SECRET IDENTITY (7 page)

“And using Brenda to lure us in,” Lorne repeated.

Lee sniggered. “So this guy, whoever he is, thinks
one
of us has superpowers?”

Luke smiled. “Yeah, well, it is rather funny, in a way. It’s
to our advantage, though. Because all of us are empowered, we’re able to watch
each other’s backs. Since I don’t leave here when I work, I can oversee the
both of you.”

“What if they’re suspecting Espionage?” Lorne suggested. “What
if they’re wanting to see which one of us is him?” He looked to Lee. “Have you
used your powers in front of witnesses?”

“In front of law enforcement, yeah,” the youngest brother
admitted. “But never in front of witnesses or the public. The only people who’ve
seen me in action are in the highest echelons. I don’t bring in people, Lo,
just evidence. You know that. Disks, papers, photos, that sort of thing. Or I
get access to computers and drop the security screens, or email out stuff.” He
gave a snort. “It’s amazing how often people don’t check their ‘sent’ mail to
see what’s gone out until it’s too late.”

Luke broke in. “What I’m getting are some serious mental
vibes that I’m having difficulty sorting out. What little I’ve been able to
discern is this. These people, whoever they are, suspect one of us has
superpowers. Now, whether or not they know about our dad has not come into
focus. Irregardless, they know of Brenda’s connection to us. Which is why they
rigged the explosion at the factory.”

He pointed a finger a Lorne. “The fact that The Defender is
now open knowledge is a plus in our column. You won’t have to hide him any
more, but you’re still vulnerable. And since you’re the one who’s now public
knowledge, you’re going to be watched closer than rash on a baby’s bottom. You’re
our weakest link right now, Lorne. From this moment, every move you make, every
word you say, will be filtered and sifted through, and examined for any clue as
to who you are and where you’re from.” Sighing, Luke added, “The world has
changed mightily since the days Dad defended this corner of the galaxy.”

Lorne gave a nod at the monitor. “You said the police were
wanting to question The Defender about the explosion?”

“Don’t be surprised if you find other people there with
them.”

“Want me to shadow, hang in the back to see if anyone acts
suspicious?” Lee suggested.

Luke nodded. “It wouldn’t hurt.”

“What about Brenda? She could be in danger if they’re using
her to get me to reveal myself,” Lorne said.

“I’ll keep a mental fence around the house, just to be on
the safe side,” Luke assured him. He sighed loudly and rubbed his temples. “It
would be nice if she’d sell us her house so we can expand underneath her
foundation,” he added.

Lorne crossed his arms over his chest. “I suggested it. She
said she’d think on it. I honestly think she’ll sell.”

“For sure?” asked Lee.

“Yeah. She doesn’t want to give up the only home she’s ever
known, but she doesn’t want to rent it out, either, since she lives in Ocean
City, and can’t keep an eye on the property from that far away. On the other
hand, I told her that if she sold to us, the place would still be open to her
any time she wanted to come back to visit, and she knows it’s the truth.”

“Or, she could decide to rent to us,” Lee added.

“Well, many moons ago I swore I would not delve into her
mind, and I’m not going back on my word. I can tell how she’s feeling, but I
won’t know her final decision until she either tells us, or I get a
foreshadowing.” Luke yawned and shook off his weariness. “Better get over to
the police station, Lorne. The sooner we get this mystery solved about the
factory explosion, the sooner we can find out who’s trying to find out our
secret.” He gave Lorne a worried look. “Be careful.”

“I’ll do my best,” Lorne promised. Turning to Lee, who was
dragging his mask back on, he smiled. “If you’re coming along with me, wanna
ride in my pocket?”

“Ha ha. Not funny,” Lee groused at the old joke. A second
later, he’d folded himself and vanished upstairs.

Lorne was right behind him.

Chapter 8

Investigation

If it had been for any other reason, Brenda would have told
Wilson Wagner to take a long leap off a short pier when he’d called. The man
knew she was on funeral leave, and, damn it, she had the right to take as long
as she needed before reporting back to work. Everyone back at the business knew
she wasn’t the type of person who abused sick leave. Hell, she rarely took any
because her drive to better herself and advance up the corporate ladder always
superceded any sniffles or aches she was fighting at the time. Like last
January when she had to act as escort to those five Japanese VIPs while stoking
a high fever.

Still, she had to give the man credit. He had profusely
apologized for calling her, and Brenda had bit her tongue and let the guy
finish. After all, he was a company bigwig, while she was still a subordinate.
If it hadn’t been for him, she wouldn’t have been given the promotion and the
chance to see Dobbling come to Fullerton. Both instances had come together so
perfectly, she couldn’t have planned it any better.

“The explosion,” her boss said, cutting right to the
chase. “Who was the guy who came to put it out?” At the mention of the man in
black, she could feel every nerve in her body spike with attention.

“I don’t know. We didn’t introduce ourselves.”

“We’ve been informed he’s heading over to the police
station.”

“Where?”

“Right there in Fullerton. Source says he’s going to help
the police investigate the cause of that explosion. Now’s our chance to get
some great PR with this guy, Brenda. And I was thinking, since you were the one
who pushed so hard to get the factory built in your hometown, and since you’re
already there…” The man’s voice trailed off.

She could hear a slight pleading tone mixed with the
almost order. He wasn’t begging. Not yet. But he gave her no leeway to decline.

“Wil.” She sighed heavily. “I’m not an investigator.
Other than working for the company, what would be the purpose of me being
there? Want me to hold his hand while he looks around?”

She was trying to be facetious, but the truth was a pack
of wild dogs wouldn’t be able to keep her away. Not if it meant speaking to him
again. Maybe getting to know his name. Or more.

“You’re our official representative, McKay. We’re needing
you to stay there until this mess is cleared up.”

For some reason, those were the exact words she was
wanting to hear. By being ordered to stay in Fullerton until it could be
determined who, or what, was responsible for the explosion, Brenda felt the
knot in her chest slowly loosen. She needed this downtime.

“Someone’s head is going to roll,” Wagner continued
without waiting for her to comment. “People died in that accident, and Dobbling
is hoping it’s not our fault. That’s what we’re needing to find out, and the
sooner the better. That’s why we need you to be there while this new superhero
checks out the place.”

“And what if it is our fault?” she asked. “What if
Dobbling, or one of its employees, is the cause?”

“We’ll deal with that issue if and when it becomes an
issue. In the meantime, keep me posted, all right? I don’t care if it’s three o’clock
in the morning.”

She checked her watch. “It might not be a good idea to
try to catch him at the police station. I’m heading straight for the factory
and wait for him there.”

“Great!” Wagner chuckled. “Make us proud.”

Make
him
proud?
“Condescending bastard,” she
murmured as she closed her cell phone and stuffed it back in her purse. Hell,
the superhero in the black leather pants stopped being a strange new phenomena
the moment his male magnetism gave her female hormones a shot of adrenalin. She
hurried to pull on something that would look halfway decent.

She could see the factory was still marked off with police
tape when she pulled into the parking lot. Most of the debris from the blast had
been picked up, but some of those little orange flags still marked areas of
interest. Parked not too far away, she also spotted the Channel Eight van,
already set up and filming, as well as Mike Green from the
Fullerton Free
Herald
.

This is going to be a bitch
. Not only was she going
to have to watch out for the costumed superhero, but she would have to contend
with the news media as well. Well, she should have known better than to think
the newshounds wouldn’t be out for blood for this story. She could see the
headlines now:
Major Corporation Opens Its Doors to Death and Destruction
.

Fortunately, there were no other news crews around, which
was surprising. It probably meant they were here just to get evidence of the
blast for their files. They may not have a clue that the superhero was due to
arrive. Silently, Brenda gave kudos to her boss for having first-rate insiders.
Let’s hope whoever gave him the info is reliable.

Getting out of her car, she hurried around to the side where
she would be least noticed. Yes, she was planning on crossing the police
barricade, but she wasn’t stupid enough to enter that toxic dump that used to
be a chemical factory. She just wanted to find a spot where she could attract
the superhero’s attention when he arrived, and hopefully ask him some
questions.

She took a deep breath before she exited the vehicle. The
moment the door was open, Brenda realized she needn’t have bothered. The area
was cleared of all smoke and fumes. So far she hadn’t seen any sign of the
black-clad man. Maybe he was inside.

A few feet away, Brenda noticed where most of the wall was
missing. Maybe if she went over there, she might be able to see inside—

A sudden strong breeze gusting behind her made her turn
around, and she spotted him up on top of the factory, balancing on a remaining
bit of roof while still waving the huge steel doors. She frowned, wondering why
he would still be fanning the interior, when his intent suddenly became clear.
Oxygen fed the fires still burning inside, but the doors would act like giant
gusts of wind, extinguishing the flames like a kid blowing out the candle on
his birthday cake.
But what about the coals? Wouldn’t fanning them cause
more fires?

She took a few steps toward the building to watch the
black-clad stranger in action while his attention was directed elsewhere. He
was all muscle. He also had a cute tush, and even though she couldn’t see the
definition of muscles in his back because of the jacket, she knew they had to
be as steel-strong as the doors he was holding.

More intriguing was the fact that this man had shown up
right after the explosion when he did.
Coincidence?

The slam of car doors told her more people were arriving to
look over the mess. Some of them might be more news crews. If it was, her
chances of being able to talk to the stranger would drastically decrease. If
she was going to get to know the man’s name, it had to be now or never.

The stranger dropped the doors to the ground and turned to
either take off or leave. Brenda yelled up at him and frantically waved both
arms over her head.

“Sir! Please, sir! Down here!”

The stranger glanced down at her, but he appeared to
hesitate. Brenda moved closer, and her action seemed to change his mind.

“Stop right there!” he ordered, holding out a hand in
warning.

She stopped, never taking her eyes away from him. She
watched as he took a deep breath, then stepped off the roof onto thin air.

Wide-eyed, Brenda noticed how the stranger slowly floated
down to the ground approximately twenty feet away. No wings, no cape, no showmanship.
Just all business. Once his feet touched down, he came toward her.

Like before, she felt she was being approached by a strong
magnetic field. Her entire body pulsed the closer he got, drawn like a tiny
planet to a sun. The nearer he got, the more he appeared to glow. Not dark, not
black like his garments, but brighter and denser than anything she had ever
encountered. He literally dazzled.

Good heavens, I need shades!

The man stopped about a yard away from her. Near enough to
where she could barely touch him with her fingertips if she reached out. He
looked a good foot taller than her, making her guess he was around six foot
six. His black hair was thick and nearly shoulder-length. But his eyes…his eyes
were as black as his suit, as his mask and his hair.
But weren’t his eyes
blue?

“Are you okay?” he asked her.

His voice rattled her bones. There was genuine concern in
his tone, just like there was honest caring in those ebony eyes.

“I’m f-fine,” she finally breathed. “Look, I’m Brenda McKay.
I work for Dobbling Enterprises. Would you mind answering a couple of
questions, please?”

One corner of the man’s mouth lifted. “I know who you are,
Miss McKay. It’s not safe here. Please go back to your vehicle, or at least
remain on the other side of the police tape. I need to find those victims who
weren’t able to escape.” He glanced quickly over his shoulder, adding, “The
coroner’s office is sending several ambulances to retrieve them.”

Ah.
That explained the sound of multiple car doors
slamming.

“Ju-just tell me who you are,” she hurried to ask. “What do
you want me, I mean us, to call you?”

“The Defender,” the stranger replied.

A moment later, he was gone, boosting up and over her head,
toward the parking lot where the police and ambulances were waiting.

Brenda watched in awe as the stranger—
The Defender
—spoke
with several uniformed men before turning to head back to the factory to begin
looking for victims.