Thursday, OCTOBER 1, 1987
Diana Carter’s Condo
The Simpson Building
303 7th Avenue
New York City, NY
Fresh out of the shower, wrapped in a towel, her hair dyed a deep red, Diana stands at her closet to find something to wear. She slides aside the red and yellow workout leotard again, that mysteriously found it way to the front of her closet several months ago. She can’t explain why
 but her hand is drawn back to it, pulling it from the closet. For some reason she sees it differently than she did when her Aunt insisted she buy it. Feeling almost compelled she slips it on. It fits perfectly as she eyes herself in the mirror. Diana plumps her boobs from underneath in the built in sports bra. The fit is nice, supporting them without making them look like they are popping out all over the place. “My ass looks great in it too,” she giggles to herself looking over her shoulder into the mirror. She glances over at her vanity to the drawer in which she keeps the Mistix necklace. Something has changed deep within Diana over the past few months. She can’t explain it, not even to herself. It is like a weird desire to help people on a bigger scale than just rounding up her father’s mistakes. It is something she still fights to deny.
Stepping away from the mirror she crosses the room to her vanity. The top is littered with make-up, some of it she has only use once or twice. It is meant to be put away in the drawer but she uses the drawer to store something else. Sliding open the top drawer a gold necklace with a large red crystal lays alone. She hasn’t worn it in months and wonders if that has been a mistake. Of late Detective Prussia hasn’t been pursuing her and that is not a bad thing. But just the same she feels as though there have been a few times she might of crossed the line and used her powers too close to the edge of being discovered.
Diana moves her hand over the surface of the gemstone, causing the necklace to vanish from sight. She can still feel it laying there in the drawer as she lifts it to her throat. Walking back to the mirror she closes the clasp of the invisible necklace around her neck. It worked just as she thought it would, her face remains clear as day in her reflection. Touching over the gem again, she watches the reaction in the mirror as the features of her face begin to blur, becoming unrecognizable.
Diana stand staring at herself in the mirror beginning to feel like a complete fool! What, I’m going to swing through the city on a rope now? she laughs to herself. Then there is a knock at her front door, its Tracey. She almost forgot. “Come on in Trace, I’ll be out in a minute!” she calls from her bedroom. They were planning to get together for breakfast before she heads to Philadelphia on a case.
Moving her hand over the necklace again it vanishes and her face returns to normal. More than a little panicked and pressed for time Diana quickly throws on her clothes over the leotard. She sits down at her vanity beginning to brush her hair just as Tracey walks into the room. “I can’t believe you don’t even have your hair done!” Tracey announces taking the brush from Diana’s hand. “Let me do it, you work on that face.” “I like this color on you,” Tracey compliments.
“Don’t get too used to us being twins, I’m not keeping it past this week,” Diana tells her red-headed friend.
“You’ll be surprised how many men get turned on by red-heads,” Tracey retorts. “How many times do I have to tell you wealthy businessmen ride the train from New York to Philly all the time!”
“How many times do I have to tell you, I’m not looking to get picked up by a rich guy on a train!” Diana says picking up her makeup brush.
“You know this is all your fault,” Tracey says as she separates Diana’s hair to do a French braid.
“My fault,” Diana questions, “What is my fault.”
“If you hadn’t forced me to fall in love with the perfect guy in High School, I wouldn’t be so happy now and forced to make you be the same,” Tracey explains braiding Diana’s dyed hair.
“Oh, I forced you did I?” Diana giggles. “I’ve always been such a Bitch to you, haven’t I?”
“Well I can’t wait around for you any longer so, Francis and I have decided to do it!” Tracey says firmly.
Tracey can see Diana’s confused face in the mirror as she says, “Francis, Francis who, and what are you doing with him?”
“You can’t expect me to call the father of my child Fox for the rest of our lives, can you?” Tracey says grinning.
“Oh my God!” Diana exclaims pulling her hair from her friend’s grasp. “Are you…”
“Just settle down, not yet,” Tracey says pushing Diana back into the chair. “I’ve just decided I’m going to stop playing with it and use it for what it is for!” “Now sit still I need to start over.”
“Well, I guess that is one way to put it,” Diana replies. “Why the sudden Mommy urges?”
“It’s just that Fox has his Dad back and a great job working with him so it feels like it is time,” Tracey says smiling at her friend in the mirror.
“Fox?” Diana repeats.
“I never said calling him Francis was going to be easy,” Tracey giggles as she finishes up the braid of Diana’s hair binding it with an elastic band.
19th Police Precinct
153 E 67th St
New York City, NY
It has been months since Detective Black was killed and Trudy Patterson’s body once again went missing from the morgue without a clue. Detective Prussia has spent that time on desk duty. He can only assume that his reports of the events have been looked on as less than believable. He has a hard time believing what happened himself. The mounds of paperwork he has done in the past months have left him to assume that he might never be a real detective or cop again. His side interest in Diana Carter’s activities has even fallen by the wayside as he begins to sink into depression over his situation.
Even now there is a case that still eats at him, Luke Garrison. Prussia can’t get it out of his mind the way Garrison reacted when first confronted by the news of his wife’s death. He also covered for his foster-daughter who was clearly in his home and that lead to the death of his partner. Not to mention the fact that Garrison worked for Carter Industries that seems to be the heart of so many bizarre cases in the last year. But that case has been closed. If he wasn’t on such thin ice already he would still be working it.
“Prussia,” Captain Forester calls to him from the door of the squad room. “Come with me.” An Asian man stands with Forester in the hall as Prussia gets up from his desk. The Detective can only guess that is the other shoe about to drop. He follows the Captain and the other man down the hall not asking any questions knowing that he might not want to hear the answers.
Arriving at an interview room the three men enter to met a fourth. The New York Police Commissioner Harris sits at the interview table. “Good afternoon Gentlemen,” the Commissioner says. Detective Prussia has only met the Commissioner once years ago and that was only to shake his hand at the Police Academy graduation. The high ranking man’s presence here today worries Prussia. “Please take a seat gentleman, have you two met?” The men shake their heads, no. “Detective Nathan Prussia this is Agent Michael Lei of the FBI.
The two men shake hands acknowledging each other. Prussia can’t help to wonder what an FBI Agent is doing here as he sits back in his chair. His mind races over all of the recent case files he has been going over trying to find one that would justify the FBI’s involvement.
“You two gentlemen have something in common,” Commissioner Harris says. “Both of you have had cases that crossed into an area of shall we say, the powers that be have up until now preferred where hidden and ignored.” “But recent events in Philadelphia and a Newspaper interview have forced the Feds to make some decisions that they would rather not have to make.” “In a joint effort between the FBI and the NYPD the two of you are going to be a covert team.”
“Like some kind of Buddy film?” Prussia questions.
“More like a Co-Op between the NYPD and the FBI,” Captain Forester interjects. “The two of you have both made official reports of events that can no longer be covered up.” “Together both of you will investigate these supernatural situations.” “Prussia, what is the name of that woman that you have been chasing for years?”
Prussia searches his mind for a reply, he has no intention of saying Diana Carter. “Antonia Simpatico,” a random name from one of the files he has been reading over the past months. “She is impossible to pin down for any crime or illegal activity!” He is embellishing his story hoping that Captain Forester is removed enough from the day to day activities of the precinct to allow him to deceive his boss.
“For the two of you no standard code of law enforcement will any longer apply,” Commissioner Harris informs the men. “If you accept these terms, Detective Prussia, you will receive the promotion to Sergeant and Agent Lei, you will become Special Agent.” The two men looked at each other, both of them understanding that this bribe leaves their careers hanging in the balance.
Chippy’s Cafe
17 W 32nd St
New York, NY
Diana and Tracey sit in their usual booth. This Cafe has gone by many names over the years but it has been their place since High School. The current owner has even agreed to hang some of Tracey’s photos on the walls. They have ordered breakfast and Tracey has opened up the New York Post. “Check this out Di, maybe you’ll get to meet him while you are in Philly,” Tracey says showing Diana the cover of the paper with a photo of Master Warrior on it.
“Give me a break the last person I want to meet is that Showboat!” Diana says bluntly.
“Please would you look at this guy, he is hot!” Tracey insists. “He’s got the body of a Greek god!” “These photographers suck though, they never seem to get a clear shot of his face.” “Maybe I should go with you, earn some extra money by getting a clear shot of his face.”
“It’s a trick of light refraction,” Diana suggests knowing that Wonder Man used the same thing on Spirit in Zeeza. “You probably couldn’t do any better.” “He’s a media hog!” “If he wanted his face out there it would be.”
“Speaking of hogs, check that out,” Tracey says pointing at one of the photos taken at an upward angle. “He may not carry a gun but he is definitely packing!”
“You are so crude sometimes,” Diana replies eyeing the photo. “Its probably is just a rolled up sock!” Tracey would most likely lose her mind if she knew Diana had been as close to that Showboat as she is to her now. “You of all people should have learned long ago that there is more to a man than just his looks.” “DIdn’t you learn that about Fox.”
“I did, thank God his face looked good under all that hair,” Tracey responds. “But the man parts that are good too.” “You’d know that if you ever give it up.”
Once again, very crude,” Diana smiles as the waitress brings their breakfast. “Tracey, I love you dearly, but you really have to give this I need a man thing a rest.” “I’m not like you, I’ve never been boy crazy.”
“Di, it’s just that I want you to know how much you are missing out on,” Tracey replies. “This, I don’t need a man attitude of yours scares me.” “You may not need a man, but do you want one?”
Diana thinks about what her friend is saying before she answers the question. “Yes, I do want a man in my future, but I don’t want it to be just any man, I want it to be the one,” she finally says.
“Holy Shit, Diana Carter is a romantic at heart!” Tracey exclaims. “That makes me feel so much better, to know you aren’t dead inside after all that has happened.”
New York City Hall
City Hall Park
New York, NY
Newly promoted Special Agent Lei and Sergeant Prussia arrive at a newly assembled office at City Hall. Neither one of them is sure what they are supposed to do next. The office is small but state of the art in Law Enforcement equipment. There are two deskon opposite walls that each have a Computer set up on them. On the screen saver of the Computer monitors one has the NYPD logo the other the FBI logo. The men move to their stations each curious to see what they have access.
Entering his old password Lei makes a surprising discovery. “My clearance has been raised, there are areas of the FBI network I have never seen before today,” Special Agent Lei announces.
“Same here,” Sergeant Prussia responds. “There is a section filled with classified unsolved cases.” “Things the NYPD has been covering up for decades!”
“It would appear that the FBI has been doing it for longer,” Agent Lei says turning around. “We could spend months going through all of these files.” “So what did you do to get here?” Agent Lei asks bluntly.
“Back when I was a beat cop I encountered an odd young woman in the middle of a gang fight in a bar,” Prussia explains waiting for Lei’s reaction. The FBI agents would make an excellent poker player because his face shows no sights of doubt as Prussia begins his story. “She was half my size but somehow knocked me unconscious with a touch.” “I spent nearly a year getting razzed for that night.” “Then not long after I became a Detective that young woman turned up again.” “This time at the heart of a B&E.”
“From that point on it was one unsolved case after another,” Sgt. Prussia explains.
“Unsolved?” Agent Lei interrupts.
“More like loose ends, the right people were arrested but there were pieces missing to how they got to where they were found,” Prussia clarifies. “Wanted men tied up in abandoned buildings.” “Exploding houses with no evidence of explosives.” “Uncatchable convenience store robbers shooting each other.” “A predator college Professor wrapped up with all the evidence needed to convict him.” “I’m sure the list is longer than I know.”
“Problem is one of the predator Professor’s victims came back for revenge,” Prussia explains “And my clean up girl was nowhere to be found.” “Trudy Garrison sought revenge on everyone who she felt wronged her.” “I managed to shoot her dead but not before she killed my partner.” “Trudy Garrison was not human anymore, she had superhuman powers that made her impossible to kill.” “Then her body disappeared from the morgue a second time, I’ve been on desk duty ever since.” “I figured this was my only way out of it.” “How did you end up here?” he asks Agent Lei.
“My partner and I were staking out the alleged den of a cult in San Diego, the Thelema Lodge” Agent Lei begins. “Been on the case for over a month with nothing to show.” “Higher up where about to pull the plug on the case until last Christmas Eve when two SDPD officers showed up with a former member of the cult.” “Guy claimed he could blow the lid off of everything, all we had to do was help him get inside to retrieve something he lost.” “Turned out to be a trap, the two cops and I were bound to a wall and forced to watch as the cultist performed a perverse ritual on my partner.” “We thought they were going to kill us next, but they just left taking my partner with them.” With Agent Derrick Dylan missing and my report something the FBI clearly didn’t want to get out, I too was kept off the street you might say.”
“So here we are two embarrassments to our agencies where do we go from here, how do we prove ourselves again?” Prussia asks.
“By finding a case like the ones that got us here and solving it!” Lei suggest turning back to his computer.
“Agreed,” Prussia says bringing up his own report on Trudy Garrison on the computer screen. Sergeant Prussia looks over at his new partner’s computer to see the file tile “The Thelema Lodge.” “Perhaps we need to begin with a compromise of such.” he suggests. “Something of which neither of us has a personal attachment.”
“Like this Antonia Simpatico case you suggested?” Lei says suspiciously.
“No not at all, that was just a name that I read in a file,” Prussia confesses. “We need to find a case that will make a good name for us on this job.” “I would guess that both of us could use that right now.” Both of the men sit down at their respective computers to search file after file for the perfect case to reclaim their credibility with their superiors.
Express line
somewhere between New York City and Philadelphia
It is an hour and 45 minutes train ride to Philadelphia that Diana Carter takes using the name Donna Stockton. A few months back one of Carter Industries’ corporate planner’s wife and foster son were murdered. Luke Garrison was staying in a company owned condos on the same floor that Diana lives, when he was apparently involved with the killer. She can’t understand how she missed all of the action only a few doors down from her own condo. Her memories of the few days that the murder investigation took place seem to be oddly foggy in her mind.
Reading over all the reports that the company obtained from the Police Department Diana is surprised by the redactions. She thought only high up government agencies did the black out thing. The surviving main investigator on the case was Detective Prussia. Diana wonders if there is any chance she could get him to fill in some of the blanks in the file as she puts it back into her briefcase.
Then Diana spots the New York Post in the back of the seat in front of her, most likely left by a previous passenger. She reluctantly pulls it from the pouch to look at the headline, “Hero At Large.” What a Showboat she thinks. Hopefully she never crosses that guy’s path while in the city. She flips to the interview to look at the photos Tracey was talking about. There are five photos. The largest is of Master Warrior standing in a broken window of a shop as he returns to battle his cape billowing behind him. The next is of him defending himself against the attack of the Cyclops on Market Street. Then a view of him lifting a car over his head as he saves the people inside after a crash into the river. There are two others that are more gratuitous, one of them being the shot that Tracey was commenting on as he jumped up into the sky. The last one was taken candidly at the newspaper office of his becio as he opens the door.
I have to admit, the guy does have a nice body, she thinks silently eyeing the photos. If only he wasn’t such a chauvinist. Mister big strong man, Mister I’ll protect you fair maiden. She begrudgingly begins to begins to read the article. Oh he is so righteous, isn’t he? she thinks. I just want to help people, what a joke! Help himself to being a celebrity! If he wanted to truly help people he would do it without being so flamboyant. The advantage of surprise has worked rather well for her since she returned home, why would she make her powers known to the public?”
Then Master Warrior warns of a bigger unknown threat and Diana pauses in her silent ridicule of the man. What if she is being selfish? Using her powers to fight her own war on her father’s past. She has encountered other threats along the way too, that were not of his making. What if Wonderman is right? She looks down the front of her blouse at the red leotard underneath. What if some strange destiny is calling her? For her to be wearing this outfit today of all days. If she were to heed this Showboat’s call to arms how would she go about doing it? Then she giggles to herself, Detective Prussia would love that, her infringing on his turf.
For right now she will just concentrate on Joseph Cayne of Open World Logistics, Philadelphia. Open World is a nationwide company that specializes in international imports and exports. Cayne is the head of the Philadelphia office and the only person in the company she can find in her father’s files. He appears to be smuggling something into the country, she doesn’t know what but Diana is sure it is illegal. It is clear thought that her father had involved Carter Industries in this smuggling ring somehow and she now needs to sever that connection.
New York City Hall
City Hall Park
New York City, NY
“I think I have found our case,” Special Agent Lei says turning to Sgt. Prussia. “It is one that was covered up by both of our departments about eleven years ago.”
“What is it?” Prussia asks standing up behind Lei’s chair.
“A car accident that killed a Doctor Abraham Woodlawn,” Lei answers. “His body was held at the morgue for several days for an autopsy.” “Then on the day the autopsy was to be performed the body was transferred to an NYPD safe house.”
“The only way that makes sense is if Woodlawn’s body was no longer dead,” Sgt. Prussia adds. “A case similar to that is what got me here.” “I hate to say it out loud, but I’ve recently learned that people do come back from the dead.” “What happened next?”
Lei reads ahead in the file before saying, “Says the FBI was called but when agents arrived there was not Abe Woodlawn at the safe house.” “End of report.”
Prussia returns to his NYPD computer to say, “Let’s see what I have.” Searching the name Abraham Woodlawn, Prussia quickly finds the files with all of the previous restrictions lifted. “Let’s see, it says everything you had, plus a report from the coroner.” Clicking the mouse on the file the report of Dr. Edward Newman is brought up onto the screen. “Newman’s report tells more of the story.” “He reported that when he removed the body from the cooler there were no signs of the injuries or the abrasions reported in the initial examination.” “Furthermore when he cut into the man’s chest with a scalpel the body suddenly took a deep breath and regained full consciousness.”
“How is that possible?” Agent Lei demands. “Some kind of magic trick?”
“Newman diagnosed it as Lazarus Syndrome, a rare condition that causes a person’s heartbeat and respiration to go so low it is undetectable,” Sgt. Prussia explains. “But he could not explain how Woodlawn healed completely during the three days in a storage locker.” “By the time the police arrived the cut on Woodlawn’s chest had healed as well.” “It doesn’t say who ordered it but someone had the guy moved to a safe house and not a hospital.” “Family was never notified.”
“What about after the safe house?” Lei asks leaning in to get a closer look at the screen.
“There is nothing, it is like he just disappeared,” Prussia replies. “I would assume that whoever was in charge of this case has no idea what happened to Woodlawn, that is why we have access to it.” “The difference between this case and Trudy Garrison is that there were witnesses to his resurrection.”
“Then I guess we just start with the Coroner, can you find him?” Lei asks.
“Already have,” Prussia replies. “Looks like they pushed him out, didn’t want his credibility to compromise any future investigations, no doubt.” “According to this they gave him a real gravy deal to keep quiet.”
Agent Lei moves his chair over behind Prussia to see the screen. “Wow do all retiring Coroners in New York get a deal like that?” he asks.
“None that I’ve ever heard of,” Prussia confirms. “Even strange is that it is in this file.” “It is clearly a pay off why would they even let us know about it?”
“So we could work around it, I would guess,” Agent Lei says. “Look at what it says down the bottom about the gag order.” “The recipient shall talk not no police or local officials about the case of Abraham Woodlawn under any circumstances.”
“So?” Sgt, Prussia replies.
Special Agent Lei holds out his shiny new badge. “Doesn’t say anything about the FBI!” Lei grins. “Feds have more authority in this case.”
Ritz Autopark
114 S Front St
Philadelphia, PA
Diana has spent the past week trying to get an appointment with Mr. Cayne having no luck. She then managed to make contact with a Tom Vizard. Tom Vizard was one of the names in the files making him an associate of Mr. Cayne. It was probably not wise to arrange to meet Vizard at this parking garage but she was really left no choice. Diana takes the elevator to the top level of the parking garage.
The rooftop level is surprisingly empty for a week day Diana thinks as she exits the elevator. It is a clear day with few clouds in the sky and the sun is brightly shining as she walks out into the center of the parking lot. As she walks Diana takes notice of the unusually large amount of skid marks on a pavement for a parking garage. Stopping near the center of the roof as she was instructed Diana check her watch wondering if she is early or late. Then a car pulls up the ramp at the far side of the roof level. It is a late model Buick, looks like something out of a Charlie’s Angels episode. It parks at the far end of the lot and a man steps out of the passenger side. As he walks toward Diana she can see that he is dressed in tweed pants and a leather jacket, a rather odd combination in her mind. He is tall and broad shouldered and much more handsome than she expected from their conversation on the phone.
“Donna Stockton?” he questions when he stops a few feet away from where she stands.
“Yes, that is me, are you Tom Vizard?” Diana asks accepting the false name she gave him as her own.
“I am,” the man glared at her with a stone face on his chiseled features. “What is it you want with Mr. Cayne again?”
“I need to talk with him about a pressing problem with his associates in New York,” Diana tells the handsome man with the serious business face.
“Why would they send you, all alone?” Vizard asks with a raised eyebrow.
Diana has already prepared an answer for that question, “Because I’m non-threatening when it comes to matters like these.”
“You are that,” the man replies almost smiling as he eyes her chest.
“So are you going to tell me how to contact Mr. Cayne or has this been a waste of my time?” Diana asks trying to maintain her non-threatening posture. “My superiors really need to contact him, said I should tell him, It is harvest time.” The phrase is a password that she found in the file that her father had on Cayne, she hopes it will be enough to get her in.
“Harvest time it is,” Vizard repeats as she takes a business card from inside his leather jacket. He hands it to Diana, printed on it is a business name and an address;
Open World Logistics
123 S Front St
Philadelphia, PA.
“He will be there at 1 pm for a cocktail party with other clients.” “This card is all you will need to get in.” Tom Vizard then gesture to his driver who brings the car across the lot to pick him up. Vizard gets in the car that quickly pulls away leaving a new set of skid marks on the roof.
Diana began to walk back to the elevator not at all feeling comfortable at how this meeting is ending. She can hear the car skidding around the roof behind her again. Then the old Buick slides to a stop in front of her, blocking her path to the elevator. She stands there staring into the dark tinted windows of the car unable to see the occupants. Diana would like nothing better than to show off and flip the car onto its side but she has to stop taking so many risks. Instead she decides to turn and run the other direction toward the ramp. Diana knows it is a foolish attempt at escape but it is what they would expect of a helpless woman.
As Master Warrior flies through Center City Philadelphia he spots a red-headed woman on the roof of the Ritz Autopark parking garage. Even from the distance he is at Master Warrior can recognize that the woman is running across the parking lot roof. She is threatened by a car that approaches her at a high speed. As he draws closer he watches as the woman finds herself trapped as she backs up to the edge of the roof. Then she simply falls over the side out of his line of sight. Master Warrior turns up his speed to swoop down extending his arsenal in the shape of a sword to slash the car’s left side tires, sending it into a spin that rips the tires from rims bringing it to a grinding stop on the rooftop as the metal rims dig into the blacktop. Without missing a beat Master Warrior sails over the side of the building to rescue the woman.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the building the moment Diana goes over the side of the building she reaches to the invisible necklace around her neck. Her face becomes obscured by its magic as vanishes mid-air.
Zooming down the far side of the building Master Warrior is shocked to find no sign of any woman. Touching down on the pavement at the entrance to the garage he goes to a police car parked at the curb to knock on the window. “I’m going to need your help on the roof of this garage,” he tells the officer sitting in the car before leaping back toward the rooftop.
Master Warrior is again surprised when he finds the door of the car ripped from its hinges. Flying to the other side of the car, he finds the red-headed woman back on the roof tying up the unconscious men from the car with the torn out seatbelts. She turns to see him touch down on the pavement. “Not every damsel in distress needs your help, Showboat!” the young woman shouts at Master Warrior.
Completely confused by the events that have just taken place, Master Warrior is glad to see the police arrive on the scene in their car. “Just trying to do what I can ma’am,” Master Warrior tells the red-head. “How is it you survived the fall from the roof?” “And the door?”
“Let me tell you something Wonderman, we don’t all need a cape and newspaper articles written about us to do what needs to be done!” Diana replies to Master Warrior as he spots the gold and ruby necklace around her throat.
Master Warrior stands dumbfounded for a moment only one other person in the world who knew him by the name Wonderman and that was, “Spirit?” She does not reply as she simply vanishes again leaving the men tied up on the roof.
“What do you have here, Master Warrior?” one of the cops said getting out of the car his gun drawn.
“The other steps around the car to look at the unconscious men on the lot roof. “Holy Shit!” the cop announces. “Do you know who this is?” “It’s Tom Vizard!” “There is an APB out on him about several murders.”
“Did you take them down by chance?” the first cop asks.
“Not me, but I have a feeling she is more like me than she would like to admit,” Master Warrior replies with a smile.
“She?” the cops say in unison.
The home of Dr. & Mrs. Edward Newman
39 Coolidge St
Larchmont, NY
Sgt. Prussia and Special Agent Lei arrive at the rather extravagant home about an hour from the city. The drive over has given them time to get more acquainted, making it easier for them to work together effectively. Turns out they have a few more things in common other than just crossing paths with the supernatural. Both of them want to be the best they can be at their jobs, but Prussia gets the feeling that Lei might have some different ideas about that than him. He is sure those differences will not be a problem with them working together.
Prussia parks the car along the curb and the men get out to walk up to the house. There is a rather expensive looking car parked in the driveway. On the ride to Larchmont the new partners have worked out a plan for the interview. Agent Lei knocks on the door before ringing the bell. A middle-aged woman peeks out through the chained door. “Can I help you? she asks.
Special Agent Lei holds up his badge, “FBI ma’am, we would like to speak with Dr. Newman.” The woman has a look of shock in her eye as she closes the door. There is silence for a few minutes as Lei moves to knock again. Before his knuckles can hit the door they hear the sounds of the chain being removed from the door and it opens.
“I knew this was coming,” the woman says as she invites the men in. “I told him he was on borrowed time.”
“And you are ma’am?” Sgt. Prussia asks as they follow the woman into the house.
“Evelyn Newman, the doctor’s wife,” she replies. “The old fool is in the back.” Mrs. Newman leads the officers into a back room that is set up as a screen room of sorts with a large projection television and several large lazy boy recliners. The bald head of the doctor shows over the top of one of the chairs. “Ed the FBI is here for you,” the woman says as she stepped back out of the room between the officers. “I’m just going to go and start packing.”
“There is no need for that Mrs. Newman,” Prussia says as the woman walks away. Dr. Newman has a much more startled reaction as she jumps up from his chair turning to face the men in the doorway. The sound on the television is loud as he stands in front of it wearing only a robe and boxer shorts, a cocktail in his hand.
“Honestly I paid all the taxes on that money, even more than I owed to be safe!” Dr. Newman shouts over the TV.
“It is not like that sir,” Agent Lei says showing the man his badge. “Could you turn the TV off, please.” Newman reaches back to the chair to get the remote as both men clutch their guns. “Slowly please.” Dr. Newman trembles slightly as he lifts his hand to show them the television remote control. Loud Television silenced Agent Lei tells Dr. Newman, “Could you please sit back down and closes your robe.”
Prussia and Lei walk around to face Newman sitting in the Lazy boy. “We need to talk to you about the Abraham Woodlawn, the case that landed you in this situation,” Sgt. Prussia tells the seated man.
“Like I said I paid the taxes on the money,” Dr. Newman says again gulping his drink down.
“The FBI is not a collection agency, sir,” Agent Lei informs the man.
“It was you guys who paid me to keep my mouth shut,” Dr. Newman replies. “Got the biggest check I had ever seen from the Federal Reserve about a week after I bought this place with my early retirement money.”
“You got a check from the Federal Reserve and not the state of New York?” Sgt. Prussia clarifies.
“Got one from both,” Dr. Newman tells the men. “I knew I wasn’t to talk to anyone about it so I went to Woodlawn’s funeral to ask his wife if she knew anything.” “Turns out she got a big check from the Navy too.” “Didn’t even know her husband was still insured by them.” “Don’t know what she is going to do now that he is back.”
“He is back?” Agent Lei repeats. “You said you went to his funeral, did they bury an empty coffin?”
“No, your guys supplied a body too, all burnt up to look like a bad car accident,” Dr. Newman tells them in confusion. “Shouldn’t you guys already know all of this?” “I don’t think Woodlawn was ever really dead.” “Felt bad for the wife and son though, but I knew that if I said anything you guys would come after me.” “I swear I never told anyone he was alive!”
“How do you know that he is back then?” Prussia questions.
“I have little else to do with my life, I sometimes look in on the Woodlawn’s,” Dr Newman confesses. “That boy is all grown up now, married probably ready to start a family of his own.” “Be ashamed if the Feds screwed it up for him.”
“That is not our intent, Dr. Newman,” Agent Lei says. “We just want to know where Abe Woodlawn has been for ten years.” “How he got out of that safe house before the FBI showed up.”
“I guess you would have to ask him about that,” Newman suggests. “He runs a Veteran’s clinic in the city.” “I’ve been there a few times, he has no idea who I am, doesn’t even remember waking up on my autopsy table.” “Hudson Veterans Clinic on Hudson St, its a nice place he’s got his son working there too.”
Open World Logistics
123 S Front St
Philadelphia, PA
Diana got all the information she needed from Vizard on the roof. To her surprise it was correct. She can only guess that Vizard thought she would be dead and not able to use this business card to gain access to this unusual mid-afternoon cocktail party. Writing Donna Stockton on a name tag sticker she places it under the collar on her blouse. The room is crowded with people making it impossible to take any action toward Joseph Cayne. She has only ever seen one photo of the man and finding him in this crowd is not going to be easy.
The people in the room are a mix of culture and importance from across the city something Diana would know if she was local, but to her it is just a group of well dressed business men and women. She is offered a glass of champagne by a server, she takes it figuring it will help her fit in, if nothing else. It tastes good but Diana knows the alcohol content will have no effect on her body or mind.
Diana’s presence at the cocktail party does not go unnoticed, at least by one man. He smiles at her from across the room with straight white teeth. She returns the smile hoping that someone here can help her find the man for whom she is looking. The tall thin man with the smile and dark brown hair styled neatly in a quaff excuses himself from the group he chats with to walk toward Diana. He carries a highball glass in his hand, he is obviously not the champagne drinking type. His suit is perfectly tailored to fit his body, making it clear he had not one ounce of body fat. The top few buttons of his shirt open to reveal a sprig of fine dark hairs on his chest. His face has a dark shadow of stubble even at this hour.
“Donna Stockton,” he reads from her tag. “I don’t believe I’ve seen you at one of these little swara before,” he says smiling again with his perfect teeth.
“No, it is my first time, invited by a friend, Joseph Cayne,” Diana replies eyeing the man’s name tag. “Mr. DeScalo, so nice to meet you,” she says reaching out her hand to shake his free hand.
“Please call me Marko, the pleasure is all mine,” Atlas Marko DeScalo, younger brother of local crime boss Nicholas DeScalo replies, moving closer to Diana his hand going around her shoulders. “I will say one thing for Cayne he does have a wonderful taste in friends.” “I see you carry a bag, what is your specialty?”
Diana can clearly tell that DeScalo’s gaze is not to her briefcase, it is down her blouse. She wishes she had time to stop and buy a bra so she could have taken off this silly workout suit. But with all that happened this morning she didn’t have the time. She doesn’t have to try very hard to realize what “Marko” thinks is her profession. “Crisis management,” Diana replies losing her smile thinking maybe it is good she doesn’t only have a bra under her shirt.
“Perhaps you’d like to come by my place after this to help me with a Crisis,” Marko grins as he leans in to sniff her neck.
Diana can smell the scotch on his breathe. His lips are only inches away from kissing her neck as she pulls away from the groping man. She would like nothing more than to zap this pervert unconscious to the floor but she resists the urge. Instead she plays along. “I could do that, there is nothing I enjoy more than thoroughly handling a big hairy Crisis before dinner.”
“Oh yes, now you are speaking my language,” the youngest DeScalo purred. “I promise you, I do have a big hairy Crisis for you to handle in every way.”
“That sounds great but I must find Mr. Cayne first,” Diana said forcing a smile on her face again.
“He’s over there by the balcony,” DeScalo motioned taking back the last of the scotch in his glass. “Now let’s say we find some place more private for you to handle the Crisis in my pants.” DeScalo takes Diana by the arm leading her out of the room. She doesn’t resist him knowing it is best if she gets him out of the way first. He brings her to an executive washroom down the hall from the cocktail party. Following him inside Diana stops to deadbolt lock the door, breaking off the knob in her fingers.
When Diana turns back to Marko, she finds the man has unbuttoned his shirt and dropped his pants to the floor. Diana has to admit, “You kept your promise that is one big hairy Crisis!”
Marko sits on the edge of the sink counter grinning his erection arching to the left. “I think it is time you had a closer look,” he says slurring slightly.
“My thoughts exactly,” Diana says focusing invisible beams of Bio-energy from her eyes to strike him in the chest. The horney man instantly tumbles forward to the floor unconscious. Diana walks over to where the man lays on the floor to make sure she has only knocked him unconscious. Rolling him over she considers redressing him, but seeing that her Bio-energy many have calmed his advances, it has done nothing to calm his erection. Letting him lay on the floor she turns to walk through the closed door. She figure between the booze, the zap and the broken locked door he will not be bothering her again today.
Returning to the cocktail party Diana spots someone else in the room that has a familiar face. Still taking her night school law classes she has become familiar with local legal cases. The Former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Anthony Stanley is sipping champagne as if he hasn’t a care in the world. From what she can remember Stanley was charged with corruption and murder in the first degree. It was one of the speediest trials in the city’s history only finishing up a month or so ago. He was found innocent by reason of insanity, sentenced to a mental institution. There is no way he should be out yet or here with what she can only assume are less than reputable people.
Diana takes another glass of champagne from a tray trying to blend in as she looks to find Cayne again. She strolls over by former Commissioner Stanley hoping to hear something that might explain his presence here.
“You got lucky Ant,” the other man tells Stanley. “DeScalo managed to get you off the hook this time, but if he’s anything like his old man there will not be a second time.”
“Don’t I know it, I covered up enough of Giorgio’s dirt when I was in office,” Stanley replies.
That jerk she just zapped in the bathroom is some kind of mob boss or something? Diana thinks in disbelief.
“I’m just glad that Nicholas knows I was telling the truth about that weird cop.” “Without that he wouldn’t have taken me under his protection.”
“What does Nicholas have you handling for him?” the man asks.
“He’s got me watching his idiot brother Marko,” Stanley Answers.
“Oh, where is Marko now?” the man questions.
“Dope has been going on all week about how Cayne always has the best whores at his parties,” Stanley explains. “He’s probably off getting some pussy somewhere.” “I figure let him have his fun here, because if he gets another bitch out of some bar charging him with assault it will be my head on the block.”
Diana has heard enough of the men’s conversation to know she doesn’t want to hear anymore. She makes her way through the crowd trying not to make eye contact with anyone. She has been mistaken for a whore once today to let it happen again would be on her mind forever. She at last spots Cayne again by the bar. “Excuse me Mr. Cayne, I need to speak with you,” Diana says approaching the bar where Joseph Cayne stands.
“Yes, what is it my dear,” Cayne says in a condescending tone.
“My name is Donna Stockton, from Carter Industries in New York, I’ve been trying to get a meeting with you for a week,” she tells him.
“Oh yes, Miss Stockton, my secretary had mentioned your name,” Cayne replies an odd look in his eyes. “I really can’t discuss that business arrangement here.” “Perhaps we could meet later, say at my private office at the Navy Yard?”
“Let me be clear Mr. Cayne, I am here to discuss serious business about your arrangement with William Carter and the future of that business, no funny business,” Diana says firmly. “I have brought all of the paperwork with me and if you snub me again I will have no choice but to deal with these matters without your consent!”
Joseph Cayne gets a much different look on his face now, one bordering on anger that he keeps hidden behind a forced smile. “Believe me when I tell you Miss Stockton I take my association with Carter Industries very seriously.” “What say you meet me at this address at 7pm,” he says handing Diana another business card. “I would appreciate you leaving now at once this party is for an exclusive clientele.”
“Not a problem, I’ve never been happy being treated like a whore,” Diana comments as she sits down her empty champagne glass on the bar to leave. “I suggest you not be late, 7pm sharp!”
Hudson Veterans Clinic
28 Hudson St
New York, NY
On the drive back to the city Sgt. Prussia and Special Agent Lei decide that Prussia will take the lead on the next interview. It might be better if Woodlawn not know that the FBI is involved in this case with all of the strange things going on with the Federal Reserve payoffs. Both agree that this all sounds like some kind of military cover up. That would explain why neither of their computer files have a record of what happened with Woodlawn. Plus the fact that the money paid out to the widow came from the Navy.
The Clinic isn’t hard to find, it is parking that they have trouble with finding. The new partners have a several city blocks walk back to the clinic when they finally find a place to park. “So, you married? Lei asks. Nathan Prussia is rather surprised by the question and it shows on his face. “I just thought I’d ask, you know it is possible that Woodlawn did what he did to protect his family.”
“I thought the same thing, but I would appear he found a way to get back to them somehow,” Sgt. Prussia replies. “And no, I’m not married, got a girl though that isn’t sure she can commit to a man so wrapped up in his job.” “Especially a cop, it’s good that I haven’t even told her about my set back, now that things are changing again.” “What about you?”
“Divorced,” Agent Lei answers. “We got married right out of High School, everything was going fine when I went through the Police Academy.” “She even supported me when I joined the FBI, but after the first time I got shot, she told me it was more than she could handle, emotionally.” “Been divorced for four years now, probably for the best.”
The officers arrive at the Clinic, it looks like most other Veteran’s clinics, rather bare bones. Still being new at only nineteen months old it is cleaner than most. A young woman sits behind a glass enclosure, it is clear to the agents that she is former military by the scars on her arms. Prussia knocks on the glass to draw her attention.
“Yes, may I help you,” the woman with the name tag that read “June” on it asks.
Holding up his new Sgt.’s badge for the first time Prussia speaks in a firm tone, “We would like to speak with Dr. Woodlawn.”
“What is this about Sgt.” the girl says clearly recognizing his new rank. “He is with a patient right now.”
“It is a personal matter that we would prefer to discuss with him alone,” Prussia says looking past her to a young man in his twenties seated at a desk who looks around to the lobby.
Getting up from the desk the young man walks over behind the receptionist. “It will be fine June, let me show them to an exam room they can be next.” The receptionist is clearly not happy with the young man stepping on her toes. “Right this way officers,” Fox says letting the policemen in through the locked door. He leads them to the end of the hall to the last exam room on the right. Once inside he tells them, “Dr. Woodlawn is my father.” “Or at least that is what he has been telling me for the last year.” “Is there something I should know?”
“What do you mean Mr. Woodlawn?” Sgt. Prussia asks.
Fox still isn’t sure what has been going on at the Clinic or what he should say to these cops. “I was only ten when my father disappeared, we thought he was dead all this time.” “I think he is different now somehow.” “Maybe it is all the time that has passed or just some deep seated anger I harbor.”
“How is he different?” Agent Lei asks.
“He is more secretive, always looking over his shoulder like someone is watching him,” Fox explains. “The father I remember was full of joy, again perhaps it is just the time that has passed.”
“Mr. Woodlawn, Francis is it?” Sgt. Prussia addresses the young man putting his hand on his shoulder. “I’m sure it is just that your father has seen things in the service of this country that we just can’t understand.” “He spend his missing time over seas didn’t he?”
“I guess you could be right, does it have anything to do that time that you are here to talk to him about,” Fox says. “He isn’t very forthcoming about that, my Mom can’t even get him to talk about it.”
“I’m sorry I am not at liberty to say,” Sgt. Prussia tells the young man as his father enters the room.
“Francis, thank you for bringing these officers in, could you excuse us please,” Dr. Woodlawn tells his son.
“Of course,” Fox says leaving the small exam room without argument.
“Officers, I believe you wanted to speak with me, not my son,” Dr. Woodlawn states emotionlessly.
“That is true,” Sgt. Prussia says as he begins with his questions. “We would like to know more about your rather amazing resurrection.”
“Nothing amazing about it, I took a few years to work with the Navy on something that I am sure neither of you have clearance to know about,” Dr. Woodlawn says firmly. “I hated every moment I was away from my family but I had no choice, when your country calls you answer.”
“We have reason to believe there was more to it than that,” Agent Lei tells the doctor.
“One thing I can tell you is I would never put my family at risk and I would hope that as officers of the law, you would do the same,” Dr. Woodlawn says in a very serious tone. The Detective and the FBI Agent look at each other, taking the same clues from the Former Navy Seal’s sentence.
“Well then I guess we have no further questions for you,” Sgt. Prussia says reaching out to shake the doctor’s hand to slip him one of his business cards. The two officers then simply exit the Clinic to head back down the street to their car.
“So what do you think?” Sgt. Prussia asks his new partner as they make the three block walk.
“I think the same thing as you do, he is being watched and his family is the leverage to whoever is watching him,” Special Agent Lei answers. “Most likely a military operation, something we need to find some records on.”
“That is why we need to proceed with extreme caution if this is going to be our perfectly solved case,” Prussia affirms. “The card I gave him had an address and time written on the back, we’ll see if he shows.”
Philadelphia Navy Yard
4701 Intrepid Ave
Philadelphia, PA
It is 6:30pm and Diana arrives at the location Cayne gave her at the cocktail party. It is no office building, it is a warehouse, a big difference from the Open World Logistics offices up town. She wishes she had brought Archie along rather than renting the car she now sits in. But of late she feels as if she has been putting Archie at risk too much. It is best if she handles this alone, there is no telling what Cayne has planned.
Diana decides to park her rental several blocks away in what appears to be a much more safe neighborhood. She tries to look nonchalant as she walks back to the warehouse feeling as if she really doesn’t fit in to this area of town. It makes her think back to her days of running around the city with her girls. Gina can’t help but come to mind again after all these years.
Diana clears her head as she approaches the open front door of the “OWL” warehouse. Taking a deep breathe she checks her watch before stepping inside. The inside of the warehouse is as rundown as the outside, it appears to have not been used in years. Most of the crates inside look as if they have not been moved in that time. “Hello, Mr. Cayne?” she calls out fairly sure this is a trap of some kind. It wouldn’t be the first time one of her “father’s associates” tried to kill her rather than deal with her. That is why she has taken to using false names to approach them.
“Have you brought all of the paperwork?” Joseph Cayne’s voice asks still unseen by Diana.
“Yes, right here in my briefcase,” Diana calls out to the empty warehouse. “I am here to mutually end all of your dealings with Carter Industries, we will no longer be handling you interests.”
“I figured as much with the death of William Carter but my dealings really weren’t with him, where they?” Cayne says stepping out from behind a tall pile of crates. Cayne wears the same suit he had on at the office party but something is different about him now. He has a strange glow in his eyes as he moves in the shadows cast by the crates. “I think I hold all of the cards now not Carter Industries.” “Or the General.” Diana can see that Cayne is no longer looking at her but at her briefcase. She can feel a slight vibration begin in her briefcase’s handle that moves up her arm.
Then suddenly the case explodes sending burning chunks in every direction. Startled by the event Diana quickly moves to extinguish the fire that burns on her pant leg. For anyone else this explosion might have been near deadly. But from the moment Diana deduced this was a trap she tripled her body’s density. The explosion and flames have done nothing other than burn her clothing. Once the flames are out she is surprised to see that the red leggings under her pants remains unharmed. “What the hell was that?” she shouts looking back at Cayne who is as surprised as Diana. “I loved that case!”
“What the hell indeed?” Cayne replies. “That was a big enough blast to take off your arm with that briefcase!” “There is no way you should still be standing!” “It would appear that Carter had more Zeni-humans working for him than just me!” “It makes little difference to me. Cayne glares at the crates stacked on either side of the isle that Diana stands in and the old wood storage crates explore sending fiery debris in all directions.
As Diana’s near invulnerable body is assaulted the burning wood from all sides she reaches for the invisible necklace around her throat. Cayne may think she is Donna Stockton but if anyone else should arrive they do not need to see her face. There are more explosions as Diana begins to walk forward down the aisle. All around her the hot air burns like a fireball until she reaches the end of the isle. The fire burns away the band in her flame resistant hair to let the braid in her hair fall out. She shakes out her hair as the fire burns away the artificial color in it. Soon all of her outer clothing is burnt away. She is more than annoyed as she looks to her wrist to see the watch her Uncle Zac bought for her birthday melt into liquid in the extreme heat of the fire. She is left wearing only the skin tight red workout suit. Diana can only assume that the tightness of the suit has allowed it to mimic her powers.
As Diana steps from the flames to reveal her new look Cayne stares in shock, “You!” he mutters as if he is recognizing a long lost enemy. “It was you who took everything from me!” he shouts his eyes glowing brighter.
“I have never met you before today in my life, I have taken nothing from you!” Diana shouts as her opponents fury grows. Diana stands in amazement as the man’s eyes grow even brighter until flames emerge from his eye sockets to obscure most of his face. She has never seen anything like this and it frightens her. Diana has no idea how much more of his firepower she can take, it is better if she takes no more of it.
“I will destroy you completely this time, Miracle Maiden!” Cayne shouts as his head becomes obscured by the flames of his rage. Diana watches as Joseph Cayne literally explodes sending fiery destruction through most of the warehouse.
Diana on the other hand is completely unharmed by the explosion in her non-corporeal form. She can not feel the heat but in with her body’s density this low she is so light that the waves of heat begins to carry her upward away from the fire. Soon she his floating above the flames as they lick at her untouchable bare feet. Diana has never experienced this phenomena before and isn’t quite sure what to do about it. She can hear the sirens of the approaching fire, rescue trucks, letting he know she has to go. Diana is unable to teleport at such a low density.
Although Diana can not feel the temperature of the waves of heat from the fire, she can feel its movement. Perhaps if she, yes it is working as she leans into a downdraft Diana manages to begins to move away from the focus of the fire under her. Almost gliding on a wave of cooling air she rides it back toward the ground. She increases her descent as she returns her body to normal.
The explosion and fire have drawn more than just the attention of the Fire Rescue teams. Another man flies across the city sky in the early evening, Master Warrior arrives as Diana stands watching the flames consume the warehouse. His sharp eyes have been on her from the time she floated up out of the flames. He comes to a much more solid landing than she did on the pavement next to her. “It is a miracle that you survived that blast,” Master Warrior says to Diana having no idea who she really is.
“Not every maiden is a maiden in distress for you to save!” she assures him.
Master Warrior simply smiles, in his mind he feels a sense of pleasure. Perhaps his interview with the Bulletin did do some good if it brought Spirit out of hiding. “So then, can I expect to be seeing you at more of these catastrophes?” he asks.
“Believe me when I say this is strict a visit to Philly not a move,” Diana tells him. “I have no intention of following in your footsteps!”
“That outfit says differently,” Master Warrior comments. “I like it much better than the pink and purple one.” “You did a good thing this morning, those guys you caught were wanted for questioning on several professional murder for hire cases.” “Looks like they could both go down for some of them.”
“Don’t even think I’m hanging around to testify!” Diana informs him.
“That’s fine the courts still don’t take us too seriously,” Master Warrior explains.
The arguing couple both hear the sound of a camera shutter not far away. Turning they spot a man taking photos of them. “Great!” Diana announces, “Now look what you have done!” “Do you pay them to follow you around?” Then she is gone vanished from the scene.
The reporter rushes over to where Master Warrior is standing. “Master Warrior who was that woman?”
“Wish I knew,” Master Warrior says taking a few steps to leap into the air.
Hudson Veterans Clinic
28 Hudson St
New York, NY
7pm and Dr. Woodlawn returns to his office after seeing the last of his patients for the day. Opening the door, he finds his son, Francis seated at his desk with not too happy of a look on his face. “Oh, I thought you headed home already,” Dr. Woodlawn says to his son. “Did you want to grab some dinner I’m sure your Mom would love to see you.”
“Why were the police here today?” Fox Woodlawn asks point blank. Dr. Woodlawn reaction is not a good one as far as Fox is concerned. “Was that too hard of a question for you, don’t you have a lie prepared for me?” It is clear to the father that his son is angry something he has not known Francis to do often. “Are you even my real father?” the young man accuses.
“Francis how could you say that, of course I’m your father,” Dr. Woodlawn finally replies.
“I was only ten when ‘you died’ it has been over that long since I last saw my father,” Fox says his angled features somehow sharper. “Sure you are older and you do resemble the man I remember but that doesn’t mean you are him!” His anger burning through all of the fear he had about this man for the past few months as he stood up to leave.
“Francis, you calm down right this minute!” the father demands his own temper showing. Fox stops in his tracks remembering the last time he heard his father speak to him in that tone. “Do you remember when you were nine and I was late for your Birthday party?” The son does not reply as he sits back down in the desk chair like a scolded child. “I brought you home that Harlem Globetrotters autographed basketball?”
Fox grins looking at the floor. “I still have it, Tracey thinks it’s foolish to keep it since I found out it was fake,” Fox reveals. “I just keep telling her, I keep it because it was the last thing my Dad gave me.”
“I always wondered what you would do if you found out that I had all of the patients at the Hospital sign it as a Globetrotter,” Dr. Woodlawn confesses. “Do you know why I did that?” The younger man in the chair looks up shaking his head silently. “I did that because I love you, Fox.” “I hoped it would make you forget what a crappy Dad I had been always working late, putting my patients lives ahead of your happiness.” “When I was forced to leave you and your mother all I could think about was that crappy gift.” “How disappointed you would be if you ever found out it was a lie.” “I swore to God that if I ever got home to you I would make up for it.” “I would spend every minute of the day I could with you, become the father you deserved.” “I only wish it could have been sooner,” the father says as a single tear rolls down his cheek. “Look at the man you have become, you don’t need a father to shoot hoops with anymore, to throw a ball in the backyard.” “I hoped that by bringing you on here at the Clinic it would help us bond again.” “Perhaps I have only screwed this up again.” Abe Woodlawn sits down in the other office chair across the deck from his son, he hangs his face down into his hand.
“Dad,” the son says softly. “That is the first time you called me Fox.” “From the time you returned you have always called me Francis.” Fox gets up from the desk chair to walk around to his father. “I’m sorry, I should have never doubted you,” he says standing in front of his seated father. “This has all been weird for me too, weirder than those years when Mom was sure you were murdered?”
Abe stands up to face his son nearly eye to eye, he has never been a physically affectionate man, but the time has come for that to change. The father embraces his son around his neck and chest to hug him tightly. “I know this can’t be easy for you or your mother,” Abe says into his son’s ear. “There is so much I just can’t tell you about what happened to me.” “I just need you to be patient while I figure it all out.” “All that matters is that I keep you, your new wife and mother safe until I can tell you everything.” “Can you give me that time?”
Abe let’s go of his big boy who is now sobbing as well. Embarrassed, Fox wipes the tears from his face saying, “I’ll try Dad, I really want to have you in my life again.” “I feel so stupid, I haven’t cried since Tracey said she would marry me.”
“You should head home to that wife of yours, don’t follow in my footsteps,” Abe Woodlawn says patting his son on the back toward the door. After his son leaves he moves to sit down behind his desk. Hang his head for a moment before looking up to the smoke detector on the ceiling. “I feel like crap talking to my son like that!” he says with regret. “I don’t know how much longer I can continue like this!” “My son is getting suspicious of me.”
I-95
Levittown, Pa
With her briefcase, ID, wallet and clothes gone Diana is forced to use the rental car to drive home. The only thoughts in her head are about what has happened on the trip. She has been thoroughly outed as a Zeni-human. Even if no one knows her real name they still know she exists. Up until now Wonderman or rather Master Warrior as he is calling himself now didn’t even know she lived on Earth. Why did she make those slips that allowed him to connect her to Spirit? Deep down did she want him to know? Why would she want that?”
Then there is what Joseph Cayne said to her about ruining his life. Could he have possibly been driven insane by his power? After all he did kill himself. What was it he called her Miracle Maiden? The name means nothing to her but it definitely meant something to Cayne. Then she gets the most random of thought, what if he was a time traveler. How ridiculous! Why would she even think something like that is possible? His power was impressive though. She can’t believe he just blew himself up!
It is late when Diana arrives home at last. She parks the rental in the building garage, she will have Jan return the car in the morning. Not wanting anyone to see her in this red and yellow outfit she teleports up to her condo. Stumbling in the dark to her bedroom Diana strips off the red suit, it may not have burned but it does smell of smoke. Diana tosses smokey jumpsuit in the clothes hamper that rests in the corner of her room. Left wearing only her panties she collapses onto her bed exhausted from her day and the drive home.
“That was a rather exciting day for you,” a voice says in the dark that she instantly recognizes, Shanna!
Diana doesn’t even react as she continues to lay on top of her bedspread in the dark room. “I was wondering when you would show up again, Shanna.” Diana comments without moving. “Are your breaking and entering talents turning into peeping as well?”
“I have brought you a gift,” the mysterious woman says as she waves her hand in the darkness. Not far away in the corner of the room a glows comes from the top of the clothes hamper casting a momentary light into the room.
“You can keep your gift, you have given me enough,” Diana replies to the offer.
“Your life is changing, Diana,” Shanna says, “You are changing.” “You can not hide who you are for much longer.” “You are becoming too comfortable using you powers to keep them hidden.”
“Why?” Diana reacts. “Because one reporter caught glimpses of me in that red suit?” “He is Philadelphia he has no idea how to find me!”
“What of Martin Harper?” Shanna quires. “He lives and works in New York.”
“He is so off base with his idea,” Diana tells her former therapist. “I had nothing to do with Scott Archer’s disappearance.”
“The world is changing right along with you Diana,” Shanna says. “You can not hide from what is coming.”
“Now you sound like that Showboat, Master Warrior!” Diana replies. “Even he doesn’t have a clue to who I really am!”
“He is not wrong about greater threats that are to come,” Shanna whispers in the darkness. “You must heed your destiny’s call.” “To resist it will not serve you or the world.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Diana asks finally sitting up trying to see Shanna in the darkness. “Why are you and Mist always talking to me about my destiny?” She is sure she can see a figure sitting at her vanity in the dark.
“That is what we trained you for and only when you accept it will you find all of the things you long for in your deepest of heart.” Shanna speaks in riddles as usual and Diana has had enough!
Diana reaches for the lamp on her night table switching it on not even caring that she is almost nude. “I’ve told you before get out of my life” she shout to the empty room that is now lit by the lamp. Flopping back down on the bed she stares to the light cast on the ceiling by the lamp. Diana remembers all of those lonely night in her room after her mother died. How she longed for so many things. She hasn’t thought about those things in years, but now Shanna’s riddles have brought them all back to her mind.