Cameron and the Black Bird

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: Don't own TSCC

Cameron and the Black Bird is set in the Cameron Grows Up TSCC Universe. Cameron and John are seniors in high school. John has replaced Cameron's beloved purple leather jacket, stolen from the Connor family residence along with other family possessions. This story combines Cameron's love for all things purple and watching late, late night television, especially Classic film noir from Hollywood staring her favorite actor, Humphrey Bogart.

"It is not the same," I said.

"Yes it is. I made sure I got the same one."

John can be slow on the uptake sometimes, so I had to explain things again. "No, it is not possible for it to be the same one. The color is .02% more blue in the dye and there is not a scrape mark on the left elbow."

"Cameron, what I meant is," an exasperated John explained, "I bought the same style, size and color jacket as the one you had stolen."

"I know," I replied, sensing John was getting frustrated. "I was just remarking it was not the same identical jacket."

"Do you like it or not?"

"I like it better because you gave it to me," I told my John, slipping the jacket on to model it for him. "Do you like it?"

"What matters is whether or not you like it," John replied. He seemed relieved I did in fact like his gift. "You like it, so I like it," he told me, a big smile gracing his handsome face.

"Good, that's settled," Sarah announced entering the living room. "School tomorrow and some freakish cold weather is going to move in during the night. John, bed. Cameron, laundry, patrol and then whatever you want."

Bristling at being sent to bed like a child, John glared at Sarah as he stomped up the stairs. I displayed my disgust at being assigned laundry duty by staring silently at Sarah, who ignored both of us.

Annoyed, I quickly sorted the family's dirty clothes and started a load of whites. Arming myself with my beloved pair of Glock-17s, I slipped on my new favorite item of clothing, my new purple leather jacket, and slipped out into the night to patrol the neighborhood.

Sixty-three minutes elapsed while I was on patrol. Upon my return I tossed the whites in the dryer, threw in a load of darks, and settled down with the remote to watch Bogie solve the mystery of The Maltese Falcon. Later on The Big Chill followed by Casablanca would be on. Great night of television.

The Next Morning…

Sarah had been correct for once about the weather. A nasty cold front had blown in during the night. Perfect weather to wear my new jacket.

I drove that morning. John's reaction times are a bit to slow for my taste when the roads are bad. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do to keep her man safe. Keeping my man safe was my purpose.

School went by quick enough, and then it was time to drive my John home. I had my private dance class that evening, so I dropped my John off. Watched him go inside where he'd be safe. Sarah was there.

Crazy dame, that Sarah, but good with a gun.

Class went by quick and I had time to stop by a new shop I'd seen. Specialized in women's styles from the 40's. Thought I'd try my luck.

Forty minutes later I was back on the road. It was raining again. Good news was I'd been able to pick up two classy skirts, nice like what Bacall wore. Coupla blouses too. The kicker was the black silk stockings with garter belt. The real deal, right down to the black seam up the back of the leg. Pair of black shoes and belt and I was set for threads.

It was raining when I patrolled that night. Nothing suspicious to report, just cold and wet, but then what would you expect when it's raining.

Decided I'd wear one of my new outfits to school. Styled my hair nice like Bacall, even nailed the make up. Sarah, laughed when she saw me, but nodded her approval. Told me I looked classy for a change. Makes a dame feel good when people notice the effort.

John acted like a real heel. Told me to change clothes. Told him he could walk to school in the rain. John came around to my way of thinking.

That afternoon…

I was lookin' forward to some alone time with my John. Sarah and Derek would be gone when we got home. My John had warmed up to my new look. Seems he kinda likes the black silk stockings with the seam up the back of my leg. Course, when a girl's got great gams, she oughta show'em off right?

I knew right off somethin' was wrong when we pulled up. Somethin' in my gut told me. I pulled my gat from my purse and reached under the seat for one of my Glocks.

"John, stay here," I told him. Girl's gotta keep her man safe.

With more caution than normal, not wanting to get a bullet hole in my new duds, I entered the house and cleared it, looking to see what had been pinched, if anything. John came in and looked around.

"Anything gone this time?" he asked.

"Yes! Some mug stole my new purple jacket and the second stash of diamonds!"

"Crap!" John says, "Mom is gonna freak about the diamonds!"

"Forget the diamonds," I tell him. "I'm gonna find who took my jacket and put'em under. Nobody steals my jacket twice and lives."

"Uh, Cameron, are you okay," John asks me as I lit up a Lucky Strike. "Since when did you start smoking?"

"Hey, a dame needs a smoke when she's feelin' stressed," I tell him. "I'm feelin' stressed."

I took a drag on my smoke as I examined the room for clues as to who had pilfered my jacket. Oh, yeah, and the diamonds.

Sarah and Derek pulled up. Seeing the backdoor wide open, they come in with their gats drawn.

"How bad?" the boss lady asks me.

"The second stash and my purple leather jacket my John gave me," I tell her.

Sarah ignored my cigarette, which was just as well. I was in no mood to take guff of her or anybody else. Derek on the other hand could be a real heel and he wasted no time pointing out my new vice to the boss.

"Hey, Sarah, Tin Miss is smokin'?" the heel pointed out, real loud like. "You gonna let her get away with that? You'd skin John or me if either of us lit up in the house."

Shut up, Derek," the boss lady told him, shuttin' him down real quick. "We got bigger problems."

Yeah, like find who pinched my purple leather jacket.

Reviews are always appreciated. If you liked this story, you might want to consider my other TSCC stories:

Cameron Grows Up

The Future Cameron

Cameron's Revenge

Cameron and John's Wedding

Who's the Boss?

The Storm Before the Calm