Part 1 (1/2)

Water Dictators.h.i.+p.

by Jay P. Hailey and The Vista City Players 1983: Los Angeles.

Angelo drove out of Hollywood gleefully. He had just presented his case for the 1942 MacPhearson murder. MacPhearson was a movie producer of Hollywood's Golden Age. His murder stumped the police of the 1940's and was one of the favorites of the ”Hollywood Detectives”.

Angelo was new to the fan club. They spent hours studying the lives and deaths of celebrities. Of course, critical evidence was now lost to time, but Angelo was certain that his scenario was likely. His compatriots in the Hollywood Detectives felt the same way.

Angelo drove back home happily aware of the approval of his friends. It was neat.

Angelo was doing well in UCLA's advanced physics course. His parents were mystified but glad that he was happy.

Best of all Angelo was on his way to propose to his true love. Randi was a fellow student at UCLA. Her major was computer science. Angelo loved her bubbly enthusiasm. He was especially happy that she didn't seem especially interested in his family's money. Too many women were very attracted to him once they discovered that he was from a wealthy family. Randi seemed to like him just for himself.

Angelo drove up to her apartment and parked his old Impala. That was part of what mystified Angelo's parents. Although they were rich and Angelo, in his course would inherit a sizable fortune, He insisted on working and earning what he could on his own. The old beater was a symptom of this. Angelo earned it through his own efforts. It really meant something to him. Mummy and Daddy might buy him a much newer, more reliable car with more extras and luxuries in it, but it wouldn't really be real. Angelo wasn't totally obsessed on this point. He didn't turn down a chance to go to UCLA, but he chose science as a career rather than economics or business management.

Angelo bounced up the stairs. His joy made the Earth's gravity seem lighter. It felt as though he could take the whole staircase in a single bound. He rang the doorbell. It sounded cheery.

There was no answer for a bit. Angelo listened carefully. He could hear feet padding across the floor of Randi's apartment. He rang the doorbell again. It made a cheery little ding dong noise. Angelo knew for a fact that the doorbell was cheap and annoying. His mind was seriously warped by the pleasant emotions that flooded it. Angelo took a deep breath and enjoyed it.

Randi's eye covered the peep hole. Angelo waved at her, beaming. She was home from her math tutoring. That was part of how Randi earned her way through school.

The door opened to show Randi. Angelo said ”Hi,” sheepishly. Randi was disheveled and wearing her bathrobe. Angelo eyed her figure under the robe. Even right out of a nap, she looked wonderful. Angelo couldn't stop grinning.

”Angelo.” Randi said. ”Good to see you. C'mon in.”

Angelo bounced into Randi's apartment. ”I know you weren't expecting me tonight, but I just had to talk to you.”

”I wanted to talk to you, too.” Randi said.

”Really? Then it's a good thing that I decided to drop by.” Angelo grinned.

Angelo's grin fell off his face when Biff Simmons came out of Randi's bedroom. Biff was wearing a towel and not much else. Angelo could see his expensive tan, his health club muscles and his first cla.s.s pedicure.

”What going on?” Angelo said weakly.

”I've been meaning to tell you...” Randi said softly. She was trying to think of a way to soften the blow, but it was far too late. ”I've been seeing other people.”

”But, but...” Angelo said. He felt like someone had hit him in the chest with a baseball bat. Biff Simmons was a prime example of the type of self satisfied rich boys that Angelo despised. All through grade school and prep school, Angelo had to fight to distance himself from the company of morons like Biff. That was another thing that his wealthy parents didn't understand.

”Angelo, look. I like you. You're nice. But nice just isn't enough.” Randi explained.

”What?” Angelo couldn't believe his ears.

”Look at you Angelo. You drive old wrecks. You poke around in old dusty records as your hobby, and you're a straight nuclear science major. Do you know what physicists make?” Randi explained.

”What does that have to do with anything?” Angelo asked.

”Angelo, honey, you're not going anywhere. A girl needs to think about her future. We had fun, but I don't see any future for us.”

”And you think you have a future with him?” Angelo pointed at Biff's chest. Biff smirked at him. There were winners and losers. Today, Biff was the winner.