Who: Rebecca & Guest Stars
When: A day or two after the chocolates arrived.
What: Wooing is a complicated business. That or Don just has really bad luck with hostages.
The note from Karnage had annoyed her no end until she finally gave up and wrote a response letter. It was a simple, scathing outline of how even student essays in business management classes had a sounder basis than his profit scheme. She'd also carefully wrapped each of the coconut chocolates from the box and sent them to the indicated address alongside her letter.
Somehow she felt that if she gave in to the fear the pirate obviously wanted to instill then she'd never recover her composure. besides, it made her feel better to do something about the whole kidnapping thing! And it was pretty clear message, right? What kind of message she wasn't sure but it WAS a message!
Things were settling down here. The office was (finally!) clean and they even had their first delivery in the air! She'd have to invest in new radios for the Sea Duck since Baloo claimed the one in the cabin was broken, but she'd deal with that later. For now she was enjoying the quiet. Molly was in her preschool class (there'd be fridge art later) and Kit had gone with Baloo to deliver things (she'd get him into proper school next semester) so the office was still, and quiet, and clean. It was nice.
She was just sipping a cup of coffee when the mail man came again bearing a letter. She winced as the distraction made her burn her tongue then waved him off. She was fine, honest! And this could be another job! She didn't even hesitate as she opened the envelope, sucking in air to cool her tongue and...
Greetings Ms. Cunningham!
Oh...no...
That was quite the funny joke sending the chocolates back, haha, I'm laughing, thank you! You had some very valid points with the letter you sent, harsh as it was, and I've taken your words to heart! You'll be glad to know I've stepped up other endeavors since you've shown me the error of my ways!
What? Was she responsible for...no! No she couldn't be responsible for the actions of a pirate, he was his own person and he would do bad things all on his own! She...
In light of your wonderful advice about business I have returned to kidnapping! And the lessons learned from you and your delightful cub had given me a better insight into how to detain these two! Mainly, the fat bear has been tied to a chair and his cub has been muzzled. A shame but that boy is quite aggressive and I wouldn't want my crew to get any infections from a bite.
...no. No, he was NOT stepping in on HER BUSINESS
And unlike in your situation they do have people invested in their safe return! Deeply invested I hope. How does one hundred thousand dollars sound?
She was sputtering with rage by that point. She wasn't sure which was more insulting, the fee for her pilot and the child, or the insinuation no one cared about her! And more, had he actually meant to insinuate or was she reading too much into this?!
I'm willing to negotiate of course, the quality of your employee is...very low...and I may have over-estimated his value. In fact, I'm sure of it. Shall we meet somewhere and discuss his fate?
...
...
She wasn't sure how long she stared at the letter trying to process that part. Meet? Baloo's fate? Kit's?
She didn't have a hundred thousand dollars! She'd spent every penny she had buying this business and moving to Cape Suzette!
I'm not so crass as to request a check immediately, please, I'll be waiting at the Moonlight Bay restaurant.
She snarled and tossed her coffee cup against the wall at that. That was...outside the island's jurisdiction, she could just send the police even if he actually made a personal appearance!
Say six?
"Six?!" She would barely have time to get there! She'd have to hire a pilot and get out there and...
SHE HADN'T A THING TO WEAR! Like a tank. She'd love to wear a tank to this.
Still, Higher for Hire was nothing without a pilot, and this was the one she had, not to mention Kit deserved better!
I'll be waiting!
Yours truly,
Don Karnage, Pirate Captain, holder of your hostages, etc etc and so forth.
The letter followed the coffee cup though it didn't make nearly as satisfying a sound against the wall. Right, phone calls first. "Yes, Mrs. Afferton? Hello, I know this is last minute but can you pick Molly up from the Applecart daycare and watch her tonight? Something urgent came up. Yes, I'll double your rate, thank you." That was the important things taken care of...
This was already costing her.
Don Karnage better be prepared for her to take a salad fork to him because she was not in a good mood.