Queenie Landgraab was furious. She had come to Sunset Valley with the cool air and confidence of a successful entrepreneur on the brink of one of the biggest and most profitable decision of her life. She was sure that Sunset Valley would have nothing but ‘Landgraab Industries’ written on every shop, stall and mart around.

Instead, however, a month and a half after she and her family had slowly begun to take root in the town and as she cast her webs and spun her toils across the length and breadth of it, merrily gaining control of the entirety of it in the process, just as she thought that nothing could stop her and the rich, embroidered rug of smugness was fitting snugly on her shoulders, she encountered the first strains of resistance.

Through her web and network of connections, she heard tell of a new fangled family; the Altos in the vicinity who had enquired around town in the hopes of starting a business here. All the details acquired on the family and it’s history lay in a thick file on her desk, it’s contents strewn across the breadth of her office, having been thoroughly read and reread more times than could be counted.


‘Nothing and I mean nothing will stand in the way of the expansion of Landgraab Industries,’ Queenie muttered to herself as she stood looking across the innocent, beautiful town that was slowly closing in her grasp. ‘And I’ll make sure of it….’


The next day found Queenie in her car, speeding across town, on her way to The Alto household. Her thoughts were a blur as she made an imaginary check list of things she wanted to know about them that hadn’t already been covered by her files. She knew that she had to be cautious, because though her power, authority and importance was steadily rising every day, her hubris was not so great so as to believe that she remained untouchable.

In case they won over the town, in case she failed, Queenie would need to suck up to these people till she regained control of that which she believed was rightly hers, and so, caution was a necessity for her survival.


As she stood on the porch of the newly built house which she herself had commissioned almost a month ago, she admired the polished oak wood and the architectural design of the house, in general. She was a great lover of fine building, and with a stab of jealousy, she knew for a fact that the house was probably one of the finest and most expensive from among the newly built ones in town.

As she stood contemplating the beauty of the house, the front door opened, and there stood whom she presumed was Newton Alto, himself. Everyone knew Queenie around town, whether they were new or not. Her pictures along with Victor Goth’s were scattered all over town, and in each and every government building in Sunset. A look of recognition mixed with shock flickered across his face before he replaced it with a wide smile and greeted her.


‘Mrs. Landgraab, so pleased to meet you!,’ said Newton Alto jovially. ‘To what do we owe this great pleasure?’ Newton knew how important a person Queenie was and he was wary of her. She could have dispatched one of her secretaries here had she needed to meet him for any official purposes; such a person was not one who would make personal calls around town regularly. He knew that she had to have come here for a reason, and he wanted to know what that reason was.

Queenie smiled and said, ‘Hello, Mr. Alto. It seems you’ve already heard of me, so I don’t think there need be any introductions on my part. As for the reasons for my visit, I’ve come here to welcome you and your family to Sunset Valley!’


Realizing that she preferred to play with her food before eating it, Newton gave her his widest grin before stepping aside and saying, ‘Please come on in, you’re most welcome here.’ He followed her past the threshold into his new abode.
‘Leshandra, dear!,’ said Nick in an unusually high pitched voice that didn’t sound like it belonged to him. ‘We have a visitor…’


When Leshandra had heard the bell, she didn’t know who to expect. They had moved in just two days ago, and there was no one they knew in town. Reading at the back porch, she knew Newton would open the door.


A few minutes later, when she heard his terse voice call out to her, she knew immediately that something was amiss. Nineteen years of marriage gave her enough right to say that she could fathom from the very tones of his voice when all was not well.


As she walked quickly across the hallway to the front door, she was stunned to a stop when she saw Queenie Landgraab standing on her front carpet with a broad toad like grin on her lips.

‘Oh!,’ exclaimed Leshandra as she gaped stupidly at her guest. Only when her husband cleared his throat lightly did she start; she hitched a fake smile on her face already too late and walked forward to greet Queenie.
‘Mrs. Landgraab!,’ said Leshandra. ‘Wonderful to have you over. Please, come in.’ Leshandra, once again in control of the situation, led the way to the living room.


‘Ahhh, wonderful, very quaint,’ exclaimed Queenie with a smile as they settled in. ‘So, tell me, Alto, what brought you and your family here to Sunset Valley?’ ‘Nothing in particular, really,’ said Newton reluctantly. ‘We heard that it was…expanding recently and we had always wanted to move. A new environment, a new life, a fresh start…That kind of thing.’

‘Really?,’ said Queenie disbelievingly, raising her eyebrows. Because from what I’d heard, it seems that you have come here in the hopes that you would be able to start a new business.’ Queenie gave a little laugh that did not sound even slightly humorous.


The Altos were stunned into silence. ‘How the hell is she so well informed?,’ thought Nick to himself. Meanwhile being the brains in this family and operation, Leshandra’s mind was already two steps ahead of her husband’s. ‘She knows why we’re here; she knows that we want to set up a business rivaling her empire, and she isn’t pleased,’ she thought. ‘How she knows is irrelevant; but the very fact that she does isn’t any good news for us.’

‘Yes, Mrs. Landgraab,’ she said out loud, trying to maintain the civility of the conversation. ‘But mostly, we just want to live peacefully here, let our son have a wonderful time in college and….’ She stopped when she noticed the cold smile playing on Queenie’s lips.


‘I’m so happy you’ve decided to join us here, in Sunset Valley,’ said Queenie, her voice icy cold, ‘I wish you all the best of luck in your…endeavor.’

Queenie rose and was about to walk out of the door when she turned around and looked at the couple disdainfully; still seated in shock at their settee and said, ‘Oh, one last thing… Did you two know that Landgraab Industries has been around for the past 40 years? The experience, prestige and talent that we possess can be replaced by no one and nothing else. Just wanted to let you know.’ With that, she swept out of the front door.


‘What on earth was all that about?,’ demanded Newton of his wife. ‘What did she mean by it?,’ ‘What it means,’ said Leshandra grimly, ‘Is that we’re in trouble.’
Queenie wasn’t threatened by the Altos; on the contrary, being in the business so long, she could spot those who had the flair for it and those who did not; and she was sure that these two most certainly did not possess it.

She felt that she didn’t need to get involved at all; she felt assured that their business would fail all on it’s own account, and, as a result, she didn’t believe the need to spell their doom had arisen…..yet. As she walked to her car, her cell phone rang.


‘Hello, Queenie, how are you keeping?,’ said Mr. Goth, excitedly. Without waiting for her to answer, he continued, ‘I wanted to let you know that your plan’s worked! You already know about the families that have moved in so far, but more and more just keep trickling in! We’ve got 2 more already; the Wainwrights and the Bachelors!’

‘The Wainwrights are exactly the couple we’ve been looking for, Queenie! Top scientists who’ve relocated and who can begin work on the repair of the old broken down Science and Research Facility!’ Also, the Bachelors are just two young souls trying to fit in; not really married, but they are aspiring writers and our newspapers need good editors.’


‘That’s wonderful, Mr. Goth! I’m so happy to hear all that! Didn’t I tell you I’d get more people and pep the city up?,’ she gloated, savoring the taste of her own success. ‘Yes, yes, Queenie, thank you so much, once again for all that you’ve done for Sunset! I also wanted to let you know that I’m hiking your salary. Meet me tomorrow for further details. I have to leave now, but I’ll see you tomorrow! Take care!’


The line clicked dead. ‘Thank you so much, Victor Goth…. But I wonder how long it’s going to be till I’m the one making decisions on YOUR pay rise……,’ she said to the dead line before putting her cell phone away with a grin.


Meanwhile, at another part of town, far away from the rest of Sunset Valley, Old Sylvester Thompson lived in his own private world, rarely stepping outside his front door, doing nothing that involved anyone other than himself. Rumors had already begun to circulate about him; some said he was a retired army chief, who had seen too many grizzly battles and far too much bloodshed, and this forced him into a life of isolation and solitude.

Others said he was probably a convict, hiding from the law, hoping that Sunset Valley would protect him from the ghosts of his past. Yet others believed that he was just an old, insane, cracked up, drunken man and it was better for society and Sunset in general if he stayed behind closed doors…


None of them were even close to the truth, close to knowing who he was, and the mysteries of his past… None of them would ever know what secrets he held, and worse, what lay hidden beneath the quiet, cool composure of a lonely old man and what impact he could have on each of their lives, had he chose to do so…..

If only they knew….


Sorry this chapter took so long, guys been so busy with R/L and college has begun! Hope you enjoyed it, though...Rate and comment as you see fit! :D

The Observant Lefty.