CHAPTER FOUR

GO GURU!

Back at the Silver Rio, the Los Feliz mansion where they were squatting, Muk, Pedro and Blu sat around the Catalan table under a single light. The massive kitchen was dark. The windows were open to a warm breeze, singing crickets and the smell of jasmine.

Muk sipped a vodka and soda from a Twenties Deco silver-trimmed tumbler. As usual, he was smoking and sketching in a pad.

Blu was wearing a sarong, grateful to be out of her costume. She braced her sandaled feet against the table and was quietly strumming a guitar. She was trying to master an acoustic version of 'Crying Lightning' by the Arctic Monkeys. Pedro, wearing a moustache from his protein shake, said, "So how do we get the emeralds back? What do we do? A B-and-E?

"Nah," sang Muk, "To burgle is to risk, too risky. It's better to be invited in."

After a time he asked, "Blu, who do we know that knows Ali BeeDee? Put that in the Bacon and let's see what gives."

Blu was relieved to set the guitar down. She was realizing that an acoustic version of 'Crying Lightening' was an impossibility. She began to type on her laptop. 'The Bacon' was a program that Muk had concocted. It could find and list the people that connect you to another, like a road map. The name was a reference to the Kevin Bacon film game.

"Pedro," Muk ventured, "To answer your question, I think we might 'Go Guru."

"What's 'Go Guru'?

The lack of an answer hung in the air. Muk picked up a remote, hit a few buttons and music from Brazil 66 gained volume. He polished off his drink.

Muk stood and cleared his throat loudly for the attention. "To 'Go Guru'," he instructed, "We shall need some high grade Marasa---No, Aslan. Yes, Aslan. Might as well get twenty of 'em. Always good to have a few around." He winked.

Pedro questioned, "We don't have time to get it from Europe."

"I know. Buy local. Take the cash outta the safe in the Little Garage."

"That's gonna be expensive."

Muk replied, "We'll bill it to the Freemanis. Get a receipt."

Pedro laughed at the thought of asking a drug dealer for a receipt.

"And we'll need a few shots of sodium pentothal."

Pedro, whose expression rarely betrays anything, lifted his eyebrows at the tall order.

Muk continued, "Blu, I need you to concoct a small dessert like thing, a pastiche of flavor. From the Far East. For two. Something visually amazing, like a food jewel. Each dessert gets an Aslan. No, two of them.

"A bon bon with a bomb?"

"Exactly. And while you're at it, make one for each of us for later... And we need a Guru drink to go with it. Presentation is key."

"As always."

"Sodium pentothal, as in truth serum?" confirmed Pedro.

Muk nodded his affirmation. "I wouldn't lie."

The laptop flashed bright and Blu found her answer on the Kevin Bacon. "Muk, you know three people who know Ali BeeDee direct. Lou Zarconi worked with her way back in 2008. Steve Mills had his picture taken with her. It looks like a Shelia Westwater knows her best and most recent."

Muk closed his eyes and smiled. "I have fond memories of Shelia Westwater."

Muk stood and refreshed his drink. He sighed loudly and tiredly.

"Nick. Nora. Vamos." The female terrier leapt onto a chair and into Muk's arms. Her twin brother bounced on two legs, his arms pawing skyward.

Muk cheered as he left the room "Go Guru! Go Shelia Westwater!"

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All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

© Gordy Grundy, All Rights Reserved

www.Gordy Grundy.com

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