An Island in the Sun: Silver Lake Lesbian Intrigue, #1

By Cassandra Barnes

Asia Reynolds, a documentary film maker looks for love in the middle of chaos. She lives in heaven, a beautiful town on the Mississippi river, sparkling countryside, soaring hawks and eagles and more action than she could wish for. Her research skills are in demand for an international political tangle involving an assassination...and another local problem involving a murderous gay love triangle. Then...she meets Jasmine Jones, a young hippie artisan, and her known world flips around...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cassandra Barnes
• Release date: Mar 2, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393299707

Cassandra Barnes

Cass Barnes lives in northern Maine overlooking the Canadian border deep in the forests of Aroostook County. She writes novels, poetry and is an amateur photographer and jazz musician. She contributes to several Third World animal rescues and lives with a gray striped cat named Oscar. Cass is a lesbian who marched in the very first Gay Pride parade in Chicago. She graduated from Boston University magna cum laude in Sociology and attended Harvard for graduate school. She has been writing since childhood.  Cass is also an avid computer hardware and software hobbyist. She loves to create epic scenery and plots with lesbian characters that build in her mind over time. Like a good sauce, she would like her writing to add flavor to a brighter future for all lesbians. And, of course, some understanding. Welcome to my world!

Book preview

1|Elise

ON JUNE 12, THIS YEAR – at dawn, the deep green of the Silver Lake community park near the downtown area was covered with unpacked carnival equipment. The first to set up was a huge inflated play castle for children, which had already gleefully been in use since the day before.

This was no ordinary carnival. It was the opening of the summer Eco-Tourism season in the Cape Girardeau area of Illinois and Missouri. The bungee jump was almost set up. Parachuting was available at the local airport. White water rafting was right on the banks of the Mississippi. Hang gliders, kayak rentals and hot air balloon rides were offered on the shores of Silver Lake itself. Tickets and brochures for all the extreme sports were also available here at the carnival and at the airport. Regular carnival rides such as bumper cars, a Ferris wheel and the Tilt-A-Whirl were also being put together, plus a professional sound stage for local and internationally known musicians.

Instead of cotton candy and other sugar snacks, gourmet health snacks were sold from local cafés, restaurants and bakeries and from colorful wooden carts and booths set up between the rides. This was a very high-end form of tourism. Jet setters flew into town in private jets and smaller planes from all over the country and the world. The mighty Mississippi River, Mingo Wildlife Refuge and the many fantastic caves of Mark Twain National Park and the Meramec Caverns all offered chartered private and public tours. These were the main attractions in nearby southern Missouri.

Besides the ultra-rich, hippies from around the country also packed into this small mid-western town in order to panhandle, play music on the street and bandstand - and sell their handicrafts. They rented tent space in local campgrounds, although it wasn’t unusual to see them camping rough out in the woods and using the local YMCA to shower. No one really minded that. The hippies were generally polite, soft-spoken and cleaned up after themselves. As a result, the local police looked the other way and usually protected them from unreasonable homeowners and other critters of the forest.

A SMALL GROUP OF FEMALE deer paused, synchronized in a graceful, balletic movement together, quietly alert, on an expansive, nicely landscaped lawn as the sun came up high over the steaming dawn mist of the nearby woods. As the early morning fog began to clear, Asia Reynolds opened her front door, still dressed in her rather wrinkled flannel pajamas, holding a fresh, hot cup of spearmint tea. The deer looked up, not startled, bent over again and continued pulling at the soft grass.

She put her mug down on a porch table, walked out to her mailbox gingerly in her bare feet, and grabbed her newspaper. The deer turned, lifting their heads at the same time, still synchronized. Like magic, they evaporated into the trees, soundlessly like the mist. She walked back up to her front porch, got her mug of tea and went back inside her house.

Asia was usually up this early. No real reason, other than it was her favorite time of day. Add a sunset or a summer twilight to that and you would have her daily set of natural comfort zones. Although, when not working a gig, she might go back to sleep for a few extra hours in the morning.

She padded through her living room, which she had decorated in dark green paint on a show wall, complemented by varnished, natural pine paneling on the other three walls. This was a simple but striking setting for her nature photography. Besides being a mildly well-known documentary filmmaker, she sold many of her photographs to both nature and travel magazines – and to local art patrons as well. She entered her large stainless and polished granite kitchen, getting out her Vita Mix blender. She made a fat-free yogurt smoothie with her own fresh blueberries. After thinking, she added the last of her best friend’s, Elise Harrison’s homemade honey and a soy-based vitamin powder.

Her big 120 lb. Husky-German Shepherd dog, Zucchini, came over to her and sat down, sniffing at the good smells above her head.

No, baby, no dairy for you. It gives you looseness. Zucchini snorted (probably in naive disagreement).

Asia filled a tall glass with the frothy blue mixture. Taking a sip, she set the glass down on her kitchen table and went over to the sink. Filling a large watering can, she went around the back of her home and watered her numerous houseplants, opening curtains as she went.

She finished her early morning ritual just as the sun came up fully over the horizon. She shoved the empty can under her sink. Picking up her glass of smoothie, Asia reached over for her newspaper and went out the sliding glass doors to her back yard. Zucchini followed her, lying down at her feet by the padded wicker lawn chair in which her mistress was sitting. Asia put her feet up on a matching footstool and opened her paper.

An elaborate architectural drawing of a large and beautifully designed building in the town center (with proposed landscaping) illustrated the day’s headline: New Spa/Laundromat for Silver Lake. Next to the drawing was a photograph of a sailboat bobbing on the lake that this rural Illinois farming town was named after.

Asia looked down at her dog and commented, What’s so exciting about a laundromat that it has to take up half the front page? Of course, Zucchini only snorted, put her head down on her paws and groaned. Asia reached down to scratch her dog’s ears and continued talking to her idly, "Who ever heard of a multi-million dollar laundromat? Even if it does contain a workout room, sauna and health spa/café?"

Asia flipped to the second page, which folded out to reveal drawings of the elaborate layout of the new building. A heated indoor swimming pool was surrounded by large sliding glass doors and floor-to-ceiling plants—enough to make it resemble an indoor/outdoor botanical garden. Wooden decks extended outside the glass walls on three sides to reveal an impressive vista of rolling hills and the closest shore of the Mississippi. In the next drawing, another vista portrayed sailboats gliding serenely under the wings of eagles and hawks hunting the waters for fish.

One of the decks held a dozen outdoor hot tubs, covered by a metal awning. The view of the forest and nearby lake from there was spectacular.

Asia put her feet down on the cement tiles of her patio, hunched over the paper, chewing her lip and starting to read more avidly. She took a long drink from her smoothie. Gentrification had hit every small town surrounding Central Illinois University, as many out-of-town entrepreneurs tried to lure the local college students (and their parents and families) into their establishments.

Asia had to admit she loved the new attention these small farming towns had been giving to beautification lately. There were flowers, new trees and benches sprouting up everywhere. The new little cafés certainly showed promise in attracting an exciting and lucrative sort of tourist trade in the summer. There were winter sports, too, such as snowmobiling, snowboarding, tobogganing and cross-country skiing when the snows came. 

People unrelated to the university also came to Silver Lake simply to vacation – to white-water raft and go spelunking in the caverns of Mark Twain National Park over the nearby state border in Missouri. They were not just the folks who came to look at the university with their kids. No more greasy burgers and fries, the small restaurants in Silver Lake served everything from Moroccan and Somali cuisine to local game and fish with macrobiotic and vegetarian/vegan entrées.

A price list from the proposed new spa caught Asia’s eye. Membership was very reasonable. Basic membership could get her pool time and enough sauna/steam room/workout room access to fit neatly inside her work schedule. She didn’t need the laundromat part. There was even a lovely teak-paneled health food café on the first floor open to the public. New membership came with some coupons for discounts in the café.

After Asia had quit smoking two years ago, she had decided to become a vegetarian, learn Hatha yoga, meditate and become healthy. Zucchini, the dog, was a child of this transformation.

A WOMAN’S VOICE ECHOED from the front of the house, "Yoo-hoo! I’m tired of cornfields! I need another continent. You there, Asia? You forgot to lock your front door again."

Just as Zucchini got up to wag her tail, a small, attractive black woman with a wicker basket walked through the kitchen and out into the back yard.

"You still in your pj’s? Girl, it’s almost ten o’clock! Don’t you ever go to work?"

Sometimes, came Asia's answer from behind a spray of pink and white Hibiscus and a short Japanese maple. She smiled to herself at the intrusion.

Well, I just came over on my break to bring you a fresh batch of honey. The petite woman rounded the bushes and put the wicker basket she had been carrying on the glass-topped outdoor table in front of Asia.

"Hmm, Ms. Harrison," commented Asia as she reached in the basket, drew out an amber jar and opened it. Sticking her finger in, she hummed in pleasure as she tasted the fragrant syrup.

You try it. You buy it.

Smacking her lips, Asia said, Of course. She felt warm inside with the presence of her friend so early in her day. Elise was one of the few people she could tolerate this early. Asia had known the Harrison family before she and Elise had even entered grammar school. She had a long-term girl crush on her, of which she was sure Elise knew nothing about.

Helping herself to a chair, trying to ignore the love-light in Asia’s eyes, Elise knew darn well that Asia wanted to touch too much. Maybe it wasn’t all that too much right now in the summer light. Something just came over her. Work, everything...Asia was always there.

What ‘cha got for breakfast? Elise asked as she reached over and caressed the silky skin on Asia’s forearm. First time for everything. She got a startled look in response.

Elise knew she was perilously close to making love with Asia. But she backed away from it as usual, using the touch as something that could be ambiguous. She liked the feeling Asia gave her even if she had pulled away.

Blueberry smoothie and toasted bagels. Do I need to ask if you want some?

No. Elise felt a tingle between her legs and thought, I could use something else though. The time was probably not right ... not that it ever was. She coughed a little and almost lost her appetite. But Asia’s smoothies were too good – with a hint of her own fresh honey, well...Fancy making love to her. Love like her food, sweet and strong enough to carry me through the day? She trashed the thought.

ASIA PUT THE NEWSPAPER down and got up, releasing the wrinkles in her flannel pajama bottoms to fall to her ankles as she stretched, letting out a long, loud sigh. Looking at Elise in a peculiar way, getting sex vibes from her. It confused her since she had trained herself not to get too physical with her possibly straight crushes. After all, this was a very conservative rural town. It was just her upbringing, not what she really wanted.

She swore she could feel Elise between her legs. But that was not real, and she shook herself out of it.

Oh, shoot, said Elise. Don’t let me disturb your sleep. I’ll get it. Before she left the patio, she slid her hand seductively under Asia’s flannel pajama neckline, not touching anything but making her intentions clear.

She wanted her... God, how she wanted her... Now was the time... Elise knew it in her soul.

Okay, replied Asia, feeling the sweet tingle of her friend’s hand on her naked collar bone. She pulled away ... back into her comfortable overstuffed, wicker patio chair. Zucchini followed Elise back into the house. Asia’s comfort zone was a gay closet that was more seductive than Elise right now, but just by a millimeter. She had to pretend that touch was nothing.

It sure felt like something. Let me see how she gets around this one.

Don’t give the dog any smoothie. It makes her loose.

I know, called Elise.

Asia could hear Elise use baby-talk on her big husky as she poured smoothies and toasted the bagels. She grimaced. Zookie (Zucchini) had been trained as a certified Search and Rescue dog. She practically had the doggie equivalent of a college degree. No need to use a demeaning, creepy tone of voice. Not that Zookie disliked it. Quite the opposite, she loved it. Asia was the one who disliked it. To her it was like squeaky chalk on a blackboard. Elise came back outside with a breakfast tray holding a large plate filled with split, toasted and buttered bagels and their two smoothies.

I gave Zookie a doggie cookie and some salmon jerky.

Good. Then maybe she’ll recover from your baby talk.

This dog loves me, said Elise running her hand through Zookie’s magnificent silver and caramel neck ruffle. The dog laid her huge, wide head on Elise’s thigh, letting her continue talking trash and scratching behind her ears. Asia wished that was her head on Elise’s thigh. She imagined it. It felt good.

Asia wished those touches were for her. She closed her eyes. Of course, Elise had to bust into her reverie. Okay, Lady, she thought. Only friends...nothing more.

See, said Elise, squeezing her larynx closed and puckering her lips so she could squeal. Her words took on a pudgy sound. Th-ou could probably sth-peak baby-talk in any language of the world like this, and some dog, somewhere, would let you do a tummy rub for it.

Shit, thought Asia. I’d do a tummy rub for way less.

Damn, said Asia, deftly fighting for part of the newspaper from Elise and feeling the warmth of her arm as she juggled the paper. What would she do if I really touched her? Touched her where I wanted to? thought Asia absently, without much hope. She tried to withdraw inside herself which was futile around Elise. Little did she know that Elsie was close to thinking the same thing.

Both of them were afraid to move.  It was like playing Statue.

"This dog is impressive. She would look so-o-o good next to my new raincoat. Ooo... P-wetty girl...." Zookie wagged her tail at Elise.

Take her to work with you, then.

Mmm, said Elise in agreement, lifting the entire front section of the newspaper up in front of her face, setting her feet up in the exact spot that Asia had been using on the nearby foot stool as she crunched on her bagel. Of course, this left Asia wondering how Elise would feel about her feet playing with her own. Not good, she thought. It was not easy to be this close sometimes.

Asia was left with a lovely wicker basket containing seven jars of Elise Harrison’s honey, only part of the story she had been reading and Zookie falling asleep on her left foot, which was also falling asleep on its own rather uncomfortably.

Sexual repression does this.

ELISE SIPPED HER SMOOTHIE with a loud smacking sound. I’m really getting into my Jujitsu right now, she said from behind the newspaper, sort of crumpling it as she took it away from her face to talk, oblivious to Asia’s subterranean feelings, trying to be oblivious to her own as well.

She half sat on the paper to keep it from flying around in the light summer breezes that had picked up a few of the maple leaves on the lawn. Asia relaxed, even though there were flaws in this picture, like the fact that Elise seemed to forget that she had been reading the exact same section of the news that Elise was sitting on right now. It gave her a chance to touch.

I like to kick people, Elise continued, apropos of nothing, but getting a big silent nod from Asia thinking about how that hand inside her pajama top felt and the nothing that had come of it.

You know I’m small for regular Judo...Jujitsu gives me the element of surprise, and the right fulcrum for my size. Those throws where you grab the opponent’s shirt and land them on the floor are too much for me. I only weigh 95 lbs. Zookie’s got a good twenty-five pounds on me.

Yeah. I know, commented Asia, getting up to get some more to eat from the kitchen. Just a minute. I’ll be right back. I need a bowl of granola, she said. Elise handed her an empty smoothie glass, asking for more.

Aren’t you worried about your carbs? she asked.

No. Besides, the bagels and granola are whole grain. Aren’t you worried about too much soy...or becoming over-vitaminized?

‘I didn’t know you could become over-vitaminized!" answered Elise, sounding concerned.

Look it up on the ‘Net.

Zookie got up, stretched and yawned. Elise called into the kitchen, So much could happen when a tiny woman grabs a man’s shirt. Not all of it good. A seemingly innocent arm grab is easier to hide. My highly-trained thumb and fingers grab a secret fulcrum. With a twist, the pain that shoots through your opponent’s arm, shifts him or her onto their opposite foot which you deftly kick out from under them, pulling them forward and then letting them drop to the ground backwards when they lose their balance. The whole thing is designed to make your opponent lose their balance.

Asia did not answer. The sounds of crashing silverware, along with the rushing sound of dog kibble being poured was the only response she could give from the kitchen. Elise had this habit of continuing to talk even if you were in another room.

Asia re-emerged through the sliding glass doors a few minutes later with a wooden tray filled with a pottery bowl of granola, milk and fruit, and Elise's refilled glass of smoothie. She ducked expertly under an enormous hanging Boston fern that was part of her informal security system - truly designed to catch the uninformed.

Hmm? answered Asia. I lost half of what you said.

No bother. I’ll show you later.

Zookie sniffed the air, shook her long sable ruff and sauntered into the kitchen, passing on one side of Asia, going in the other direction toward her bowl of kibble.

Asia sat down outside again at the glass-topped table and set the bowl of cereal in front of herself, pulling her new jar of Harrison honey over in front of it. She opened the jar, sniffing the golden syrup appreciatively. Mmm...I really love this blueberry. Yum.

Elise said, My bees are all over the berry bushes this year, as usual.

Asia took a spoon and emptied two large spoonfuls of honey over her granola. Greedily, she licked the syrup into her mouth right from the spoon. You’re going to get another blue ribbon at the Silver Lake Agricultural Fair this year.

Probably.

It tastes just like blueberries.

I’ll bring some buckwheat flavor over when it’s ready.

Sounds good. Let me put on some music and light some incense...give us some mellow vibes to celebrate this fine honey.  Nothing like a little vibe enhancement for mood, thought Asia, as she went back into the house through the sliding glass door. She put a set of jazz and ambient CDs on her stereo and lit some pungent Indian sandalwood incense, bringing the smoking sticks outside. The sweet sounds of a jazz saxophone drifted through the open doors to the house.

"Ah. You put on the African Smoothie CD I gave you for Christmas. I love Isaiah Katuma, said Elise as she took another honey-soaked bagel from the plate. Love him...." She and Asia smiled at each other as they bit into the moist, nutty bagels. Elise hummed along with the melody. Asia hummed inside herself, looking into Elise’s deep, pretty almond-shaped brown eyes. Always did love those eyes. Yeah....

Three doe appeared at the break in Asia’s forest, timidly walking onto the lawn in her backyard. Ssh, exclaimed Asia, pointing at them quietly. "Look! I saw them early this morning in front of the house."

Oh yeah, commented Elise as she turned slowly to observe the majestic animals with a smile. They are beautiful. A great vision to start anyone’s day with. I have a couple of wild rabbits over by my house that hop around from time to time. I see them in the winter, too, after they change color. I think they like me. I put dry oatmeal out on the snow for them as an extra treat last winter. I nick-named them Valerie Simpson and Nick Ashford – or just Simpson & Ashford. The two women laughed as they finished their bagels. Elise said, I have to get back to work.

She paused and sniffed at the air, I smell weed.

Hippies. I think they camp in my woods sometimes. I don’t mind. Asia thought of the sweet hippie girls she met every summer, wondering if she could ever call one of them hers. Or this lady in front of her.

I don’t mind either, echoed Elise. Might as well get a contact high before I go back to my computer.

Asia picked up her video camera and got a nice long shot of the deer munching their way back into the forest. A high, sweet saxophone riff drifted into the air over the two women. Then a rough saxophone began to set a beat when the CD changed to Soul Makossa.

Elise grinned and said, loudly, Asia, stand up, I want to show you something. Asia frowned, standing up with a little curiosity and some irritation after finally getting her front page back and getting Zookie to move off her foot and giving up on touching Elise, trying to bring her out after twenty years. Why bother? said a warier part of her brain. The one that knew Elise Harrison’s inner soul and had since she was six years old.

No. Go over there on the grass. Elise followed her and quickly kicked her right foot out from under her with a lilting giggle as she pulled Asia’s arm forward. Got ‘cha, she said, elated, raising her right fist in the air as Asia lost her balance and fell backwards when Elise released her arm.

Asia looked up at her, laconically, lying flat on her back, looking up at the robin’s egg blue of the late morning sky and puff-balls of traveling clouds. She thought, Come down here and join me, let’s roll. But she said, "Ow. Uh. What is that called?"

"Yoko Gake with a wrist grab from Jujitsu."

What do you study again? still philosophical, not trying to get up yet.

Kodokan Judo and Jujitsu. Not bad for a beginner, eh?

Zucchini went over and slurped affectionately at Asia’s face. Ugh, Zookie! Quit it, girl.

You want the front section of today’s paper? asked Elise, holding up the massively crumpled front page and ignoring the fact that her best friend was still lying on her back.

Yeah. You can get the paper at the cable station, when you go back to work. They should have one. I wanted to look more closely at that strange laundromat plan.

The one with the spa? It looks extravagant.

Yeah, very. They are going to have everything: Reiki, yoga, steams, Qigong, a sauna and more. I’m joining. The paper said the entire plan will cost in the ballpark of $20 million.

"No way!"

Yeah, way. I wonder who is financing the thing?

Dunno. But I bet we find out.

Yeah. The cable news anchor at your station will know eventually.

That’ll be the biggest news in Silver Lake since they renovated the high school. Twice as exciting.

Or required plastic doggie bags if you walk your dog on town sidewalks, replied Asia as she rolled over onto her stomach, groaned, and got up using Zookie’s sleek back as a brace. Well, now that you crumpled up my newspaper and knocked me down ... feel energized?

"Yeah. Using judo brings up my Chi."

Asia agonized and made her decision. She said, Come here, Elise.

Elise looked at her startled but walked over. What is it, Asia? She hoped it wasn’t that mutual vibe she felt right now.

She was so wrong.

Asia made her kneel down beside her on the grass. She reached up and took her arm pulling gently and making Elise bend into her breath. She kissed her, pushing her tongue into Elise’s yielding mouth.

Elise said, I have wanted to do this for so long, Asia. All through college.

Before that with me, Asia answered, panting as Elise opened her pajama top, exposing her naked breasts to the warm summer air. She felt herself open to her. Elise explored her body with her mouth and tongue. She climbed on top of her which was good since Asia was about six feet tall and very large for a woman. It just couldn’t be the other way around. Elise was just about five feet and one hundred pounds, which was small for a woman. But the sensations they felt together were even more exciting than either one of them had expected. And they fit together like old friends, which they were.

There must be a galaxy out there somewhere where you can walk around and feel like this all the time. They felt their muscles tighten each inside the other and, orgasmed together.

Oh my god! said Elise, raising her head and looking at her new lover’s large breasts upright in the clear air. She put her hand on one of them. I want to take this home with me. She giggled.

Asia laughed and said, Anytime you want to. She reached down and pulled her pajama bottoms up. She rubbed her crotch. It had been a while since she had last orgasmed and she could still feel herself pulsating. She stood up and smoothed her pajamas, which were hopelessly wrinkled by now. If she had walked out of the forest like this, someone might take a shot at her, thinking she was a bum. She brushed herself off a little and felt a rush in her head as she stretched her back.

Elise had rearranged her clothes to look cable news professional again.

"I can feel that Chi now!" Asia said, smiling at Elise.

Elise picked her basket up and smoothed her braids back down. The dog wagged her shaggy tail like a large fan, stirring up a small breeze. Elise's smile and motions were somewhat cool after what had just happened. Not what Asia usually expected from a new lover. She was baffled and a little embarrassed. She knew she had to get back to work so she just dropped it.

Elise smiled at Zucchini and Asia, saying, I have to get back to the station; everyone will be waiting breathlessly for me to add tonight’s movies to the TV Guide. One day, I’ll be a news anchor, too. I have the degree for it.

Yeah, I know. But think about how important you are now. No one would know what was on cable tonight if you didn’t type the information into the rolling yellow banner.

One ha and nothing more, said Elise, getting up to leave. She walked over to Asia and slid her arms under her pajama top and pulled her close. Asia bent over and kissed her deeply.

Luv ‘ya, Elise, she whispered in her ear and she meant that more than Elise Harrison, the pretty black girl from second grade, would ever know. But now, she thought, she might. This new love that was a very old love might just have a chance.

2|Crazy Politics & Crazy Good Business

TOWARDS THE END OF the day, a large yellow and green John Deere earth mover rolled slowly over the smoothed and hard-packed surface of a large lot near Silver Lake Boulevard. Next to that there was a huge concrete square with iron re-bar sticking out of it, obviously part of a semi-finished foundation.

Two men in bright yellow hardhats stood watching a few carpenters working on a large façade facing the street and framing a section of the front foundation. The smaller of the two men in hardhats rubbed his hands together and looked over to the architectural plans the other, rather obese, man was holding and frowning into. The smaller man was smiling and looking excited. He said, We’re ahead of schedule. Looks like we’ll be done building a couple of weeks before we advertised.

Yeah, commented the bigger man in a cavernous voice. But the price of construction materials is really skyrocketing. We might be early for our opening, but we might go over budget.

We’ll make it up.

You’re so optimistic.

It’s a great business plan! People already come up to me on the street to ask about membership. Besides the front page article in the Silver Lake Daily News, two national Eco-Tourism companies are going to list us as a local attraction in the Cape Girardeau area with full color photographic spreads. Imagine whitewater rafting, then relaxing in a sauna? Then buying a box of Baklava soaked in local organic honey to bring back to your hotel suite, rented condo or rustic lodge? Beats rice crispy squares, a candy bar and a smelly tent.

The bigger man was very big, he must have weighed about 300 lbs. or more. He was obese but had beautiful skin and was very handsome with heavy lashes. Thick, wavy black hair brushed down to his shiny, finely molded eyebrows. He frowned and looked like thunder when he did. I still think there is something weak with our inclusion of a laundromat with the spa and café.

Again? Tobias, we already discussed this. Health spas need a lot of promo. They need promo that borders on community education.

"Education? Vance, get real. We are not spokespeople for the New Age movement."

"Yeah, actually, we are. If we are smooth and media-savvy, we can bring travelers and Central Illinois students into the laundromat and hand out brochures, coupons, freebies and samples from the café. And what do tourists and college students really need? A comfortable local laundromat.... Vance Smithers chuckled a little bit, and said, ...With really good food. Even something to take home for dinner. And a heated pool. Something healthy to soothe your feelings when you lose that first boyfriend freshman year.

Tobias Smart gritted his teeth and punched the bridge of his sunglasses back up his nose. He started to fold the plans up. "It’s the strangeness of the combination, like, ‘Go swimming in our heated indoor pool and wash your clothes!—Come to the California Spa and Laundromat!’"

Separately. They can’t swim in their clothes, chuckled Vance.

This is not funny. It’s my money that’s paying for the start-up.

"Boy, do I know that," answered Vance, sourly.

Hey! I don’t have to continue paying for this. Check your attitude.

Don’t worry.

I am, bantered Tobias Smart irritably.

Vance Smithers kicked a rock down the sidewalk in reply.

A large black limousine made its way down Silver Lake Boulevard following three motorcycle cops. Two more limos followed the first one. The