[RACHEL02189]

I thought JD was about to throw Criss out the car while still in motion when he heard where Dimitra got those chains

[Veritas]

After a sleepless night, Criss couldn't take it anymore. He flung aside the covers and pulled on the clothes he had tossed aside yesterday. He found his lockpicking tools and shoved them in his jeans pocket. Within minutes he was speeding toward North Las Vegas to Holy Trinity. He had to get his mother back, church or no church.

The church bell was ringing for early morning Mass by the time Criss arrived. He parked his Lambo by the curbside and stepped out into the churchyard campsite full of sleeping Loyals and protesters, taking care not to trip over anyone. He found the tree-tent where his mother was living, quietly lifted the flap so as not to wake her or the Loyals, and peered inside.

It was a touching scene. A few dozen Loyals huddled together in a semicircle around his mother's chair like sleeping sentinels around a the throne of a queen, protecting her from whatever harm may come. The battery-operated heater was still generating a few thermal units of heat, barely enough for a few square feet of space. Ice chests and styrofoam coolers were stacked by the opening flap, the only furniture in the tent save for Dimitra's chair.

Gingerly, Criss tiptoed into the tent and over the sleeping Loyals to his mother's side, carefully placing his foot wherever he could find space. He was almost there when he miscalculated his last step and landed on someone's hand. That someone yelped in pain, waking everyone inside. Criss cried out in surprise, lost his balance, and went tumbling face down onto a pile of bodies on the ground. There were more squeals and groans as the drowsy occupants were jolted out of sleep from all the commotion. Criss looked down and found himself on top of a very attractive and delightfully surprised female Loyal, who in turn was looking up at him, hardly believing this outrageous good fortune that had just befallen her. Criss, for his part, was deeply embarrassed.

Dimitra blinked the sleep from her eyes and blinked some more when she saw her son sprawled at her feet. "Christopher?" she said, bewildered. "What are you doing--?"

"Mom," Criss said nervously, "this isn't what it looks like, okay?"

He struggled to rise from his compromising position, to the disappointment of his female landing pad, and finally succeeded in reaching his mother's side. "I came to see how you were doing, that's all," he said. "To see if you were ready to come home yet."

"I told you, I've made up my mind," Dimitra said firmly. "Until I get word that the church will be spared, I will not leave this spot. I'm doing just fine here. We're all fine here, aren't we?" she asked the Loyals.

"Oh, yeah, Criss, we're okay," Kris Lee agreed. "Your mom's been telling us stories about you and your family, and about the Miracle Tree, and not to give up hope, and stuff like that. We had a lot of fun last night; it was like a sleepover, or summer camp or something like that."

Criss looked at Kris Lee. "Well, I'm glad you all had such a good time, because I've been worrying myself sick over my mother being out here in the cold. I didn't sleep a wink last night!" He turned to his mother. "Mom, for the last time, please come back to the hotel," he pleaded. "If you want me to save the church for you, I will. I'll even go to SilverStar and stop them myself if I have to, but please come home!"

Dimitra took her son's face into her soft, withered hands. "Will you?" she asked. "Will you go to them and stop them from tearing down the church?"

"I will, Mom," Criss said determinedly. "I promise. I swear to God--"

Dimitra put her fingertips on Criss's lips to silence him. "Now you know how your father felt about swearing like that, remember?"

Criss gave his mother's fingertips a quick kiss and brushed them aside. "Okay, okay, I won't swear to God, but I will go to whoever's in charge there and straighten them out. Anything to make you happy."

Dimitra kissed Criss's forehead. "Thank you, Christopher," she said gratefully. "God be with you."

Cheers broke out as Criss rose to leave. The Loyals shouted encouragement to him as he made his way through the crowded tent.

"You go, Criss!"

"Way to go, Criss! You rock!"

"Yeah, tell 'em what they can do with their hotel!"

"We'll take care of your mom, we promise!"

"Go kick their asses, Criss!"

Criss drew a sigh of relief once outside the tent. It was good to be out in the fresh air again. Now all he had to do was find SilverStar and whomever was in charge to get them to stop the demolition. If they would listen to him, that is.




"Ms. Wesley?"

"Yes, Ruth, what is it?"

"A Mr. Criss Angel to see you, ma'am."

Criss Angel? The magician? Monique was perplexed. Why would a big-name celebrity be coming to see her? It was far too premature to be booking acts for the Grand Imperial; the site hadn't even been leveled yet. To make an investment in the Grand Imperial, perhaps? But that went through her stockbroker, not her directly. Well, there was only one way to solve this mystery.

"Send him in, please," she ordered.

"Yes, Ms. Wesley."

A delay of only a few seconds, and there stood Criss Angel at the door. He was handsomer than his pictures, Monique thought. This should prove to be a very interesting meeting indeed.

"Come in, Mr. Angel," Monique purred. "Or may I call you Criss?"

"Whatever," Criss grimly replied as he strode into the spacious office. "We need to talk."

He certainly didn't waste time on pleasantries, Monique said to herself. "About what?" she asked innocently.

"About you and your plan to destroy an entire neighborhood for your hotel," Criss answered. "Including Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church."

"Oh, that," Monique deadpanned.

"Yeah, that," Criss growled. "You may not know it, but there are hundreds of people who are dead set against this whole thing. They have homes there, businesses, churches, schools. They're out there now, protesting your eviction order."

"Well, it's not going to do them a bit of good," Monique said. "The order's final, and that's that. They have three weeks to move, or we force them out."

Criss stared at Monique incredulously. "How can you sleep at night, knowing you're putting thousands of people out on the street?"

"I'm not 'putting them out on the street' as you say," Monique protested. "I'm paying them to move. I even offered ten thousand dollars for that church you mentioned. I mean, how many Greek Orthodox people are there here in Las Vegas, anyway?"

"I'm Greek Orthodox!" Criss exclaimed. "And so is my mother, who, by the way, has chained herself to a tree in front of it and won't move until you call the whole thing off!"

"We can have her arrested, you know," Monique informed him.

Criss glared at Monique. "Don't you even think about putting my mother in jail!" he hissed.

Monique shrugged a bony shoulder. "Well, get her away from that tree, and we won't."

"Listen, lady!" Criss growled as he drew himself near. "If you so much as lay a fingernail on my mom, I'm gonna sue your ass for every dime you got! That church means a lot to her and that neighborhood! I'll be double-damned if I'm gonna see it torn down! You know, you're up to your skinny ass in class action suits over this; in fact, I just filed for an injunction against you to save the church! If I were you, I'd back off!"

Monique glared at Criss from behind her desk. "Do your damndest, Angel!" she challenged. "Do your absolute damndest! I'll fight you and your sainted mother all the way to the Supreme Court if I have to, but that church and the whole area is going to be leveled in three weeks! What do you have to say to that, Mr. Hotshot Magician?"

Criss glared back at Monique. "I say, I'll see you in court."

[RACHEL02189]

what a *itch

[Veritas]

Kris Lee hoisted her backpack onto her skinny shoulders. "Sorry I can't stay, Mama D," she said, "but I got to get to class." She stooped down and gave the old woman a kiss on the cheek. "I'll be back this afternoon."

"Have a good day, honey," Dimitra said, smiling.

"I will."

Kris Lee left the tent for school. Many of the other Loyals had left for school or work that morning, leaving Dimitra pretty much alone again in the tent. In a way, it was a relief; too many people in one confined space made it too stifling inside. She smiled to herself, pleased that she had so much support in her cause to save Holy Trinity Church from demolition. If only that injunction would be served--then she could return to the comfort of her suite in the Luxor. A nice hot bath would feel good right about now, but she was on a mission, and nothing could dissuade her from it.

Father Stefan poked his head inside the tent. "Good morning, Dimitra," he greeted her. "How are you this morning?"

"Good morning, Father," Dimitra returned. "I'm doing fine, thank you."

"I see you generated more support for your protest movement," Father commented.

"Our protest movement," Dimitra corrected. "We're all in this together."

"Of course." Father sat down beside Dimitra. "Can I get you anything? Tea? Breakfast?"

"Well," Dimitra began hesitantly. "I do need to use the ladies' room. Could you save my place?"

Father smiled. "Of course I will." He pulled the key from his trousers pocket and unlocked the padlock resting on her hip. "There you go."

Dimitra stretched her limbs, grateful to be standing again. "I'll be right back, Father," she said.

Father nodded and sat down in Dimitra's chair. Dimitra walked into the church and headed for the ladies' room. Once she had finished her personal business and tided herself up a little, she made her way outside to resume her post. No sooner did she step outside the giant wooden doors than she came face to face with two members of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

"Dimitra Sarantakos?" one of the officers asked grimly.

"Yes?" she responded, bewildered.

"We have a warrant for your arrest for trespassing on private property," the officer said. "You'll have to come with us, please."

"But this is my church!" Dimitra protested. "I have every right to be here! Ask Father Stefan--he's right in the tent over there!"

"Father Stefan is also being taken into custody," the officer explained. "Please, Ma'am, come with us peacefully, or we'll have to put you in handcuffs."

"Who put you up to this?" Dimitra demanded. "Who issued that warrant?"

"This property belongs to SilverStar Enterprises," the officer answered, "and the court issued the warrant." He took Dimitra by the arm and pulled her to the waiting police cruiser. "You have the right to remain silent. If you choose to waive that right, anything you say can and will be held against you..."





Criss, George, JD, Costa, and the rest of the MindFreak crew had gathered in Criss's suite for the nine AM production meeting. There was none of the usual banter or horseplay that morning; Criss and his brothers were still concerned about their mother chained to a tree outside Holy Trinity Church. Try as they might, none of them could focus on planning the next episode of the show, so worried were they about Dimitra.

George turned to Criss. "You ain't still mad about me taking those chains from the warehouse, are you?"

Criss hesitated, then shook his head no. "That doesn't matter any more," he replied. "I'm glad you were up front about it at the beginning, though. If I'd found out after the fact, I probably would have, well, you know..."

"Kicked my ass?"

Criss smiled. "Yeah, probably."

"Any word on the injunction?" JD asked.

"Oh, yeah, they filed it all right," Criss answered, brightening. "In fact, they told me it's gonna be served first thing tomorrow. They said SilverStar has no legal claim whatsoever to any of that property. And we got another card up our sleeve as well."

"Like what?" JD wanted to know.

Criss leaned forward. "Holy Trinity Church is seventy five years old, right? Well, that practically makes it a historical landmark, 'cause it's one of the oldest churches in Las Vegas. And the law says you can't tear down a historical landmark."

"Doesn't it have to be a hundred years old to be a historical landmark?" Costa asked.

"Hey, what's twenty five years?" Criss replied, shrugging. "The point is that being as old as it is and still functioning, they can't tear it down. And if they can't tear down the church, they can't tear down the rest of the neighborhood either. We win."

"Great," JD said. "Now go and tell Mom that so we can bring her back home."

"I'll see her after the production meeting," Criss said. "I promise."

The meeting slogged on: ideas were suggested, refined, discarded, sketches made for future demonstrations, then scribbled out and resketched. This whole tedious process was interrupted by the sound of Criss's cell phone in his pocket. Everything was put on hold as he pulled it out to answer it.

"Hello?" A pause, then Criss brightened. "It's Mom!" he told everyone in the room.

"Is she giving up?" JD asked eagerly. "She want to come home?"

Criss waved for silence. "Yeah, Mom, what's up?" he asked casually.

The entire company watched as a look of horrified outrage spread across Criss's face. "Arrested!?" he exploded. "You got arrested? For what?!"

"Mom got arrested?" Costa echoed. "What for?"

Criss's jaw dropped to his chest. "Trespassing on private property? Whose private property?" he demanded.

The answer made him even more furious. "They have no claim to the church, and they know it!" he stormed. "Look, where are you right now?" A pause. "Okay, I'll be down there in a few minutes. How much is your bail?" Another pause. Criss calmed down a bit. "Okay, no problem, I'll be by to pick you up. Just sit tight, okay. Love you. Love you more. 'Bye."

Criss flipped off the phone, cursing under his breath. "Damn that (bleep)! I told her if she so much as laid a fingernail on Mom, I'd sue her ass big time!" He rose from his seat. "Come on, guys," he said, "we gotta pick up Mom from the lockup." He turned to the production crew. "We'll be back later, okay?" he told them.

"Sure," Dave Baram said understandingly. "We'll be here when you get back."

"Thanks, Dave." Criss turned to his brothers. "Come on, guys, we gotta spring Mom."

The three brothers left the suite, Criss muttering a steady stream of profanities directed at SilverStar's CEO all along the way. He couldn't wait until that injunction was served to that self-centered (bleep)! He made a mental note to call that same law firm again later that day. Monique Wesley had a slew of class action suits against her already; now she'd be facing wrongful arrest charges on top of that. The Clark County District Court is going to have a full docket from this one case alone after this, he thought.

[RACHEL02189]

You got that right

[Veritas]

Our top story: The mother of famous illusionist Criss Angel was arrested this morning on charges of criminal trespass on private property. Dimtra Sarantakos had been staging a two-day sit-in protest against the proposed demolition of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church by SilverStar Enterprises. She had chained herself to a tree outside the church, refusing to leave until the church was spared. Father Stefan Mykolos, the priest of Holy Trinity, was also arrested. Both were released without bail by the authorities.

Criss Angel, Illusionist: "I can't tell you how I really feel about this--at least not on national television. But I am very, very angry over my mother going to jail for something she stood up for. I've filed for an injunction against the demolition of the church, and I plan to sue SilverStar for having my mother arrested. I had warned Monique Wesley that if she laid a finger on my mom, I'd haul her ass into court about it!"

SilverStar Enterprises had announced in a formal press conference that it would build a multi-million dollar hotel and resort in North Las Vegas to improve property values and bring much-needed employment in the area. The cost to the residents would be even higher, as they had been served thirty day eviction notices and five hundred dollars to evacuate the area, or be forced out by police. Holy Trinity was offered ten thousand to give up the church property. SilverStar claims it under the Nevada eminent domain laws and the Fifth Amendment, stating taking over private property for public use.

Father Stefan Mykolos: "SilverStar has no claim to the church or it's property. They claim eminent domain, but God has eminent domain over His church, and has had it for seventy-five years."

Several class action suits has been filed against SilverStar by North Las Vegas residents affected by the proposed project. SilverStar's CEO, Monique Wesley, had this to say:

Monique Wesley, CEO, SilverStar Enterprises, Inc.: "I'm trying to bring employment to these people! I'm trying to improve the property values in Las Vegas! I'm offiering a better life for everyone with the Grand Imperial project! That area is a slum! Do they want to spend the rest of their lives living in a crime-infested ghetto? I'm doing them a favor here! They should be thanking me, not suing me!"

Father Stefan Mykolos: "She's deluding herself if she thinks she's doing us a favor. She'll be doing more harm than good if she destroys this neighborhood. If she really wants to improve our lives, she should be restoring this area, not demolishing it."

We'll have updates on this story as it develops.




Kris Lee walked away from the giant-screen television in the student lounge. "My God!" she whispered to herself. "They arrested Mama D! I can't believe they'd do such a thing! Why did I leave her this morning? I promised Criss I'd look after her! What am I going to do?"

In her despair came a moment of clarity, and in that moment Kris Lee saw her duty as clear. She grabbed her backpack of books and headed for the computer lab. Luckily, there was an available terminal when she arrived. She quickly sat down, logged in and clicked onto the Loyal Community Message Board.

The Loyal Community > General Discussion Criss Angel and Mindfreak Series > DIMITRA ARRESTED!!

LuvUCriss: Dimitra was ARRESTED TODAY! They put her in jail becaouse she was protesting the destruction of a Greek othodox Church by some coproration! It was aon the news today! I got to share her protest here in LV and we stayed in a tent around tyhe tree she was chained up to. Criss went and got her out of jail, along with the priest of the church. Calling all Loyals to stand up and defend Mama D!

A quick click of the "Post" button, and the message was on it's way. "There," Kris Lee said, sighing with relief. "I've done my part."

She logged off quickly and left for her next class, wondering with a mixture of fear and apprehension over the general reaction her post would make from her fellow Loyals. Whatever it would be, she knew it would be explosive.

And explosive it was. Loyals by the hundreds expressed their outrage over the scandalous details of Dimitra's arrest on every fan board on the Web.

angelkiss23: Those :censored. How could they DO such a thing? I hope Criss kicks their asses from here to California!

CrissLee: Holy ****take! Someone's gonna pay BIG for this!

Magile: WE LUV U MAMA ANGEL! WE'RE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY!

vampprincess: I read this on the news, and i FREAKED! How DARE they do such a thing!! Dimitra is innocent! They had no right to arrest her like that!

FreakUOut: Did Criss pay her bail? How much was it?

LuvUCriss: ^^Dimitra was released wtthout bond. Thye just let her go.

LoyalCat13: I am soooooo I was like when I saw the news on tv. I wanna go to who was responsible and

As angry as the Loyals were about Dimitra's arrest, their reaction was nothing compared to Monique Wesley's when the injunction against the proposed demolition was served to her the next morning. The court summons handed to her from the residents of North Las Vegas was like a can of gasoline poured on a bonfire. The executive staff at SilverStar had witnessed many of their CEO's angry outbursts when she didn't get her way, but they had never seen one this bad. It was the Hurricane Katrina of tantrums.

"AN INJUNCTION?!" they heard her scream.. "THEY'RE SERVING ME AN INJUNCTION?! THOSE (BLEEPERS)! HOW DARE THEY FILE AN INJUNCTION AGAINST ME! THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!"

She snatched the phone handset from its cradle. "Ruth! Get me my lawyer!" she ordered. "If those (bleepers) want to sue me, fine! I can countersue against them! I'll get that property by fair means or foul!"




Later that morning, Father Stefan was receiving a different kind of surprise. The postal carrier brought an entire plastic post office bin full of letters addressed to Holy Trinity Church. Overwhelmed, Father Stefan carried the bin into his office and stacked the colorful envelopes onto his desk in his office. He had enough presence of mind to return the bin to the postal carrier, however, but the amount of mail staggered him. They weren't bills, thank God, but letters. Hundreds of letters, many decorated with hearts and CA logos on the envelopes. Now I know what Criss Angel has to go through, he thought.

He opened the first one he laid his hand upon, a pink envelope from Seattle, Washington. When he unfolded the letter, something fluttered to the floor. Father Stefan picked it up and looked at it. It was a check for fifty dollars. He set the check aside and read the letter:

Dear Father,

I am sending you my support for saving your church. I wish it could be more, but this is all I can afford right now. I saw Dimitra's protest on tv and wanted to send you something to help save your church. We all love Dimitra like our own mother, and if this church means so much to her, then it means so much to us loyals. We are with you all the way.

Love, Deanna.

Father Stefan carefully laid the letter aside and picked up another, this one from Detroit, Michigan:

Dear Father,

Your story touched me in a personal way. My family was evicted from our home in Hamtramck by General Motors because they wanted to build a plant there. They tore down our church, Immaculate Conception, and my grandmother told me she cried when they did that. Our whole neighborhood is gone, and the plant was closed a few years later. Poletown was wasted for nothing. I hope and pray that your neighborhood does not go the way of Poletown. Keep the faith!

Steven Kapinsky.

Letter after letter raised Father Stefan's spirits. Many of them had checks inside "to support your fight" some said, "for Dimitra and Criss" said others. A full hour went by and barely a dent was made in the stack of mail, yet Father kept on reading. Only the chiming of the office clock reminded him of his duties. Father set aside the last letter he had been reading and rushed to the icon of the Blessed Virgin.

"Gracious Mother of God!" he prayed. "Thank you for this outpouring of support! Through your intercession we have achieved a miracle! Continue to pray for us, your devoted children, and prevent our church from destruction! Amen!"

[RACHEL02189]

way to go loyals

[Veritas]

Dimitra sat silently in a chair in Criss's suite, surrounded by her three sons and the MindFreak crew. She did not even so much as raise her head to meet their collective gaze, but stared sadly into space. She had failed her cause. Her two-day protest outside the church had been in vain. All that work of meetings, petition drives and protests had been all for nothing. SilverStar had won. Holy Trinity was doomed.

"Mom?" Criss whispered gently. "Can I get you anything? Cup of tea? A beer, maybe?"

She shook her head no, still staring into space. Her fighting spirit had been crushed within her, leaving her feeling like a helpless old woman without a reason to go on. She sat there, wavering, then the tears began to fall. She covered her face with her hands and began to weep openly, unable to contain her sorrow anymore.

Criss put his arm around her shoulder to comfort her. "Mom, it's okay," he crooned. "Don't cry. Mom, please, don't cry. Everything's going to be all right."

"No," Dimitra sniffled. "It's not 'all right' as you say. We lost, Christopher. We lost the fight for the church. It's all over now."

"No, Mom," Criss argued. "It's not over until it's over. They served that injunction this morning. We can still save the church."

He swung around to face her directly. "Mom, listen," he said firmly. "You did the best you could to save Holy Trinity. You stuck to your guns and stood up for what you believed in, you and Father Stefan. Maybe chaining yourself to a tree wasn't the greatest idea, but it did generate a lot of publicity for it. People out there are really POed over this, and it was all because of you. Now I know you're tired and probably hungry, so let's get something to eat and you can go back to your room, take a shower or something, and just relax, okay?"

Dimitra nodded wearily. Criss helped her up from the chair and handed her over to Costa, who took her out of the suite and back to her room. Dave shook his head sadly after the door closed behind them. "Poor woman," he said pityingly. "She really wanted to save that church."

"Well, I'm still counting on the injunction," Criss said. "And I'm gonna sue SilverStar for getting her arrested like that."

"I can't believe someone could just take over a whole neighborhood, just like that," JD said. "That's criminal."

Suddenly, Criss's cell phone went off. He pulled it out and answered it. "Hello?"

"Hey, Criss, it's me, Sully."

"Hey, Sully, what's up?" Criss replied casually.

"What's up? Dude, you'd better turn on the TV and find out what's up!"

Criss was puzzled. "Why? What's going on?"

"All hell's breaking loose in North Las Vegas, that's what's going on!" Sully exclaimed over the phone. "I just barely blew by there and nearly got hit by a chunk of concrete!"

Criss turned away from his phone conversation. "Hey, Dave, turn on the news, willya?"

Dave reached for the remote and turned on the giant screen TV. Criss and company watched in horrified amazement as hundreds of people marched in front of SilverStar Enterprises, carrying signs protesting against the demolition. It was an impressive turnout, but what really chilled Criss was that many of the protesters were Loyals, angry over Dimitra's arrest. The LVMPD had turned out in force to prevent any rioting, armed with batons and tear gas grenades.

"My God!" Criss whispered. "Sully was right! All hell is breaking loose!"




"It's just not fair," Dimitra sobbed into Costa's shoulder as she sat on the bed in her hotel suite. "It's just not fair!"

"Mom, everything's gonna be all right," Costa assured her as best he could. "You did everything you could to save the church."

"I just don't understand how they could just take over like that," she sniffled. "This is America! Things like this don't happen here in America! At least, they are not supposed to."

"Mom, no one's gonna take over the church, okay? Criss has an injunction against them, and we got a class action suit against them as well."

"Then why was I arrested for trespassing? How could they arrest me if it is not their property?"

"Look, Mom, just get some rest, okay? You're tired. You'll feel better after you've had a nap."

Dimitra looked at Costa sharply. "Why are you treating me like a child?" she demanded. "Who's the parent here? I don't need a nap, I need a way to save the church! You think I'm some old woman who has to be looked after by everyone? I can take care of myself!"

"Mom, please--"

"Don't 'Mom, please' me!" she snapped as she rose to her feet. "I'm going back to the church and see Father Stefan. At least I can pray for a miracle there. As long as I draw breath, that church will stand!"

Realizing there was no dissuading her, Costa offered her a lift. He was relieved when she agreed, and soon both were off to Holy Trinity to make a final stand against SilverStar.




Monique Wesley looked out the window of her office down at the mob of angry protesters outside her building. "Who are those people?" she asked irritably from no one in particular. "What are they doing down there?"

She managed to catch a glimpse of a picket sign or two denouncing her as a money-grubbing land-grabber that cared more for profits than people, a modern-day Marie Antoinette who told them "Let them eat cake". Enraged, she grabbed the phone and punched the button to summon security. "I want those people away from here NOW!" she demanded. "Clear the whole area! Use tear gas if you have to! Just get rid of them!"

She slammed down the headset and leaned on her desk. Ingrates! she thought. Here she was spending a king's ransom to better their lives and they turn on her like that! How could they treat her so badly after all she did for them? Stupid, selfish ingrates!

The phone buzzed. Monique answered it. "Yes, Ruth, what is it?"

"A gentleman from the District Court is here to see you, Ms. Wesley," Ruth told her in that deferential tone all secretaries use when addressing their bosses.

Monique sighed. Another process server. She'd been hauled into court so many times in the past she could have become a lawyer herself. "Send him in," she said resignedly.

"Yes, Ms. Wesley," Ruth said, then hung up. After a minute's delay, a stocky, grey-haired man with a badge in a leather case slung around his neck handed Monique a summons to appear in court thirty days hence. Monique took the papers and read the name and address in the plaintiff's box. To her surprise and outrage, the plaintiff was none other than Criss Angel himself, suing her for "wrongful arrest under false pretenses" on behalf of his mother. For Monique Wesley, this was the last straw.

She called Milton Dewey and left a message for him on his voicemail detailing the summons. With a feeling of relief, if not vindication, she hung up the phone. Milton knew what to do, she thought confidentally. He was the best in the business. She'd teach Mr. Hotshot Magician who was boss here in Las Vegas and show him just how fast she could make his money disappear.

[RACHEL02189]

WHAT A

[Veritas]

"HEY HEY! HO HO! SILVERSTAR HAS GOT TO GO! HEY HEY! HO HO! SILVERSTAR HAS GOT TO GO!" chanted the mob as the marched around the steel and glass skyscraper that served as SilverStar Enterprises's main headquarters. Television news crews lined the street with cameras trained squarely on the protesters while reporters tried to collar anyone willing to give a statement for "on the spot" coverage. Some were happy to oblige, while others simply held up their picket signs to the camera crew.

"I've lived here, worked here and raised my family here," one angry man spat into the microphone. "I ain't gonna let some big fat cat corporation take away everything I worked for! I'm a taxpayer and I know my rights!"

By midafternoon, the SilverStar controversy was national news. Comparisons were made to the Poletown demolition by GM-Cadillac in Hamtramck, Michigan twenty-five years ago on CNN and other news networks. Those who had lived in the area and had been evicted offered sympathy and support to North Las Vegas, parallelling their own plight with their neighbors to the west.

E!News and other entertainment channels made Dimitra's arrest their top story. Criss's brief statement outside the police lockup where he had picked up his mother and Father Stefan was prominently featured. Father Stefan was all but ignored, at least by the networks. They Loyals, however, had made him part of the Angel family, adopting him as their own surrogate spiritual father, offering shout-outs on the boards and even including him in their stories in the Loyal Written Art sections. Father Stefan, of course, was totally unaware of this singular honor, but was grateful for the cards, letters and checks sent in by supportive Loyals for his church. They gave him hope, these fans of Criss Angel, in a time when hope was sorely needed.

A knock on the church office door bought Father Stefan back to reality. He rose from his desk and opened it. Dimitra stood there expectantly, while her son Costa stood a respectful distance behind her. Father smiled at her, beckoning her to enter. Dimitra thanked him and stepped into the office. Costa remained outside, preferring to wait for his mother to finish whatever business she had with the priest and drive her back to the hotel.

Dimitra could not help but stare at the pile of cards and letters on the desk. "My goodness," she said in mild surprise. "What's all this?"

"From your son's fans," Father replied. "They heard about your protest outside the church and sent in their support. Look!" he exclaimed, holding up a sheaf of checks. "They even sent in donations! I've counted over two thousand dollars so far. Thanks to you and Christopher, we gained a great deal of support for our cause!"

Dimitra was almost giddy with relief. "Oh, dear Lord!" she said, quavering. "I had no idea! This is wonderful! I came here to pray for a miracle, and God sent us one already!"

"The Lord would not forsake His church," Father Stefan said. "This is a sign that we will win this battle, Dimitra. We won't lose faith, but keep fighting for our right to exist! God is on our side."

"Amen, Father," Dimitra agreed. "Amen."




Unbeknownst to Father Stefan and Dimitra, Monique Wesley was struggling to bring about miracles of her own with the help of her lawyer, Milton Dewey. Milton shuffled papers while Monique paced around nervously like a caged panther.

"Do you know how many millions I stand to lose if I don't get this hotel built, Milton?" she asked him for the dozenth time that day. "I'm up to my ass in lawsuits, and I've got an injunction against my building anything in North Las Vegas! How the hell am I going to get out of this one? You got to help me, Milt! You're my last, best hope! You've come through for me before! Can't you do it again?"

"I'm trying!" Milton cried as he flipped through his papers in his briefcase. "I'm trying as best as I can! I got some notes here somewhere--just let me look!"

"Well, look faster!" Monique snapped. "I got people out there who want to string me up from the nearest lamppost!"

"Wait a minute!" Milton snatched up a sheet of paper and read it, then tossed it aside. "No, we tried that already," he said with a tone of disappointment. "Maybe...no, that won't work, either. And we tried that already." He closed his briefcase in defeat. "I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do. They're going through the Court of Appeals over those petitions they turned down before, and it's more than likely they'll overturn the ruling. Face it, Monique, you are screwed. Our backs are up against the wall and there's no way out except to fight it out in court."

"Then that's exactly what I'll do," Monique said determinedly. "I've been called a lot of things in my life, but never a quitter! I'll fight them all in court, every single one of them! And you're gonna be by my side, Milton! We'll rake their asses over the coals until there's nothing left of them! The Grand Imperial is going to be built no matter who I have to fight!"




Kris Lee parked her hatchback in the Holy Trinity Church parking lot, surprised and concerned that no one was out there protesting. Did they get arrested like Dimitra did? she wondered. She hoped not. She got out of her car and trotted up to the side entrance of the church. Ever since she had heard of Dimitra's arrest she had felt guilty about leaving her behind when she went to class. She had promised Criss she would look after her, and she was going to keep that promise.

Kris Lee pulled open the heavy wooden door and stepped inside the dimly lit church, its golden icons and murals eerily aglow with the light of dozens of votive candles. She had passed Holy Trinity dozens of times on her way to classes, but this was the first time she had ever been inside. She didn't see Dimitra in the church proper, so she passed the altar and went through another side door into a hallway. To one side, she could see light eminating from a doorway. That must be the church office, she figured.

She walked briskly to the door. In the silence of the church she could easily hear voices from inside the office. One voice she recognized as Dimitra's; the other was a man's voice. The priest, perhaps? The voices sounded happy, almost jubilant, so Kris Lee assumed that it was safe to go inside. She rapped gently on the door, not wanting to startle either one of them.

"Come in," said the man's voice.

Kris Lee entered the office. There was Dimitra, her hands full of mail. Next to her was the priest, Father Stefan, his hands also filled with letters. They smiled at her the minute they looked at her. "Well, hello there!" Dimitra greeted her warmly. "Good to see you again!"

"It's nice to see you, too, Dimitra," Kris Lee responded politely. "I heard you got arrested after I left. I had promised Criss I would take care of you during your protest, and I've been so worried about you. I felt so guilty about abandoning you like that. I should have stayed with you."

"Now, honey, you shouldn't feel guilty about anything," Dimitra assured her. "Father Stefan and I got through it all right. Didn't we, Father?"

"We did," Father said, nodding. "And they let us go without bail, provided we show up for court next month. I don't think anything will come from it, though."

"Are you kidding, Father?" Kris Lee said. "I've been on the fan boards on the 'Net, and everyone is really--" She was about to say (bleeped) off, but she caught herself just in time: there were certain words and phrases one did not use in front of the clergy. "--really upset over what happened to Dimitra. You wouldn't believe the responses they gave over it!"

"I can," Father said, and showed her the pile of letters on the desk. "In fact, we got quite a few responses, didn't we, Dimitra?"

"Oh, yes, indeed we did," Dimitra agreed.

Kris Lee stared at the mountain of cards and letters on the desk. "Many sent in donations as well," Father continued. "Over two thousand dollars from when I last counted. I don't know how they found out about it, but we are grateful for their support."

"Hey, Father," Kris Lee responded. "Dimitra's like our mother, too. We Loyals are always keeping our eyes and ears open for any little news concerning Criss or his family. If anything happens, word gets around fast on the fanboards and everywhere else. Like I said, the Web's full of news about Dimitra's arrest, and they are behind her one hundred and ten percent."

"Well, you go on those fanboards," Father told her, "and tell them I thank them for their support."

"Will do, Father," Kris Lee said cheerily. "You betcha!"

Another tap on the door. Kris Lee opened it and was surprised to see Costa standing there. She was too dumbfounded to speak, let alone move to let him in. Costa was a bit startled to see this strange girl standing there, but he brushed it off with a quick "Oh, hi," and looked over her head toward his mother. "Mom, you ready to go?" he asked casually.

"In a minute," Dimitra replied.

Costa left to bring the car around. Dimitra stacked the letters she had been holding and placed them on the desk. "I have to go now, Father," she said. "Costa needs to get back to work, and he wants to keep an eye on me. All three of my sons are still upset over my demonstration. They worry about me so much they treat me like a child, telling me I need to eat or take a nap or whatever! It's irritating! I'm their mother, not the other way around!"

"Well, that's because they love you so much, Dimitra," Kris Lee said. "They don't want you to get sick, or get hurt, or anything. They just want to take care of you, just like you took care of them in the past."

"Still, it's irritating," Dimitra argued. "I can take care of myself very well, thank you. I'm not that infirm--yet."

"Well, you should thank God you have three loving sons to care for you in case something does happen to you," Father Stefan told Dimitra. "You are a very fortunate woman to have them."

"I do, Father," Dimitra said. "I do, indeed, but still..."

A car horn blared from outside. Dimitra sighed. "That must be Costa," she said. "Well, good-bye, Father."

"Good-bye, Dimitra. And thank you for all your help."

Dimitra kissed Kris Lee. "Good-bye, honey," she said. "And thank you for generating all the support from the Loyals."

Kris Lee kissed her in return. "Anything for you, Mama D," she said. "Anything at all."




Milton Dewey sat in his corner office of Dewey, Scruem and Howe, poring over pages and pages of property law in the state of Nevada, trying to find even the smallest loophole for Monique Wesley to take over North Las Vegas to build the Grand Imperial. Monique was his best-paying client, if not his only one to date; many of his former clients had bailed on him because they didn't like his underhanded methods of getting results. There had been rumors via the legal grapevine that he would be facing disbarment for his unethcial practices, but Milton dismissed them as just that--rumors. After he and Monique won this case, he thought, he would be come out of it smelling like a rose and rich enough to retire to Catalina or some other tropical paradise. Screw the Nevada State Bar, he was going to win this case if it killed him!

But first, he had to find something to back up his client's claim. Nevada law wasn't helping, so he turned to the other forty-nine states. He looked under eminent domain, conversion law, public use. Then, just as he was about to give up, he hit paydirt in the form of a twenty-five year old court case. Elated, Milton copied it down for reference. "Milton, old boy," he said to himself. "You've done it again! We've got them by the short hairs now!"