Novels2Search

Chapter 26: A Lifeline Lie?

Surrounded by an army of grizzled plumbers armed with hammers and spigots, Mina could only think of one trick to throw a monkey wrench in their plans. It wasn't a trick she had learned in law school, but rather from the biggest liar and cheater she knew--her boss, Raven.

"Wait!" Mina exclaimed at the top of her lungs. "Before you let the tomato sauce fly, I just wanted to say one thing..."

"Your last words before you get marinated and pasta-way?!" Lou Farabutto said, raising his eyebrows beneath his hat.

"Even better!" Mina said, a shiny grin on her face. "For I know the reason that you kidnapped Chet!"

"Eh?" Lou shouted, looking at his henchmen. "Speak now!"

"What are you doing?!" Trudy blubbered. "This isn't a court case! Even if we pin him for his crimes, he's still gonna break our knee caps...but hopefully treat us to some spaghetti with Ragu afterwards!"

Winona was silent, but her eyes contacted Mina in a way that let her know she should go for it.

Mina beamed brightly. "Chet is a collector of used video games, and it's clear he might have borrowed one of intrinsic value! One you might not have been able to get back so easily!"

"Oh really, princess?" Lou said in his high pitched voice. "How do I know-a your ideas ain't in the wrong castle?"

"Because," Winona said, her stern, gothic voice clear and defiant. "You wouldn't have broken into our apartment and left a steaming, heap of a present in our bed."

"Eww!" Trudy exclaimed blanching. "They went a real Call of Doody in your bed?"

"What?" Winona said, shaking her head. "Trudy. They left that broken game station beneath our bedsheets!"

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

"Sorry," Trudy answered, her head low. "I guess you should never Call on Trudy. "

"Enougha!" The Gamefather said, slamming his wrench against a nearby arcade game. "No more of this ranting and ravioli! I tell you-a this! What is the point you are trying to make?"

Mina, suddenly, feeling bold, marched up to Lou in her business heels (slightly wobbling from still not having master the art of moving in women's fashion wear) and stuck a pedicured finger nail in his face. "Because! If Chet jacked your swag, don't kidnap him and threaten him and his girlfriend. You need to go through the proper networks to get your justice!"

"Er…" Lou mumbled. "Do you-a mean the sewer?"

Mina facepalmed. "No jabroni! You need to sue Chet's pants off! Hire a prosectuting attorney and get them to make him cough up the goods. Just because you're a crime boss doesn't mean you can't sue people against crimes done against you!"

Lou was silent. He started to tug at mustache like he was rinsing out a soup strainer. Slowly, a smile spread beneath his hair upper lip. "That'sa right!" he chortled, and looked at all of his cohorts who all began to laugh too. We'll simply sue…her!"

He pointed straight at Winona, who looked like she wanted to disappear into her shadow. "Me?" she said with shock in her eyes. "Why are you suing me?! What about Chet?"

"I dunno where Chet is!" Lou chuckled to himself. "But you are his gothic princess! And so, it is-a you who I will flush down the warp pipe!"

Lou turned to face Mina, who was beginning to wish she was getting the Ragu busted out of her kneecaps. "Thanksa bunch, Pisano. Now I can get back what belongs to me without getting ketchup on my gloves!"

"Er…" Mina said, her eyes darting back and forth in a pale and motionless head. "You're welcome?"

"Eetsa no problemo," he said, with a winning smile that was featured on Wintendo Wisdom magazine. "You are-a free to let's a go!"

Lou reached into his back pocket and began to slip his white velvet gloves back on. His body guards all drew back leaving Lou to do the talking. "Just remember," he said, darkness and malaise shading the round face beneath his hat. "Eeta would be a horrible thing if anything happened to Chet! I wouldn't push your luck when I see you in court, princesses!"

With those words, Lou Farabutto returned to his counter, allowing the three girls to leave. But even if Lou made good on his word and didn't kill Chet, Mina knew her hands would be tied next time she appeared in court. And that meant one thing…Winona was going to suffer the full penality of the law!