Peter pulled Davy by the shirt sleeve to keep him from stopping at every pretty girl they passed. "Come on, Davy. We have to get sustenance."

Davy rolled his eyes. "No big deal. We're just going to that new Chinese place. The owner's daughter said she could get a special rate for me."

"Of course she did."

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with saving money."

"Don't you think we should get something healthier? There's a vegetarian place a few blocks from here. I'm told they serve amazing brussel sprouts."

Davy made a face. "Brussel sprouts?! Why would we get something none of us like?"

"But Micky said we needed to get sustenance instead of regular food. So shouldn't we get something we don't normally get?"

"First of all," Davy held up a finger, "absolutely none of us will eat them. Secondly," he held up a second finger, "have you ever known Mike to eat a meal without meat?"

"We could stop somewhere and get meat to go with it."

Davy added another finger. "Thirdly, on our budget, he's getting discounted chicken lo mein. When we're rich, we'll eat brussel sprouts and wish we were poor. Deal?"

"Davy?"

"Quiet, Peter. I don't want to hear any more about vegetables."

"But, Davy-"

"We're almost to the restaurant. Too late to change directions now."

"Davy!"

"What?" Davy turned to the bassist in annoyance.

Peter pointed across the street. "That man's been following us for a while."

Davy looked over to see who Peter was pointing at. "Do you recognize him?"

"I'm pretty sure I saw him while we were campaigning earlier."

"Yeah, that's what I thought. He must be one of Zeckenbush's men. Come on!"

Peter followed Davy into the restaurant. They ran through the dining area and into the kitchen. "Lori? It's me, Davy!"

A girl ran over to them. "Davy? What's going on?"

"Sorry to barge in like this, love. There's a man following us."

"Hi! I'm Peter." Peter held out his hand to the very pretty girl.

"Hello, Peter. I'm Lori," she smiled as she shook his hand. She turned back to Davy. "Are you in some kind of trouble?"

"Well, that guy works for someone who doesn't like us, so I guess we are."

Lori nodded, then called to an older man who was chopping vegetables. He walked over and the two of them began talking in Mandarin. Lori turned back to the two Monkees. "My father says you can hide in our apartment upstairs until the man leaves. And that if he comes in here asking about you, he's going to say he threw you both out for looking at his daughter."

"Thanks, Lori. You're the best!" Davy gave her a hug. Peter bowed respectfully to her father. Lori led them up the narrow stairs to their small apartment. A woman was there with a small child. Lori quickly explained the situation to the woman. "This is my mother. She said you're most welcome."

Davy and Peter both bowed to her and gave their thanks. Lori disappeared back down the stairs before Davy could get a kiss from her.

~M~

"We really need to let the others know what's going on."

Davy stood up off the floor to take a turn watching at the window. "You're right. It's been almost half an hour. Mike's already on edge. We don't need him freaking out because we're gone too long. We're going to push being able to get Mike to the station on time as it is."

Peter left his perch at the window where he'd been watching the man walk back and forth in front of the restaurant. "Excuse me, ma'am."

Lori's mother stood up from where she had been rocking her little boy. Peter thought for a moment, then began using a mixture of pantomime and the random words he'd learned from fortune cookies to try to explain that he needed to use a phone. The woman understood and motioned for him to follow her downstairs.

Davy was growing impatient by the time Peter came back upstairs. "Did you call everyone in the city?"

Peter shook his head. "I called the Pad six times. No one ever answered. We need to get home in case Zeckenbush has done something to them."

"I'm sure they're just out on the beach," Davy knew neither of them believed that explanation. "That stooge out front keeps staring at this place like a loon. I really don't know how we can get out of here without him seeing us."

"I have an idea." Lori came up the stairs with her mother. "Actually it's my father's idea. He's going to go out and offer food to that man. And annoy him so he's not paying attention to the restaurant while the two of you sneak out."

Peter, Davy, and Lori hid just inside the door as Lori's father walked across the street with a pan of rice. He began loudly speaking in a jumbled mixture of Mandarin and English as he held the pan out to the hired thug. The man tried to back away from the hot pan being tossed towards him. As soon as he was turned with his back to the restaurant, Davy and Peter took off running down the street.

~M~

The two exhausted Monkees tripped as they tried to go through the doorway at the same time. Davy looked up from where he lay on the floor. "Mike? Micky? Are you here?"

When no answer came, Peter stood up and hurried to the bay window. "I don't see them on the beach."

Davy pulled himself up. "You check upstairs. If they did go somewhere, they would have left a note, right?"

Peter nodded as he ran up the stairs as fast as his tired legs would let him. Davy searched the kitchen in the usual places they leave notes.

"They're not up here," Peter shouted as he came back down.

"There's no note, either."

"Do you think Zeckenbush had his henchmen take them away so Mike wouldn't expose him on television tonight?"

"It's a possibility. Let's go down to Mayor Motley's office. If the guys were kidnapped, we should be able to find some clues."