Author's Note: Here's Chapter Fifteen for you. Now, before you ask, no, I didn't bring up the spanking debate in this chapter, as the office scenes may suggest. But there is some controversial decision making in ties to the subject. If you insist on leaving an opinion in your review (and a review is what I want to see here,) make sure it's about the boss's decision regarding Valerie's treatment. No comments glorifying spanking, especially in the case of severely brain-damaged Jeremy, or I may get as testy as Valerie, depending on my mood. Enjoy the chapter, anyway.

Chapter 15

"Elise, I am shocked," Mr. Sussex said the next morning after reading the memo about Valerie. "What in the hell would possess these people to say such slanderous things about one of our best project managers?"

"My guess is it's the way these people raise their children at home," Elise answered. "Mind you, Brian's an obedient kid about ninety-five percent of the time, and Longarm and I never felt the need to hit him all that much. But Jeremy is much different, and it's a fact that children like him are much harder to discipline. Valerie understands this, and that's why she feels she must be patient with him. But some others don't, and they feel that sharp-tongued 'advice' will help her improve her skills. But personally, I don't think Jeremy's behavior is anyone's business but hers."

"How long has this been going on?" Mr. Sussex asked. "Has this started this week? I know that when I gave you all this assignment on Monday, Donna, Michael and Joe didn't seem to have any objections working with Valerie."

"I wouldn't be so sure, Mr. Sussex," Elise said. "Didn't you notice how uncomfortable they looked when you told us we'd be working with her? As early as the end of that day, we overheard Michael and Joe talking loudly from inside the men's room. Then they came out, glaring at her and whispering. I went to Donna about this, and you know what she said to me? She said, 'How can she possibly be an effective boss? She's not even an effective mother.'

"They didn't confront her about their feelings until yesterday morning. I know Valerie accused them of lying, and said that they don't know Jeremy. Well they don't, for God's sake! Now, Jeremy is a wonderful boy; you should see how well he gets along with Brian. Cindy can attest this with Tyler as well. But you know these obsessively strict disciplinarians; they believe there's no such thing as a perfect little angel. I think that memo explains the rest.

"I can't tell when this whole rumor started. I remember others giving her dirty looks as early as last week, but I thought that had something to do with one of her romances. That Teresa can be quite the gossip."

Mr. Sussex called for Valerie. She looked like she hadn't had a good sleep the night before, and she'd been crying. He said, "You don't look very good, Valerie. Does that confirm everything in this memo to be true?"

Valerie nodded rapidly. "I'd tell you which is the worst," she said, "but they all seem to be very hostile. Just because Donna boasts about slapping her fourteen-year-old daughter and eleven-year-old son, and getting in their faces every hour of every damn day; just because Michael and his wife like to get pushy with their two daughters, don't believe they should be trusted for anything, and don't let them out at night even for school functions; just because Joe thinks he can get through to his children by screaming and swatting at them constantly, it doesn't give them the right to dictate what I should do with Jeremy! At least he still loves and respects me. I'd like to hear them say that about their kids!"

"Do you tell them what to do with their kids?" Mr. Sussex asked. "Do you tell them to adopt your parenting methods?"

"Certainly not! You know I don't discuss personal stuff during work hours! Probably more lies!"

"The point is," Elise said, "it took us all day Tuesday to interview CF-affected families to be in this thing. If I didn't help Valerie, we probably wouldn't have enough endorsers for the goodies. Donna, Michael and Joe didn't contribute much, and all they did was criticize the leader here." She nodded to Valerie. "Because of them, this is going much slower than expected."

Mr. Sussex shook his head. "I find it disgusting that filming isn't being done on schedule," he said, "because a group of know-it-all parents decided to bully one of my prized employees about her own parenting skills when it's none of their business. I'm thanking God that they're expecting this at the end of the month with all the editing!" He pressed the intercom button and said, "Teresa, call Donna Grayson, Michael Hammer and Joe DiTorino into my office, please!"

A few minutes later, the door opened, and in walked the instigators. Donna Grayson was forty-one, with long brunette hair halfway down her back, wearing a dress of red flowers. Michael Hammer was in his mid-forties with fudge-colored hair, glasses and a thick mustache, wearing a dark gray suit and navy tie. Joe DiTorino was younger, around late thirties, with jet-black hair and a much thinner mustache. He was a little pudgy underneath his blue shirt and white khakis.

Mr. Sussex gave the memo to Donna. He said, "Donna, would you please explain the concept of Elise O'Malley's memo to me?"

She read the memo and looked just as disgusted as her employer. "Well," she said, "this is becoming very typical of Elise, coming to Valerie's defense like this. Mr. Sussex, on behalf of Michael and Joe, I'd like to say that Valerie has been very shrewish throughout this whole project. Ever since we started working, she's been hostile, getting into our faces a lot, screaming at us like the bratty kids we weren't."

"Donna, that's because you and your little hooligans decided to pick fights with me the whole goddamn time about the way I raise Jeremy!" Valerie spat. "All to the point where you made me cry, I might add! And all because of a stupid little rumor that someone started, that you shouldn't have believed!"

"It was started by Linda Fortense, from the legal department!" Joe interjected. "And we should have believed it! Especially since that kid of yours probably does act out a lot!"

"That's another thing, sir," Donna added. "How can we expect Valerie to act as a credible project manager when she doesn't have her personal affairs in order? We know her ten-year-old has lifelong effects Shaken Baby Syndrome – my God, it's all she ever talks about when she's not working – but she uses that as an excuse to let him walk all over her."

Oh, God, this is my marriage to Tom all over again!, she thought bitterly. She took a breath to keep calm, and explained, "Look, my son has outbursts, but that's only on occasion. He can't sit still for long periods of time, but that can't be helped, I know! Do you want to know how often I had to take him to the hospital after my ex-husband shook him so violently and threw him around? The staff started calling me by my first name after three months. Jeremy's brain damage became so severe, the doctors declared he'd never learn the simple concept of right from wrong."

"And you've come to accept that!" Michael guessed incredulously. "You are such a wimp, Valerie. If that were my kid, my wife and I would not take it. We would smack him around whenever he acted up."

"Smacking and belting Jeremy around whenever he acted up and brought home bad grades was Tom's major department," Valerie replied. "And that was when he was sober. You don't want to know what he'd do when he was usually drunk! He'd even do this when Jeremy was behaving himself. And look what I have to deal with now. Jeremy can walk, but isn't coordinated enough to do any chores beyond picking things up from the floor. He can't understand very many rules, no matter how clearly I speak. He needs care twenty-four hours a day, which is why my stay-at-home sister insisted I live in her neighborhood. I even have to put in a special school for the handicapped. You think he can survive regular school, where he can get teased easily? He can't!" She was close to crying.

"Oh, Valerie, you are so conscious, yet you are so naïve," Joe said. "A good swatting, maybe even two or three, isn't going to do him any harm. Young kids know a lot about manipulating their parents. I should know, I have six of my own. Whenever they talk back to me or their mother, or try to be too independent–"

"Well, I won't have to worry about that!" Valerie lamented. "Jeremy can't even talk at a normal rate; you think he'd have enough strength for backtalk? I don't think so! And he can't even defend himself against other people, so I don't have to worry about him bullying!"

Mr. Sussex took notes during the confrontation. He read them over, then looked directly at Michael, Donna and Joe. "Regardless of whether or not you approve of shaking a baby," he began, "your treatment towards Valerie on this project was inexcusable. I met Jeremy when she brought him here to meet with our client from Dempsey Foods. I think he's a sweet boy, despite some behavioral problems totally beyond his control. If I thought otherwise, I would've never accepted Valerie's print ad for the Neapolitan Ice Cream Puffs cereal, and neither would Peter Dempsey. I think Valerie is doing some things right with him, and you three should be ashamed of yourselves for judging her just because her parenting styles don't match yours."

They didn't look apologetic to her, but it was too late anyway. Mr. Sussex continued, "Donna, Michael and Joe, you three are off the project. Valerie, you'll assist Elise with the production. Joe, I'll assign Matt to take over direction. Meanwhile, I'm taking this to the foundation. Hopefully, I won't have to reschedule the final meeting. You are all dismissed."

Valerie didn't walk out feeling victorious, but she did hope the harassment was all over. She didn't care if there was more gossip; she'd try to ignore it. But nobody would tell her she was a bad mother when she knew she wasn't. Still, her ex-team members confronted her and Elise in the hallway.

"Thanks a lot, bitch!" Joe barked. "You just cost us all raises! You're going to answer to my wife and family if they go hungry because of this!"

"And I'm a single mother just like you!" Donna barked louder. "If I can't support my kids and lose my home because of you, I'll make you wish you never came to Empire City!"

Michael just shook his head and asked, "Elise, what's gotten into you? You used to be so tough and dynamic. You were never this defensive before Valerie came."

They stopped outside Valerie's office. "Cry me a fucking river!" Elise sneered. "You should've thought about those raises when you were making Valerie miserable this week. It's your own damn fault!"

"Look, I really don't care if you don't let your children play with my son," Valerie said. She went into her office for her laptop, writing tablet and pens. "You have no right to say that Jeremy is wild and bad when you've never even met him! And you have no right to point at me just because he may be a little harder to tame than most children! I'll have you know he's been through enough!" She walked out quickly, headed for the main doors.

"Wait up, Valerie!" Elise called. "We have to wait for Matt! What if he doesn't know where the Breath For Life headquarters are?"

"And cut!" Matt called. He checked his watch and became a little surprised. "That's lunch!"

They were in the office of Lawrence Hyatt, president of the Breath For Life Foundation. They had spent three hours shooting him and his friend, chairman Jeff Canada, talking about the candy they were giving away for funds. Valerie and Elise looked up at the clock above the bulletin board. It was one o'clock.

"Yipes, we worked through our lunch hour!" Valerie declared. "Ugh, that's what you get when you wait until 10 A.M. to start filming. People, let's take an hour for lunch!" She hoped Mr. Sussex wouldn't mind. After all, they could always go until seven or eight.

They were surprised to meet Longarm and Mace in the front hall. Elise and Valerie kissed their men, and Valerie said, "Fancy for you guys to come here. Let me guess, you were busting perps through your lunch hour."

"Sort of," Mace replied. "Longarm and I were together all mornin', and it's been crazy. Big Boss and his goons got out again!"

Valerie rolled her eyes. "So what else is new?"

"You remember those audio tapes they distributed to the schools last month?" Mace asked. "This time, they raided the TV station to hypnotize the regular folks, too. We got this call from Whitney Morgan, statin' the Big Boss an' Dr. Badvibes were chantin' all these weird mantras on cameras, tellin' whoever watched to worship and steal for 'em. Then right away, in come the calls from businesses all over the city, reportin' people walkin' around like zombies, takin' whatever they could get their hands on. Supermarkets addin' that people are walkin' out with shoppin' baskets in hand. Jesus, we were jumpin' from one crime spree to another."

Elise exhaled with relief. "Thank God I'm not a stay-at-home mother," she said. "If I have to see that crap while watching soap operas and game shows, I'd rather work."

But Valerie immediately became worried about her family, specifically Jeremy. She excused herself, took out her cell phone and dialed Karen's house. She got no answer, so she called her mother. When she heard Polly answer, she said, "Mom, it's Valerie. Listen, have you heard from Karen at all today?"

"She said that Drew and Sheldon had to work all day today, so I'm assuming it's just her and Jeremy at the house," Polly answered. "Is she not at home now? Maybe they went shopping."

"I have to know if Jeremy or anyone else has been watching television this morning." She explained about the Big Boss' latest crime plan, and Polly became alert.

"You mean that strange broadcast?" she asked. "It came on during The Price Is Right. I was on the phone with my friend, Jeanne, at the moment, so I had the television muted. However, as soon as I returned to the set, I saw the Big Boss and his nerdy-looking sidekick on. Feeling something bad might happen if I watched and listened at the same time, I started flipping channels with it still muted. I saw it was on every channel, so I turned it off to be safe."

Valerie put her mother on hold and relayed to Longarm and Mace, "It was on every channel." She returned to Polly. "Mom, keep the set off, and if Karen and Jeremy come over to see you, tell him he's not allowed to watch any television while he's there. I don't know if he would or not, but I don't want him to be hypnotized to commit a crime. And maybe let Rhonda in on this, too. I'm worried about Caleb and the girls."

"I was thinking about them, so I called the house to check," Polly said. "I talked to Nicole. She was putting laundry in the dryer while Caleb was watching television. She overheard the broadcast and realized what it was, so she ran over to turn off the TV without looking at it. Well, Caleb was already in a trance, so she grabbed him before he could leave the house, and watered him down with the kitchen sink hose. He snapped out of it after a few slaps. She added that Sarah was out at her summer job."

"Thank God!" Valerie sighed. "But I'm still concerned about Jeremy. Do you have Karen's cell number?"

Polly gave it to her, but by the time she hung up, she noticed Longarm's car arrive at Family Choices. Valerie was even more surprised. "Oh, and you're taking us to lunch?" she said. "Now I know why you guys showed up. Thanks, you're so sweet." She leaned forward to kiss Mace.

"Hey, we were going to tell you ladies, until you started chatting on your phone, Valerie," Longarm said. "Mace wanted to meet everyone else over at the food court at St. Charles Place, but I suggested we find you and take you out somewhere nice."

"That was very thoughtful," Elise replied, kissing him.

When they were seated, Valerie immediately excused herself to the women's room. There, she dialed Karen's cell number and waited through three rings. Then, her sister's voice. "Hello?"

"Karen?" she said. "Karen, it's Valerie. Listen, what did you do this morning? Did you watch any television together or something?"

"Not really," Karen answered. "Soon after my boys left, I caught Jeremy doing some channel surfing. I turned it off and told him, 'We're not going to be watching any TV today.' So I took him to my computer, and he helped me pick out some bedroom furniture. I'm designing a woman's apartment, and he was attracted to this beautiful pink bed ensemble, and candles that smelled like apples and strawberries. Then, we went to cash some checks, and spent the rest of the morning at the mall looking for the perfect birthday gift for you. We have some ideas, and I found a better movie than that Alice Show Murders shit. Oh, and I have to take him to the doctor this afternoon. Why, is there something I should know about?"

Valerie explained the C.O.P.S.' latest case, and Karen looked stunned. She explained, "Well, when we were at the Panama Lane Mall, we passed an electronics store playing that broadcast on the TV's. The volume must've been turned down because everyone in there looked normal and casual. But I swear, when Jeremy saw the Big Boss and Dr. Badvibes' faces on the screens, he just flipped out and took off running. Luckily, I caught him, and you should've seen him. It was as if he was in a haunted house. He wanted to know what all those 'ugly, creepy things' were. I told him, and he just froze up, like he remembered them from somewhere."

"So I gather he's not going to be watching any more television until this blows over."

"He just may not. I don't think he'd be hypnotized easily. I think those bastards look a little too scary for him."

"Well, thank God Jeremy's going to stay safe. Thanks, Karen." She hung up and rushed back to her table.

"Sorry, everyone," she said. "This case you all are working prompted me to check up on Jeremy. Karen said that the sight of Big Boss frightens him. He'd either run away and hide in the bathroom, or babble on about how scary it is."

"Nice to know he'll never be affected," Longarm said. "And thank God we left Brian with my father. Dad said he'd take him to the lake today."

"Well, if this topic is exhausted, let's eat," Elise suggested. They went to get their plates, and select what foods to eat.

As Valerie ate, she wondered what would cause Jeremy to be so scared of the Big Boss. She thought back to when she was held hostage at his office, when Jeremy looked desperately thankful to reunite with her, when Hardtop protected them both from being harmed. Perhaps Jeremy looked over at Big Boss and was too frightened to react. Surely this could happen if Buttons McBoomBoom and Turbo Tu-Tone frightened him outside a petting zoo. She'd ask him this when she picked him up.

Meanwhile, back at the agency, Mr. Sussex confronted Linda about Elise's memo. He said, "Linda, I heard from several people that you were the one responsible for starting a rumor about Valerie Boston's parenting. He opened the top drawer and retrieved the memo he'd kept in the "employee incident" files. "Read it over, and tell me if you have anything to say for yourself."

Linda read and shook her head, not looking fazed. "I'm sorry, sir," she said, "but in defense of Donna, Michael and Joe, I have to say that the allegations against Valerie are true."

"And this justifies Valerie nearly having a personal breakdown in the middle of work for a client?" Mr. Sussex said gruffly. "Because of this, I had to dismiss those three and have Matt from video help her and Elise. One of our policies is you don't question a project manager's authority during an assignment. Furthermore, scheduled filming time on this thirty-minute infomercial was wasted yesterday, because these three decided to spend it criticizing her over something so stupidly personal as proper parenting techniques. Thank goodness the Breath For Life Foundation said nothing about it, or else I would've really been angry!"

"Well, Mr. Sussex," Linda replied, "it is my personal opinion that Valerie Boston is not 'Mother of the Year' material. As you're aware, around half the staff at this agency are parents, including myself, Donna, Michael and Joe. As tough, conservative and no-nonsensy businesspeople, we all tend to exercise the same authority with all our children. Just because Valerie has one child with special needs, it doesn't mean she should be any different."

"I disagree, Linda," he said. "If only you saw this kid with his types of injuries, you'd see just how different Valerie's situation is."

She thought about it for a few moments. "All right, maybe disciplining a kid like hers would take a little more time than normal," she agreed. "But we all know that kids like this one are more mischievous than normal. My God, you can't take your eyes off them for a second. Mr. Sussex, I think she'd gain a little more respect with her team members if she would 'crack the whip' with her son more often. There's absolutely no reason why he should be disturbing people with his outbursts, fidgeting around in his seat, act so disobedient when told to do something, and the like. Behaviors like these should earn him a few swats on the rear and a timeout. In fact, I think he should be spanked regularly. Maybe even a slap across the head or face, if necessary. Perhaps we wouldn't be questioning her authority as manager if she exercised some of that in her home. Brain injuries should not be an excuse for her to be so passive."

Now Mr. Sussex was in a worse mood. "Linda, do you even know how ignorant that sounded? You and some others really need to educate yourselves on Shaken Baby Syndrome, understand how fragile young Jeremy's condition is from being shaken so often, and learn the consequences of the resulting brain damage. Both Mr. Lancer and I are convinced that Jeremy can't understand basic rules unless he sees the consequences. And Cindy and Elise can tell you that Jeremy is a sweet, non-violent child who's easy to get along with. Just give him a chance, and you'll see how wrong you are. Do you have a child around his age?"

"I have a ten-year-old daughter," Linda answered, "and I've told her she's not allowed to play with Jeremy because of this. Cindy and Elise are just covering up for Valerie if they're encouraging their sons to be friends with him. And I also find it unbelievable that he's so popular with those C.O.P.S., as they say. How do they put up with his rambunctiousness?"

Mr. Sussex became even more alert when she mentioned the C.O.P.S. "That's another thing I want to discuss with you," he said. "I've also been overhearing rumors being spread about Valerie's alleged romances with some members of Bulletproof Vess' special team of police specialists. This has been going on for a month now, and I don't see why Valerie should be subjected to this. I know Teresa's started the rumors about Mace and Hardtop, but lately, a lot of people having also been talking about her alleged affair with yet another member."

"Oh, you mean that one that they're still talking about?" Linda supplied. "That was Stan Hide, also known as Barricade. Yeah, he lives next door to me. About a week ago Sunday, I saw them in his backyard Jacuzzi with Jeremy in tow, and I could've sworn he and Valerie were getting intimate. It was just too juicy to keep to myself. I had to tell Teresa, and I also relayed it to a few other people."

"Yes, I saw the looks Valerie's been getting about it. Looks that I don't think she deserves." Mr. Sussex sipped his coffee, then pressed the intercom button and called, "Teresa, may I see you in my office, please?"

A few minutes later, Teresa walked in to see an empty chair. She sat down without being ordered, Mr. Sussex looking evil at her.

"Teresa, I was just talking with Linda about some recent rumors about Valerie that have been plaguing this agency," he told her.

"If this is about Valerie's date at Barricade's house," Teresa said in defense, "I can assure you that Linda called me to tell about it. Sure, I was thinking, 'Oh my God, she's with another one?' but I wasn't in that kind of mood. I only told Michelle and Nancy."

"Yes, she already told me," Mr. Sussex said. "And although you come off as some love and sex expert, you really must curb your gossiping. It's such hurtful drivel, especially when it's about one of our best employees here. But I want to talk about a worse rumor that Linda practically confessed to starting." He gave her Elise's memo. While she was reading, he said, "As you can see, Teresa, some of our staff members who are parents have been questioning Valerie's methods with her son."

"You mean Jeremy?" Teresa asked. "Yeah, she brought him in when Dempsey came for her print ad. What a sweet kid he is. He kind of reminds me of that little boy from Jerry Maguire."

"Yes, well, what do you think of the way Valerie is raising him?"

"Well, she must be doing something right if she has a happy, well-adjusted kid, despite her sluttish behavior. But I want you to know that I never tell other people what to do and not do with their children. Especially since I don't have any children myself. I may be chatty about a lot of things, but parenting is one thing I don't talk about."

"That's good." Mr. Sussex opened his file drawer of successful print ads. He took out the Neapolitan Ice Cream Puffs ad from Valerie's file. "I want you two to look at the child in both pictures. That's Jeremy. Now, if I thought of him as an out-of-control bratty kid who acts out of spite all the time, I would've rejected that ad, as would our client, and Jeremy would've never been made spokeschild for that new cereal."

"Okay, now what was Valerie thinking here?" Linda objected. "Was she being clever here, or was she just giving Jeremy special treatment for being different? Couldn't she have auditioned some children? I wouldn't be whoring out my kids like this." She handed it back.

"Well, I'm sorry if you feel that way, Linda," Mr. Sussex said, "but in my whole advertising career, I have never seen an idea quite like this. I know a lot of parents in this field are afraid to even consider this idea, because it'd make them look like pushy stage parents. But I wish I had thought about this with my own children."

"And what would be next for young Jeremy? Spokeskid for an array of fruit juices? Sporting equipment? Sorry, sir, but I see this as a form of emotional abuse."

"Really? Because I see this as a parent-child bonding experience that should be encouraged, depending on the assignment. As for Jeremy, if the Children's Hospital gets wind of this, he can serve as spokeschild for Shaken Baby Syndrome awareness. I'll send a memo to Valerie later." He coughed a little. "As for these rumors, Linda, I must insist that they stop right now. You have seen how untrue and damaging they are. And Teresa, you need to keep quiet about anything you see and hear regarding Valerie and those C.O.P.S. She has had a good reputation with this company, and she doesn't need it tainted with malicious gossip. I'll take this to Mr. Lancer, and we can work out a solution together, but if this escalates, I might have to do something drastic with firing."

"We understand, sir," Linda and Teresa said together.

"Thank you," he replied. "You are dismissed."

As they walked down the hall, Linda said gravely, "I still think Valerie needs to stop being so lenient with that kid. If she thinks spanking is going to make him more stressed and defiant… what's wrong with that woman? She needs some parenting classes."

"I'm not going to discuss it myself," Teresa said. "But I am going to do an Google search on Shaken Baby Syndrome. It sounds interesting. Besides, I should be prepared just in case Mr. Right turns out to be Mr. Wrong, and I end up with that type of kid."

Valerie, Elise and Matt finished their first day of filming at seven-thirty that evening. They'd just wrapped up filming the conclusion of the infomercial with Lawrence Hyatt, Jeff Canada and their wives. They'd also done an interview with a single mother of a cystic fibrosis patient, who was a chocolate lover, and especially endorsed the candies. Tomorrow, they had to go out and feed the treats to people on the streets, and get their opinions, as well as interview parents affected by cystic fibrosis about how this is benefiting their cause.

When Valerie picked Jeremy up, Karen greeted her with, "Valerie, you must've had a long day at work. Would you like me to fix you up some dinner? It's homemade breaded chicken fingers and mashed potatoes, Mom's recipes."

"Thanks, but no thanks," Valerie said. "Breath For Life surprised the whole crew with take-out from the Marigold Room. But I would like to take a serving with me for lunch tomorrow. We have to take the candies around Empire City Park and get people's reactions to them. I tried them; they're very good." She took out a bag and gave some chocolate, mint and fruit candies to Karen, Bart and the boys.

"Oh, God, Valerie," Karen said when she bit into a chocolate truffle. "Damn, but these are so good. Consider your lunch prepared."

"If they're selling candy this good as a fundraiser," Bart said, "they're going to make a killing, and a cure will be coming sooner than we expect."

"Awesome, Aunt Valerie!" Sheldon cried. "These chocolate and grape ones are the best. Thanks!"

"Oh, and you never told me," Karen began, "how'd everything go this morning? I take it you got some filming done today. Are these personal endorsements all you have left?"

"And we have to interview CF-ridden families about this," Valerie added. "That's tomorrow afternoon. Some who researched this believe this will be successful and beneficial, too. Fortunately, with those bratty parents off this thing, we managed to get all the filming we had to do at the foundation headquarters done in seven hours." She told about Elise's memo, the argument she had with Donna, Michael and Joe, and Mr. Sussex's thoughts about Jeremy.

She decided to ask Jeremy about the Big Boss at home. When they got there, she sat him on the loveseat, and told about the broadcast she learned from Longarm and Mace. She said, "Auntie Karen told me you had some fears when you saw the Big Boss on TV, and that you ran all over the mall screaming."

"That's… because… Big… Boss… and… Dr. Badvibes… frightened… me," Jeremy said. "Remember… when… Big Boss… kidnapped… you… and… held… you… at his… headquarters? When… Blackbelt… took… me… to… see you,… I… got… a… good… look… at… Big… Boss… and… his… goons. His… followers… are… too… ugly… and… mean… for me… to… even… approach. And… Big Boss… looked… like… a… cross… between… a hog,… a… gorilla… and a… rhinoceros. He's… like… the… ogre… in that… Billy… Goats… Gruff… story,… except… he'd… be… too… fat… to fit… under… the… bridge."

He took his mother's hand. "Please,… Mom. I… think… Big… Boss… and his… crew… would… hurt… me… like… Dad did."

She stopped him before he could say any more. "I think they'd hurt me, too," she said. "And they're too ugly for me to love as well. You know I don't want them, do you? That's why I'm determined to stay with the C.O.P.S. I know one of them will be a better husband to me, and a better father to you. That's all I want for both of us, is the best. You understand?" Jeremy nodded.

She presented her bag of candy and said, "How would you like some of this delicious candy? Tell me what you think of it. They're selling it for charity, you know."

Jeremy selected a truffle, a mint and a fruit piece. He ate them all very quickly, and said, "These… are… great. I… think… they'll… be a… success. May… I… have… more,… please?"

She gave him another mint and fruit candy. "No more chocolate, Jeremy," she insisted. "I need to put you to bed soon."

After Valerie tucked Jeremy in, she went to check her e-mail. The same Spam, a message from Rhonda asking what she wanted to do for her birthday, an offer that said buy five romance novels and get one free. Valerie glanced at that with interest. Romance books would be a good thing for her leisure time, perhaps if she had nothing to do on a Saturday night, or if she had a long air flight. She kept that one and Rhonda's, and deleted all the junk mail. Then, she noticed a message from Sundown. It said, A romantic summer vacation in the Subject line. She clicked on it and read it.

Hello, darling.

Bulletproof just informed me that I have paid vacation time coming, from August 9th to the 23rd. I'm planning to leave Empire City for that whole time. The first week, I'll be treading back to my old roots in the heart of Texas. I owe my family a visit, anyway. Then I'll move on and spend another week in hot, sunny Arizona. I'm hoping you have the same time coming, so we can make it a romantic trip. Jeremy told me he's never seen the Grand Canyon, and I think this first trip would be wonderful for him. I also want to give him the opportunity to learn about the Alamo while in Texas.

I only thought of this because I love you, I love Jeremy, and I want the three of us to be the family that both you and me have long dreamed of. Don't let this chance slip by you. Call me.

All my love and tenderness

Sundown

Valerie looked both happy and concerned at the same time. A vacation down south – or anywhere else – would be very good for her, considering the rumors and lies she's endured around work. But she'd only been working in Empire City for six weeks now. It would be too soon for her to take a vacation. Neither Mr. Lancer nor Mr. Sussex would grant her a paid vacation. Even with a salaried manager like her, an unauthorized leisure trip would come out of the paycheck.

She went to the kitchen to call Sundown.

When she saw his image on the screen, she smiled and said, "Hello, Sundown. I got your e-mail. I'm so glad you got your holidays."

"Me too," he replied. "Empire City can be a crazy hellhole when the crime and corruption git to be too much. Us coppers have been workin' quite hard, ya know."

"Well, if you want to ask if I can come with you," Valerie said, "I don't think I can . As much as I'd love to, I've only been here for six weeks. And boy, would I really love to. You wouldn't believe what I've been through this week!"

"Please don't burden me wit yer problems," Sundown told her. "If those rashin' co-workers of yours are gittin' all riled up about yer boy, I just want you to know that I think he's wonderful, so beautiful. I reckon he'll look just so cute in that advertisement when it hits the magazines soon."

Valerie sighed. "That's so sweet of you, Sundown, but how did you know what's been happening at work? Did Mace tell you? Or Longarm?"

"Nope, it took me back to my olden days. Remember when we were downstairs when you had Mace and me over that one night, an' you asked us to tell us about our lives before Empire City? I told you about some of those disturbance calls I got while workin' the Texas beat. All takin' place in the run-down homes an' the dirty neighborhoods filled with people who like to git their kicks from crack pipes an' Jack Daniels bottles. Disgustin' an' shameful how the west has become these days, where the so-called 'citizens' like to act like white trash. You still wouldn't believe how these people treat their lil' ones, shakin' an' beatin' the stuffin' out of 'em. I had to arrest 'em on the spot fer domestic abuse. I've seen children six years old wit the same problems as Jeremy, and these parents still ain't got no tolerance."

"Yeah, that was Tom, all right. I can't believe you still think about it."

"It's somethin' I've been thinkin' about from time to time, ever since I first met Jeremy."

Valerie yawned a bit. "Well, I can ask Mr. Lancer and Mr. Sussex tomorrow when I finish shooting this infomercial I'm working on. I mean, I've worked hard enough to deserve one, but even I'd agree with them that it'd be too soon right now. Why, at that time, I would be working there for only two months. I'm sure that they'll be able to give me some time in the spring. Now spring break would be nice, having to relive my college days at forty. Or maybe next summer."

"Wait!" Sundown interrupted. "You said 'forty!' Your sister, Karen, she came by our headquarters with Jeremy a couple of days ago, to tell us of yer birthday next week. "I've been makin' a list of gift ideas fer ya."

"Thank you," Valerie replied. "Getting back to your vacation, I'd love to send Jeremy with you. I'm sure he'd love to see the Grand Canyon, too. You mentioned that ad that Jeremy's in. We have to fly on business soon to get his picture on boxes, and they're planning commercials, too. Once this comes up, I just can't stop talking about it. I'm so excited about this. But we should be back just before you have to go."

Sundown accepted that. "Well, that'll be nice. That last time we had was so touchin', I think him an' me should do it again."

"Well, again, I'm sorry if I won't be able to join you, but I can sure make up for it tomorrow night. What do you say we go out to dinner at an old country steakhouse. I think that should be up your alley. Then we can rent a couple of movies, maybe find some romantic western stuff, and I'll even let you spend the night."

Sundown looked shocked. "Valerie!" he cried. "This here's the first time a lady's set up a date for me. That's very unlike them back where I come from."

"Hey, this is a way of saying I'm sorry."

He thought it over, then, "All right. Seein' that, maybe I should spend as much time wit you as I can before I go. So I'll see ya tomorrow night after my shift. Good night, Valerie. I love you."

"I love you, too, Sundown. Good night to you, too." Then they hung up.

Valerie went to the living room to watch TV. There was a western drama on, but it looked more like one of those steamy prime time soap operas. The good-looking cowboy character was getting hit on and groped by one of those innocent damsels in a bedroom scene. She didn't concentrate on the show; instead, she was wondering how romantic Sundown would be in her bedroom.

A/N: This could only be a cliffie if you claimed that last sentence got you hot, and you were wondering what Sundown would be like in bed. Stay tuned next chapter, and don't forget to review.