“Okay, okay. I get it. Look, I didn’t know, okay.”
“Do you still want to be his friend?” I ask.
“No. Of course not.”
“Then here’s what you do. You call the F.B.I. field office here in New York, got it? And tell them everything you know. Have them relay the information to Agent Forest in Chicago. Can you do that?” I say.
He nods. I hover over to him, and wrap my arms around him and give him a hug.
“Thank you.” I whisper into his right ear. Then I pull away.
“And Devlin?” He asks.
“Leave him to me.” I say and hover over to the open window.
Beth walks over and puts her hand on his shoulder.
“Thank you. You’re doing the right thing.” Beth says and then reaches up to me.
I take her hand and pull her up, and tuck my other arm under her legs, and cradle her as I float above his emerald green carpet.
“Where can I find him?” I ask him.
He shrugs his shoulders. “He could be anywhere. He has a dozen houses all over the world.”
I smile at him. “The world isn’t such a big place.” I say, and then turn in the air and fly towards the open window.
“Call the F.B.I.” I remind him as I fly through the window and hover outside.
“Tell them that I know a lot more, and have information they might find interesting.” I say.
“Oh, and tell them that we’re the good guys. Friendlies. Got it?” Beth adds.
“Got it.” He says and turns to walk back to his desk, then he stops and looks at me again. “Be careful.” He warns us, then walks to his desk and picks up the phone.
I fly us up into the dark sky, and begin to fly us west, back home.
“Okay. Seriously, who the hell is Devlin De Marco?” Beth asks after we gain a few thousand feet.
“An actor.” I say, as I begin to accelerate.
“An actor?” Beth asks in shock.
“Yep.”
“No way.”
“Yes way. Do you know much about him?” I say.
“Not that much. You?” Beth replies.
“No. But my sister’s a huge fan.” I say.
“Bummer. What are you going to tell her?”
“The truth.”
Twenty Six
“No, it can’t be true!” Jessica practically yells in my face.
“I’m sorry, but it’s the truth.” I reply.
“He does lots of work for charities, and gives loads of money and equipment to various hospitals…”
“Well, he may do that. But he also blew some people up and kidnapped me. He was the one pulling all the strings, Jess.”
“It can’t be true.” Jessica says weakly, and sits down on my bed and cradles her head in her hands.
“How well can you know him, really?” I ask as I sit down next to her.
“He’s eccentric, extravagant maybe, but he’s not a killer. He wouldn’t harm anyone.”
“That’s just it, Jess. He didn’t pull a single trigger. It was done for him. He arranged it all, and other’s did his dirty work for him.”
“But why? Why would he do any of this, if it’s true? He was born into a wealthy family. They’re oil barons for crying out loud.”
“I don’t know all the answers yet, Jess. But I intend to find out.”
“What are you going to do?”
“What I must.” I answer grimly.
“I can’t believe this.” Jessica grumbles.
“Why are you defending him? It was your idea that I hunt down this creep.” I say angrily.
Jessica stands up and walks over to my dresser.
“I don’t know. I just find it hard to believe, that’s all.”
“I can fly, and can punch through walls, but you have trouble with this?” I ask.
“He seemed so nice.” Jessica says and chuckles quietly.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Well, you’re going to go to his house, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then I go too.”
“What? No way!” I say and stand up and walk to her. “This is dangerous, and you don’t have any powers Jess. What if something happened to you?”
“But nothing will happen to me, because you’re wrong about him.”
“You want proof?” I offer.
“I want to see the evidence.”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“Well, if he’s as bad as you say, then there must be something to incriminate him at his house, right?”
“I hope so. But what if he’s there? I can’t risk anything happening to you.”
“I told you. Nothing will happen, because you’re wrong. He’s not involved.”
“Do you have a costume, or something to hide your face?” I ask.
“As a matter of fact, I do.” Jessica says and grins.
She walks out of my room, and I follow her as she heads into her bedroom. She kneels down on the carpet, and reaches under her bed. She pulls out a red plastic bag, and then stands up. She holds the bag upside down over her bed, and the contents spill out. It looks like a black catsuit, but with some metal plates covering the shins and the forearms. Jessica reaches down and picks up a masquerade mask similar to my own, only hers covers the entire face, and is black and covered in black sequins.
“You’re serious?” I ask.
“Deadly. I’m coming with you this time, whether you like it or not.”
“We’ll be going there on Saturday. So be ready.” I say.
“Sure thing.”
“This house of his. Where is it again?”
“Which one?” Jessica asks.
“I don’t know. Which one does he use the most?”
“Hard to tell. But he bought a big house in San Diego a few years back. It was all over the internet. It’s a replica of the house used in the Iron Man movies.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. He’s a huge fan. He idolizes Robert Downey Jnr, and wanted that house.”
“So what did he do?” I ask.
“He flew to the house on the cliffs in his helicopter. Landed in the street just outside, and knocked on their door. He offered them $100,000,000 there and then on the spot for their house.”
“Just for a house?”
“This is no ordinary house though, Britney. Like I said, it’s a replica of Tony Stark’s house.”
“You think he’ll be there?” I ask.
“Hard to say. He’s shooting a movie at the moment, so he could be anywhere.”
“Do you have the address?”
“No one knows where it is exactly. I have a rough idea, though, and I know what it looks like.”
“Then you’re definitely coming.” I say.
“What time are we leaving?” Jessica asks.
“After breakfast.”
Jessica put her costume back in the red plastic bag, and shoves it under her bed again.
“Until Saturday, then.” Jessica says and then heads downstairs.
I stand and stare down at her bed. I feel nervous about bringing Jessica along. If anything happens to her, I will never forgive myself. I will have to be extra cautious. I have no choice. I turn and walk back into the hallway, and go back into my room and take off my costume. I fold it and place it in my comic book chest and close the lid. I get changed into some blue jeans and a white blouse, and then head back downstairs.
“Are you okay?” Dad asks as I walk past him.
“Hmm?” I mumble and turn to look up at him.
“You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.” Dad says jokingly.
“I’m fine.” I lie.
The next day is a school day, and I find it a welcome distraction. I focus on my classes, and make copious notes, much to Stuart’s surprise.
By lunch time, some of the dread I’m feeling is beginning to lift. Until...
“So, when do we raid this guy’s mansion?” Paul asks as he grins at Mitchell.
; “Saturday, right?” Mitchell asks me.
I nod, and continue trying to chew a mouthful of my tuna-fish sandwich. It sticks in my throat as I try to swallow, and I chug on a bottle of lemonade to wash it down.
“Are you okay?” Stuart asks.
“There’s a complication.” I mutter.
“What do you mean?” Mitchell asks.
“We have a passenger.” I say and look at them sheepishly.
“Who?” Paul asks.
“My sister.” I reply.
“Why? It might be dangerous, Britney. She can’t come.” Mitchell says.
“I agree with you. But, she has to come. She won’t believe me that this is our guy. She has to see with her own eyes.”
“Oh, man. So we can’t really let rip?” Paul asks.
“We all have to be extra-careful. That’s all.” Stuart says, and I smile at him in thanks.
“What do we do when we get our hands on this guy?” Mitchell asks.
“Hand him over to the Feds.” I reply.
“We’re gonna need evidence.” Paul says.
“Exactly. So we need to be very careful while we’re there.” I say.
“I still can’t believe it’s him, though. He just doesn’t look the type.” Paul says and shakes his head.
“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Stuart says.
“No kidding. Have you seen the guy? He looks like Johnny Depp, only not as cool.” Paul says.
“Never mind what he looks like. I just want to see him behind bars, where he belongs.” I say.
“Amen to that.” Beth says.
“So where do we meet?” Stuart asks.
“My dad’s scrap yard. Just after nine.” Mitchell replies, and we all nod in agreement.
People start leaving, so we finish our drinks and get up.
I head to my next class with Stuart.
“Your sister’s not afraid of heights, is she?” Stuart asks with a smile.
“I don’t think so.” I say.
Stuart shrugs. “I guess we’ll find out.”
The week goes by so slowly. Jessica keeps pestering me about how we were getting there, and I keep telling her, “It’s a surprise.”
The problem is trying to keep her subdued in front of Dad. She’s not normally this excited, so I keep having to calm her down, and remind her that if she blows this, then she won’t be coming at all. She eventually gets the message, and then it’s a case of trying to keep my own nerves in check. Dad looks like he senses something is amiss, and I find him looking at me oddly every now and then.
“You know you can talk to me, right?” Dad says over dinner.
I nod as I chew my food.
“If you’re having….issues…then, I’m here for you. Okay?” Dad says.
I hate that I have to keep lying to him, and I think it’s starting to show in my face now.
“A problem shared is a problem halved, as my Pop used to say.” Dad says.
I look down at my plate, and then look up at him and swallow.
“There are some things….that I can’t share with you.” I say, and the words feel like stones in my heart.
“Look, I know I’m not your Mom. And there are some things that I might never fully understand, but I’m here, and I’m the only one who is.”
“Dad, please. It’s not that, at all. You do a great job. But what I’m going through right now….well, it’s difficult.”
“Does it have anything to do with Mitchell?”
“No.”
“Okay.” He puts his knife and fork down, and wipes his mouth with a red napkin.
“Is it school?” He asks.
“No. I can’t say what it is right now. Hopefully, one day I will be able to. But not right now.”
He pushes his chair away from the table. “You’re not pregnant, are you?”
I chuckle in spite of his serious expression.
“No, Dad. It’s not that.”
“Why can’t you tell me?”
“It might change how you feel about me.” I say.
“Why, what have you done?”
“I can’t say. It pains me to say that, but I really can’t tell you. Not yet.” I say.
“Well, when you are ready…” He says and stands up. “…then, I’m here.” He says and then takes his dish to the sink.
Maybe when this is all over, then maybe I can tell him. But where do I begin?
I sigh and close my eyes.
It’s Friday, and tomorrow morning we’re going to settle this whole mess, one way or the other. Devlin is going to get a rude awakening.
I can’t wait to knock on that guy’s door.
Twenty Seven
I’m dimly aware of my bedroom door being opened, then I hear faint footsteps across my carpet. Then Jessica sits down on my bed and pats my shoulder.
“Come on, sleepy. Get up.”
I turn and look at her. She’s already in her black costume.
“Jess, we’re not going right away.” I say as I sit up in bed. “We need breakfast first. Put some clothes on.”
“Hurry up, then.” Jessica says and then leaves.
I climb out and close my bedroom door. Then I slip into my costume, and then put some clothes on over the top. A brown sweater and some black jeans. I put everything else in my Chinese lucky cat backpack, and then take it downstairs. Jessica is already sitting with a bowl of Coco Pops. I make myself a coffee, and some toast. I spread some apricot jam on my toast, and then sit down at the table across from Jessica. She is just finishing her cereal when we hear Dad coming down the stairs.
“Oh, hi. You’re both up early.” Dad says when he staggers into the kitchen.
“Morning, Dad.” I say as he goes to make himself a coffee.
“So, what are you doing today?” Dad asks.
Oh, you know, the usual. Fly to some guy’s house and arrest him with my friends.
“Nothing much really. I was thinking of going to Beth’s.” I lie, again.
“And you?” He asks Jessica.
“Hanging out with some friends from work.” Jessica says quickly, and then grabs her black Nike backpack. “See you later.” She says as she leaves the kitchen.
“Yeah, see you.” I say, and take another bite of my toast.
“You two seem to be getting along better.” Dad says as he sits down across from me.
I nod and smile as I chew.
“It’s good to see.” He says and takes a sip of his coffee.
I finish my toast, and then wash it down with my coffee. I get up from the table and head for the kitchen door.
“I love you, you know.” Dad says and looks at me.
“I know, Dad. And I love you too.” I say and then reach down and wrap my arms around his muscular neck. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
“Be good.” He says and pats my arm.
“I’ll try.” I say and kiss his stubbly cheek.
I grab my backpack and head outside. The sky is grey and overcast. The trees are swaying in the breeze as I walk down my street towards the corner, where I know Jessica will be waiting. I find her leaning against a wooden fence when I turn the corner. She shoulders her backpack and looks at me expectantly.
“Don’t scream.” I warn her.
I scoop her up in my small arms, and leap towards the heavens. The street is soon left behind as I fly south. I climb until we’re a few thousand feet up, and then rocket south. After a few seconds, I begin my descent, and after just a few more seconds, I land within Mitchell’s dad’s scrapyard, next to the pile of motorcycle parts.
“Wow.” Jessica blurts out as she staggers over and then sits down on the dirt.
“Still want to come?” I ask as I remove my backpack.
“Of course.”
I unzip the backpack, and remove my normal clothes and tuck them inside, and remove my contact lens case and my mask. I remove the color lenses, and put them inside and then slip on my pink glittery eye mask. Jessica follows suit, and soon
stands next to me in her black and metal costume, and black sequined face mask.
“Well, hello there, ladies.” I hear Paul’s voice, and turn and see him floating around the pile of scrap and land gently near us.
“Hey, I thought you couldn’t fly?” I ask.
“I wasn’t flying.” Paul says and points a white gloved finger to his right temple.
“Nice costume, Vlad.” Jessica says and giggles.
“Hey, I’m not a bloody vampire, alright. Geez!” Paul says and adjusts his red lined black cape.
“Yeah, sure.” Jessica chuckles.
There’s a rush of wind, and then a cloud of dirt is kicked up around us. When the cloud of brown dust settles, Stuart and Beth are standing there in their costumes.
“Hi, guys.” Jessica says and grins.
“And what do we call you?” Stuart asks.
“Metal Girl.” Jessica replies.
“Where’s Crash?” I ask.
Cosmic Girl Rising Up Page 30
