Other links:
Sapphire Angel, Superheroine (Book 1)
Power Play (Book 2)
Deconstruction (Book 3)
Savage Dawn (Book 4)
Savage Vengeance (Book 5 - this story)
VIOLENCE WARNING: The two stories in the Savage Gang saga, and especially the second story, involve a gang practicing extreme violence toward everyone — women, the elderly, the protagonist, etc. The stories contain mature sexual content and violence as well. I am placing this warning on all chapters, including those without such violence, so you can choose whether to continue.
CHAPTER 58
The television news anchor, Allison Fairmont, sat behind the desk, the studio lights shining down upon her stiff, coifed hair. While copious amounts of product held her hair in place, makeup couldn’t hide the dark circles under her eyes. It was a Saturday evening, but everyone at News 6 had been working extra hours to the point of exhaustion, covering the Savage Gang's reign of terror. Their competitors were doing the same.
“And for our next segment,” Fairmont said, looking into the camera, “we have a guest here in our temporary studio. He joins our own Ryan Addington, who has become the city’s resident expert on the Savage Gang. Ryan, I’ll let you introduce our guest.”
The view cut to an area to the left of the anchor desk, containing a sofa and an easy chair. Addington sat in the chair, his slight build almost vibrating with stressful energy.
“Thank you, Allison,” the wavy-haired reporter said, facing another camera. “Our guest needs no introduction. Wayne ‘the Hammer’ Steele is a renowned entrepreneur and real-estate developer in this area, and in other parts of the country. But now he’s more known for something else. He’s used his military background to assemble a crack team, the Justice Seekers, to oppose the gang in our city. Welcome, Hammer.”
Steele, wearing jeans and a black t-shirt showing off his muscular build, stared at the camera with a calm presence and a welcoming grin. The studio lights gleamed off his bald head and his perfect white teeth.
“Thank you, Ryan,” Steele said in a deep, authoritative voice. “I’m glad to be here, to reassure the people of the city that we have their backs.”
“Let’s talk about that, Hammer. Tell me about the Justice Seekers — what are they, and what inspired you to form them?”
“Certainly, Ryan. The reason I formed the Justice Seekers should be clear to all the peace-loving people of this city. We shouldn’t need to live in fear. You and the other television stations in town understand this as well as anyone. You shouldn’t need to go into hiding and broadcast from secret locations, for fear of retribution from a brutal gang.”
As he spoke, Steele gestured with his arm to the studio around him. He frowned and gave a shake of the head toward the camera, as if to say, “This is a damn shame.” Addington nodded, but he let Steele continue.
“My Justice Seekers are all former military,” Steele said. “The best of the best.”
“How did you form this group so quickly? It’s only been one week since the gang’s attack during the celebration at Market Square.”
Steele snorted and shook his head. “I’ve been preparing for this since before the gang ever set foot in our town. Men like Maximus Savage are like cockroaches. They spread everywhere, and they’re hard to exterminate. When Sapphire Angel faced off against the gang at Italian Lake a couple weeks ago, and beat some of them — or so the reports say — I knew we hadn’t seen the last of these goons. These gangsters weren’t going to be afraid of a girl in a costume.”
“Girl in a costume?” Addington remarked with a raised eyebrow. “By all accounts, she’s had more success against the gang than anyone, law enforcement included.”
“Can we believe those reports, Ryan? I know you were the first one to see her in action, a year or two ago, and she made quite the impression on you when she saved you and your camerawoman in that alley. But perhaps that encounter has colored your view of her. Where is Sapphire Angel now? The last confirmed sighting of her was five nights ago, at the offices of my IT department, when the footage showed Savage, and then her, leaving the building when the smoke detectors went off. Why haven’t we seen her since? Why would she disappear and go off the radar?”
Addington squirmed in his seat, his discomfort obvious. He had made a name as an expert on Sapphire Angel, and his reports had made clear the high regard in which he held her. Now Steele was trying to use those reports to call his impartiality into view.
“It could be as simple as her not having any leads,” Addington replied. “The gang’s appearances typically come without warning.”
“If that was the case, Ryan, she at least could be out patrolling the streets, giving hope to the people of this city, and giving warning to the gang. You know what I think? I think she’s afraid. Afraid that the gang now has its sights set on her. Or maybe they’ve already gotten her. That’s why the city needs a real force to protect it, not some pretty girl in a skimpy outfit.”
“Well, uh, that’s one way to put it. Any final words, Hammer?”
Addington seemed in a hurry to bring the interview to a close. Wayne Steele swiveled in his seat, leaning forward and pointing a finger at the nearest camera.
“Just two, Ryan. First, to Maximus Savage and the Savage Gang — enjoy your time now, because we’re coming for you. Second, to the people of this city — we won’t go into hiding or disappear like Sapphire Angel. We might not always be able to be there when the gang appears, but it won’t be for lack of trying. Even if you never hear from Sapphire Angel again, you’ll hear from us as we fight to keep you safe.”
The camera caught Addington wiping his brow as the shot cut back to him.
“Th… thanks, Mr. Steele,” he said. “Good luck with the Justice Seekers. We’ll be back with other news after a short break.”
“Turn that crap off!” Ethan hissed, balling his fists as he paced in front of Stanley’s desk. “What a blowhard Steele is! And to think I used to like the guy.”
He had walked into Stanley’s office as the broadcast started, and his angst had only risen as he watched it. Ethan had big news for Stanley, and didn't want Steele's nonsense to get in the way.
“How are you making out, Ethan?” Stanley asked. “Any luck with the surveillance footage?”
Ethan stepped sideways and plopped down into one of the two chairs in front of Stanley’s desk, before leaning forward with his forearms on his knees. His face was taut with stress.
“Yes and no,” Ethan replied. “That’s why I’m so damn stressed out. Even more than before. They have her, Stanley!”
Ethan’s voice cracked and tears welled up in his eyes. This was going to be hard. He brushed aside his tears with his sleeve.
“Go on,” Stanley said in a quiet voice.
“I found footage from three nights ago, from a security camera south of town,” Ethan said. “It showed a few vans and SUVs pulling into the deserted lot of the old McManus Corporation warehouse. The camera showed a big guy opening the doors to one of the vans. She was there, all chained up. She looked… out of it. Haggard. She was in bad shape.”
Ethan paused, his head sagging. He couldn’t get the image out of his head of Beth in costume, beaten and in the hands of the gangsters. He took a deep breath and continued.
“The big guy grabbed her and carried her toward another vehicle that pulled up. But that’s where I ran into trouble. The other vehicle was mostly off camera — its shadow made it into the frame. And then it took off. I tapped into all the PennDOT footage from the nearby interstate, and some business feeds, but I don’t know what I’m looking for. Nothing jumped out at me. It was late at night, but even at that hour it’s a busy road, and we don’t even know if they drove on the interstate after they transferred her to the new car.”
“Ethan, you did well. We know she’s alive.”
“We know she was alive three nights ago.”
“It’s a start, Ethan. I’ll see what I can do. Get me the footage.”
“You need to find her, Stanley! Why does this have to happen to her?”
Ethan looked down at his hands and gave a dismissive wave, not needing to hear the explanation again. Even before his talk with Stanley the previous night, he had often thought of the bullseye Sapphire Angel wore, because of the power she wielded and the setbacks she caused criminals — and because of the desire many depraved people felt for her. But he needed to push those thoughts aside. To move on. To help Stanley find her. He looked up at the older man and spoke.
“How about you, Stanley," he said. "Have you had any luck?”
Stanley gave a grim smile and a shake of his head. His silent reply was a dagger through Ethan’s heart. The brief glimpse of Beth in the surveillance video was almost worse than knowing nothing at all.
Ethan groaned. “We’re never going to find her. When do we tell her parents she’s gone? What will the gangsters do to her, if they haven’t killed her yet?”
“Ethan, don’t think like —”
Stanley’s reply was cut off by a frightened screech from the family room. Mrs. Devor.
Ethan and Stanley both leapt to their feet and rushed to the office door. Ethan made it out the door first. As he glanced through the kitchen and into the family room, a bolt of fear shot through him. A dark figure, clad all in black, stood beyond Mrs. Devor, who took a step back, holding up her hands.
Other links:
Sapphire Angel, Superheroine (Book 1)
Power Play (Book 2)
Deconstruction (Book 3)
Savage Dawn (Book 4)
Savage Vengeance (Book 5 - this story)
I am so, SO on-the-fence regarding these “Justice Seekers”. Like, on one hand, their goal is roughly the same as Sapphire’s, right? Taking down the Savage Gang before they have a chance at dealing further damage to the city? But I can’t help but hate (at least for the moment) everything that Steele’s currently saying about Sapphire right now. Like…..come on, dude. Can’t everyone try working together just this once, and put their sick fascinations (Lockheed’s obsession with dominance, Steele’s insistence on being above Sapphire in terms of crime-fighting, etc.) behind them? (sigh) Then again, I guess no group would be realistic if it didn’t have its dysfunctions.
At the very least, it’s not getting TOO far out there yet. Ethan (I assume) is still trying his best to cover for her, but in a way…..maybe the sudden shock factor of that ambush at the tail end of the chapter might be a good thing in a way…..? It’d give Stanley and Ethan some kind of lead right when they appear to be running into a metaphorical brick wall…..? If they could take down that dark figure and question them—if they’re even allied with the Savage Gang—then they might find a way forward. ……Or we’re about to have something very tragic happen indeed. One of those two.
Let’s see how well the Justice Seekers are at keeping the peace in Sapphire’s place, I guess. If anything, I guess I could see them as “additional” cover (for Sapphire’s crime-fighting duties, kind of like how Ethan is a cover for Beth’s job), but I do wish they would look past their hubris for a while.
Let’s keep it going!