Author's Note: I would like thank you being patient with me, I took a little break.
Also a special mention to:
Imaginary toon 1: Thank you! Enjoy the new chapter.
And thank for the favorites and follows, I'm thrilled you love my story.
Read on and enjoy!
Chapter 2
"There's something weird going on behind this assignment." Linda commented.
She and Eddie had exited Maroon's office.
"What do mean?" Eddie asked.
"I think this might be some kind of a set up." Linda explained.
"I don't know about that sis, you might be wrong." Eddie said.
"Still, I'm just guessing. I can't think of any other reason except Maroon trying to break up Roger's marriage to Jessica." Linda responded, shrugging.
They saw a variety of toons walking around the studio as a saxophonist played jazz.
Eddie and Linda crossed the street to catch the trolley. Eddie presented the check to the conductor.
"What do I look like a bank?" The conductor snapped. He closed the doors.
As the trolley started pulling away, they managed to sit at the back with two boys.
"Wait for me!" A kid called.
"Come on, hurry up!"
Eddie grabbed the boy by his arms.
"Hey mister ain't you and your sister got a car?" The oldest boy asked.
"No," said Linda.
"Who needs a car in L.A.?" Eddie replied. "We got the best public transportation system in the world."
The Valiants enjoyed their ride and smoked cigarettes, socializing with the boys.
Eddie and Linda get off.
"See you later," said one of the boys.
"Bye!" Linda waved.
"Thanks for the cigarettes," said Eddie.
"You bet."
"Anytime,"
The siblings got on the sidewalk. Harry the mailman greets them.
"Hey Eddie, Linda. How's it going?"
"Fine thanks." Linda replied.
"OK. What you got for me?" Eddie questioned.
"The usual bills," Harry replied, handing the mail to Eddie.
Throwing the mail away, the private detectives made their way to the bar.
Inside, Eddie greeted a few friends and put a hat on a guy's head while Linda gave him a back rub.
"What's with Earl?" He asks.
As Eddie and Linda sat down, one of the customers wrote a note and showed it to them.
"Laid off?" They asked in unison.
"A new outfit bought the Red Car." A black man explained. "Some big company called Cloverleaf."
"No kidding," said Linda.
"They bought the Red Car?" Eddie asks.
"Yeah, put the poor guy on two weeks' notice." The guy replied. "Cutbacks, they said."
Eddie sighs.
"Oh well, Earl…" He raised his glass.
"Here's to the pencil pushers. May they all get lead poisoning."
"You tell it, Ed." Linda said.
As Eddie took a sip of his drink someone stops him.
Eddie and Linda turned to see his girlfriend Dolores, a waitress.
"Tomorrow's Friday, Eddie." Dolores informed. "You know what happens here on Friday?"
"Fish special?" Eddie guessed.
Dolores takes away the glass.
"No. My boss checks the books on Friday." She snapped. "And if I don't have that money I gave you back in the till, I'm gonna lose my job."
"Don't bust a button, Dolores. You only got one left." Eddie assured, holding the check in front of her.
"If that is any consolation," Linda added.
"Fifty bucks?" Dolores asked, incredulous.
"Where's the rest?" She demanded.
"Well, it's only a snoop job away." Eddie insisted.
"Have you got that camera of yours?" He asked. "Mine's in the shop."
"Wouldn't that be the pawn shop by any chance?" Dolores asked sarcastically.
"Dolores, please. Eddie and I could sure use that camera." Linda persisted.
Eddie nodded.
"Linda's right. We need that camera and you need the other fifty."
"Any film in there?" Eddie questioned.
"Should be," said Dolores. She hands them the camera.
"I haven't had that roll developed since our trip to Catalina."
"That was a fun trip." Linda reminisced, thinking about the place she went to with her brothers and Dolores.
Dolores nodded, smiling a bit.
"Sure was a long time ago;" She said.
"Yeah, that was a long time ago." Eddie interjected. "We'll have to do that again sometime."
"Yeah, sure Eddie."
The rumbling sound of the trolley shook the silverware, dishes and glasses a bit. Dolores held the plates down.
"Paper even good?" Dolores inquired.
"Just check the scrawl," Eddie replied as Dolores examined the check.
"R.K. Maroon?" She asked. "As in Maroon Cartoons?"
Linda nodded as a voice from behind asked, "Maroon Cartoons?"
It's Angelo, a mechanic.
"Hey, so who's your client Mr. and Miss Detectives-to-the-stars?" Angelo questioned.
"Chilly Willy or Screwy Squirrel?"
"What do you want to drink?" Dolores asked.
"I'll take a beer, doll." Angelo responded.
Sitting down between the Valiants, he continues to tease them.
"So what happened huh, somebody kidnap Dinky Doodle?"
"Cut it out, Angelo." Dolores said sharply.
"Hey wait a minute," Angelo said, ignoring Dolores. "I know. You're both working for Little Bo Peep; she's lost her sheep and you two going to help her find them." He started laughing.
Linda and Eddie finally had enough. Linda suddenly kicked the stool out from Angelo.
"Get this straight, meatball." Eddie snarled, holding Angelo by the neck.
"We don't work for toons!"
Taking an egg, he shoved it in Angelo's mouth.
Linda gets up and followed Eddie.
Angelo stood up, spitting egg shells out.
"So what's their deal?" He demanded.
"A toon killed their brother." Dolores responded.
"What?" One of the customers asked.
"Dropped a piano on his head," Dolores remembered the terrible day that Teddy died.
A/N: I am eager to write the next chapter when Eddie and Linda go to the Ink and Paint Club where they see Jessica Rabbit for the first time. So hang tight!