Part 24
Lucy looked up at the ridiculously high ceiling. "I really don't get why a restaurant needs such a high ceiling. How are we supposed to hang this thing?" Lucy turned the surveillance swing over in her hands. Amy shot her a wide grin. "This is the fun part!" She plucked the swing from Lucy's hands, turning it on its side. She flipped down a hidden lever, rotated the edge, and aimed it towards the ceiling. Holding on with both hands, Amy nodded to Lucy, smiled, and whispered, "Hit that green button." Lucy reached her hand out tentatively, unsure of what was going to happen. "AHHHH!" Amy yelled out, and Lucy jumped three feet in the air. She swung her head around to glare at Amy. "What the hell was that?!" Amy was doubled over, holding her stomach and laughing so hard she snorted. Lucy nudged her and she fell to the ground, laughing even harder. "You...you sh-should have seen your face!" Lucy scowled at Amy, but she was trying to hold back a smile. "Funny." She extended a hand and helped Amy to her feet. "Can we get back to this now? Please?" Amy rolled her eyes. "Fine. But that was funny." "Yeah, whatever." Amy turned around and aimed the swing at the ceiling once again. She pressed the green button and a cable shot up and lodged in the ceiling. Lucy whistled. Amy tilted the swing in the opposite direction and fired up once again. "That's so cool!" Amy dropped the surveillance swing and it wobbled slightly, then stilled. Lucy frowned. "Um, it's not going to be of much use down here." She raised one eyebrow at Amy. Amy laughed again. "Go get us some drinks so we can get up in the rafters before the show starts. I'll finish setting this thing up." Lucy frowned. "Um...where exactly will we keep these drinks?"
A few moments later, Amy had quickly and expertly gotten Lucy and herself into position high in the rafters. Lucy's face was a mask of confusion. "I still don't understand how..." She cut herself off and glanced in every direction, finally coming to a stop on her drink in a small holder next to her. Amy giggled. The brunette looked into Amy's mirthful blue eyes and grinned back while shrugging her shoulders. Amy grabbed Lucy's hand and laced their fingers together. "You probably shouldn't think too much about it and kiss me inste..." Amy was interrupted by Janet's voice coming through her Debs wrist communicator. Amy tapped the mute button and looked guiltily over at Lucy. The brunette frowned at the watch and looked up at Amy. "I've been meaning to talk to you about this. I've gone back." She cut herself off as she saw Lucy's eyes fly wide open. "Just to graduate! I mean, graduation is Friday. I'm out after graduation. I've already started getting my portfolio together to apply to art schools." Lucy beamed at her. "I'm so proud of you Amy. You should finish college. But! No trying to arrest me!" Lucy wagged her finger at Amy. The blonde only took her bottom lip between her teeth. Amy pouted, then smirked. "But I kinda wanted you in handcuffs..."
Max was tearing through the house like a four year old on Christmas morning. "Janet! Dominique! Let's go! Has anyone gotten in touch with Amy?" She waited all of half a second for a response. "Get your asses down here!" She heard thudding footsteps barreling down the stairs. "Finally! This is our first real action in...I can't even remember how long, and you two are taking forever! We received information that Lucy Diamond's right hand man, Scud, is going to be meeting some underground scum at Port-au-Pasta." Dominique held her left hand up, stopping Max's tirade. "Eh, Port-au-Pasta? What is it with zee stupid American restaurant names? Ugh." She pulled a cigarette out of a pack she kept tucked in her bra, shaking her head as she placed it between her lips. Max rolled her eyes and glanced over at Janet. Janet hadn't said a word since coming down the stairs, she just kept checking her watch. "Janet." Max waited for a response. "Janet!" She waved her hand in Janet's face. "Huh? What?" Max rolled her eyes and sighed. "Let's get going. Janet, get in touch with Amy, she will have to meet us there." Janet mumbled, "I'm trying," and followed Dominique and Max out to the car.
Scud walked into Port-au-Pasta with as much confidence as he could muster. He felt he was practically strutting. He casually scanned the restaurant, assuming he would be able to pick out Peggy. What a completely harmless sounding name for a roadkill sketcher. There were only a few couples seated in the restaurant, but after spotting who he assumed was Peggy, he didn't think it would have mattered if there were 200 couples in the joint. His eyes grew wide as he took in the sight before him. And he could only see the back of her. Her hair was dyed jet black, with blood red and shocking white splotches dotting her head randomly. It was teased as much as hair could possibly be teased, it towered at least ten inches above her head. She was wearing black, a black...garbage bag as far as Scud could tell. He took a few tentative steps in her direction. A hostess seemingly came out of nowhere. "Welcome! Can I help you?" Scud's head swiveled in the hostess' direction. "I'm meeting a blind date here, actually. Unfortunately, I have a feeling it's her." He nodded in the Trash Queen's direction. She followed the direction of his nod and grinned widely, poorly attempting to hold in laughter. "Oh! Well, does your name happen to be...ah...Minion?" Her face was turning all shades of red trying to maintain her composure. Scud looked down at the floor, closed his eyes for a moment and blew out a breath. He lifted his head back up and opened his eyes. "Yup, that's me. I'll just show myself over there." He stalked off in Peggy's direction, mumbling to himself.
His pace slowed as he approached his date. You are the god of bingo. You can do this. He repeated this mantra over in his head. He pulled out the chair across from Peggy. "Hi! I'm Scud. You must be Peggy." She sucked air through her teeth and flashed slightly crazed eyes at Scud. "Demonira! I no longer respond to Peggy." She let her eyes travel over Scud, and winked at him. He felt a shiver run down his spine. "You'll do. Sit. And put this on." There was a large clunk on the table and the look of puzzlement on Scud's face changed to one of confusion, then indignation. "You aren't serious. You can't be serious. Can you?" Lying on the table between them was a large and heavy looking black and red collar with a leash attached. "Oh, I am serious. Dead serious." Scud opened his mouth, but couldn't think of anything to say. He snapped his mouth shut and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, tilted his head back, opened his eyes and began to laugh at what he saw. Lucy and Amy were seated on a swing, high up near the ceiling of the restaurant. Lucy, upon seeing him notice them, waved from behind her small binoculars. Amy sat next to her with a crazy looking listening device held out in front of her, giggling. Scud sat up straighter and stifled his laughter when he saw the look of pure disgust Peggy was shooting at him. She leaned forward over the table. "Laughing will not be tolerated. Now, put on the collar." Scud's eyes opened wider and he unconsciously backed away further into his chair. "Ah, no. No I don't think I will be putting that on. I uh I don't um…I don't like dogs. Yeah, dogs." He cleared his throat. "In fact, I think you should put it on." He beamed at Peggy. She frowned and looked at the collar. He stood up, looming over her. "I said put it on." She glanced up at him in surprise. "I am the god of bingo," he whispered to her. He raised his gaze up to the rafters, noticing that both Amy and Lucy were laughing so hard they were trying to hold each other up on the swing. He smiled menacingly at Peggy. "Now!" She slightly jumped and picked the collar up from the table.
Scud smirked. He was pleasantly surprised that this was working. However, that didn't mean that he wasn't going to kill Lucy for this. Probably Amy as well. He sighed and sat back down. He turned his attention back to Demonira. He smiled and nodded in her direction. "On!" She cringed and began fidgeting with the collar, trying to unbuckle it. With trembling hands she wrapped it around her neck and fumbled to fasten it. Scud allowed himself a smile of triumph and flashed a quick thumbs up at Amy and Lucy.
Then the shit hit the fan.