Partners in Crime

   (When we last left Fred, he had split up with Jonathan and was back on Earth, going after the PEANUTs again)

   With his new determination, Fred marched to the door and yanked it open.  He jumped back with surprise as a man tumbled in.  A man wearing a toque.  It took a second for the significance of that fact to sink in, but when it did, Fred let out a yell and jumped on the man as he was getting to his feet.  They both went down, rolling on the floor.  A second man joined the party, and a third.  Then a voice.
   “Oh.  Sorry, chaps.  I do believe I have the wrong room.”
   Fred recognized the voice.
   “Anthony!” he yelled. “Help!”
   “By jove!” Anthony exclaimed. “Is that you, Fred?”
   “Yes!  Help!”
   There was a scuffling sound, then an “oh dear”, then three dull kachunks.  The three men piled on Fred went still and he was able to push them off with ease.  He scrambled to his feet and looked at the three men, then at Anthony, who stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the ground.
   “What happened?” Fred asked.
   Anthony glanced up and gestured to a tall stand next to him. “Well, er, I’m not quite sure.  But I think that when I bumped into that stand, that big pot,” he pointed to where a pot lay half concealed by the bed, “Fell off and knocked those three fellows out.”
   “Wow.” Fred stared at Anthony. “That takes skill, man!”
   Anthony looked surprised. “Really?”
   “Yeah!” Fred went over and clapped him on the back. “You’re awesome.  Thanks.”
   Anthony shuffled his feet and looked down. “It was nothing.” He looked at the three men.  “Are those PEANUTs?”
   Fred nodded. “Yup.  So we’d best take their toques and skedaddle.”
   Anthony reached down and snagged one of the toques, eying it dubiously. “Do you know how to use these?”
   “Nope.”  Fred grabbed the other two toques. “As I’m sure somebody used to say, ‘No time like the present to learn’.  C’mon.”
   He headed out the door and Anthony followed.
   “Let’s take the elevator this time,” Fred suggested.
   “Good idea,” Anthony said.
   Yet he still managed to trip over the slight unevenness on the way into the elevator.  Fortunately Fred caught him before he fell. 
   “Thanks,” Anthony said.
   “Don’t mention it,” Fred said. “Consider us partially even.”
   “Partially?”
   Fred nodded. “Yeah.  I mean, you probably saved my life back there.  I just saved you from a bruise or two.”
   Anthony thought about that for a second. “Hm.  I suppose you’re right.”
   “’Course I am.”  Fred grinned. “You know, we make a good team.”
   “We do?”
   “Sure!  Didn’t you see the way we handled those guys back there?  With me providing the distraction and you knocking them all out.”
   Anthony’s dubious expression was returning. “That was an accident.”
   Fred waved him off. “Accident smackcident.  Even if it was, it was perfectly timed and executed.”
   By now they had reached ground level, and as they walked out onto the street, Anthony’s expression gained confidence.
   “You’re right,” he said. “Those PEANUTs never stood a chance.”
   Fred clapped him on the back. “That’s what I’m talking about.”  He stopped walking and faced Anthony.  “So how about it?  You want to join forces so we can take down these PEANUT terrorists?”
   Anthony grinned. “I do indeed!”
   Fred stuck out his hand and Anthony shook it.
   “Let’s do this thing!”

   To be continued…