SECRET IDENTITY Read online

  He waited for her to drop her two bits into the jukebox and press the buttons.

  B9.

  Lorne made a mental note to find out which song she’d chosen after the Beatle’s tune was over.

  “Sooo…tell me about him,” he ventured after the waitress dropped off their silverware in freshly-rolled napkins, and glasses of water.

  “’Bout who?”

  Brenda’s eyes were clear and questioning as she took a sip of water. There was no subterfuge. She was being open and honest with him.

  He managed to give her another grin. “Who’s the guy you’re all bothered about?”

  The remark instantly made her face turn beet-red.

  Bingo! There is a guy she’s involved with! Good going, Lorne. Now how do you feel?

  Not worth a crap. He didn’t realize he was scowling until Brenda gave him a funny look.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Huh?”

  “You look like someone just ate the last cookie you’d been hoarding. Why the sour puss?” She took a mental step back as her eyes widened. “Lo! You think I have a boyfriend?”

  “Wellll…”

  “Well, I don’t. But I wish I did. Sort of.”

  “Sort of?” He chuckled, not knowing if he should be relieved or worried. “You turned four shades of scarlet, Bren. That tells me there is someone in your life. So give! Who is he? Where is he? Why didn’t he come down here with you? Or is he going to join you later?”

  Damn! Why hadn’t he thought of that before? Maybe the guy was due to join her tomorrow in time for the funeral.

  “Lorne, I’m talking about that masked guy in black leather who showed up at the explosion and saved all our butts.”

  He nearly dropped his glass of water. Or would have, except that the glass cracked under the pressure his hand exerted on it. Glass fragments and water went everywhere, dousing the table and soaking their shirts. She gave a little cry of surprise at the miniature geyser flying toward her.

  Lorne saw the bits of glass heading directly for her face and eyes. Instantly his body reverted, taking on his powers like cement solidifying. He gestured with the same hand that had accidentally crushed the glass, and the needle-sharp slivers bounced harmlessly off of the invisible wall he’d erected in front of her face.

  It was over in seconds. Quickly, he looked down at his sodden t-shirt as he willed himself back to normalcy. It took another couple of seconds for his eyes to resume their usual gray color as he prayed she’d been too surprised to notice.

  “Lorne!”

  “Sorry! I-I guess the glass had a crack, and I didn’t notice,” he apologized.

  A waitress hurried over to help pick up the pieces. “What happened? Are you all right?”

  “The glass was defective,” Brenda explained, wiping at her blouse. She gave a little giggle. “It’s a good thing it was just water.”

  “Yeah.”

  They finished mopping up and cleaning away the rest of the wet mess. Once the waitress left, Lorne leaned back in the booth. “Okay. Now you’re going to have to tell me all of it, Brenda. Didn’t you just meet the guy?”

  “Well, yeah.”

  “I mean, he saved you, but have you had a chance to talk to him? Get to know him a little?”

  “No, not yet.”

  “Have you seen him since the explosion?”

  “No.”

  “Do you know his name? What does he call himself?”

  “I don’t know,” she confessed, blushing again.

  He rubbed his chin, which reminded him he had stubble, but it was a deliberate part of the package that made up Lorne Palmer. “But you already have a soft spot for him, is that it?”

  The blush came back to her face, though not as strongly as the first time. “I’m no different than a hundred million other females,” she weakly protested.

  “Has this guy, whatever he calls himself, has he shown up anywhere else since the explosion?”

  “Not that I’m aware of. Of course, that doesn’t mean he can’t be over in some remote part of Russia, or Australia, or some other part of the world, saving lives and all.” She thanked the waitress, who brought them fresh glasses and wrapped utensils.

  “What’s his power? Other than the superhuman strength?”

  “He flies,” she reminded him. “Didn’t you notice that on the broadcast?”

  “Oh, yeah, that’s right. Anything else?”

  “Not really, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have other abilities.”

  Lorne cocked his head at her. “You mean the flying and ultrastrength aren’t enough for you?”

  He was teasing her, and she knew it. Brenda laughed.

  “Look, I’m just thrilled I was one of the first people who got to see him. I mean, think about it! A new superhero! I don’t remember much about Infinity. I was too young. All I know about him is what I’ve seen on TV, and in the documentaries and newspaper articles. I never got to meet him in person.”

  Oh, yes, you did. You just never knew who he was at the time. “So, do you think the world is ready for another superhero?” he asked aloud.

  “I think the world is crying out for one,” Brenda said. “I don’t know where this guy has been all this time, or why he chose to make himself known at the factory explosion, but I’m glad he did.”

  The waitress delivered their hamburgers, momentarily ceasing conversation. Lorne waited until he’d covered his french fries with ketchup before he approached the subject again.

  “This guy, he must have made quite an impression on you, didn’t he?”

  He was silently answered with another blush. Her spoken answer took him totally by surprise.

  “I think he woke up every cell in my body.”

  It was a good thing the ketchup bottle was made of plastic. Lorne gave her a wide-eyed stare. “He what?”

  Slowly shaking her head, Brenda also wiped her mouth, giving herself a moment to swallow first. “I said, I think he woke up every cell in my body. It was incredible, Lorne! He landed by the van and opened the door, and the moment I saw him standing there, it was as if someone turned on an enormous generator somewhere. The man was dressed entirely in black. Even his hair was black. And his eyes were the most incredible blue color. It was like he glowed with a white light!”

  “Maybe it was a reflection of some kind.”

  “No. Uh-uh. I was tingling all over.” She flexed a hand as she stared at it. “I can still feel it, sort of, and it’s been nearly a week.”

  “Maybe it had something to do with his power,” Lorne suggested, but immediately dismissed it. He had used his power to prevent the glass fragments from cutting her face, and she had not shown any reaction. Besides, why hadn’t he felt any kind of reciprocal electrical sensation when he had walked over to her?

  “Maybe.”

  Another minute or two passed in comfortable eating silence. Lorne watched her devour her meal, but it was all mechanical. Her mind was definitely elsewhere, and he didn’t need three guesses to figure out who was occupying her thoughts.

  In a way, he felt flattered. But on the other hand, he was becoming jealous…of himself?

  This is nuts.

  “Hey, Bren.”

  She paused to look up at him.

  “What are you going to do the next time you see this guy?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, are you going to tell him how much he turns you on?”

  “Lorne!”

  “Well?” He laughed. “Hey, give the guy a break! Maybe he feels the same way.”

  “Yeah. Right.”

  Odd how a double positive could result in a negative.

  “Hey, you know us guys. We need a little incentive.”

  “We’re not talking about a normal, red-blooded American guy here, Lo. There’s no telling where the man came from. I can’t just walk up to him and say, ‘Hello. You’ve just melted my thong. Can I have your number?’”

  “Why not?” Lorne challe
nged, amused by the sudden turn of events. “How do you know he’s American? Maybe he’s from another country. Did he have an accent?”

  Brenda’s eyes rolled north as she thought back. “Noooo.”

  “Maybe he’s an alien from outer space. Would he turn you off if he was?”

  “Lorne.”

  “Maybe he’s not even alive. Maybe he’s a cyborg of some kind. A robot from the future. Or maybe he’s a man from the future.”

  “Now you’re being silly,” she accused him. “Let’s get serious here.”

  “Awright, then. So why won’t you consider giving him a little moral boost next time you two cross paths? Start it off by introducing yourself, then asking him what his name is. Hey, you never know what might happen.”

  He watched closely as she stuck a french fry in her mouth and nibbled on it. She had a look on her face he knew all too well.

  But before he could remark on it, Brenda said, “I may not see him again. It’s a big world.”

  It was a remark that sounded nothing like the Brenda McKay he’d grown up with, and he told her so.

  “Imagine that. Little Bren’s finally met a guy who leaves her speechless. Give me a red pen so I can circle this day on the calendar.”

  She smiled almost shyly, then burst into giggles and threw her half-eaten french fry at him. He tossed it back at her, and a brief, impromptu food fight ensued. In light of what tomorrow would bring, it felt good to hear her laughing again.

  He didn’t know how much of his advice she would follow. It would all depend upon the circumstances. Brenda had slim hopes she would get the chance to meet her new superhero again, but that could easily be arranged.

  What he was really looking forward to was seeing how close she would allow him to get to her as The Defender.

  Emotionally, physically, and especially romantically close.

  Chapter 6

  Funeral

  “You need to shave, dude.”

  Lorne gave his brother a surprised look, then turned to stare at himself in the bathroom mirror. Dark suit, neat tie, dress shirt—check. Hair combed and tied back, teeth brushed, nails clipped—check.

  Glancing up at his brother’s reflection, he shrugged. “No can do, bro. Lorne’s going to have to stay a bit scruffy until this whole Defender thing is settled between me and Brenda.”

  Luke made a face, which basically told Lorne it was his choice, and left. As if Lorne’s stomach wasn’t already doing flip-flops.

  Today was going to be hell to get through. It wasn’t enough that this was Mike McKay’s funeral. That alone was going to tear their hearts out of their chests. But it was the first funeral any of the Palmer boys had attended since the death of their mother, and the memories would be unavoidable.

  Logan Palmer, a.k.a. Infinity, had been the world’s protector for nearly twenty years, as well as husband to Lisa Palmer. Except the world would never know that. Their superhero of yesteryear had “disappeared” one day sixteen years ago, never to return. After waiting months, then years for the man to return, Earth had finally resolved itself to the fact that Infinity would not be returning.

  But his family had known. They had mourned, even though they knew the husband and father had died protecting their world while in the cold depths of space. Lisa, especially, had been inconsolable. Although she was human and had no special powers like her husband, she had aided him by working incognito like Luke and Lee were currently doing. Acting as Infinity’s go-between, secretary, and agent, fielding calls and special requests, and monitoring the computers when he was away. Yet, after Logan’s death, she had never been the same vibrant woman her sons knew she could be. Lorne was positive that when their mother had died four years later, it had been because of a broken heart, although Luke never revealed anything different from the coroner’s remark that it had been a brain aneurysm.

  He entered the kitchen to find Lee drinking straight from the milk carton.

  “Busted, dirtbag. You ready to go?”

  Lee nodded slowly so he wouldn’t spill a drop, but continued gulping. Rolling his eyes, Lorne walked into the garage. Lee followed behind him and beat him to the passenger side. Sighing, Lorne opened the door to the backseat as Luke hurried into the garage and over to the driver’s side. Lorne spotted the tiny, almost invisible, flesh-colored hearing aid in his brother’s right ear. In truth, the aid was a transmitter connecting him to the computers in the basement. If any sort of emergency came about, requiring the help of Mr. Mental, Espionage, or The Defender, he would be able to notify Lee and Lorne immediately.

  He closed the car door. “I think I’ll walk next door and get Brenda.”

  “Okay. I’ll pull up in the driveway,” Luke told him, hitting the garage door opener.

  Ducking under the rising door, Lorne hurried over to her place, leaping onto the front porch to ring the doorbell. It reminded him of the countless times he had rung that bell, then asked Mr. or Mrs. McKay if Brenda could come out and play. He glanced down at his dark, navy blue suit. We’ve come a long way since those days.

  The door opened with little wait. Brenda stepped out, and Lorne couldn’t help but admire the simple black dress and shoes she was wearing. Her chestnut hair was pulled back into a soft bun at the nape of her neck, and other than her gold watch, she wore no jewelry. Not even earrings. He also noticed she had very little makeup on. Still, she was incredibly beautiful.

  Lorne knew she had gotten where she was because of her skills and talent. But her buoyant looks definitely helped, as well. Charisma and brains made a deadly but lovely combination.

  Silently, she took his offered hand, and they descended the same porch steps they had sat on the previous day. He helped her into the backseat of their sedan, where Luke and Lee greeted her with kisses to the cheek.

  Michael McKay’s services were held at Bistrough Funeral Home, the same funeral home which had held Logan Palmer’s closed casket funeral, and later on, Lisa Palmer’s. Walking through the front double doors gave him the same feeling of bleakness as it had all those years ago. Glancing over at Luke, he could see the place was affecting his brother the same way. Lee had already gone inside the chapel.

  “Stay with me?” Brenda’s cold hand clutched his again. He gave her a squeeze for reassurance before leading her into the chapel, down the aisle, and over to the front pew where the immediate family would sit. There were at least two hundred people already present, and more were filing in.

  Painful memories came back to him, even though several years had already passed. Lorne could clearly remember the day his mother, eyes swollen from weeping, called her family together to break the terrible news.

  “Boys, your daddy is dead.”

  Luke, the quiet one, with his stormy, dark gray eyes, simply stared at her. It was Lee who pitched the first fit of denial. Lorne closed his eyes and bottled up the rising despair. Their mother continued.

  “He was helping bring that disabled shuttle in, when they were hit by a small meteorite storm. It was a freak accident. He…your father died instantly. He didn’t suffer.”

  “Where’s Dad now?” Luke asked, finally breaking his silence.

  “They brought his body into the cargo bay, and brought it back with them.”

  “They?”

  “The astronauts, darling.”

  She reached out to run her fingers through Luke’s mass of black hair. She did the same to each of them, trying to comb out some of the wildness in their manes. All of the Palmer males had pitch-black hair. And all the males had one shade or another of gray eyes. Only their mother, with her light brown hair and green eyes, stood out.

  Lorne glanced up to see more tears rolling down his mother’s cheeks. It was impossible to think that his father was never coming back. His dad was Infinity! His dad was a hero, and impervious to practically everything!

  “The space center is having your father’s body sent over to the funeral home. We’ll be able to go over there tomorrow to see it. I’ve been…” Her
voice cracked, and she had to give herself several moments before she could resume. “I’ve made arrangements to have Logan buried on Saturday.”

  Lee squalled, too young to take on the trappings of seriousness needed at this time. Lorne glanced over at his older brother, who was staring back at him. They would need to be the pillars of strength for their mother to lean on these next few days.

  “One other thing,” Lisa Palmer said after she’d paused to wipe her eyes and blow her nose with a tissue. “You know how we have to keep everything we do a secret, right? You remember your father and I talking to you about having a secret identity, right? If anyone asks you about Logan, tell them he died while away at work. You don’t need to go into any details. You don’t need to lie. I don’t think anyone will ask you that question now, but later on, when you get older, they might. Just tell them he died while he was at work. That’s all you need to say, okay? Have you got that? Luke?”

  “Yes, Mom.”

  “Lorne?”

  “Yes, Momma.”

  “Lee?” She pulled the baby into her lap and let him wail in her arms. She bowed her head and wept with him.

  Seeing that it was finally safe to leave, Lorne and Luke left the kitchen where she had gathered them. Luke went down into the basement where he always went to escape, and Lorne went out into the backyard. That’s where Brenda found him, hunched over in the treehouse, too overwhelmed by grief to know when she’d climbed up to join him.

  Lorne turned to look at the woman seated next to him. She was trying hard not to break down in front of the others. Casting his eyes over to where Luke sat on the other side of her, he saw his brother slowly shake his head.

  They were still holding hands. Giving hers a squeeze, he let it go and pulled her next to him until they were hip-to-hip, thigh-to-thigh. Brenda rested her head in the crook of his neck, and cried. He draped his arm around her shoulders and held her against him as the pastor continued with his eulogy.

  At one point he vaguely sensed Lee leaving. He assumed it was a restroom call until Luke’s ethereal voice buzzed in his head.