Thursday, February 4, 1988
Open World Logistics
163 Randolph St
Brooklyn, NY
Dee has arrived at her reception desk as she has for every morning for the last two weeks. It is clear to her that Antonia Simpatico is the person hiding behind the name of the OWL. She is in control of everything and everyone around this company and much more. She has not heard back from Martin Harper since she sent him to investigate something called Prometheus-55. She knows she is running out of time. Move over she misses her family and feels guilty about letting them to continue believing she is dead. On the bright side of it she has been able to staul the purchase of Carter Industries some from this side of the sale using some of the legal mumbo-jumbo she learned in Law School.
Part of her job has been to greet new arrivals to the office. This morning there is a surprising arrival that she never could have foreseen. Dr. Woodlawn walks into the lobby through the revolving door. Their eyes meet but neither reacts to the sight of each other. He approaches the desk with a half inch thick manila envelope. He smiles at Dee and she can see that he is relieved to see her although he doesn’t say it.
Behind him Dee spots a Cross-town bike messenger that is not Dell. The messenger stops to wait as Dr. Woodlawn says, “Everything I know about that thing is in here.” He passes Dee the envelope. “Please be careful,” he advises without another word before turning to leave. If it was anyone else she would be afraid he would tell her family that she is still alive. But she is aware that Dr. Woodlawn knows the importance of keeping secrets from your family.
Then the new messenger stepped up closer to the desk and Dee can’t help to notice how much more attractive he is then the usual one. His waxy brown hair isn’t the least bit sweaty or greasy. He reaches out the tube he carries to give it to her. He greets Dee with a smile and she can not help but to return the smile. Dee then asks about the overbearing regular messenger hoping that this guy is a permanent replacement. “What happened to Dell?” Dee asks, eyeing the much better built messenger. She tries not to stare but she can see that he has not even broken a sweat riding on his bike.
“He took some time off,” Steve replies. Dee takes the tube from the messenger, dreading the thought of what might be inside it. Still smiling Dee almost forgets about the outgoing parcel.
“Oh, wait!” she exclaims reaching down under the desk she retrieves a parcel to hand it to him. “Here’s one for you, have a nice day,” Dee smiles again at him. As he leaves she can hear Tracey’s voice in her head commenting on his butt in those tight bike pants. He is a great improvement over that slob Dell, she thinks.
After the new bike messenger is gone Dee’s thoughts turn back to reading everything in the file that Dr. Woodlawn brought to her. But she knows doing that here would not be a smart move. It is best that she get out of the building for lunch to read it. Getting away from Mary and Sue will be a welcome change. She managed to get out of going out with them last Friday night because Mary had an emergency at home, but she gets the feeling she will not be so lucky tomorrow night.
Open World Logistics
700 West End Ave
New York City, NY
Later that night Dark Miracle Maiden has another outing. From what Dee learned about Prometheus-55 in the report that Dr. Woodlawn passed to her this morning Prometheus-55 is a radiation compound that if used in small doses it has the ability to unlock and trigger Zeni-human powers. In large doses it caused horrific mutations. Smuggling such a thing into the city would be next to impossible, even for Open World. What little she has learned about this company in the past weeks it would seem that it is being produced right here in the city.
Her first visit to this location with Archie didn’t go too well. Now that she is alone and dressed in her black Miracle Maiden suit she will be ready for anything. It only makes sense that Promeutheus-55 would be produced in this building, it would explain the high security. Phasing through a back wall the dark room she has entered is lit only by emergency lighting. She has an idea where to start to search but she does know that once she steps into the hallway she will be spotted by security. With all of the things she can do, turning invisible is not one of them. But sneaking around is, she thinks. Peeking out the door she spies the elevator at the end of the corridor. Closing the door she stands facing it and concentration on the elevator.
It takes only a second for Miracle Maiden to move through the space toward the elevator. Over jumping her destination she finds herself inside the elevator shaft where she begins to fall. In the dim light she can’t tell how far down the fall as she increases her density to lunge for the wall. She manages to grab the rung of an escape ladder on the side of the shaft. She pulls herself up onto the rungs. Looking back down the shaft she thinks, if she came in on the first floor, this building appears a lot deeper than it should be. Oh, why does it always have to be underground? she thinks. No! she thinks as she begins to climb up the ladder. Miracle Maiden refuses to go down the same path she did with Robe Rtea. Clearly those men were protecting something above the first floor the last time.
She has climbed for several floors when she hears the sounds of the elevator moving in the shaft. It moves closer to her from above. There is nowhere for her to go, only into the cabin. Phasing through the floor of the elevator she emerges into the center of a group of mind controlled, armed mercenaries like she met on her last visit. “What’s happening guys?” she asks, getting only angry stares.
Wasting no more time she throws a right cross at full density at the man in front of her on the left. He is sent back against the wall as she brings her left elbow back to impact the man behind her on the left. Then swinging with her left she hits the man that moves in front of her in the throat to bring him down. But in the cramped space of the elevator she is just not fast enough as the fourth man behind her on the right attacks. Almost instantly she finds her cheek pressed against the left wall of the elevator. One of the other men moves to hold the barrel of his gun to her head.
The elevator comes to a stop at the press of a button as she is held to the wall. She can hear the click of the turn of a key and another button being pushed and the elevator begins to move up. Miracle Maiden knows now that they recognize her from her last visit. They are taking her somewhere, to meet the Owl at last perhaps. The man holding her head moves to put her in a choke hold from behind as the man with the gun adjusts his barrel to keep it on her head. Each of the other two men take one of her arms to secure her standing up to face the door as they ride upward. If not for her powers she is sure she would not have stayed in this good of condition against the brutality of these men. Miracle Maiden remains patient through the short elevator ride until the doors open.
Once the doors open and she sees a secure medical lab door she knows she was right to go up and not down. “Thank you gentleman, this is my floor,” she says, sending a bio-energy charge through all three men that hold her body, knocking them unconscious to the floor. Grabbing the barrel of the gun she yanks it from the fourth man’s hands to hit him across the side of the head with the stock to join the others unconscious on the floor of the elevator. Stepping out of the elevator she pulls the outer doors closed twisting the metal with her bare hands.
She turns her attention back to the medical lab locked away behind white steel doors. An electronic keypad is mounted on the wall next to the door. Looking in through the window on the door the lab appears empty at this time of night. There is no telling what kind of other security might be protecting the lab. Even in her intangible state she can still be affected by a strong electrical charge. If this door is electrified she should be knocked unconscious passing through it. That would not be good!
Ripping the keypad from the wall might not open the door or worse set off an alarm that would draw more of those goons. Perhaps a more subtle approach. Hmmm, Bio-energy is still a form of electricity, perhaps a small blast might work some magic here? Miracle Maiden concentrates her eyes on the keypad to focus a small burst of bio-energy on it. Her eye blasts do react with the electronic keypad but not in the way she hoped. Sparks shoot from the device and flames begin to crawl up the wall behind it. The fire spreads fast, setting off the alarm.
What is this place made of that it burns this fast? she thinks. This is not what she had in mind when she broke in here. This was meant to be recon only. The sound of the men working to escape the elevator tells her that reinforcements have arrived and she needs to go. Plan C, Miracle Maiden thinks as she teleports into the medical lab. Quickly searching the room she finds a locked case with a thick glass door. In it are five vials of a liquid labeled Prometheus-55. If this is where it is being produced that must be all they have, she thinks. In Dr. Woodlawn’s notes he said it is a long and difficult process to make the stuff. The drone guards have escaped the elevator and are at the door trying to get in through the lock she broke. Taking hold of the top of the cabinet Miracle Maiden tears it free to the bolts holding it to the wall, sending it crashing to the floor. Just as the men break into the room she is gone.
Friday, February 5, 1988
Cross-town Delivery
249 Elizabeth St
New York, NY
Returning to his bike delivery job seems pointless now, his cover is clearly blown even if they do not know he is Master Warrior. But doing some recon is not out of the question. All has appeared quiet at the delivery office this morning, no one in, no one out. Even the dispatcher is a no show. He hadn’t made physical contact with the dispatcher so he can’t be sure that he too was not one of DeMarco’s slaves. Master Warrior jumps up on some crates in the alley to peek in through a window. It is then that he gets a chill at the base of his skull.
Suddenly he finds himself flat on his back on the pavement several feet from the crates he was standing on. Scrambling to his feet he scans the alley for his attacker. He expects that it will be one of DeMarco’s slaves but sees no one else around him. Then again he feels the chill and takes another hit from behind that sends him to his knees. Whoever this is, he is strong! Still on all fours he examines this strange new chill that has been happening. It is not his danger sense, it is something else. Like something he felt when close to other Amazons in battle. Is he being attacked by another Amazon?
As he stands up, still alone in the alley, he draws out his arsenal to take the form of a staff. “Who are you?” “Show yourself!” he shouts. Master Warrior uses all of his senses to inspect his surroundings. His mother trained him to find the smallest of details, to learn all he can about his foe, seen or unseen. But there is nothing here! Or is there? He can smell the slight scent of a men’s cologne under the stink of the alley. But hundreds of men must wear that cologne. If he is not attacked again he hasn’t a good clue about his attacker.
Several blocks away Gary Rogers sits down on a bus stop bench. He feels dizzy and out of breath. He isn’t really sure how he got here. He remembers arriving at the airport, going to a bar, and then going to his hotel. He also remembers looking out the window at the view of the city from his room. Then there is nothing. He has been having blackouts since what happened at Mudhouse Mansion, but this by far is the longest loss of time he has experienced. He has regained most of his memories since then but when David showed him the letter he wrote, he could not remember writing it, he still can’t.
“That was impressive,” a young woman with red hair says sitting down next to Gary on the bench.
Gary snaps back to reality at the sight of the beautiful stranger talking to him. “You look impressive too,” he replies to her.
“You really don’t remember anything do you?” She smiles and giggles. “It’s me Trudy, we met yesterday at the bar.”
“Oh, that is right we spoke at the airport bar.” Gary’s head begins to clear more as his breathing calms. “I guess I had a few in me then,” he says reaching out his hand to touch her hand on the bench. “How would you like to go to a wedding?” “I could really use a beautiful date to show to my friends.”
“I don’t know if that would be appropriate,” Trudy responds. “I barely know you.” “It wouldn’t be right to just show up and lie to your friends.”
“Why not?” Gary smiles. “They have lied to me.” “Besides, it will be fun, I’ll make it worth your while.”
The pretty red-head is quiet for a moment not questioning the man’s motivation. “There is something special about you, I’ve known it for the moment I saw you in the bar,” Trudy finally responds with a big grin.
The Essex House
160 Central Park S
New York City, NY
Running late again, Master Warrior is back in the sky heading for his Hotel across town. Steve gets to the Essex House just in time to get ready for the rehearsal at the church and the reunion night out on the town with the guys. The past week in New York City has been eventful. He has been more than a little surprised that he has not crossed paths with Miracle Maiden during his stay in the city. Perhaps she has been avoiding him, he thinks as he lands on the roof of his Hotel. Changing his costume he heads down the fire stairs to the seventh floor where Steve Roberts shares a room with his boss, David Rogers.
Steve rushes into the room to find David laying on one of the beds eating his lunch out of a Chinese take out box. He needs a shower and change of clothes. Heading for the bathroom he closes the door and strips down.
“Did you find what we need?” David asks through the door.
“Not really,” Steve calls back through the closed door. “The office was empty when it should have been business as usual today.”
“So do you think they will still be continuing with the heist?” David asks.
“Most likely, Agent Lei wanted to set everything up to look like the contents of the package were not discovered, so there is no reason for DeMarco not to continue with his plans.”
Trinity Grace Church Tribeca
201 Warren St
New York, NY
Steve is eager to see his old friends especially Gary Rogers who he has not seen since that horrible trip to Cleveland. But Wayne Double and Pete Stapleton haven’t seen him since summer camp. Steve had heard that after college Wayne was living in Manhattan where he met his soon to be wife. Pete still lived in Philly, Steve hadn’t seen him since he interviewed Master Warrior a few months back.
Wayne and his fiancée are going over some last minute things with the Pastor while Pete and Steve sit in a waiting room off of the chapel waiting for the rehearsal to begin. “If it isn’t the Bulletin’s star reporter,” Steve says to Pete shaking his hand.
“Steve, I’ve been looking forward to seeing you,” Pete says. “It was incredible that Master Warrior guy just walked into the office and sat down in my cubicle,” Pete says with amazement still in his eyes. “He tells me he wants me to interview him.” “Said I was the only one at the paper he trusted.” “Up until then the only stories I got were about lost puppies!” “I’ve been wanting to ask you a question?” Pete asks.
“Sure, what is up?” Steve says standing up to check his hair in the mirror on the wall.
“Are you Master Warrior?” Pete asks pointblank.
Steve can see the startled look in his own eyes in the mirror. “What are you talking about?” Steve asks, turning to look at his old friend coolly. Someone else knowing his secret is the last thing he needs right now.
“It is just that Master Warrior was spotted in New York the last couple of days,” Pete says, his reporter instincts showing. “All three of us are from Philly and I know I am not Master Warrior.”
Steve can’t help but to laugh, “Do you really think that just because we are here Master Warrior has to be one of us?” “Cities as big as Philly and New York have millions of people living in them.” “Surely we are not the only two guys from Philly in New York this week.”
“Then why would he come to me for his first interview?” Pete suggests.
“Didn’t he tell you that?” Steve says. “I thought you said that in your article he trusted you or something.”
“That is what he said,” Pete confirms. “It never really made sense to me though.” “The only thing that makes sense is that he must have already known me.”
“You write a column for a major newspaper, there are a lot of people that feel like they know you,” Steve suggests. “But if it makes you feel better sure, I’m Master Warrior, I was exposed to a radioactive meteor that gave me superpowers.”
Pete glares at his old friend and then begins to laugh. “That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.” “I guess I just let my imagination get the best of me for a minute.” “The idea of breaking the story of who Master Warrior really is would get me some real respect.”
Steve can’t help but to ask, “Is that really fair to Master Warrior to expose him like that after he gave you, your big break?”
“But that is all he gave me, I haven’t heard from him since,” Pete says with disappointment. “Now I’m becoming a running joke at the office.”
NIGHTLIFE
210 W 94th St
New York, NY
Steve Roberts arrives late at the club called “NIGHTLIFE” because his trip to New York City had become more of Master Warrior’s trip than he had planned. He had already seen Pete and Wayne at the rehearsal that Gary was a no show. So it is no surprise to Steve that by the time he got to the nightclub Gary was already plastered. “Guys!” Steve announced walking up to his old friends at the bar rail.
“Steve, you son of a hot bitch!” Gary shouts, grabbing his old friend and giving him an overly physical hug. Gary reeks of bourbon as Steve feels his back crack at the strength of the hug.
Trying to wiggle free of his friend’s grip is tough until Wayne grabs Steve’s free hand to shake it, nudging Gary aside, “It’s great to see you again Officer Roberts,” Wayne says.
“No, not anymore.” “Not for a while actually,” Steve replies as he moves to shake Pete’s hand too.
Wayne pats his old friends, Pete and Steve on the back, “I’m so glad you two could make it up for the wedding.”
“Hey, how could we miss out on the first one of us to hook a wife,” Steve replied, taking Wayne’s shoulder. “I just can’t figure out what any woman would see in you?” Steve jokes as they all laugh.
“Probably that huge dick he’s got,” Gary comments in a drunken slur. The other guys just look at him for a minute in surprise until Wayne blushes letting out a slight laugh. “Hey, get my friend, Steve a drink!” Gary shouts down to the bartender. “Before he starts kicking some asses in this place!”
“Dude, really?” Steve chastises his old friend. “I was hoping we would get a chance to talk about what happened.”
“He’s been like this all night,” Pete says. “Don’t hold your breath on talking to him about anything important.”
“That’s right Petey stick up for your new best friend,” Gary charges. “Who gives a fucking shit about little Gary?” The other three men just stare at their drunk friend as he rants on. “Let’s just all move to the city and be secret best friends.” “Come on Wayne where were we?” Gary shouts, grabbing the soon to be groom by the arm. Wayne shrugs his shoulders as the two men return back to the bar where they are playing a video game on a monitor. “Let Superman and Lois Lane talk.”
Steve has suspected that Gary might have a drinking problem, but it is clear to him that the drinking he began doing as a teen has become a real problem, not unlike his father. Strange how Gary would call Pete his new best friend. They may both live in the city, but they really don’t socialize at all. Pete also has no idea that Steve is Master Warrior. The Superman and Lois Lane crack really makes Steve wonder what Gary is talking about. Pete leans over to whisper to Steve, “He always used to act so much better around you, I hoped it might still hold true.”
“What do you mean?” Steve asks, taking his drink from the bartender.
“You really never noticed how much different Gary acted when you were around?” Pete asks. “The rest of us always talked about it.” “You always seemed to be his restraint.”
“I can’t believe you are saying this now, why didn’t anyone tell me back then?” Steve asks.
“It didn’t seem to matter until that last year at camp and then I was the only one to say it back home at school, I guess I didn’t think you would believe me,” Pete explains.
Not far away from the bar three young women sit at a table. They are co-workers from Open World Logistics having a night out on the town. The raven haired beauty in the middle is very uncomfortable in the “NIGHTLIFE” environment. She would much rather be home sitting on her sofa in front of the TV. This outing is more work than fun. She was barely able to escape it last week making an excuse this week would be impossible.
“There he is, that’s Bobby,” the blonde says to the other women.
“Sue, who is Bobby?” the dark haired Dee Moore asks.
“Don’t you remember, Dee, he is the guy that Sue met here a few Friday night ago that she couldn’t shut up about all week.” the third woman says.
“So that is why you two drug me here tonight to play wing woman?” Dee asks.
“No, Mary and I brought you here tonight so you wouldn’t spend another Friday night on your sofa,” Sue says.
“Ya, Look at all the hot guys!” Mary comments.
“I’m not really a one night stand kind of girl,” Dee says.
“Who said anything about one night,” Sue remarks, still looking at the man she met weeks ago. “I’m going to go talk to Bobby to see if I can make it a three night stand.” Sue gets up taking her drink to leave the other two women at the table.
“What about one of those guys?” Mary says gesturing to Steve and his friends at the bar.
“Let me see, you’ve got a skinny black guy, a drunk guy, and a guy who might be gay,” Dee mocks.
“You missed one, what about the big guy on the end?” Mary asks.
Dee looks closer at the fourth man in the group of friends, trying to think of a smart remark. “His shirt is too small.”
“That’s the best part!” “Is that even a bad thing?” Mary questions. “He is built like a brick shit house!” “I bet he can crush a full beer can with those arms.”
“What exactly does that mean?” Dee asks. “I never understood that phrase.” “I don’t care what the shithouse is built of, it is still a shithouse.” “And a guy crushing beer cans with his arms is not what I call a night of fun,”
Back at the bar rail Gary and Wayne begin to argue over the game they are playing. A drunk Gary pushes his friend back into the guy behind him causing him to spill his beer on his girlfriend. “Hey asshole, watch it!” the man yells at Wayne.
“You can’t talk to my friend like that, you racist!” Gary shouts pushing past Wayne to get at the stranger. Steve and Pete are coming back from the Men’s room as things begin to get out of hand at the bar. Wayne is trying to be the peacemaker but Gary wants no part of that. The bigger guy pushes Gary back into the table where Dee and Mary sit spilling their drinks. Gary comes back with a punch that knocks the man unconscious to the floor. Steve arrives just in time to drag Gary off of the guy on the floor.
Steve’s intervention causes the drunken Gary to turn on him. Before Steve knows what is happening Gary has him by the throat against the wall. In the shock of it all Steve can’t seem to free himself until Pete and Wayne pull Gary off of him.
The two guys drag Gary outside of the club forcibly. Steve follows behind them holding his throat still not sure what has just happened. Gary struggles with Pete and Wayne to get loose. Steve is surprised by how easily he does get free as he approaches.
“Get off of me,” Gary yells, breaking free. “This is all your fault anyway!” Gary shouts pointing his finger at Steve.
“What are you talking about?” Steve asks his one time best friend. Gary stands with his fists clenched tight, trembling with anger. Steve knows enough about body language to guess what Gary is going to do next. Steve figures letting Gary have a swing at him might make his old friend feel better.
When Pete and Wayne go to get between their friends Steve waves them back. “No, let him do it,” Steve tells them. Wayne and Pete step back to just watch as Gary lands a right cross to Steve’s jaw. Steve is again surprised as the punch knocks him back and down to the sidewalk. The other guys rush over to grab Gary by his arms again. Sitting up, Steve reaches for his jaw, he can feel a throbbing pain, but he caulks the power behind the punch as drunken adrenaline. “Get him the hell out of here!” Steve tells his friends.
Steve stands up as Pete and Wayne drag their drunk friend away to take him back to his hotel. “What are you going to do?” Pete asks.
“Get a drink!” Steve tells them heading back into the club.
Inside the club, two of the three women still sit at the table. “I’m going to get out of here,” Dee says, gathering up her things to stand.
“No wait, look who is coming back,” Mary says pointing to the door. “It’s the stud in the tight shirt that you liked.”
“I never said that,” Dee replies as Mary pulls her arm to sit her back down in her chair.
“Look he’s coming this way,” Mary says eagerly. “He’s even hotter close up.”
Steve walks over to the table to say, “I just wanted to apologize properly for my friend’s issues by replacing your drinks.”
“No, that is fine I was just leaving,” Dee says standing up again wanting no part of this fix up.
“No you weren’t,” Mary says, taking her friend by the arm and sitting her back in her seat a second time. “That would be great, my name is Mary and this is Dee.” “Please take my seat,” Mary says, taking Steve’s arm to seat him next to Dee. “I’ll just go find the waitress,” she says quickly disappearing into the crowd.
“Well this isn’t really what I meant, I just wanted to buy you drinks not invade your girls’ night out,” Steve says to Dee smiling uncomfortably. He looks at her closer and there’s something familiar about her that he just can’t place right away.
“That’s alright, it wasn’t much of a girls’ night out anyway,” Dee says. “We’re not so much friends as co-workers.”
“Oh really, where do you work?” Steve asks, trying to make small talk.
“Open World Logistics, I’m a receptionist,” Dee explains, keeping her cover identity intact.
“That’s where I know you from,” Steve says. “I’ve been working as a bike messenger.”
“So you’re a bike messenger?” Dee says coolly. “You sure aren’t built like one.”
“Not really, I’m kinda between jobs right now,” Steve explains. “I don’t expect to be in New York much longer.” He knows David would kill him if he blows his cover now. Even though Steve feels no danger in telling this young woman the truth. So he will just stretch it a little.
“So what are your ambitions beyond riding a bike in the New York streets wearing bike shorts and a wife beater,” Dee comments.
“That shirt cost fifty bucks, it is too expensive to be considered a wife beater thank you very much!” he smiles with a raised eyebrow.
Dee remembers seeing him now at Open World Logistics now. He was the hot guy who was subbing for Dell yesterday. But that doesn’t mean she wants to date him.
Then the waitress walks up to the table sitting down an open bottle of wine and two glasses. “That will be one-fifty,” she says.
“A hundred and fifty dollars for a bottle of wine,” Dee repeats. “Don’t pay that, that isn’t what we were drinking.”
“Bottle’s open you have to buy it,” the waitress says coldly.
“No, that’s fine.” “Here take this,” Steve says, pulling a credit card from his wallet.
“Places like this really aren’t my style,” Dee tells Steve as she reads the label on the bottle.
“Me neither,” Steve says, pouring the wine in the glasses. “My friend Wayne is getting married tomorrow and we were just here for his last night out as a single guy.” “You saw how that went.” They each take a few sips of the dark red wine. “It’s actually pretty good,” Steve comments.
“I’m not much of a wine drinker, but you are right it is good,” Dee replies, taking a second sip. “I guess that is another thing we have in common, that and undependable friends,” she says with a look of irritation on her face.
“I haven’t seen those guys in years, we all knew each other as kids at summer camp and I was looking forward to getting caught up,” he says looking over at the woman. Her face seems so familiar to him even in this dim light, but for some reason he just can’t place it. Like something from a dream he had long ago.
Dee’s mind wanders off until his mention of Summer camp. She hasn’t thought about that in years. The waitress brings back Steve’s credit card with a receipt for him to sign. Dee watches as he signs his name, Steven A. Roberts, Jr. Sitting his empty glass on the table Steve says, “Well, I guess I should be going.”
Dee sighs saying, “No, please stay and help me finish this wine.” “You were too nice to pay for it on your salary.” She picks up the bottle to sit it down in front of him. Dee looks into his deep blue eyes that are clear even in the dim light of the club. Something else about summer camp comes to mine as Steve reconsiders to pour himself another glass of wine. Then he reaches across to fill her glass. As his arm passes in front of her, she catches the smell of Irish Spring and Old Spice on his body.
“Oh my God, Steve?” Dee exclaims. A rush of adrenaline floods her body as old memories from a summer long past rush over her, bringing a smile to her previously irritated face. She can’t even make sense of it in her mind. How can this be him all grown up? The curve of his jaw and the fall of his hair over his eyebrow as he leaned forward to pour the wine. This is impossible!
“What is it?” “What is wrong?” Steve says to her exclamation not sure what to make of this odd young woman.
A confused look comes on her face, she isn’t Diana Carter, she is Dee Moore. She has put too much on the line to blow her cover over this chance meeting, no matter how incredible it feels. Thinking fast she says, “I love this song.” “Do you want to dance?”
The song is Madonna’s “Causing a Commotion,” Steve likes the song too but he replies, “I’m not much of a dancer.”
“Sure you are,” Dee replies, jumping up from her seat to pull him up by his big arm. Steve can’t figure this girl out. Her withdrawn attitude has suddenly changed as they start to dance. Steve can only guess that the wine has kicked in. They move well together complimenting each other’s moves on the dance floor. “See I knew you were a good dancer,” Dee tells him. The next song to play is Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”. Dee begins to sing along knowing every word to the song. They are giggling with each other as Dee begins to do hand gestures to act out the words. Then Miami Sound Machine’s “Anything For You” plays and Steve starts to leave the floor. Dee grabs his hand and pulls him back to her. She presses her ample breasts to his firm chest and he ca\n’t resist as they dance slowly in each other’s arms.
As he holds her small frame in his big arms, Dee runs her hands over his back feeling the firm muscles of his body. Mary was right this guy is really built, she thinks. She nuzzles his neck breathing him in deeply. How she has missed him, she didn’t realize how much until this moment.
“Are you smelling me?” Steve asks as she signs.
“Oh no, no,” she says, pulling back from his neck. She looks into his blue eyes again as a tear wells in her eye. It is like a dream come true, as she holds his bicep. He was the boy who brought her back from the edge when she felt so alone in the world.
“Are you alright?” Steve asks.
“Yeah, I’m fine, let’s get out of here,” Dee says, leading him from the floor as the song comes to an end.
“What about your friends?” Steve asks, spotting Wayne and Pete returning to the club alone.
“Believe me they would like nothing better than to see me leave with you,” Dee tells him. “I know a place a few blocks over that has the best Peach Cobbler.”
“I love Peach Cobbler,” Steve says as they make their way out of the Club Pete gives him a big grin and a thumbs up.
“I know,” she whispers under her breath as it goes hidden by the loud music.
In the street outside the club Steve comments, “Most women wouldn’t trust a guy who they just met in a bar fight.”
“Well there is a little more to it than that,” Dee says. “I have something to tell you when we get to the diner.” “This is the quick way,” she tells him, taking his big hand in hers. They take the shortcut through an alley that Dee uses often to get to the coffee shop. The excitement in her heart is cut short when two masked muggers confront them in the darkness.
When they turn back the way they came, three more come from the entrance of the alley. “Stay calm,” Steve tells Dee as three of the men grab him forcing him back against the wall of a building. The other two back Dee up to the opposite wall. Dee recognizes the leader’s eyes of the group instantly as the security guard she shocked on her first visit to the thirteenth floor. Trying to play it cool Steve suggests, “Why don’t you let the girl go, I’ve got all the money,” Steve tells the muggers.
“Why would we do that, buddy?” the center man of the three says. Steve doesn’t put up much of a fight as the men push him around. He hopes he can avoid giving himself away. “What if I told you we’re not here for money.” These jerks don’t care if he struggles or not. The biggest of the guys in front of him begins punching him in the gut. The punches are like taps to Steve but he plays along stooping over to hide his smile from them.
Dee struggles trying to get loose of the men as they grab her. “You’ve pissed off some very big people, little lady,” the rogue guard says breathing in her face.
“So it would seem, are you going to kill just me or both of us?” she asks, not at all frightened.
“Neither, just a lesson this time,” the goon threatens. Then she sees one of the goons begin punching Steve in the gut. Something in her mind “clicks” remembering a night in another alley years ago, when a friend died needlessly.
“That’s enough!” she growls, with that she swings her arm forward, flinging the man holding her arm, down on his back in the alley. The other guy she grabs by his jacket and tosses him against the wall knocking him out. When the guy on the ground returns he has drawn a gun.
When Steve hears Dee yell he decides this is getting out of hand. He stands straight up from his hunched over position smiling. The man punching him is surprised by his sudden recovery. Then he is caught off guard when Steve swings the man holding his right arm to instantly collide with him. The two men are sent to the ground in a heap as Steve hears the gunshots.
Dee goes intangible and the bullets pass through her into the brick wall. With one stare, a blast of invisible beams strikes out from her eyes at the last scumbag who is then down for the count.
Only feet away one of the men comes at Steve wielding a knife. Blocking with his left and swinging with his right Steve makes fast work of his clumsy opponent. One of the other men gets up pulling Numb-Chucks from under his coat. “God! I hate numb-chucks” Steve mumbles as the man begins twirling the weapon. One windmill kick to the throat and the thug is on the ground. The last guy struggles back to his feet to attempt his Karate moves on Steve that he quickly blocks and returns.
Finishing off the gunman Dee turns to help Steve only to watch him finish off the last of his three opponents. Dee walks towards Steve, both her assailants are unconscious on the ground. The couple look at each other for a moment, then they laugh aloud. “Nice moves for a bike messenger,” Dee comments.
“You seem to have some yourself,” Steve retorts looking to the men on the ground behind her. “For a receptionist you sure can kick some ass,” Steve smiles.
“Sorry about that, I shouldn’t have suggested this shortcut,” she tells him. “Living in this city you need to know how to handle yourself, but Thanks for your help.” “Living in this city toughens you up quick,” Dee replies, looking at the men on the ground. “I’m not sure bike messenger is really the job for you?” She takes his hand as a police car pulls into the end of the alley.
“That’s a switch,” Steve comments, “Usually there is never a cop around when you need one.”
The police officers get out of their car guns drawn, “Hold it right there, don’t move,” the arriving cop calls to the couple.
After explaining what happened to the beat cops, the couple are taken to the police station to make a statement. It is no surprise to Dee that Detective Sergeant Prussia is there to interview her, “I knew there was no way you were dead!”
“I can explain,” Dee defends. “I needed to have the people who tried to kill me to believe that I was dead.” “So I could go undercover to find the person behind all of this.”
“Where did you get the look-a-like body from?” Prussia demands. “What was her name?” “Her family needs to know the truth.”
“There is no need for any of that,” Dee tells the angry police detective.
“I saw that body on the floor of your office, she was real!” Prussia insists. “I have spent the past two weeks looking for your killer!” “Was there even a shooter?”
“Yes, he was waiting for me when I came into the office early that morning,” Dee explains.
“Then who was he?” Prussia demands.
“That doesn’t matter, he didn’t do what he did of his own volition,” Dee explains. “I’m trying to find the people behind it all.” “I’ve learned that a woman calling herself the Owl is behind everything.” “Including trying to buy my uncle’s business!”
Prussia sits down in his chair, “So is that why your family insisted on no autopsy?” “It is illegal to bury a body in the wrong grave!”
“No it isn’t,” she responds. “I’ve let my family believe I am dead too.” “The woman who you found in my office isn’t buried in my grave.”
“Are you saying she is alive?” Prussia asks. “Because I saw that hole in her head up close and it was real.” Prussia falls quiet for a moment in thought. “Shit, she was a Zeni!” “Who is she?”
“Just a friend,” Diana says. “Just give me another week to clean this up and then I will make it all good.”
Prussia glares at the woman he knows as Diana Carter and suspects of being much more. “What does this ex-cop from Philly have to do with this?” he asks.
“Ex-cop?” Dee repeats, surprised to learn that about Steve. “Nothing, he is just a guy I met at a bar,” Dee says. “He doesn’t even know my real name.” “I don’t want him involved in any of this!”
Detective Prussia grimaces at her again as he opens his desk drawer. “You will probably want this back,” he says, handing her a book she recognizes instantly.
“My diary?” she says staring at the book in his hand. She sees that the lock has been broken open. “Did you read this?”
Prussia opens the book flipping to the pages that speak of their first meeting. “Only what wasn’t redacted,” he replies, showing her the page. Dee takes the book flipping through the entries. She knows exactly what is missing from her diary and she can only think she has Shana to thank for it. “I really would like to know why you wrote a redacted diary as a teen.”
“If you read it detective it shouldn’t take much to figure out that my father was as nosey as you,” Dee replies, closing the book.
“Then why don’t you send in your new friend so I can see if your stories jib,” Detective Prussia says pointing to the door.
Steve sits on a chair in the hallway, trying not to hear what transpires in the Police Detective’s office. He can make out a few words through the thick walls but somehow he feels nothing but confidence from the attractive young woman he met at the club. He assumes for good reason, she handled herself very well in that alley. She has obviously taken more than one self-defense class. Thinking back on the events in the alley, Steve realizes that there was no point in which his danger sense was triggered. It was as if neither of them was in any danger from those five men at any time. It is a silly thought but he is sure it is only because he could have taken all of them, if she hadn’t been able to handle herself.
When Dee emerges from the office she has an apologetic look on her face. “I’m really sorry about this, Steve,” she says to him. “I really didn’t want to get you wrapped up in all of this mess.” “Detective Prussia just wants to hear your side of the story.”
Steve notices a small book in her hand but thinks it is best not to ask any questions about it. “I’m sure it will be fine, this isn’t my first ride on this bus,” Steve says to reassure her.
“Roberts, get in here!” Detective Prussia calls out his office door. Steve shrugs his broad shoulders at Dee as he turns to go into the office. “Take a seat Mr. Roberts,” Prussia says. “I ran your info through the system.” “You were a cop in Philly, with a good record.”
“Well that is nice to know, Steve smiled, “I thought Olpere might have held a grudge and smudged my record.”
“In fact Olpere spoke very highly of you,” Prussia tells Steve as he sits down on the front of his desk. “So, out of professional respect I want to tell you.” “You should stay away from that woman.” “She will cause you nothing but headaches.”
“I appreciate your concern sir, but it is misplaced,” Steve tells the Detective with a grudge. “I only just met her this evening, I’ll be going home the day after tomorrow.”
“I am warning you, go home and forget about her, she is nothing but trouble,” Prussia says as Steve gets up from the chair to leave.
What a strange way for this detective to be acting Steve thinks as he stops to ask, “Do you think she is in that much danger sir?”
“Not her, you and anyone else who gets too close to her,” Prussia retorts. “Somehow she always comes out on top leaving everyone around her worse off.” Steve walks back out of the office to a smiling Dee. The Detective’s warning seems hard to believe.” Dee appears perfectly normal.
“We never got you that Peach Cobbler,” she says, not bothering to ask what Prussia said to him.
“That’s Okay,” Steve tells her, smiling.
“Tell you what, I only live a few blocks from here, I can make u coffee, maybe dig up some cheese Danish,” Dee suggests.
“I wouldn’t be a gentleman if I didn’t at least walk a girl home from the Police station,” Steve says reaching out to take her hand. They walk a few blocks toward Dee’s apartment holding hands without speaking. Each of their minds privately racing with thought they fear to speak aloud.
“So, how does an Ex-cop from Philadelphia end up being a bike messenger in New York City?” Dee finally asks coyly.
“Oh, he told you that, did he?” Steve replies feeling uncomfortable about stretching the truth earlier. “I might not be only a Bike Messenger, I’m kind of looking for a missing woman, Cynthia Golden.” “Do you know her?”
“No, so are you a detective?” Dee asks. It is a relief to her to find out that the boy she knew from Camp is not some loser Bike Messenger.
Dee Moore’s Apartment
315 E 57th street
New York City, NY
Arriving inside her apartment Dee says, “Have a seat, make yourself at home this will only take a few minutes.” Steve sits down on the large soft sofa as Dee gets the coffee. In the small but efficient kitchen she takes out a tray and some coffee mugs. Taking a deep breath she looks to the microwave oven. “This is it girl,” she whispers to herself. Microwaving some instant coffee she picks up the tray and returns to the living room. Walking into the room she announces, “My name isn’t Dee, it’s Diana, Diana Carter from Camp Tandy.” She takes another deep breath and looks to Steve who has dozed off on the sofa. “Shit!” she exclaims, turning to take the coffee tray back into the kitchen.
Returning to the living room she looks at the big lug of a man asleep on her sofa. She can’t believe this is him. How can he be the boy she fell in love with eight years ago all grown into a man. She watches as he rolls over onto his side hugging a throw pillow. Looking at the bulge of his wallet in his back pocket she know how to be sure. Quiet as a mouse she steps over to the sofa to lean over him. Reaching out her hand goes intangible to slip the wallet from his pocket. Stepping back she hesitates before opening her ill gotten prize.
Then she does it. In the wallet she finds his Pennsylvania Driver’s license confirming that he is in fact the Steve Roberts she met all those years ago. She lays the wallet back down on the sofa cushion next to him to make it look like it slipped out of its own accord. Diana drapes a blanket over him and then stands over him for a few minutes taking a closer look at his well put together body before heading to bed herself.