Back to School Chapter 2

Police Headquarters, early morning...

"I can't help but think they were ready for me," I said to Captain Winslow.  My eyes were still stinging from the tear gas, but my lungs were clearing and the cup of strong coffee was helping me feel more like myself.  Still, I couldn't wait to get home to a shower and a good workout with my Loofah.

Winslow took a sip of his own coffee, and frowned.  "It follows a pattern in the city, too.  Usually there's a large disturbance, requiring a large police presence to break it up.  And that's when there's a smaller, private event; well-planned and bypassing the security systems, almost as if they had someone on the inside.

"Is that a possibility?" I asked.

"I might think so, if the victims all used the same security system; or even two of the systems.  But they've all used different systems.  So we're looking at someone on the outside I think.  Someone with a way to break the computer systems."

"But they used young girls, at least in the robbery I...encountered."

"That might be a clue, or it might be a copycat though.  We can't say for certain."  He looked around for his cigarettes, then smiled and popped an Altoid.  "Anyway, this isn't really a Special Crime Unit case.  Captain Brenaman might be upset if I give you much more than that.  Frankly, we're stymied too."

"So what do we do?" I asked.

"I would suggest you go home, and clean hard.  Here," he tossed me a bar of soap.  "This is the disinfectant soap we use here for tear gassed victims.  It will get the stench off better than anything.  Then a good night's sleep and you can attack the problem tomorrow with a fresh mind." 

I frowned, then yawned, and coughed.  "All right Captain, you convinced me."  I tucked the soap into my belt, then the captain escorted me to the roof.  I waved goodbye, then headed toward my Victory Park digs.  Daisy barely looked up from the sofa when I wandered in.  I got into the shower and scrubbed hard, then slipped into a camisole and some panties and got into bed.  Fifteen seconds later, there was an eight pound thump as Daisy landed to claim her place on the corner of the bed.

Sleep fought me, but this was a fight I eventually won.

Ridgeway Academy, Early Morning...

Charity Ridgeway lined the three young women up.  "Do you know how long you've had to plan this?"

Amber cleared her throat.  As team leader it was her duty to take the blame.  "We've had three weeks, Miss Ridgeway."

"Three Weeks!  And despite all your planning, you FAILED to bring me anything of value from Esaski's.  I happen to know there's a fine stash of  diamonds there.  So what happened?"

Amber frowned, her blonde hair curling tight against her head.  "We got in all right, but White Owl showed up.  I guess Courtney and Yvonne were startled.  They panicked.  If it hadn't been for Mr. Brown and the School Bus hadn't shown up, we would have been caught."

Miss Ridgeway frowned.  "Twice in two attempts White Owl has interfered in my business.  We cannot have that happen again."  She whirled on the trio of girls.  "As of right now, you are all on probation.  Fail me again, and you're finished at the academy.  The world will not treat you as kindly as I have.  And you know what expulsion means?"

The girls gaped in shock, but nodded.  They would not fail again.

"Good, I see you understand.  Now as to extra credit, I want you to find a way to capture and contain White Owl.  I think its time we enrolled a new pupil in the Academy."

Victory Park, Athena's apartment

The ringing phone cut through the haze of early morning.  I fumbled at my nightstand, and found it.  "Hlo?" I mumbled.

"Is that any way to greet your husband?" came the calm, reassuring voice of Virgil.

"I'm sorry, baby, but you woke me out of a sound sleep."

"At 8 in the morning?  Wow, you must have had quite a night."

"It was a gas," I said.  "Brought tears to my eyes."

"Do you want me to come sooner?" he asked.

"No, that was part of our agreement.  I can handle this.  I have to share you with the world.  But I also have to be able to pull my weight."

"I miss you Thena," said Virgil.  "And Singapore is so far away." 

"And Capetown and Johannesburg are almost as far," I replied.  "You need to be at that conference, Virgil."

"I know," he said.  "But I will be there next weekend, for a whole week.  Think the cat will put up with me?"

"She adores you, Virgil," I said.

"I know, Sterling is still complaining about all the fur she left on my comforter last time you were here."

I smiled.  "She is a shedding machine, I'll grant him that."

I looked at the clock, and frowned.  "Sweetheart, I'd love to chat, but its Friday morning here, and I need to be at the Museum in 25 minutes.  I'm already on Chatterjee's bad side, and I don't need to make it worse."

"I could make another donation?"

"No, we discussed that, too.  You do enough for the Queen City Museum.  Together we both do.  I'll get past this, too.  I love you, but I must be off."

"All right Athena.  I'll see you next Friday Night."  The line went dead.

I dressed quickly, and grabbed a sausage biscuit and coffee from the drive thru then rolled into the museum at 9:02.  I managed to sneak into my office before Ajay saw me.

Friday dragged by. The Museum was sparsely attended, as people were getting out of town for a four day weekend. I didn't have to be back until Tuesday myself, as Ajay had decided maybe he HAD been overbearing. (It didn't hurt that it was also my turn at the top of the vacation list.) I said goodbye to Hef (who had shown up Thursday with a colossal bruise on the side of his head.)

“Are you going to be OK?” I asked. “How did that happen?”

Heavy box fell,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. "And I hit my head on the stove on this side,” he added, forestalling any questions.

It was at times like this that I was grateful for my body's increased healing. I rarely had to answer questions like that. Still I frowned at Hef. “Well, all right, but be careful. And no tackling the Midgaard Serpent without me,” I said, glancing at his large stack of books dealing with Cryptids.

“That's not until Thanksgiving, Dr Nikos,” he said, with a smile. I wasn't sure whether he was serious or not. I smiled and left, heading for the Jeep. I picked up some groceries (especially for Daisy) then got home about 7.

I made a light meal and took a nap, letting my mind race. I rose just before midnight, then dressed and checked my phone. There were no updates from Captain Winslow; but I did note an alert of a large crowd getting unruly near the convention center.

“The Baptist convention” I asked with a quizzical look. Remembering Captain Winslow's comments about these disturbances masking thefts, I considered what might be close to the convention center, but far enough out an errant police car might not see it.

The Queen City Modern Art museum was close, but the guards stayed all night. I realized that probably wasn't the target. But I lucked out when I remembered the Merchant's library was hosting an exhibit of antique children's books. A whole collection would be worth a small fortune, and hard to trace provenance. The private library has a good security system, and a small guard unit, but when I landed at the delivery gate, I found the door ajar and the guard unconscious.  I opened an ammonia caplet and waved it under his nose.  He groaned and sat up slowly.

"Are you all right?" I asked. 

"I..I think so.  What hit me?"

"I'm not sure.  Stay here, call 911 and get both the police and an ambulance."  He nodded and took my cell phone.

I crept inside.  The Merchant's Library is an anachronism--a a private, subscription library started early in the history of Queen City.  It had been host to lectures by Dickens, Twain, Bryan, Rogers, and many other influential thinkers through the years.  Also over the course of years it had amassed a small but valuable collection of rare books and artifacts.  I'd cataloged some of the exhibits, and knew the values of their various collections.

From the rare book area, I saw the glow of a mag light.  I crept closer to the door, hearing the voices of young women inside.  I smiled, knowing I wouldn't be taken so easily this time.  I slipped my nose filters into place, then stepped into the room.

"I admire your dedication to your studies, ladies, but the library is closed.  I'm afraid you'll have to spend the night in the juvenile..."

"It's White Owl!" I heard.  A gas canister rolled my way again.  I smiled and stepped through, catching one of the girls by her arm and tossing her back into one of the soft chairs she sat quickly as the gas effectively put her down.  The other two looked on in fear, running past me and into the library, leaving their ill gotten gains on the floor.  I left their compatriot on her chair and chased after them.

My speed was better than theirs, and I managed to catch up to them at the loading dock.  But by the time I got there, one of the girls was returning from the sliding garage door, with another wriggling girl in her grasp, a fearsome knife at the girl's throat.

"OK White Owl, let us go or we will cut this girl up."

"Whoa, slow down, no one needs to get hurt."  I looked at the hostage girl and realized it was "Monica?""

I'm sorry, White Owl--I'm bustin' curfew again." she cried, tears big in her dark eyes.

I sensed motion behind me as the burglar I'd left behind groped her way into the room.  Monica's captor looked up and I used that minute to strike, kicking the blade away, then following up with a punch, knocking her to the ground.  "RUN!" I shouted at Monica.  Call the cops and hurry."

Monica ran out the dock door into the street.  The fracas didn't last long; none of the girls had super powers.  I had them down in a short space.  As I knelt over them, leaning in with my handcuffs, I heard Monica return.  "The police are on their way," she said breathlessly. 

"Thank you," I said.  "You were a big help and ..."

WHANG!!!!!

An aluminum baseball bat concussed the back of my head.  Reeling in pain, the stars and tears filled my eyes.  I rocked back, slowly moving.   Monica did a jump kick, planting a foot into my jaw, then a knee into my chest.  I scrabble for breath, striving to stay conscious, but one more double fist to the back of my head dropped me to the ground.

Monica pulled a large straightjacket from her backpack and gave it to the girls.  In a very short time I was trussed up then loaded into the white panel van.

"Welcome back to school, White Owl," smirked Monica.  "I hope you survive the rest of your initiation..."


Hef is the OC of and used with permission

And this takes place in