"Follow me."
Happy Rogers and the elderly Gentleman
are seated at the Dunkin Donuts' counter.
The elderly Gentleman finishes his
glazed donut and takes his last sip
are seated at the Dunkin Donuts' counter.
The elderly Gentleman finishes his
glazed donut and takes his last sip
of coffee.
He places the briefcase on the counter.
The briefcase pops open.
Without saying a word, the elderly Gentle-
He places the briefcase on the counter.
The briefcase pops open.
Without saying a word, the elderly Gentle-
man pulls a small, white envelope out of the
briefcase, discreetly places the envelope onto
Happy's lap and then runs his hand across
her thigh.
Happy jumps to her feet.
The elderly Gentleman gingerly steps
down from the stool. He walks to the
door and opens it, "Follow me."
Happy's definitely sleazed out, but she
picks the envelope up off the floor,
follows him out the door and
down the street.
"Have you ever been to Spoocheee?"
Without notice, the elderly Gentleman makes
a right into a tiny alley way. Happy is hesitant,
but also makes the right. He walks no more
than ten feet and stops at a small iron door.
The elderly Gentleman's aged hand shakes as
a right into a tiny alley way. Happy is hesitant,
but also makes the right. He walks no more
than ten feet and stops at a small iron door.
The elderly Gentleman's aged hand shakes as
he lifts the rusted latch.
The iron door opens.
Happy waits, "You first."
He crouches and enters.
The iron door opens.
Happy waits, "You first."
He crouches and enters.
A moment later Happy crouches
and enters.
The two walk down an old, old cobblestone
and enters.
The two walk down an old, old cobblestone
alley.
Happy takes it in, "This brick is beautiful."
He stops, "Have you ever been to Spoocheee?"
"No."
"It is a wonderful place."
Happy, still nervous, nods,
"That's good to know."
The elderly Gentleman points to another iron
The elderly Gentleman points to another iron
door, "When I am out of your sight, enter here.
Take the first hallway until it ends. Then climb
the stairs until you find the white arrows." And
the elderly Gentleman turns, without a goodbye,
and walks away.
Happy watches him shuffle until she can see
Happy watches him shuffle until she can see
him no more.
Happy slowly lifts the latch and enters.
Happy slowly lifts the latch and enters.
The doorbell RINGS.
Trinket looks out her bedroomwindow and sees a white van.
She jumps to her feet, runs out of
her bedroom and dashes to the
front door, beating the Old
Landlady by two yards. Out of
front door, beating the Old
Landlady by two yards. Out of
breath she smiles at the Old Land-
lady, "It's for me."
The Old Landlady stops but does
not retreat.
Trinket opens the door. It is Ann's
VAN/SERIAL KILLER WANNA-BE
GUY! He holds out a box to Trinket,
"Trinket?"
Trinket nods.
Van Guy smiles a creepy smile,
The Old Landlady stops but does
not retreat.
Trinket opens the door. It is Ann's
VAN/SERIAL KILLER WANNA-BE
GUY! He holds out a box to Trinket,
"Trinket?"
Trinket nods.
Van Guy smiles a creepy smile,
"Tit for three tats..and you're it." He
then turns, runs back to his
white van and drives away.
Trinket shuts the door.
The Old Landlady smiles, "Why do
white van and drives away.
Trinket shuts the door.
The Old Landlady smiles, "Why do
you call yourself Trinket and not
Sarah?"
"It's my nickname & my screen name
"It's my nickname & my screen name
when I'm on the computer."
"I have no idea what that means.
Is this a sex thing?"
"No."
"What's in the box?"
"Supplies." And Trinket escapes
back into her bedroom.
Trinket opens the box. Inside the box
is the DVD, a copy of "Alice's Adventures
in Wonderland" and an 8" x 10" manila
folder.
Attached to the folder is a tiny note:
A tit for three tats for you, Trinket.
And the others should be told,
better be quick, dead men tell
"I have no idea what that means.
Is this a sex thing?"
"No."
"What's in the box?"
"Supplies." And Trinket escapes
back into her bedroom.
Trinket opens the box. Inside the box
is the DVD, a copy of "Alice's Adventures
in Wonderland" and an 8" x 10" manila
folder.
Attached to the folder is a tiny note:
A tit for three tats for you, Trinket.
And the others should be told,
better be quick, dead men tell
no tales.
Trinket slides two photos out
of the folder and places
them onto her bed.
Trinket slides two photos out
of the folder and places
them onto her bed.
bedroom door.
"Yes?"
The Old Landlady pokes her head in the
door, "Do you like Shepherd's Pie?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll make it for our dinner." The
Old Landlady glances at the photo of the
Van Guy on Trinket's bed, "Who is he?"
"The guy that just gave me the box."
"I know that, but who is he?"
"I don't know."
"Why would you have a picture of a man
that you do not know on your bed?"
"It's part of a game. A computer game."
"You're sure this isn't a sex thing?
"It isn't."
"It isn't that I'm against sex. I just don't
want a lot of commotion in the house.
Commotion upsets me and then
there goes my blood pressure."
Trinket assures her, "Don't worry.
It is not a sex thing."
"Yes?"
The Old Landlady pokes her head in the
door, "Do you like Shepherd's Pie?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll make it for our dinner." The
Old Landlady glances at the photo of the
Van Guy on Trinket's bed, "Who is he?"
"The guy that just gave me the box."
"I know that, but who is he?"
"I don't know."
"Why would you have a picture of a man
that you do not know on your bed?"
"It's part of a game. A computer game."
"You're sure this isn't a sex thing?
"It isn't."
"It isn't that I'm against sex. I just don't
want a lot of commotion in the house.
Commotion upsets me and then
there goes my blood pressure."
Trinket assures her, "Don't worry.
It is not a sex thing."
The Old Landlady points to the
photo of the dark empty field,
"What's that?"
Trinket answers, "It's a field near
the town where I grew up."
play ball
Dwin and Higgs are munching
on Dodger Dogs waiting for the
team to take the field.
They are surrounded by Dodger fans.
on Dodger Dogs waiting for the
team to take the field.
They are surrounded by Dodger fans.
A WOMAN/DODGER FANATIC (50-ish),
seated behind them, is clearly passionate about
this team, "GO BLUE!! GOOOO BLUE!!!"
Dwin and Higgs laugh as this Dodger
Fanatic gets to her feet and begins a
sing-songy chant, "GOOO BLUUUUEE!!!
GO BLUE! GOOO BLUUUUEE! GO BLUE!!!"
GO BLUE! GO BLUE! GO BLUE! BLUE-OO!
The man seated to Dwin's right swings
around to the Dodger Fanatic and yells,
"Shut your trap!"
She laughs, "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. I said to shut your
friggin' crazy-ass trap."
"I'm sorry. I thought I was at a baseball
game. Also known as a sporting event
where people, like me, at times, have the
habit of cheering for their favorite team.
GO BLUE! GO BLUE!"
The guy gets to his feet, "I want you to
sit down now and shut up."
Higgs blurts out, "Relax. She's having fun."
The guy laughs at Higgs.
Dwin and Higgs both shift in their seats.
The Dodger Fanatic woman pats Higgs
on the shoulder, "Thank you, Sammeee."
Higgs and Dwin turn around and look
at her.
She smiles at them, "Hi".
The rude guy doesn't back off, "I said sit
down and I said shut up."
The Dodger Fanatic winks at the boys,
"This is probably a good time for us to go
find an Ordinary Man." She turns back to
the rude man, "Enjoy the game.
this team, "GO BLUE!! GOOOO BLUE!!!"
Dwin and Higgs laugh as this Dodger
Fanatic gets to her feet and begins a
sing-songy chant, "GOOO BLUUUUEE!!!
GO BLUE! GOOO BLUUUUEE! GO BLUE!!!"
GO BLUE! GO BLUE! GO BLUE! BLUE-OO!
The man seated to Dwin's right swings
around to the Dodger Fanatic and yells,
"Shut your trap!"
She laughs, "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. I said to shut your
friggin' crazy-ass trap."
"I'm sorry. I thought I was at a baseball
game. Also known as a sporting event
where people, like me, at times, have the
habit of cheering for their favorite team.
GO BLUE! GO BLUE!"
The guy gets to his feet, "I want you to
sit down now and shut up."
Higgs blurts out, "Relax. She's having fun."
The guy laughs at Higgs.
Dwin and Higgs both shift in their seats.
The Dodger Fanatic woman pats Higgs
on the shoulder, "Thank you, Sammeee."
Higgs and Dwin turn around and look
at her.
She smiles at them, "Hi".
The rude guy doesn't back off, "I said sit
down and I said shut up."
The Dodger Fanatic winks at the boys,
"This is probably a good time for us to go
find an Ordinary Man." She turns back to
the rude man, "Enjoy the game.
And GO BLUE!"
Dwin and Higgs follow the Dodger Fanatic
down the steps and out of the stadium.
Dwin and Higgs follow the Dodger Fanatic
down the steps and out of the stadium.
Her white truck buzzes toward Indio.
Dwin, seated in the front passenger seat,
watches the Dodger Fanatic woman gesturewildly and talk non-stop as she drives.
"It is going to be cold out there, altitude
and all, but don't worry because I'm always
thinking and I thought you two may not be
prepared for it so I brought two of my boy-
friend's sweaters along. Just do your best to
not get them dirty. My boyfriend is a cow
about his clothes being clean and I really
won't have time to do any laundry before he
notices that I borrowed them. So just do your
best, boys. Okay?"
Both, "Okay."
Higgs, seated in the back, leans forward,
"Where are we going?"
"To the edge of the other world."
"Is it off the 10 freeway?"
The Dodger Fanatic laughs hysterically
and then, "You're a funny one."
Higgs smirks, "Thank you."
Dwin sincerely asks, "Where is the edge
of the other world?"
"Today it will be at," she reaches into
her bag and pulls out a portable GPS.
She squints, "Can barely see a thing
without my glasses. Let's see...
latitude 33°53′ 2.2" North -
longitude 116° 57' 57.3" West.
Check it out." The Dodger Fanatic
tosses her handheld to Dwin.
Higgs peeks over at her GPS, "How can
that GPS find the other world?"
"Coordinates. It is the only way to hook up
with the other world. As you probably
know, the other world is constantly moving
and shifting the portals."
"But where do the coordinates come from?"
Dodger Fanatic laughs, "Oh yeah, that's
right. You're a scientist."
Higgs corrects her, "Physicist."
"Right. Physics. You must hold on to so
many unanswerable questions."
Higgs rolls his eyes, "And what will we
do when we get to the edge of the other
world?"
She laughs, "You will receive an answer
to a question."
Dwin looks over at the Dodger Fanatic and
asks, "Do you have a name?"
She smiles at him, "No. I'm a foot soldier.
But you have a name. I love your name. Dwin.
D-win. I love the sound of it."
"I'm Higgs."
The Dodger Fanatic is silent.
Higgs rambles to fill the silence, "Have you heard
of the LHC? It's the Large Hadron Collider. That
collider will eventually, well hopefully, produce the
elusive Higgs Boson. Higgs Boson is a massive scalar
elementary particle."
The Dodger Fanatic is still silent.
Dwin gazes out over the desert and grins.
"Coordinates. It is the only way to hook up
with the other world. As you probably
know, the other world is constantly moving
and shifting the portals."
"But where do the coordinates come from?"
Dodger Fanatic laughs, "Oh yeah, that's
right. You're a scientist."
Higgs corrects her, "Physicist."
"Right. Physics. You must hold on to so
many unanswerable questions."
Higgs rolls his eyes, "And what will we
do when we get to the edge of the other
world?"
She laughs, "You will receive an answer
to a question."
Dwin looks over at the Dodger Fanatic and
asks, "Do you have a name?"
She smiles at him, "No. I'm a foot soldier.
But you have a name. I love your name. Dwin.
D-win. I love the sound of it."
"I'm Higgs."
The Dodger Fanatic is silent.
Higgs rambles to fill the silence, "Have you heard
of the LHC? It's the Large Hadron Collider. That
collider will eventually, well hopefully, produce the
elusive Higgs Boson. Higgs Boson is a massive scalar
elementary particle."
The Dodger Fanatic is still silent.
Dwin gazes out over the desert and grins.
Click. Click. Click. Each footstep echoes.
Happy walks down a long and dank
cellar hallway.
She walks to the end of the first hall
and then, as she was told to do, she
cellar hallway.
She walks to the end of the first hall
and then, as she was told to do, she
takes the tiny stairwell to her left.
Up. Up. Up. Click. Click. Click.
Each footstep echoes through the old
stairwell.
Happy Rogers climbs to the fourth floor,
where she discovers one white arrow
on the floor. The white arrow points to
Up. Up. Up. Click. Click. Click.
Each footstep echoes through the old
stairwell.
Happy Rogers climbs to the fourth floor,
where she discovers one white arrow
on the floor. The white arrow points to
the 4th floor's entrance.
Happy opens the door.
She steps out onto the fourth floor of a
beautiful, sky lit atrium.
Happy runs her hand along the cast iron railing and
takes it all in. This place is unlike any building
Happy has ever seen. It looks magical. It is also
beautiful, sky lit atrium.
Happy runs her hand along the cast iron railing and
takes it all in. This place is unlike any building
Happy has ever seen. It looks magical. It is also
eerily quiet. There is not a soul in sight. It actually
feels as if this place could have, just moments ago,
been filled with life and bustle, but then, for some
reason, was suddenly evacuated.
Happy examines the old marble floor.
Happy examines the old marble floor.
She spots a taped white arrow a few yards
ahead.
Step by step and arrow by arrow,
Step by step and arrow by arrow,
Happy makes her quiet way around
the atrium to the opposite side.
The arrows stop at an office door.
Happy takes a deep breath, opens the door and
GASPS!!!
Betty and Barney are standing in the center of
the completely empty office. Barney is taking
digitals of three portrait photos on the wall.
Betty is terribly serious and also very nervous,
"We have a message we cannot decipher.
Are you here to help?"
Happy holds onto the door frame for support,
"Me?"
Betty tries again, "We received specific
instructions to come here for an alphabet."
Barney sees poor Happy is more than nervous
The arrows stop at an office door.
Happy takes a deep breath, opens the door and
GASPS!!!
Betty and Barney are standing in the center of
the completely empty office. Barney is taking
digitals of three portrait photos on the wall.
Betty is terribly serious and also very nervous,
"We have a message we cannot decipher.
Are you here to help?"
Happy holds onto the door frame for support,
"Me?"
Betty tries again, "We received specific
instructions to come here for an alphabet."
Barney sees poor Happy is more than nervous
and jumps in with his sweet smile, "Are you a
Sammeee?"
Happy nods, "Yes. I am a Sammeee. Well, at least,
I am trying to be and I just met an old man at
the Dunkin Donuts and he brought me here."
Betty tilts her head, "Who are you?"
"I'm Happy. Happy Rogers. Who are you?"
"We're Sammeees too. I'm Barney, a fully
committed Sammeee and this is Betty,
a somewhat committed Sammeee. "
Betty snaps at him, "That's not true. I am
fully committed."
A VOICE bellows up the atrium, "Is someone
up there?"
The three freeze.
The VOICE again, "This building is the private
property of Otis elevator. Any person or persons
caught trespassing will be arrested and charges
will be filed."
Barney looks at Betty and then Happy, "Run!"
The threesome burst out of the office and
around the atrium.
A whistle BLOWS!
"I see you! Stop! I am calling the police!"
The threesome run for the stairwell.
Betty, Barney and Happy stomp down the steps
as fast as they can!
The first little iron door kicks open!
Then the second little iron door kicks open!
Happy nods, "Yes. I am a Sammeee. Well, at least,
I am trying to be and I just met an old man at
the Dunkin Donuts and he brought me here."
Betty tilts her head, "Who are you?"
"I'm Happy. Happy Rogers. Who are you?"
"We're Sammeees too. I'm Barney, a fully
committed Sammeee and this is Betty,
a somewhat committed Sammeee. "
Betty snaps at him, "That's not true. I am
fully committed."
A VOICE bellows up the atrium, "Is someone
up there?"
The three freeze.
The VOICE again, "This building is the private
property of Otis elevator. Any person or persons
caught trespassing will be arrested and charges
will be filed."
Barney looks at Betty and then Happy, "Run!"
The threesome burst out of the office and
around the atrium.
A whistle BLOWS!
"I see you! Stop! I am calling the police!"
The threesome run for the stairwell.
Betty, Barney and Happy stomp down the steps
as fast as they can!
The first little iron door kicks open!
Then the second little iron door kicks open!
Betty, Barney and Happy exit the alley
way and run down S. Wabash Street toward
the "EL".
Trinket is at her computer.
She is viewing the source of
if u find this come to
unfiction dot com
and look for the
sammeee forum
the San Gorgonio Pass
Dwin jumps down from the white truck,
"That is amazing!"
The Dodger Fanatic hikes toward the
underpass, "We're in the San Gorgonio Pass".
Higgs calls after her,"What's the hurry?"
She doesn't stop, "Pick up your pace,
boys, we've got to get to the base of
that mountain before midnight."
"It shouldn't take us that long."
"GMT, Higgs. That gives us one hour."
She claps, "Let's move!"
Dwin and Higgs follow her along the
river bed and disappear over the first
foothill.
"That is amazing!"
The Dodger Fanatic hikes toward the
underpass, "We're in the San Gorgonio Pass".
Higgs calls after her,"What's the hurry?"
She doesn't stop, "Pick up your pace,
boys, we've got to get to the base of
that mountain before midnight."
"It shouldn't take us that long."
"GMT, Higgs. That gives us one hour."
She claps, "Let's move!"
Dwin and Higgs follow her along the
river bed and disappear over the first
foothill.
it is never dark in Times Square
office door. He steps out of his office.
The place is empty. Everyone has gone
home.
Addison opens the fridge in the office
kitchen and pulls out a diet coke.
He walks back to his office. He hears
his phone RING.
Addison rushes in and immediately picks
it up, "Parker Media Corporation."
It is the same strange, creepy VOICE
that called announcing the mission,
"Alice's foot slipped and splash! She was
up to her chin in salt water. Her first idea
was that she had somehow fallen into the sea..
However, she soon made out that she was in
the pool of tears which she had wept when
she was nine feet high."
"You hold the key, Addison."
The phone line goes dead.
Addison reaches down and touches
Addison opens the fridge in the office
kitchen and pulls out a diet coke.
He walks back to his office. He hears
his phone RING.
Addison rushes in and immediately picks
it up, "Parker Media Corporation."
It is the same strange, creepy VOICE
that called announcing the mission,
"Alice's foot slipped and splash! She was
up to her chin in salt water. Her first idea
was that she had somehow fallen into the sea..
However, she soon made out that she was in
the pool of tears which she had wept when
she was nine feet high."
A cow bell RINGS.
"You hold the key, Addison."
The phone line goes dead.
Addison reaches down and touches
the unopened manila envelope sitting
on his desk.
That Wonderful Town
The door opens and Betty, Barney
and Happy come charging in laughing.
"That was classic, ladies!"
Happy's expression is suddenly serious,
"I honestly think I almost had a heart
attack when he blew that whistle."
They all start laughing again.
Betty collapses onto the sofa,
"Sweetie, how 'bout those drinks?"
"Coming up."
Happy sits down on the sofa next to
Betty, "I better call my sister and
break the news."
Barney yells from the kitchen, "Tell
her you're being held captive."
Happy pulls out her cell and the small
white envelope, "This is the envelope
and Happy come charging in laughing.
"That was classic, ladies!"
Happy's expression is suddenly serious,
"I honestly think I almost had a heart
attack when he blew that whistle."
They all start laughing again.
Betty collapses onto the sofa,
"Sweetie, how 'bout those drinks?"
"Coming up."
Happy sits down on the sofa next to
Betty, "I better call my sister and
break the news."
Barney yells from the kitchen, "Tell
her you're being held captive."
Happy pulls out her cell and the small
white envelope, "This is the envelope
from the old man that felt my thigh."
Betty opens the white envelope and
announces, "Our alphabet is Hungarian
Runes."
While Happy calls home, Betty walks the
alphabet over to the ceramic tiles.
Happy is on the phone explaining, "I'm telling
you, Jayne, this is the best thing I've done
in forever. I love it. It feels like magic. It feels
While Happy calls home, Betty walks the
alphabet over to the ceramic tiles.
Happy is on the phone explaining, "I'm telling
you, Jayne, this is the best thing I've done
in forever. I love it. It feels like magic. It feels
like I'm living inside a really good suspense
novel."
Happy listens to her sister, Jayne.
"I have not lost my mind."
Happy listens to her sister, Jayne.
"Look, you asked me."
Happy listens to her sister, Jayne.
"It is a game. Ben does not have a say in
this. I'm a "gamer" now and you've got to
this. I'm a "gamer" now and you've got to
deal with it."
Barney laughs and hands Happy her cocktail.
Betty is on the floor, writing out the code.
Barney holds out her drink, "Poor Happy
Barney laughs and hands Happy her cocktail.
Betty is on the floor, writing out the code.
Barney holds out her drink, "Poor Happy
sounds like she's coming out to her family."
Betty looks up at him, "This isn't complete.
It says TO LOCATE PEEPS. That's it."
"Dwin and Higgs must have the other part."
"Check the chat and see if they're on yet."
Barney gestures at Happy, "She's hilarious."
Betty peeks over at her, "Love her spirit and
Betty looks up at him, "This isn't complete.
It says TO LOCATE PEEPS. That's it."
"Dwin and Higgs must have the other part."
"Check the chat and see if they're on yet."
Barney gestures at Happy, "She's hilarious."
Betty peeks over at her, "Love her spirit and
her name. Happy?"
Happy closes her cell, "My family is convinced
I have lost my mind and I don't care."
"We've got only part of the solve."
"Did I mess up?"
"It's not you. We're pretty sure the two
guys in California will come in with the rest."
Betty adds, "We hope."
Happy closes her cell, "My family is convinced
I have lost my mind and I don't care."
"We've got only part of the solve."
"Did I mess up?"
"It's not you. We're pretty sure the two
guys in California will come in with the rest."
Betty adds, "We hope."