Cast of characters
Elizabeth Besting
- Socialite. Traveled to Beau Island to become a model. Presently a bimbo.
Hannah Evens
- Beau Resort maid. Presently a bimbo.
Rena Lacke
- Psychiatrist. Traveled to Beau Island to negotiate a contract for a talk show.
Dr. Cara Lin
- Doctor. Professional medical license presently revoked. Reasons for traveling to Beau Island unknown.
Joan McKatt
- Private detective. Ex-cop. Reasons for traveling to Beau Island unknown.
Sam Morton
- Darkview strip bar owner/operator. Traveled to Beau Island Resort for vacation.
Eric Parker
- Beau Island Resort chef. Married to Tori Parker. Presently a bimbo.
Tori Parker
- Beau Island Resort manager. Married to Eric Parker.
Aubrey Rush
- Professor of Archeology at University of Chrystal Heights. Traveled to Beau Island Resort to secure funding for next expedition.
Paul Straight
- Beau Island Resort security specialist.
Part 4
"It's B-I-M Beau, supercop," said McKatt. "Bimbo. I think we all got suckered onto this island. And we are now officially in trouble."
Everyone looked at each other, waiting for someone to make an argument. Benjamin Ian-Merigold Beau, owner of Beau Island Resort, simply a nomme de guerre for the sake of an acronym? The concept seemed incredible. But then, so was bringing ten people to an island to turn them into bimbos.
Finally Aubrey said, "But that's fucking crazy. Why would anyone
do
that?"
Rena said, "The recording suggests the perpetrator pictures themselves as a dispenser of justice."
McKatt shook her head and said, "That recording could easily be meant as a distraction, you know. To keep us looking for someone acting as a white knight rather than focusing on someone who might do the same thing for less altruistic reasons."
Sam Morton said, "So tell me, Detective, is there a reason you appeared to be staring at me while you said that?"
Morton's tone was light, almost mocking, but the black ex-cop didn't smile. McKatt shrugged and said, "If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck..."
Sam's eyes narrowed and he opened his mouth to retort, but Rena intervened.
"Let us not argue amongst ourselves," said the therapist. "We cannot afford to be divided. Let us instead work together to discover where the villainous Mister Beau may be hiding."
The tension remained for a moment. Then Sam laughed.
"Quite right," he said. "Ex-officer McKatt is just upset that she wasn't able to pin anything on me last time, so she's just flinging some mud in my direction. I can understand that. No hard feelings, okay, McKatt?"
McKatt's eyes darkened, but Rena again intervened before the investigator could answer.
"That wasn't necessary, Mister Morton," said Rena, "and it certainly doesn't help the situation."
"Hey," said Morton, "she started it."
"ENOUGH!" said a firm voice, forceful enough to forestall any argument. Everyone turned toward the speaker.
Tori Parker, manager of Beau Island Resort, entered the lobby and stood before the group. She normally wore her authority like a business suit, apparent to even casual observers, but now her commanding presence seemed to expand, filling every crevice in the room.
"Mrs. Parker," said Rena carefully, "we're terribly sorry for what happened to-"
"I heard what you said about Mister Beau," said Tori, cutting off Rena. "About his initials spelling out 'Bimbo'. I'm not sure I'm buying that yet. But I do agree that there's something going on here and that we need to get to the bottom of it."
"Agreed," said Paul. The security man was nodding. "I think-"
"Shut up, Straight," said Tori. She stared at Paul, her eyes hard. "We're in this mess because you refused to do your job right."
Straight's eyes widened. "What?!" he said, getting to his feet. "Tori, that's not fair! I've been trying to -"
"I said sit down and shut up, Straight, and I mean it,"
said Tori.
Paul's face flushed. The security man opened his mouth to speak, then apparently thought better of it. He sat down.
Morton snickered. "That's the smartest thing I've seen you do yet, Straight."
Paul gave the bar owner a dark look, but said nothing.
Tori said, "We tried it your way, Straight, and it got my husband bimboed. We're done with your way. Now we're doing it
my
way."
McKatt said, "What's 'your' way?"
Tori said, "You will all remain here while your rooms are searched, with the exception of the occupant of whichever room is being searched. As the majority of you are women, I will accompany you. Straight, you will remain here and make sure nobody leaves the room."
Paul nodded curtly.
"This is outrageous!" said Dr. Cara Lin, startling everyone. The short Asian doctor had said nothing until now.
"Outrageous, Dr. Lin?" said Tori, her eyes cold. "How so?"
"To rummage through my luggage as if I am a common criminal?" said Dr. Lin. "Five star resort? More like Motel Six!"
"Be that as it may, Dr. Lin," said Tori, "we have a situation and we will deal with it to the best of our ability. I apologize for any inconvenience or embarrassment this may cause, but we
will
get to the bottom of things."
Dr. Lin stared at Tori, her jaw set, but the look Tori directed back at the little doctor was just as resolute. Finally Dr. Lin looked away.
"Very well," she said. "I will submit to the indignity of having my personal belongings search. I will not, however, sit around waiting as if I am being booked into a jail. We will begin immediately."
Dr. Lin strode forward and began ascending the stairs.
"As you wish, Dr. Lin," said Tori, turning and ascending the stairs with the small Asian woman. Over her shoulder, Tori said, "The rest of you will wait here."
*****
The guests in the lobby watched Tori and Dr. Lin ascend the stairs toward the guest bedrooms.
Once they were out of sight, Sam Morton said, "I don't care what you say, that fucking doctor Lin or Ling or whatever it is is a fucking loon."
Rena said, "Oh, come now, Mr. Morton. You hardly know the woman."
Sam said, "I don't have to know her. Run a bar as long as I have, you learn to read the crazy ones. And I'm telling you, she ain't working with a full deck."
Aubrey said, "You know, we're looking for someone who's off, aren't we? And I have to say that Dr. Lin fits that description."
Detective McKatt said, "You're siding with Morton? Seriously?"
Aubrey said, "Just because you don't approve of him doesn't mean his views are completely without merit. I happen to agree with him that Dr. Lin is a bit...odd."
"Batshit crazy, you mean," said Morton.
Aubrey shrugged. "However you wish to phrase it," said the professor dryly.
"Too obvious," said Straight.
Rena said, "What do you mean, Mr. Straight?"
The security man said, "I mean it's too easy to point to Dr. Lin and say, 'She's crazy. She's the one'. It's like blaming the butler in a murder mystery."
McKatt said, "Supercop may have a point."
Straight gave the black detective a pained look, but said nothing.
Rena tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Interesting," she said. "True, Dr. Lin is a bit strange. But perhaps it
is
a tad premature to assume she is responsible."
Straight said, "Exactly."
McKatt said, "Out of curiosity, Supercop...do
you
have an opinion about who you think is responsible for the bimboing?"
Straight gave McKatt a flat look. "Yes," said the security man. "As a matter of fact, I do. And if I'm right, that person is trying to make it look like someone else is doing it."
"Ohhh, so mysterious, Mr. Straight!" said Rena. "But you'll say no more than that?"
Straight said, "In a room full of potential suspects? I don't think so. That would be bad practice."
Joan McKatt grinned. "You're learning, Supercop."
Sam Morton suddenly stood and stretched. "Well, this has been fascinating," he said, "but if you'll excuse me, I'm not going to let these events interfere with my hard-earned vacation."
Paul shook his head. "You need to stay here, Morton," he said. "Tori needs to search your room first."
Sam laughed. "Search away," he said. "Tell Parker to feel free to search my undies. Meanwhile, unless you've got a warrant, as they say, I'm outta here."
Straight stepped in front of Morton and put his hand on Sam's chest. "Please wait until Tori searches your room."
Morton looked down and gave Straight a lazy. He was at least four inches taller than the security man and had ten to fifteen pounds on him as well.
"Really, Straight?" said Morton. "And who's going to stop me? You?"
"Just wait for Tori, okay, Sam?" said Paul. "We don't have to argue about this."
"We're not arguing, Straight," said Morton. "I'm leaving. Now get your hand off me before I feed it to you."
Straight's face darkened and he opened his mouth to speak, but Rena's voice cut in.
"There's no need for threats, Mr. Morton," said Rena. "Mr. Straight is simply asking you to wait for a few minutes. Since you feel so strongly about it, we'll all be glad to let your room be the next to be searched."
McKatt said, "Speak for yourself."