AZOTUSLAND chapter twenty five

Jim scoffed at Jeremy at first, but let the young man reel out his whole line.

At the end he told him he'd think about it and applauded Jeremy for, if nothing else, ingenuity and taking his job seriously.

After Jeremy left, Jim placed a call into Alice and asked her if she could meet him Saturday morning after the rush for a coffee date on him.

"You'll save me some pumpkin bread?" she said directly.

"Of course Alice," he said. "Bring your little notepad. I think I have a project you can finally help with."

Alice was one of the very best landscape architects in Marin. She was in her mid-fifties but had the energy and determination of a college freshman.

For the last three years she had been after Jim to let her work her magic on Azotus. A specialist in fountains, crystals, lighting and all manner of landscaping, Azotus was one of the larger canvases she had seen for her considerable talents.

But that was the problem really. To let her paint something truly enique would not only take years, it would take 2 or 3 million dollars minimum.

She pitched him every six months and he would shake his head, "not this year Alice."

Despite the supurb slab of pumpkin bread which Jim had saved (they usally ran out by 8:30) she was a little disappointed when she showed up at 10:15 the next day and they sat down and Jim started talking about building a giant mouse trap.

But she liked Jim a lot and saw what an adventure it was. Besides it was slow right then, and if she did this for a few days Jim would owe her.

"All right Sweetie," she said brightly. "Where are the architects?"

"Downstairs in the Batcave, I think," he said. "I'll go call down and make sure."

*******

Downstairs a group of young boys was bombing Magnetos's secret base and over in the corner Antione had Luke Skywalker in the Rancor Monster's mouth. "Take that Luke" he said.

Jeremy was in the art area sitting cross-legged and looking at a stack of designs that Lucille and Carver had come up with.

"Oh My ...er, Word" he said after he got through a few.

They giggled and looked at each other.

The door to the Batcave opened and Jim ducked in with Alice.

Matisse jumped up and flew into Jim's arms. "Papi!!"

"Hey baby," he said hugging her back. "Can you be ready in about five minutes for our trip?

"Yes, I can" she said ina slightly affected English accent." "But Fuuuust YOU must see my artwork!" with some drama and a laugh.

"Give me just a minute Pumpkin," he said.

"Alice, this is Jeremy.....the Grand Conspirator, and these are his devoted minions, Lucille and Carver."

"Well!" Alice exclaimed, her face lighting up. "You too look busy!!. Now show me your plans for your project and she sat down on the floor like she was just 7 and they started to look.

"You okay Alice?"

"Of course Jim. Don;t I look okay?"

He smirked.

"I'll call you tomorrow Big Man."

"Thanks Alice," he said sweetly. "Yer a gem."

********

Jim looked at Matisse's artwork, which was nothing short of amazing. he wondered what he might have done had he been encouraged at her age. She was brilliant and utterly focused.

After, took Matisse's hand and they walked out after he had signed her out. Once he had forgotten but had not even made it near the door when Jeremy called out "er BOOK!".

Matisse did come at times during the week and had free run of the place so long as someone knew where she was. Her mother, an intense intellectual named Sabine would drop her off at scheduled times which coincided with her studies up at the Seminary. Then every other Saturday he would have her the entire day and they would go exploring in the City, or at the beach, or to a movie and lunch. Jim made sure to protect these times and Maugham dutifully served as Jim on those two days a month.

That Saturday morning early he had gotten the third note and it was dark and vindictive. He decided it must be Helen.

It had only been that one long night really, followed by a brief second meeting. She had invited him to her stylish condominium in Tiburon to the East of Azotus. It had been a disaster which ended when she kicked him out in a violent outburst.

He had nevr told anyone about it, but he decided that day to tell Maugham and he started to form a plan.

*********

So that Saturday he had packed up the Mustang with art supplies, the blankets, the "bag of fun" and lots of extra clothes and towels. Then her turned West out fo the Azotus parking lot and stopped the car at the side of the road.

He was trying to remember if he had forgotten something. He checked his wallet, watch, glasses and cellphone.

He sighed then looked all the way up to the balcony and deck and saw Maugham on the railing some 250 feet higher and looking down at him smiling. Jim waved and Maugham nodded with a smile (or so it seemed) and went back inside as Jim and Matisse drove off to Pt. Reyes for a day of fun and good food.