Con Games

Jerri LaPoint

Synopsis

Allison Montgomery loves to run the show and her current production is the fan convention ThunderCon. The weekend is getting underway when we meet Allie, owner and operator of ConBiz, and dedicated to producing conventions large and small. The action/adventure television series Raging Thunder ended production a couple of years ago, but you'd never know that from the flocks of fans who travel from around the world to attend conventions celebrating the series, its stars, and themselves.

ThunderCon features appearances by series star Simon Winger, a gorgeous hunk of a man with a desire to see everyone happy, even if he's forced to see to their happiness himself. Simon's personal assistant, Katherine Mitchell, looks out for her boss and takes delight in helping rearrange the financial affairs of everyone she meets. Chad Musacchio, series composer and musician, has a letch for Allison and a desire to settle in with her.

A large convention cannot proceed without a few hitches. Simon Winger witnesses the murder of a prostitute and manages to damage the pimp who murdered her. It seems he has a long history of protecting working girls from their pimps, and there is a contract on his head. But the show must go on, and the traditional charity auction, question and answer sessions, celebrity brunch, whip demos, and a convention favorite event called Nekkid Sweaty Katas continue.

Old friends Allison and Chad Musacchio begin an affair to remember, and Chad is delighted to introduce Allison to the other side of the convention business. She has always ordered limousines and luxurious hotel suites for convention guests of honor, but never ridden in a limo nor stayed in a hotel penthouse suite. After a weekend of convention work and play, reality strikes. Chad flies off to do what celebrities with LearJets do, and Allison turns her attention back to running ConBiz.

Allison's A-1 convention troubleshooter Malcolm has accepted a better-paying job at the Oceanside Resorts, and Allison must try to find a replacement. In the meantime, Allison's assistant Mieko is running corporate retreats for ConBiz clients, dodging group hugs and negotiating the ins and outs of corporate HR-speak.

Life at ConBiz is complicated by an offer from Daniel Kaden of Kaden Enterprises, who wants to bring ConBiz under his very large conglomerate umbrella and give Allison the opportunity to take her business global. Although ConBiz operates on a ragged shoestring, Allison is fond of running her own show. To sell or not to sell, that is the question.

In the middle of basketball tournament week, the busiest week of the year for the city's hotels and resorts, Allison receives a phone call asking for shelter for Chad, Simon Winger and Katherine Mitchell. Simon has been asked to give depositions about the murder that took place on the weekend of ThunderCon. Chad and Katherine are along for the ride. A cozy house party ensues with plenty of good company, food and camaraderie, but Simon's history of protecting working girls from their pimps is about to intrude.

Simon and Chad are shot as they walk up the stairs to the police station. Simon suffers only a flesh wound, but Chad is more seriously injured. The combined efforts of Allison, the local police, and a private protection agency run by Allison's former husband Nick, are required to bring the shooters to justice.

Simon and Katherine must leave after Simon's deposition is completed. In the midst of yet another convention, Allison is left to work out the terms of her relationship with the recovering Chad Musacchio, the offer from Daniel Kaden, and the future of ConBiz.

At the end of our story, Chad Musacchio's boots are parked under Allison's bed, for future reference. Thanks to the help and advice of Katherine Mitchell, Allison is able to reconfigure her business for more independence and greater profit, and to keep ConBiz's A-1 convention troubleshooter Malcolm where he wants most to be.