Other links:
Sapphire Angel, Superheroine (Book 1)
Power Play (Book 2)
Deconstruction (this book - Book 3)
Despite the midmorning sun, the October air was cool as Sapphire Angel approached the police station. Beth had parked her car several blocks away and covered the final distance on foot, before making her transformation in an alley near the station. Heads turned to watch the superheroine when she came into view near the station, her blue and white costume shimmering in the sunlight. She ignored the excited murmurs and focused on the building looming before her.
Sapphire Angel marched up the steps and in through the large sliding doors. The old man behind the glass looked up at her, his eyes bugging out in surprise. She strode across the entry foyer and stopped before the glass.
"I'm here to see Detective Cooper or Detective Clark," she said, her hands on her hips.
The man nodded and picked up a telephone handset. "Sapphire Angel is here, asking to see you or Detective Cooper," he said, before nodding and hanging up the handset.
"Someone will be right out for you."
She only had to wait a few moments before the side door opened. A young officer stood in the doorway, a look of awe on his face.
"This way," he stammered. "I'll lead you back."
Sapphire Angel followed as they walked past the workstations in the back. The place was busier now than during her previous visits, and every set of eyes followed the famous superheroine as the young officer led her to an office near the rear. He gestured with a wave of his hand, and she stepped into the office of Detective Clark.
The round-faced detective stood behind his desk, his arms crossed, wearing a disapproving look on his face. Classic rock played from a speaker behind him, too loud for her liking. It was also probably too loud for her to hold the officer under her thrall. She was still learning, but the power seemed to work on the weak-minded and in ideal conditions. She stopped behind the chairs on the other side of the desk, and stood with her hands on her hips, meeting his gaze.
"I thought you were told to leave this town," he said, with ice in his voice.
"Last I checked, that's not the decision of a police department, at least not in this country." Sapphire Angel replied, staring at him with an intense gaze.
They stared at one another in silence for a few moments, before the detective let out a long sigh and unfolded his arms.
"What do you want, Sapphire Angel?" he asked in a resigned tone.
"Cooperation. Let's not beat around the blush. I have my sources, and I know you've been stonewalling efforts to locate Eric Stump. If you don't investigate, fine, but don't stand in the way. You need to share what you know, or things could get ugly for this department."
Detective Clark raised an eyebrow. "Are you threatening me?"
"That's not a threat. Call it doing the right thing. As you must know, when I talk, the media and other important people listen. It's up to you what they hear."
"So your threat is to make sure we have a bad public relations hit?"
"Like I said, it's not a threat. And it's more than public relations. There are people in high positions who value my words."
Detective Clark studied her for a few more moments as he re-folded his arms across his chest. Before he could speak, the telephone on his desk rang. He grabbed the receiver and put it to his ear. "Yes?"
He listened in silence for a few moments. Sapphire Angel couldn't hear the other end of the call.
After a few moments, Clark spoke into the phone, saying, "As a matter of fact, I'm with her right now." A few more seconds passed. "I see. I'll let her know." He hung up the receiver and turned back to the superheroine.
"You want cooperation?" he asked. "That was Don Lanigan, the owner of Lanigan's Bar. He says he has information for you, and is willing to talk."
Sapphire Angel paused, biting her lip in thought. What made Lanigan change his mind?
"I'll go see him once we're done here. But first you need to share with me everything you've learned."
"It's not much," the detective began. "But you're right. I'll share it with you. Give me fifteen minutes while I gather it."
The detective came around the desk and exited the room, leaving Sapphire Angel alone. She glanced about his office, pondering his change of attitude. She would need to view any information with great skepticism. The heroine was tempted to search his office, but he might return at any moment. Instead, her thoughts bounced between Conner and the mysteries behind her powers. She couldn't act upon either until she found Eric, so Clark better have some solid leads for her.
The detective returned closer to twenty-five minutes later, shaking his head as he walked into the office.
"It seems Detective Cooper must have taken that file home with him," he replied with a frown. "I'll get in touch with him and ask him to bring it back, but if he's asleep, it might take an hour or two. Go over to Lanigan's and take Don up on his offer, while I try to reach Cooper. When you're done, come on back here and hopefully I'll have the file. But don't get your hopes up. There's not much to it."
Sapphire Angel balled her fists and took a deep breath. He was stalling her, for sure, but as long as he might provide help, threatening him would do no good. She looked up at him and nodded.
"I will be back," she said, and turned toward the door.
Sapphire Angel's foot speed was the only reason a crowd wasn't following her when she reached Lanigan's Bar. She could run faster than an Olympic sprinter, and unlike an Olympic sprinter, she could maintain her pace for long distances. As she blew through town, several awestruck citizens attempted to keep pace with her, but she left them far behind.
When she reached the bar, passersby looked at her in wonder. She marched down the sidewalk toward the bar's entrance, approaching a large bouncer at the door. He fit the stereotype, down to the thick neck and tight black T-shirt, and eyed her as she approached. She expected him to deny her entrance, but he nodded as she drew close, and gestured to the door with a sweeping motion of his hand. She returned the nod and opened the door.
As she stepped into the establishment, the bouncer's voice sounded behind her just before the door swung shut. "Sorry folks, no more room inside."
She gazed upon the room, which was more crowded than during her previous visits, but was still only half full. Another bouncer stood near the door leading to the hotel. She didn't remember him from her previous visits. The owner, Don Lanigan, lingered in his usual spot behind the bar. She strode across the room toward him.
He looked up and met her eyes as she stopped at the counter. "You're back," he remarked, his face blank.
"I am. A little birdie told me you're ready to talk."
"I am," he said with a nod. As he spoke, he cocked his head and peered back over his shoulder, toward the wall behind him, as if expecting to see something. The wall was empty aside from a telephone hanging on it. As if on cue, the phone rang.
"Pardon me," he said as he turned and took two steps to the phone. He picked up the receiver and said, "Lanigan's." She waited as he listened to whatever was being said on the line. He nodded, and said "Yes." A moment later he said, "Understood," and hung up the phone.
When he turned back around, he didn't look at Sapphire Angel. Instead he looked past her, out into the room, and nodded. Sapphire Angel heard several chairs scraping on the floor.
She turned to see the all the patrons rising to their feet and staring at her. A few of them flexed their necks and cracked their knuckles. This had been a trap.
Other links:
Sapphire Angel, Superheroine (Book 1)
Power Play (Book 2)
Deconstruction (this book - Book 3)
FeeIs good to have Sapphire AngeI give CIark a much-needed Iashing. I mean, I wouId sort of understand if he didn't want to heIp out, but he didn't have to be mean about it to begin with. GenuineIy thought he Iearned his Iesson, but noooo.....
I'm pretty sure CIark and Lanigan are coIIaborating.....? At Ieast, that wouId expIain why CIark sent Sapphire over to Lanigan's Bar; he IikeIy knew there'd be a trap there.
Now we're inside a bar, with no way out (bouncer's bIocking the way), and surrounded by a bunch of bar patrons who aII want to beat us up. There doesn't appear to be any guns invoIved (at Ieast not yet), so her invuInerabiIity against them won't be of much heIp. Just a pure no-hoIds-barred beatdown. At Ieast the bouncer didn't get in on it, too; that wouId've made things even worse. Then again, he kind of has to keep the mob from coming in.
This doesn't Iook good. HopefuIIy they'II think of attacking her aII at once rather than charging in one at a time; they'd.....probabIy.....be more successfuI that way. Or at Ieast.....they'd bring her cIoser to Iosing.
LET'S DO THIS THING!
.......On Monday!