A Dad in a Cape (Mr Wonder Book 1)

by Sean Stansell

“I’m not saying I’m ready to jump on board with his plan,” Chuck said. “But I’m not ready to rule it out either. He’s right. I don’t have any idea what I’m doing. I’ll do whatever it takes to save Riley and Pax, including give up the damn cape.”

  “Giving him the cape isn’t going to get the kids back, Chuck. Giving them the cape might though.”

  “I wouldn’t bet on it,” Albie said. “That might have worked before. But you’ve made it personal for them. There’s a good chance their plan now is to take the cape, and clean up all the loose ends.”

  Chuck and Penny both looked at him. After a long moment, Chuck spoke. “You think they’re going to kill us?”

  Albie shrugged. “Who knows? But I wouldn’t bet my life on just giving up the cape and walking away.”

  Penny looked back at Chuck. “You can’t give him the cape. You know that, right? We have to come up with another plan.”

  “What other plan, Pen?”

  Penny turned back toward Albie. “Do these guys know who you are? From your site?”

  “I assumed they would at least know my name and face.”

  “Would they listen to you?”

  “That probably depends on what I was telling them. Whatcha thinking?”

  “Will you help us even if Chuck doesn’t give you the cape?”

  Albie looked offended. “Of course. I just want to see the kids safe.”

  Penny cracked the faintest hint of a smile. “Then I think I have a plan.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  “I just want to know if you think it’s going to be hours, days, weeks, or whatever,” Penny said, pacing between the counter and the refrigerator. Seeing Penny in the house without the kids made Chuck realize how empty the house felt without them.

  Albie maintained his calm demeanor. “My guess would be hours. If I was a betting man—which I am, by the way—I’d bet this evening, about the same time as yesterday.”

  “They want to get this over with as quickly as we do,” Chuck said. He hid his anxiety better than Penny. “Makes sense. How do you think they’ll set it up?”

  “Not sure. They could keep things similar. Control the territory. Fortify their defense. Or they could switch it up. Go for something public, to keep you from openly attacking them.”

  Chuck thought through both options. “Public limits their options too. They can’t strike back as easily. Plus, if you think they’re going to want to ‘clean up loose ends’, that will be way harder to do. I’m guessing we have a sequel to last night.”

  Albie nodded. “Seems reasonable. Either way, no sense in stressing over it more than necessary. If I’m —“

  “More than necessary?” Penny’s tone froze Albie more than her words. “My children are being held hostage. If that’s not worth stressing over, what is?”

  Albie raised his hand defensively. “Of course. You’re going through something unimaginable. Stress is unavoidable. But maybe we can find a productive way to channel it. I suggest we try to get some rest. We’re all going to need to be focused when this goes down.”

  Penny glared and sat at the island.

  “I’m going to recharge a bit,” Chuck said. He pulled three bottles of water from the fridge and passed them out. “I could use a hand.”

  “Sure thing,” Albie said. “Penny, you joining us? Or do you want to lie down for a bit?”

  Penny rolled her eyes and placed the back of her hand on her forehead. “Oh my. Yes, Mr. Jefferson. I do believe I have a touch of the vapors, and need to take my leave.” She slapped her hand down to the counter. “You do remember who knocked out their fucking leader last night, right? If you don’t stop treating me like a fucking china doll, you’re next. I’m staying.”

  Chuck stifled a laugh. He loved watching Penny get worked up like this. But he also knew that if he laughed, it would only turn her ire on him.

  Albie blushed. “Apologies. Less ‘Buttercup’. More ‘Black Widow’. Can we move on now?” Albie turned to Chuck. “Where should we start?”

  Chuck didn’t need much help recharging his reserves, but it gave Albie and Penny something to occupy their minds. Building fires and watching him consume them. Resetting circuit breakers. Punching him repeatedly.

  But hours without contact from the kidnappers frayed everyone’s nerves. Penny’s attitude toward Albie slid from cold to hostile. Chuck struggled to keep them focused on anything besides the wait.

  “Remind me, why are you here?” Penny snarled out the window as she slipped the van into reverse.

  Albie pointed his fingers at his chest. “Who? Me? Why am I here? I’m the guy who’s going to get your kids back. So maybe you should start being nice to me.”

  “I am being nice, trust me,” Penny said. She threw the van into park at the bottom of the driveway. “You ready, Chuck?”

  “Ready. Just take it slow, honey.” He braced himself, one foot back, hands out in front. “You’re a little wound up. Don’t get a lead foot.”

  “Not a good time to start on me, dear.” Penny revved the engine, taunting her husband.

  “Fair enough. Now, go slow. I’m not sure if this will work.”

  “Of course it will work,” Albie said. “It’s just kinetic energy. No different than the bowling ball you said you absorbed.”

  “The bowling ball wouldn’t pin me to the garage door if I couldn’t stop it. Now, let’s go, Pen.”

  Penny shifted the van into drive and inched it forward, so slowly the speedometer didn’t register the motion. “Slow enough?”

  “Perfect. Keep comin’”

  The van crept towards him. As it got near, Chuck focused on feeling its energy and pulling it into him. The hood struck his palms and the van stopped.

  “Did it work?” Penny asked. “Or did you just stop it the old-fashioned way?”

  Chuck felt for his energy reserves. He felt a little fuller. “Yeah, it worked. Let’s go again, a little faster.”

  “Told you it would work,” Albie said.

  “You open your mouth again, and I’m aiming for you next time,” Penny said, easing the van back down the driveway.

  “Absolutely not. No way. Not happening.” Annie shook as the words came out of her mouth. She struggled to keep her voice low, so Riley and Pax couldn’t hear. Her hands were balled into fists.

  “Calm down, you know we need to do it,” Orion said. “Somehow, even though we took down an experienced hero, the rookie and the psycho bitch got the better of us. We have to hit them where it hurts if we’re going to get the cape. Right now, he doesn’t take us seriously. We have to change that.”

  “Are you a fucking sociopath? I mean, I know you’re an asshole. That’s obvious every time you open your mouth. But now you want to hurt children? These children? That’s way beyond what I thought you were capable of.”

  “Nothing permanent. Just a few bruises. Then we send him pictures. That way he knows what we’re willing to do to get the cape.”

  Annie turned to Taurus, lying on the dirty motel bed. “You’re not considering this, are you?”

  Taurus opened his eyes and sat up, groaning. “I don’t like it either, but you weren’t there, Annie. They don’t respect us. They’re not going to let us finish the job unless we get their attention.”

  Annie’s jaw dropped. She could believe that Orion would be on board with hurting children, but hearing the idea coming from Taurus’ mouth shook her to the core. He had recruited her, been a mentor to her, and made her believe in what they were doing. She respected him. But she couldn’t respect this.

  “If either of you try to touch those kids, I’ll put a bullet in each of your heads. Are we clear? Find a different plan.”

  “I never thought I’d say this, but I wish Pax was throwing this spaghetti at me,” Chuck said. Eating with his kids was always a mix of fun and torture, and he looked forward to the rare occasions when he and Penny could eat alone. Those occasions were by choice, however, and that made all the difference.

 
“If it helps, I can pelt you with meatballs.” Albie mimed the motion.

  Penny didn’t look up from her plate. “Promise me, when this is over, I’ll never see you again.”

  Before Albie could respond, Chuck’s phone rang. He checked the display: “No Caller ID”. He took a deep breath, calmed his nerves, and pressed “Accept”.

  “Penny’s House of Asskicking, Chuck speaking. How may I help you?” It was important to show these guys he wasn’t freaking out.

  Penny gasped. She gesticulated wildly in Chuck’s direction. Chuck held up his finger in a “just one second” gesture.

  “Glad to hear you still have your sense of humor, Chuck. The abandoned beer distribution warehouse on West Ox Road in 20 minutes. Look up the address. Don’t be late this time.”

  “Let me talk to Riley,” Chuck said, but the line was already dead.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  The warehouse was deserted. Its dark sign’s broken letters formed a vicious smile. Lights flickered in the parking lot. The scene reminded Chuck of the beginning of a horror movie, right before the crazed serial killer tore through a gaggle of horny teenagers.

  “Let me do the talking,” Albie said. “I’ll reason with them. Get them to believe this whole thing isn’t worth their effort.”

  Chuck gave Penny a small nod. They had worked out an alternate plan back at the house, not bothering to tell Albie. They’d agreed it wasn’t worth the fight he would have put up. “Sure thing. We’ll hang back. We just want Pax and Riley. But if talking doesn’t work, I’m stepping in.”

  “Yeah, but don’t step in unless I give you the signal. Our best shot is diplomacy.”

  Chuck opened the door. “I miss my kids. Let’s get this over with.”

  The warehouse door squeaked as Chuck opened it. “Oh Taurus, we’re heeeeeeere.”

  Unlike the factory, the warehouse was well-lit. It was one large room. Empty shelves divided the space into neat rows. The floor was covered in trash. Its walls were tattooed with graffiti, remnants of drunken teenage parties in the abandoned space.

  Chuck patted his pocket. “Taurus, you here?”

  “Daddy!”

  “Riles? Is that you, sweetie?”

  “It’s me Daddy! Is mommy here?”

  “I’m here, baby girl.” Penny’s voice cracked as she seemed to fight back tears. “Is Pax with you?”

  “He’s here. He’s sleepin’. Can we go home now? I forgot Sophie, and she misses me.”

  “Soon, sweetie.” Chuck’s voice held only resolve and confidence. He wouldn’t show weakness in front of his kids or the kidnappers.

  “Glad they’re ok, Taurus,” Albie said. “That means we can work this out.”

  Chuck cringed. Albie sounded like a used car salesman getting warmed up.

  Taurus stepped out from behind a shelf. “Who, exactly, is ‘we’? I don’t believe we’ve met.”

  “Not formally, but I think we know a lot about each other. I’m Albie. Albie Jefferson.”

  A long pause. “Is that name supposed to mean something to me?”

  Chuck shook his head. He searched the room for any cover he could use to get close to the kidnappers. There was none. Again, these guys had picked a location that played into their favor. Think, Chuck.

  “I thought it might.” Albie sounded less confident. “I run a little website where your crew is a frequent topic of conversation.”

  “Ahhhh, yesssss.” Taurus drew out the words into a taunting hiss. “I know the site. A bunch of lonely losers nitpicking those of us who get out into the world and take action. I would say it’s a pleasure to meet you, but I make a point of being honest. I’ll take my mother’s advice and say nothing. Why are you here, Mr. Jefferson?”

  “As an impartial third party, to help move things along peacefully. These folks came to me after the unpleasantness the other night, asking for my help. I’ll be honest, I don’t think Chuck has what it takes to wear that cape. But I also don’t think his kids should be held hostage over it. I’m just here to help everything work out smoothly.”

  Chuck didn’t hear Albie’s slight, instead using the speech as extra time to come up with a plan. He needed to close the distance, without spooking Taurus. Their best chance was to take out one of the kidnappers before they knew what was happening, to even the odds. They were in the same gear as last time, so he couldn’t use any of his fire or electrical tricks to take them out. He had to get close enough to make it a hand-to-hand battle. The only way to do that was…

  “Thanks Albie, but I’ll take it from here.” Chuck slowly walked forward as he talked. “I think it’s pretty simple, right Taurus? I give you the cape, you give me the kids, and we all go home happy?”

  Albie balked. “Chuck, we talked about—“

  Chuck kept walking, didn’t look at him. “Thanks, Albie. I’ve got it. Wait with Penny.”

  “That’s the idea,” Taurus said. “Are you ready to behave and hand it over?”

  Chuck reached behind his neck and unfastened the cape, then swung it over his shoulders. He folded it while he walked. As he reached Taurus, he held it out with his left hand. “Yeah. Sorry about last night. How’s the head? And the leg?”

  “Not great, but I’ll live.” Taurus stood still for a moment as he appraised Chuck, wary of a trick. Satisfied, he reached to grab the cape.

  Chuck pulled it back. “Not so fast,” he said. “I’m not going to just hand it over and trust that you’ll give the kids back. Bring them over.”

  The kidnapper turned and signaled to a tall woman. She held Pax in one arm, Riley’s hand in the other. She nodded and walked the kids towards him.

  Chuck’s heart raced. He had to get this right. There wouldn’t be a second chance. He turned and winked at Penny. She nodded.

  “Hi, Daddy!” Riley tore loose from the woman’s hand and ran to Chuck. He crouched and threw his arms around her. He kissed her cheek and whispered, “I love you Riles. Now run to Mommy and give her a hug. She’s missed you.”

  He opened his arms and prodded her towards Penny. She sprinted toward Penny, squealing “Mommeeeeeeeeeee!”

  Taurus cleared his throat, snapping Chuck’s attention back to him. “Very touching. Consider that a good-faith gesture. You have your daughter back, now I need the cape.”

  Chuck stood. He looked back to see Riley smothered in her mother’s arms. Turning back toward Taurus, he smiled. “Yes, that was a nice gesture. I suppose you’ve earned this.” He extended his hand and offered the cape.

  Taurus stepped forward, his hand out. He grabbed the cape, then flew back, soaring through the air as if a truck had plowed into him. Or, more-precisely, a minivan. Wasting no time, Chuck darted forward, aimed at the woman holding his son.

  “What the—,” the woman managed, before Chuck was on her. He snatched Pax from her arm, pivoted, and swept her legs. She fell hard.

  Chuck turned and sprinted. “Penny, run!” Pax wailed. Chuck tucked his son tight to his chest. His feet pounded the concrete floor. Breath stung his lungs. He kept his head down, waiting for an attack.

  Pain exploded in his leg. He stumbled, twisting his body to shield the baby. He lifted his head and scanned the room, searching for the attacker. The woman was on her feet, running towards him, but she appeared to be unarmed. Taurus was still flat on his back. Where was the other guy?

  “Chuck!” He swung his head around to see Penny running toward him.

  “I’m ok. Take Pax and Riley and get out of here.” He held the baby out towards her.

  Penny snatched the boy out of his hands. “Are you really ok? Can you get out on your own?”

  Chuck nodded. She spun and sprinted toward the door, Pax tight against her chest.

  Chuck looked back toward the kidnappers. The woman was almost on him, charging hard at Penny and Pax. He tried to move his leg, and fresh pain crackled through it. Ok, I’m not going anywhere just yet. Think, Chuck…

  The woman loomed over him. She paused briefly, assessi
ng him. After a moment’s hesitation, she took off.

  Chuck watched her leave, carefully measuring her steps. He picked his moment, extended his hand, and arced electricity at her. It hit her leg just above the ankle, just as her pants leg pulled up, exposing her bare flesh. She shrieked and collapsed.

  Two down. Where’s the third? Chuck swiveled his head and caught a flash of motion. Without thinking, he rolled to his right.

  CRACK. WHIZZ. Chuck’s ears rung. He figured the bullet had hit where he was a moment before. Relying on instinct, he rolled back in that direction.

  CRACK. WHIZZ. “Fuck!”

  Chuck smiled.

  “Dammit, Chuck,” a man’s voice yelled. “You’re really starting to piss me off. Who rolls back the same way? Just lay still and let me shoot you again, ok? They’re just bean bag rounds. I don’t want to kill you.” He paused. “Well, actually I really do want to kill you. But I’m not going to.”

  Chuck fired a blast of lightning in his antagonist’s general direction, using the blast as cover to scramble to his feet. He limped toward his family, weaving to make himself a more difficult target.

  CRACK. He threw his hands over his head, but didn’t stop running. He reached Penny and the kids, motioning for them to run towards the door.

  “LIMA ECHO BRAVO ECHO ALPHA UNIFORM!” Albie’s voice was loud and firm, but carried no emotion.

  “Roger.” Stupid Lackey laid down his gun.

  “Roger,” the woman said.

  “Roger.” Taurus sat up, rubbing his jaw.

  Chuck stopped running. He turned back towards the comic book store owner, who held Riley in one arm. His other hand held a gun, pointed at the ground. “Albie?”

  “Chuck, I’m going to need that cape.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chuck’s mind raced. Albie was behind this? How? Why? Forget it. Not important. Think, Chuck…

  He looked at Penny. She may have been confused, but her faced glowed with pure, unfiltered hatred. “You get your double-crossing hands off my daughter, right now,” she said through gritted teeth.