1 GOOD AND EVIL TAKE A DEEP BREATH This story starts with a bang Here we go BANG I did it said a blonde woman dressed in a tight red gown She held a smoking gun in one hand Her long hair lay perfectly draped across her shoulders Jake Danger a private detective dressed in a tuxedo that showed no wrinkles was lying on the floor on the other side of the room His own blond hair wasn’t quite as long but it was just as perfect His green eyes were riveted on the gun The deep blue eyes of the body next to him weren’t riveted on anything Not any more You’re next Jake Danger said the woman calmly She cocked the trigger and held it with both hands ready to fire Every eye in the gym was staring at the screen so I reached over and stole a handful of popcorn from Susan’s paper bag She didn’t notice I know because she didn’t hit me You set me up Velma said Jake Danger casually
wiping blood from his lip I’ll tell the police that I saw the two of you struggling said Velma calmly I’ll cry huge tears boo hoo and say that I grabbed the gun in a panic closed my eyes and kept pulling the trigger I killed the burglar Unfortunately I killed you too There will be tears Lots of tears I’m good at tears I know said Jake But you’re forgetting one thing Velma I’m good at stuff too I’m wired Velma The police are listening to every word we say and you’ve just confessed to murder Nice try Jake said Velma while I quietly snagged another handful of popcorn from Susan If you were wired the police would be kicking down the front door They don’t need to kick down doors said Jake They’re at the window When Velma glanced toward the living-room window Jake Danger pulled on the runner carpet that led to the doorway where Velma stood She started to fall her arms waving wildly Jake Danger rolled behind the sofa as a shot tore through the material beside him He pulled out his own gun lined
up the barrel with the bullet hole in the sofa and fired He heard Velma fall Jake slowly stood up his gun ready As soon as he saw her Jake Danger knew that Velma Woodington the shampoo heiress who wanted even more money than the millions she had would be leaving her fortune to some distant relative she’d never even met Greed said Jake slowly shaking his head I guess it keeps me in business THE END flashed across the screen and the credits began to roll Somebody turned on the gym lights and somebody else stopped the projector People in the bleachers began to stand and stretch Who picked that stinker I asked leaning toward Susan I think it was your dad said Susan Exactly 143 people lived in our fishing village up the coast from Vancouver but below Prince Rupert There were no roads to New Auckland so every Thursday the seaplane pilot Max flew in three films along with the groceries people had ordered for the coming week
