Chapter 4 #2
I couldn’t put my finger on it, but somehow I felt like I was the third wheel in this meeting. This wasn’t anything Booker couldn’t have found out on his own. I didn’t have any government training, and unless he wanted me to identify the Bordeaux color of her lipstick, I was useless.
“We’re not opponents on opposite teams,” she said. She stood behind the desk, blocking the afternoon light from the window. “You’ll have my cooperation and any resources you need. Should we call it a day?”
“Thanks, Ms.— Catherine.” I offered my hand. She gave it a tight grip and a single up-and-down motion. When she turned to Booker, he didn’t offer his hand. She didn’t seem surprised. He got out of his chair and gave her a quick nod before heading to the door.
Rude.
“He’s exhausted,” I said as I quickly exited.
Following him into the hallway. His stride required me to all but run after him. We walked down the hallway toward the main lobby. He stopped short, turning around. His face had scrunched up, and I couldn’t tell if he was angry or smelled something foul.
He put his back to the dark wood of the wall, hands shoved in his pockets as he stared at an oversized architectural drawing of the building.
I hadn’t known him long enough to assume this was an episode.
Perhaps his natural state was slightly aloof and off-putting?
His brooding expression wasn’t a bad thing, at least not in the attractiveness department.
“I don’t like her,” he whispered.
“Ms. Keyes?” I laughed. “Why not?”
“She…” He bit his lower lip. “I can’t say exactly. I can’t figure her out.”
Everybody in Secret Identities Incorporated had a secret we didn’t want out in the world.
Wyatt wasn’t human. Connor wasn’t human.
Janet… wasn’t exactly human. Even Orion had a secret he didn’t want getting out.
We all had our public-facing persona and the reality.
I couldn’t fault her for not being thrilled about this.
If we found out she had hired villains in the making, she’d be fired.
His pouting didn’t end. This really bothered him. “You’re serious?”
He nodded. “I can get a read on a person in seconds.”
I tensed at the idea. If he could see beyond my facade, he’d find something dark and less than pleasant. He wasn’t ready for it. Nobody was, and that’s why I kept my extracurricular activities to myself.
A growl from the lobby broke the tension. I leaned to the side, glancing around the corner. Tia held the sides of her computer monitor as if she might chuck it across the waiting room. As soon as she glanced in my direction, I ducked out of sight.
“We might be overlooking the obvious,” I said.
It took him a moment to step out of his thoughts. “The receptionist?”
“She knows every person who steps through those doors. If I were to place bets, I’d say she’s the most likely traitor to Synergy.”
His head tilted to the side as he curled his lips. The red hairs of his mustache were uneven, and I could only imagine they’d tickle if—
“I’m going to kill somebody!”
Her scream stopped me from staring at Booker. “See?” Janet would be thrilled to know her arch-nemesis had gone on my watchlist. It’d be another hip-thrusting dance from her.
“Thanks,” he said.
“For?”
“Carrying the conversation while I got lost in my insecurities.”
His grin was like a warm hug. The smirk on his face filled me with joy.
I had to resist lunging at him and carrying him off in a bear hug.
My powers went to work, keeping my cheeks from turning red.
A compliment from this almost-stranger stirred the butterflies in my stomach in the best way possible.
“We’re a team.” I gave him a playful jab on the shoulder.
“Alright, partner.” The half-laugh made me melt. “We’re going to do a slow walk out of here so I can get a read on your target.”
He put a hand on my shoulder, guiding me forward. While Tia’s death glare threatened to blow me to pieces, I imagined Booker’s hand deflecting her death ray. There was no doubt in my mind that when we got her in the interview room, hell would break loose.
As we reached the door, I couldn’t help but smile at her. Janet would die knowing I gave her a slight wave and a chin nod. Yes, Tia, I had her number, and I couldn’t wait to see her in handcuffs. I’d be declared top dog, and at least one person at Secret Identities would sing my praises.
Well, her and Booker.
“Job well done.”
The Lone Horsemen struggled against their cuffs.
These four had terrorized the streets of Vanguard for the last time.
With the hoods of their black robes pulled back, they were nothing more than middle-aged men with subpar powers.
Wrath’s ability to make people raise their voices during disagreements wasn’t exactly that of an assassin guild.
“Friends, are we done?” Wyatt jumped back and forth from one foot to the other. “Are we?”
Orion shook his head, neither of us shocked. “Yes, we’re done.”
Wyatt vanished in the blink of an eye. He wanted to cash in on the promise of ice cream once we made the streets a little safer. This trio of heroes wasn’t changing the status quo like the Centurions hoped to, but we were doing our part.
“The Lone Horsemen will return!” Death cried… literally as an officer tucked him into the back of a squad car.
“Poor grammar should be a felony,” Orion said.
“Huh?”
“It’s Lone Horseman or Horsemen. You can’t have both.”
“A pox on your families,” shouted Pestilence through the glass.
“They never shut up,” Orion said. “Would it be bad to climb into the squad car and punch them?”
As amusing as that would be, I had another idea.
With the flick of a finger, my powers transformed all four of the horsemen’s faces, making them look like circus clowns.
The trick would wear off at some point, but it’d make their booking photos more amusing.
I’d much prefer to steal Death’s scythe and leave them bruised and bloodied.
At least this would get them roughed up in prison.
“You’re evil,” Orion said.
“Sometimes.”
An officer tipped his hat to us as he approached. The burly man had a half-cocked smile on his face. “I know this isn’t professional.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “Would you mind if I took a photo?”
Orion gave me an elbow to the arm, and I had to resist hissing. The Lone Horsemen had been an easy victory, but the nightly patrols were taking their toll. If I couldn’t find a super with healing abilities, I’d need to take a vacation while the bruises healed.
We struck poses.
He snapped the photo and held up his finger.
“That’s for the app. I want one for the guys at the department.
They’ll never believe I met Failsafe and Tint.
” I would like to say this was unheard of, but we were literally the creators of this phenomenon.
He made a peace sign while angling the camera to get his face in the shot.
He snapped the photo, and by the time the flash faded, Orion had already grabbed me under the arms and launched us into the air.
Soaring above the city had once been terrifying, especially after Orion dropped me that one time.
I didn’t like being dragged around like a rag doll, but it gave me a moment to see Vanguard from the sky.
From up here, it was almost peaceful. I’m sure I’d be able to find trouble in Southland, but I tried to push it out of my head and enjoy the serenity of the moment.
We landed on our rooftop, a twelve-story apartment building. It had become our post-mission rendezvous spot. Orion’s jet pack cut off, and we dropped the last few feet. It’d only take another second before—
“Friends! I have arrived.”