by Brandy Gaye
Darrin would never admit that he started hanging out in the known criminal bars and dives to see if you can get information on the explosion. But he wasn't doing it for Victor anyway. Samantha was the only person he cared what they thought. Maybe her parents were on that list to, but he hadn't really seen them in several years.
In any case, he was the only one who wasn't surprised that evening when the news told about the new hero in town while everyone watched – this was a bar full of degenerates and criminals so they had a vested interest – he drank beer and rolled his eyes at every sentence that came out of the new crusader's mouth.
Victor had decided sooner rather than later for making his debut. With the law and turmoil, every ruffian would be coming out of the cracks. Plus, after the incident with Samantha this morning, he needed a distraction. He hadn't meant to freak her out by telling her he loved her. It just came out. And surprisingly, he was okay with it. It seemed the most natural thing he'd ever said. Hindsight, however, said it might have been a bit too soon.
He went back to Maury's apartment and called his friend Sheila at the local channel 7 anonymously with instructions to be at the corner of Lou and Bixby at 5 for a scoop about the explosion. Sheila had been new in town just last year and snagged a job interning at the local news station. Reporting, obviously, was the endgame and just in the past few months, she's been hounding Victor for any leads. Being the top cop in town, a lot of paparazzi bugged him, but she had a spark and a go getting attitude that he liked. She was smart, overlooked and brave and she'd hinted more than once about a date but Vic couldn't date a reporter. Not with his secrets. He let her come on a couple of stake outs and she even crawled through a sewer with the SWAT team. That was the first time she'd come to him and when she didn't bat an eye at the suggestion, he'd decided he liked her.
He stood atop the B. Rogers building; the tallest and prettiest in the city. In fact, it had won numerous awards for its aesthetic, eco friendly appeal. The plan was for Victor to fly down and land on the corner in front of the news van which Sheila had been instructed to bring. He knew she'd get one. And after today, they'd give her her own.
It didn't take long for a crowd to form. Victor knew it wouldn't. This was a busy intersection at this time of day. His first act as Captain was to help Sheila climb to the top of her game. Once he'd landed, she was on him instantly, her microphone and cameraman in his face. And she wasted no time.
"Who are you?"
"Captain, ma'am."
"You do know there are laws against superheroes in the city right? Why brave it?"
A terrible injustice has befallen our city. We lost great officers and the city will need help. I stayed in the shadows too long. If the superhero opponents can catch me, they can prosecute." He laughed.
"Well, what is your plan of attack?"
"I will bring down any law breaking hooligans. And, most importantly, I will find the person or people responsible for the police ball bomb. And I will bring them to justice."
"That's a pretty big promise, Captain."
"Yes it is. And I don't break promises."
With that, he flew back up out of sight.
