Strangetown: chapter 26.5 (Truth)

[strangetomato]

Warnings: None.



Chapter 26.5

Truth



Detective Jack Luxel lifted a book from the shelf.




After his meeting with their client that morning, he had poured through the files again, leading him to what appeared to be another dead end. It was frustrating, but he was not content to give up.

There was one detail that had caught his attention: a reference to alien abduction in the genealogy of one of the suspects. It was something that he was already quite familiar with, but one could never be too well read on the subject.




The records on alien abductions told an interesting story. The increased frequency of these occurances pointed to a growing urgency on the part of the aliens.

It was as if they were racing against time.

The records mentioned his own grandfather's abduction, in Riverblossom Hills. He had moved to Sim City shortly after it had happened, and Jack had been born there too. Jack's own family tree revealed just how linked he was to this story. He was a part of that whole thing, as much as it weighed on him at times. He was marked by it.

There had been very few abductions in Pleasantview in recent memory, but there had been a number of them, and that was significant. There had been some sightings, here and there, but not nearly as many as in that little town on the Road to Nowhere. West of there, through the desert.

Strangetown... was that where his answer lay hidden?




As he worked, he was joined by his partner, Zelda. Knowing that Jack did not like to be disturbed while he was in the middle of something, she quietly selected a volume of her own, and joined him in his research.

Hours passed.




"C'mon, Jack. That's enough for now, don't you think?" Zelda rose to her feet.

"But I'm so close to a breakthrough. I can feel it."

"Suit yourself, then. I'm going to make us a lunch."

"Okay."

When he didn't move, she sighed, but smiled. That was how he was. When Jack put his mind to something, there was no way to pull him from it until he achieved his goal.




He would not rest until he discovered the truth about Bella Goth.








A/N: Thank you to pixelcurious and jessicus for the wonderful sims.

 

Comments

[simgarooop.livejournal.com]

Oh, the plot thickens! I knew it was just a matter of time before the whole Bella Goth connection made an impact in this story! Since you began the Pleasantview crossover, I was eager to see how you'd handle it.

Those are neat sims! I wonder what will Jack discover?!

[redqueenofevil.livejournal.com]

*rubs hands together* I KNEW it was going to feature Bella, as soon as I saw the name Pleasantview.

Delightful! I can't wait for more.

[cindyanne1.livejournal.com]

Oooo... Bella and aliens! I always knew there had to be some kind of connection with that!

[swhedonberry.livejournal.com]

That's a wicked sweet teaser. I can't wait to see how Bella Goth plays into the story.

Also, I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I really enjoy the new banner!!

[treesahquiche.livejournal.com]

This is probably going to be the shallowest comment you've ever gotten, and I'm very sorry:

Zelda is adorable. Adorableadorableadorable.

[aledstrange.livejournal.com]

wow!! awesome!!!
I'm dying to see how you'll connect Bella in the story now!

[dothesmustle.livejournal.com]

Oooooooh! We're learning more about Bella. She hasn't had a big of a plot yet, other than her sessions with Pascal. I'm going to love to see what your interpretation on the whole Bella craze is!

[jessicus.livejournal.com]

What an unexpected twist. Must go back and re-read chapters with Bella, heh! Zelda looks awesome with the maxis skintone.

[80sfiend.livejournal.com]

Ooooh. Very interesting. I like Jack..he's a hottie! ;P And he's part alien?? :D Nice.

Also wanted to mention I like the new banner. :)

[muslemura.livejournal.com]

Tasty teaser :)

[showercapfrog.livejournal.com]

Ack! So teased now!

Also, I am so frustrated that you seem to have seen into my head, taken my story idea and made it good with your writing :P I hate all you people with your psychic knowledge of my half-formed ideas!

At first I thought Jack was Frances...but I guess it's because they're both hot men with similar hairstyles.

[soniabigcheese.livejournal.com]

First of all, congrats on getting hitched.
Oohhh, I've been following this story all along and simply love it. I've lurked for ages now, but just couldn't resist posting a comment.
Hmm, the mystery that is Bella. Wonder what intrigues you'll come up with, with this new twist on the abduction rumours.

Keep up the good work, I'm seriously hooked.

[madame-ugly.livejournal.com]

Sweet X-Files feel to this. I have a soft spot for X-Files (ok, mostly David Duchovny, but I digress).

And you're getting to the conspiracy (for lack of a better word) side of the story, too. Does this bode well for more tales from the peripheral characters? *gives puppy eyes*

(and how much do you love pixel's sims? she's my go to girl for aliens)

[hannahspring.livejournal.com]

Did you know that Bella Goth was actually trying to escape from Strangetown? Well, she did try, at least in the Playstation Portable version of The Sims 2.

And also, she married Mortimer for money! And lived in a house full of ghosts (that's why she wanted to leave).

(I hope I didn't say now some ridiculously basic information - I still didn't have time to read all your posts/chapters. *blushes*)

Anyway, getting that popcorn ready for the next chapters! :)

[pixelcurious.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is so cool! I'm grinning all over my face.

I love how you show Jack with his back to us at first, then the profiles, and finally the closeup of his eye, so you can see just how he was marked by the events he's investigating. That's a striking image, too, with the bouquet behind him. I'm wondering if there's flower symbolism here, like you use with Phi. (ETA: Oh, of course! Red is Bella's color.)

My curiosity is piqued about his client and suspects, as well, not to mention how this will tie in with what Johnny has been asked to do for the aliens...

[smjoshsims.livejournal.com]

I knew he looked familiar, and then I saw pixel's icon! :)

I am really looking forward to see where this is going- everyone loves a good Bella mystery. I want to see how it's going to play into the other characters lives' as well... :)

[meetme2theriver.livejournal.com]

Oooh, very cool. I'm tired and don't have much intelligent to say, just that I really like this, want to see more, and that I too found that last closeup of the eye to be rather brilliant.

[a-gates.livejournal.com]

Awesome!!

[indigoleo.livejournal.com]

*walks to the front with bowl in hand*
Please sir, can I have some more?

[pnkpnthr334.livejournal.com]

Poor plottiness added to the crazy twisted plot!!!