SECRET IDENTITY Page 5

  Small emergency. Local police need Espionage’s testimony on a case. He should be back before we head for the cemetery.

  Lorne gave him a thumbs-up behind Brenda’s back. Her tears were lessening, just as the service was winding down. As people filed past the casket for one final farewell, many came over to offer their condolences. No one questioned why the Palmers were there. Most everyone knew the foursome had been inseparable growing up.

  He needn’t have worried about Brenda, or anyone, noticing Lee’s absence. Lorne helped her into the limo reserved for the family while Luke followed with their vehicle.

  The drive to the cemetery took less than twenty minutes, even with the slow motorcade and police escort. The graveside service took thirty minutes. Lee was back with them before the pastor gave his final prayer and dismissed them.

  They were walking back to the car when Brenda paused. “Hey. You guys have any plans?”

  “Plans?” Lorne echoed.

  “Yeah. I mean, are you hungry? What time is it, anyway? People have been stopping by the house with casseroles and stuff all day yesterday and this morning. I’ve got enough food to feed an army.” She blew her nose again, then balled the tissue up in her hand. “Come on, guys. It’s just us now, and you’re all the f-family I have left.” The last few words nearly broke her, but she managed to pull herself together. “I can’t stand the idea of being alone right now, okay? I mean, even if you’re not hungry, let’s go back to my house, okay? If just for a can of soda?”

  None of them were hungry, but the invitation made perfect sense.

  It was quiet on the drive back. Lorne couldn’t help but notice that Brenda kept herself pressed tightly against him the entire way. As much as he loved the feel of her—the warmth of her body, and the weight of her head on his shoulder—he wished circumstances were different.

  But it was a start.

  Chapter 7

  Revelation

  Hey, Lorne.

  Luke didn’t break into his thoughts very often. Just when there was something that needed his immediate attention. He concentrated and sent back a reply.

  What?

  Come down here, would you?

  Getting up from his bed where he had been trying to nap, Lorne sidled into the kitchen, walked into the pantry, then hit the secret switch which opened the narrow door. The stairs were automatically lit on his way down. Luke was sitting in front of a bank of viewscreens, his back to the stairs. It wouldn’t matter if he turned around or not. Mr. Mental knew where everyone was at all times.

  “What’s up?”

  The man crooked a finger at him, gesturing for Lorne to join him. “I got a call from the Fullerton Police Department. They need The Defender to reappear and help them investigate that explosion at the chemical plant.”

  “All right. Any idea why?”

  “They believe it wasn’t an accident, but they’re requesting your help to find proof. Or rather, they asked Mr. Mental if I knew of you. I told them of course I did, and I would be happy to pass along their message.”

  Lorne noticed that one monitor in particular held Luke’s interest. Stepping closer, he watched the scene unfold. “Is that video of the fire?”

  “What little there is, thanks to the media.”

  “So, what are we looking for?”

  “A pattern. A suspect. Visual evidence.” Luke swiveled around in his chair and looked up at his younger sibling. “I can’t prove this yet, but I’m quite certain the explosion was premeditated.”

  Lorne blinked. “Okay. Sabotage is not impossible.”

  “Because Brenda was there.”

  Surprised, Lorne stared at the dead serious look on Luke’s face. “Got any more bombshells you want to drop?”

  “And she was sent here to draw us out.”

  Lorne backed up until his butt hit the table behind him. Stunned, he sat down on it as he tried to grasp what Luke was telling him. A twinge marking the beginnings of a headache stabbed him between the eyes, and he pressed a thumb to the spot, closing his eyes as he gathered his wits back around him.

  “W-w-wait. Are you telling me someone already knew about The Defender before he made himself known to the public?”

  “No. I’m implying someone suspects Fullerton may harbor a superhero, and they’re determined to see if their theory floats.”

  “But…how? I mean, I did all my training in the remotest parts of the world. You yourself, you’ve never appeared in person, or even shown your real face when you project. And Lee wears a uniform and mask like I do, but he can also slip in and out like the proverbial fog on cat’s feet.”

  At the mention of their younger brother, a shadow crawled across the wall beside them. At first indistinct, it quickly coalesced into the shape of a man. A second later, Lee stepped into the room as easily as if he had walked through a door. The fact that he was wearing his costume and mask proved he had been out on a call. “All right. I’m here like you asked, bro. Are my ears burning for a reason?”

  “Yeah. We may have a problem,” Lorne told him.

  Like The Defender, Lee wore all black when he became Espionage, except that his costume of choice was a simple long-sleeved, black dress shirt, black gloves, and black pants with black dress shoes. A length of black material tied behind his head shielded the upper half of his face. No flashy fashion, as he liked to refer to it. His super persona was not meant to be public, hence the simplicity. Lee slid the mask up to his hairline as he waited for more detail.

  “It appears that we may not have been as careful as we thought we were,” Luke continued. “At some point, we must have given ourselves away.”

  “How?” Lorne challenged him. “We never leave the house publicly unless we’re Palmers. You never reveal yourself, and we know how elusive Lee can be. And I always have my shields up when I leave as Defender. So tell me, how could we have given ourselves away?”

  Luke shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’m trying to find out. In the meantime, it appears that one thing is very evident. Whoever is trying to out us is using Brenda as bait because they know she’s close to us.”

  He squinted at Lorne.

  “Every time you go out on a mission now, you’re going to have to be super cautious.”

  “What makes you think we might have inadvertently revealed ourselves?” Lee asked. “Where does Brenda fit in?”

  Turning back to the monitors, Luke punched a few buttons on the console in front of him. “It may not be all of us who are under suspicion. I think whoever is behind this believes that one of us is a superhero, and they’re wanting to prove it by setting up a few traps.”

  “And using Brenda to lure us in,” Lorne repeated.

  Lee sniggered. “So this guy, whoever he is, thinks one of us has superpowers?”

  Luke smiled. “Yeah, well, it is rather funny, in a way. It’s to our advantage, though. Because all of us are empowered, we’re able to watch each other’s backs. Since I don’t leave here when I work, I can oversee the both of you.”

  “What if they’re suspecting Espionage?” Lorne suggested. “What if they’re wanting to see which one of us is him?” He looked to Lee. “Have you used your powers in front of witnesses?”

  “In front of law enforcement, yeah,” the youngest brother admitted. “But never in front of witnesses or the public. The only people who’ve seen me in action are in the highest echelons. I don’t bring in people, Lo, just evidence. You know that. Disks, papers, photos, that sort of thing. Or I get access to computers and drop the security screens, or email out stuff.” He gave a snort. “It’s amazing how often people don’t check their ‘sent’ mail to see what’s gone out until it’s too late.”

  Luke broke in. “What I’m getting are some serious mental vibes that I’m having difficulty sorting out. What little I’ve been able to discern is this. These people, whoever they are, suspect one of us has superpowers. Now, whether or not they know about our dad has not come into focus. Irregardless, they know of Brenda’s co
nnection to us. Which is why they rigged the explosion at the factory.”

  He pointed a finger a Lorne. “The fact that The Defender is now open knowledge is a plus in our column. You won’t have to hide him any more, but you’re still vulnerable. And since you’re the one who’s now public knowledge, you’re going to be watched closer than rash on a baby’s bottom. You’re our weakest link right now, Lorne. From this moment, every move you make, every word you say, will be filtered and sifted through, and examined for any clue as to who you are and where you’re from.” Sighing, Luke added, “The world has changed mightily since the days Dad defended this corner of the galaxy.”

  Lorne gave a nod at the monitor. “You said the police were wanting to question The Defender about the explosion?”

  “Don’t be surprised if you find other people there with them.”

  “Want me to shadow, hang in the back to see if anyone acts suspicious?” Lee suggested.

  Luke nodded. “It wouldn’t hurt.”

  “What about Brenda? She could be in danger if they’re using her to get me to reveal myself,” Lorne said.

  “I’ll keep a mental fence around the house, just to be on the safe side,” Luke assured him. He sighed loudly and rubbed his temples. “It would be nice if she’d sell us her house so we can expand underneath her foundation,” he added.

  Lorne crossed his arms over his chest. “I suggested it. She said she’d think on it. I honestly think she’ll sell.”

  “For sure?” asked Lee.

  “Yeah. She doesn’t want to give up the only home she’s ever known, but she doesn’t want to rent it out, either, since she lives in Ocean City, and can’t keep an eye on the property from that far away. On the other hand, I told her that if she sold to us, the place would still be open to her any time she wanted to come back to visit, and she knows it’s the truth.”

  “Or, she could decide to rent to us,” Lee added.

  “Well, many moons ago I swore I would not delve into her mind, and I’m not going back on my word. I can tell how she’s feeling, but I won’t know her final decision until she either tells us, or I get a foreshadowing.” Luke yawned and shook off his weariness. “Better get over to the police station, Lorne. The sooner we get this mystery solved about the factory explosion, the sooner we can find out who’s trying to find out our secret.” He gave Lorne a worried look. “Be careful.”

  “I’ll do my best,” Lorne promised. Turning to Lee, who was dragging his mask back on, he smiled. “If you’re coming along with me, wanna ride in my pocket?”

  “Ha ha. Not funny,” Lee groused at the old joke. A second later, he’d folded himself and vanished upstairs.

  Lorne was right behind him.

  Chapter 8

  Investigation

  If it had been for any other reason, Brenda would have told Wilson Wagner to take a long leap off a short pier when he’d called. The man knew she was on funeral leave, and, damn it, she had the right to take as long as she needed before reporting back to work. Everyone back at the business knew she wasn’t the type of person who abused sick leave. Hell, she rarely took any because her drive to better herself and advance up the corporate ladder always superceded any sniffles or aches she was fighting at the time. Like last January when she had to act as escort to those five Japanese VIPs while stoking a high fever.

  Still, she had to give the man credit. He had profusely apologized for calling her, and Brenda had bit her tongue and let the guy finish. After all, he was a company bigwig, while she was still a subordinate. If it hadn’t been for him, she wouldn’t have been given the promotion and the chance to see Dobbling come to Fullerton. Both instances had come together so perfectly, she couldn’t have planned it any better.

  “The explosion,” her boss said, cutting right to the chase. “Who was the guy who came to put it out?” At the mention of the man in black, she could feel every nerve in her body spike with attention.

  “I don’t know. We didn’t introduce ourselves.”

  “We’ve been informed he’s heading over to the police station.”

  “Where?”

  “Right there in Fullerton. Source says he’s going to help the police investigate the cause of that explosion. Now’s our chance to get some great PR with this guy, Brenda. And I was thinking, since you were the one who pushed so hard to get the factory built in your hometown, and since you’re already there…” The man’s voice trailed off.

  She could hear a slight pleading tone mixed with the almost order. He wasn’t begging. Not yet. But he gave her no leeway to decline.

  “Wil.” She sighed heavily. “I’m not an investigator. Other than working for the company, what would be the purpose of me being there? Want me to hold his hand while he looks around?”

  She was trying to be facetious, but the truth was a pack of wild dogs wouldn’t be able to keep her away. Not if it meant speaking to him again. Maybe getting to know his name. Or more.

  “You’re our official representative, McKay. We’re needing you to stay there until this mess is cleared up.”

  For some reason, those were the exact words she was wanting to hear. By being ordered to stay in Fullerton until it could be determined who, or what, was responsible for the explosion, Brenda felt the knot in her chest slowly loosen. She needed this downtime.

  “Someone’s head is going to roll,” Wagner continued without waiting for her to comment. “People died in that accident, and Dobbling is hoping it’s not our fault. That’s what we’re needing to find out, and the sooner the better. That’s why we need you to be there while this new superhero checks out the place.”

  “And what if it is our fault?” she asked. “What if Dobbling, or one of its employees, is the cause?”

  “We’ll deal with that issue if and when it becomes an issue. In the meantime, keep me posted, all right? I don’t care if it’s three o’clock in the morning.”

  She checked her watch. “It might not be a good idea to try to catch him at the police station. I’m heading straight for the factory and wait for him there.”

  “Great!” Wagner chuckled. “Make us proud.”

  Make him proud? “Condescending bastard,” she murmured as she closed her cell phone and stuffed it back in her purse. Hell, the superhero in the black leather pants stopped being a strange new phenomena the moment his male magnetism gave her female hormones a shot of adrenalin. She hurried to pull on something that would look halfway decent.

  She could see the factory was still marked off with police tape when she pulled into the parking lot. Most of the debris from the blast had been picked up, but some of those little orange flags still marked areas of interest. Parked not too far away, she also spotted the Channel Eight van, already set up and filming, as well as Mike Green from the Fullerton Free Herald.

  This is going to be a bitch. Not only was she going to have to watch out for the costumed superhero, but she would have to contend with the news media as well. Well, she should have known better than to think the newshounds wouldn’t be out for blood for this story. She could see the headlines now: Major Corporation Opens Its Doors to Death and Destruction.

  Fortunately, there were no other news crews around, which was surprising. It probably meant they were here just to get evidence of the blast for their files. They may not have a clue that the superhero was due to arrive. Silently, Brenda gave kudos to her boss for having first-rate insiders. Let’s hope whoever gave him the info is reliable.

  Getting out of her car, she hurried around to the side where she would be least noticed. Yes, she was planning on crossing the police barricade, but she wasn’t stupid enough to enter that toxic dump that used to be a chemical factory. She just wanted to find a spot where she could attract the superhero’s attention when he arrived, and hopefully ask him some questions.

  She took a deep breath before she exited the vehicle. The moment the door was open, Brenda realized she needn’t have bothered. The area was cleared of all smoke and fumes. So far she hadn
’t seen any sign of the black-clad man. Maybe he was inside.

  A few feet away, Brenda noticed where most of the wall was missing. Maybe if she went over there, she might be able to see inside—

  A sudden strong breeze gusting behind her made her turn around, and she spotted him up on top of the factory, balancing on a remaining bit of roof while still waving the huge steel doors. She frowned, wondering why he would still be fanning the interior, when his intent suddenly became clear. Oxygen fed the fires still burning inside, but the doors would act like giant gusts of wind, extinguishing the flames like a kid blowing out the candle on his birthday cake. But what about the coals? Wouldn’t fanning them cause more fires?

  She took a few steps toward the building to watch the black-clad stranger in action while his attention was directed elsewhere. He was all muscle. He also had a cute tush, and even though she couldn’t see the definition of muscles in his back because of the jacket, she knew they had to be as steel-strong as the doors he was holding.

  More intriguing was the fact that this man had shown up right after the explosion when he did. Coincidence?

  The slam of car doors told her more people were arriving to look over the mess. Some of them might be more news crews. If it was, her chances of being able to talk to the stranger would drastically decrease. If she was going to get to know the man’s name, it had to be now or never.

  The stranger dropped the doors to the ground and turned to either take off or leave. Brenda yelled up at him and frantically waved both arms over her head.

  “Sir! Please, sir! Down here!”

  The stranger glanced down at her, but he appeared to hesitate. Brenda moved closer, and her action seemed to change his mind.

  “Stop right there!” he ordered, holding out a hand in warning.

  She stopped, never taking her eyes away from him. She watched as he took a deep breath, then stepped off the roof onto thin air.

  Wide-eyed, Brenda noticed how the stranger slowly floated down to the ground approximately twenty feet away. No wings, no cape, no showmanship. Just all business. Once his feet touched down, he came toward her.