Fan Fiction: Short Stories

The Red Talon
by Corey Christopher

  It was a dark and boring night. A calm-faced man in a brown derby hat was sitting behind the wheel of his coupe, waiting for the longest red light in history to change. Suddenly, on his left, a rakish touring car swerved past and barely made it through the intersection. Cars horns blared, and then gunfire barked forth from a second car that was chasing the first. Minutes pass that seem like hours.

  What the heck was that all about? He thought to himself. It was then that he was acutely aware of a presence in the back of his car. He hadn't even heard the door open or even shut. Nevertheless the man in the hat couldn't get rid of that nagging feeling in the back of his head. He was about to turn around to look when a sinister whisper came to his ears.

  "Drive."

  There was something to this voice that brooked no opposition. He managed to regain his composure, and started the car down the road.

  "Where?"

  "Metrolite Hotel," replied the disembodied voice.

  As the man managed to drive on, he finally was able to look in the rear view mirror. The entire interior of the back seat was a shifting inky blackness, except for two blazing eyes that were staring right back. The driver couldn't meet that unflinching gaze any longer and looked back at the road. The entire scene was more or less unbelievable, but somehow the driver knew that his passenger wasn't an enemy and could be trusted. But he wasn't sure why.

  When they reached their destination, another statement — actually more of a command than anything — issued from the back seat.

  "Go to Room 318. Ask for Harry Vincent. Take him where he needs to go and follow his lead. Obey his instructions."

  Before the driver could turn around with a reply, the door opened silently and closed the same way.

  "But wait! He's… he's GONE!"

  The man at the wheel couldn't believe the disappearance of his weird passenger. He dared not disobey the strange person with the unearthly voice, so he cautiously entered the Metrolite. Taking the elevator to the third floor, he found room 18. A clean-shaven, well-dressed man answered the knock on the door.

  "Are you Harry Vincent?" the man wearing the derby asked. "Yes, please come in."

  "You are Doctor John Longfellow, of the NYU science department?" Harry Vincent quizzed.

  "Yes I am." Dr. Longfellow replied. "The voice said to come here. Who was he?"

  Harry Vincent remained silent for a moment before replying; "Have you ever heard of The Shadow?"

  "Yes." Dr. Longfellow responded. "I thought he was only a myth, and being a man of science I deal in facts and figures not spooky ghost stories."

  Harry laughed, "I assure you The Shadow is not a ghost or a myth. In fact he saved your life tonight because the car that was following you meant you harm."

  "Me? But Why?"

  "I will explain that later. Time is of the essence. I have some questions for you." Harry's tone was serious now. "How close are you to completion of the VX formula?"

  Dr. Longfellow looked at Harry with shock and surprise. "But, but that is a top secret government project! How could you know about that?!"

  "The Shadow knows many things," Harry cryptically replied. "And it has come to his attention that members of the underworld also have knowledge of this. Now answer my question please Doctor."

  Dr. Longfellow paused to rub his chin. "About one month if I can…"

  Suddenly there was another knock on the door. Harry drew a snub-nosed revolver from his pocket and walked slowly to the door.

  Harry Vincent didn't know all of the details of this particular assignment. He knew, though, that his job was to protect Dr. Longfellow from any danger that may be behind that door.

  "Get in that corner and be very quiet," whispered Harry. Dr. Longfellow gave Harry a look of worry and then softly crept into the corner behind a chair.

  Harry went to the door and looked out the peephole to see who it was. A short man was standing there wearing a hat and trench coat. He appeared to be nervous looking up and down the hall.

  Harry waited there with his gun drawn hoping that the visitor would leave or give away his intentions somehow. He knocked one last time, waited for a few seconds to glance around, and then headed for the elevator.

  "Stay here Doctor," Vincent said in a low voice. The doctor nodded in agreement.

  The man was up to something, but Harry couldn't tell what. It looked like he was searching for someone but Harry didn't know if the man was looking for Dr Longfellow or someone else. Harry decided that the man was gone and holstered his weapon, but kept his hand in his pocket to draw if needed. Often at times The Shadow left his agents free to use their own judgment in situations such as this. Harry decided to open the door a crack to make sure no one else was in the hallway. As soon as he was satisfied, he stepped back into the room and walked to the window that overlooked the entryway. There he spotted the man rushing out of the doors and into a waiting car outside. Before he got in he gave a quick look around to see if he was being followed. The car then sped off into the night.

  Harry returned to the room where the doctor was waiting. There were a few more questions that needed answering, and the doctor might know what was going on. Harry wanted to make sure he had all the details straight before reporting back to The Shadow.