CH. 4 AN OFFER IS MADE

By Jenny A.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks to Humble Opinion for posting this. I don't have an internet connection of my own at the moment.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Jem or any of the other characters or the rights to the show. It's just fun, and no profit is earned.

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Kara received word two days later that she had made the cut along with Craig and Reya. She shared the news with the girls over a dinner of bologna sandwiches. "'I know you can do it, mommy!" Laura said confidently. "You're the bestest!"

"Thank you, sweetie. I'll give it my all. They're going to have a special concert where the three of us will compete and the audience will choose the new drummer." The conversation was interrupted by the ringing of the phone. Kara moved to the counter where it rested and picked it up. "Hello?"

"Kara Mistral?"

"Yes."

"My name is Eric Raymond, head of Misfits Music. I was hoping I could talk to you about your future prospects."

"Oh?" She had heard of the man and the band the company was named for and had listened to some of their music. Pizzazz, Roxy, and Stormer, as they billed themselves, had talent and a reputation as the 'bad girls' of rock and roll. According to some of the stories she'd heard, substantiated somewhat by a few items in the scandal sheets, it was a well-earned reputation.

"Yes. This talent search Starlight music is holding has unearthed some promising talent, and you're by far the best they've found so far. I was rather hoping we could meet for lunch tomorrow and discuss your musical career." Now the call made sense.

"Letting them do the hard work and handpicking from the finalists?" Kara asked dryly.

Raymond chuckled. "More or less. It may sound a bit questionable, but-"

"Its business," Kara answered with a shrug. Who was she to question how someone else made a living? "Everyone looks out for themselves."

"Very true. Can I treat you to lunch at the Red Rock tomorrow? Let's say 11:30?"

"I can be there. See you then." Raymond assured her that he was looking forward to it and hung up. Kara frowned slightly. Jane had told her stories of Raymond's business dealings and knew she should be wary but wasn't sure how much to believe. The Holograms had added some stories of their own. If half of it was true, the man would have already been serving a very long prison term. Could be competition 'poisoning the well,' she thought, but stories like that don't get started without some basis. A couple of them were outright slanderous. She decided to meet Raymond and judge for herself. Putting it out of her mind for the time, she tried to focus on the comforting rhythm her daughters' happy chatter created.

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The Red Rock was an upscale, trendy eatery a block off Hollywood Blvd., the kind of place people went to be seen. Kara would have avoided the place even if she had the money to waste on their absurdly priced food. Arriving shortly after 11:30, she asked for Eric Raymond at the door and was directed to a table where the man himself sat waiting. The waiter sniffed aloofly over her jeans and simple blouse, but Kara ignored him and focused on the man across from the table.

"I'm glad you could make it, Kara," the man smiled. His tone reminded her of a used car salesman, hoping to make a sale, and it put her on alert. The stories about him and about the musical group he managed were too wild to be true, she reminded herself, at least completely true.

"Hope I'm not too late. Unfortunately, I work to others' schedules."

"We all do to a degree," he gave her a condescending smile. "I recommend the snapper, personally. They also do a very nice New York Strip." Kara glanced at the menu briefly and made her selection. Once the waiter had come and gone, she focused on Raymond as he started to speak. "I saw you play a few nights ago for March Rain. The band is a dead end. They'll earn you occasional pocket money playing company parties and social events, but they'll never make it big."

"I know. I'm surprised you bothered to go. You don't usually see big name record producers at the Night Owl." The place was kind of a dive, and Kara never went there without her knife.

"I'm always on the lookout for fresh talent," he shrugged, "and it can turn up in the most unlikely places. The band may be only small time, but you, Kara, have potential to be much more. With the right backing, in the right group, you could be huge."

Kara didn't respond to the flattery, but waited for him to get to the point. Despite what appeared to be his best efforts, he was coming off as a bit slimy. A rhythm like the soundtrack to a movie villain's entrance played faintly in her head.

"I've looked into your background," he pressed on. "You've had an interesting musical career. A member of several short-lived bands, none with any real potential that I can see. The last one..." He shook his head, remembering that the story had actually made the news and one of the gossip shows.

"Imploded?" Kara offered.

"Rather spectacularly," Raymond agreed. Displaying what seemed like genuine curiosity, he asked her about the band's break-up, and Kara told him what she knew of the love triangle that had developed between the lead guitarist, the keyboardist, and the sax player. Raymond shook his head in amazement that also didn't seem feigned. "And that's why people shouldn't date co-workers," he muttered.

"I have to agree with you there," Kara admitted, just as the food was arriving. They ate for a time in silence, enjoying the meal, before Raymond got back to business.

"Since then, you've been filling in for other drummers and working a dead-end delivery job just to make ends meet. I'd like to offer you a contract with Misfits Music. I can put together a band of truly talented people with whom you'll fit in marvelously. I built the Misfits from the ground up and you see how well they've done."

"True," Kara answered. The Misfits were a huge success, and she had to admit that Pizzazz, Roxy, and Stormer had a great sound. She wondered how the addition of a saxophone with the British woman, Jetta, would affect the mix. They were also, however, rivals of Jem and the Holograms. More than rivals, actually; the words 'bitter enemies' came to mind. "I've heard of the rivalry between the groups. It's hard not to. What's behind that? It seems like more than just professional rivalry."

"They don't like each other," Raymond said with a shrug, "and I've had… unhappy dealings with the head of Starlight Music. Which brings up a negotiating point."

"Yes?"

"Despite your talent, your history with bands hasn't been all that great. I know they told you that the audience will determine who the next drummer will be, but that's nothing more than publicity. You've shown me you have an understanding of business. I'm sure you can see this 'battle of the drums' for what it is."

Kara knew Raymond was making sense. Leaving a major decision like that up to their fans was great PR, but potentially disastrous for the band. Kara admitted it seemed like a bad business decision, even though her instincts told her he was leading up to something unpleasant.

"Craig Philips has a much longer track record with successful bands. He's almost certain to be their choice. That isn't to say you don't have a chance, but it's best to hedge your bets. Good business."

Kara nodded. Untrustworthy or not, the man made a valid point, and Kara didn't keep a roof over her girls' heads by relying on hope and luck. "What's the 'negotiating point'?"

"You're in a position to get something for me I've been wanting for a while now. I think you can find out who Jem really is. Get me her real name and that contract with Misfits Music is all yours."

"All this just to get a publicity edge?" Kara was incredulous. "It really is personal." Raymond shrugged and gave what he probably thought was a self-deprecating smile.

"That's my offer. Do my motives really matter?"

"I suppose not," Kara allowed. "I don't like prying into other people's private affairs, though." She paused for a moment. "I'll consider it."

"That's all I can ask."

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After the meeting, Kara made another delivery to the law firm of Franklin & Hauser and then made a side trip to Starlight Music. Jerrica Benton was in her office and agreed to speak to Kara for a moment. She was ushered in by the woman's secretary and found Benton meeting with the Holograms' keyboardist. After a moment, she remembered that the two were sisters. "What do you need Kara?"

"I was wondering why Eric Raymond is so determined to find out who Jem is that he is offering lucrative contracts in exchange for the information."

Jerrica stared at her in shock for a moment. Kimber began sputtering indignantly, but settled for calling the man names under her breath when Jerrica answered. "You're serious?" Kara nodded. "If he spoke to you, he probably spoke to Reya and Craig, too." She sat in silence for a moment, thinking furiously. "It's personal for him," she said finally. "I fired him when I inherited the company and took over. I can't prove it, but I know he was embezzling. He's had it in for me and everyone associated with me ever since."

"Don't take this the wrong way," Kara said carefully, wondering if she should say anything at all, "but this vendetta of Raymond's shouldn't be my problem or Reya's or Craig's."

"I agree," Jerrica nodded, "but there isn't much I can do about his behavior. He's committed crimes in the past against us, even kidnapping one of my foster girls, but he always manages to wiggle his way out of trouble." She looked at the younger woman sadly. "I'm sorry you got dragged into this. If you want to withdraw, I'll understand."

"No." Kara said decisively. "I'm going to keep going, and give it all I have. I just wanted you to know what Raymond is doing. This is as much for my girls as it is for me, and I've never backed away from a fight."

"I'm glad to hear that." She looked uncertain for a moment, as if unsure she should proceed. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"At the party, you mentioned to Craig that you were in the foster care system, and you were never adopted."

"That's right."

"You were….14? When you got pregnant?" Kimber left off her name-calling and paid attention. Evidently, Jerrica wasn't the only one who was curious.

"Yes." Kara wasn't sure what information Benton was after, but saw no harm in answering.

"How? How did you hang onto the girls? I would have thought the state would have tried to put them up for adoption."

Kara thought carefully before answering. Benton wouldn't understand the full truth. No one had. So, she settled for a straightforward, if partial answer, framing her response in a way she hoped would make sense to the other woman. "I barely know," she finally admitted. "I've spent the last few years in constant motion. Rarely sleeping, barely eating, just doing everything I could to keep them healthy, happy, and with me. Everything I do is toward that goal. Please don't ask me why. I've seen your girls and how you look after them. If it isn't already clear to you, I can't explain it."

Jerrica smiled. "No need. I know the why; I'm just amazed you managed it."

Kara allowed herself a rueful smile. "Join the club."