Sam Spade 05: Case of the Lost Girls

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It started out one bright sunny morning, the birds were singing their spring song and the scent of flowers filled the air. After a long and cold winter, I was glad for the change. As per my girls' request, I had picked out several outfits for them for when they were out of the house. I had, after long thought, decided that our businesses attire would be what I had started out with long ago, a suit, white shirt, and tie. While the clothing was male, the shoes were stiletto high heels. As the clothing arrived, the house took on the feeling of Christmas with everyone trying on their different outfits and modeling them for each other. However, that mood evaporated when I handed out the next item.

To each of the girls I handed a wooden box, inside were a silver-plated 45 automatic and a concealed weapons license. With the exception of Angela, everyone else looked at the box in disbelief and fear. Some going as far as picking them up with two fingers with the expression you would use while picking up a dead rat. Finally Jasmine said looking at her box, "Mistress, why this cannon? Why not something more sensible?"

Before I could answer, Angela pulled her pistol out and pointed it at Jasmine, "Because Jasmine, the fear factor." I could see Jasmine's face pale at the sight of the 45 pointed at her.

"I think you have made your point," I said opening my box and pulling out my old 45, the blueing faded. Showing it to everyone, I started my lecture, "While there are many hand guns that have been made that would have less of a kick. Moreover, many are more accurate and faster. Nothing will deter someone as much as looking down the barrel of one of these." I looked at Jasmine, "Isn't that right dear?"

Looking at Angela I asked, "Did you set everything up as I requested outside?"

"Yes mistress"

"Good girl," I replied. Turning to the others, "I want you dressed in your sweats and out back in ten minutes." I had requested that Angela set up a firing range out back as well as some mats for hand-to-hand combat. No one had ever mentioned about being a mistress to my sweet pets would be nerve wracking. Each time they went out I worried something was going to happen. Finally, I decided that they needed to learn how to protect themselves. The job of being a private investigator was all about putting yourself into situations where someone was liable to get upset with you.

Standing outside I waited behind a table. On it was a 38 caliber snub-nosed revolver. I set my 45 down on the table next to it. When everyone had gathered in a semi circle in front of me, I began my lecture, "There another difference between the 45 and other hand guns, the stopping power. Lifting up the 38 I spun around and fired off a round at a watermelon about 10 feet away. The sharp report caused everyone to jump and not a few "eeps" were heard behind me. Turning back, I set the 38 down and picked up my 45. Pulling the slide back, I turned and fired at the second watermelon beside it. While the 38 had a sharp report, the 45's sounded more like a cannon firing.

Setting the safety, I set it down and motioned everyone to follow me. I pointed at the melon that had be hit with he 38 round. A nice clean hole in the front and an larger one in back were the only signs that it had been shot. Then I moved over to the 45 melon, the front had the same clean hole while the rear was missing. Looking at the girls, "That watermelon is not going to get up and attack." I did not want to mention I had used a wad cutter round in the 45, while the 38 was using a standard copper coated round. To insure the destruction of the watermelon I had also snuck out early this morning with a bike pump and pumped air into it to make the demonstration more dramatic. Angela looked at it and then at me pointedly. Shrugging my shoulders a little, I smiled at her and she grinned slightly in reply.

Moving back to the table I went through the safety speech and ended with, "If you don't plan on shooting then do not pull your weapon. If you have to shoot, go for the kill. Shooting a knife out of someone's hand is best left for the movies." We moved over to the firing range and over the rest of the morning practiced shooting. I was lucky that everyone had fired a weapon before with the exception of Jasmine and had no trouble adapting to the larger handgun.

We were in the process of checking the targets when the doorbell repeater rang. "I'll get it Mistress," Angela said.

"I'll go to," Frankie chimed in. "I have to pee anyways."

I smiled, "I bet it's the police about the gunshots. Please reassure them that everything is ok, Angela." Turning back to everyone else I said, "Ok let's try again." I went over to Jasmine and helped her work on shooting. Instead of her using the one handed grip I had learned I had her switch to using both hands to steady and fire. This time she did much better and managed to hit the target once. Smiling I kissed her cheek and said told her she was a good girl. "Good enough for now pets" I said after we had checked the targets. "I want all of you to practice every morning, first thing in the morning, with sleep in your eyes."

I guess it was about 20 minutes before I realized that Angela and Frankie had not come back. The thought occurred to me that they were having a hard time with the cops. Shrugging it off I said, "Now go inside and clean your weapons. Jasmine and I will be in after she has fired a clip or two more." They all nodded and headed inside. We had just fired another clip and were checking the target when Heather came running out.

Mistress..." she said out of breath, "Something's wrong with Angela and Frankie is missing"

With a look of fear, I sprinted for the house, Jasmine running a close second. Sliding to a stop at the front door, I saw Angela not moving laying flat on her back with the girls circled around her. "Search the house," I said while Jasmine examined Angela.

After a moment I looked up and realized they had not moved, "Search the house, she will be fine. I need to know if someone is in here or if Frankie is missing." The old Samantha would have been mad that they had disobeyed me by not moving, but I had learned much since that time. As they spread out I looked at Jasmine, she was bending over Angela as if she were getting ready to pounce on her. "Well?" I asked.

Jasmine looked at me and said, "It looks as if she has been zapped. I need my tools and a place to work."

Nodding I looked up, "Heather," I said to the panting woman as she came running up. "What is in the apartment over the garage?"

Heather looked at me confused, "The apartment?" Her face cleared, "Oh, the maid's quarters you mean. It is a standard apartment mistress."

I looked at Jasmine again, "Grab the first 5 girls you see and go get everything you possibly need." When she started to stand, I took her hand, "Also, clean out your locker and bring all of it." I had a nasty feeling that Frankie was gone and who had taken her. If my thoughts were right, we would need every piece of hardware that Jimmy had stashed over the years. "Heather will you go unlock the door to the apartment and see if there is a hand truck or something around here."

"Yes Mistress," she replied as she went searching for others to help her.

A few minutes later Jasmine and her helpers hurried by. The other girls came back to wring their hands in worry. "Don't worry pets, she will be just fine."

Tonjala said speaking the thought; they all had aloud, "Is she dead mistress? Is Jasmine going to bring her back like she did you?"

"Something like that," I said. I realized that I had not told any of the girls about Angela. I would have to have a long talk with them all once Jasmine got back. She could work on Angela in peace; she helped build her and knew more about Angela than anyone else here, including me. "We need to move her to the apartment over the garage so Jasmine can do her thing." I paused and looked at Angela, "But she is a tad heavier then she looks. I will explain later."

Heather came up pushing a handcart, with everyone helping, we got Angela on to it, and up into the apartment. We laid her down on the dining table and waited. Turning to everyone else I said, "Please go clean your weapons now while we are waiting." When they started to object my look stopped them. Once I was along with Angela, I leaned down and kissed her unmoving lips. "My love, I know you can hear me just as I could hear you when I was hurt. I just want you to know I love you, more than anything else in the world." I sat there beside her and talked of my love for her while waiting for Jasmine to return.

Chapter 2

When Jasmine returned she came up carrying only a small box. "I left everything else down in the car Mistress. This is all I need to start." She said as she started working on Angela. I hovered close holding Angela's hand and getting in the way. Finally, after the fifth time of having to move out of the way Jasmine put down her tools and looked at me, "Mistress, please forgive me," she said. I looked at her not understanding why she asked for forgiveness. "Please leave so I can work Red. I will let you know as soon as I know something," she said not looking at me.

I lifted her chin, "Jasmine, no need to beg forgiveness, I know you will do your best." I hugged her quickly and left. As I crossed the driveway, I saw that all three cars that they had taken were full and sitting low on their springs. Jasmine must have taken my words as law and cleaned out her workshop and apartment. Shaking my head, I went into the main house.

Going inside I found everyone gathered in the living room looking worried. "Pistols cleaned?" I asked as I stood at the doorway. The looks that were passed around were answer enough. Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly, "Until Angela can talk, we have no idea what happened to your sister. We cannot go half-cocked chasing shadows." I sighed, "Please trust me dears, I have lots more experience at this then all of you combined." When they still did not move, "While I like to keep things relaxed pets, please remember your status. So when I ask something, it is still an order in a polite format." That got them moving.

I went out back and cleaned up. I know I could have had them do it but I needed to keep busy. By the time I went back inside, I had calmed down. Going once more to the living room I found them kneeling nude in a semicircle before my chair with their pistols laying in front of them. Standing at the doorway I said softly, "I know you're worried, but so am I. When I tell you to do something, you have to do it. One day you will hesitate at one of my commands and get someone killed. Do you want to spend the rest of your life knowing you caused your sisters death?" I sighed, "Put your guns away. They should not be laid out on the floor like some sort of peace offering."

When they had returned I gestured towards the couched for them to sit in. While I was trying to find the words to explain about Angela, Ashley spoke up, "Mistress is Angela ok?"

I looked at her and then my eyes swept across all the girls. "Angela has received a bad shock," I said and then tried a weak smile, "Not that there is a good shock." Instead of smiling in return, they just nodded solemnly. I wondered how to tell them, that the woman they loved was not human. I walked over to the window and looked out, "A long time ago, Angela and I were in an auto accident. I was burned horribly and she died."

I did not want to face them, to see their looks. "Jasmine, my father, and uncle put me together once more. I am part human, part machine." Looking down at the floor I added, "Angela, they could not save. The Angela you see today is not human she is an artificial personality." There, I said it; they know all about Angela and that I am only part human.

I heard Ashley's voice from behind me, "Mistress, we already know that, Angela explained it all to us. We wanted to know if Jasmine can fix her."

I was shocked; they knew and never said a word. "I don't know. If anyone can she can," I said finally. Turning to face my girls, I saw the worry in their faces. Their looks brought back a memory from my childhood. Whenever I had to wait for something, mom would keep me busy to pass the time. "Heather, is there a room that would work for storing weapons? Something secure but handy," I said.

Heather thought a minute and ticked off fingers as she spoke, "There is any number of closets, one of the bedrooms, the pantry, and of course the wine cellar." She looked at me, "But I haven't been in the wine cellar for many years' mistress."

"Let's go check out the cellar first." I said. Visions of spider webs, dust and creepy crawlers filled my mind, "But I want everyone to get back into your sweats my sweet pets. We can unpack the cars while waiting." As they hurried off I thought, the cellar would be nice if it is not too run down or hard to get to in a pinch. When everyone had assembled, I looked at Heather, "lead the way dear."

She led the way back to the kitchen and over to the broom closet. Opening it, she blushed, "Since I don't use the cellar I thought this would make a handy storage closet." I watched as she handed out the cleaning supplies to the others. Once it was empty, I looked in as she pushed at the back wall. With a whoosh of air, the wall opened. "We keep it under a positive pressure." She said in explanation as she walked through.

On the other side was the other half of the closet floor and steps leading down to the right. Heather flicked a light switch on and led the way. As she walked she added, "Daddy liked to keep his cigars down here also." Looking back at me, she smiled, "Even though momma didn't allow him to smoke in the house proper, he could come down here any time he wanted." At the base of the stairs was another door. Pulling it open Heather flicked on the lights.

The sight of the cellar caused me to drop my jaw, it was nothing like I had imagined. Off to one side was a pair of comfortable easy chairs sitting on a rug that must have cost a fortune. On the wall near them was a cigar humidifier that was larger than I had seen in stores, and on the other wall a tapestry hung. Before me lie rows and rows of wine bottles stacked in racks. I looked at Heather, "How, how big is it?"

"It covers the whole house mistress," she said nonchalantly.

As the girls walked in, I walked over to the chairs with Heather following. There, in the ashtray on the end table between the chairs lay a cigar. Next to it were matches, and a book. Lifting the book, I read the title, "A Tale of Two Cities." I could almost feel the man who sat here. I looked at Heather and saw her tears. Hugging her tightly, "He must have been special, I wish I could have met him," I said softly. As I let her go, I stroked a tear away, "Take all the time you need dear Heather."

I left her there, and only once looked back. She had sat down in one of the chairs and was sobbing softly. As the others started to go to her, I shook my head, "No, she needs time alone with her grief. When she is ready she will let us know." I herded them down the aisles, there were more fermented grapes here then I had ever seen in my life. Just when I thought I had seen it all, I found that they had stocked liquors also. Along one wall, cases of all different types of alcohol were stacked.

I heard the soft whisper of one of the sisters say, "Damn there is enough booze here to get the whole city drunk."

Reaching the far side, I started working my way back, pulling out a bottle here and there to look at it before replacing it. I made my way back to the chairs and Heather. I kneeled down before her, took her in my arms, and stroked her hair. Against my shoulder, she said softly, "He was reading that book to me every night before I went to bed before he died." Heather sniffed a few more times and then looked at me, "I'm sorry mistress."

"Don't be sorry baby," I replied. Standing I looked around thinking, about the only good place to set the armory up was right here. However, I could not bring myself to move this furniture out and replace it with weapons. "I guess we could use one of the closets or bedrooms," I said thinking aloud.

"I forgot daddy's workshop," Heather piped up. "I don't know how big it is; he never let me go in."

"Could you show me?" I asked. After seeing this place, I did not know what to expect but knew it would not be full of spiders and cobwebs.

Heather lead the way over to the tapestry and lifting it back disclosed a door. I opened it and found a room around the size of Jasmine's old shop. The inside was bare other than a few large tables and shelves on the wall. Heather followed me in and looked around in wonder. "I always wondered what he did in here Mistress."

Glancing at her I smiled," Some mysteries are meant to be unsolved." I moved around and said, "This will do fine. We will place the items from Jasmine's shop in here. In addition, if she approves she can make this her workshop." Standing in the middle of the room I said, "I want the cars unloaded and everything placed in here. Every weapon in the house with the exception of your pistols is to be moved into here." I looked around, "Once everything is unpacked, move the cars around to the back and make lunch."

They followed me up the stairs, through the house, and outside. "I will find out how Angela is doing while you are working," I said as we parted company. I went up to the apartment where Jasmine was working. I did not speak or disturb her. The only movement I made was to move to one side so she could catch sight of me from the corner of her eye. I knew she would tell me something when she could. It was like watching an operation without the blood.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Jasmine looked up at me. Shaking her head sadly, I felt my heart sink. "About half of her servo motors are shorted out, wires melted together," she said. "Until I can replace them, Angela is not going anywhere."

"Her brain?" I asked fearing the worst.

Chapter 3

I had to know how Angela's brain was. Was my love gone from my life again?

"Her brain is fine," Jasmine said. "Would you like to talk to her, mistress?"

I rolled my eyes, "Even with breasts you have a terrible sense of humor." I saw her chin quiver and moved up to kiss her, "But I still love you anyways."

"So do I," Angela replied from the table.

I let go of Jasmine and moved to Angela's side. "I love you too, more than anything else in the world," she said.

"So you did hear me!" I replied. "Jasmine is going to make everything all right." I added glancing at Jasmine and receiving a nod in reply. I sketched out what I had found and explained I would feel better if both of them were under one roof. "Jasmine, will you check on their progress and give them a hand. Once that is done get some help so you can move Angela to your new workshop."

When Jasmine left I said, "Angela what happened? Who did this to you?"

Speaking calmly as if discussing the weather Angela replied, "I answered the door, there were two males in police uniforms. I asked what seemed to be the problem; they replied that they have had reports of gunshots fired in the area. Frankie came up behind me and asked me what was wrong. When I turned towards her to answer, I heard one of them say NOW and I felt the shock. I heard them grab Frankie and drag her from the house."