END OF THE LINE
Chapter Eleven: The Plot Thickens
"What a night!"
Aja pulled the roadster to a stop, resting her arm on the steering
wheel
and casting her companion a grin. "I'm glad you came tonight, Kimber.
It
meant a lot to Shana, even if she didn't need us wishing her luck."
"She's so talented at what she does." Kimber observed absently, then,
"Aja,
do you think we could do this song? I've been thinking the whole thing
over
all night long and well, I kinda have some ideas, but I wanted to wait
till
you and I had a chance alone before I said anything. I mean, it's our
track,
yours and mine, so I want you to be behind anything I suggest or
decide."
"Well, okay. Shoot." Aja spread her hands. "I really don't know how
well
it'll work out, Kimber, but we can try. For the girls' sake, we can
certainly
try. What are your ideas?"
Kimber paused, then briefly outlined the conversation she had had with
Jetta.
Aja pursed her lips.
"I didn't know you were so sneaky." She admitted, a tiny smile touching
her
lips. "What a killer blow that'd really be for old Pizzazz! You're
right,
of course. At the moment with the balance as upset as it is, and with
her
playing the good hostess to you, she can't really refuse. I think you
might
be on to something. And Jetta said she'd play?"
"Yes." Kimber nodded. "I haven't asked Stormer yet but I know she'd say
yes,
to help the girls, you know, if Pizzazz didn't nix it and make life
hard
for her."
"And Roxy?"
"I haven't asked her, but I think if Stormer did it Roxy'd have no
problem."
Kimber responded. "She's plotting this solo record of hers anyway, and
I
know she was laying down a track or something this morning, so I get
the
feeling she's happily spreading her wings a little and exerting a
little
bit of independance on her music. I think I can convince her, Aja, and
well,
if I can't, Stormer can."
"In the meantime, we still have the problem of Jerrica." Aja frowned.
"She
controls everything at Starlight Music and I don't see how we can get
any
kind of backing from the company without her say-so. She'll never give
her
permission. Right now she's not thinking straight about anything."
"Well, that's where you come in." An impish look touched Kimber's face.
"Listen.
You've worked in that office with Jerrica enough times, haven't you?
You
must know where she keeps all the important things like, oh, I don't
know,
phone numbers and contact info for studios and all of that junk?"
"Yes, of course, but that's really Joanie's domain."
"Well, just suppose Joanie had the day off?"
"Kimber, what did you do?" Aja eyed her companion suspiciously. Kimber
giggled.
"Nothing! Oh, nothing, I swear. I wouldn't so anything to Joanie, she's
such
a sweetie. Bu-u-ut when I was thinking and watching Shana's show, I
remembered
something she said to me at the start of the week, when I was late for
the
first rehearsal Jerrica jawed me out about. She mentioned being up to
her
eyes in paperwork and that she was glad that she had a day off coming
up,
because she was taking her niece to the zoo and she was intending on
kicking
back and relaxing a little while she had the chance."
"Did she say which day?"
"I believe the eleventh."
"Hmm." Aja looked thoughtful, then, "Kimber Benton, are you suggesting
I
break into Jerrica's office and swipe her filofax?"
"No, of course not." Kimber shook her head. She reached into her purse,
handing
something over. "Here. You use that. No need to damage a perfectly good
door."
"A key?" Aja stared. "This is Jerrica's key!"
"No, it's not." Kimber dimpled. "When Jerrica gave me Eric's half of
the
company, she also gave me his key to the main office filing cabinet.
She
said she didn't suppose I'd need it too much, but she'd rather I had it
safely
than it being left lying about at the company. With the key, Aja, you
have
my authority to be there, and, don't forget, I own half that music
company!
I have every right to know what's in her filofax and what's in the
company
files."
"You, my dear, have spent a little too long hanging around Misfits."
Aja
observed acidly, taking the key from her junior and pocketing it. "I'll
see
what I can do. Meanwhile, this is your stop - the Gabor place - and I'd
like
to be outta here before Pizzazz roars her car in here like the maniac
driver
she is and knocks the mirrors off the roadster. Okay? You better scoot,
if
you want to tackle her tonight."
"Mm, that's gonna be the worst bit." Kimber admitted, scooping up her
purse
and pushing open the door of the car. "I mean, I think her bark is
worse
than her bite - that's what Stormer told me, anyway, but still, it's a
very
loud bark...and I don't want to try the bite if I can help it." She
grinned,
clambering out onto the pavement. "Still, if it means we get to do
this,
surely it's worth it?"
"Yes, I really think it might be." Aja nodded. "For the Starlight
girls,
Kimber, it's always worth it." She reached over to pull the door shut.
"Good
night and good luck, Kimber. Keep me informed."
As Kimber watched her friend drive away, she steeled her own courage,
swallowing
hard as she plotted out in her mind her mode of attack.
"I have to play the innocent Hologram." She decided. "To say right away
that
I need her help for the Starlight girls is no good. She'll just think
she
has me over a barrel and I want it the other way about. No, I have to
think
Misfit about this. Aja's right, I have spent time with them over the
last
couple of days. What have I learnt? I've watched how Jetta and Roxy
banter
and spat, I've watched how Stormer deflects it all...have I learnt
enough
to talk their lead singer into backing our cause?
And if not, what will become of the Starlight Foundation?"
PART ONE
Chapter One: Ceasefire
Chapter Two: Teamwork
Chapter Three: A Stumbling Block
Chapter Four: Tackling Jetta
Chapter Five: Cracks
Chapter Six: Kimber's Escape
Chapter Seven: Confronting Jerrica
Chapter Eight: Dilemma
Chapter Nine: Begging Sanctuary
Chapter Ten: Kimber's Gauntlet
Chapter Eleven: The Plot Thickens
This story is copyrighted to E.A Woolley as of Spring 2002 when it
was
first begun. Any characters not appearing in the jem series are also
copyrighted
to myself (E A Woolley) and are not to be reproduced in form or
character
without express permission. Any character from the Jem series are
copyright
to Hasbro Inc, Sunbow and Christy Marx 1985-1988.