The next morning, after having two cups of coffee to settle his nerves, Mike called the number on the card that Maggie had given him. Micky, Peter and Davy stood by him nervously. After the second ring, a woman answered the phone.
"Hello Ritzy Records, Maggie speaking, may I help you?"
"Ah, hello Miss McDonald, this is Mike Nesmith of the Monkees." Mike said slowly.
"Oh, hello, Mike!" Maggie exclaimed. "How are you this morning?"
"I'm fine, we're all fine." Mike said, "You asked us to call you for an appointment with your boss."
"I remember." Maggie replied with a smile in her voice. "Let me check her schedule." There was a pause while Maggie looked through the appointment book. "Hmm. How about two p.m. tomorrow?"
"On a Saturday?" Mike asked, puzzled.
"Yes, Ms. Ritz usually meets with potential acts on Saturday since most of them have other jobs." Maggie replied, "Is two O'clock alright with you?"
"Two O'clock tomorrow sounds fine, Miss McDonald." Mike said as his band mates hugged each other. "Do we need to bring anything?"
"Yes, bring your guitars." Maggie replied, "Miss Ritz will most likely like to hear what you four can do herself. A drum set, microphones and speakers will provided. Will that be alright?"
"That will be fine, Miss McDonald. Thanks again."
"You're welcome, Mike. Our address is on the card I gave you." Maggie said, "See you tomorrow!"
"See you tomorrow, bye!" Mike slowly put the phone back on its receiver and was tackled by his friends.
"Easy, fellas!" Mike laughed, "We gotta go rehearse!"
"Then pray..." Peter said.
"Then rehearse..." Micky said.
"Then pray..." Davy said.
++++
Maggie placed the phone back on its receiver and looked over at her boss who was standing in the door of her office. She had heard the entire conversation.
"Everything's working according to your plan, Madam." Maggie said.
"Not my plan, the Master's plan." Maggie's boss replied as she walked over to the large fish tank in the outer office. "He was so right. These mortals are so easy to manipulate. Dangle a little bit of fame and fortune their way and they always take the bait."
"Until they are the ones swallowed up." Maggie added, then chuckled evilly as the other woman poured a handful of food into the water, where the piranhas greedily ate it up.
++++
That same morning, Elizabeth was working the early shift at the Blazin' Hot Music Store. So far, it had been an uneventful morning, since most of the younger people were in school.
As usual, Estella was there, keeping a close eye on all that went on in the store. Right now, she watched as the angel rang up a customer. When the customer left, the old witch walked over to her.
"You've been doing a fine job these past few days, Miss Jenkins." She told Elizabeth.
"Thank you Miss Duke." Elizabeth replied.
"Not many people would agree to work varying shifts and days off." Estella continued, "How do you manage it?"
"Oh, I live by myself in an apartment," Elizabeth replied, reminding herself not to give the old witch too much information, "So it isn't much of a problem."
Estella was about to ask another question when the phone rang. She picked it up.
"Hello, Blazin' Hot Music may I help you?" The old witch said. "Oh, yes, I'll be right there. Thank you." Estella hung up the phone and turned to Elizabeth.
"I must attend a manager's meeting across town." She told the angel. "I won't be gone long. I trust you and Miss Markham can look after things here?"
"Yes, Miss Duke." Elizabeth replied.
"Very well." Estella replied, and walked away into the back room.
Darlene came over to Elizabeth.
"Where's her majesty going?"
"Manager's meeting." Elizabeth replied. "Would you know where that is?"
"Probably at Ritzy Record's headquarters." Darlene replied, "I don`t know how she gets around. I`ve never seen her drive or take a bus."
Elizabeth knew Estella probably used a spell to move about, but kept silent about that to her co-worker.
"How long have you worked here?" Elizabeth asked Darlene.
"Two months. I'd like to move on, but the pay is decent." Darlene looked at the angel. "What was she talking to you about?"
"She wanted to know how I'm able to work all kinds of hours and days." Elizabeth replied, "I told her I live alone in an apartment."
"If you don't mind me asking," Darlene said, "Do you have a boyfriend?"
"Yes I do." The angel smiled as she thought of Micky, "His name is Micky and he's the drummer in a group called the Monkees. What about you?"
Darlene shook her head. "No, not right now." She said softly, "My last boyfriend was into drugs and he used to beat me. He's in jail now for murder." She sighed, "I just want to take it easy right now, not rush into things."
Elizabeth patted Darlene on the shoulder. "I understand. Finding someone can take a long time, I know. But I put my trust in God that he will take care of me."
Darlene looked at Elizabeth, a frown on her face.
"Yeah, if God is taking care of me, he wouldn't have had my Mom die when I was ten". She said, "I'd rather take care of myself."
Since Estella wasn't around, Elizabeth opened herself up a little. She could feel the hurt and anger in the girl standing next to her, sensed the gentle soul within her. Outwardly, Darlene seemed tough, but that was only a mask hiding the hurt feelings inside. Elizabeth sent comfort to Darlene.
"Well, since nobody else is around, I'm going to have a smoke." Darlene said, "Wanna join me?"
"No thanks." Elizabeth said, "Cigarettes are bad for you. I'll clean up a little."
"Ok, see you later." Darlene said as she walked to the back break room.
Making sure the cash register was locked, Elizabeth walked over to the record stacks and over to the Warmonger album she had seen before. The angel had no idea how long Estella would be gone, so she had to be quick. Picking up the album, Elizabeth used her powers to study the picture in detail. Nothing still seemed to be wrong, until she reversed the colors of the photo, and made it look like a negative. Her mouth dropped open at what she saw: WAR! FIGHT! KILL! WAR IS GOOD! NO MERCY FOR ENEMIES! DEATH TO ALL! Was what was now printed on the front of the album in big, black letters! The naked eye wouldn't see the lettering, but the subconscious mind would. The back of the album, where the group was once standing, now was the scene of a horrible battle between angels and demons!
Elizabeth couldn't believe it! Anybody who looked long enough at that album would be influenced to fight and kill and believe war was good! The angel slowly moved her hand across both sides of the album. The harmful words and pictures slowly dissolved until both sides were blank. She then turned the album cover back to its original pictures and put it back on the display. At least that album wouldn't be used to influence anybody anymore.
She was about to look at the other albums when she noticed a customer going up to the register. The angel went back behind the counter to wait on him. As she rang up the transaction, Elizabeth wondered if all the Ritzy records were like that. If so, she had a lot more to deal with than she originally thought.