Misfit Hunt

Part 3

R.I.P.

By Nick Maro

No matter how hard he tried David couldn't meditate. His mind was still racing from the past day's events. He finally gave up and started writing his thoughts down. The sun was beginning to set outside and he sighed quietly. It was hard to believe it was the middle of fall already. He stopped writing and looked at the leaves on the trees. He missed Japan and the multicolored wonder of his yard in the fall. Closing his journal David just enjoyed the colors in the sky and the coming of evening. A soft knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts. "Come in." He yelled without looking at the door.

The door opened and Pizzazz walked in. "I heard you come up earlier and I didn't want to disturb you though. But what I wanted to know is do you want to see what I just finished?" David just shrugged as a reply. "What's wrong, David?" She knelt next to her brother took his hand in hers. For once he didn't hide his feelings on his face.

"Everything, I don't know what to do about Mary. I don't know where to begin searching for her or what to do when I do find her." He glanced down at his twin. "Then there are a few more personal ones. Ones because of which, I can't meditate because I can't focus. I dunno, Phyllis. I just need a break I think. The tour is coming up, Mary is accused of murder. It's just so frustrating." David threw his head back and sighed in aggravation.

"Hey, calm down, Davey. Everything's gonna be okay, you'll see. Maybe this isn't something for you to solve. Perhaps this is up to Mary." She rubbed the back of her brother's hand. "You don't have to help us fix everything. We can solve problems on our own. No one ever said you had to be our protector. Let's give Mary her shot at this. I'm sure she hasn't come to us because she wants to protect us from harm. Now," she stood and pulled him to his feet, "I want to show you what I did. I'm very proud of it."

David smiled and followed his sister to her room. To his surprise it wasn't as messy as it once was. She brought him before an easel where there was a painting on it of The Misfits and Suzaku. He couldn't help but smile. "This is great. I didn't know you painted. When did you start this?"

Pizzazz was putting her art supplies away when she smiled at him over her shoulder. "A little after we returned from Japan. Mariko suggested that it might help me out with my frustrations. She was right. This whole mess with Mary was weighing on me also, so I started on this piece again and it's helped. I can't wait to show it to the others. I'm so glad you like it."

After wiping a smudge of paint off his sister's face David hugged her tightly. "I really must be rubbing off on you. I just thought about what you said and you're right. I really should put my faith in Mary. There must be some sort of reason why she didn't come to us. I'll still worry just because she's our sister but I can't play hero all the time." He sat on her bed and combed his fingers through his hair. "But I guess we can make sure this isn't a public relations nightmare. That right now is the best way we can help her."

"See now you're thinking straight." Pizzazz laughed under her breath. "Talk about a role reversal, huh?"

David let out a loud laugh. "Yeah, no kidding. Just think, a few months ago you would've just let me be miserable."

Pizzazz frowned. "David, I'm hurt. You don't think I would've tried to add to the misery?" She winked and gave him another hug. They sat on the bed together talking unaware of the two women who watched them with smiles on their faces.

"Think we should bother them?" Roxy asked quietly.

Kimber shook her head slowly. "Nah, let's let them be. It's been awhile since I've seen either of them this relaxed or happy."

Roxy put her hand on Kimber's shoulder. "Come on, let's go rent a movie." Kimber smiled and turned to follow her. She then looked back at David and Pizzazz sitting on the bed talking together. "Hey, you all right?" Roxy asked from down the hall.

Kimber took a final look and caught up to Roxy. "I'm fine, just enjoyed watching David enjoying himself. Now, come on Rox, let's see what's in." Roxy led her down the stairs and out the door.

Detective Evans held the door open for the young woman. "Now Inspector Akiyama, what can I do for you?" He offered a chair next to his desk. He poured himself a cup of coffee then as an after thought turned to her. "Can I get you a cup of coffee?"

"Thank you, but no thank you. Please call me Rumiko, Detective." Rumiko Akiyama said in her light Japanese accent. "I was hoping to review what you have so far in the Mary Phillips case. She's been a suspect in a similar case in Tokyo. It was only by chance that I was here on vacation when this news broke."

"I checked your credentials and they appear to be in order. By the by, my first name is Steve." He put a thin manila folder in front of the young Japanese woman. "Here's what we have so far. It's not much. As of right now we just want to talk with Ms. Phillips. There's enough evidence that says she was not involved in killing Mr. Malone."

Rumiko looked up at the detective in confusion. "Mr. Malone? I thought his name was Marlowe."

Steve finally sat at his desk and groaned. "No, Marlowe was an alias he used. Not a very good one, but good enough." He sipped his coffee and opened the file folder. "Now if you look here the toxicology report shows that Malone had a large amount of a sedative in his system. We did a test on the coffee. We also found high traces of the same sedative in both mugs. I'll admit to goofing up and announcing that Ms. Phillips was wanted for the murder. I think she's innocent because of this toxicology report."

"So you think this whole thing was a set up? That someone was trying to frame, Ms. Phillips?" The confusion remained on her face as she read the reports.

"Unofficially, yes."

Rumiko thought about it while looking the files over. "Couldn't Ms. Phillips have worked up immunity to the sedative?"

"That's possible but highly unlikely. Besides it sounds like something out of an old martial arts movie." Steve looked at his watch. "I'm going to have to leave in a few minutes. I have a meeting." He stood and started to collect the files she was looking at.

"Thank you for taking the time out to see me like this, Steve. And thank you for letting me look at the case. Ms. Phillips just may be innocent in Japan as well." Rumiko shook the older detective's hand.

"You're very welcome, Rumiko. I just hope I helped you with your case. Good luck on that and enjoy the rest of your vacation." He escorted her past the reception desk and watched her walk out the door.

Once outside Rumiko, better known as Mary Phillips, let out a long held sigh of relief. She walked up to a rented van and climbed in the passenger side. "So, Techie, did you get all that?" Stormer removed the pin she was wearing.

Techrat pulled out of the police parking lot. "Every word. Now we begin our own investigation." He picked up a radio and pressed the send button. "Clash, are the cloaking devices ready yet?"

There was loud pop of static and then Clash's voice. "All set and ready to go, Techie. How did everything go on your end?"

"It went down perfectly, Clash. Rumiko and I will be back shortly." Techrat turned off the radio and turned to Stormer. "Don't worry Stormer, it'll be over soon."

Stormer smiled at Techrat's reassurance. "Thanks. I can't wait." They drove the rest of the way in silence.

Eric Raymond opened his office door and hid his yawn. He was still very tired from the night before. He had barely gotten any sleep after spending the night checking The Stingers' schedule. They were behind in recording the album and already over budget. Eric put the files on his desk and then went up to Kevin Ross' office. The secretary wasn't there yet so he began to let himself in. He stopped when he heard Kevin speaking to someone with a very familiar voice.

"I don't care if it was perfect! The cops just announced that they only want Mary Phillips for questioning! You said you'd get the job done! It's not done and this Phillips bitch has vanished! I want to know what you're going to do about it." Kevin screamed at the other man.

"Hey don't worry about it, Mr. Ross. My boys have everything under control. It's only a matter of time before she shows her face again. Then it's bye-bye baby!" He laughed a squealing laugh. Eric shuddered at hearing the laugh from behind the door.

Kevin slammed his fist on the desk. "I don't want soon! I want results today. I don't care who you have to hurt or what you have to do. I want The Misfits and David Gabor to pay! They humiliated me by arranging those games. The Stingers should never have agreed to it. It was that idiot Raymond's fault. Now get the hell out of here! I want results by tonight!"

The other man left the room in a hurry out of the main office door. Eric pressed himself up against the wall and hoped he didn't see him. He then waited a few extra minutes and entered Kevin Ross' office. Eric regained his composure and adjusted his tie. "Kevin, I wanted to speak to you about The Stingers' budget."

Kevin looked up at Eric clearly still aggravated by the incompetence around him. "Yes? What about it?"

"Well, we're over budget and I don't know how it happened. I was thinking it might've been an error in accounting. I told Riot and the ladies to watch their spending." Eric tried his best to look calm.

"I saw you standing by the door, Eric. I know that you heard me yelling," he said without looking up from his paper. "I thought you'd be happy with what I'm doing. That I'm finally getting rid of our mutual competition."

Eric couldn't believe how honest he was being with him. "Yes, about that. Don't you think it's a bit extreme?"

"Extreme? It's not extreme! It's necessary! David Gabor is still guilty of hurting my family through his father! The sins of the father reflect on the son! Now The Misfits are taking away profits from The Stingers. I want something done about it. I don't invest in Stingers Sound for it to fail, I do so to succeed. I'm just doing what needs to be done." Kevin began to pace his office floor.

"But attempting to frame an innocent woman for murder? Not to mention you had a man murdered to push this along! I can't support actions like this. This is insanity!" Eric walked up to him and stopped his pacing. "You can't do this, Kevin."

Kevin looked down at Eric's hands on his upper arm and shoved him to the floor. "Do not ever fucking touch me again. Either you're with me or against me. Where do you stand?"

"I've done some heinous and shitty things in my life but I would never condone murder. I quit and The Stingers are coming with me. I own the name to Stingers Sound and to The Stingers contracts." Eric slowly got to his feet and cautiously moved toward the door.

"I'll see you court then." Kevin said to Eric as he walked out of the office. Once he was gone, Kevin toppled his liquor cabinet over in anger.

Riot, Minx and Rapture waited in Eric Raymond's office. Minx was going over some new plans for a keyboard. Rapture was reading the new copy of the Weekly World News and giggling at the stories. Riot was looking out the office window. He had a bad feeling nagging at him since he'd woke up that morning. He felt that something wasn't quite right. "Rapture," he said quietly, "are you certain that my horoscope was good news?"

Rapture put her paper down and looked up at him. "I can't believe you're buying into that. You should know by now that it's fake and utter nonsense." Riot shot her glare that quieted her down. "All right, I'll check it again." She picked up the city paper and flipped to the horoscopes. She read it twice and put it back down. "It says that today is a day of transition, a day of change. It doesn't say if it's for better or worse." She gave him a half hearted shrug.

"It could always mean that Riot will just change his shirt." Minx said absentmindedly.

The office door opened and Eric came striding in. He didn't notice the others in his office he just went straight to his desk and started clearing it out. When he finally noticed the three blonde musicians he straightened himself up and undid his tie. "Stingers, I'm afraid we're going to have to find a new backer. It seems that Mr. Ross and I don't see eye to eye on certain business ethics. If you have any belongings here, I suggest you gather them now." Eric went back to filling the small box with his personal items.

The Stingers stood in their places stunned in complete shock. Riot finally broke the silence. "Eric, where are we going to go? We're in the middle of recording an album. We can't just leave now."

Eric carried the box to the door and turned to face Riot before exiting his old office. "We're going to do the one thing that we've never done before. We're going to ask for help. As of right now the album is scrapped. You'll start a new album as soon as possible." He shifted the weight of the box. "Riot-Rory, forget your pride for once. What we do next will be one of the hardest things ever." Slowly the three musicians quietly followed Eric Raymond out the door.

Mondays were the one day of the week David always hated. He sat in his office at Misfits Music trying to figure out how to clear Stormer's name in the public eye. Detective Evans made a public statement saying that she wasn't wanted for the murder just for questioning about that night. This made The Misfits feel somewhat better. He spun his office chair around and looked out the window at Starlight Music. He watched Jerrica try to focus on her work. Looks like I'm not the only one who hates Mondays, he thought to himself. A soft knock came from his half opened door. "Come on in, Kimber. Before you ask, I saw your reflection in the window."

Kimber draped her arms around David's neck from behind and kissed his cheek. "Watching my sister are we?" She giggled to herself. "Anyway, I came to distract you. Phyllis told me this morning you still seemed confused and unfocused. So we're going out." She straddled his lap and kissed his nose.

David hugged her tightly. "Thanks for the offer, but I can't. I still need to make Mary look good. Her being accused of murder reflects badly on the company. How about afterward?" He kissed her lightly and brushed the hair from her face.

"I forgot to also mention that I talked to your mother. She said for you to let the public relations department handle this because that's what they're getting paid to do." Kimber got off David's lap and yanked him to his feet.

"Fine you win as usual. Let me just straighten up here and then we'll go." David put the papers away and headed for the door when he heard a brief argument. They left the office to see his secretary and Eric Raymond engaged in a small disagreement. "Rose, what's going on out here?"

The older woman turned to David. "Oh David, Mr. Raymond here won't leave. I keep telling him that you're busy but he won't listen." She shot a glare in Eric's direction.

"It's alright, Rose. I'll speak with him. In fact Kimber and I were just heading out but that can wait a few extra minutes." David squeezed Kimber's hand gently. "You don't mind, do you?" Kimber reluctantly nodded that she didn't mind. David led Eric into his office. "Have a seat, Eric. Now, what can I do for you?" He sat in his office chair and Kimber sat on the couch out of the way.

Eric cleared his throat and put on a smile the best he could. "The Stingers, I and Stingers Sound are longer doing business with Kevin Ross. I quit this morning after I over heard Kevin talking with an old associate of mine." He cleared his throat again. "I've come to ask a favor, I was hoping Misfits Music would have a place for The Stingers."

Kimber and David both exchanged shocked looks. David turned back to Eric. "I would love to say yes but it's not up to me. You'll have to talk to my mother about it but I don't see where there'd be any problem. What did Kevin say to your old associate that made you want to quit?"

"He was talking with that idiot Zipper. I'm sure you remember him from when I foolishly bugged your home and tried to break The Misfits up. But it appears that Kevin hired Zipper to murder Marlowe, but I knew him as Malone. He was a good man. Zipper was supposed to frame Stormer for the murder but he botched the job." Eric looked at the desk blankly. "I don't have any proof of any of this but I felt I should tell you. The one thing I'd never resort to is murder and then framing someone. I can't work for a man like that."

David shared another look at Kimber who was now leaning forward and listening. He could see anger burning in her eyes. "Eric, thank you. Thank you for telling me. Tell you what, I'll start getting an office ready for you and I'll tell my mother that I'm signing you and The Stingers. Just as long you don't try another take over or try to break up The Misfits. You have to play it clean, Eric. I mean it." David kept his voice stern yet welcoming as he warned the former Misfits manager.

"Thank you, David. Ever since the whole Scarletti affair I've been a changed man. I just want to make music now. No more shortcuts." Eric shook David's hand and smiled.

Kimber stood and headed for the door. "Are we done now? I want to get out of here before something else comes up." Eric and David joined her by the door. "So Eric, where are The Stingers at?"

"They're waiting down stairs in the car. I didn't want trouble so I didn't bring them up. I've learned from the past that bringing a band to a meeting that doesn't concern them only invites more trouble." Eric stepped on the elevator and waited the others to board.

When the elevator reached the lobby David, Kimber and Eric exited the elevator car. "Well I parked on the street today. Didn't feel like playing skyway tag." Eric gave David a confused look. "You'll understand when it happens to you." Kimber and David both chuckled under their breath.

They followed Eric out to his black sedan where the three Stingers were standing outside waiting for his return. He gave them a relieved smile. "We're a part of Misfits Music again and you can thank David for this. He's going out on a limb for us. He's your new boss so you listen to him, got it?" Each member of The Stingers reluctantly nodded. "Well I guess we'll leave you and Kimber to a day of peace. Thank you again, David."

David pulled his keys out of his pocket and put his finger on the unlock door button of the key fob. "It's no problem, Eric. You helped us out today too but it looks like Kimber is ready to go. Thankfully my car is right over there." David pointed to two cars behind Eric's and pressed the button. The car exploded into a massive fireball seconds later. Riot tackled both Kimber and David to the ground protecting them from any harm. He got up a moment later and then helped the couple to their feet. "Riot thank you." The shock of his vehicle exploding and the fact that Riot helped him was still on his face.

"It was nothing, David. You would have done the same for me." Riot put out his hand and gave his most genuine smile. "Listen I'm sorry for how we acted. Can we have a clean start seeing how you'll be my boss now?"

"Sounds like a good idea to me." David shook Riot's hand.

"Everything loaded?" Ken called from the front porch of the Gabor Estate. Eiji nodded and Ken went back inside the house to grab his back pack. He slung one strap over his shoulder and headed out the door. He handed the pack to his sister in the backseat. "Thanks, Spazz." He got into the driver's side of the car and started it up. "And off to Oregon we go." He pulled out of the drive way passing a cable truck that was coming in.

Eiji turned the radio on and leaned back in his seat. "It's about time that we were able to go. I just do hope for the sake of argument that the transforming robots are for real. Still sounds like bullshit science fiction."

"Bullshit or not, Eiji dear, we're going to find them. I've brought my camera and three memory cards to prove it. Too bad Kimber didn't want to come along. I wanted to help get her mind off the whole Stormer ordeal." Hitomi cracked the window a bit and enjoyed the cool breeze coming in.

"We'll be back in a few days. I'm sure David will figure out something to do about Stormer by then." Ken pulled onto the freeway and headed north.

Stormer tested the cloaking device in the van. It was dusk and she would be practically invisible by now. She spoke into the microphone attached to her ear. "Okay, everything tests out. I'm heading out now. Do you have me on heat sensors?"

"We've got you. The mic works fine, now wave to the camera." Clash held an infrared camera at Stormer who waved at it. Clash glanced at the monitor. "Okay, that tests out perfectly. You can go anytime you want. Good luck."

"Thanks." Stormer turned on the cloaking device and jogged the block to her house. She found that there was police tape was still on the doors. She walked the perimeter of the house and went to the backyard. She noticed that the bird feeders were out of seed. She sighed and continued looking for any kind of clue as to what had happened. Stormer stopped outside of her bedroom window. There was a foot print in the dirt there. "Clash, Techie, I'm sending you a picture of a footprint in the dirt here. See what you can do with it." Stormer pulled out the camera and took several shots of it. The photos were sent back to the van.

Techrat's voice came over Stormer's earpiece. "It's not much and not very good, but we'll work on it. I'm not promising a miracle here."

"Just see what you can do." Stormer walked the perimeter again looking for the prints. She looked next to the front door flower bed. There was a perfect set of footprints. She pulled out the camera again and snapped several pictures of it. "Try the ones I just sent."

"Stormer, I think we've done it. Get to the van now!" Clash said quietly as Stormer raced back without a word. She opened the door to be greeted by Clash's smiling face. "My girl, you've just discovered who did it."

Stormer turned off the cloaking device and got inside. "So who was it?" Techrat pointed to a word on the bottom of the boot print. "Oner? Who is Oner?"

"You're reading it backwards. It says Reno. Who do you know with the name Reno?"

"Techrat quit asking me riddles." The name then clicked in Stormer's mind. "Oh my God! Chuck 'Torcher' Reno? One of Zipper's goons? I have to tell the others that they're in trouble." Stormer sat in the passenger seat as Clash started up the van and they quickly drove to the Gabor Estate.

"Are you out of your bloody fuckin' mind?! You've signed Eric Raymond and the bloody Stingers?" Jetta screamed in shock at David and putting her fork down. She nearly choked on her dinner at the Gabor Estate. David, Pizzazz, Roxy and Jetta were eating in peace until David told the story of what happened before the car exploded. Kimber was at Starlight House having dinner there. Evelyn Gabor was still at the office finalizing the papers for Eric, The Stingers and Stingers Sound.

David swallowed his mouthful of food. "Sheila, trust me, they can be trusted. Eric owes me for giving him this opportunity. Plus, Riot saved mine and Kimber's life." He put his fork on his dish and took the plate into the kitchen to be washed.

"I noticed that your swords aren't in your room, David. Moving in with Kimber?" Pizzazz asked from the living room. She wasn't happy with his decision, but she trusted him completely.

"Yeah, I am. It's time that she and I moved to the next step in our relationship." David poured himself another glass iced tea when the door bell rang. "I'll get it." He opened the door to find a frantic out of breath Japanese woman. "Yes? May I help you?"

The young woman pushed herself past David. "I know you won't believe me but I'm Mary." She pulled off the black wig to reveal the short cut blue hair. "We're all in danger."

David cut her off and looked at the hair. "Mary! You're alright!" He hugged her tightly as the other Misfits came running into the front hall. "Where have you been? What's wrong?"

"Zipper had one of his goons kill off Marlowe. I found footprints in the dirt by the front door of my house. Clash and Techrat dropped me off and they're bringing evidence to-" She shook her head and hands wildly. "Right now that doesn't matter. We need to get out of here." She wandered into the living room. "We're not safe. Get what you need and let's get the hell outta here."

Roxy grabbed her jacket off the couch knocking a few of the throw pillows off of it. "All right Mary, just calm do— oh shit." She looked down and saw a bomb with a timer counting down from thirty.

Kimber pulled up to the guardhouse. "Hi Phil, how are you tonight?"

"I'm doin' good Miz Benton. How's ev'ryone at Starlight House?"

"Dinner was great tonight. Next time I'll bring you some. Is David still home?" Kimber tapped her hand impatiently on the steering wheel.

"Yep, he is. I'll let you in." Phil pressed the button for the gate to open and she began to edge her car in when the mansion exploded into a giant fireball. The shockwave rocked Kimber's car while she screamed in terror and shock.

TO BE CONTINUED…?