Falsely Accused
Summary: One night, after saving the day, Blossom passed out, and woke finding herself covered in blood. Later arrested for murder, what really happened that night? Not wishing to see pink Powerpuff fall, Brick commits the Rowdyruff Boys to help the Powerpuff Girls solve this mystery. Can they clear Blossom's name before it's too late? Or will it forever tarnish her reputation?
Disclaimer: I do not own the Powerpuff Girls. Rather, the Powerpuff Girls is owned by Craig McCracken and Cartoon Network.
Chapter 10
Fleetwood Revealed
A. Aftermath
The City of Townsville…
"The things we watched! Those were the funniest things I've seen on TV! It's a good thing I didn't laugh while we're watching it or Blossom would really get mad!" Boomer said as they flew home.
"True. What we said, while not untrue, was in certain respects, exaggerated," said Brick. "But hopefully, the people in this city would swallow it hook, line, and sinker."
"You won't ever be able face her down with what you've said," said Butch. "I mean, all those things you said about Blossom? I mean people would think that you'd like them to think you like her!"
"I know. I would have shot myself before I would do that," the leader replied. "But there are some things you've gotta do. I aim to make her look perfect, pure, and godlike to this town, even if she is clearly not, so that they would never ever think that she could even harm a fly, let alone commit such a murder."
"So does that mean that you like Blossom?" asked Boomer.
"Heaven's no! It's simply a favour for all the things she's done for me for the past seven years. Listen, we're not friends. I do not like her and in turn, she does not like me. If you or Butch got into trouble, I would have done more than what I've done for her," he asserted. "Besides, it's not a bad way to gain popularity, and hence, power. Everything I've done for Blossom, if you didn't notice, helped me gain more power over the city, and made me even more popular. And anything that helps me, helps you too!"
"What exactly are you planning?" Butch asked in curiosity.
"Listen. I plan to rule this city, legally, of course. But I cannot do that if Blossom opposes me. This murder has given me a magnificent opportunity to make Blossom dependent upon me ruling this city! She would still be in jail if it wasn't for me. Second, Blossom is vain. I played upon her vanity to make sure that she would love my exercise of power. And she values her reputation. It crushed her that the city would even think that she is capable of doing such a thing. Now she loves that the school practically worships her every step. And she knows only too well that that was the result of the deal I made with Mojo, and it would not have happened if I didn't exercise my power over the city. She knows that her reputation will be shredded, along with mine, if the truth about the cover-up and Mojo's attacks came out. If that happens, no evidence coming from us that proves her innocence would ever be believed."
"But she could oppose you after she is proven innocent beyond all doubt!" Boomer said.
"I know. She even said to me that she planned to make me give all that power back as soon as things are back to normal," said Brick. "But things would never go back to normal. I already rule this city. She does too. I love it. She does not. But I would make her love ruling the city so much that she could never even think of living without it."
"How would you do that?" asked his black haired brother.
"You'll see, Butch, you'll see," said Brick. "Blossom already told me to threaten to fire Lt Sanchez if he didn't apologize after he insulted her. And I could see that she loved it. That's just the beginning. When I am done, she won't be able to resist."
"But wouldn't that just make her ruler and not do a thing to you?" the green ruff asked.
"But if she wants to rule, she couldn't deny it to me as well. She knows she couldn't do it without my cooperation," Brick replied. "Like I said, I will rule this city, but with Blossom with me, by my side, not against me."
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Later…
The reactions to the spots were better than they could ever have imagined. A flood of phone calls reached the Utonium residence, and Blossom began to talk to all the admirers, those who wished to apologize, and those who simply told her that she was the greatest.
"Blossom, I am very sorry that I ever thought that you could have done it. I am ashamed that I forgot all those years of service," said one caller.
"Thank you very much! I love you!" one admirer said over the phone.
"Those ads at TNN opened my eyes. You are a true hero!" another said.
The next morning, April 11, Thursday…
The morning opened with tons of mail from the citizens of Townsville, and tons of flowers. The mail has letters telling that Blossom was still their hero, how they believed that she couldn't have killed the old lady, how she was the coolest, the smartest, the sweetest, the toughest, and the most beautiful. A typical letter would go as follows.
Blossom,
I'm sorry for ever thinking that you did it. You're the coolest. The best. The smartest. That ad reminded me why you are special.
John Conyers
Besides the letters, there were the flowers. Lots and lots of flowers. So many that Professor Utonium had trouble finding a place for them in the house. Because of media TV crews camped outside the house, he dare not throw it away for fear of offending someone. So what he did was keep the most beautiful ones—Blossom would choose which—then have the rest seen by Blossom for a few seconds to admire—then had them utterly incinerated by Buttercup and Bubbles with the ashes being put into a garbage bag.
For the presents, it was more difficult. Some sent cheques, which the Professor insisted she return, or if they refused to have it back, she gave to charity. Some she kept, like combs, dozens of new bows, dresses, shoes, stockings, stuffed animals, DVDs, books, a large flat screen TV, a DVD and blue ray player, amazon and itunes gift cards, and the like. She gave some to her sisters. Some she wanted to keep but knew she couldn't—a baby elephant, a large statue of her, a car (the professor appropriated it for himself until she could earn her license), a hot air balloon, and other things. Some she decided to throw away as soon as possible—a rifle (she decided to give this to Brick instead), several pornographic films, pornographic magazines (she immediately destroyed it upon seeing it), a large bulldozer (she decided to give it to Dr Edwards), a lion (Bubbles flew it to Africa), and other ridiculous presents. There were lots of boxes of chocolates, which she kept and gave some to her sisters and the Rowdyruffs.
"See Buttercup, Townsville loves me!" Blossom said, her eyes in tears of joy. At that moment, she truly was Townsville's darling.
Buttercup was surprised at the reaction. She thought the ads were a little bit too egotistical, but she has obviously misjudged the town. 'Great. Now she'll be even more unbearable!' Still, she was happy for her sister.
Bubbles was delighted that her appeal for presents, letters, and flowers made an impact. She wasn't prepared for the scale of the reaction. It surprised her that the town could be so sweet.
And as they flew that morning to school, when they look down on the city, they could see on the ground and on the roofs giant words saying, Blossom Rocks!, Blossom, you're #1, GOD BLESS BLOSSOM, Blossom, Brick, the next presidents. It was Boomer's appeal this time. Actually, Bubbles was supposed to say that, but she persuaded him to say it instead. When they reached the school, there was a giant balloon of Blossom from when she was five floating above the building, tethered to the ground by ropes. All the students greeted her, several gave her flowers and cards as she walked the corridor, and on her locker, there were so many flowers around it that she had to float in order to avoid stepping on one of them. And so many students and faculty inserted letters on her locker that when she opened it, letters literally flowed out of the locker. She had difficulty locating all her stuff amid all the letters.
It was probably the best morning of Blossom's life.
Brick was having a similar experience. After the airing of the ad, there were numerous phone calls, not as many as Blossom had, but numerous just the same. They kept thanking him for his efforts on behalf of Blossom, how lucky he was to be her friend, etc.
There were numerous letters for him that morning too. Most are thank you cards expressing their thanks to him for standing up to Blossom. A typical letter would say
Brick,
I just witnessed how you restored Blossom's reputation at your school. Thank you for being a friend to her.
Brian Wilson
There were no gifts. When he arrived at school, he was greeted. Many girls literally threw themselves at him. His locker had more letters of thanks too. And his pictures adorned more places at school.
Needless to say, for Brick and Blossom, the school day was a pleasure. Most of the students, and all the faculty and school employees, couldn't get enough of praising the two, with special emphasis on Blossom's innocence.
"You killed that monster that night! So it couldn't be you!" one teacher said.
"Blossom, Brick, last night you reminded us how lucky we are because of you," the principal said.
"You're totally innocent!" said one classmate to Blossom
Although most of the glory went to Blossom, and to a lesser extent to Brick, it reflected on their siblings as well. Boomer and Butch were accosted by admirers everywhere they went. Bubbles and Buttercup, not so much, as boys were afraid of their counterpart's reaction if they tried anything.
Needless to say, the six enjoyed popularity that day unrivalled by anything they've experienced for the past seven years. During lunch, even though they were late, the students in the line simply let them order ahead. All of them offered their tables and chairs to them, some even tried to give them food. The school even tried to give their lunch free.
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B. Discovery
Blossom, that afternoon, after school, was at home looking at the last of the mugshots from the police station. Although her reputation was enormously enhanced during the events of the past few days, she was still determined that all doubt should be quashed by the capture of the real murderer of Mrs Carmichael.
It was a dreary, boring task, but one that was necessary. Although there was a large chance that it was indeed Princess Morebucks who was responsible, all bases had to be covered. Although she knew that the chance that they would catch that elusive man by means of mugshots was small, she persisted. But what if Fleetwood did not have an actual criminal record and no mugshot as a result? She would kill Brick for assigning this dreary task if there indeed was no Fleetwood to find.
So she continued sitting on her chair, turning page after page of the albums, looking at the faces of criminals great and petty. She'd rather be reading all those magnificent letters, or using some of her new gifts, or wearing those clothes sent as gifts. As she did her task, she looked back at the day. The past few days. Right after her arrest and release. It was wonderful. She never felt so happy, so loved, so contented. Her status as an innocent was re-established. Her reputation as a leader was never higher. She was seen by the city as she wanted to be seen. Every time she saw the piles of letters or the bunch of flowers around her room, it would send a flutter on her heart or make butterflies on her stomach. She was touched by all the support that poured forth. Yes, she deserved all of them. Townsville still loves her. She wanted to thank each and every one of the citizens who sent them.
Yet those same citizens who sent all those gifts and those flowers were the same citizens who castigated her days before as a murderer. Those same classmates who worshipped her today had days earlier had spread the vilest rumours about her.
She knew that the real person to thank was Brick. Yes, Brick. The same Brick whom she repeatedly castigated for using unethical methods to achieve his aims. It was Brick who essentially masterminded the effort to turn opinion around. Did he really mean those words when he said all those nice things? He said he only said that to change minds, not that he meant it. But was it really that simple?
Brick, Brick, Brick. Oh how she hated his methods, oh how she loved his results. How she loathed how he blackmailed the city, but loved what he did with that power. How she disliked that he made them essentially above the law, but knew that her freedom was dependent upon it. She really hated the cover-up, but knew that it was necessary for the people to believe her innocent. And she loved the power. She cannot deny it. She loved lording it over the city. Just looking at Sanchez squirm when he was essentially ordered to apologized or get fired, it was intoxicating.
Brick! Oh she loved to strangle him. That smug face that always called her ugly, that always denies ever liking her, that would not submit to her leadership, that she could not just order him around like Bubbles or Buttercup. Yet she would not have him any other way. He freely acknowledges that she was smart, and at least his equal. And despite everything, she had to acknowledge that he was her equal. She herself would never have thought of all the things he did to restore her name. Her own cover up skills were pathetic—witness how she tried to pin Mojo the crime of stealing the golf clubs[1]. And he could lie in a way she never could.
Brick! She finds herself thinking more and more about her counterpart. She knew she already owed a debt of gratitude to him. Did he care for her? He says that he did not, but his actions seemed to say that he does. She pondered. Yet her eyes stopped as it casually looked at a picture.
That was it. "That's Frederick Fulton Fleetwood!" The same face, the same black hair. "I FOUND IT! I FOUND HIM!" she shouted at the top of her voice as she took the album, and started dancing in the air, shouting, "I FOUND HIM! I FOUND HIM!"
Her shouting attracted the attention of her sisters. "You found Fleetwood?" Bubbles asked excitedly.
"I did! I found that bastard!" she said as she opened the album and showed the picture to Bubbles and Buttercup. Like all mugshots, there were two pictures, one of him looking at the camera, the other looking sideways.
"Let me see that," Buttercup said, grabbing the album. "Are you sure?"
"That's him! I can never forget that sinister face!" Blossom declared.
Buttercup looked at the name below the picture. "It says here his name is Jason Smith, and he was charged with embezzlement of funds seven years ago. Are you sure this is his face? I mean, this was taken seven years ago. He surely looked older now."
"I know. He looks younger than when I saw him. But that is the same face! I will bet my bow that that is him!" Blossom said, looking at the picture.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get him!" Buttercup asserted.
"We will do that," Blossom concurred. "But first, let's call the boys. After all, we can't move until Brick sees this."
She then called her counterpart, and ten minutes later, all six were in the living room of the Powerpuff home.
Boomer and Butch were struck by the sheer amount of presents and flowers laying around. "The city gave this to you? All of this?" Boomer asked in astonishment.
"Yes. The people really love her!" Bubbles replied, looking at Blossom.
"I thought my brother overdid it by feeding her ego so much that people would be turned off, but I guess I don't know anything," Butch said, looking at the pile of letters, much of it still unopened, in a corner.
"Yeah, it'll only make her too proud and too full of herself!" Buttercup grumbled. "Yeah, Brick's ads made the people think Blossom is all that!"
Brick was talking to Blossom. He too was surprised at sheer enormity of the response to the ads. How much more after the documentary would air? But his attention was on the album of mugshots. "Are you sure?" asked Brick.
"Positively! I would give you all my bows if I am wrong! That is the so-called Frederick Fulton Fleetwood! That's the bastard who gave me a spiked chocolate drink, and that's the bastard who told me to deliver that jewel to Mrs Carmichael's house!" Blossom declared.
Brick's mouth twisted into a grin. "Excellent! Excellent!" he said as he began laughing. "We'll get him! And when we get him, we'll get the actual murderer! And I have a suspicion that Princess did the deed!"
"You think Fleetwood and Princess were in cahoots?"
"Yeah. No doubt about it."
"I think so too," said Blossom. "I think we better go to the police station so we can get Mr Jason Smith's address."
"I agree," said Brick. "Boomer! Butch!"
At that, both his brothers turned their heads to their leader, and flew towards him. Bubbles and Buttercup also followed.
"You two are to proceed to the police station, and ask for information about Jason Smith, or Fleetwood," ordered Brick. "You are to ask where he is right now, what his address is, how to contact him, and anything else you might think of. Buttercup, Bubbles, you go and return all the other albums to the police station. Is that clear?"
"Yeah," they all said.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Go!" Blossom shouted, and at once, Boomer and Butch flew with the album containing Mr Jason Smith's picture, and Buttercup and Bubbles gathered the remaining more than three dozen albums, put it into two large gigantic bags, and flew after them.
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C. A Special Investigation
Blossom had a big grin as she watched her sisters disappear into the horizon. "This news made this day even better! Imagine, I won't have to rely on ads to keep my name clean," said the pink puff. "This is nearly over! I can feel it!"
"Oh yes. This would be over. In fact, by the weekend, I predict, we would have solved this case," said Brick.
"Are you sure?" asked the female leader. "I mean, there are still lots of unanswered questions."
"Hopefully, Mr Smith himself would supply most of the missing links," said Brick. "For example, what is the link between him and Princess Morebucks?"
"And the mystery of Princess only being shocked when she learned that I was arrested, not upon learning of Mrs Carmichael's murder."
"Or who Mr Watts is. Still, I think Princess is behind all of this. I mean, who else could have paid the million dollars to Mr Turner and his gang to rob that jewelry shop?" Brick said. "Tomorrow, we would get from Mojo an identical rocket launcher given to Princess, and of course, the DICCX. That alone is enough to nail that spoiled brat. Oh I am gonna enjoy making her talk!"
"Still, there is her alibi," said Blossom. "What about the movie tickets?"
"I could explain it to you, but it's better if I show it to you. Tomorrow, Friday night, are you doing anything?" asked Brick
"Why?"
"Nothing much. I want you to go out with me."
"What? Are you asking me on a date?"
"Me, ask an ugly girl like you for a date? Perish the thought. I don't have time to waste on such frivolities! We don't even like each other, so why would go on a date?" he declared. "No, this is part of the investigation, a part of our official duties. I have made some discoveries that will crack this case wide open. Will you or won't you?"
"Brick, I am not ugly, you blind fool! But can't you tell it to me, now?" asked Blossom.
"I could, but it wouldn't be complete. I'd rather you go with me tomorrow night, so I can show it to you," he said. "You'll see. It will be worth it!"
"Well, okay," said Blossom.
"Oh and wear something nice, or formal," said Brick.
"Why?"
"Because we're going to be somewhere that has a dress code," he simply said. "Not even superheroes with powers from Chemical X are exempted, it seems."
"Well, okay," she replied. "Where do we meet?"
"I don't know. You could go to my house, or I could go here, or we could meet outside, or we could simply call each other by phone or watch at the designated time," he said, "about six p.m. tomorrow."
"I think you should go here," said Blossom, "and pick me up. I supposed you're going to treat me to dinner?"
"The dinner's part of the investigation," he said.
"If this is not a date, then what do you call it?" asked Blossom.
"A special investigation," he said. "Call it whatever you want. But we're not going to a date! I'm not taking you out to have a good time. This is just strictly official business!"
"I know. So what now?" she asked.
"We wait for their report," Brick said, "then we make our plans! Oh, before I forgot, you should check your email."
"My email?" asked Blossom.
"Yup. TNN called a little while before you called. They sent us an attachment with the questions they'll ask. Tomorrow, we'll tell them which of those questions we'd answer."
She nodded. "I'll check it out later."
The two leaders then chatted about other matters, mostly about how Brick should not use city funds to his own personal uses, in which he just rolled his eyes. Brick then asked Blossom what she planned to do to the city with her political power. Blossom said she wanted to do good, but was unsure of what to do. Then, the professor arrived.
"Professor!" Blossom said as she hugged her father.
"Professor Utonium," Brick politely greeted.
"Good news, Professor! I have found Fleetwood!" she shrieked.
"You did? That's fantastic! Now you can catch the real murderer and get your name cleared!" he replied, hugging her back. "Where are your sisters?"
"They're at the police station asking about Mr Smith."
"Excuse me. Who?" the Professor asked in bewilderment.
"Oh I'm sorry. You haven't seen the album. Frederick Fulton Fleetwood's real name is Jason Smith," she said.
"This calls for a celebration!" said the Professor as he got his phone and ordered some food from the restaurant. "I'll call your father, Brick, and invite him and Ms Lawrence and your brothers!"
"Thank you, sir," Brick said, rather pleased with the situation. A few minutes later, Butch, then Buttercup returned.
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D. Where is Jason Smith?
Police Chief Kaczinsci looked at the two boys in front of him at his office. "So you want to know where this Mr Jason Smith lives?" he asked.
"Yes, please," Boomer politely replied as Butch stood silently besides him.
"Jason Smith, Jason Smith," the chief said as he looked at the mugshot album Boomer brought. He carefully noted the number below the picture and run it through his computer. Finally, a result turned up, showing his picture with details of his case. "Jason Smith was arrested for embezzlement of funds. He was given bail, and was acquitted less than three months later. According to this, his address was room 654, Bellows Apartment at the corner of Wilson and Creek streets."
"But there is no apartment at that address," Butch suddenly said. "There's a gym, but no apartment!"
"Today, that may be so, but seven years ago, there was an apartment," the police chief explained. "It was torn down four years ago, and the gym was built in its place."
"So do you have any information on where he might live today?" asked Boomer.
"No. Since he was acquitted, we didn't bother updating his records."
"How about phone numbers—anything to contact him with?" the blue ruff asked.
"There is a phone number, but it was his apartment phone. He didn't own a cell phone when he was arrested."
As he said this, both Buttercup and Bubbles arrived carrying two large bags. "Here are the mugshots we borrowed!" Bubbles enthusiastically said she put in on the floor. "Sorry for taking too long to return it."
"It's okay, Bubbles," the police chief replied.
"So can we have any way we could contact Jason Smith?" asked Boomer.
"I'm not sure. I really don't know much about him. He was small fry. Perhaps you could talk to the investigating officer who arrested him and handled the case?" suggested the police officer.
"Who do we have to talk to?" asked Butch.
"Lieutenant John Sanchez," replied the police chief. "He was at the division that handled embezzlement cases before he got transferred to homicide."
"What? The same Lieutenant Sanchez who investigated the Carmichael case?" asked Bubbles.
"The same one who ruined Blossom's reputation?" Buttercup seconded.
"The same. Small world, isn't it?"
"No wonder Smith was acquitted. Sanchez probably botched that job like he botched this one," said Boomer. "We would like to speak to him, please."
"I'm sorry, but he already had gone home. It's quite late, you know," said the police chief. "Why don't you return tomorrow?"
"Well, we might do that," Boomer said, thinking to himself. "But could we have his address please?"
Police Chief Eliot Kaczinsci was happy to oblige.
"Thank you. Butch, let's go to Sanchez and—" Boomer began.
"Hold it! You're not Brick! You don't give orders to me! You go to Sanchez if you want," Butch interrupted. "I'm going back."
"Well go back then!" Boomer shot back. "I'm going to see this through!"
Butch wasted no time and flew back.
"I'll go with you, Boomer!" Bubbles enthusiastically volunteered as soon as Butch was gone.
"Well, I'm out of here!" Buttercup said as she flew out, leaving the two blonds alone with the chief.
"Well Bubbles, once again, it's you and me!" Boomer said as Bubbles grabbed his hand, and they flew towards the suburban home of the police lieutenant.
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They arrived a few minutes later, and were greeted by his wife.
"Bubbles, Boomer! Oh come in, come in," greeted a middle aged woman, with tanned skin, blonde hair, and three freckles on her cheek arranged in a triangle. She was in a yellow dress. "I'm so glad you superheroes visited my humble home. I'm Laurie Anne Sanchez."
"Mrs Sanchez, um, could we speak with Lieutenant John Sanchez?" asked Boomer.
"Oh come in, come in," she invited them into her living room, where they sat on the couch. "John will be here shortly."
Bubbles looked around the living room. She was astonished at the prosperity of the family. There were lots of exquisite paintings on the wall. She might not be the sharpest of the Powerpuffs, but she was very good at art, not only at drawing, but at judging past art and estimating its value. 'Look at that Rembrandt! I saw that a month ago at the art store! That's worth $75,000! And look at the vase. Ming vase. That must have cost a fortune!' she thought. She looked at the carpet and her eyes widened. It was so soft, so beautiful.
Both stood up as Lt Sanchez, in casual clothes, entered.
"Boomer! Bubbles! To what do I owe this great pleasure?" he asked as he shook hands with the two superheroes.
"You have a very beautiful living room," Bubbles said.
"Well, I came to a lot of money saying that I believed Blossom's alibi," said Sanchez.
"Well, the reason we came here has nothing to do with Blossom," said Boomer. "We were just curious about a case you handled years ago. You remember Mr Jason Smith?"
"Smith, Smith. I've handled dozens of cases against people called Smith," he replied.
"Jason Smith. Embezzlement. Seven years ago. He was acquitted," Boomer reminded.
"Oh that Jason Smith! Yeah, I remember. It was minor case, nothing much. It wasn't my proudest moment. What can I say? I was young and foolish," he laughed.
"Well, can you tell us anything about him? We first came to the police station and we didn't get much. We wanted to contact him, but his present address doesn't exist anymore," said the blond rowdyruff. "Perhaps you can tell us how we could find him?"
"I'll see what I can do," he said as his wife entered with a tray of hot chocolate and cookies. "I can't remember anything about him, as that case was seven years ago, and it was a very minor one, but I think I may have a file of him tucked away upstairs. If you can wait for me, I'll see if it's still there." He then went upstairs to his room.
Boomer stared at the food brought by the lieutenant's wife. "Thank you, Mrs Sanchez," the blue ruff politely said as he began munching one of the cookies.
"Oh don't mention it," she said, but she was interrupted by a knock on the door. Mrs Sanchez excused herself as she opened the door, and two delivery men entered carrying a large LED TV that occupied an entire wall of the living room. Boomer and Bubbles watched as they ate and drank the snacks while the men installed the TV on the wall.
"Bubbles, that TV—I saw at the mall a few days ago. The price is astronomical!"
"How much?" asked Bubbles.
"Ten thousand dollars!" Boomer whispered.
"Ten thousand!"
"Yup! It's the latest in technology!" he whispered back, but before he could elaborate, Lt Sanchez came back.
"That's a really neat TV," Boomer said. "Really expensive too!"
"Thank you. But I'm afraid I have to tell you that I have no file on Jason Smith. I looked, and I could find nothing. I probably threw it away. Apparently, it was so minor a case that it wasn't worth keeping a file on. I'm afraid I can't help you."
Both Boomer and Bubbles were disappointed. They ate the rest of the snacks, and bid farewell to Lt and Mrs Sanchez.
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E. Townsville Fair
"Well, back to square one," Boomer grimly said as the two flew slowly across town. The suburbs where the Utoniums lived were at the opposite side of the city.
"Yeah. Where are we going to look? Looks like all those efforts of Blossom were wasted," said Bubbles.
"What's good knowing his real name if we can't find him?" Boomer added.
"Well at least we get to meet Mrs Sanchez. You know Boomie, she looks and sounds familiar, as if I already knew her, but I can't place it."
"Probably one of the many faces you saved," Boomer offered.
"Well yeah, but I've got a feeling it's more than that," said Bubbles as they flew over Townsville. "The three freckles in her face, it looks so familiar, but I can't—hey look!"
"What—" was the only thing Boomer could get off before his counterpart grabbed his hand and pulled him to the ground.
They were at the edge of Townsville, where a portion of the grounds were fenced off. "Townsville Fair!" Bubbles said excitedly. "Look! It says it will open—tomorrow night? Wow! I thought it would be a month before it would open!"
At that, she flew over the fair grounds, and saw the ferris wheels, the carousels, and many other things that simply delighted her. There was an open restaurant, a stuffed animal store, a movie theatre in a tent. "I really really want to go there tomorrow! I wish someone would take me there! It would be delightful to be at the opening!"
Boomer sighed. He knew it was a hint that she wanted him to ask her out to the fair, but truth of the matter was, he wasn't so keen as he hadn't got any money to spend on her for the next night. But he couldn't crush Bubbles' hopes. Not when she was so happy as she eyed the fair attractions with delight. Besides, he himself really looked forward to the fair opening and was planning on saving money for the event. But moving the opening one month ahead caught him unprepared.
"Well Bubbles, would you like to come with me to the opening tomorrow?" he asked.
Bubbles looked at her counterpart with the biggest grin on her face. "Really Boomer? Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! A thousand yeses!" she said as she grabbed her counterpart's hands and began spinning around above the fair. She then stopped spinning, and said, "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you Boomie!" before giving him two fast pecks on his right cheek, and one kiss on his left cheek, before letting go of the blushing Boomer while shouting at the top of her voice, "I'M GOING TO BE AT THE OPENING OF THE FAIR!" over and over while doing loops on the air.
"YEAH, YOU'RE GOING TO THE OPENING OF THE FAIR TOMORROW! I HEARD YOU ONCE, NOW SHUT UP!" Princess Morebucks, who happened to be passing by in her limousine, shouted, but she was ignored.
Boomer watched her with a big grin. His heart fluttered as she watched her childishly expressing her joy. She may be thirteen, but in many ways, she was still a little girl. And he loved her for it. He couldn't take his eyes off her as he found himself very happy looking at his counterpart being very happy. For some reason, he couldn't bear watching her being sad, and he always wanted her to be joyful. In fact, he was compelled, as if it was magic, to do things for her just to see her smile, to see her laugh and hear her wonderfully innocent voice, to feel the warm touch of her delicately soft but powerful hands.
"Hey Boomie!" Bubbles shouted from afar, high in the air. "Aren't you happy that the fair is going be open tomorrow, and we're going to be there? I've been waiting for this for the past couple of months!"
He was happy, for two reasons, one was that he also was looking forward to the fair, and the second… "Yeah. I'm so glad we get to go there early!" he said as he flew to Bubbles. "Imagine, shooting ducks, winning every test your strength game, all those food!" he said. "But it's really getting late. We better go back."
"Aw, you're spoiling my fun!" Bubbles whined even as she flew in the direction on her house, a large smile on her face. She looked at Boomer, and she was very thankful he would be the one to accompany her. She always had a crush on her counterpart, even at the very beginning, and was extremely happy he was taking her. Going to the opening of the fair made her very happy, but Boomer taking her made her jump in ecstasy.
After their initial joy had subsided, the two blues flew home, excited, happy, their failure to find out anything about Jason Smith a.k.a. Frederick Fulton Fleetwood completely forgotten.
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Meanwhile, at Professor Utonium's house…
"Well?" Brick asked Butch as soon as he returned.
"Well what?" asked a confused Butch.
"Where is Jason Smith?" asked Brick.
"Oh that. He lived at Bellows apartment!" said Brick.
"Bellows? They tore down that building four years ago!" Brick shot back.
"Yeah. But he lived there seven years ago when their file was made," Butch replied.
"Anything else?"
"Nothing. The phone number was for his Bellows apartment, and there was nothing to tell where he might live," said Butch as Buttercup arrived.
Brick looked at the raven haired girl, and said, "Great! We got nothing!" Brick ranted. "Isn't there anything we could hang on to?"
"Well, he did give us the name of the officer who investigated the case. You'll never guess who it was!" Buttercup said.
"I'm not in a mood for guessing games!" said Brick, his mood soured by the news.
"Lieutenant Sanchez!" the green puff said.
"What? John Sanchez? The same idiot who investigated the murder, gave that press conference that wrecked your sister's reputation, destroyed Mojo's confiscated weapons, and who was paid to renounce his own words?"
"The very same!" Buttercup replied.
"Well, well, small world, isn't it!" Brick said, his mood lightening. "Where's Boomer and Bubbles?"
"Those two lovebirds went to Lt Sanchez," Butch replied.
"I hope that lieutenant gives us something to work on so all the work on those mugshots won't be wasted," Brick said.
"What about the mugshots being wasted?" Blossom, who had been talking with the Professor all this time, said as she joined them.
"Let them explain," Brick said, pointing to the greens, as he went to get a drink.
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F. An Empty Celebration
Like Brick, Blossom's mood soured as she received the news. She kept herself from shouting as disappointment overcame her, and she marched to the kitchen where her counterpart was himself with some orange juice from the Utonium refrigerator.
"If all those hours, those excruciatingly long hours I spent looking at all those pictures, a job that you assigned to me, leads to nowhere, I'm going to kill you," she declared, looking at her counterpart.
He looked at her, and she could see that his disappointment was just as intense. "You won't need to. I'll kill myself first for wasting everyone's time with that chimera!" he said before downing another glass of orange juice.
As they were talking, the food that the Professor had ordered arrived, and a minute later, Dr Edwards and Ms Lawrence arrived.
"We're having a party for finding Fleetwood, which would be ironic if it didn't help us solve the case," said Blossom as the two walked to the living room.
"Let's hope those blonds wring something out from that dumb lieutenant," Brick mumbled as his father arrived with his housekeeper. A minute later, Bubbles and Boomer arrived.
"Oh Blossom, I have great news! Great news! Really good news! It's exciting! It's stupendous!" Bubbles excitedly said in a fast voice.
"Slow down Bubbles," Blossom said, smiling. "Tell me again, what is the good news?"
"Well, Townsville Fair is opening tomorrow. I'm going, and Boomer is going to take—"
"Bubbles, I don't care about that stupid fair!" Brick interrupted. "Tell me about your interview with Sanchez!"
"Oh yeah, the interview, you see, we went to Lieutenant's house, and he had an average house. But he has lots on neat things. He got a brand new car, Boomie says its really nice but also very expensive. Then there is that Persian Carpet he bought! It was nice, I saw it on the mall, and I think it cost about ten thousand dollars. Then there's that big TV that Boomer says cost ten thousand too. Plus all those really expensive new paintings and vases and also all those…" and Bubbles rambled on about all the things she saw, mostly about the expensive new things bought by the family as a result of the payoff to the lieutenant. "…Mrs Sanchez was so nice. She gave us a wonderful snack. Though something about her looks familiar. Especially the three freckles on her cheek arranged in a triangle, that tanned face, and the blond hair. But I can't seem to remember."
By this time, Dr Edwards and the Professor joined them, so Brick, even though his patience was wearing thin, politely listened and waited for her to stop.
"That's very nice," Brick said as soon as Bubbles stopped. "But what about Fleetwood? Jason Smith?"
"We got nothing," Boomer finished. "That case seven years ago was so obscure and so minor that Sanchez mostly forgot about it."
"Great! Just great!" Brick said. He suddenly remembered something, and turned to Bubbles. "Bubbles, you talked to Princess' friends about if they know anything about being with boy that Friday night, right? So?"
"Well, they don't know anything. If Princess was with a boy, she was tight lipped about it," Bubbles explained.
"How about you go to the archives tomorrow and see if you can find anything about Jason Smith on the census? Maybe it would tell you his current address?" Professor Utonium suggested.
"That's a great idea! Thanks Professor," Brick said. "Blossom, you take your sisters and go to the archives."
"What about you?" asked Dr Edwards as he listened.
"We'll go to Mojo and ask about the DICCX and the weapons," Brick declared.
Despite the grim mood, the two families, having already gathered and the food already delivered, continued their celebration, although this time, not to cracking the case, but towards the partial restoration of Blossom's reputation among the citizenry of Townsville.
After one and a half hours, about eight thirty in the evening, the Edwardses went home.
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Later that night, as the boys prepared to sleep, Boomer, already in his pyjamas, looked for Brick. He was in the second floor of their home. Butch was downstairs still watching TV. Brick went out of the bathroom, having just finished brushing his teeth and washing his face.
"Brick," Boomer whispered as the rowdyruff redhead left the bathroom.
"Yeah?" asked Brick as he slowly walked towards his room.
"I need money," Boomer said.
"Ask Dad," his brother replied rather bluntly.
"Please, could you lend me some money? I don't want to ask Dad because, well, he would ask questions, and—"
"Wait a minute, why would you—why do you need the extra money for? You have money, right?"
"It's not enough," the blond replied.
"Cough it up. Tell me your real reason, and maybe I'll lend you some," said Brick
"Um, I just asked Bubbles to the fair tomorrow, and I don't have money to spend on her," Boomer said as fast as he could.
"You are going on a date with her tomorrow night, at the opening?" asked Brick, his face twisting into a smirk.
"Yeah. A date," Boomer said in a low voice. "Don't be so loud. I don't want Butch finding out. He'll give me a hard time if he got wind of it."
Brick smiled as he noted the coincidence that he would take Blossom for a special investigation the very same time Boomer is going to date Bubbles. "So how much?"
"I don't know. How much could you give?" asked Boomer.
"Truth is, right now, I don't have the money to give you, but tomorrow, I will," said Brick. "If all goes according to plan, that is."
"Really? Thanks bro!" Boomer said as he smiled. "You're really a life saver! Hey, maybe you should take Blossom so we can make it a double date at Townsville Fair!"
"What? Take that insufferable ugly little witch to a date? You must be kidding!" Brick replied. "We don't even like each other. Besides, I don't have the time for a silly thing as a date. Tomorrow night, I'm going to conduct a special investigation that could crack this case."
"Really! This is going to be over?" asked Boomer.
"Hopefully! Hopefully," the leader of the Ruff Puff Alliance replied.
As soon, as Boomer went to bed, Brick went to his father's room. He was reading some papers in his bed.
"Dad?"
Dr Edwards looked at his soon and smiled. "Yes son?"
"Um, are you busy tomorrow?"
"Why?"
"Well, I need you to take tomorrow off from work. I mean, you're the President of the company, so you can take any day off," Brick asked.
"And why should I?" asked the businessman scientist.
And Brick told him why he needed him home.
"Hm, well, I suppose I could grant your request," Dr Edwards said.
"Thanks Dad," said Brick happily. "Good night, Dad!"
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G. Friday Morning Activities
It was April 12, Friday…
Brick, Boomer, and Butch woke up early and went to city hall at about half past eight. There, Ms Bellum and the Mayor were already at their desks. Brick asked for a check for $1,500,000. Ms Bellum didn't even ask about where he was going to spend it. Brick merely said, "to pay for legitimate expenses incurred in doing the job of the police." The check was addressed to William Bricker Edwards Jr.
The boys then went to Townsville National Bank, where they cashed the check. It actually took a while, as the bank didn't have that much money in reserve. It actually had to call other banks to supply the additional money, plus the city treasury, plus the branch of the Federal Reserve, plus make a few phone calls to the city government to confirm that it indeed issued a check for that amount. It took two hours, so it was about ten thirty when the bank finally handed the three boys $1,500,000 in one hundred dollar bills. It was put in fifteen large bags each containing one thousand one hundred dollar bills, (or $100,000).
Each boy carried five large money bags as they flew home, put one money bag in Brick's room, and changed the bags of the remaining fourteen bags so it would not be identified by outsiders as coming from the bank. They then flew with the bags as high up in the air as they could, then flew as fast as possible to Mojo's lab.
"Do you have the money?" Mojo asked, eyeing fourteen large bags brought by the boys.
"Is it ready?" asked Brick.
"It is ready," said the monkey. He led them to an adjacent room where there were two items covered in white cloth. He removed the covers to reveal a small rocket pack with missiles, and a bottle with the words Mojo's DICCX (Drug to Intoxicate Creations of Chemical X). "Now where's the cash?"
Boomer's eyes immediately widened when he saw the rocket pack, but said nothing.
The boys dumped the fourteen bags of cash in front of the monkey. "Each one of those bags contains a hundred thousand dollars. So fourteen bags equals $1,400,000."
Mojo got one bag and eagerly opened it. His face showed a wide grin as he scanned all those hundred dollar bills.
"This is fine!" said the monkey. "Now get your gadgets and never return! I have to plot to take over the city and destroy you pests!"
"Don't blow away your cash, Pops," Brick warned. "Princess won't be around much longer to give you money."
"Fools! Once I take over the city, I won't need that spoiled brat to finance my schemes!" Mojo ranted as he watched his creations leave his lair.
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As soon as they were in the air, Boomer said, "Brick, that rocket launcher Mojo made! I saw the same thing at Princess' underground lab!"
"Really?" Brick answered. "Okay, go to Princess and take that rocket launcher and then go home. Butch, you and I will go to Dad and ask him to test the DICCX immediately."
"Right," Boomer said before flying off to Morebucks Mansion. Brick and Butch went home. Dr Edwards, as Brick requested, took the day off so he could help them with the tests of the drug. They found the doctor at his lab, and gave him the drug. Then they waited.
About an hour later, Boomer arrived with the rocket launcher. "Princess was there—" Boomer began.
"She was absent from school?" asked Butch.
"Yeah. She wasn't too happy in seeing me, but she readily gave away her rocket launcher if it meant I would leave right away," he said.
They compared the two. "Will you look at that! They're virtually identical!" Butch said, his eyes darting from Mojo's to Princess' rocket launcher. The only difference was the age—Princess looked more worn out than Mojo's brand new device, but they were otherwise mirror images.
They said farewell to their father, and then went to an abandoned house that had the same thickness as the house of Mrs Carmichael.
They tested it by launching a rocket at the wall. First, Princess' rocket, then Mojo's rocket on another wall.
The holes made were identical to the holes made when the Powerpuff Girls and Rowdyruff Boys crash through walls.
"Wow! Just wow! If I had not seen us use that rocket on that wall, I would have sworn one of us made that hole!" Boomer exclaimed. "It must be Princess!"
"Butch, the photographs," Brick said as Butch produced from his pocket an envelope which he handed to Brick. Those were the photographs of the hole of Mrs Carmichael's wall taken the day after the murder, and also photographs of the debris patterns made when the hole was made.
"Look. Nearly identical," said Brick as the three boys compared the photographs with the actual holes they made.
Suddenly, Brick's cell phone vibrated. "Hello Dad. You finished the test! That's great. So how did it go? What? This is certainly good news! Thanks Dad. Bye."
"What?" Butch asked.
"It matched."
"What matched?" Boomer asked.
"The DICCX from Princess, the DICCX we got from Mojo, and the alcohol extracted from Blossom's blood test conducted by the Professor, is identical!" he said.
"That's great news! Now we know it's Princess!" Butch exclaimed.
"Yes. Who else could have a rocket launcher that can make that exact hole but Princess? Mojo certainly, but he has an ironclad alibi. The only other launcher was confiscated by the police and destroyed by Lt Sanchez more than a week ago. And who but Princess could have had that DICCX? Again, the only other sample was destroyed by Sanchez. Who but Princess could have the means of doing it? And we know she has the motive to destroy Blossom!" Brick proclaimed.
"But what about her alibi at the movie theatre? We checked it out, and even the guy at the ticket booth confirmed she entered and left the theatre at the times she claimed," Boomer asked.
"The solution to that problem will be revealed. Plus the connection of Princess to Mr Turner, the leader of the gang who robbed FFF Jewelry shop! All will be revealed in my special investigation that I will conduct tonight! After this, the only thing we have to determine would be the connection between Fleetwood and Princess," Brick proclaimed with relish.
"Special Investigation tonight?" asked Butch. "Do you need us?"
"Nah. Boomer would be busy, right? Besides, I can do it without you two," said Brick.
"It's alright with me!" Butch said. "It's wrestling night anyway, and nothing would stop me from watching it!"
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Meanwhile…
The Powerpuff Girls were flying slowly from their home to City Hall. It was a beautiful morning, and they decided not to rush so as to be able to enjoy the sun and the light breeze.
As they flew, they went over Townsville Fair.
"Look!" Bubbles pointed excitedly. "It will open tonight! And Boomer's taking me! I'm so excited!" she squealed as she flew in to get a closer look.
"Bubbles, don't!" Blossom chided. "You know you're not allowed to go there until the official opening!"
"I know that, Blossom," Bubbles cheered. "Hey I know! Since Boomer and I are on a date, maybe you and Brick could go too and we could make it a double date?"
"That blind prick wouldn't ask anyway, and even if I did, I would not accept, until he ceases calling me, the most beautiful girl in the world, ugly!" Blossom replied. "He doesn't even like me. And I certainly don't like him. Besides, I'm going to be busy later this night."
"Busy? Busy doing what?" asked Buttercup.
"Oh, I'm going on a special investigation concerning the Carmichael matter. I have a feeling we're going to crack this case tonight!"
"Well count me out! Friday night is wrestling night! And I wouldn't miss it for the world!" Buttercup declared.
"Seriously! I don't know what you see in that stupid show! We all know it's fake!" said Blossom.
"I know, but it's better than those National Geographic documentaries you like to watch, and it's certainly better than the cartoons Bubbles likes to slave over!" Buttercup replied, sticking her tongue out at her leader.
They flew on to City Hall, where Ms Bellum, after having to accede to Brick's demands for money, was only too happy to direct them towards the archives and in particular, the census records.
They quickly found Jason Smith's file, but were disappointed. It only gave information up until the Bellows apartment was demolished.
"Well, let's see if he has any family," said Blossom. "Maybe we can ask them where we can find him."
"Let's see," Bubbles read. "His father is Henry Smith, deceased. Mother is Janice Anne Hoover Smith, also deceased."
"And he is unmarried," said Buttercup. "Siblings, let's see. He has no sisters, and one brother, Harold."
"Harold. Harold Smith. Wait a minute!" Blossom said upon hearing that name. "Harold Smith. Could we look at his file? That name sounds familiar."
"Harold Smith. Father, Henry Smith. Mother, Janice Anne Hoover. Wife, Marianne Wren. Son, Bud Smith. Daughter, Julie Smith. Brother, Jason Smith. Don't tell me—" Buttercup said as her eyes widened and her jaw dropped.
Bubbles continued reading. She read. "Jailed twice for attempting to destroy the Powerpuff Girls. Paroled the first time, pardoned the second."
"Oh my God! Fleetwood is Harold Smith's brother!" Blossom exclaimed in shock as she looked at Harold Smith's picture. She remembered the face, but he did not look like Jason aka Fleetwood. But the file did not lie. The one who drugged her was the brother of her ex-neighbor.
Things got more complicated. So much more complicated.
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[1] See the episode "A Very Special Blossom".
Author Notes
To SatoriAtParis, I think Brick wanted to people to think so highly of her that they wouldn't even dream Blossom capable of committing the murder. Of course that would make her ego grow, but he felt it necessary for his plans.
To cococandy21, yup. That's after Blossom basically told him she didn't know whether to hug him or to strangle him after using Mojo to terrorize the school.
To mimicanto, thank you. Whether Brick was right in any of his speculations, we'll soon find out!
To Pikatwig, thank you very much for the compliment. I don't think I'm good enough to be a writer.
With nowfound trust in Blossom, will the town forgive and forget? I think the town will do so, if past history is a guide. Especially if the real murderer is caught.
Will the relationship between the Ruffs and the Puffs get stronger? It will.
Will their be any couples? This chapter answers that question in part.
To William F Somebody, yup, things are looking up indeed.
To John, I agree, thanks to Brick's actions, she is on top of the world right now.
To Bob, well, here's the new update!
To Guest, Blossom being a superhero since she was a child is used to this kind of attention. The week before, she was vilified as a murderer, now she's praised to the skies!