Back from Hotlanta to some bad news... for those of you that know him my uncle larry (part of the crazy aunt jeanne and uncle larry dynamic duo) is in a coma in the hospital. if you all can send some good vibes his way, it would be much appreciated. until this is all over, i give you the next few installments of insecta. smooch. -G

Insecta, episode 6
"the marriage that wasn't"

Count Beaumont refused to wait on the main floor of the Bordello casino while Detective Mangy searched for the backroom where Cheetah Kittens might be hidden away. First off, the noise of the slot machines drove him nuts. He'd start to nervously wiggle his little penguin wings. Secondly, he tired of old ladies coming up to him, petting him on the head (now, on the top hat), and saying, "oh how cute." Secondly, he feared for Detective Mangy's life.

"You don't have to worry about me," detective mangy reassured him, showing off her gun, "If I have to peel a few caps on some punk's dome, so be it."

Beaumont was impressed with her street lingo but still insisted he remain at her side. His head had never been so clear as during that adrenaline rush.

Mr. Z already knew Det. Mangy was on the way. He was watching her on the surveillance video camera.

"i've waited for this moment for a very long time, my darling mangy," he swooned.

Mr. z went to his safe and, after working the combination lock, extracted a beautiful 10 carat diamond ring, the stone of which was cut in the shape of an apple. He had waited for this moment ever since Det. Mangy left him to join the police force.

Detective Mangy noticed some doors inscribed "Main offices" and decided this was where she needed to go. Beaumont followed, watching behind them to make sure no one noticed their sneaking around. After Det. Mangy had gone through the doors, she found herself in a hallway with doors on either side running all the way down the hall. At the end was a double set of doors with "executive suite" printed on them in gold leaf....Lion Bree and Captain Tombeau were heartbroken and depressed. They'd been tied up to a wall of a casino, down an inconspicuous alleyway on the Vegas strip. "What happened?, " asked the weary Captain. "We've been sucked, " said Lion, despondent."We've got to get out of here," the captain remarked somewhat more urgently."In good time, my pretty," barked Insecta. She emerged from behind a garbage dump. She had been napping. "Oh what will detective mangy say when she learns I've kidnapped the precinct captain for the strip in Vegas?" insecta cackled."you'll never get away with this," captain tombeau replied."I already have. and what is more, this time I wont' make the mistake of leaving you behind. You will be my permanent mission in life. Everyday will be about making you more and more miserable. Where's mangy now? eh? busy buying shoes again? she's a worthless detective. as you'll see, I will stay always a step ahead of her and always show up in time to ruin her day. Soon the commissioner will have her badge. hahahahahahahaha!" Insecta said with her fly eyes seemingly ablaze...As mangy opened the door to the executive suite, she encountered a candlelit room and a dark figure sitting on a sofa across the room. "come in, mangy. long time no see." the voice said.

"who are you?" asked Detective mangy.

"it's me, Zebulon Zobrunik, " he replied with a smile now illuminated by a candle he just lit.

"oh my god. it's you. I can't believe you're running a casino now. I thought you went back to Jersey." Detective mangy responded.

"no, no, my sweet, sweet mangy. i've waited for you to come back and marry me all these years."

Mr. Z said calmy, adding, "cognac?""not on duty," Detective Mangy responded starkly.

"relax. there's no need to be so official with me," said mr. z.

Count Beaumont immediately recognized the old room and hid behind some furniture, apparently unnoticed by Mr. Z. He was surprised that Detective Mangy knew his captor and feared she might rat him out.

"How did you find me?" asked Mr. Z as he poured himself a cognac.

Beaumont squinted and held his beak tight waiting to see what she'd respond. Mangy became aware she had forgotten her friend as she entered. Thinking quickly, she responded, "I am the best freaking detective in Las Vegas."

"if that's the case, why were you surprised to see me when you came in here?" asked Mr. Z growing suspicious.

...insecta stuck her long tongue down captain dizzy tombeau's throat and literally sucked all the fun out of him. as lion bree watched in horror, he struggled to free himself but it was in vain. when she pulled out her tongue, she cackled maniacallly and shrilled, "your next sweety."

Lion couldn't imagine this disgrace happening again to him. As insecta started to put her suction tongue in his mouth, he bit down with all his might.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Insecta screamed.

She drew back up into the air with her wings fluttering and charged at Lion with extreme force, shoving her suction tongue down his throat and rendering him completely morose...."i have it on good authority that Cheetah Kittens is being held hostage here somewhere," Detective Mangy said as she sat beside her one time fiance.

"how did you hear that?" asked Mr. Z., startled. he begin to think that insecta had sold him out but didn't want to reveal his cards just yet.

"Literally, a little bird told me, " Detective Mangy responded.

Mr. Z looked quizzical and confused and stared at the floor thinking what did she mean? Then, he began to piece it together.

"that damned cheetah let count beaumont go didn't she?" he growled.

"maybe, but if you are holding her here against her will, that's kidnapping and I'll have to run you in," replied the confident, cool, and collected detective.

"not on your life!" Mr. Z shouted back, "as of now you will be held hostage here until you agree to marry me as you once did. If you refuse, you'll spend your life as cheetah does, acting as a personal slave."

with that, mr. z. called in a security team who immediately grabbed detective mangy by the arms and began to put handcuffs on her. But as she struggled with them, she looked down and noticed her shiny new red pumps and suddenly felt empowered like never before.....

to be continued.