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fardell24SpiderGirl left home after Daria had comforted her, in her usual clumsy way. ‘Maybe I do need grief counselling,’ she considered. She arrived downtown near a Bank. She had heard that there was an attempted break in a day earlier. She was about to look around when she saw Stacy walking down the street. ‘I need to talk to her, given that I have focused on Anna and the boys this week,’ she thought.
“Stacy!”
Stacy turned and saw Quinn coming towards her from up the street. “Quinn?”
“You heard about what happened with Ted, right?” she asked.
“Yes. Like it seems that he may be there for a while,” Stacy said in her usual worried tone.
“But he is alive, there is that.”
“True,” Stacy said. “And that boy has recovered from the snake bite.”
“Ben,” Quinn said. “He was released yesterday. I didn’t expect to be back at the hospital so quickly.”
“I ran into Anna, yesterday,” Stacy said. “She wasn’t that worried.”
“You didn’t see her at the hospital. She did look worried.”
“Right.”
The two caught up as they walked along the street.
Meanwhile, in a house in Lawndale Flats, a public housing estate on the eastern edge of Lawndale the robbers were discussing things.
One of them was channel surfing. “Nothing. Nada. Not a single sidebar. A guy has gotta miss a hundred grand in cash and jewels.”
“Not Osborn. There’s no telling what he has stashed in that mansion.” One of them said as he put a disk in a computer. “Cash, jewels, art, cars, you name it.”
A third one looked at the computer screen. “I think I know why Osborn didn’t file that robbery report. It looks like he has hacked into his rivals computer systems. Quest, Stark, Hammer, you name it.”
“He thinks they can’t trace him to Lawndale huh?” the first one said.
“Probably, but we should pay him another visit,” the second one added.
Osborn was in his home office on the phone. “I don't care. If I wanted excuses, I'd call the police,” he said.
A pause.
“Well you’re supposed to be the best private security firm in Philadelphia,” he said before hanging up. He then noticed that he wasn’t alone. “You broke in again?” he asked.
“That’s obvious, bro.”
“I’m calling the police.”
“You didn't last time. And we know why. We read the disk, Norman.”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“You’re hacking into your rivals’ systems. I think Stark would be very interested to know how you bypassed his firewalls.”
“That’s no concern of yours,” one of the robbers/blackmailers said as he punched Osborn.
“What do you want?”
“A million. Cash. If you try anything stupid, even if you think a stupid thought, your disk is gonna be uploaded to the internet for all the world and your competitors, including big baby Tony to see.”
“How do I reach you?”
“We’ll reach you,” one of the blackmailers said as he threw a cell phone down on Osborn’s desk. Then they all made themselves scarce.
“You have no idea who you’re dealing with!” Osborn said into thin air.
After talking to Stacy, Quinn walked along Main Street as her usual self, looking out for suspicious behaviour. She then came up to Zammit’s Boutique. She then noticed that Angie was looking out into the street with a sad expression. “Angie?” she asked as she entered the shop. “Angie?”
“Hey Quinn!”
“Is everything OK?”
“You’re asking me if I’m OK?” Angie asked, quietly, not at all like her usual self.
“Like I know I’m grieving, but…”
“I bet you think it’s great to move to Lawndale, even after what happened. Like a town of opportunity right. Use it as a base for designing fashion?”
“Well, I'm not sure that's the life for me. Like, I’m not sure Lawndale is as great as I thought it was. Is that it? That you think you’ll be stuck here?” Quinn asked.
“Sometimes you don't have a choice,” Angie groused.
“If you put your mind to it, you’ll get out of here.”
“My grades are getting worse, Morgendorffer!”
“Oh!” Quinn said. “Have you thought of tutoring.”
“And be lumped in with weird Anna and her hypochondriac boyfriend?”
“I don’t think they’re dating, and we could do it separately. What does Robert think?”
“Robert doesn’t know,” Angie admitted. “Though I’m sure he suspects something. I’m going to spend the rest of my life here in Lawndale, in this store. I’ll be another ‘Remember her!’
Quinn turned away as a customer asked Angie something, not realising that that customer was one of the robbers. She left the store, thinking about what Angie had said.
“Are you Angie Zammit?” the girl asked.
“What is it to you?” Angie asked, hoping that she hadn’t overheard her conversation with Quinn.
“I’ve seen you do a cheer in Oakwood.”
“Good for you! It’s not working out.”
“Not working out huh?”
“How much did you hear?” Angie asked.
“That you fear that you’re trapped in Lawndale. Like I feel that. I’m Wade.”
“As in Wade McFarlane, who lead the Lawndale Cheer team five years ago?”
“The same. But things happened. I lost my scholarship.”
“It doesn’t seem like I will get one,” Angie groused.
“So, what's your plan now?”
“Don't have one. I just don't want to do this the rest of my life.
“I hear ya. Where's the future in that, huh?” Wade said “Say, uh, we're having a party at our place tonight. Why don't you, uh, swing by?”
“I have to close up.”
“Afterwards.”
‘Sure,” Angie said.
SpiderGirl was still thinking about her conversation with Angie as she walked along the rooftops of the shops opposite. ‘I talk to Ms. Li on Monday,’ she decided.
Lawndale Sun-Herald
Sunday 7 January 2001
More Mysterious Break ins
Early in the day, Quinn walked into Ted’s hospital room and found him awake.
“Hi, Quinn!” Ted said.
“Your Mom called and told me you were awake.”
“You’re my first visitor.”
“How you’re feeling?” Quinn asked.
“Still off.”
“Everyone was worried about you.”
“I noticed. There are even flowers from Mr. Osborn,” Ted said.
“I also want to say I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Letting you get hurt,” Quinn admitted.
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“I know. But do you remember anything about them?”
“Not really, except that one had a hexagon tattoo,” Ted said.
“Something to look into.”
“Are you becoming an investigative reporter?”
“Maybe,” Quinn considered. “Get some rest,” she added as she kissed Ted on the hand.
“I’ll try. Thanks.”
At the same time Norman met Joey and Robert at the theatre.
“This theater means something to a lot of people. I spent every Saturday of my childhood here,” Joey said
“Like it was like being transported to some other place,” Robert added.
“Those are nice stories. But why is it important to you really?” Osborn asked.
“All of our parents met here. I guess we’re trying to hold onto Lawndale’s past.”
“So, I’m supposed to preserve this monument to local history?”
“Yes, Sir,” Robert answered.
“This is business Mr. Allan, Mr. Green. Most of the closing storefronts are becoming office spaces. The downtown needs a parking garage.”
“So, you're going ahead with your plans?” Robert asked.
“You haven’t given me a reason to change my mind.”
After leaving the hospital, SpiderGirl headed downtown and ended up at Zammit’s Boutique again. She saw Angie looking under the weather through the window. ‘I need to talk to her.’
Angie didn’t like it at all. That she had to work at the store after being out the previous night. She saw Quinn enter. ‘Is she going to be like yesterday?’ she asked.
“Do you have a minute?” Quinn asked.
“I’m busy.”
“Do you remember the girl who came in while we were talking yesterday?”
“Doesn’t ring a bell. Lot’s of girls come in here,” Angie responded.
“Angie! This is serious!” Quinn said as she grabbed Angie’s arm.
“Ow! Quinn!” Angie said with a wince.
“What’s wrong with your arm?” Quinn asked.
“I hit it with something, OK?” Angie said as she rubbed it.
But Quinn saw that there was a tattoo there, similar to what Ted had described. “Where did you get that tattoo?”
“Mind your own business!” Angie responded.
“Ted is awake and he described a similar one on one of his attackers.”
“It’s a coincidence I assure you! Now get out of here!”
Quinn then went home.
“Stacy!”
Stacy turned and saw Quinn coming towards her from up the street. “Quinn?”
“You heard about what happened with Ted, right?” she asked.
“Yes. Like it seems that he may be there for a while,” Stacy said in her usual worried tone.
“But he is alive, there is that.”
“True,” Stacy said. “And that boy has recovered from the snake bite.”
“Ben,” Quinn said. “He was released yesterday. I didn’t expect to be back at the hospital so quickly.”
“I ran into Anna, yesterday,” Stacy said. “She wasn’t that worried.”
“You didn’t see her at the hospital. She did look worried.”
“Right.”
The two caught up as they walked along the street.
Meanwhile, in a house in Lawndale Flats, a public housing estate on the eastern edge of Lawndale the robbers were discussing things.
One of them was channel surfing. “Nothing. Nada. Not a single sidebar. A guy has gotta miss a hundred grand in cash and jewels.”
“Not Osborn. There’s no telling what he has stashed in that mansion.” One of them said as he put a disk in a computer. “Cash, jewels, art, cars, you name it.”
A third one looked at the computer screen. “I think I know why Osborn didn’t file that robbery report. It looks like he has hacked into his rivals computer systems. Quest, Stark, Hammer, you name it.”
“He thinks they can’t trace him to Lawndale huh?” the first one said.
“Probably, but we should pay him another visit,” the second one added.
Osborn was in his home office on the phone. “I don't care. If I wanted excuses, I'd call the police,” he said.
A pause.
“Well you’re supposed to be the best private security firm in Philadelphia,” he said before hanging up. He then noticed that he wasn’t alone. “You broke in again?” he asked.
“That’s obvious, bro.”
“I’m calling the police.”
“You didn't last time. And we know why. We read the disk, Norman.”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“You’re hacking into your rivals’ systems. I think Stark would be very interested to know how you bypassed his firewalls.”
“That’s no concern of yours,” one of the robbers/blackmailers said as he punched Osborn.
“What do you want?”
“A million. Cash. If you try anything stupid, even if you think a stupid thought, your disk is gonna be uploaded to the internet for all the world and your competitors, including big baby Tony to see.”
“How do I reach you?”
“We’ll reach you,” one of the blackmailers said as he threw a cell phone down on Osborn’s desk. Then they all made themselves scarce.
“You have no idea who you’re dealing with!” Osborn said into thin air.
After talking to Stacy, Quinn walked along Main Street as her usual self, looking out for suspicious behaviour. She then came up to Zammit’s Boutique. She then noticed that Angie was looking out into the street with a sad expression. “Angie?” she asked as she entered the shop. “Angie?”
“Hey Quinn!”
“Is everything OK?”
“You’re asking me if I’m OK?” Angie asked, quietly, not at all like her usual self.
“Like I know I’m grieving, but…”
“I bet you think it’s great to move to Lawndale, even after what happened. Like a town of opportunity right. Use it as a base for designing fashion?”
“Well, I'm not sure that's the life for me. Like, I’m not sure Lawndale is as great as I thought it was. Is that it? That you think you’ll be stuck here?” Quinn asked.
“Sometimes you don't have a choice,” Angie groused.
“If you put your mind to it, you’ll get out of here.”
“My grades are getting worse, Morgendorffer!”
“Oh!” Quinn said. “Have you thought of tutoring.”
“And be lumped in with weird Anna and her hypochondriac boyfriend?”
“I don’t think they’re dating, and we could do it separately. What does Robert think?”
“Robert doesn’t know,” Angie admitted. “Though I’m sure he suspects something. I’m going to spend the rest of my life here in Lawndale, in this store. I’ll be another ‘Remember her!’
Quinn turned away as a customer asked Angie something, not realising that that customer was one of the robbers. She left the store, thinking about what Angie had said.
“Are you Angie Zammit?” the girl asked.
“What is it to you?” Angie asked, hoping that she hadn’t overheard her conversation with Quinn.
“I’ve seen you do a cheer in Oakwood.”
“Good for you! It’s not working out.”
“Not working out huh?”
“How much did you hear?” Angie asked.
“That you fear that you’re trapped in Lawndale. Like I feel that. I’m Wade.”
“As in Wade McFarlane, who lead the Lawndale Cheer team five years ago?”
“The same. But things happened. I lost my scholarship.”
“It doesn’t seem like I will get one,” Angie groused.
“So, what's your plan now?”
“Don't have one. I just don't want to do this the rest of my life.
“I hear ya. Where's the future in that, huh?” Wade said “Say, uh, we're having a party at our place tonight. Why don't you, uh, swing by?”
“I have to close up.”
“Afterwards.”
‘Sure,” Angie said.
SpiderGirl was still thinking about her conversation with Angie as she walked along the rooftops of the shops opposite. ‘I talk to Ms. Li on Monday,’ she decided.
Lawndale Sun-Herald
Sunday 7 January 2001
More Mysterious Break ins
Early in the day, Quinn walked into Ted’s hospital room and found him awake.
“Hi, Quinn!” Ted said.
“Your Mom called and told me you were awake.”
“You’re my first visitor.”
“How you’re feeling?” Quinn asked.
“Still off.”
“Everyone was worried about you.”
“I noticed. There are even flowers from Mr. Osborn,” Ted said.
“I also want to say I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Letting you get hurt,” Quinn admitted.
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“I know. But do you remember anything about them?”
“Not really, except that one had a hexagon tattoo,” Ted said.
“Something to look into.”
“Are you becoming an investigative reporter?”
“Maybe,” Quinn considered. “Get some rest,” she added as she kissed Ted on the hand.
“I’ll try. Thanks.”
At the same time Norman met Joey and Robert at the theatre.
“This theater means something to a lot of people. I spent every Saturday of my childhood here,” Joey said
“Like it was like being transported to some other place,” Robert added.
“Those are nice stories. But why is it important to you really?” Osborn asked.
“All of our parents met here. I guess we’re trying to hold onto Lawndale’s past.”
“So, I’m supposed to preserve this monument to local history?”
“Yes, Sir,” Robert answered.
“This is business Mr. Allan, Mr. Green. Most of the closing storefronts are becoming office spaces. The downtown needs a parking garage.”
“So, you're going ahead with your plans?” Robert asked.
“You haven’t given me a reason to change my mind.”
After leaving the hospital, SpiderGirl headed downtown and ended up at Zammit’s Boutique again. She saw Angie looking under the weather through the window. ‘I need to talk to her.’
Angie didn’t like it at all. That she had to work at the store after being out the previous night. She saw Quinn enter. ‘Is she going to be like yesterday?’ she asked.
“Do you have a minute?” Quinn asked.
“I’m busy.”
“Do you remember the girl who came in while we were talking yesterday?”
“Doesn’t ring a bell. Lot’s of girls come in here,” Angie responded.
“Angie! This is serious!” Quinn said as she grabbed Angie’s arm.
“Ow! Quinn!” Angie said with a wince.
“What’s wrong with your arm?” Quinn asked.
“I hit it with something, OK?” Angie said as she rubbed it.
But Quinn saw that there was a tattoo there, similar to what Ted had described. “Where did you get that tattoo?”
“Mind your own business!” Angie responded.
“Ted is awake and he described a similar one on one of his attackers.”
“It’s a coincidence I assure you! Now get out of here!”
Quinn then went home.
