If anyone is an Alex fan Im sorry if she comes across bitchy in this
story. Anyway I forgot a disclaimer when i started writing this so: I
own none of the angels or characters from the Charlie's Angels movie.
Thanks for reading!
*-*-*-*-*
Alex drove the sunny streets from the agency to the dock of San Pedro
Harbor. The last time she had been down that way was when they found
the Merkin and Seamus O'Grady. She passed the dock where the Merkin
had been berthed. A large freighter by the name of Edelweiss was
now there flying an Australian flag. She wondered if the owner didn't
realize that Austria is where edelweiss grew and not Australia as she
pulled up in front of the customs office.
She got out of the car and went inside. The office was cool from the
air conditioning and two men wearing the blue uniforms of customs
officials sat watching TV. "Hello," she said getting their attention away from the morning game show they were watching intensely.
"I still say it's higher than $1000," said the pudgy one with a
moustache. "She's a fool to bid a dollar." He rocked his chair back
on its back legs and took a sip of coffee. Alex made a quick estimate
of his wait combined with the angel the chair was leaning at and knew
that the man falling backwards was inevitable.
"Nah," said the second, a younger man with sun bleached blond hair
and a nice build. "She did the right thing. I would guess more than
five hundred fifty." Neither had realized she was there.
"Excuse me," she said loudly. That got their attention and made the
pudgy one fall over with a crash. The younger one tried not to
snicker at his friend and went over to assist the lovely woman who
stood at the counter.
"Sorry about the wait, how can I help you?" the young one asked. As
he stood there Alex made note that the name on his name tag was
O'Brian.
"I have a few questions about procedures and a shipment," said Alex.
"Well we aren't allowed to discuss some things," said the pudgy man
dabbing at the large coffee stain on his shirt with a rough brown
paper towel.
"I'm doing an article on the Faberge Egg exhibit that the museum is
opening in two days. It was my understanding that they passed through
here and I was curious how the procedure for something that valuable
works. I think the public would like to know," said Alex batting her
big brown eyes.
"Yeah I remember that. Lots of security for something like that. All
paid for by the museum, but our own procedures for something like
that isn't anything special. Generally we don't know what is coming
in until the ship docks and the manifest arrives here. That is when
we know if there is anything on board that needs extra care like
those eggs. Would you like to come back and have a seat?"
Alex nodded and entered the waist high swinging gate that led to
behind the counter area. O'Brian pulled an old-fashioned wooded
office chair out for her. "Thanks" she said sitting and crossing her
legs. "Can you tell me if anything exciting happened when the eggs
arrived?"
"'Pends on what you mean by exciting," said the pudgy one who's name
tag read Ronning.
"What do you consider exciting Mr. Ronning," asked Alex.
"Not the arrival of those eggs for sure. It was pretty standard. We
got the manifest and called the museum. We have to call the museum
they always pick their stuff up with their people, guess they think
it's safer that way. While we wait for them the crew brings the box
in here for security reasons." Ronning went over and poured another
cup of coffee. "Hey, Rick" he called to the younger man, "Looks like
the dollar bid was right she's spinning the wheel now."
Rick looked at Alex, "I'm sorry it looked like Ed forgot his manners.
Would you like a cup of coffee?"
"No, thank you. Too much caffeine isn't good for me," she replied.
"Yeah I know what you mean but if it wasn't for the coffee I'd fall
asleep working here."
"Is it that dull?" she asked wondering if maybe that is how the eggs
were stolen.
"No not really. I lost a bet and have to do all the paperwork for the
next two weeks. So anyway the day the eggs arrived we called the
museum and they came out with their security and got them and that
was that."
Ed rejoined them and said, "Yeah that museum woman was a looker too.
Remember her Rick?" Rick just nodded and continued looking at
Alex. "Anyway she gets here with her in-tour-age."
"You mean entourage," said Rick correcting him.
"That's what I said," replied Ed. "She gets here with her in-tour-age
and is snippy with that English accent of hers. She says she wants to
see the eggs first. No problem. We need to check to make sure no
drugs or contraband is being smuggled. She gets all huffy and tells us
she has to check them alone. Fine, I tells her but we reserve the
right to do a body search on the way out."
Alex didn't say a word she just sat there listening. "Hey it's not
like I wanted to grope the broad but if she didn't want us to see
what was in the box fine by me. So she goes in and Rick opens the box
and leaves the room."
"Did you see anything?" she asked.
"Just lots of straw and some paper but not the eggs. She came out and
told everyone they were okay and two of the museum guys came in and
took the crate and put it in the truck," said Rick. Ed snorted and
announced his intention of "going to the john". They watched him get
up and leave as Alex's cell rang.
"Munday," she answered. "Hi Nat,really.yeah I'm here now. Okay I'll
meet you later. Got it bye." She disconnected then to Rick
said, "That was my co-worker. We are writing the article together. So
where were we?"
"The guys took the crate out to the museum truck, the woman signed
the paperwork and they left. That's it. Another interesting day in
the life of a customs officer," he said smiling at her as she thanked
him and stood up to leave.
"Just one more question. How was the box labeled?"
"Labeled?" he asked. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Reader interest, I want to have all the bases cover whether or not
we use it.
"Standard AWB. That stands for airway bill-they are called that
whether or not they come by sea." Alex thanked Rick again and headed
back out to the car. She hadn't learned much and it frustrated her,
but she had an idea that she could use for later.
*-*-*-*-*
Natalie helped Kate set up the exhibit at the museum and then they
returned to the office together. They went inside and flopped tiredly
on the couch. "Thank you again for helping, not only in trying to
find who did this but setting up the exhibit today. I don't think I
ever had so much fun before."
"I like it. I think that was one thing I haven't done before. Who
would have thought it was so complicated for the four little eggs.
Lighting, height adjustment, worrying about the alarm system, wow I
sort of thought it was just toss them in the case and let the public
see them."
"How I wish it were so simple. Really Natalie, it means so much to
me. I'd like to tell you I consider you a friend," said Kate setting
her hand on Nat's arm.
"Really?" asked Natalie.
"Really. I've never had any close girlfriends and you showed me what
I have been missing."
"You must have had some growing up."
"My family moved quite a bit. I was born in Moscow but in 1978 my
Great Uncle, the one I was tell you about defected to the United
States. My father because of the pressure my uncles defection put on
him took my mother and I and defected to the UK not long after. I had
a hard time as a child because I didn't speak English so that made it
difficult for me to make friends. We moved several times within the
US. I did learn English and by that time I was so involved in my
studies that I didn't have time to make friends, at least not close
ones," said Kate sadly.
Natalie studied the woman next to her and decided that the angels
would be her friends. She was the type of woman that would fit in
well with them, funny, pretty and smart. She was sure that Alex and
Dylan would like her as well once they got to know her. "You said you
visited your uncle a few months ago."
"Yes," said Kate perking up. "He is a wonderful man. I just wish I
could reach him again. I plan on driving out to his place tomorrow
and make sure he is okay. I'd hate for something to have happened to
him and not know about it.
"Happened to who?" asked Dylan bounding into the office. She had gone
back to her place and changed into a pair of jeans and a t-
shirt. "Hey Natalie, Kate," she held out her hand and shook with
their client.
"Kate is worried about her Uncle."
"Nothing has happened to him I hope," said Dylan sitting across from
the other two women.
"Me too. As I was telling Natalie I was visiting him here two months
ago when I came to LA for the interview and I haven't head from him
since. He was getting up in years and since I came back I haven't
been able to reach him. I'm sure he is fine but I plan on checking on
him tomorrow."
"So Dylan," asked Nat changing the subject. "Did you find anything
out?"
Dylan folded her legs underneath her and began, "Well we met with
Neville Rutherford. The man is a pervert by the way. His nickname
shouldn't be `Ruthless' but `Randy'. Anyway we got there and he
didn't realize that the eggs were stolen. He said he would find out
who stole them and get back to me. I told him I would get back to
him."
"Do you believe that this man can find out where the eggs are?" asked
Kate doubtfully.
"For the right price you can find out anything," replied Dylan. "He
apparently tried to get a hold of an egg a few years ago and ended up
with a fake. That was the problem going to him. He didn't know they
were stolen and now he does know he wants them as well."
Alex entered the room and looked at her friends. "Hey, what's going
on?"
"Just discussing information with Kate," said Natalie perkily.
"So what do we have?" asked Alex. Kate repeated what Dylan and
Natalie had found out about Rutherford and the airway bill while Alex
listened. "Okay now I have a question why didn't you let the customs
agents in with you to check the box?"
Her question took Kate by surprise and she looked at the other
angels. "You don't mean to imply that I stole the eggs do you?"
"I'm not implying anything." Said Alex. "I was just asking? They
seemed to think it was unusual for someone to open a shipment without
the inspectors in the room."
Kate took on a defensive posture. She didn't like being accused of
things and she especially didn't like being accused of stealing the
eggs. Alex could deny it all she wanted but that was exactly what she
was doing. "You have to understand the value of the eggs. Over the
years the Hermitage has been trying to get the eggs back from private
collectors all over the world. Within the last two years they have
succeeded in retrieving all of them but one. The problem with the
last on is we don't know where it is or what it looks like. Because
they have had so many problems we, I, have been instructed to use
the utmost discretion around the eggs when they are not within a
secure environment."
Alex was about to speak when Kate raised her hand and stopped
her, "Let me finish. I know you were at the harbor today and so you
know that it is not a secure environment. Were the same two oafs
there who were when I went to pick up the shipment?" Alex simply
nodded. "Then you see the eggs weren't secure at all."
"Fine," said Alex, "But why didn't you have another museum employee
in with you. I don't mean to point fingers but right now all we have
is your word that the eggs were originals when they arrived here and
fakes when they arrived in the museum."
"Like who, Ms Munday?" asked Kate nastily. "As I explained at our
first meeting there isn't anyone else here in LA that can tell
whether or not the eggs are real. What good would it have done?"
"Perhaps it would have helped if someone was in the room to verify
that the shipping labels weren't switched," Alex replied.
Dylan and Natalie sat in silence watching the two go at it like a
tennis match. They both had to admit that Alex had valid points but
neither felt that Kate was responsible. It was just a gut instinct
that they had.
"If you want I'll take a lie detector test and if I fail then you can
call me a thief and a liar but not until then." Kate stood and
grabbed her purse. "Thank you for your help Natalie. Nice seeing you
again Dylan." Then she left the room.
"I don't trust her," was all Alex said as she watched the woman leave
the agency.
story. Anyway I forgot a disclaimer when i started writing this so: I
own none of the angels or characters from the Charlie's Angels movie.
Thanks for reading!
*-*-*-*-*
Alex drove the sunny streets from the agency to the dock of San Pedro
Harbor. The last time she had been down that way was when they found
the Merkin and Seamus O'Grady. She passed the dock where the Merkin
had been berthed. A large freighter by the name of Edelweiss was
now there flying an Australian flag. She wondered if the owner didn't
realize that Austria is where edelweiss grew and not Australia as she
pulled up in front of the customs office.
She got out of the car and went inside. The office was cool from the
air conditioning and two men wearing the blue uniforms of customs
officials sat watching TV. "Hello," she said getting their attention away from the morning game show they were watching intensely.
"I still say it's higher than $1000," said the pudgy one with a
moustache. "She's a fool to bid a dollar." He rocked his chair back
on its back legs and took a sip of coffee. Alex made a quick estimate
of his wait combined with the angel the chair was leaning at and knew
that the man falling backwards was inevitable.
"Nah," said the second, a younger man with sun bleached blond hair
and a nice build. "She did the right thing. I would guess more than
five hundred fifty." Neither had realized she was there.
"Excuse me," she said loudly. That got their attention and made the
pudgy one fall over with a crash. The younger one tried not to
snicker at his friend and went over to assist the lovely woman who
stood at the counter.
"Sorry about the wait, how can I help you?" the young one asked. As
he stood there Alex made note that the name on his name tag was
O'Brian.
"I have a few questions about procedures and a shipment," said Alex.
"Well we aren't allowed to discuss some things," said the pudgy man
dabbing at the large coffee stain on his shirt with a rough brown
paper towel.
"I'm doing an article on the Faberge Egg exhibit that the museum is
opening in two days. It was my understanding that they passed through
here and I was curious how the procedure for something that valuable
works. I think the public would like to know," said Alex batting her
big brown eyes.
"Yeah I remember that. Lots of security for something like that. All
paid for by the museum, but our own procedures for something like
that isn't anything special. Generally we don't know what is coming
in until the ship docks and the manifest arrives here. That is when
we know if there is anything on board that needs extra care like
those eggs. Would you like to come back and have a seat?"
Alex nodded and entered the waist high swinging gate that led to
behind the counter area. O'Brian pulled an old-fashioned wooded
office chair out for her. "Thanks" she said sitting and crossing her
legs. "Can you tell me if anything exciting happened when the eggs
arrived?"
"'Pends on what you mean by exciting," said the pudgy one who's name
tag read Ronning.
"What do you consider exciting Mr. Ronning," asked Alex.
"Not the arrival of those eggs for sure. It was pretty standard. We
got the manifest and called the museum. We have to call the museum
they always pick their stuff up with their people, guess they think
it's safer that way. While we wait for them the crew brings the box
in here for security reasons." Ronning went over and poured another
cup of coffee. "Hey, Rick" he called to the younger man, "Looks like
the dollar bid was right she's spinning the wheel now."
Rick looked at Alex, "I'm sorry it looked like Ed forgot his manners.
Would you like a cup of coffee?"
"No, thank you. Too much caffeine isn't good for me," she replied.
"Yeah I know what you mean but if it wasn't for the coffee I'd fall
asleep working here."
"Is it that dull?" she asked wondering if maybe that is how the eggs
were stolen.
"No not really. I lost a bet and have to do all the paperwork for the
next two weeks. So anyway the day the eggs arrived we called the
museum and they came out with their security and got them and that
was that."
Ed rejoined them and said, "Yeah that museum woman was a looker too.
Remember her Rick?" Rick just nodded and continued looking at
Alex. "Anyway she gets here with her in-tour-age."
"You mean entourage," said Rick correcting him.
"That's what I said," replied Ed. "She gets here with her in-tour-age
and is snippy with that English accent of hers. She says she wants to
see the eggs first. No problem. We need to check to make sure no
drugs or contraband is being smuggled. She gets all huffy and tells us
she has to check them alone. Fine, I tells her but we reserve the
right to do a body search on the way out."
Alex didn't say a word she just sat there listening. "Hey it's not
like I wanted to grope the broad but if she didn't want us to see
what was in the box fine by me. So she goes in and Rick opens the box
and leaves the room."
"Did you see anything?" she asked.
"Just lots of straw and some paper but not the eggs. She came out and
told everyone they were okay and two of the museum guys came in and
took the crate and put it in the truck," said Rick. Ed snorted and
announced his intention of "going to the john". They watched him get
up and leave as Alex's cell rang.
"Munday," she answered. "Hi Nat,really.yeah I'm here now. Okay I'll
meet you later. Got it bye." She disconnected then to Rick
said, "That was my co-worker. We are writing the article together. So
where were we?"
"The guys took the crate out to the museum truck, the woman signed
the paperwork and they left. That's it. Another interesting day in
the life of a customs officer," he said smiling at her as she thanked
him and stood up to leave.
"Just one more question. How was the box labeled?"
"Labeled?" he asked. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Reader interest, I want to have all the bases cover whether or not
we use it.
"Standard AWB. That stands for airway bill-they are called that
whether or not they come by sea." Alex thanked Rick again and headed
back out to the car. She hadn't learned much and it frustrated her,
but she had an idea that she could use for later.
*-*-*-*-*
Natalie helped Kate set up the exhibit at the museum and then they
returned to the office together. They went inside and flopped tiredly
on the couch. "Thank you again for helping, not only in trying to
find who did this but setting up the exhibit today. I don't think I
ever had so much fun before."
"I like it. I think that was one thing I haven't done before. Who
would have thought it was so complicated for the four little eggs.
Lighting, height adjustment, worrying about the alarm system, wow I
sort of thought it was just toss them in the case and let the public
see them."
"How I wish it were so simple. Really Natalie, it means so much to
me. I'd like to tell you I consider you a friend," said Kate setting
her hand on Nat's arm.
"Really?" asked Natalie.
"Really. I've never had any close girlfriends and you showed me what
I have been missing."
"You must have had some growing up."
"My family moved quite a bit. I was born in Moscow but in 1978 my
Great Uncle, the one I was tell you about defected to the United
States. My father because of the pressure my uncles defection put on
him took my mother and I and defected to the UK not long after. I had
a hard time as a child because I didn't speak English so that made it
difficult for me to make friends. We moved several times within the
US. I did learn English and by that time I was so involved in my
studies that I didn't have time to make friends, at least not close
ones," said Kate sadly.
Natalie studied the woman next to her and decided that the angels
would be her friends. She was the type of woman that would fit in
well with them, funny, pretty and smart. She was sure that Alex and
Dylan would like her as well once they got to know her. "You said you
visited your uncle a few months ago."
"Yes," said Kate perking up. "He is a wonderful man. I just wish I
could reach him again. I plan on driving out to his place tomorrow
and make sure he is okay. I'd hate for something to have happened to
him and not know about it.
"Happened to who?" asked Dylan bounding into the office. She had gone
back to her place and changed into a pair of jeans and a t-
shirt. "Hey Natalie, Kate," she held out her hand and shook with
their client.
"Kate is worried about her Uncle."
"Nothing has happened to him I hope," said Dylan sitting across from
the other two women.
"Me too. As I was telling Natalie I was visiting him here two months
ago when I came to LA for the interview and I haven't head from him
since. He was getting up in years and since I came back I haven't
been able to reach him. I'm sure he is fine but I plan on checking on
him tomorrow."
"So Dylan," asked Nat changing the subject. "Did you find anything
out?"
Dylan folded her legs underneath her and began, "Well we met with
Neville Rutherford. The man is a pervert by the way. His nickname
shouldn't be `Ruthless' but `Randy'. Anyway we got there and he
didn't realize that the eggs were stolen. He said he would find out
who stole them and get back to me. I told him I would get back to
him."
"Do you believe that this man can find out where the eggs are?" asked
Kate doubtfully.
"For the right price you can find out anything," replied Dylan. "He
apparently tried to get a hold of an egg a few years ago and ended up
with a fake. That was the problem going to him. He didn't know they
were stolen and now he does know he wants them as well."
Alex entered the room and looked at her friends. "Hey, what's going
on?"
"Just discussing information with Kate," said Natalie perkily.
"So what do we have?" asked Alex. Kate repeated what Dylan and
Natalie had found out about Rutherford and the airway bill while Alex
listened. "Okay now I have a question why didn't you let the customs
agents in with you to check the box?"
Her question took Kate by surprise and she looked at the other
angels. "You don't mean to imply that I stole the eggs do you?"
"I'm not implying anything." Said Alex. "I was just asking? They
seemed to think it was unusual for someone to open a shipment without
the inspectors in the room."
Kate took on a defensive posture. She didn't like being accused of
things and she especially didn't like being accused of stealing the
eggs. Alex could deny it all she wanted but that was exactly what she
was doing. "You have to understand the value of the eggs. Over the
years the Hermitage has been trying to get the eggs back from private
collectors all over the world. Within the last two years they have
succeeded in retrieving all of them but one. The problem with the
last on is we don't know where it is or what it looks like. Because
they have had so many problems we, I, have been instructed to use
the utmost discretion around the eggs when they are not within a
secure environment."
Alex was about to speak when Kate raised her hand and stopped
her, "Let me finish. I know you were at the harbor today and so you
know that it is not a secure environment. Were the same two oafs
there who were when I went to pick up the shipment?" Alex simply
nodded. "Then you see the eggs weren't secure at all."
"Fine," said Alex, "But why didn't you have another museum employee
in with you. I don't mean to point fingers but right now all we have
is your word that the eggs were originals when they arrived here and
fakes when they arrived in the museum."
"Like who, Ms Munday?" asked Kate nastily. "As I explained at our
first meeting there isn't anyone else here in LA that can tell
whether or not the eggs are real. What good would it have done?"
"Perhaps it would have helped if someone was in the room to verify
that the shipping labels weren't switched," Alex replied.
Dylan and Natalie sat in silence watching the two go at it like a
tennis match. They both had to admit that Alex had valid points but
neither felt that Kate was responsible. It was just a gut instinct
that they had.
"If you want I'll take a lie detector test and if I fail then you can
call me a thief and a liar but not until then." Kate stood and
grabbed her purse. "Thank you for your help Natalie. Nice seeing you
again Dylan." Then she left the room.
"I don't trust her," was all Alex said as she watched the woman leave
the agency.