Episode Eight The Duke Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack. Winston Churchill "Why, Lexi Graham, how are you? Long time no see...I do believe you know my friend, Ms. Madeline," came the Jackal's slick delivery upon greeting the designer, Bruce and a man whose name and face were unknown to him. "You must drop by my new digs sometime soon to help me redecorate." "He's booked for months," the stranger supplied, staring Juan Carlos square in the eye. "He doesn't need your biz, capiche?" "Domenico! Behave! Do excuse my friend, Mr. Jackal - he's fresh off the boat from New York and isn't familiar with our frenchy-fied ways! Duke, you are such a big, frothy stallion...go case the joint with Bruce or something, capiche? We can't leave Miss O in chains, now can we?" "No, certainly not, and when I find the creep who did this to your friend Olivia," Domenico continued to glare at JC, "I am gonna double-clown-punch him with these," whereupon a pair of silver knuckles were held aloft, causing Madeline to cheer with glee. "Are you really a Duke? This is SO exciting...and Olivia says double-clown-punch all the time, too...how bizarre! By the way, did anyone ever tell you that you look just like that painting by Raphael of the merchant banker Bindo? Anyway, Lexi, may I have a word with you, in private, please?" "No," the Spaniard hurriedly answered, tightening his grip on Maddie's arm and side-stepping the Duke's riveting gaze. "Bruce and I...and the Duke, of course, need to get into the dungeon and free Miss Olivia from the evil clutches of the Scorpio Sisters, who will be diverted by a social call from our Lexi. It's just so fortuitous that Mr. Graham and his friends happened to show up now...tonight...what a coincidence! "I'd go anywhere for Ms. Maddie and Miss O!" Sexy beamed. "And it's no coincidence - Madeline called me earlier..." "Yeah, to ask about art history or somethin'," Domenico finished, winking ever so slightly at the blonde book curator. "He's like an expert, got it? And only the Scorpio Sistahs have this pahticulah paintin'..." "Are you really a Duke?" Maddie insisted on knowing. "You don't sound like one, no offense." "He's called Duke because he hits so hard that he dukes everyone out," Bruce chuckled. "Otherwise, we'd have nicknamed him Creamsicle due to his sensitive and poetic nature."    Text Copyright © 1999 - 2005 cybersybils.com All rights reserved.