Chapter 3

Boys being boys you wouldn't find their habits in the good house keeping guide but Charlie was something else entirely. This kid showed no regard for others and Mike was starting to get annoyed. He expressly told the boy to lock the back door when he went out and twice now they had come back to the pad to find a bunch of beach hippies sitting on their couch stoned out of their faces. They were peace loving flower power heads who warmly hugged Mike and Peter as they showed them the door but that was hardly the point

"Come on man, you gotta be more responsible," Mike told him. "The one rule is you lock the back door when you're going out. Charlie it ain't that hard."

Mike's tone wasn't that harsh. He wasn't into scaring young boys but still Charlotte covered her face and began to wail. Micky was to her side in an instant.

"Come on man, not cool, he's just a kid," Micky frowned up at Mike.

Mike threw up his hands and went to the kitchen to start dinner. Peter came in after and started looking after the breakfast dishes that were still in the sink.

Davy gave Micky a neutral shrug and went to lay the table. Feeling just a little resentment towards his friends, Micky took Charlotte upstairs. The problem was he was starting to fall for her. She seemed so lost and vulnerable. She needed him.

Over the next couple of days Charlotte confided a lot in Micky. She told him how her gangster father wanted her to learn everything about the business as she was to inherit his empire one day. She lamented on how she despised his dirty deals and how her mother turned the other way and would not stand up to him.

"I thought your mother passed away," Micky asked, somewhat confused.

Charlotte recovered quickly, "oh yes, my real mother died. She was a sainted woman bless her. No this is his new wife. She's a real dolly bird Micky, I don't know what he sees in her. Oh Micky, I'm so glad to be here away from them all.

~o~

Mike couldn't understand it. Micky made no mention of this kid before. Where did he come from. As far as Mike could see he was

lazy and thoughtless but still Micky defended him to the hilt. It just didn't make any sense.

Micky passed his door as Mike reattached a guitar string in his bedroom.

"Micky," he called to him.

Micky came through the door an air of defensiveness about his face.

"Hay man, don't look so worried, I just thought we could catch up on stuff. We haven't talked in a while,"

"We see each other at the pizza place all the time. I'm the one who puts tomato sauce on your freshly made dough." Micky told him, in a hallow attempt at a joke.

"Yeah I know, if I see another pizza base I'll up and move back to Texas," Mike grinned. "I didn't do all that failing at school to end up a pizza maker all my life."

Micky grinned despite himself.

"At the risk of sounding all girly, it's good to see you smile Micky. You've been serious lately man."

"Well you know Mike, I've got some stuff on my mind."

"That stuff as you call it wouldn't have anything to do with young Charlie would it Mick."

Micky's face immediately darkened and Mike regretted taking that tack.

"He needs help Mike, what's so wrong in that. Once upon a time we met an English kid at the bus station who had just been robbed. Look how that turned out.'

"Yeah Mick but Davy is nothing like Charlie. Micky the kid is manipulative. The other day I found Peter washing the dinner dishes. It was Charlie's turn. Charlie told Pete he wasn't feeling well and needed to lie down. I know it for a fact that was pure hog wash."

"Mike, Charlie needs help. You don't know him like I do. He needs help and I'm gonna help him. I'll pay his share of the rent, you don't even have to worry about it." Micky got up and left the room the door closing not too quietly after him.

Mike pulled his hat off and scratched his dark head. He'd be the first to admit he didn't handle that too well. This kid was bringing Micky down. But not even that, he wasn't even a nice kid. He was sneaky. Mike couldn't help but notice he seemed to be short twenty dollars from his wallet. Money was tight and he had to watch every penny so the oldest Monkee was pretty sure he was not mistaken. He decided he would keep it to himself for now.

~o~

Charlotte was so impressed with herself. She had shown no sign of anything that morning only the usual yawns and stretches but now as the boys were off working she was hurrying across the city to a certain bus station. She had written to her parents ordering them to leave 400 dollars in a duffle bag at a greyhound bus station. She informed them in the letter that if they didn't pay they would never see their daughter alive again. 400 dollars wasn't a huge amount for them to come up with. She figured she'd have more chance of cashing in if she didn't ask for too much.

How happy she was to find the duffle bag in the girls toilets at the station. She smiled with glee as she exited the bathroom. She looked pretty funny entering a girls bathroom dressed as boy but thankfully it was empty. She hurried off planning already how she would spend her new found wealth. She did not notice the man behind the pillar watching her. As she exited the bus station, he threw his cigarette into a puddle and followed.