Being Invisible

by Penny Baldwin

  Marc, Colin and a couple other detectives met at a First Watch on the way out of Logan for breakfast. They needed to finalize some plans, so Colin came, but stayed invisible. When Marc mentioned that “he” needed a doctor, the waitress recommended one a half-mile down the block.

  After breakfast, the guys dropped Colin off at the doctor’s office, and Colin said he would take a cab home. They think he turned visible behind the office, after they left.

  The first thing Rob and I do is head to First Watch and hunt down the waitress who recommended Dr. Miller. It takes all of a minute for Rob to sweet talk her into admitting that a guy gave her $100 to make sure to serve the detectives that were sitting in the corner and mention Dr. Miller if they ask.

  We immediately head to the doctor’s office. It’s rundown, with wallpaper straight out of the seventies lining the walls. The waiting room smells like a combination of the sterility associated with doctors’ offices mixed with kind of a musty smell.

  The receptionist, who probably started around the same time the wallpaper was put up, looked happy to see us.

  “Good afternoon. How can I help you today?” She smiled sweetly, while focusing back and forth between the two of us.

  “Yes...uh…” Rob looks down at the receptionist’s nametag. “Delores. We’re from out of town, and a guy at the gas station told us this was a good doctor to see for my wife’s stomach ache.”

  Oh. I didn’t know I have a stomachache. Would have been nice if he would have clued me in. I would’ve acted like I was in pain. Now it will just seem forced.

  “It’s so nice to see visitors. Where y’all from?” Her faint twang suggests she isn’t from this area either.

  I look at Rob, because obviously he’s the one with the story.

  “We live in Virginia. Just passing through. Is the doctor available? My wife has been in a lot of pain.” Rob gives me a pointed look, so I hold my stomach and moan a little.

  See? Forced.

  “I’m so sorry, but Dr. Miller isn’t taking any more patients today. He’s already so busy as it is.”

  Rob and I both look around the vacant room, and then back to Delores.

  “He’s at lunch right now.” Rob looks at me, then the clock, and we both furrow our eyebrows. “Isn’t four thirty a little late for lunch at an office that’s open until five?” Rob asks.

  “He actually left early. Had something he had to do. When I said he was busy, I meant with other things.”

  “Is there another doctor we can see?” I ask, trying to play the sympathy card.

  “No. It’s just him.”

  “Then why are you here?” Rob is starting to lose patience.

  “To answer phone calls.”

  “Then why is the doctor’s office still open?”

  “Because I like visitors.”

  Rob expels a deep breath, clearly frustrated. “So, since my wife is sick, and you have obviously wasted our time, can you at least let her use the bathroom before we go. She has felt like throwing up for a while.” Rob nudges me, so I double over in pain.

  “If you could just let me use the bathroom for a moment, I really don’t want to throw up on your beautiful carp…” I feign starting to gag, in what could be rated as the worst performance in a doctor’s office in all categories.

  “Oh my. Let me get you back to the bathroom, dear. I’m also the cleaning lady, so I would appreciate it if you could at least make it to hard floor.” She guides me down a hallway, where I pass two dark examination rooms, before showing me to the bathroom.

  I hang out in the bathroom for a minute, just in case she’s waiting for me. I splash water on my face, and then quietly sneak out so that I can take a look around.

  Rob is talking to Delores about how to get blood out of just about everything, so I take his distraction as a cue to go searching. For what, I don’t know.

  I half hope that Colin would be hiding out here while invisible to get information or something. For all I know, this place could be a front for a heroin ring. I mean, what isn’t these days?

  That little bit of hope dies when Colin doesn’t show up out of the blue and start yelling at me for being here.

  I find what I assume is Dr. Miller’s office and look around the room. The desk doesn’t immediately throw out any red flags. The usual plaques and degrees line the walls and a few sit on top of his desk. There’s a picture of a guy standing in a boat holding up a fish. Except for the patient files strewn across the desk, there doesn’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary.

  I open the drawers, which are filled with notes, files, a few tongue depressors. When I get to the bottom drawer, I notice that it’s locked. Considering there are patient files laying all over the desk and in the unlocked drawers, I don’t think it’s his attempt to preserve confidentiality.

  Unfortunately, lock picking isn’t something I’ve picked up along the way. I attempt picking it the old tried and true way of pulling really hard, but when that doesn’t work, I try various small things that have worked in movies. After breaking my third paper clip and almost cracking my credit card in half, I decide to try my last resort. After about thirty seconds of looking, I find the key to the lock in the cabinet across the room. Guess I should have tried that first.

  I can hear Rob talking. He is closer than he was before. “Just checked on her. I don’t think she has much in her anymore, but she still doesn’t think she’s done.” His voice starts to get farther away, so I continue to look.

  There are notebooks full of names and numbers, some of them names I recognize from Colin’s drug raids. Underneath, there is a book full of formulas, with most of the equations crossed out.

  As I flip through the pages, I see another formula. Above it are the words, “Biological Manipulation.”

  Why does that sound familiar? Know I’ve heard that term before. Where was it?

  It takes me a little while to figure it out, but then it occurs to me. That’s what the Exterminator can do. He manipulates the biological and chemical makeup of other people. That’s how he causes pain.

  So if this is the formula for Nagy’s powers, what are the other formulas?

  I grab as much as I can and throw it in my bag. If this guy has formulas for superhero traits, and Colin was here a couple days ago, who knows what he’s done with Colin now?

  I start to stick the rest of the stuff back in the drawers when something catches my eye. There’s an article about Christmas in the Village and how is going to be bigger than last year. The date on the article shows that it’s originally from this past Christmas. Weird that among all the drug dealers and formulas, there’s a newspaper clipping about the holidays.

  It isn’t until my eyes wander over the article that I notice it.

  The byline. Circled in red.

  Ruth Paige.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  We’re Here To Save The Day Soundtrack

  I hear Rob’s voice, and it sounds like he’s arguing with Delores. “Well if you would have told us in the first place that you weren’t open, we would have left, and she wouldn’t have to spend all evening in your bathroom.”

  Delores must be talking, but I can’t hear her.

  “No, that won’t be necessary, I’ll go get her myself.”

  I take that as my cue to leave, so I lock up the drawer, and run to the bathroom just as Delores and Rob are coming back to check on me.

  “I don’t think there’s anything else in me, honey. Can we just leave? I don’t want to spend another minute puking in this disgusting bathroom.” I think my acting is getting better.

  “This bathroom is not disgusting. I clean it every night.” Sweet Delores looks like she’s about to throw down over her cleaning skills. But I’m still not in the mood.

  “Next time, try using cleaner,” I yell, while Rob pulls me away. I’m starting to get a little too into character. But I’m pissed. And if she is a part of whatever this doctor is doing, then her pee stained floors will be the least of her
problems.

  “So how does Ruth Paige fit into all this?” Rob and I have come back to my apartment to try to piece everything I found at the doctor’s office together.

  “I don’t know. She sometimes does freelance work for the paper. Her name was on it, and her picture was beside the byline. Maybe they found her, and… I don’t know. You’re the detective. And speaking of which, next time you want to find information through covert means, maybe you should be the sick one.”

  “Hindsight, Luce. Great acting by the way. I thought maybe you had a hairball.”

  “Thanks. I was going for wounded seal.”

  “So what do you know about Ruth? Do you trust her?”

  “She hasn’t given me any reason not to. She really wanted to get an interview with Vapor, but she always kept me in the loop. It wasn’t like she was trying to hide anything.”

  “Do you think you could talk to her? Find out what’s going on?”

  “Well right now she’s either not speaking to me, or she’s yelling obscenities at me. So...maybe?”

  “Oh, that’s right. You scooped her. That’s cold.”

  “Thanks Rob. Really not helping right now.”

  “You go talk to Ruth. I’ll see what I can find out about this doctor.”

  The call to Ruth is awkward at best. I practically beg her stop by my apartment, and after about five minutes of my promising her everything short of my firstborn child, she agrees- but not before checking to see if I plan to steal anything of hers, and asking my permission to record everything I say.

  I call Liz and fill her in. Within twenty minutes, she’s home, with Drew following close behind. Just knowing they’re here gives me strength.

  I’m not letting anything get in the way of finding Colin, including my own feelings. But every once in awhile I find myself imagining the possibilities, and I start to crumble. I just can’t allow that to happen. So having Liz and Drew with me helps me more than they could ever know.

  When Ruth arrives, Drew leaves the room to call Rob and see what he has found, while Liz stays with me.

  “So, Lucy, what’s this big important thing you need to talk to me about? I’m sure it must be good since you dragged me all the way here. I had to leave work early, which just about gave Alex a conniption since you already left.” Even angry, Ruth can’t seem to stop to catch her breath.

  “I know and I’m sorry. Thanks for coming.” I take a breath before saying more. This is one of those situations where it would be best to tread lightly, but I really don’t have time.

  “Ruth, I have to ask you a question. I know you don’t want to answer it, but I am asking you to please tell me.” I choke up on the last part of my sentence, then breath through the pain.

  “What?” Ruth seems more concerned than angry right now, so I have a little hope.

  “I need to know your source.” Before I have even finished my sentence, she starts to protest.

  “Are you kidding me? This is what I came here for?” Ruth begins to head to the door.

  Liz starts to talk, but I shake my head no. The Liz interrogation may be necessary, but not yet.

  “Ruth, wait. This isn’t because I want to take your job, or steal from you. I need to know this. Please, Ruth. Please. I am begging you. Whatever you want I will give you, I just need to know your source.” I try to choke back the tears again, but this time they have a mind of their own.

  Ruth looks at me for a minute, probably trying to figure out what the hell is going on.

  “His name is Edward Miller. Doctor Edward Miller. I think he practices somewhere near Logan. I didn’t even need to find him. He came to me just when I was losing hope. He seemed to know a lot about the guy. He said that he works with the police to help superheroes when they need it. I didn’t even know there were other superheroes.”

  I nod, letting her know I am following her, but I can’t speak yet. So this guy says he “helps” superheroes. He also apparently “treats” a lot of people in the drug trade. Nothing about this can be good.

  “I am going to ask you this once, and I just want you to tell me the truth.” Ruth nods, so I continue.

  “Have you ever worked with, for or near Dr. Miller, or anyone else he knows?”

  Ruth seems to be confused by my question. “Of course not. I didn’t even know who he was until he came to me.”

  I look at Liz, who nods her head once to let me know that she agrees with what I am about to do.

  “Ruth, if I tell you something, do you promise me you won’t freak out?”

  “When do I ever freak out?”

  My look answers her question for me.

  “Okay. I won’t freak out.”

  “Promise me. Because this is a matter of life or death, and I need your help. I need you to be with me, okay?”

  Ruth sits up a little, anxious to hear what I say.

  I take a deep breath, and then I blurt it out. “Colin is Vapor.”

  “I’m sorry. Who is what?”

  “You heard me right.”

  “He’s...wait. So that means…You’re telling me that this whole time I was looking for Vapor, you knew right where he was? Who he was? Hell, you even knew how the guy kissed. You must think I am a complete idiot.”

  “No. It’s not like that. I couldn’t tell you. It isn’t safe for people to know about him.”

  She nods in understanding, still trying to take it all in. “I sang ‘We Are Never Getting Back Together’ in front of The Vapor. I talked about how hot he must be in front of his girlfriend.”

  I understand her shock, but I’m feeling impatient.

  “I couldn’t let you interview him, because there are people who can’t find out who he is, or where he’s at.”

  I get it.” Ruth’s voice has softened, and her words are laced with concern.

  “But, Ruth...”

  “What?”

  I have to take a second for another deep breath, so Liz takes over for me.

  “No one can get reach Colin. The last time someone saw him was when he was going to a doctor for an extreme headache that this guy Nagy gave him. Turns out, the doctor is the same guy who sought you out.”

  “Holy shit, guys, I had no idea. I was just trying to score an interview. This is...wow… I don’t know what this is.”

  “I know. But we need to find him soon. I’m afraid that Dr. Miller has Colin, and I don’t know what he’s going to do with him.

  “What can I do to help?”

  “What can you tell me about Dr. Miller? Anything you remember?”

  “He smelled like cigar smoke.” She pauses trying to remember anything else of relevance. “He met me at a Starbucks, came in a cab, I don’t know. When I asked him about how he knew where Vapor was, he said that his grandson is on the force. He mentioned that he was really curious about what Vapor looks like.

  “If Colin was invisible at the restaurant, and Dr. Miller knew he was there, then all he had to do was get Colin to come to the doctor’s office as himself and he would know he’s Vapor.”

  “So he set Colin up from the beginning.” Liz adds.

  We sit in silence, trying to figure it all out, when Drew walks in.

  “Rob texted me. They looked into Dr. Miller, and they found out his name’s not Miller. It’s Lerwick. Samuel Lerwick. He’s in the system because he did a stint for selling drugs. Interesting thing, his specialty is Genetics. He’s actually done papers on how DNA affects physical abilities.”

  “That might explain all the formulas I found. Do you think he knows how to create superheroes?”

  “Maybe.” Drew sits on the couch beside Liz and leans back, deep in thought.

  “He didn’t create Colin. I wonder if that’s why he wants him. To figure out how to get his power.”

  I picture what he could be doing to get that information from Colin. None of it’s good. I need to find him. Just then my phone rings.

  “Lucy, it’s Rob. We arrested a drug dealer last week that worked under Lerwick. He
agreed to talk in exchange for immunity. He said that Nagy works for Lerwick. Our informant was hired by Lerwick to help Nagy get Vapor.” I grab a pen and paper to write down what Rob’s telling me.

  “Our witness said his instructions were to bring Colin in hurt, but not dead. They were planning on taking him to a lab about twenty-five minutes away. He was supposed to find Colin and take him there, but we arrested him before he could finish the job. We got him to tell us everything. We’re on our way to the lab now.”

  “Where’s the lab? I’ll meet you there.”

  “Lucy, I really don’t think…”

  “What did I tell you, Rob? Tell me where the lab is, or I will find out myself. Either way, I’m finding out. You’re just making it easier for me.

  Drew walks over and grabs the phone from me. “Don’t worry, we’ll all go together, Liz, Lucy and me. I’ll make sure they’re okay. Believe me, Colin would kill me with his bare hands if I let anything happen to Lucy.” He hangs up the phone and turns to us. “Ruth, I need you to hang out here, just in case you hear from anyone.” Ruth nods, and he turns his attention to Liz and me. “Come on ladies. Colin needs our help.” We grab our things and head out.

  Please let it all be over tonight.

  “And, Liz? Lucy?” Drew turns around to look at us.

  “Yes?”

  “Please, don’t do anything you’ve seen on Law and Order. Okay?”

  Liz and I look at each other in confusion.

  How else are we going to know what to do?

  Chapter Thirty

  Songs for Superheroes Who Save Superheroes

  The lab is in a small building that is part of a cluster of larger buildings, all of which are completely made out of brick. It looks like a legitimate testing facility, which makes me wonder if the owners of the building know they rent space out for illegal superhero testing run by heroin distributors.

  By the time we get to the lab, the police already have it surrounded. Rob and his team head into the building first. He promises me that he will let me know what he finds out about Colin as soon as he can. So right now we wait.