went Pussycat Hunting.
In the meantime, the Pussycats were pulling up to a swank hotel. A man in his early thirties with neck-length dark hair (with bangs that hung into his face) and square shaped rose-tinted glasses was standing in front of the doorway. He had a black and silver camera hanging around his neck, a black bag slung over his shoulder, and a silver carrying case resting on the ground next to him. When he saw the Pussycats' bus stop, he raised his camera, and began taking pictures. Valerie was first off the bus.
"Practicing for the Paparazzi?" she asked.
"Very comical, Val," the man said, lowering the camera, but he was smiling. The others got off the bus as he closed the case, and stood up just as the others got off the bus.
"Hi, Robert!" Melody shouted, wrapping the photographer in a big hug, which Robert ultimately returned.
"I've always loved your greetings, Mel," Robert said. Then he turned to Josie. "Hey, Jo, whattaya know?"
"Hi, Robert," Josie said, laughing, and rolling her eyes at Robert's corny comment. "I thought you'd have left town by now."
"I would've, Josie," Robert said, pushing his glasses up on his nose. They usually slid. "But I got a call from the editors of Teen Scene Magazine and they want me to work on a project."
"What kind of project?" Alan asked.
"Just shooting around," Robert said. "Taking pictures of people. Mostly girls. All I know is what they told me. And that's all they told me. It's another freelance gig, but it pays the rent. Come on inside."
"This is a nice hotel," Valerie said, looking around. "How did you manage to swing this, Robert?"
"A little power of persuasion," Robert said. "And the fact that my brother-in-law's father owns this hotel chain. And it doesn't hurt to throw in two Forty-Niners tickets."
The others laughed and walked into the hotel lobby. There they met Francis P. Kennedy, the owner of the hotel, and Arthur Humboldt, the manager.
"Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Humboldt," Robert said. "I'd like you to meet Josie and the Pussycats."
"They look a little different from the photo you showed us, Sanderson," Mr. Humboldt said.
"That's because we're not in costume, sir," Josie said. "Robert took that photo while we were on stage in our Pussycat outfits."
"Well, if you sound as good as you look," Mr. Humboldt said. "Then you've got a job. But even if you're completely tone deaf, you got a job anyway."
"Sounds like you're set, Josie," Alexandra said. "Finally, a job that's perfect for you. Talent not required."
Josie merely rolled her eyes. A couple of hours later, the Pussycats were ready to go on. As usual, they were a hit with everybody. Except Alexandra.
"I should be the star," she grumbled. "And not Josie!"
Nobody paid any never mind to her. As the Pussycats were playing, a car drove up to the hotel. It was the Mastermind, still in disguise. He saw a poster outside on the wall reading "Josie & The Pussycats." He drove the car into the alley behind the hotel, and went inside. He saw the Pussycats up on stage, as well as Alan, Alex, and Alexandra sitting at a table with Robert, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Humboldt. They were all listening to the band, though Robert kept snapping photos of the Pussycats throughout the set. The Mastermind smirked. After a quick costume change, he walked into the hotel's club. The Pussycats had finished their set, and they sat down at the table with the others.
"That sounded great, Josie," Alan said.
"And you looked great, too," Robert said. "All three of you. Wait'll the editors at Teen Scene Magazine get a load of these!"
"Hmph," Alexandra grumbled. "I'll show you what looks great! Get that camera of yours ready, Robert. I'll give you something to take a picture of!"
Alexandra stood up in the center of the room and began to strike poses. Robert began taking pictures of her, using a whole roll of film, just to humor her. All was going well, until Robert decided to switch flashes when he reloaded.
"I've been dying to try out the new Polordak Flash Three Thousand," Robert said, attaching the new flash to his camera. "Give me your prettiest smile, Alexandra!"
Alexandra smiled, and Robert pushed the shutter button. A blinding flash filled the room. Alexandra screamed.
"I can't see!" she yelled, as she staggered around. "Somebody do something!"
Alexandra stumbled around, until she bumped directly into a waiter, who spilled a tray full of drinks on her. By that time her vision had cleared.
"Ooohhh!" she shouted. "You and your Polordak Flash Three Thousand, Robert!"
The others just laughed. Sebastian, Alexandra's pet cat, snickered. Alexandra walked back to the table and sat down, just as a man in an expensive business suit approached the table.
"Good evening," he said. "My name is Mr. Masters. I represent Master Music, and I know good music when I hear it."
"If you say you know good music," Alexandra said. "Then why are you talking to them?"
"Do you ladies have a manager?" Mr. Masters asked, ignoring Alexandra.
"They sure do," Alex said, standing up. "I'm Alexander Cabot, the Third, the Pussycats' band manager."
"Excellent," Mr. Masters said. "Mr. Cabot, I'd like to discuss business with you. Privately."
"Sure thing," Alex said. "I'll be back in a flash, you guys."
"Please, brother dear," Alexandra said, rubbing her eyes. "Don't use the word flash! Just hearing that word makes my eyes hurt!"
Sebastian once again snickered. Mr. Masters and Alex left just then.
"This could be our big break!" Josie shouted, excitedly.
"I wonder what Mr. Masters needs to talk to Alex alone about?" Valerie asked.
"He's probably telling him the truth about you," Alexandra replied. "Mr. Masters may think you have the look, but you obviously don't have the sound."
"Come on, Alexandra," Alan said. "I think the Pussycats have a good chance of getting this record deal."
"It must be a new company," Robert said, as he reloaded his camera.
"What makes you say that?" Alan asked.
"I live out in Hollywood, and I have friends in high places," Robert explained. "One of these friends happens to be Hollywood's top rated disc jockey, so he knows people from all the labels. I've never heard of Master Music until now."
"Well, we haven't, either," Josie said. "But how else is a record company going to get started?"
"I know, Jose, I know," Robert said. "But . . . . well, I have this sixth sense about these things. I can tell when there's something fishy about a person. And there is definitely something fishy about this Mr. Masters."
"Uh oh . . . ." Melody said suddenly.
"What's wrong, Melody?" Valerie asked.
"My ears are starting to wiggle," Melody said, as she moved her hair back. Sure enough, her ears were wiggling. In fact, they were flapping so hard, she felt like she was about to take off into the air any second.
"Oh no," Josie said. "Every time Melody's ears start wiggling, it means we're in trouble!"
"We'd better go find Alex," Alan said.
The Pussycats and their friends got up from the table and left the club. Sebastian began sniffing around, trying to find out where Mr. Masters and Alex had gone. He picked up the scent at a corridor that led to the hotel's kitchen. Since Mr. Kennedy was Robert's brother-in-law's father, Robert got the run of the hotel, so he and the others were able to get in without being thrown out by the chefs.
"Are you sure this is the right way, Sebastian?" Josie asked. Sebastian meowed.
"I'm sure he's sure," Melody said with a giggle. "Sebastian's the smartest cat in the whole world!"
"Kind of strange to talk business in the back of the hotel kitchen," Valerie commented. "Do you know where this door leads, Robert?"
"The alley," Robert said. "There's a trash dumpster out there. The kitchen staff take the garbage out there and dumps it."
"Oh golly . . . ." Melody said, sounding a little nervous. She held her hands over her ears. "There go my ears again!"
"Something's telling me we're in for some big trouble," Alan commented.
"HELP!" the gang heard Alex shriek from outside. Alan and Robert pushed open the back door, and found Alex and Mr. Masters. Mr. Masters was holding Alex around the shoulders with one arm, while his other hand was clamped firmly over Alex's mouth to prevent him from screaming again. Alex was struggling to break loose. Immediately, Robert took a couple of steps back into the building and began snapping pictures of the scene. He figured they might come in handy. No one noticed him.
"I see we have company," Mr. Masters said, looking at Josie and the others.
Before anything else could happen, Sebastian ran toward Mr. Masters, and jumped on top of his head, clawing, biting, hissing, and yowling. His claw hooked onto Mr. Masters's face, and got stuck. Mr. Masters reached up, ultimately letting go of Alex, and grabbed the cat by the scruff of the neck, and throwing him off his head, which caused a tear in his face. Mr. Masters's face was nothing more than a latex mask, revealing none other than . . . .
"The Mastermind!" Josie gasped once she saw the faceless man standing there.
"I'm getting out of here!" Alex shouted, and he started to make a run for it, but the Mastermind grabbed him by the arm, and tied his hands behind his back.
"You're not going anywhere, except with me," the Mastermind said, shoving Alex into the back seat of the car. Then he slammed the door shut, locking it from the inside, and ran over to the driver's seat. Before he got in, he turned to the Pussycats and their friends.
"If you all even think about calling the police," he warned. "Then your friend may not make it through the night. If you wish for him to remain healthy, then you'll go back into the hotel, and wait. And tell no one!"
With that note, the Mastermind climbed into the car and drove off, practically breaking the sound barrier. Once he was out of sight, the Pussycats and their friends walked back inside the hotel, and went up to the room Alan and Alex were staying in. They didn't have any other choice. After about five minutes, Alexandra picked up the phone.
"What are you doing?" Valerie asked.
"I'm going to call the police!" Alexandra shouted.
"You heard what the Mastermind said," Josie reminded her, grabbing her arm before she could start dialing. "He might hurt Alex if he finds out we called the police!"
"If you ask me, he's just bluffing," Alexandra said, pulling her arm away from the redhead.
"I don't think we should take that chance," Alan said. "You remember what happened the last time we got mixed up with the Mastermind."
"Yeah, you, Alex, and Melody ended up being tied to a large gear in a windmill," Valerie said. "Which was about to mesh with another gear and mesh the three of you."
"Well, then, Miss Genius, what do you suggest we do?" Alexandra asked Valerie, rather impatiently.
"Unfortunately, I don't think there's much we can do," Valerie said, sighing.
"I guess we'll just have to wait for the Mastermind to make the next move," Alan said, with a shrug.
"And who knows how long that's going to take," Josie said.
Alexandra picked up the phone again and began dialing.
"Now what are you doing?" Robert asked, as he took the used film out of his camera.
"I'm calling room service," Alexandra said. "If the Mastermind is going to make us wait all night, I'm going to get some dinner sent up here."