Fan Fiction: Crossovers
In the Midst of Shadows
by Greg Daulton
Chapter 4
An hour had passed since the heist at the Gray Street jewelry store. The mysterious jewel gang had fled the scene, and the Shadow was nowhere to be found. The Green Hornet and Kato had returned to their hideout, behind Britt Reid's apartment, and were going over the night's events.
"The jewel gang escaped. We had them in our grasp. Why didn't we follow them?" Kato asked his friend.
"We had bigger things to worry about Kato. The police were right there," the Hornet uttered, moving to a far corner to a table to properly store his gas gun.
"So was that strange masked man. Did you see what happened to him?"
"He disappeared. I don't know how he does it. It's almost as if he possesses the power of invisibility."
"That's strange," Kato suggested.
From out of nowhere, the familiar laugh of the Shadow rang through the hideout. Immediately, the Hornet grabbed the gas gun, loading a small capsule into the chamber.
"Where are you? Show yourself stranger," the Hornet demanded.
Suddenly and without words, the familiar silhouette became visible on a dark wall across the room. Soon after, a man materialized saying, "the weed of crime bears bitter fruit. Crime does not pay."
"Who are you stranger?" Kato questioned, staring intently at The Shadow.
"I have many names, but to criminals like you, I am known as The Shadow."
"Criminals? Wait, we're not the bad guys," Kato informed.
"Do not lie to me Chinaman," The Shadow called out. "I've seen the Hornet in the papers. You are public enemy number one in this city."
"Listen Mr. Shadow," the Hornet corrected. "We're vigilantes. We pose as criminals to infiltrate the criminal underbelly in Detroit. That's all."
"Crime fighters?" The Shadow asked confusedly.
"Yes," Kato offered.
The Shadow didn't know why, but something about these men seemed decent. Somehow he could tell that these men were indeed on the right side of the law.
"What is it your after Shadow, and how'd you get in here?" the Hornet asked with a hint of suspicion in his voice. He could not believe that somehow this mysterious man had invaded his hideout.
"I want to find out exactly who you are. You're quite a legend in this town, Hornet," the Shadow affirmed, moving across the room, as if inspecting the hideout.
"So how'd you get in here?" Kato repeated the question.
"When neither of you were aware, I snuck into the back of your vehicle. I must say, I am quite impressed with your car, and this place."
"Thank you, I think. Kato assembled most of my arsenal," the Hornet finished, realizing he was getting off subject. "You are quite elusive," the Hornet proclaimed, returning to his interrogation of The Shadow.
"I have many talents."
"That's apparent," Kato offered. "We can barely see you half the time."
"The clouded mind sees nothing."
"Alright, so let's end this babble," the Hornet shouted impatiently. "Just exactly who's side are you on Shadow?"
"I take no sides. I only exist to serve and uphold justice."
"Then it looks like you've got yourself some allies," the Hornet announced smiling.
Pacing to the center of the room, he extended his hand to The Shadow. Hesitant at first, the Master of Darkness eventually rushed forward, accepting the offer with a firm handgrip.
The next morning, Lenore Case and Mike Axford were in Britt Reid's office talking.
"You know boss, that man that was in here yesterday -," Casey started.
"Oh you mean the spiffy looking fella with the odd mustache?" Axford recognized.
"Yes Mike," the secretary laughed giddily. "Who is he boss? He's gorgeous."
"Not too gorgeous I hope," Reid aid mockingly.
"Do I detect a hint of jealousy Mr. Reid?" Miss Case teased.
"He's a private eye," the publisher informed, quickly changing the subject. "I'm meeting with him in a few minutes in a matter of fact."
"Is he trying to find these gangsters Reid. I doubt he will, I mean nobody knows anything," Axford stated enthusiastically.
"Alright you two, leave me. He should be here any minute," Reid ordered.
As Axford and Miss Case walked out of his office, the oddly debonair Henry Arnaud was waiting at the secretary's desk with some freshly cut roses. For the first time in a long time, Lenore Case began to blush.
"Why, Mr. Arnaud. How thoughtful of you."
"It was difficult to find a gift for someone so beautiful," the well dressed man stated.
Britt Reid watched casually from his office door, but decided he had seen enough. "Mr. Arnaud, I'm ready for you," he called out in a semi-friendly tone.
Arnaud looked at the secretary and whispered, "Dinner Tonight at Eight, I'll get your address when I'm finished with your boss."
As Miss Case agreed, the suave private investigator gave her a wink and turned his attention to Britt Reid, who immediately led the man to the archives section of the Daily Sentinel building.
That night, at Charletto's, one of Detroit's finest eateries, Henry Arnaud sat with Miss Case in a secluded section of the restaurant. They laughed and drank wine, engaging in many different conversations.
"So, this town must see a lot of action, with this gangster running around," Arnaud commented. "What is he called, the bee, the wasp?"
"The Green Hornet," Miss Case reminded.
"Oh yes, of course," the man conveniently remembered.
"So what are you working on now Henry?" Casey asked, trying to seem interested.
"Oh it's nothing really, just boring detective work."
"That must be so exciting, being a detective I mean."
"Yes, well it has it's moments."
"So what's your boss' story Miss Case?"
"Not so formal please, we are on a date. Call me Casey, all my friends do," Miss Case suggested. "And as for Mr. Reid, there's not much to tell I'm afraid. He's just a bored playboy turned workaholic. You see he inherited his family's fortune, as well as his father's newspaper. It's pretty much his passion."
"That's nice," Arnaud replied, sipping some more wine.
"So why did you ask me on this date? Was it to pump me for information about my boss, or the Green Hornet? Is this about work, some investigation?" Miss Case started to fume.
"Calm down Casey, I'm just a curious man. You know I really -."
Without warning, Arnaud's words were cut short by a piercing scream from the other side of the restaurant. Then suddenly, rapid gunfire boomed above the boisterous noise of the crowded restaurant. The sound of shattering glass could have deafened anyone that was near. Screams became more and more frequent, as large, heavily armed thugs moved throughout the place.
Approaching the secluded table that Arnaud and Miss Case were seated at, a rough looking burly goon grabbed the beautiful, young secretary and threw her over his shoulder. Trying in vain to free herself from the hood's clutches, she screamed for her date to save her.
"Stop! Let her go!" Arnaud called out in a frantic howl.
As soon as the burly goon disappeared around a corner, Arnaud himself exited out the back of the restaurant, vanishing into a small storeroom, behind the place. Moments later, the private investigator was nowhere to be found, and from out of the storeroom stepped the familiar figure of The Shadow, clad all in black with a broad-brimmed fedora and crimson scarf covering his features.
|
