Justice from the Shadows

by Nadirah Foxx

  Pushing to my feet, I said, “Then, I’ll leave you to it.”

  ◆◆◆

  As soon as the sun set, I slipped into the suit and took off in my car. Personally, I couldn’t tell any difference in it. Everything appeared the same to the naked eye.

  “You’re not in stealth mode.” Debbie’s voice came through the comm.

  “How do I do that?” I steered onto the highway.

  “Reach beneath the dashboard on the driver’s side... Do you feel the button?”

  “Yeah.” I pressed it in. Still, I didn’t notice anything.

  “It worked!” Debbie squealed. “You just disappeared from our cam, but we’re tracking your heat signature from the suit.”

  “How? I thought it was undetectable.”

  Josh said, “We know the right frequency to tap into.”

  “Okay. Well, we have a bit of a drive. I’ll touch base once I arrive.”

  “Understood.”

  The rest of the trip was spent in virtual silence. I took the time to do some much-needed thinking, especially about what would happen when this was over. Would I return to the precinct? Or would I continue at Sentinel Security?

  Honestly, there was no reason for me to leave. The board of directors considered me the new CEO, no questions asked. The staff respected my authority. Our projects were moving forward without delay. We even surprised the mayor and delivered new hardware and software ahead of schedule. The City Center job was labeled a success.

  Josh and I were complicated, but the issue was mine alone. I needed time to grieve without adding a new relationship to the mix. It was something he’d have to understand.

  “Beauty Queen?” It was Debbie.

  “Yeah?”

  “The target isn’t on site. There’s an event in Arcadia with dignitaries from the Tri-Cities in attendance.”

  “Can I get inside our destination, Code Breaker?”

  “I’m looking at schematics,” he said. “Security was installed by Covert. It’s an easy hack.”

  “I’m twenty minutes out. I’ll meet you there.”

  Arcadia City was twice the size of Liberty. More people meant more houses, more businesses, and even more crime. A special task force had been formed to address the issues, but as corruption moved in, their efforts were thwarted. The robberies, both small and large, became too much for the ACPD. Eventually, the good guys left the force and the town behind.

  Citizens who were able to leave did so in a mass exodus. Many of the ones who stayed didn’t care about the city. It was just a place to live until they could afford better, which wouldn’t happen thanks to its government.

  Taxes were outrageously high in Arcadia. In Liberty City, taxpayer money provided a sizable, luxurious house for the mayor on the west side of town. Arcadia’s mayor lived in a sprawling mansion surrounded by a wrought-iron fence. Perhaps she was acclimating herself to an eventual life behind bars.

  I was surprised Mayor Simpson allowed Covert Technologies to provide security for her home. When she took office, Sentinel Security made a bid to secure the government offices along with the mansion. She didn’t even entertain Ryan’s offer.

  Exiting my car, I eased the door closed. Despite Debbie’s assurances, I still held out doubt about the stealthiness of the vehicle. Members of the ACPD patrolled the mayor’s property. Last thing I needed was a sound tipping anyone off.

  “Beauty Queen?”

  “Yeah, Code Breaker?”

  “We’re down the block. Let me know what you need.”

  I surveyed the scene from where I stood. “Give me a minute.”

  There were only two cops on the front door, and I didn’t notice any guard dogs.

  “Digital Pirate here. If you’re looking for attack dogs, stop. Mayor Simpson hates animals. That’s why she has members of the ACPD stationed on the property.”

  “Thanks.” Even with an access code, I couldn’t simply walk up to the front door. Then I spied a window open on the side of the house. “I found a way in.”

  Climbing fences were my kryptonite. I hated heights with a passion. Fortunately, the mayor’s property was hilly, making some spots lower than others. I boosted myself up and over the fencing and then sprinted toward the open window.

  I nearly landed on my ass when I became entangled in the sheer curtain. Before rising off the floor, I listened for approaching footsteps but heard none.

  Looking around, it appeared I’d ended up in a study. Apparently, the mayor had no fear of getting caught in an impropriety. Either that or she kept nothing incriminating at home.

  I made quick work of searching her desk drawers but found nothing. That left a digital search. I inserted the thumb drive Debbie gave me and then turned on the computer. The storage device immediately triggered an app she could control.

  “Beauty Queen, don’t touch anything. Give us a few minutes.”

  The screen prompted for a password. I watched as a series of numbers, letters, and symbols scrolled by. As my team deciphered the correct one, the digit locked in and the process began again. Within seconds, the ten-digit code had been entered.

  My job was an easy one. Click on two folders—files and email—and then drag and copy. Footsteps and voices sounded outside the door.

  Twenty percent copied.

  I tapped my fingers on the desktop. The sounds grew closer.

  Fifty percent copied.

  “DP, we have company.”

  Josh said, “Sit tight. Let’s see if they move on.”

  “If not?”

  “You get to try out your equipment.”

  Immediately, my fingers went to the holster strapped to my waist and thigh. I gripped the knife’s hilt, preparing for a battle. But could I actually wield the blade? Strike the body? Take a life? Could I do it? Would I do it? Maybe no one had to be hurt.

  Eighty percent copied.

  The footsteps stopped outside the door, and the knob turned.

  “Why are you going in there?”

  “Feel that?”

  “What?”

  “You left the window open, dumb ass!”

  “Me?”

  “Don’t matter. Boss lady will come home, and she’ll know right away we were getting blowed. You better hope nothing crawled inside.”

  That explained a lot, especially the faint scent of weed. Despite my opinion of Mayor Simpson, it wasn’t logical for her to leave a window open in her study.

  When the door creaked open, panic set in. If either of them came around the desk, they’d see what was happening and would probably try to shut it down. Failing to do so, they would at least confiscate the thumb drive.

  The men—one blond and the other a redhead—couldn’t see me. I prayed no one noticed the glow from the computer.

  “Something’s not right in here,” said the blond. “Is the computer on?”

  “How the hell am I supposed to know,” said his partner. “It could be the moonlight. Go check it out if you’re so curious.”

  “Beauty Queen,” said Debbie. “I know what you’re thinking. Don’t kill. Just distract.”

  How the hell was I supposed to distract anyone while invisible?

  My heartbeat hammered in my ears. I didn’t want to exercise my option. Carrying a weapon was supposed to be my immediate backup—only to be used if absolutely necessary.

  Ninety percent copied.

  “Look, dude, the computer ain’t important,” said the redhead. “Just make sure nothing crawled in here. Boss lady hates animals.”

  It did and she definitely had claws. Crouching low, I crawled over to where they stood. Lifting the blade, I swiped low across someone’s leg.

  Red yelped and shouted, “What the fuck?”

  “What are you complaining about?” asked his partner.

  “I think something came in.” Red bent down and touched his leg. “Fuck! I’m bleeding. Forget the window! I got to look at his. With my luck, I’ll need a damn tetanus shot.”

  The man li
mped out while the blond guy chuckled as he walked out.

  “Beauty Queen, the files are completely copied,” Debbie said.

  Thank God! Running over to the desk, I ejected the drive and shut down the computer. Tucking it inside the holster, I dove out the open window and sprinted toward the fence.

  “Beauty Queen?” It was Josh. “Everything okay?”

  “Fine, Code Breaker. I’m on way to the vehicle. Meet you at the bunker.”

  “No. Let’s convene at my place.”

  Why did he want to meet there?

  I pondered the question as I traveled back to the highway. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant for me to leave Arcadia City quietly. Before I left the neighborhood behind me, I glimpsed a thug assaulting an older woman. No, it wasn’t Liberty City, but I couldn’t simply drive off and not help.

  Pulling up to the curb, I jumped out and ran toward the scene. Adrenaline, fueled by my rage, pulsed through me. Unlike with the scenario back at the mayor’s mansion, I was more than ready to act.

  “Please,” the woman begged. “It’s all I have.”

  “Think I give a fuck?” said the man.

  But I did.

  Using my blade, I cut the purse straps away from his hand. Both the victim and her assailant froze.

  “What the hell?” he said.

  Standing between the two, I leaned close to the woman and whispered, “Run.”

  Thankfully, she didn’t hesitate and ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Her attacker turned to follow. I stuck out my foot, and he stumbled forward. The young punk threw out his hands as he hit the cement.

  A smart person might have stayed put and tried to determine what made them fall. That fool, however, struggled to his feet. Before he could stand up, I slammed my foot into his ribs.

  “Ow!”

  His eyes darted left and right. I kicked again. That time he groaned and tried to curl into the fetal position. When he whimpered, I knew I’d done enough. My invisibility was my advantage, but I should have left. Rather than walk away, I squatted beside the quivering perp.

  “If I see you committing another crime, I’ll beat the shit out of you. I won’t stop until I cut off your balls.”

  “Beauty Queen!” Josh’s voice came through the comm.

  It was time for me to go.

  32

  Consequences

  My adrenaline high was still strong when I pulled into the Liberty Towers’ garage. While I waited for the van, I tossed on a pair of sweats over the suit. By the time I finished dressing, my team had arrived. Rather than meet me upstairs, Josh and Debbie stood outside the driver’s side door.

  My gaze darted from Josh’s venomous look to Debbie’s wide-eyed stare. “What?” I said incredulously.

  “Where’s the device?” he asked.

  I grabbed it from the console and exited the vehicle. Waving the silver-and-black thumb drive, I said, “Who—”

  Debbie snatched it. “I’ll head back to Sentinel and take a look at this. See you in the morning.”

  I watched as my assistant climbed into the van and took off. As she hung a right out of the parking structure, I noticed Josh holding the elevator for me. He didn’t say a word to me. He simply pressed the button for his floor, and we rode up in silence.

  “Do you plan on talking to me sometime tonight?” I asked, following him down the hall.

  Unfortunately, my answer came once the apartment door closed behind us. Josh whirled around and shouted, “What the fuck was that about?”

  I flinched but remained quiet.

  Josh walked up to me and didn’t stop until we were only inches apart. “You lost Ryan because he wasn’t open with you. If he’d told you about Project Triton… If he’d shared it with anyone, we could have found a way to protect him.”

  Meekly, I said, “What does that have to do with tonight?”

  “Going after the thug was foolish. You can’t go off half-cocked, wanting to right every wrong in this world.”

  I scoffed. Placing my hands on my hips, I glanced up at Josh. “Why the hell not? Somebody has to help those who can’t fight back.”

  Josh ran a hand through his hair and sighed heavily. “It doesn’t have to be you.”

  Not good enough. “Why not me? I’m capable. I can—”

  “Get yourself killed.” His voice softened. Leaning down, he caressed my cheek and stared into my eyes. “I won’t lose you, Kerrie.”

  My heart froze. What happened to Josh the best friend? I wasn’t ready for Josh the boyfriend. My breath hitched a little. “I’m not going anywhere. You won’t lose me.”

  “Good.” His lips lingered near mine. At the last second, I pulled away. A frustrated sound came from Josh before he said my name.

  “No.” I walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked out over the city. Suddenly, he was behind me, but thankfully, Josh kept his hands to himself. “What do you see out there?”

  “Buildings. Lights.”

  “Wrong answer. Try again.”

  Confusion crept into his voice. “People?”

  “Right. People who need protecting from corruption. We’re in a position to defend them. Wouldn’t it be wrong to withhold it simply because of fear?”

  “Yeah, but…”

  “There are no buts, Josh.” I faced him. “We have what we need to do this. I have a team behind me. As long as you’re willing to back me up, we can do this.”

  “If not?”

  I straightened my back. “Then, I go it alone.”

  Josh opened his mouth to speak, but I held up my palm. “I’d rather have your help. I spend enough time alone. Don’t make me do this by myself too.”

  Slowly, his head bobbed. “Just remember that the suit—”

  “Can’t stop a bullet.” And then it hit me. “Why can’t it?”

  “Huh?”

  “We have the technology. Debbie knows the right people. Let’s build Kevlar into the suit.”

  Josh rubbed his jaw. “Actually, I’m surprised Ryan didn’t design the prototype with it.”

  “Prototype, remember? He still had to work the kinks out of it.” My stomach rumbled, and my friend grinned.

  “I can make us something,” he offered. “You could shower while I cook.”

  “Make it a bath, and I’ll help with the dishes.”

  “You got it, Beauty Queen,” he said, going toward the kitchen.

  “About that…” I ran up behind Josh. “Is that how you see me?”

  He looked over his shoulder with a major grin. “It was a fitting nickname at the Academy.”

  “Don’t remind me.”

  “Kerrie, have you taken a good look at yourself? You have this innocent exterior that screams All-American. The nickname fits.” Josh reached into his back pocket and retrieved his phone. “It’s not a bad— Shit!”

  “What?”

  “You need to see this.” He held out his phone. On the screen was breaking news from KLBC-TV.

  “It was the most amazing thing.” A reporter was interviewing the woman I helped earlier. “That punk had my bag, and in the next instant he didn’t.”

  “Did you see your rescuer?”

  “No.” She shook her head vehemently. “But I heard her just as plain as day. She told me to run.”

  “How do you know it was a woman if you didn’t see her?”

  The woman scowled. “I know a female’s voice when I hear it.”

  Then, the camera cut to footage from somebody’s cell phone. We saw the thug on the ground. His body jerked repeatedly, but no one else was in the scene. The news station attached the title, Ghost Punisher, to the video.

  “If anyone has any knowledge of tonight’s events, the Arcadia police would like to speak with you,” the reporter said before returning to the anchor desk.

  Josh depressed the home button on his phone and the app shut down. “Debbie gave us the heads-up on that story.”

  From the stony expression on his face, I assumed Josh wasn
’t happy about the turn of events. I, on the other hand, was delighted by them. Maybe the crooks would take notice and think before they grab another purse from a woman.

  ◆◆◆

  The next morning added more fuel to Josh’s disappointment and concern. Every news station along with a few internet sites reported the appearance of the Ghost Punisher. On social media, people were speculating about it. Everything from an alien being to a supernatural presence in the Tri-Cities was mentioned. Although nobody had stumbled upon the truth, it was only a matter of time before someone connected the dots. Which meant I needed to be more careful.

  Determined to get some real work done, I dressed in business attire and headed upstairs to my office. A very perturbed Debbie was waiting for me.

  “How did you know I was on my way up?”

  She gave me one of those that’s-a-dumb-question looks.

  “Never mind.” I was about to ask for coffee and then saw a steaming mug on my desk. Walking around to my seat, I asked, “What’s up?”

  “A few things.” Debbie tapped on the tablet she seemed to always be carrying. “The video from last night has gone viral. It’s been uploaded to social media and YouTube.”

  Not news.

  “Will this be a regular thing for you? Going out and beating up thugs? If so, we need to take precautions.”

  “I’m only doing what nobody else wants to do.” Before Debbie could chime in with her opinion, I added, “We need to upgrade the suit. I want Kevlar added to it.”

  “That will require remanufacturing the suit.”

  “Can it be done?”

  “Yes. It might take some time.”

  “You have two days,” I said solemnly. “Make it happen.”

  Debbie quirked up an eyebrow. “Are we going to at least discuss what happened?”

  “No. I refuse to argue with you too.”

  She placed the tablet on my desk. “I’m not Josh. I totally support the idea.”

  “You do?”

  She nodded. “I don’t care for the name though. You’re protecting the innocent. Maybe Phantasm would be a more appropriate title.”

  I rolled the name around my mind for a minute or two. It sounded less violent, not as threatening. “I agree. But—”