Suzie’s House 459 : The Lethal Machinations of a Maniacal Kook? AKA a Reputation

Drew unplugged the laptop.  Some people might think you wouldn’t ruin the battery by leaving it plugged in over night, but he’d read the manual.  No point in making the charge cycle any shorter than it had to be.

It was a good days work.  He’d set up three basic sites and had the initial set up for another.  None of his clients had requested any changes, and one had spent an entire ten minute chat session with one client who only wanted to sing his praises.  Such a difference for the thankless under cover work he had built his life around.

Tomorrow he should make time for Walter.  It had been about a week.  Walter was due for one of his little field trips.  So far Drew had collected the old man from the Children’s Museum twice, one of the decorative fountains around the Capital building once,  the University of Wisconsin’s main library three times, and various stores on state street more times than he cared to think about.

“Still up?”  Suzie stepped into the den from the kitchen.  She had a dish towel in her hand.

“Just finished up now.  Ready for bed?”  He put the laptop in the desk where it was less likely to get damaged, then stood.

“Yes.”  Suzie ducked into the utility room where she tossed the dish towel in the laundry.  “Were you there when Miranda offered work to Gene’s band?”

“Yeah.  I was.”  He waited until she passed on the way to the stairs.  He had one arm braced on the wall.  She ducked under it as if she’d done it all he

“Why didn’t you put a stop to it?”  She glanced over her shoulder with accusing eyes.

“Like Miranda ever listened to me.  Even before everyone decided that I would never again be worth their trust because I lost all my marbles.  I tell you, lose your mind even once and it’s all over.”  He shook his head ruefully.

“You have a point,” Suzie said dryly.  “About Miranda, I mean.  She never listens to anyone.  Not that she’s always wrong.  She’s the reason I started renting rooms in this house and helped me with my divorce. Still, I’m worried.”

“For the kids or for Miranda?”  He followed her up the stairs.

“Both!  But mostly for the kids.  Why?  Do you think Miranda will get hurt?”

“Vin seems to think she might.  He had to step in a time or two.  Especially when the kids offered to trade their musical talents for studio time to put out their own album.  Miranda agreed without hesitation.”

“Oh, Lord!”  Suzie paused half way up the stairs.  Drew nearly bumped into her.

“Yeah.  They are already scheduled to do their first recording early next week.  I’m not even entirely sure she had the right to use the studio.  Doesn’t it belong to her advertising agency?”

“Yeah, but she’s in charge now, so I would think she’d know when it was free.  If she hurts Gene I’ll never forgive her.”

“And if Gene or his band drives her nuts?  That’s what Vin is expecting.”

“That would only be karmic justice.”

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