10. A Different Idea

Maybe it was the dinner, or maybe it was the hour, or maybe it was the drive through the mountains that separated the valley from the great population center, but whatever the cause, it was awhile before Klehre even realized that Kandhi had finally shut up. She was actually quiet behind the wheel, and the thoughts that had been previously overwhelmed now came flooding into Klehre's clear mind.

"Kandhi?", she asked, after an interval of thinking. "What are we doing?"

"We're doing Chris a favor", Kandhi cheerfully reminded her.

"But why?", Klehre wanted to know.

"I like doing things for Chris", was Kandhi's simple response. "I like him."

"I get that much", Klehre said, "but, think about it, okay? Tomorrow morning we're going to get up and go to Marina Del Rey and look for some guy named Harold Stanley. Then we're going to zap him with this whatever-it-is, then follow him around until he's somewhere we can sidle up next to him and chatter about how Hollywood movies should be greener, or something like that."

"Yeah", Kandhi replied. "You got it."

"It's stupid!", Klehre nearly yelled. "I mean, really, I thought so from the start but the more I think about it, that guy back there was right. It's dumb. Ridiculous. I don't want to do it."

"But we're already almost here", Kandhi protested. "Besides, we said we would."

"I don't even like the idea", Klehre said. "Who gives a shit about Hollywood. If anything, we should be giving that guy the idea there should be better roles for women, not just girly fuck puppets, kick ass killers or wise old crones. That's what I would tell him. Sheesh."

"We could put all that in the conversation", Kandhi suggested.

"I don't want to have the conversation at all", she persisted.

"But we promised", Kandhi repeated.

"I know. I know", Klehre said. "But come on, who's going to know if we just blow it off. We could still go tag someone and make up a story later."

"I guess", Kandhi considered. "How would they know?"

"Oh shit", Klehre said. "I've got a feeling about that. I think that Tom tagged the both of us before we left, and he's been tracking us all this time." Klehre confessed about how she'd pointed and clicked at all those people as they were leaving the city, only to see them cleaned up minutes later.

"It had to be Tom", she said.

"He tagged us", Kandhi said again. "He's tracking us. That little prick!"

"I never liked that guy", Klehre said.

"Me either", Kandhi agreed. "I was just doing it for Chris. You really think he tagged us? Never mind. I believe you. Of course he would. The creep."

The women were silent again for awhile as they began the descent into the Los Angeles basin. Klehre especially was amazed by the sight. It was nearly midnight, and the lights below them seemed to stretch on forever.

"It's beautiful", she exclaimed.

"Home sweet home", chirped Kandhi. "But what are we going to do?"

"We'll think of something", Klehre replied. "You with me?"

"Oh yeah", Kandhi said. "I'm with you."