♫I got a new duck!♫
♫'Cause Little Bit's sick♫
♫One that won't make her nervous♫
♫Wonderin' what to do♫
♫One that will make her happy♫
♫Happy like the Loo!♫

Little Bit, my campaign manager, is sick again.  She and the bosses are kind of sad.

Enter the Lyle.

It is my job to make everyone happy.  I have lots of happy, so this is not hard.  Temporary intern Oreo left me a new toy that makes it even easier.  It is a stretchy duck that quacks when I bite its head.  Ha! Ha!  Funny duck.  Little Bit says it sounds like a cranky old man trying not very hard to sound like a duck.  Ha! Ha!  The more I make it quack, the happier we all will be.

Even better, Stretchy Duck is a very sturdy toy.  Most of my toys fall apart in a few days.  I have no idea how that happens.  Stretchy Duck is still quacking loud and proud after more than a week.  Lucky Ducky.

LB says, "Lyle, stop that infernal quacking!"  She seems happy to me.  Another job well done!

And now back to the story...

Chapter 20
            “Chief?”  Dexter’s dispatcher’s voice came over the radio.  “I have a call for you from Mayor Impy.  Shall I patch her through to you?”
            Dexter sighed and rolled his shoulders.  “Put her through.”
            “Chief Dexter, are you there?” Mayor Impy asked.
            “Madame Mayor, before you begin…” Dexter started, but was abruptly cut off by the mayor.
            “Chief, what is all this I’m hearing about a monster in my city?  Surely this is some sort of hoax.  What are you doing to rectify this situation?”
            “With all due respect, your Honor, I’ve been busier than a one-legged man at a butt-kicking contest.  The situation will be controlled.”
            “I just don’t know about this, Dexter.  There appears to be panic spreading amongst the people.  I’m going to head out to take a look for myself.”
            “Please don’t do that, Madame Mayor.  The situation has not been thoroughly assessed.  I cannot have you jeopardizing your safety.”
            “Fiddlesticks,” dismissed the mayor.  “You and your people will keep order.  I have complete faith.”
            Dexter clicked off his radio and growled to himself.  He couldn’t think of a better way to make a bad situation worse.

Chapter 21
            “Excuse me, sir, but do you have any idea what all this noise is about?  The ladies in my party are getting nervous,” Lyle said, addressing the maître d'.
            Before he could reply, there was a deafening noise and a shadow fell over them.  Another crash followed, this time accompanied by debris falling from above.  Huge chunks of concrete fell from the surrounding buildings on to the patio of the café.  Lyle craned his head, looking for the source.  What he saw shocked him to the core.