[Sticks]

Phil Marlow meets Big Brother 3
Part 2:

The Story so far….

My former client, the Spirit of True Love is rotting in some slammer over in the Mystical Realms, because The head honcho, The Lord Low Troll fixed her trial so there would be a hung jury and a miss-trial.

To complicate matters, the Lord Low Troll's arch-rival, Traxor, leader of the troglodytes has been raising dosh on the Q.T over in our world of mortals, by some betting scheme that pays more, the longer a certain dame by the name of Jade Goody continues on some game show called Big Brother. Traxor, you see wants to be top dog and give the Lord Low Troll a pair of cement boots, if you get my drift.

What's in it for me ?

Staying alive and evidence that my client, the Spirit of True Love's trial was rigged by the Lord Low Troll. (If she got free, maybe a certain couple might see sense and get spliced. We can but dream)

As I watched the late-night café's TV flicker with the broadcast of another Big Brother eviction interview, I sighed with relief as somehow that a dame by the name of Miss Roberts had got the boot. My "client" Miss Goody, had survived a vote that she was expected to loose. It had been one of the toughest weeks as a practising Cyber Devils Advocate at Law, convincing people to spare my "client". I felt my ribs, remembering how I was once worked over by the trolls. Somehow the idea of comparing their handy-work with that of a troglodyte did not seem to appeal.

"Look the kitchens closing, the till is closing and, my eyes are closing" came the shrew like voice of the waitress as it scattered my thoughts.
I finished my cold coffee, grabbed my coat and left and headed back to my apartment in the pouring rain

As I was passing fifth and third street, a large paw grabbed my shoulder, it was unmistakably that of a troll. He never spoke, just grunted. Trolls do that, only a few speak with their mouths, the rest use what every limb of their body does the most damage.

The shot from silenced gun was a surprise, as was the identity of the shooter, it was Marco, one of Traxor's henchmen
I managed to dodge from the body of the troll as it slumped lifelessly to the pavement. "Thanks I uttered"
"Mr Traxor does not want anything to happen to his hired Cyber Devils Advocate" grunted the Troglodyte henchman, "well not while he is being successful" he added menacingly
I looked at the dead body of the troll, I recognised the uniform, it was from the elite bodyguard of the Lord Low Troll. Technically these creatures from the Mystical Realms were banned from our world, but that never stopped the Lord Low Troll, or indeed his rival Traxor the Troglodyte.

It was as if Marco could read my mind, even though telepathy is impossible for a troglodyte. "We will send a clean up crew to hide the stiff". He then threw down a wad of notes at my feet.
"A present from Traxor" he grunted
I picked them up and put them in my pocket, no sense in annoying a seven foot troglodyte
"I'm glad the vote went the way we wanted" I uttered nervously
"With a little help from a few friends on our end" Marco growled in a smug way.
"So you fixed the vote" I asked
"Not quite, we just made sure that things did not kick off until you mortals saw things our way."
"so you organised the meltdown at the text voting system" I ventured
Marco just grunted in a self satisfied manner and came over to pick up the dead troll. "Just not the Lord Low Trolls day" he grunted "The Lord Low Troll had a bet on that Adele chick to go all the way"

With that he picked the dead troll up and disappeared into the night.

I just stood there as the rain washed the trolls blood down the sewer. I did not dare let on that there had been a rumour that this Big Brother 3 was going to have a shock eviction, and Traxor's choice of contestant was hot favourite to get the boot on the Sunday. What disturbed me even more, was that The Lord Low Troll had sent one of his elite guards after me. Had he heard that I was reluctantly on the payroll of his arch rival. Was I now piggy in the middle (excuse the expression) in what would be a vicious turf war for the Mystical Realms. Would our world of mortals be dragged in.

I did not know.

All I knew was that I was shaking, and getting wet, and unsure how Traxor would react if Miss Goody exited the Big Brother House before he had raised his mooler.

Stay Tuned