FIRE ON HIGH

    “Fire On High” is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental. All characters and settings © Tigermark 2003-2008 unless otherwise noted. Request permission before using them, please.

The characters of Anatol Altaisokova and Melinda Altaisokova are my names for characters © Max Blackrabbit. They appear in this story with his permission. The characters of Brandy, Maxwell, Tonya and Zig Zag are also © Max Blackrabbit and appear here with his permission. Events and information relating to Tonya, Anatol, and their family are presented here, but are not to be considered canon to those characters or any other story but this one. ZZ Studios, and all characters associated with ZZ Studios, James Sheppard, and Marvin Badger © James Bruner and appear here with his permission. Although characters from and events referring to Zig Zag the Story appear here, this story is not canon to that one, and the author will disavow any knowledge of this story. Wanda Vixen © Chris Yost and appears here with his permission. Sabrina Mustidalae © Eric W. Schwartz and appears here with his permission. This story is not canon to Sabrina Online the comic, or Sabrina Online the Story, either. Matt Barstock, Angie Rockwell, Intermountain Charter, The Bitch, and her crew, and Jerry Kitt © Silver Coyote. See their story HERE.  Gail Rutherford © me and is not canon to any other story involving ZZ Studios. Gabrielle Ryder © Aslaug, from her Transitions stories. See them at her site, The Axe Shed, available from the links page.

Author’s Note: Lewiston, Maine’s airport, identifier KLEW, is actually uncontrolled. That is, it has no control tower. Poetic license was used for this story, so Alex and company talk with a control tower whilst aviating there.

 

Chapter 54

Past and Present

 

The rest of the week after the hearing had been routine. Alex settled back in at home, and made plans to call Corrie on the weekend. He could easily talk to the lovely lioness every day, but he knew her schedule was very busy right now, and having her rested and alert while flying was more important than talking for several hours after she got in for the evening. He also didn’t want to become a nuisance. For his part, things at Kentiger were busy and getting busier. The coming purchase of new aircraft also meant the hiring process for new pilots kicked into high gear. Part of that process was for him and Billy to review the résumés Loni received and didn’t immediately toss for obvious problems.

Alex was feeling like he’d slogged through a thousand of the things, but in truth it had only been twenty five. He could hear activity picking up out in the main office as crews began to come in and prep for the weekend charters, and the early passengers arrived. It would be a hectic weekend, and after Mastifson’s embarrassment, everyone was a bit on edge, doubly making sure he could have no pretext for more charges. The Rottweiler had not been on the General Aviation side of Bluegrass Field since he’d put his plane in the hangar upon returning from Cincinnati. Word from those on the commercial side was that Mastifson was both at work and ill-tempered, but so far hadn’t gotten out of line with anyone.

Alex sighed and put the résumé he’d been checking in the reject pile. Leaning back, he flipped his tail to get the circulation going and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Aviation jobs were very competitive, and sometimes pilots would pad their experience to try and land a job. This particular fur had claimed to fly as an instructor for an FBO in Phoenix, but the computer didn’t have a listing for the business. A quick phone call revealed that the place had gone out of business two years before the dates listed on the résumé.

He was about to pick up the next one in the pile when there was a knock on his door and Billy stuck his head in.

“Hey Alex, got a few minutes?”

“Sure Billy, come on in,” Alex replied, grateful for the break. The Bengal stepped in, shut the door behind himself, and walked over to sit down beside the desk. Alex noted that the tiger’s tail was hanging low.

“Things going as slow for you as for me?” Billy asked.

“Probably. Checking the references on some of these can take forever. You just taking a break too?”

“Sort of. Are you interested in coming to Columbus with Penny and me to close on the Gulfstream and Citation?”  Billy looked at Alex, ears forward, his tail coming up beside him around the chair arm.

Alex didn’t hesitate long. “Hmmm, no, not really. The deal looks fine to me, and of course I trust your judgment on it. I just saw Zig, and I think I’ll be needed here while you’re away.”

Billy nodded, his tail and ears drooping in a crestfallen way. “You’ve been talking to Penny and she told you to let me take my licks like a grown male.”

Alex tried to look innocent, but failed pretty miserably. “Oh of course not. She’s been too busy grilling me about Corrie. Speaking of which, I finally got to look over the numbers I brought back. What did you think of them.

Billy sighed, looking even more crestfallen. “Well, to tell the truth, I don’t think it’s a good fit. I thought it would be, but the details of maintenance schedules, crew requirements, and training just don’t mix well with Kentiger’s operations. I know, it was my idea, but the practicalities just wouldn’t work out.”

He waited for Alex’s reply with a bit of trepidation. He knew he’d just thrown cold water on the hot romance Alex was pursuing with his helicopter instructor. Alex’s look was neutral as he gave a single nod.

“As much as I want it to be otherwise, I have to agree. Don’t worry, Corrie and I will work something out.”

Billy looked relieved. “Well, I’d still like to talk to her. Helicopters might not fit in at Kentiger, but the idea still has possibilities.”

“I’ll talk to —” Alex began, but Billy cut him off.

“No. I want to talk directly with Corrie. Sorry buddy, but you’re too close to the situation. I want to see her reactions and manner without you filtering it. If I see an opportunity for her in the area, I’ll be able to recommend her for it.”

Alex perked up his ears. “Now you’re talking. I’ll ask when she can come down. If things have slacked off at Old North, maybe I can go get her next weekend.”

“That would be great. The weekends after that are going to start being a bit busy with Jenna’s wedding coming up.”

Alex now grinned. “That’s true. I’m told I’m giving the bride away.”

“Uh-huh,” Billy replied with a grin of his own. “Be good practice for you. You’ll be making that aisle trip before long, I think.”

“Billy! That’s rushing things a bit, don’t you think?” Alex didn’t even sound convincing to himself.

“Yeah, sure, if you say so. Hey, I’ve got to get back to work. Let me know when Corrie can come down.” Billy gave another stretch as he stood to leave.

“Soon as I can. Later, Billy,” Alex replied as he picked up the next résumé, his mind already heading for Maine as his eyes scanned the personal information on the cover sheet.

 

# # #

 

“Hey Jet Jockey! How are you?” Corrie found she was so excited she nearly dropped the phone. She plopped into a chair and settled in for a long chat.

“Missing you, Chopper Gal. Ben still keeping you overwhelmed?” Alex replied as he too settled into a chair in his TV room. It was Saturday morning, and he was glad he’d caught the lioness at home. By the time he’d had a chance to call the previous evening, it had been too late. He heard Corrie give a bit of a snort in response to his question.

“Yeah, but the rush is about ovah. It’ll stay pretty active all summer, and we’ll have a big push around Memorial Day and the Fourth of July holidays, but the first push is always the most hectic. We have several pilots who are seasonal and only come in for summer and the forest spraying runs, so they’ll start taking up the slack. How about you? Did the hearing come out okay?”

Alex heard a genuine interest in her voice, and he smiled to himself. It seemed every time he talked to her, he felt as though there was no distance at all between them. He was not interested in talking about Mastifson at all, but he needed to answer Corrie’s question.

“No problems with the hearing. Fully absolved of all charges. I don’t think I’m done with the guy yet, though. So far, he’s been keeping to his job and staying out of our way, but I know he’ll try something again sooner or later. I don’t want to take up time talking about that rotten rottweiler, if that’s okay?”

“Sure Luv, as long as he’s keeping his nose out, I don’t care what he’s doing. How’d your partner like the information you brought home?”

“Well, Billy and I came to a decision about helicopters and Kentiger.”

Corrie sat up. The note of Alex’s voice didn’t bode well for the idea. “You don’t sound too happy. I take it that means a no-go?”

Alex sighed. “Yep. We both looked at it from every angle, and it’s just not a good fit with our business operations.”

Corrie eased back in her seat again. With any of her previous beaus, this would have spelled the end, but with Alex she was confident that it didn’t mean anything more than a chance to make a plan B. She still couldn’t help fishing for a little reassurance, though.

“Too bad. All that time and training up here wasted.”

“Oh no, never wasted. The training was excellent, and we had to have good information to make a good decision. As to the time, well, I certainly don’t consider the time I spent with you wasted, Love. In fact, how would you like to come down next weekend?” Alex was smiling a very wide smile at the thought of seeing her again.

“Oh!” Corrie nearly squealed with surprise. “I’d love to, but it’ll be so much time in transit. I have some days coming, though. I could take Friday and Monday and make it, I think. Let me get ovah to the computah and see if I can get a flight then.”

“Whoa, hold on a second. This is my invitation, and Billy wants to meet you and talk with you as well. He wants to get an impression of you so he can recommend you if he hears of any helicopter jobs down this way. That makes this a business trip, so I’ll come up in Stripes One and get you.”

“Well, a gal would be bonkers to turn down an offer like that. You’re on, then.” Corrie had been halfway out of her chair, but now she sat back down with a broad smile and a merry flip of her tail.

Alex gave a nod of his head, even though no one could see it. The weekend was looking better all the time. “Great! I’ll call you Thursday before I leave. Do I need to book a hotel in advance, or do you think I’ll be able to get a room as a walk-in?”

Corrie thought a second before answering. “You’d bettah reserve one. It gets pretty busy around the weekends. Unless you’d like my couch?”

“Tempting offer Love, but your landlady might get the wrong idea. Oh, and just for the record, I want you to see my house, but we’ll put you up in a hotel while you’re here, too.”

Corrie felt very secure with that, glad once again that Alex was so conscientious. “Always the proper gentlefur. One of the things I love about you. Okay, I’ll plan for a hotel stay.”

The conversation went on for another hour as Alex filled Corrie in on whom she’d probably be meeting. By the end of the call, both of them were wishing time would skip forward to Thursday.

 

# # #

 

“All set Cowboy?” Penny asked as Billy climbed into the left seat of the Aerostar and settled his seatbelt in place.

“Almost. Let me finish up the preflight cockpit checks, and then I’ll get the engines started.”

“Sounds good to me,” Penny replied. The day was becoming warm, which made the interior of the aircraft a bit stuffy until the engines were started. Still, the many years of flying with Billy hadn’t dulled the sense of adventure she felt every time they got ready to take off. She watched quietly as Billy checked the instruments and controls, and dialed in the frequencies on the radios. Soon he was ready, and with a hearty “Clear PROP!” for each side, he got the Aerostar’s powerful engines turning.

“Bluegrass Ground, November Five Niner Six Niner Charlie is an Aerostar Six Hundred, requesting clearance to taxi for Runway Two Two,” Billy called on the radio a moment later.

“Six Nine Charlie, Bluegrass Ground. Proceed to Taxiway Delta, turn left onto Bravo, and hold short of Alpha for incoming traffic,” replied the controller. Billy looked out toward the northeast and saw the landing lights of a commercial jet on approach. It was too far way to make out exactly what it was, but at the speeds airliners flew, it would be on the ground and coming along the taxiway by the time they would get to Taxiway Alpha. Billy read back the clearance.

“Copy Ground, Delta, left onto Bravo, hold at Alpha, Six Niner Charlie.”

Billy nudged the throttles and the Aerostar rolled out onto the taxiway system. At the intersection of Bravo and Alpha, he pushed on the brakes and waited. Looking left past the airport fire station, he saw an older model DC-9 coming up the taxiway. The delay was only a few minutes as the airliner rolled on toward the terminal building.

“Six Nine Charlie, you are cleared to proceed to Runway Two Two. Contact Tower at two five seven point eight. Good day,” the controller called after a moment. Billy taxied the Aerostar on to the hold point where the taxiway joined Runway Two Two. There he did his final checks and then called the tower for takeoff clearance.

“Bluegrass Tower, November Five Niner Six Niner Charlie holding at Runway Two Two, requesting takeoff clearance.”

The reply was immediate. “Six Nine Charlie, you are cleared for takeoff. Contact Departure Control at one two zero point seven five.”

“Six Niner Charlie copies. Rolling now,” Billy called back as he advanced the throttles and moved to line up with the runway centerline. The twin Lycomings roared up to full power and in a few seconds they were airborne. Just like he’d done the previous week as a passenger in the Citation, Billy turned toward the north and the Ohio River. The Aerostar was the fastest piston twin in the world, so once they reached their assigned altitude, the flight to Columbus didn’t take very long. As was usual on a spring afternoon, there were some pop-up thunderstorms developing along the river. Billy dodged them with no problem, and before long they were on the ground at Port Columbus. He parked the aircraft where the ramp fur indicated, and then he and Penny grabbed their overnight bags and walked into the FBO office. Billy paid for their fees and arranged for fuel, and as he was finishing up Fred Bostick walked in.

“Hello Billy. Penny, you’re looking as beautiful as ever.”

Penny winked at him. “And you’re still keeping up the sly, sexy fox image. How are you, Fred?”

The fox gave a laugh. “I’m good. I’ll be even better after we get this deal signed. Do you know what we’re walking into?”

Billy chimed in before Penny could reply. “Yeah, I confessed the whole thing to her. She agreed to come along and salt the crow for me. How likely is it that Matt will get mad and bail out?”

The tiger managed to look chagrined, uncomfortable, and hopeful all at once. It was all Fred could do not to laugh. “I think he’ll tough it out. He wants that Avidyne system and MFDs too much. He could make it a very uncomfortable dinner, though.”

Penny replied in a voice that practically dripped honey. “Oh, I think we can all be adults and stay civilized, don’t you?”

Billy grinned and rolled his eyes. He’d heard that voice many times, and for his part, he’d do just about anything she asked when she used it. Fred gave a mild snort.

“Well I’m convinced. But be careful with that this time. Matt might respond, but his assistant Angie, according to the scuttlebutt, is also his girlfriend. She might not appreciate it.”

Penny just smiled. Billy remembered that look from an earlier conversation.

“You knew that, didn’t you,” he said, more as a statement than a question.

“Hmm, could be. Shall we go?” she replied, giving her husband a wink and a kiss on the side of the muzzle. Fred just grinned and motioned for them to follow him.

He led them out to the parking lot and a rented four-door sedan. Billy and Penny put their bags in the trunk and then sat together in the back seat as Fred took the wheel. They drove into Columbus proper, and after several turns, they pulled up in front of a well decorated building. The sign along the front announced that this establishment was Oscar’s Pub. Fred parked in the lot and shut down the car. He quickly got out and came around to open Penny’s door for her. He then led the way inside, where he flagged down a passing waitress.

“Hey Miss, Where’s Matt Barstock?”

The rather chubby Great Dane flashed a smile at him. “Private room in th’ back. Go to th’ bar, take a left, and go down th’ hallway. It’s th’ second door on th’ left.”

“Thanks,” Fred replied as she hurried on toward the tables she was waiting. The group proceeded on to the room the waitress had directed them to. Penny held on to Billy’s paw, both to show the interested onlookers she caught site of that she was with someone, and to show her support to her husband. She could feel his nervousness, so she whispered to him as they neared the door.

“It’ll be fine, Hon. Even if he makes a scene; you’re doing what’s right. Just hold your temper.”

Billy nodded, although he looked like it was a gallows they were preparing to enter instead of a room for dinner. Fred opened the door and went in, with Billy and Penny right behind him. As they approached the table, Penny took the chance to observe the room and the furs already seated there. There was a large round table in the center of the room, with long tables along one wall for the waitresses to serve from. A tall canid male at the table was rising to his feet. Penny put his species as black Labrador retriever, but the cream color of his paws told her he was a hybrid. The other fur was a calico feline femme with brown eyes, who also stood up. Penny thought that both of them appeared close to her and Billy in age. Just then Fred reached the table and offered his paw to the canid.

“Matt, good to see you. Angie, you get prettier everytime we meet. You keeping this guy straight these days?”

The calico femme smiled warmly. “It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it. How are you, Fred?”

“I’m doing great,” he replied as he released Matt’s paw and shook hers. “Let me introduce you to the buyers for your aircraft. I know Matt and Billy already know each other, but I don’t think either of you ladies have met. Angie Rockwell, administrator for Intermountain Charter, this is Billy Panelli, co-owner of Kentiger Executive Air Service, and his wife Penny.”

Angie smiled warmly at both the Panelli’s and shook paws. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”

“Matt Barstock, Penny Panelli,” Fred continued.

“’S a pleasure.” Matt responded with a nod of his head as he briefly shook paws, his tail down flat against his leg and his ears half back. The tiger-fox femme the Kid had married was, of course, very beautiful. He wasn’t jealous, since he thought Angie was just as lovely, if not more so. It just fit the image he had of Billy that the tiger would have married a beautiful femme. Further proof that the universe and everything in it went his way. Matt had come with the idea of maybe making peace, but this matching of reality with his expectation caused a bit of the resentment he’d felt for so long to show its ugly head.

Before he could even begin to stop himself, Matt blurted out, “So Kid, I see you’re still on top of the world. You ever not win?”

Billy was taken aback. He’d had his paw extended to shake, but Matt’s comment stopped him in his tracks for a moment. A sharp retort tried to escape, but he bit it back. After all, his intention was to apologize for the old wrong. He blinked a second to clear the anger that threatened to color his voice, and force his tail down and ears up.

“Hello Matt, long time no see. Angie, nice to meet you.”

Before Matt could say anything more, Fred interjected. “Hey! Let’s get seated and order drinks before we start.”

Matt and Billy regarded each other for a moment, and then both stepped around to hold the chair for their respective ladies. Penny gracefully sat down, as most times Billy did that when they were out. Angie, though, arched an eyebrow. Matt was a gentlefur, mostly, but some of the niceties like holding a chair for her only happened at more formal occasions. She hoped the meeting wouldn’t degenerate into a competition between Matt and Billy over everything. After a second, she sat also.

As the three males sat down, a slim lynx waitress stepped up to take their orders. Billy had noticed her in the corner, but she’d been so unobtrusive that he’d almost forgotten she was there. She proceeded around the table, jotting down the drink orders and smiling in a friendly way. Fred ordered iced tea to go with his meal, while Matt order a beer to chase the Boilermaker he’d had while waiting. The lynx picked up the shot glass and mug from that as she passed. Angie also ordered iced tea, and Penny ordered a glass of White Zinfandel and a glass of water.

It was now Billy’s turn, and he thought a moment before ordering. He wasn’t driving, but he would be flying back to Lexington the next morning. He also didn’t want alcohol to alter his attitude before he apologized. Still, it was well outside his twelve-hour cutoff, so he decided on a beer, too. The lynx nodded and said she’d be right back with the drinks.  Billy watched her retreat to the side door out of the room, and decided it was time to go ahead with what he wanted to say before the meeting got started or Matt tossed any more jibes his way.

“Before we get started, there’s something I want to say.”

Every eye around the table focused on him. Penny gave him a nod of encouragement, so he took a breath and then went on.

“Matt, I, ah, I know it’s been a long time ago, and that it’s probably too little too late, but I want to apologize to you for that stunt back in UPT. It was a dumb thing to do, and for whatever problems it has caused you, I’m sorry.”

The tension at the table palpably rose as all eyes turned to Matt. The canid regarded Billy for several very long moments. His first thought was to scoff in the tiger’s face. All the years he’d held Billy the Kid to blame couldn’t be swept away in a few seconds with a single sentence, no matter how contrite the tiger had sounded. He held back, though. The words Fred had said nearly a month ago came back to him. It was time to let it go, but could he, after all this time? With a smirk, he decided that yes, he could. He wasn’t going to let the Kid off that easy quite yet, though. He gave a soft snort and looked Billy in the eye.

“Yeah Kid, it has been a long time. I don’t want to talk about it right now. We’re here to sign a deal and eat dinner with our two lovely ladies. Fred, pull out those papers and let’s make sure we both agree to all the terms.”

Fred nodded and pulled his briefcase up into his lap. “Sure, got the contracts right here. The lawyers from both parties faxed me their approval on it just yesterday.”

Before Fred could continue, the lynx waitress returned with everyone’s drinks, and took the orders for their meal. The discussion of the contracts got into a preliminary stage before the food arrived, but then by mutual assent the business was put away while everyone ate. Penny noticed that Billy was just picking at his food, and the look on his face said he was less than satisfied with something. Since his steak looked like it had been well prepared, she surmised that her husband had expected something different from Matt than the response he got. Billy had anticipated to either have the apology thrown back in his face, or to be forgiven, but he hadn’t expected what appeared to be indifference. Matt too wasn’t eating much, and was pulling pretty heavily on the beer in his mug in between aiming cool stares at Billy and answering attempts at conversation with monosyllables.

To his credit, Fred was attempting to lighten the mood, and rapidly sinking in the effort. Penny was growing tired of the tense atmosphere when she happened to lock eyes with Angie. In a way that only femmes seem capable of, the two struck common ground and a course of action with no exchange of words. With a slight nod, they put the plan into action.

“Angie, how long have you and Matt been going together?”

Fred froze. Matt stopped staring, and nearly did a spit-take with his beer. Billy blinked and looked up from his brooding. Angie didn’t miss a beat.

“Oh, a little while now. He’s usually a bit gruff, but very charming in his own way. Lately though, he’s been a bit grouchy.”

“Oh? What about?” Penny’s voice held gentle curiosity.

“Business concerns, and this meeting with your husband. Lots of stress.” Angie was the picture of put-upon concern.

“Oh dear, that’s too bad. How does that make you feel?” Penny leaned forward, ears up, the very soul of sympathy.  Billy heard the trap spring shut, and began to woefully shake his head.

“Matt, we’ve been had. We’d better talk this out and bury the hatchet and get on with the deal, or the next questions about feelings will be directed at us!”

Matt looked confused for a moment, looking quickly from Angie to Penny and back. The bright-eyed, perked-eared keen feline stares the two femmes were wearing made him shudder.

“Kid, I think you’ve made a good call there. Okay, I know when I’m caught. As much as I hate to end a good grudge, I guess I accept your apology.”

“Thank you. I can’t believe I was so dense. It never dawned on me that you were upset about it.”

Matt gave a large sigh. “Yeah, well, I just kinda put it down to arrogance and ego. Like you were too high and mighty to worry about what your prank might’ve cost me. Now that I say that out loud, it sounds so petty. I think maybe I should apologize to all of you for carrying it around for so long. And for being grouchy. We’re trying to get another C-130 airworthy, and it’s been a rough go doing so.”

Billy nodded, his ears flicking forward as he accepted the apology. “No problems here. Now, how about we finish up dinner and then get this paperwork done?”

A chorus of affirmative answers sounded out. The mood was much improved, and before too long Fred, Billy, and Matt were all immersed in talk of aviation and old stories. Penny sipped her wine and tried not to look smug. Angie was also looking pleased with herself. Before long, the two would excuse themselves to go freshen up, and spend a good fifteen minutes talking in the restroom. For now, the two femmes simply exchanged a quiet nod of victory and went on with their meal.

 

# # #

 

“Hi Mom, how did the planning go today?” Tia asked as she got in the minivan. Andrew glanced up, gave a nod in greeting, and went back to . . . reading a book? Tia raised an eyebrow, and Andrew answered her unspoken question without looking back up.

“Rich Farraday said I should expand my interests a bit, and recommended a book he’d read when he was younger.”

“What book?” Tia asked. Her mother’s amused look told her that she already knew.

“The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.”

Tia nodded. The book held a lot of adventure, and a lot of lessons to be learned. Andrew tended to be rather one-tracked into computers and gaming, so that story might give him something more to occupy his mind. Tia turned her attention back to her mother.

“So, as I asked, how did things go today?”

“For once, just fine. I think we’ll actually be able to pull this off,” Jenna replied with a smile.

“That’s great! Are you getting nervous?”

Jenna thought a second, and then gave a wry grin. “I’ve been too busy to think about getting nervous. Thanks a lot.”

Tia giggled for a moment, and then Jenna went on. “It’s not like I’ve never been married, but I guess I am a little nervous. Mostly just because I want everything to go smoothly. So now I’m going to change the subject so I won’t get any more nervous. How was school today?”

Tia let out a sigh. “Standardized tests. We get done with them, and the school year might as well be over. If it weren’t for the last Mystery Club Digest story yet to do, I’d be bored to death.”

Jenna rolled her eyes, but before she could comment, her cell phone rang.

“Would you answer that for me please, Tia?”

“Sure Mom,” the young tigress replied as she rummaged in her mother’s purse for the ringing, vibrating device. Pulling it out, she clicked the button and answered.

“Hello?”

“Ah, Mrs. O’Whitt, er, Jenna?” The voice was female. The quaver and tone told Tia the speaker had recently been crying. She cautiously answered.

“No, this is her daughter. She’s driving right now, who is this?”

There was silence for a moment, broken by a sniffling that confirmed Tia’s earlier impression. Then the femme took a deep breath and spoke again.

“H-hello Tia. Ah, my name is Kelli Killiarski. Umm, I’d like to talk to your mom. C-can I call back in a little while?”

Tia thought she recognized the name. She looked sideways at her mother, and then pressed the mute button on the phone.

“Mom, the caller says she’s Kelli Killiarski. Isn’t she the one you said had posed in that magazine pretending to be you?”

Jenna looked sharply over at her daughter, one ear up and swiveled in that direction, the other half down. “Yes she was. Is she okay? I told her to give me a call if Randy Biggs left her in a bad spot.”

“She sounds like she’s been crying, and she wants to know if she can call back and talk to you in a little while.”

Jenna nodded decisively. She might be busy, but a promise is a promise. “Tell her to call back in about fifteen minutes.”

“Okay,” Tia replied as she clicked the mute back off. “Miss Killiarski, Mom said to call back in about fifteen minutes. We should be home by then.”

“Oh thank you so much. I’ll call back.” The cairn terrier sounded relieved.

“Bye,” Tia managed to get in before the connection ended. She then put the cell phone away and looked at her mother.

“Well, that was interesting. What do you think brought that on?”

Jenna spared a glance her way as she replied. “Randy Biggs, the publisher of the magazine she posed for, has a bad reputation for exploiting young femmes and then tossing them aside. After the magazine pictures and the publicity surrounding them became old news, Kelli was probably near the end of her usefulness to him. If she was crying, then probably he dropped her from his employment and good graces.”

Tia tilted her head a bit, a quizzical expression on her face. “If that’s pretty common knowledge how does he keep finding new femmes to do what he wants?”

Jenna smiled warmly, realizing that Tia was mature well beyond her years most of the time. “Not everyone has your good sense Dear. Many young femmes make very bad decisions as they strive toward their goals. Most of his victims want to be actresses or models, and he seems to have a knack for finding the vulnerable ones who’ll fall for his pitch.”

Tia gave a slight nod. Her parents had always told her to stick by her values, and the situation her mother described was a good object lesson on what could happen if she ever started compromising on them.

They turned into the driveway a few minutes later, and the three tigers made their way into their home. Jenna had just put her purse down when her cell ringtone sounded again. She noted the incoming call number and clicked the button to answer.

“Hello Kelli, what’s going on?”

There was a brief whimper on the other end. “Oh Jenna, thank you for talking to me. You were so totally right about Randy Biggs. I was supposed to do a new shoot today, but he didn’t send a car for me. I waited a whole hour, and then I called his office. Bev, ah, Beverly, his secretary dodged around it a bit, but then finally just came out and told me I’d been replaced, and that my contract was cancelled. I called Randy on his cell phone, and he did answer, but when I asked what the deal was, all he said was ‘Kelli who?’ and then he hung up on me.”

Kelli paused for a breath, and Jenna took the chance to ask the important questions. “Oh, that’s awful! That’s low, even with Bigg’s reputation. Do you have a place to stay? How about money for food?”

Kelli sniffled for a moment and then answered. “Ah, I have an apartment Randy set up for me, and the rent’s paid for another month. Beverly said I could stay until then. I have money for a little while. After we talked there where you work, I started putting a lot of what I made away just in case. Beverly said I’ll get a payout for the contract being cancelled, but it won’t be very much.”

Jenna let out a little sigh of relief. The Cairn terrier wasn’t in desperate straights yet, so there was time to talk her through the beginnings of a plan.

“Good, you’ve given yourself a good starting point. The question is, what do you want to do now?”

Jenna spent the next half-hour talking to Kelli about her prospects and where she might go and what she might do next. By then, the Cairn terrier was sounding much calmer and more hopeful.

“Thank you so much. I really, really needed to talk this all out. I think I’ll be okay now, even with the pink. It’s just so hard to feel like you’ve just been thrown away.”

Jenna looked a bit puzzled. “Pink?”

Now the Cairn terrier sounded chagrinned. “Uh, yeah pink. I said I was supposed to do a new shoot today. My fur is now in a poodle cut, and dyed bright pink. It’s for a parody of that movie that came out a few years ago, the one that Paula Carniche starred in, where she was an all pink superhero.”

Jenna blinked and managed to stifle a giggle. The original movie had been a box office bomb, despite the brief costume and the buxom poodle star. Randy Biggs must have been getting desperate for celebrities to copy who hadn’t already sued him. The thought of the Cairn terrier sporting all pink fur was also funny, but she didn’t think it would be right to laugh at her right then. She did smile now, though. Not only had she been able to help Kelli calm down, but Tia and Andrew had worked together, and the smell from the kitchen told her dinner was most likely ready. She’d heard Tia squeal once, and had no doubt that her daughter would be at least a little wet from a prank set up by Andrew. Those didn’t happen too often anymore, but her son was still her son. She turned her attention back to the phone.

“I’m sure it’ll wash out eventually, and I’m really glad you listened when we met. Now don’t hesitate to call again to talk or ask for advice or help.”

“I’ll be sure to. In fact I’ll call back after I’ve talked things out with my folks, if that’s alright?”

Jenna gave a slight nod of her head to herself. Kelli definitely needed some help in the self esteem department.

“Sure, I’ll talk to you then.”

“Great! Bye Jenna.”

“Bye Kelli. Be sure to relax a bit over the weekend.”

Jenna put the pawset back on the base and headed for the kitchen. Dinner smelled pretty good, and her thoughts were already turning back toward wedding plans. She felt good about helping Kelli, but it was up to the Cairn terrier to follow through with her plans.

 

End of Chapter 54

 

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