Chapter 5 Charlie's Birthday
The Angels and Bosley met in the office with a client who wanted to investigate the death of his daughter. She had been in an all female minimum security prison, and was killed during a robbery attempt. Her father wanted to find out why she was killed, and who had put her up to committing the robbery in the first place. Kris had taken the job of going under cover in the prison, with no contact to the outside. She neglected to tell Sarah where she was going. Sarah began to get worried when she didn't hear from Kris for awhile, and decided to call Kelly to find out what was going on.
The phone rang in Kelly's house. She picked it up. "Hello?
"Hi, Kelly. It's me, Sarah."
"Sarah! How are you?"
"I'm fine, but I haven't heard from Kris for a while, so I thought I would check in with you. Is everything OK?"
"She's on assignment. I will have her call you as soon as she finishes it."
"Where did she go?"
"I can't tell you right now. But when it's over, she will call."
"Ok, I guess I will have to be satisfied with that. Thanks, Kelly."
"You're welcome, Sarah.
"Bye."
Sarah still worried until Kris solved the case and got out of prison.
Dear Sarah,
Let me tell you about my latest cases! In one, I went undercover in a women's prison. That was why I didn't write or call that week. I couldn't contact anyone from the outside. Sorry if I worried you. It was one of the scariest assignments I ever had, and I shudder when I think about it. There was a woman in there named Big Aggie. The first night, she stole all my money and makeup, and anything else she thought was interesting. She had a crush on me and it scared the bejabbers out of me. She kept hitting on me, and threatened to let the others have at me if I didn't let her "protect" me. The woman was a mountain! She was a ringleader of robberies that would pull in a large amount, and she recruited prisoners who knew the inside of business establishments like diamond brokerages. I made friends with a woman named Lonnie. We got into a fight after Big Aggie's henchwomen framed me for stealing Lonnie's makeup. We became friends after I saved Lonnie from isolation. She saved my life later on. I'm going to ask Charlie for a raise. I think I deserve it after that one.
We also helped a prostitute with a split personality disorder. In one personality, she worked in her father's music studio. In the other, she was a hooker. The local pimp didn't like it, and beat her up. We got her some help, and she's given up her evening job. Jill is going to come home for Charlie's birthday party. Why don't you come home then too? We can have some sister bonding time.
Love,
Kris.
Sarah read the letter over again. Sometimes, her sister's job and the field she wanted to work in really worried her. She knew it was going to be dangerous at times, and it really hit home whenever someone came close to being killed. Sarah put the letter away and consulted her calendar and class schedule. She had some free time the week of Charlie's birthday. It coincided with the week long break coming up. She circled the date and put the calendar away.
Dear Kris,
Life in the slammer! I'll bet you're glad to be back on the outside after all you went through. Yes, you should ask Charlie for a raise. If he is going to put you in such dangerous situations, he should compensate you handsomely for it.
Lisa, Kianna and I took a break from studying the other night. We went to the movies and saw Superman. It was pretty good. There were some guys from our dorm there, and they sat with us. None of them tried to put their arm around us, though. Word got out about what I did to that other guy in gym class. Guys still ask me out, but they're not pushy about it. (smile)
I would love to come home for Charlie's birthday! I will go shopping and see what I can find for a present. What do you get a man who has everything, and whom you have never seen?
Love,
Sarah
Dear Sarah,
I have no idea.
Love,
Kris
Sarah drove back to LA a couple of days before Charlie's birthday. She had a week off from school and training at the police academy. She was glad for the break. Jill had arrived the night before she did. The Munroe sisters sat around their kitchen table having breakfast.
"What are everyone's plans for today?" Kris asked as she served the eggs.
"I'm going to do a little shopping with Kelly, and then we're going to have lunch together," Jill replied. "We can meet up at the office later on."
"What about you, Sarah?" Kris asked her younger sister.
"I was hoping to go to the office with you and to see everyone. "
"I'm planning on doing that later this afternoon. Do you want to go shopping with me for Charlie's present? We could go in together on one." Kris poured herself a cup of coffee.
"Sure. I still don't know what to get him, so maybe we can find something between us."
Jill looked at her watch. "Kelly will be here in a bit to pick me up, so I will see you guys later." She picked up her purse and the jacket that matched her top, and left.
Kris and Sarah watched her go.
"I guess it's just you and me, sis," Sarah said as she helped clear the table.
"I guess so."
Later in the day, Kris and Sarah met Kelly, Tiffany, and Bosley in the office. Sarah was introduced to Tiffany, and liked her immediately. She and Tiffany sat on the floor together in front of the coffee table to wrap presents. Kelly picked up the sweater she had purchased for Charlie. Everyone looked at it for a moment, trying to find the right words to say.
Sarah was the first to venture out. "Uh, Kelly, did you buy that for Charlie?"
"Yes, I did. I thought he might like it."
"What ever made you think that?" Tiffany asked.
"Well, Charlie always seems so well refined, I thought this might suit him."
"If he was trying out for the circus," Kris added. Kelly slapped at her.
Bosley looked at his watch. "Kris, where is that sister of yours? She was supposed to be here an hour ago!"
"It's a good thing we're not on a case right now, or Bosley would be really mad," Tiffany said in a low tone to Sarah. They both laughed.
"Jill and I were shopping for Charlie's birthday present, and she got picked up." Kelly explained.
"Trust Jill!" Kris said, as Sarah rolled her eyes.
"By whom?" Sarah asked.
"Some guy. He had dark, curly hair, a foreign accent, and brown eyes. He seemed pretty taken with her."
Sarah shook her head in disbelief. "My sister has a way with men. She can find them almost anywhere," she said to Tiffany. Kelly and Kris nodded in agreement.
Jill breezed into the office."Hi!" she said, as she tossed her jacket and purse onto the table behind the couch.
"Where were you?" Kris asked.
"You probably won't believe this..." Jill began.
"Go ahead, I'll back you up," Kelly told her.
"I was picked up in the men's haberdashery....by a prince."
"You're kidding!" Everyone said. Jaws dropped around the room.
"Are you serious?" Sarah asked.
"Yes, I am. He was handsome, dressed nice, took me to lunch....had a wad....and I mean WAD...of cash...bought a car and brought me here."
"No way!" Sarah exclaimed.
"Way!" Jill nodded.
Bosley brought a couple of glasses over from the bar. He gave one to Jill. "You mean you were actually picked up at a men's haberdashery?"
"Picked up sounds so déclassé. Was I picked up?" She asked Kelly.
Kelly looked thoughtful. "I'd say you were confiscated." Jill nodded.
Kris continued to wrap presents. "On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rank this confiscator?"
"An 11." Jill said without hesitation.
"Whoa...." Kris and Sarah said.
Tiffany laughed. "Maybe the guy chasing you was a detective."
"A detective?" Jill questioned.
"Working for a suspicious wife?" Tiffany continued.
"I never thought about that." Jill said with concern. Kelly and Kris exchanged glances.
"Maybe you should have," Bosley told her.
Jill thought for a moment. "Do me a favor and run this though the computer would you?" she asked Bosley. " It was a dark blue Ford, I think it was this year's model. The first three numbers of the license plate were 395, something something something."
"Will do"
"Thank you."
"Jill." Kris interjected. "You come back here to play a little, and to help us coax Charlie into coming to his own birthday party, and now your little romance is taking up all your time and all your energy. Not fair."
" Yeah, Jill! " Sarah exclaimed. " We really want you here, not out chasing after some prince! I took time out of my schedule to be here, I think you can too."
"When it's time to blow out the candles I'll be here." Jill reassured her sisters.
"Promise?" Kris asked with a smile.
"Promise." Jill returned her sister's smile.
"You'd better!" Sarah declared.
"I will."
Kris looked at the sweater Kelly was holding. Her look was one of utter contempt. "You really bought that?"
"I decided I liked it." Kelly said in her defense.
"I hate it." Tiffany added.
"I'll drink to that." Kris pointed at Tiffany.
"Here, here!" Bosley raised his glass in a toast. Everyone joined him.
"It's pretty." Kelly defended the sweater.
"It's awful." Kris said as she fell against Kelly, laughing.
"Pretty ugly!" Bosley declared from his desk.
The next morning, the prince called for Jill at the beach house. She answered the door. "Hi," she greeted him warmly. "Come on in!" She led him into the living room. Kris and Sarah were there. "Eric, I'd like you to meet my sisters. This is Kris," she gestured towards Kris.
Kris smiled and held out her hand for a shake. "Hello." He kissed her hand. Kris smiled.
"And this is Sarah." Jill pointed at Sarah.
"Nice to meet you," Sarah said. The prince took her hand and kissed it. Sarah raised her eyebrows at Kris in a "Is this guy for real?" look. Jill saw it and gave her a dirty look.
"You didn't tell me you had sisters." The prince said.
"I told you yesterday when you drove me home."
"Not so I would believe it!" The prince replied.
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Well, here we are," she said. "Living proof!"
"Shall we? " The prince offered his arm to Jill.
"Yes, let's." Jill took his arm and her purse. "I'll see you guys at the office later," she told her sisters.
" 'Bye," Kris and Sarah waved at her. As soon as Jill closed the door behind them, Sarah exploded.
"You have GOT to be kidding me!!!"
"What?" Kris asked in surprise.
"I thought Jill had better taste in men than that. And better sense. "Not so I'd believe it???' Come on!" Sarah was on a roll now. "Why is she dating him? Temporary insanity??"
"Sarah, calm down. Jill can date who she wants."
"He's an idiot!! The one consolation is that Jill's romances don't last long."
"Sarah, knock it off! If it makes you feel better, we'll go to the office and see what we can find out about him, OK?" Kris tried to distract Sarah before she broke something.
"OK. " Sarah took a deep breath. "But let's get something to eat first."
Kris laughed as she led Sarah out of the house. They had lunch, and then went to the office. Tiffany, Kelly, and Bosley were already there. "Hi," everyone said.
"Hi," said Kris. Sarah had calmed down somewhat.
"Hi," Sarah muttered.
"What's with her?" Kelly asked Kris.
"She didn't think much of Jill's date."
"Jill lowered her standards. Her arms must be sore from scraping the bottom of the barrel."
"Now cut that out!" Kris said.
"Sorry," Sarah muttered. She got a coke out of the fridge behind the bar and flopped down on the couch. Kris gave her a LOOK and then filled Kelly and Tiffany in.
"This guy Jill is dating claims to be a prince. We want to do some checking on him."
"I'll make it easier for you," Jill said as she came in the room. "Sarah, I want to talk to you about your behavior later."
"Sure, Jill." Sarah slumped onto the couch. "I took a couple of days away from school for this???" She thought.
Jill produced a champagne glass she had taken from the prince's boat. "I need to run these fingerprints through the computer. Eric isn't exactly being truthful with me....shut up, Sarah!" she said as Sarah opened her mouth. "First he told me that he owned the haberdashery where Kelly bought that dreadful sweater. Then, he told me he was a prince. Today, he told me he owned his own clothing manufacturing business, Designe Internationale. This one could be plausible. While we were on the boat, someone started shooting at us. His body guards are lousy shots. They kept missing whoever it was. I got his windshield a few times."
"I'll run this information you gave us over to Charlie," Bosley said as he wrapped up the glass. "I'll have it for you first thing in the morning."
"Thanks, Bosley," Jill said. "Now, if all of you will excuse us, I'm going to take Sarah out for awhile, and we are going to have a little talk."
"Wonderful," Sarah muttered as Jill escorted her from the office. Once outside the office, Jill turned to Sarah.
"Do you mind explaining your behavior?"
"Jill, I thought you had better taste in guys than that. He's a doofus. "
"But he is my friend, and I expect you to be polite to him."
"I'll try, but my goodness. He blames you when he doesn't believe you. That's not right. And buying a car to impress you?
Flashing money around? Most guys don't act that way."
"You're right. I will be careful around him. I do want to know more about him before getting further involved. We'll know more tomorrow."
"Ok, I'll be nice."
"I haven't spent much time with you yet, and I'm sorry. Where would you like to go?"
"I still need to get Charlie a card."
"Let's go get one." The two sisters hopped into Jill's car to go shopping.
The next morning, the Angels gathered in the office. Kelly and Tiffany were in front of the bar. Jill and Kris were in the chairs in front of the desk. Sarah sat on one of the couches. Bosley was behind the desk. Charlie called to tell Jill what he had found out.
" I'm afraid your friend Eric is still lying to you, Jill." Charlie said.
" What do you mean, Charlie?"
"I checked with that company of his, Designe Internationale?"
"And?"
"As near as I can tell, it doesn't exist."
Jill looked around the room. " I wonder why I'm not surprised."
"This is all beginning to sound very unreal." Kris said as Sarah nodded.
" Except those bullets coming at us were very real." Jill said firmly.
"Well, if he's not a clothing tycoon, why are the bullets coming at him?" Tiffany wondered. Jill shook her head.
"I don't think we're going to find the answer to that until we find out who he really is," Kris added.
"Look, I hate to sound mercenary, but since this isn't a case that we were hired to solve, and since we're not being compensated in any way, why don't we just forget the whole mess?" Bosley tried to reason with the girls.
" Jill, is that what you want to do?" Kelly asked gently.
Jill shook her head. "No."
" I didn' t think so," Kelly said.
" I think you should. Why do you want to get involved with a guy that's a.... liar?" Kris asked, logically.
" Because he does it so beautifully, which makes me want to figure out why. I think he needs me," Jill answered sweetly.
Sarah shook her head in disbelief.
"What does he think?" Tiffany asked.
" He thinks I'm going to meet him at a picnic this afternoon."
" And are you?" asked Charlie.
" Yes, I am. Maybe by then we'll have some information on who he is, and why he has these body guards who, by the way, aren't very good." Jill answered.
"Ok, where do we start?" asked Tiffany.
Jill suggested, "Why don't you try the marina? I think I did some damage to that boat I was shooting at. Maybe you can find out who was driving it?"
" OK," Tiffany and Kelly responded. They grabbed their purses and jumped down from the bar stools.
"I think I'll try to lift your friend's fingerprints off the champagne glass and see if Charlie can run it through NCIC. Want to learn how to dust for fingerprints, Sarah?"
Kris said.
"Sure."
"I'll do that, Kris. Well, keep in touch Angels." Charlie said as he hung up.
Bosley looked at the ceiling in exasperation. " All this for no client and no fee." The Angels shook their heads at him.
" Bosley!" Jill said fondly.
Each Angel had her assignment. Kris dusted the champagne glass for fingerprints, while instructing Sarah how to do it. She turned the results over to Bosley to give to Charlie. Tiffany and Kelly went to the Marina to interview the owner. They found out that the boat was rented by a George Brown, who paid with cash. He also paid for the damages to the boat with cash. They asked what kind of car the man was driving. A brown model car. He was described as a kid by the owner, but actually was about 50. He had gray hair and dark glasses. The Angels thanked him and left.
In the office, Bosley was busily hanging a banner over the fireplace. It read, "Happy Birthday, Charlie." Kris and Sarah sat on the couch blowing up balloons.
"Aha! Perfecto!" Bosley admired his work. Kris and Sarah agreed.
Jill entered the room. "Hi," she said.
" Hi," Bosley replied.
" Hi," Kris and Sarah both said. Kris indicated the sign. "You like?" Kris asked Jill.
Jill nodded. " Question is, will Charlie like it?" She leaned on the couch.
Bosley shrugged.
"You have any information on my friend?" Jill asked as the sisters batted balloons back and forth at each other.
" Yes we do," Bosley said as he headed for the desk. "And you are never going to believe it!"
" I'll believe it." Jill replied.
" No you won't ." Bosley was emphatic.
"Try me, " Jill challenged.
Bosley picked up a manilla folder from his desk and opened it. "OK, your friend Eric is --brace yourself-- a crown prince."
" He's a prince, " Kris said as Jill looked at her questioningly. " Formerly of Austrain vintage, now one of those newly formed border republics."
" How'd you get that information?" Jill asked as she put her hand on her hip.
"Well, the from fingerprints that Kris took off of the champagne glass, and gave to Charlie. He struck out with NCIC, so he ran them through INTERPOL's files and Wa-La! A crown prince."
" That somebody wants dead." Jill nodded.
" And you're in the line of fire. So when we get finished here, I think I'm going to come out and keep an eye on your picnic." Kris said as she got off the couch and walked toward Jill. "I'll stay out of sight."
" OK, stay out of earshot, because you may not like to hear what I have to say to the Prince," Jill said as she left the room.
" Bye Bye," said Kris and Sarah as they watched her leave.
"I'm coming too, " Sarah declared.
"No, you're not," Kris said.
"Oh, yes I am. I told you there was something funny about that guy. Now everyone is starting to believe me. Besides, I'm training to be an Angel, and what better way than to go on a case with you?"
"It's dangerous," Kris warned.
"Kris, I know you want to protect me. But I am a big girl now. What kind of Angel would I be if I ran or hid every time there was danger?"
"She has a point, Kris," Bosley said from his desk.
"Thanks, Boz," Sarah smiled at him.
"Alright, you can come. But if it does get too dangerous, I want you to get out of there any way you can. OK?"
"OK."
The two sisters finished decorating the office for Charlie's party and left.
The Prince waited for Jill in the park with the horses. He smiled as he saw her car drive over the bridge. His two body guards, George and Paul, watched him from a respectful distance. Jill parked her car and got out. The Prince opened the car door and helped her out. "Hello," he said as he took her hand and led her over to the blanket where a picnic waited.
"Hi," said Jill.
"I was afraid you weren't coming," the Prince said in a worried tone.
"Why would you think that?" Jill asked him.
"Well, you are a bit late," the Prince replied as he checked his watch.
"I was...detained," Jill explained as she saw the picnic blanket. "Oh, how nice!" she exclaimed as she sat on the blanket.
The Prince pulled out a corkscrew and a bottle of wine. "Wait until you try this," he opened the bottle. Jill stretched out on the blanket as the Prince smiled at her. She watched him open the bottle, an expression of slight anger on her face at his decieving her.
In the distance, the brown sedan pulled up behind the trees. George got Paul's attention and they walked over to the brown car.
The Prince poured two glasses. He held his up. "What shall we drink to?"
Jill held up her glass. "Anything that pleases you, Your Highness."
The Prince smiled and said, "Then let's drink to....what?"
"I said, Your Highness."
The Prince was astounded. "How did you find out?"
Jill gave him a level look. "I'm a detective, remember? You know, it would've been alot easier for us if you hadn't lied to me."
"I did not lie to you, " the Prince said adamantly.
"You did!" Jill exclaimed.
The Prince shook his head. "No, when we met, I told you I was a crown prince."
"But not so I would believe you!" Jill used his own arguments against him.
"Well, believe it!" The Prince told her.
"I do, now that it's too late!" Jill was getting frustrated.
"Too late? What do you mean, too late?" the Prince was shocked.
Jill shook her head. "I just can't see myself becoming involved with. a prince."
"Are you saying you're not involved?" the Prince asked seriously.
" I'm just saying that....I don't know what I'm saying. What are you doing here anyway?" Jill shook her head in confusion.
The Prince explained. "There is a great deal of unrest in my country. There have been two attempts on my life. So my father sent me here, incognito, as you say, until he could find out who was trying to kill me."
"Obviously they followed you here." Jill said.
"So it would seem. And where does this leave us?" the Prince wondered.
" I don't know," Jill said with a sigh. "I need time to think"
The Prince raised his glass in a toast. " To time." They clinked their glasses together. "And not wasting it." They drank.
Edward the hitman parked the brown car behind some trees. He got out of the car with his gun kit and assembled the gun. Paul and George, the body guards, approached him, guns drawn. He turned and aimed at them.
" You could get yourselves killed walking up behind me like that," Edward said with the gun pointed at them.
"Edward, if you are so deadly, how come you can't seem to hit your target, MMM?" George asked.
Edward put the gun down the front of his pants. "You didn't tell me the girl on the boat was armed."
"We did not know she was armed." Paul said as they walked towards Edward, guns still pointed at him. "It seems she is a private detective."
Edward took off his sunglasses. "Detective? Why has he hired a detective?" He put the sunglasses in his jacket pocket.
"He has not hired her. It is an affair of the heart, as they say," Paul told him as he and George lowered their guns.
"Sorry I took your car. But I felt I best leave the marina as quickly as possible, " Edward looked from one to the other.
" It is no matter. He was too busy driving the young woman in his new sports car." George said with contempt. "He did not even notice Paul and I had to take a taxi back to the hotel."
"This is getting dangerously complicated." Edward said sternly. "The people who have hired me have paid you well to assist me. You have not been very helpful."
" We have given you two opportunities to make your move. The failure is yours not ours. When they have finished their picnic, they will ride their horses. The trail leads in that direction" Paul nodded in the direction in which Jill and the Prince would ride. " I suggest you make your move then!"
"I agree." Edward said.
" Also, on the chance that the young woman's interest in the prince has become more than personal, i suggest you dispose of her also. She could point an accusing finger at us." George told him.
"She is your problem," Edward pointed at George.
"True, but if we were in trouble, we would be your probelm, uh?" Paul told Edward.
Edward took a few steps away. He watched Jill and the Prince on the blanket for a moment. " Very well, for the mutual good of us all, I will dispose of her also." He pulled out his gun and cocked it.
The two body guards walked back to their car. Jill and the Prince were still on the blanket. Kris and Sarah drove over the bridge in the Cobra. Kris parked the car and they both got out. They approached the body guards.
"Hello, you must be the body guards for the prince," Kris greeted them.
"How do you know that?" Paul asked.
"She's our sister," Kris replied.
Jill and the Prince got up and walked towards the horses.
" And what are you doing here?" Paul asked.
"Well, someone's shooting at your prince and she's in the line of fire. I'm a little concerned." Kris folded her arms while watching Jill and the Prince.
"You needn't be. We've been watching them both very closely," George tried to reassure her.
Jill and the Prince mounted their horses as Kris, Sarah, and the body guards watched. They rode away. Kris looked at the body guards' car, and noticed it was not the brown sedan.
"What happened to the brown sedan?" She asked.
"What do you mean?" George countered.
"My sister said the prince traveled in a brown sedan," Kris replied.
" We changed cars as a security precaution," Paul told her after exchanging a look with George.
Kris and Sarah gave him an "uh-huh" look. Everyone looked toward the bridge and saw Kelly's Mustang crossing it, with Kelly and Tiffany inside.
"Who is that?" Paul asked.
"Relax, they're our associates," Kris told him.
The body guards exchanged a look of concern and left in a hurry.
Kris and Sarah went to meet Kelly and Tiffany.
"What are these people doing here?" Paul asked angrily.
George shook his head. "I don't know. But we'd better keep them occupied. We're nearly to the end of it."
Kelly parked next to Kris and got out of the car. Tiffany was on phone talking to Bosley."Yeah, Boz, we just got here. Did you get anything on the blue Ford?"
"Yeah I did. Hang on a second," he said as he shuffled through some papers.
Edward watched Jill and the Prince through the trees. They rode their horses closer to him. Edward got out of sight.
The Angels and Sarah held a conference by their cars.
"So, how did you do at the marina?" Kris asked Kelly and Tiffany.
"We're not sure," Kelly turned to Kris and put her hand on her hip.
"What do you mean?" Kris asked.
"Well, the man who rented the boat was around 50, gray hair, wore dark glasses, he brought the boat back in a hurry, paid for the bullet hole damages, then he drove off." Kelly explained.
"In a blue Ford?"
"No, which has us a bit puzzled." Kelly said as Kris thought it over.
"Hang on, Boz," Tiffany said and put the phone down. She got out of the car. " Listen!" she said as she leaned against the top of the car.
"Boz did some checking, and a blue Ford rented under what turned out to be a phony name was found abandoned in Beverly Hills yesterday afternoon. "
Kris nodded. "Well, that makes sense. After he blew it chasing Jill and Prince Charming, he dumped the car. "
"Which explains why he drove a brown car to the marina. " Kelly said thoughtfully.
"Wait a minute!" Tiffany exclaimed. " The old guy at the marina said
he saw him drive the brown car away. Now, we're just assuming he drove it there. "
"What are you getting at?" Kelly asked.
" I'm not sure. But my daddy always told me that in police work you don't assume anything. " Tiffany responded.
"When I asked the body guards about their brown car, they said they had switched cars as a precautionary measure," Kris remembered.
"Somewhere in here there is a very disturbing coincidence, " Tiffany mused.
"Maybe the gray haired gentleman did take another car to the marina." Kelly said.
"Like a cab, maybe." Tiffany said thoughtfully. Everyone nodded.
"OK, don't know where we're going, but let's try it on." Tiffany reached into the car and picked up the phone.
"Boz? You gotta do some more checking for us. Find out if a cab dropped anyone off at Grayson's marina boat rental on Washington Boulevard yesterday about.....noon. Yeah, I'll hang on. "
Jill and the Prince rode their horses through the park. The Prince enjoyed the nature inside the park.
" You know it's very strange, in the middle of this large city to have a wilderness," he remarked to Jill.
"Well, a small wilderness," Jill said.
" I could grow very fond of this country," the Prince replied.
.
"Better not grow too fond of it, " Jill warned.
"Why not? " the Prince asked.
"Because sooner or later you'll have to go home," Jill replied.
"Yes, I suppose that probably is true. You and I? Will we see each other again?" the Prince wondered.
"I drive in Europe," Jill told him.
" Drive?" the Prince questioned.
" Race cars." Jill explained.
"Race cars? You're a race car driver too? " the Prince asked incredulously.
"I told you that!" Jill exclaimed.
" Yes, but not......"
"So I'd believe it," They finished together, laughing.
" You know beside the fact that someone was trying to kill me, there were other reasons why I was glad to come here," the Prince said seriously.
"Such as?" Jill queried.
" I've been protected all my life. Everything was given to me. Arranged for me. Where I went, what I said, even the clothes I wore. I wanted to see what it would be like to be self sufficient. To make my own decisions. That's really why I didn't tell you who I was. "
"And you like it? Being self sufficient?"
"Very much. I looked at you in that store, and I said to myself, I want her. And I went after you. "
"Yes, you did, didn't you?" Jill asked. They leaned in towards each other and kissed. Smiling, they road on. In the trees, Edward loaded his gun.
The Angels and Sarah continued their conference at the car. Tiffany was still talking to Bosley on the phone.
.
"OK, Boz, thanks." Tiffany put down the phone. "Boz checked out the cab companies that service the marina area."
" Any luck?" Kelly asked.
" Well, it's hard to tell. There is no record of a man being dropped off at the old fellow's boat yard. But two men were picked up there about half an hour after the shooting incident. "
" Two men," said Kris.
"Umhm," Tiffany agreed. " And here's the interesting part. The cab took them into town and dropped them off at the Wilshire Arms. "
" Wilshire Arms? Wait a minute! Didn't Jill say that the prince was staying at the Wilshire Arms? " Kelly asked.
Kris nodded. "She did, and he is. You know that disturbing coincidence you were talking about? "
Tiffany nodded. " Doesn't it seem like more than a coincidence now?" Kris continued.
" It does if the two the cab dropped off at the hotel were the prince's body guards," Kelly added.
"And the brown car the gray haired fella drove off in was their sedan," Tiffany concluded.
"That they switched for the Lincoln. I'm gonna go warn Jill," Kris said as she headed for her car.
" I'll go with you," Kelly said.
" I'm coming too!" said Sarah.
"OK, but stay down in case there is gunfire."
"OK."
"I'll take care of those two," Tiffany said and picked up the phone.
Kris, Kelly, and Sarah got in the Cobra.
"Talk to you later, Boz," Tiffany said and hung up the phone. The Cobra took off as Tiffany walked towards the body guards, who were watching the Cobra drive away.
"Where are they going?" Paul asked angrily.
"She's determined to get in the way," George answered.
"But you're not!" Tiffany said as she arrived next to them. She held her gun on them. " Let's throw those guns out here. Come on! Now move!"
The body guards took out their guns and threw them on the ground.
" Down on the ground, spread eagle. DOWN!" Tiffany ordered as the thugs lay face down on the ground.
Kris drove rapidly along the horse trail. Jill and the Prince were riding their horses along the trail. Edward, still in the trees, saw them and aimed. Jill and the Prince enjoyed the scenery as Edward cocked his gun..
Kris caught up to Jill and the Prince. She leaned on the horn. Edward fired his gun.
"Sarah, get down!" Kris ordered.
Sarah, who had been leaning forward, looking out the front of the car, immediately obeyed and got down on the floor of the Cobra.
Edward continued to fire. The Prince's horse bolted, throwing him on the ground.
"Eric!" Jill called and extended a hand to help him onto her horse. Once the Prince was sitting behind Jill on the back of the horse, they caught up to his horse. Eric grabbed the reins. They rode off.
Edward shot at the Cobra. Kris bore down on him. As they got closer, Kelly opened the passenger door and knocked him down. Kris stopped the car. Edward reached for his gun as the girls got out of the car.
"Stay here until I tell you it's safe, Sarah," Kris said and joined Kelly in holding her gun on Edward.
Disappointed, Sarah obeyed. Edward started to reach for his gun.
" Don't touch it!" Kelly warned. Edward left his gun where it was. Jill and the Prince galloped to Kris and Kelly.
"You can come out now, Sarah," Kris said. She waved and called, "JILL!" .
Jill and the Prince reached the girls. The Prince dismounted.
"You ok?" Jill asked. "You're ok." she said.
Edward lay on the ground, wincing. The Prince looked at him.
Kris remembered her manners.
"Well, I guess this isn't a terrific time for introductions. This is Kelly Garrett, and you met me and my little sister yesterday. I'm Kris, and this is Sarah." Kris extended her hand for shaking. "We're Jill's sisters."
The Prince walked over to the girls
" Hello, Kris, Sarah. Nice to meet you again. I am Crown Prince Eric Railman." He kissed their hands. To Kelly, he said, " Hello. "
" Hello, " Kelly said, still holding her gun over Edward.
Kris nudged Kelly. "11. Definitely an 11." Kelly, and Jill, nodded.
"Uh huh," Jill said, as Kelly and Kris gave the Prince goofy grins.
"The jury is still out," Sarah muttered under her breath.
.
The next day, Bosley and all the girls entered the office as the phone rang. They were dressed up in party clothes. Everyone admired the decorations..
" I love the banner," Kelly said.
"If this doesn't get Charlie to come to his party, nothing will." Kris added. The phone continued to ring. The girls sat on the couches. Bosley answered the phone.
"Hello? Oh, yes, Charlie. Your name was just on our lips. Yeah, everyone is here. Just a minute, let me put you on the speaker." He hit the button.
"Hello, Angels."
" Hi, Charlie," the Angels chorused.
"Charlie!" Kris said.
"Yes, Kris?"
" You haven't forgotten!"
"My birthday party? Hardly."
"Then why arent you here, Charlie?" Kelly asked.
"We'll discuss that in a moment. Business first. I understand the prince has returned to his own country."
"Good riddance, " Sarah muttered, earning her a dirty look from Jill.
"Yes, the men who were trying to kill him have been arrested and his father wanted him to come home. We just saw him off at the airport,"
Jill said rather sadly.
"You sound rather subdued, Jill," Charlie said.
" Well, I like him alot. In fact enough so I'm going to see him next month when I race at LeMans."
"Well then, the relationship is still very much alive. "
"Very much alive. Yes. But let's talk about you and your party, Charlie."
"Oh, yes. Well, I loved it. And I especially liked the purple sweater. In fact, I'm wearing it now."
"The presents! I just realized they're gone!" Bosley exclaimed.
Kris looked toward the table where they had placed the presents. "They are gone!"
"Charlie! How did you get the presents?" Kelly demanded.
"Well, I uh picked them up when I had my piece of cake."
" WHAT?" Kris said as she, Jill, and Sarah looked over the back of the couch and saw a piece of cake missing. Kelly and Tiffany joined them.
"Charlie, you cheated!" Kris told him.
"Cheated? It was my cake, wasn't it?"
"But you're not supposed to..." Jill began.
:"Have my cake and eat it too?"
" YES! I mean, no!" Kelly exclaimed.
" Not fair! I came back just because of your birthday!" Jill added.
"And I came home too!" said Sarah.
"And you promised we could give you a party. Didn't he?" Tiffany asked as she looked at the others.
"Absolutely!" Kris said emphatically.
"Charlie, I heard you say it," For once, Bosley sided with the Angels.
"Well, it was a fine party, Angels, and I love the presents. And I love you. Better luck next year! "
All of them muttered "Charlie! " as they said " Happy Birthday! "
The next day, Jill flew back to Europe and Sarah drove back to school. Fortunately, her college and the police academy had had a week long break, so she hadn't missed any school time. She drove up to her dorm and went to her room. Lisa had already arrived.
"Hi," Lisa said as Sarah dumped her luggage on her bed.
"Hi," said Sarah.
"How was your break?"
"You're not going to believe this....." Sarah said as she started to unpack.
Dear Sarah,
When I was a little kid I loved to rollerskate. I haven't put on a pair in about 20 years, but I got my chance not too long ago. We had to find a missing girl who liked to roller skate. She was actually pretty good at it. She was an heiress and got kidnapped from that skating area in Venice Beach. At first we thought maybe it was because she and her boyfriend were the favorites in a rollerskating disco contest, but it was because she was an heiress. We taught Tiffany how to skate. She's pretty good for a beginner. I got to be in the show at the roller rink. It was fun. We found the heiress, and she was reunited with her stepmother. She went back home. Her boyfriend actually played a part in her kidnapping, but he also helped with her rescue. I think the courts will go easy on him.
Remember when you came to visit and you got kidnapped? We had a similar situation here. Someone was kidnapping girls from Tiffany's college sorority and selling them into white slavery. They were being sold to a shiek who wanted them for his harem. We found the people who were doing it, and all is well. Bosley really hit it off with one of the librarians! He's dated her a few times since then.
We almost got a chance to see Charlie!! He got away before we could, though. We were kidnapped by some of Charlie's enemies and taken to an island. They tried to kill us one by one, and almost got Tiffany. I used knowledge I had gathered from watching old movies, and we set traps for the bad guys. We eventually captured them and came home again. The island had a wildlife preserve on it. We got scared by some screaming peacocks. They were nothing compared to the tigers and leopards running around loose, though. Tiffany managed to hypnotize a tiger into not eating her. I'm glad to be back in the city.
We got to go sailing on Charlie's new yacht. The yacht is beautiful, inside and out. It is 100 feet long. Kelly got to drive it (sail?) . Unfortunately, we didn't know about the gold hidden in it. And poor Bosley had his heart broken by the decorator who was in on it. He's dating the librarian again.
What would you like for Christmas? I need to get my shopping done before you get here. I'm waiting for you and Jill to get home before I put up the tree and decorations. I can't wait for you to come home!
Love,
Kris