#bergen_county

She's not used to the apartments, But Kerri knows where they are... and she knows Lut is here if she needs an ally

That ally is put to use right off the bat. She buzzes Lut's apartment to be let in.

"It's Kerri," she tells the intercom.

And it opens right away, "Mrs Davidson?" Despite the fact he's a grown man himself old lessons die hard "Come in. Should I meet you down there or ..."

"Please, yes," she says before stepping away from the intercom and in through the door.

She steps in, and in little time at all, Lut comes down. He looks good. Apparently love has been good to him.

"Hearth" he says seeing that she's alone, "Trouble at the lodge?"

She gives him a warm grin, still seeing in him the young boy he once was. "Hello, Lut. Not exactly. Rikki has been up to mischief. I haven't dealt with her much directly...could use some tips and an idea of where to find her."

"Well, technically she lives with her father and brother in the Super's suite, but she roams around a lot, often in critter form" He explains "On the rails. She seems to have hit a rapport with Piper, but not sure Piper is here today. I would try the roof garden as most likely"

"Tempted to speak with her father first, but that's kind of old-lady of me." Wry. "Okay, I'll start at the roof." She has him show her the best way up.

"I'm not saying it doesn't sound FUN..." Piper's voice trails over to Kerri as she heads up from the stairs. "But I'm not sure that the deep end is deep enough to allow for jumping off from the roof down."

He escorts her up the .. and stops "hey, that's Piper. " And heads towards the noise

A wince. No, that definitely doesn't sound wise....

Kerri follows.

And sure enough, a pooka is talking back "I'm just saying Siv could lead the way, soften the ground water"

"I've heard that cats always land on their feet because it has something to do with 'terminal velocity' - not sure if that applies to ring-tails. I guess we could try a hop-scotch from a low balcony to start?"

The ringtailed gal is looking pleased with herself "Sure. "

Lut coughs to get both wilder's attention for the Hearth

"Afternoon, ladies."

"Look at the time" Rikki checks her bare wrist

Piper looks up, first seeing Lut and giving him a lazy wave. "Hey, did you want a popsicle? They're just the cheap freezer kind..." Offering out - and then noticing Kerri. "Hearth Kerri! Is something wrong at the lodge?" Sitting up with a worried look.

Kerri waves her to calm. "No emergency, no. But...all's not exactly right, either. Rikki...you and I need to talk for a minute."

"Oh geez, Hearth, I'd loooove to, but you are so important I feel i'm stealing away folks from you"

Kerri's smile has vanished. "Walk with me, please."

"Awww.... you SAY please, but what you really mean...." Rikki says then whispers dramatically to Piper "If I go missing, check that deep end we were talking about"

Then Rikki folllows the Hearth "What's the story, morning glory?"

Piper swallows, and watches them go. And offers a freezer-pop over to Lut. "It's blue flavor?"

"Thanks" Lut takes it, then says to Piper "Don't worry, the Hearth is fair handed."

"I hope so, Rikki Pool-bringer is practically the patron saint of summer around here..."

"In round numbers..." Kerri starts as she moves away from the others, "...how much have you gotten on that little tour scheme you rigged up?"

Rikki says "Tour Scheme?..Tour.. Scheme..." She taps her teeth "not ringing any bells"

Lut says "Wasn't she the one who slowed down the pool in the first place ?"

"No? Because somebody matching your description tried to charge Sally Mae earlier. Apparently there are also t-shirts?"

"Well, yes, but see how they extended the wading pool part in the front here and adding the sunbathing ledge? That was extra!" She grins up at Lut.

"Look, who are you going to believe? A girl you've known for years whose become a friend and apprentice or me? A relative stranger with a track record of deceit?" The pooka asks

This is probably a delaying tactic

LUT admits "Okay. that was nice . Yes"

"Ahhh, Rikki. The question is the answer." She stops walking and faces the pooka directly. "How many 'tourists' have you fleeced?"

"Hurftul" Rikki protests "I tell them I'll be by to see High King David's log cabin, and they see HIgh King David's Log Cabin. Their fleece is fairly bagged"

"The Lodge is open to those in need. There is no admission fee. And I resent you treating it as profit-making enterprise for yourself. Now...how much did you make?"

Her tail droops. and she spreads her hands in a hapless gesture "43.5 Quatloos?"

A frown. "However much you made, you'll donate all of it to AnnMarie to support her work. Do you understand?"

Rikki blinks and looks stunned , kind of a blue screen of death moment

Kerri folds her arms. "Well?"

"The pooka you have reached is no longer in service.." She shakes her head clearly still stunned, then says "ALL? What about cost and labor?"

"Consider it a most unwise investment."

"Honestly, Rikki, what in the world would ever make you think that that would have been something I'd let you do, once I heard about it?"

A hurumph "Once is the same as If"

"I can't say I'm thrilled with that, either."

She sighs "Look, my dad is having a happy escape from the cruel confines of the womb day in the next oh year or so. I thought I might get him a really ungainly tie and those cost money"