[chrisy]

Valerie was shaken but not stirred by the developments of the day. First the shocking letter from Danny, then that Agnes at Mr. Rockhead's office - something about her was untrustworthy - and the wild woman in the outer lobby. She could also swear that was Mrs. Ellingfish's pomeranian - although she could think of no reason why Pom Pom would be in such a place.

Valerie, of course, was well acquainted with the Ellingfish family, having worked with Mrs. Ellingfish on the silent auction benefit for the Youth Empowerment Committee for Chinese Hamsters (YECCH). Hmph...silent auction indeed, with that little dustmop yapping throughout the wild boar bourguinione course at dinner. Still, the Ellingfishes had been generous enough to donate that candlelight dinner cruise on their 50 foot yacht, the Compromise.

Oh how she loved those Sunset cruises on the bay...

Valerie was shaken out of her reverie by the skateboarder landing a solid kickflip on his way out of Mr. Chills - and remembered seeing Danny's face, then hers flash on the television screen below the headline "SHOCKING DEATH STUNS SANTA CRUZ SOCIETY", then the strange episode with the stranger and her cell phone.

Remembering she had been on her way to the Motel 7, Valerie decided to first stop at the Salvation Army Thrift store next door, knowing that she frequently donated brand new clothes (sometimes with the tags still attached) so that those less fortunate could aspire to glamour.

As luck would have it, there was indeed a tasteful cream colored suit, with matching mules and baguette! Although it looked as if it had been previously worn, possibly even twice, it was far better than the rainsoaked (and now considerably rumpled) dress she had, and she did after all need some shoes.

Plunking down $35, Valerie changed into the suit behind a row of old sofas (there being no dressing room in the thrift store) and feeling much better, headed back to the Pacer - relieved that the sun was beginning to break through the clouds.

Finally pulling into the Motel 7 down the street, she asked for room 203 and paid the FULL day rate, $73, registering as Mrs. Phoebe Pfrostbite of Thunder Bay, Ontario.