I own none of the characters that the most righteous Janet Evanovich created, however I did like hers so much that I wanted to play with them and even created some playmates for them.
The words are mine. I own them, but not the premise. I make nothing of tangible value off of any of it…yet.
We left the restaurant and heading for the center of the park where a giant blue sorcerer's hat signaled to everyone that it was the focus of that park. It was there we'd agreed to meet everyone else in our group. When we arrived we were pleased to find that we were the first there for a change, so we did what we do best and inhaled the experience that is Disney and…well, we shopped. We shopped for pins.
By the time everyone joined us we had added several new additions to our growing pin collections on our lanyards and Ranger was even contemplating purchasing a big backpack book to carry them around.
I was fine with the lanyard.
Once again, I am amazed at the things that will attract big strong former military men and keep them fascinated for any length of time. Well, anything other than a consensual sexual partner and big shiny weapons. Those two things just make sense.
After much chatter and shouting over each other to be heard we headed first to the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular.
"Okay, what's this one all about," Ranger asked.
"You've seen the Indiana Jones movies, right," I raised a brow at him.
He stared at me blankly.
I stared back at him for a moment, "Tank," I turned around in my seat to look at the man behind me. "You've seen the Indiana Jones movies, right?"
He also stared at me with a blank look on his face.
"Wait is that Han Solo," Lula frowned.
I moaned, "Seriously…what rock have you guys been living under? Mitch…you know Indiana Jones, right?"
"Er…no," he shook his head and reddened.
"Oh my God," I muttered and looked around at them, "Cal?"
He shook his head sheepishly.
"Woody," I blinked.
He just shook his head and laughed.
"Don't even ask me," Gabe said with a smile.
"Brian," I raised a brow.
He sighed, "sure point out once again how one of these things is not like the other yet again."
"Tell them," I glared.
"After Star Wars came out…"
"Star Wars," Tank frowned.
"Oh dear Lord," I grumbled and got to my feet. "Okay, when you guys were out being heroes and saving the world so the rest of us mere mortals could live safely here at home, a man named Stephen Spielberg created something magical. He created the Indiana Jones movie trilogy."
"I heard there was going to be another," Natalie murmured.
Kate nodded with a grin.
"It's set during World War II or shortly before. The first one is Raiders of the Lost Ark."
"The lost Ark," Lula frowned.
"The Ark of the Covenant," Ali whispered.
"Oh…they're religious movies," Gabe nodded in understanding.
Brian grinned up at me. "You've got them right where you want them sweetheart."
I glared at him. I took a deep breath, "no," I said patiently to Gabe. "They are not religious movies. They're period pieces."
The men frowned.
"Period pieces," Woody frowned.
"A period piece is any movie that is set in a time other than the current," I said tiredly. "These movies were based in WWII and that makes them period pieces with a clear hero…Indiana Jones."
"Who's the villain," Cal asked.
"Well, each movie has a different villain," I frowned thoughtfully. A big smile suddenly lit my face, but the real villain of the movies is the Nazi Party…Hitler."
"Oh," Tank frowned. "That…that's bad."
"Right," I agreed. "Anyway…"
Music started then and a man ran toward the stage.
"I'll explain it later," I sighed and sat back down.
Cal leaned over and tapped my shoulder and grinned at me, "I was shitting you. I know what this is. I just loved seeing that look on your face."
"Ass," I laughed and turned around to face the stage.
"It was so worth it," he grinned at me.
Natalie laughed with him. "Gabe knows too."
"You're asses," I shook my head and focused on the show.
When they took volunteers from the audience, it didn't surprise me in the least that they picked Tank…or Cal. But while Cal easily fell into playing his 'part', Tank was quickly distracted by the gunfire and if Cal hadn't called him off and tackled him I'm afraid the show would have gone pretty badly. There was also a strong chance that someone else in that cast would have been hurt pretty badly. Oh…and we may have been kicked out of the park no matter what our contribution to the solving of Sandy's murder may have been.
We all huddled outside together while I explained Indiana Jones in more detail and Tank finally understood that this was a performance depicting a movie and not a terrorist attack or live event.
Since the Star Wars ride was nearby, we went there next. While we were in line I did my best to explain to Woody, Ranger and Tank what Star Wars was. Then Padma and I stepped out of line, since it wasn't an approved ride for expectant mothers and left them all on their own.
I suppose it would have been better if I'd been there with them, but while they may be used to danger, they are not used to intergalactic danger and the ride left them (Woody, Ranger and Tank) wide-eyed and a little freaked out. After a beer and pretzel, they decided they were good to go.
As a group, with Tank behaving most sheepishly, we agreed something more sedate was in order so we headed to the Great Movie Ride…again…it didn't turn out the way it should have. I just don't think the boys get that this is all pretend. Once again Tank almost tackled some poor helpless cast member and dismembered her in front of a cart full of innocent bystanders. This time it took Cal, Ranger and Mitch to rein him in. Poor Tank, he just can't stand any kind of threat.
After the fiasco of seeing 'shows' that suggested someone may be up to no good, everyone confabbed together and determined that it was best for everyone to go ride the big two rides the park offered. That was 'The Tower of Terror' and 'Rockin' Roller Coaster'. Neither Padma nor I was able to go on those rides, so we found a shady spot outside of the roller coaster and waited for them to come off the ride.
While most of the guys, including my husband came off it grinning and swearing it was the best thing ever, Tank looked a little green. We headed for the Tower of Terror and I explained to him what it was going to be and encouraged him to sit the ride out with me and Padma. Of course, the other guys couldn't or wouldn't let that happen. They harassed and harangued him until he finally agreed to go on the ride with a heavy sigh. Padma and I shook our heads and found a spot near the Tower and settled there with frozen beverages to wait for our friends.
While we sat, we did some people watching, discussed the case a bit and talked about nurseries. What can I say? We're going to be Mom's.
They emerged from the Tower of Terror victorious except for Tank who was a little green. I don't know, maybe he ate something that disagreed with him. Or maybe after riding the roller coaster, indoor roller coaster followed quickly by being dropped several stories continuously while being strapped inside got to him. He stood for a few moments then his eyes got big and he looked at me in desperation. I blinked and pointed him in the direction of the nearest men's room and he hauled ass like the hounds of hell were after him.
He returned paler than I thought he could ever be. We'd collected some crackers and ginger ale for his stomach and the girls crowded around him soothingly and once he was settled we headed for the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater to see Fantasmic which we'd all been assured was a not to be missed technical knock right out of the park.
I don't know about everyone else, but I bounced on my hands during it. There was music, fireworks, laser light show, floats, Disney Characters, fire, water and a truly happy ending. Even if I didn't love Disney, I would go back for Fantasmic in a heartbeat.
Everyone but Ranger and I headed back into the park to enjoy the other rides and we strolled hand in hand back toward the entrance to catch the boat back to our resort. We'd waited till we were among the last out. The other stragglers were strolling ahead of us and neither of us was surprised that we were all couples.
"I really liked it," Ranger said with a smile and kissed my head.
"Me too," I sighed. "I almost wish the bean had been here to see it…not to mention Julie since I know she'd have loved it."
"You know…she had been here before."
"Oh darn, we won't get to bring her here first," I sighed.
He laughed, "don't worry Babe…you'll get plenty of other firsts with her and with the bean."
"I know," I sighed and rubbed my flat belly with a sigh. "Sometimes, like right now, I can forget that we're here solving a murder. I can forget that we're attracted to crime or whatever and our lives aren't normal. I can forget all of that and just be with my husband at Disney World having my much anticipated honeymoon."
"How does that feel," he asked dropping my hand and putting his arm around my shoulders and hugging me to him to kiss my head.
"Good," I smiled and wrapped my arms around his waist, "it feels great." I sighed.
"But," he raised a brow.
"But," I sighed, "I also know that if were weren't here doing that voodoo that we do so well, that it's very likely that whoever did this to Sandy would probably get off scot-free until he or she or they do it again to some other unfortunate soul."
He nodded.
"And then, it's as though there's this symmetry…this sort of symbiosis of what I want and what is needed that takes place inside of me and it's all good."
"Yea," he pulled back to look at me with surprise on his face.
"Yea," I nodded up at him seriously. "I love you. I love our life. I know, inside of me that it was necessary for us to go where we've been to get where we are and I also believe that we serve a purpose."
"Man, you're getting deep on me at Disney World," he grinned.
"Shut up," I shoved at him with a laugh and the shove was largely ineffectual and just made him grin.
He was quiet for a minute, "everything's for a reason?"
"Yea," I nodded.
"Even…Scrog and George and…"
"Everything," I agreed. "Honestly Ranger we're all a sum of our experiences, wouldn't you agree?"
"Very deep," he chuckled and hugged me to him.
"Ass," I smiled against his chest.
"Then perhaps there is something in our collective experiences that is going to help us solve this case."
"Perhaps," I shrugged. "In either case, what are the odds that we'd be here when a girl from Trenton was murdered able and willing to solve the case? The odds are astronomical, wouldn't you agree?"
"I would," he frowned thoughtfully. "Is this how you've been so successful in the past?"
"What do you mean," I frowned up at him in confusion.
"I mean," He said quietly, "you've just always pretty much accepted things. Is this how you've been successful because you believe that what is meant to be will happen?"
"Don't read more into it than I'm saying," I laughed. "I just mean that we're here to resolve it. That's what I do or so you guys tell me."
He laughed.
"So…I believe I am here at this particular time for this particular event with my particular skill set and our particular friends and associates and their particular skill sets for a reason."
"What about me," he raised a brow.
"Oh baby," I grinned up at him impishly. "We know what your skill set is!" I laughed and took off running at the look of shock on his face.
Yea, he caught me. I knew he would.