Unknown: Driving Daisy Crazy

"Then the ceremony last night worked," Cynthia grins.

And the three of them laugh.

They have conjured up their favorite demon, forcing him to reveal himself.

And the bond between reality and the unreal grows stronger.

Suddenly serious, Cynthia continues, "Problem is, they could have taken her anywhere, including parts completely unknown to us."

"We wait for the call," Vanessa says.

"Do you think he's got some new place for his fun and games or what?" Cynthia asks.

"We wait for the call," Vanessa replies.

"Geez, if he's gone ahead and gotten himself a new location, we could be totally helpless!"

"We-"

"I know, I know. We wait for the call." And the three of them just sit there in total silence.

And, it seems to Cynthia, sit and sit.

Until Part of one ring and Cynthia grabs the phone.

Only to blush and place it in Vanessa's waiting, outstretched hand.

"Yeah… Oh yes, Officer Ryan.

"Thanks ever so much for remembering to call!

"Can you tell me-just a moment, please.

"Do you mind if I put you on speaker and tape?

"This could be very important to us… Thanks ever so much!

"With me, Officer Ryan are Cynthia Marvel-"

"The Baroness?"

"Right. The Baroness.

"She and her vice president of marketing are sitting right here and they may have some questions also.

"For openers, can you just give us an account of the whole incident, from the beginning."

He does.

When he has finished, Vanessa says, "I see.

"The impression here, Officer Ryan, is that this, uh, position Cranston offered the girl is to be part of the household staff. That the way you see it?"

"Pretty much, yeah.

"A garden for vegetables, like you'd pick for the table, as I see it.

"If the guy was tellin' the truth.

"Hey, listen, you don't think I was wrong ta let this Cranston take ‘er away, do ya?"

"Certainly not!

"Mr. Buck is an excellent executive who heads up a most impressive conglomerate and the young lady was fortunate to have things turn out so well for her so fast."

"Officer Ryan?" Cynthia interjects.

"This is Cynthia Marvel.

"The only problem might be that chauffeur. I will speak to Mr. Buck about him, since he might not be aware of the man's past.

"Additionally, I'd like to add my personal thanks to you for being so sharp-eyed.

"If you ever decide to go private, please contact me. I can always use good security people."

"Thanks, Baroness! I'll keep it in mind."

"You do that. ‘Bye now."

And she breaks the connection.

"The Estate," she says.

"What a relief!"

"Aerial recon would be best," Vanessa says. Morning and afternoon.

"Sweet young thing misses three in a row, we go to Phase Two."

"Which is?"

"Which is whatever we have to do to find out what's going on with the young lady.

"I don't wanna develop any options just yet, because that'll automatically rule out any others and I think, at this point, we gotta stay loose."

"Nancy?"

"I'm with Vanessa.

"We over-react, we move too soon or too hard, and we recover a cigar box of ashes.

"Believe me, I know"

"Just as we know that your replacement of sorts is there now.

"Nobody here is kidding herself that Randy needs somebody to tend veggies, are they?"

She looks around.

"Good! Good that we all agree that what we have just gotten word on is Buck's next victim.

"Nice that he's scaled down at least, isn't it?"

"Not if you happen to be the one he's scaled down to, it isn't," Vanessa observes.

"Hey, I couldn't agree more," Cynthia concedes.

"Even one more victim is one too many."

Then, almost as though to herself, "He's gotta be stopped, one way or another.

"I've got to stop him-one way or another."

"Well we haven't yet," Nancy observes. Cynthia glares at her.

"No, no, that's all right, Nancy.

"I'm the one who should apologize for not stepping on that snake's head when I had the chance."

"Which was when?" Vanessa asks. Cynthia thinks that one over.

"Never, really, I guess."

"Damn straight, never.

"And we're not gonna get anywhere if you keep beating yourself over the head for the fact that that piece of garbage is still walkin' around suckin' air.

"Don't worry; when the time comes-the right time, that is-you won't miss; I won't miss."

"I'm sure of it," Cynthia says.

And she sits there in silence, as though meditating.

Suddenly, briskly, "Well then! There we have it! Surveillance to commence when?"

"Today, I should think," Vanessa replies.

"Got a good chopper man, asks no questions, just looks for whatever the client says and reports promptly and in detail."

"Okay, you get on that.

"Vanessa, it's business as usual for you and me until something goes sour, right?"

"Even when it does is fine with me, Cynthia. I'm a devout coward, in case you haven't noticed."

"Nonsense! Look how much fun we've had!"

"Is that before, during, or after the torture sessions?"

"Details, details!

"My goodness, where would we be without a sense of adventure!"

"You can have my share, kiddo."

"Getting too old for this stuff, are we?"

"I think I was born too old for this stuff."

"Unfortunately, my dear, it's a little too late for such afterthoughts."

"What afterthought? I always thought that!"

"Nevertheless, you are as prime a target for Mr. Buck's nefarious attentions as I.

"Sad but true, I'm afraid."

"Why is it, Cynthia, that I keep getting the impression that you are not all that unhappy that this crap with Buck is heating up again?"

Cynthia grins.

"The man you love to hate, I guess.

"I simply love fucking him up."

"Yeah, right.

"The only problem with the way things have gone so far is that it's always our necks and skins on the line, while Buck's defeats are kind of like a rich man's losing at cards.

"Sure, his feathers are a little ruffled but, basically, he's none the worse for wear, while we come within millimeters or milliseconds of getting our asses blown away.

"I swear, Cynthia, sometimes I think Buck hasn't lost at all, that he's just playing some kind of deadly game of cat and mouse with us."

"Which, on balance, is better than not getting to play at all, Isn't it?"

Nancy just looks at her.

And the suspicion mounts that she is a mere mortal, trapped between two struggling super-maniacs.

When whales fight, the shrimp get killed, as the old Chinese saying goes.

And right now, she is feeling very shrimpy indeed.

"Tell you what, Nance," Cynthia says, "suppose you move in with me again, for a while?"

"Really, Cynthia I don't think-"

"Just, just until this blows over, okay?"

Useless to argue, and she knows it.

"Okay. I'll just go home after work and get a few things-"

"Everything you need, I have.

"Toothbrush to togs, since we're both the same size.

"And your costume is already over at my place."

"Naturally, since the only time I need it is when I'm with you."

"Bitter, bitter!

"Cheer up, kiddo!

"You coulda got stuck in one of those miserable nine to five situations."

"Right. And lived to a ripe old age."

"And had to worry about wrinkles. Don't forget that."

"Right now, I'd settle for being able to look back and remember getting them."

"Is my brave little soldier quaking before the battle?"

"No, but maybe I should start."

Thinking, So. There's to be a battle, then.

Them versus Buck's creeps.

That's always the way.

The only time they had even come close was at the masked ball.

Where Buck's great weight was able to tolerate a dose of poison designed for someone much lighter (Cynthia) and he received immediate medical attention.