Chapter Fifteen
"Isn't it beautiful?" Lena whispered quietly into Cleon's ear, as she snuggled closer, underneath his arm.
Cleon nodded in agreement, admiring the magnificent beauty of the starry sky on a cloudless night.
Dora and Jake settled quietly on two comfortable looking deck chairs nearby, growing weary from the lateness of the hour.
Michael and Kitt joined the others already assembled at the empty field beside the Music Hall, awaiting the fireworks display.
"Any luck?" Cleon asked.
"Nope. The manager wasn't in his office and his assistant says the band is gone for the night. Claims he doesn't know where they are staying," Michael replied.
"Michael, I believe he was lying," Kitt replied.
"I'm sure he was, Kitt," Michael agreed.
"Do you mind if I ask what is going on?" Lena asked gently. "In the lobby, you only mentioned that you had some kind of misunderstanding with the band members. I don't mean to pry, but if there is anything I can do, I'd like to help."
"I really need to speak with the band members," Michael said, looking deeply into Lena's eyes.
Lena looked away, dismayed. "I don't know..."
"Lena, please! Can you help me?" Michael asked tenderly.
Lena nodded slowly. "The manager, Tony Marino is my brother. Let me talk to him," she offered.
Nodding in agreement, Michael sighed a breath of relief, "That's great. I really appreciate it," he answered.
"I'll be right back," Lena said as she walked away.
As she disappeared into the Music Hall, the music emanating from the loud speakers suddenly grew louder; trumpets blared and drum rolls could be heard across the field. With each blast a burst of color exploded against the dark background. No one noticed as Kitt and Michael slipped away to follow Lena.
"Kitt, can you scan the Music Hall and see where she went?" Michael asked.
"Michael, there are three people in a back room behind the stage and another nearby," Kitt answered.
"Can you hear them?" Michael asked.
"I'm afraid not, Michael," Kitt answered, "Something is interfering with my reception. It appears to be originating from the roof of the Music Hall."
"Could it be the audio system?" Michael suggested.
"No, I don't think so Michael. It appears to be an energy source of which I am not familiar," Kitt explained. "I am sure once we get inside, the reception will be much clearer."
Entering through the lobby, Kitt immediately activated the audio function of his watch.
"Tony, I am sorry," a sobbing voice begged. "Please don't tell Miss Packard. I'll be more careful. No one knows anything! I'm sure," the voice muffled into sobs.
"Did you recognize him, Josh?" a familiar voice asked angrily.
"Michael, I recognize that voice. This voice pattern most definitely belongs to Tony Marino," Kitt concluded.
"I know I've seen him before, but I don't recall his name," answered Josh.
"Would you recognize his face?" Tony asked.
"I think so. Like I said I got a pretty good look at him at the reception in the lobby, when he was talking to Tina," Josh replied. "Perhaps if we both looked through the identification photos of today's guests we might recognize him."
"Okay, that sounds good," Tony reasoned.
Footsteps and a creaking floor were heard, followed by a heavy door squeaking open.
"Lena? What are you doing here?" Tony asked frantically. "Is something wrong? Are the holographic emitters not functioning again?"
"No, they are working fine," Lena said calmly. "I need to talk to you about Class Action. Someone is asking about them and I am not sure what you want me to say. I think perhaps you should talk to him."
"What does he want with Class Action, they are finished for the day," Tony insisted.
"An old friend of Cleon's wants to talk to the band. He says there was some kind of misunderstanding he wants to clear up. Something happened in the lobby that seems to have really upset him," Lena explained.
"Lena, did he say what happened?" Tony asked.
"No, not really, but it seems very important to him that he clears it up," Lena said thoughtfully.
"Tony, that sounds like the same guy!" Josh exclaimed.
"What is his name Lena?" Tony demanded.
"I know his first name is Michael, but I can't remember his last name," Lena said.
"Michael..... Michael..... hmmmm, can we do a search through the guest files?" Josh asked.
"'Tony, I really don't think all this is necessary. Why can't we just tell him about the holographic imaging systems? Lena asked."Lena, please, we don't have the signed authorization release on Class Action back yet," Tony pleaded. "It's just a technicality, but with my record, you know what trouble I can get into if this gets out. Miss Packard is angry enough that the black light's stabilizers are offline again. Thank God you were able to field that call from the Foundation. What did you tell her again?"
"What is it with the black lights?" Lena asked. "I told April that they were harmless. And they are aren't they? Miss Packard said the black lights could not possibly harm anyone and everything was taken care of. I didn't know there was still a problem with the stabilizers. Do you know something I don't?" Lena demanded.
"No, nothing, of course not! Tony quickly insisted. "I don't have anything to do with research and development, that's your field!"
"Not anymore, I haven't worked on the black lights since they left the lab. Tony if there is a problem, I need to know about it so we can take them down and make the appropriate adjustments," Lena retorted.
"Listen; forget I mentioned the black lights or their stabilizers. And as far as anyone is concerned, Class Action isn't playing here, until further notice," Tony said firmly. "Don't make waves Lena, let it die. When this Michael person realizes that Class Action is not here, he will go home and forget about it. He is probably just some star-crazed fan," Tony explained, trying to convince himself as much as the others.
"Come-on, Tina, Josh. Let's check those photos. Maybe if we find out who this Michael is we can give the guy complimentary tickets to the World Series or something,"
"Michael, what do you make of this?" Kitt asked.
"Kitt, I think something stinks and we gonna sniff it out!" Michael said forcefully.
"Michael, must you use such a crass metaphor?" Kitt asked.
"Come with me," Michael suggested. "I want to get a good look at 'Josh' and 'Tina'."
They quickly slipped out the door into the shadows of the night.