The Case of the Black Lion-Chapter 6
by HA
Shirley stared at the red-clad newcomer. "A member of the Elite Eight, I presume?"
"Your presumption is correct." The red-clad figure spun around on her boot heel, and Shirley saw the white mask covering her face. "My designation is Number Five."
As she noted the other's accent, Shirley looked directly into the blackness of Number Five's eyeholes. "Russian?"
"Correct," Number Five said, flexing her fingers. Shirley noticed that the claws were gone. "So, you're the little nuisance who's been a thorn in our organization's side." She looked over the young detective. "I can't believe you defeated Numbers Eight and Nine."
She sure did! Bo thought. He wanted to yell the words out, but as he crept quietly from his hiding place, he knew that would ruin his chance at a sneak attack. He wasn't sure what good that'll do, but Shirley was in danger.
"Care to tell us what you're up to?" Shirley asked.
Number Five chuckled. "So full of questions." She moved a step forward, and Blake moved in front of Shirley. "You know the rules of our little game, Holmes. You figure out why we're here and try to stop us."
Bo slowly removed his backpack, then stopped himself from stepping on a twig. Suppressing a sound, he moved his foot over it and continued on his way.
"You said you weren't here to kill me," Shirley said. "Why are you here?"
"To give you a message." Number Five crossed her arms. "Mainly, to stay out of our way. For your own safety, of course."
"Oh?" Shirley said.
Not likely, Bo thought as he saw Number Five's back. He began to sneak forward.
"This has nothing to do with you, little detective," Number Five said as Bo got closer to her. "In fact, you constantly get involved in other people's affairs."
"I could say the same for your organization," Shirley said.
"I'm surprised at you," Number Five said as Bo raised his backpack over his head. She looked at her hand. "I can cut you to pieces before you can scream, yet you remain calm."
Bo clenched his teeth. Glaring at the back of the ENIGMA agent's head, he quickly swung his backpack at it.
Shirley and Blake watched as the backpack passed through air. Staring at where Number Five once stood, Bo let go to avoid falling, and his backpack fell to the ground.
Shirley's eyes widened. "Bo!"
Bo gasped as he felt the hair on the back of his head move a little. He was willing to move, but he wasn't eager to find out what the five claws spread out around his head would do if he even twitched. He did his best to minimize his shaking, but his breathing became frantic. Looking from left to right without moving his head, he noticed how the deadly sharp edges gleamed.
"Nice try," Number Five said from behind him, her voice containing a calm yet deadly tone. One claw touched his right cheek. "It had a miniscule chance of working. A pity I heard you sneaking up on me."
Oh man! Bo gulped in his throat as the claw tip continued to tap his cheek. His teeth began to chatter, and sweat formed on his forehead. His heartbeat quickened.
Shirley and Blake wanted to help their friend, but having seen Number Five in action, they weren't willing to risk Bo's life. All they could was stay in place and watch as the claws hovered around Bo's head. Shirley tried to stay calm, but her knees were shaking, and she could barely keep herself from screaming Bo's name. Blake curled his hand into a useless fist and grimaced at the Elite Eight member.
Number Five withdrew the claw from Bo's cheek. "So, Holmes, I believe you'll persist in opposing us," she said, flexing her fingers. Bo gulped again as the claws moved to and from his head. "I said I wouldn't kill you, but I never said anything about your friend here."
*No!* Shirley felt her heart pound against her chest.
Next to her, Blake wondered if he could get Bo to safety. He wasn't sure if he could, but he had to do something. For Bo and Shirley's sake, he had to!
"Let this be a lesson to you, detective," Number Five said. Her claws flashed away from Bo's head as her fingers moved. "Goodbye," she told Bo.
Then, several objects shot out towards Number Five. The ENIGMA agent vanished, and Bo fell to his knees. He breathed heavily, and he forced himself to stay up with his arms. Shirley and Blake ran up to him. As she knelt by her best friend's side, she noticed the small puffs of purple smoke coming from where the projectiles hit.
"Are you okay?" Shirley asked.
"For a guy who was about to get sliced and diced, yeah," Bo answered with a grin.
As they helped Bo to his feet, Number Five reappeared next to a nearby tree. "What's going on?" she said as she looked for her attacker, her clawed hand ready to strike.
More projectiles rained down onto Number Five, who disappeared in time. The objects stuck themselves into the tree, and Shirley made them out to be purple spiral stars.
"What's this?" someone asked from afar. "You're playing a game, and you didn't invite me?"
Two yellow eyes with a wide grin below them shone brightly from the spot the voice came from. Number Five reappeared to face the newcomer. "Who are you?" she demanded.
Clad in her spiral-themed clothing, Tomie Uzumaki stepped out so she could be seen. "So, you're this week's ENIGMA agent," she said. She flicked her wrist, and more spiral-shaped throwing stars appeared in her hand. "Purple's more my color," she remarked as she threw her weapons.
Number Five disappeared and reappeared several steps to Tomie's right. The stars whizzed out of sight. Tomie's palm opened, and a cord with a spiral blade shot out. The blade spun around rapidly, and with a flick of her wrist, Tomie shot the cord at the ENIGMA agent.
"Hmph." Number Five vanished again, and the blade embedded itself into a tree.
"This isn't exactly working out, is it?" Bo said.
Number Five swung her hand, and the claws sliced through the cord with ease. "If you're trying to catch me, you're not having any luck," she said as the cord disappeared in a puff of purple smoke.
Tomie grinned. "Who said I was trying to catch you?"
"Huh?" Bo blinked. He looked at his friends. "Guys, any idea what she means by...?"
A shockwave and a stream of cloth shot out of nowhere, sending branches crashing to the ground. Number Five vanished seconds before the attack reached her. The shockwave blew up a tree as the cloth stopped and retracted. Wood chips flew out, and Bo and Blake huddled defensively in front of Shirley. They felt the shards of wood hit against their backs.
"Are you okay?" both boys asked once the debris stopped hitting them.
"I was about to ask you two the same thing," Shirley said once her friends broke off their protective stance and were at her side.
Number Five appeared a good distance from the three teens. Tomie ran towards them. "Cavalry's here," she said.
Lucy and C.D. ran out of the woods from where the previous attack came from. Lucy held her scarf like a sword. C.D. had his hands curled into fists, and he glared at the crimson clad enemy.
Number Five faced down the newcomers. "Well, this is interesting." Shirley saw her grasping her shoulder. "You nearly got me," she continued.
"Everyone all right?" Lucy asked as she and C.D. stood in front of Shirley and the others.
"More or less," Shirley answered.
"What she said," Bo said.
Number Five breathed heavily behind her mask. "It looks like the odds are against me." She took her hand off her shoulder, flexed her fingers, and the claws disappeared. "Normally, I'd kill you all, but I have more important matters to attend to." She fixed her eyes onto the young detective. "The next time I see you, I will kill you."
C.D. fired another shockwave, but the ENIGMA agent vanished. Another tree exploded from the impact. "Damn it!" he yelled in frustration.
"Um, I'd like to know what just happened," Bo said, raising his hand.
"Just another ENIGMA agent," Blake said.
"Who happens to be able to disappear and reappear around the place," Bo said. "Oh, and we shouldn't forget about her long sharp claws!"
"At least we know how that message got carved in the motel wall," Blake said with a smile.
"How'd you know we were in trouble?" Shirley asked Lucy, who wrapped her scarf around her neck.
"Had Yume tail you," Lucy said.
"Good thing, too." In a flash. the yellow-eyed, pigtailed figure of Tomie Uzumaki vanished, and the Sussex Academy uniform clad form of Yume took her place. "She was dangerous."
"There's an understatement," Bo said, crossing his arms as he eyed Yume with caution.
Shirley looked around, especially at the ground. "Guess it's time for Chang's, then."
Bo stared at his friend. "Shirley, we just got threatened by an ENIGMA agent..."
"...who is no longer here," Shirley said as she kept her eyes on the ground. "Right now, I'd like to know about what you know about the Black Lions." She looked at Lucy.
Lucy threw her hands behind her back, and her foot moved back and forth on the ground. "Figured it out, huh?"
Shirley nodded. "The Internet is a wonderful resource, especially if you dig deep enough."
Lucy smiled. "Well then, let's go."
"I'll see you at Chang's," Yume said.
"Aren't you coming with us?" Blake asked.
Yume smiled. "See you there." In a second, she was gone.
Bo shuddered. "She may be on our side, but she still creeps me out."
Everyone followed Lucy to the blue Beetle, which was parked on the side of the nearby road. "This is your ride?" Bo said, staring at the car as he held his bike up.
"Don't knock it," C.D. said with a grin. "I'm glad my uncle let me borrow it for school today. I usually walk."
"Well..." Lucy looked around and saw the boys with their bikes. "Looks like you're riding with us, Shirley."
"Appears so." Slinging her backpack over her shoulder, Shirley stepped towards the Beetle.
"Hold on." Bo walked towards Shirley and held out his bike to her.
Shirley raised her eyebrow at her best friend. "Bo?"
"Take it," Bo said. "I'll ride with Lucy and C.D."
Shirley stared at Bo, but he kept holding out his bike to her. The look on his face showed he was serious. His eyes were fixed on her, and his mouth didn't form a smile. Without saying a word, she reached for the handlebars, and he fingers brushed against his hands. She kept her composure as she took possession of the bike, and he looked away to hide the blush on his face. Blake noticed this, and when his mouth started to open, Bo narrowed his eyes at him. Blake didn't say anything. Neither did Lucy, who had watched the whole thing closely.
"See you at Chang's," Bo said as he entered the back of the Beetle.
Shirley nodded, but Bo didn't look at her. She mounted the bike, and Blake followed suit.
"We'll drive slowly so you can keep up with us," C.D. said as he manned the driver's seat. He started the car, and it took off.
Shirley watched the Beetle, but she couldn't bring herself to move her feet. "You know why he did that?" she asked Blake.
"Yeah," Blake answered.
"Care to tell me why?" Shirley asked, keeping her gaze on him.
Blake sighed. "I'm afraid I can't."
"Why?"
Blake looked at the Beetle, and he swore he saw Bo watching them. "Because Bo has to."
In the Beetle, Bo sighed and faced forward. Leaning back, he rested his head on his hand as he reflected on the one thing that constantly bothered him. Once again, the internal conflict between emotions took place. He was amazed at how well he's kept himself from screaming the truth. He gulped. His heart beat faster. No, not the truth. It couldn't be the truth. Just a ridiculous thought. Yes, that was all it was. A delusion that haunted him. One that puzzled him. Handing his bike to her contained all the aspects of his internal struggle. In that moment, the two sides worked together to create a confusing message, one that he couldn't understand. No, that wasn't right, either. He feared understanding it, for it meant acknowledging the existence of what he saw as an impossibility in the world. However, the feeling continued to dog him, and he knew well the physical manifistations of it. No matter what, he couldn't stop them from happening, especially when he was with her. He slapped his head hard. "God, why?" he whispered to himself. "Why?"
"You know, someday you have to tell her," C.D. said as he kept his eyes on the road.
Bo snapped at attention. His back straightened against his seat. "Come again?"
Lucy smiled at him. "If you're not careful, you might lose her."
Bo's eyes almost burst out of their sockets. "What?" he said loudly.
"Listen to her," C.D. said.
Bo leaned back and crossed his arms. "Just drive."
Behind the Beetle, Shirley and Blake rode their bikes. The wind blew back Shirley's hair as she kept up with the car. Blake stayed at her side.
"So, what was her name?" Shirley asked.
"Huh?" Blake said as he kept his eye on the Beetle.
"Your friend's name," Shirley said. "The one I remind you of."
"Oh." Blake kept his eyes on the Beetle. "Courtney."
"Hmm?" Shirley glanced at him.
"Courtney," Blake repeated. "Courtney Adler."
The two teens continued to follow the Beetle. Nothing further was said. Shirley felt she'd learn more later, and there were more important things to deal with.
The occupants of the gray car waited. The dark-haired driver looked from his left to his right as he held the steering wheel. "Anything?" he asked the giant seated next to him.
The giant shook his head after looking through the tinted window. The driver frowned and checked his watch. His fingers tapped nervously against the wheel.
Seconds later, the back door opened, and someone sat in the seat. "On time," the person said a moment before the door slammed shut.
Both men faced the back to see Number Five. The driver gulped. "Welcome back." The giant smiled nervously.
"Drive," Number Five ordered.
The driver started the car. As soon as they were on the road, he spoke. "So, how did...?"
"Exactly as expected," Number Five answered. "She won't stop until we're defeated." She flexed her fingers.
A beep came from the dashboard. "Incoming call from Shadow Axis," the driver said. He looked briefly at a display screen at his side. "It's Number One."
"Put him through," Number Five said.
A screen on the ceiling went on and showed the thin face of Number One. "Report," he said as he adjusted his headset.
"Everything is on schedule," Number Five said. "Our client will be arriving soon."
"And the detective?" Number One asked.
"Still alive, and still determined to stop us," Number Five answered.
"What?" Number One said with a gasp, his eyes wide open. "You haven't killed her yet?"
"And cast more suspicion on us?" Number Five flexed her fingers and admired them. "Don't worry, Number One. I'll kill her when the time is right."
Number One frowned. "Let's hope you'll be more successful than your predecessors. Mr. E is very displeased with the performance of the Elite Eight at the moment."
"Let me assure you that we will not fail Mr. E again," Number Five said, bowing her head.
"Let's hope not," Number One said. "ENIGMA forever."
"ENIGMA forever," Number Five said.
Number One's image vanished from the screen. "Are you quite sure about that, Number Five?" the driver asked. He froze. "Not that I'm doubting your abilities, and..."
Number Five leaned back in her seat. "Gentlemen, when I was still working for the Soviet Union, I was sent to Africa to hunt a lion." She looked at her hand as she opened and closed it. "My superiors gave me only a knive to do the job. Didn't need anything else due to my talent. Oh, how they laughed as I marched out. After all, am I not only a woman?" Her hand balled into a fist. "I showed them."
The driver kept his eyes on the road. "What happened, Number Five?" The giant looked at his superior, his eyes open with curiosity.
Number Five looked up at her underlings. "Hours later, I came back covered in blood with the body of a male lion draped across my shoulders. I would've brought back the whole pride, but that would've been too much work to bring all their bodies to the camp."
The giant's lip quivered, and his teeth chattered. "You killed an entire pride?" the driver asked, focusing even more on the road.
"I did," Number Five said. "The lion's head remains at my office at Shadow Axis, and as for my superiors..." She opened her hand, and her claws shot out. The giant almost jumped out of his seat. "When Mr. E offered me the chance to take care of business after my promotion, I was delighted to visit them." Her white mask concealed the sinister flash of teeth on her face. "Very delighted."
The giant faced the windshield. The driver concentrated on the road even more. His knuckles were almost white from his hard gripping of the wheel.
Number Five moved her fingers again, and the claws disappeared. "Before and after ENIGMA, my hands never failed me." She grinned again behind her mask, and her claws reappeared. "Holmes will die at my hands. I'll see to that."
The dashboard beeped again. The driver glanced at the display. "It's our client."
Number Five retracted her claws. The car continued on its way.
The Beetle, Shirley, and Blake made it to Chang's without incident. As soon as the Beetle parked in front of the restaurant, Shirley and Blake pulled up in their bikes. A smiling Yume waved them over from her spot in front of the main door. As the Beetle's driver and passengers got out of the car, Shirley and Blake walked up to the nearby bike rack and secured their rides. When everyone gathered at the entrance, Shirley stepped up to Bo as he made his way there.
"You're welcome," Bo said without looking at her. As he passed her, he kept his gaze straight ahead, for his cheeks were red.
Blinking, Shirley followed everyone else in. She kept herself behind Bo, and as she looked at his back, she recalled that when he spoke to her, she didn't notice any malice in his voice. As she entered Chang's, she tried to figure out why he gave her his bike. She swore his cheeks were red, but it could've been her eyes playing tricks on her. She remembered what Blake told her, and she reached out to tap Bo on the shoulder.
"We're here," Yume said. She stood before the door leading to the restaurant's private party room.
Shirley withdrew her hand and followed everyone inside. The room hadn't changed much since the last time she had been there. The dragons on the wall hadn't changed, and the speaking podium was in the same spot. Surrounded by chairs, the table was full of refreshments. Yume stood next to a platter of Shanghai lumpia, and Bo stared wide-eyed as she seemed to suck up eggroll after eggroll.
"Mmmmm, mmmmm," she said as she chewed pork, carrots, water chestnuts, and crispy wrapper. "So good!" she exclaimed, shooting bits of lumpia onto the floor.
"Hey, Marcus," Lucy said to a spiky-haired boy standing next to the table.
"Hey," Marcus Chang answered. He stared at Yume, who was still wolfing down eggrolls. "I get the feeling we'll be cooking a lot tonight," he commented as she chewed and swallowed another eggroll.
Yume gulped down her food loudly. "You should try making gyoza," she said as she grabbed another eggroll. Her teeth came down hard on it, and she made loud crunching noise as she enjoyed the mix of sift and crispy food. "Mmmmmmmm..."
Bo stared at Yume as she grabbed more eggrolls. "Okay..."
Shirley's curious blue eyes swept the room. "I see the usual security isn't here."
"Collette is on a case with Bart," someone spoke from the door. "Investigating disappearances at an old mansion, I believe."
Bo looked at the door. His eyes narrowed. "You!"
Arthur Kingston adjusted his glasses as he entered the room. As he walked, he tapped his red umbrella on the floor. His dress was colorful, as usual. Green slacks, red vest, and a long-sleeved button-up shirt adorned him. He held a red plastic bubble pipe in his other hand. "Ah, I see we're ready," he remarked. "Much to tell you today, Shirley."
"Uh huh." Bo took several steps forward, and he stood before the president of the Strangers' Club. "We need to talk, especially about sending a certain supernatural vigilante after Shirley," he said, glaring at Arthur. His hands hung at his sides as tightly balled fists.
"Ah, yes," Arthur said, meeting Bo's eyes with a cool look. "That went well."
"I beg to differ," Bo said through gritted teeth.
"Bo!" Shirley said. C.D. and Marcus stood their ground, although C.D.'s hands were starting to shake and Marcus was reaching into his pocket. Lucy gasped. Yume watched this all with a smile as she chewed more eggrolls.
Blake stepped between them. "Er, maybe we should calm down a little," he said, looking at Bo as his arms were ready to push the two apart.
"Yeah," Lucy said, joining Blake. "We should get started."
Bo shot another glare at Arthur before allowing Blake to pull him away. Shirley watched as they rejoined her. She heard Lucy mutter "Close one" and saw the other Strangers nod their heads in agreement. As she watched Blake try to calm Bo down, she wondered why Bo would do such a thing aside from being concerned for a friend's welfare, but Arthur's words broke her concentration.
"All right, everyone pull up a chair," he said. When everyone was seated, he sat down. "Shirley, you're going to have a rare opportunity today."
"Oh really?" Bo said, raising an eyebrow at Arthur as he crossed his arms.
"A rare opportunity?' Shirley said.
"Indeed." Arthur laid his umbrella next to his seat. "It's not every day people get to know how the Strangers' Club was formed."