III
Kato watched Casey and Joe leave the movie theater. They were walking
arm in arm as young lovers like to do. He glanced back at the Green Hornet sitting
in the Black Beauty's back seat. His expression was unreadable even to Kato.
"It's been a week since we've talked to Duncan, Boss, and we still haven't
heard a peep from Wrightman."
"Tell me something I don't know," the Green Hornet answered sharply.
"Could be Wrightman's split town," Kato suggested.
"I doubt it."
"You know we could be following the wrong Brown."
The Green Hornet shook his head. "How many Joe Brown's do you think
there are who have just arrived from up North? No, we have the right man. I'm
sure of that. We'll keep on tailing Brown until something turns up."
"We've been following them every day for the last five days. Sooner or later
Brown or Miss Case is going to spot us. And if it's Miss Case, she's going to be
mad as Hell at you," Kato warned.
"I'll take the chance. We're sticking with them."
Despite the sour look on the Green Hornet's face, Kato persisted, "Miss
Case says he's a real nice guy. He gives her flowers and stuff like that all the
time."
"Big deal," the Green Hornet said grumpily under his breath.
"She says she likes being with him because she doesn't have to play games
with him like she has to with other guys. She feels like she can talk with him
without everything revolving around sex."
"Guy's probably as queer as a three-dollar bill," the Green Hornet growled,
unimpressed.
Kato shrugged. "I think she likes the way he treats her. He treats her like
she's somebody special. I hear most girls like that."
"So what're you, Miss Lonely Hearts?"
"No, but I can kind of understand what she sees in the guy. She could do
worse, you know."
"Despite all of that sweet talk Brown's been handing Casey, he's dirty. I'm
positive about that. We're sticking on his tail until he or Wrightman makes a
move."
Kato sighed, shaking his head. It wasn't Wrightman that was on the Green
Hornet's mind. There would be no reasoning with him.
The soft breeze blowing off the lake caught at Lenore's hair, sweeping it
away from her face as she and Joe walked back to her apartment from the movie
theater. The old-fashioned street lamps spreading out golden pools of light lit
their footsteps without washing out the sight overhead of brilliant stars set in a
velvet black sky. Lost in thought, Joe stopped for a moment.
"Joe?" Lenore asked curiously, a slight crinkle forming at the bridge of her
delicately upturned nose. She looked angelic in a short A-line dress of white lace
and a soft white crocheted shawl.
Compulsively Joe pulled her to him and kissed her. She laughed happily as
she gently pulled free from his grasp. "You're getting so bold," she said playfully.
Joe's face instantly fell. "I'm so sorry. Do you mind?" he asked worriedly.
She shook her head, sending her hair floating about her head in golden
waves. "No, I don't mind at all." She tilted her head, studying him. "I've had the
feeling all night that something's on your mind. What is it?"
Joe looked down at his feet as he gathered his racing thoughts, then he
raised his eyes to the moon dappled lake. It's so beautiful, he thought with a deep
sigh. Before his courage could desert him, he suddenly knelt on one knee. Taking
Lenore's hands into his own, he said, "Lenore, my dearest Lenore, it's been only
two weeks since we've first met, but I feel like I've known you forever. I think
about you every waking hour. I hear your name in the wind, in the song of the
birds, in the crash of the waves. Lenore, Lenore. Everywhere I go I hear your
name. Even in the rush of the traffic, I hear your name. Even in my dreams I see
you. I see you laughing and singing and dancing. The very sight of your shadow
fills me with wonder. I love you so much that all the words in the world can't
describe what I feel.
"I don't have much money. We'll never live in a mansion, but as long as
you are with me, every place is a castle. Please, please, dear sweet Lenore, please
tell me you will be my wife."
Lenore gasped, stunned by Joe's plea, "Joe, I, I . . . "
"Please tell me you will be mine."
"Joe, please. This is such a surprise. I don't know what to say."
"Say that you will marry me," Joe eagerly broke in, "I know I'm not as
good-looking or as rich as your boss, and that you will never love me as much as I
love you, but I promise to make you happy. I'll be helpful, kind . . . "
Lenore laughed gently, placing her fingers against his lips, stopping the
headlong gush of words, "Joe, I think you're starting to say the boy scout pledge.
I'm only hesitating because I want more time. For the both of us. Three weeks is
far too short for people to really get to know each other. We need time to find out
more about each other including all our warts and pimples."
"You don't have any. You're perfect, the Venus de Milo, the . . . "
"Joe!" she interrupted, shaking her head. "I'm not perfect. I'm just an
ordinary person, with all the faults and foibles that come with being a mere mortal.
I can't say I'm not flattered by your devotion, but we need more time. I need more
time."
Crestfallen, Joe rose to his feet. "I take it that's a nice way of saying no," he
said sadly.
"It's not 'no', not by any means. It's just 'wait', take your time. Marriage is
forever. A few months won't matter, not when measured against all time," she said
very gently.
"A few months," Joe repeated quietly, thoughtfully. He sighed, "I'd wait an
eternity for you."
"You're hopeless," she said fondly.
"I'm hopelessly in love. With you," he replied.
She wrapped an arm around him. "It's getting late. Will you walk me home
or do I have to get tough on you?" she teased playfully.
Joe remained deep in thought after he had taken Lenore back to her
apartment. He was heartened by the fact that she had kissed him goodnights, but
he still had not dared suggest that they talk for a while over a nightcap. Perhaps,
she was right, he thought, perhaps we do need some more time. Even after two
weeks he still did not feel comfortable enough to step a foot her home.
Dejectedly shoving his hands into his pockets he watched the cars in the
street. The traffic never seemed to stop in this city. No matter what the time,
people were always going somewhere and always they seemed to be in a hurry to
get there. Lenore Case was the only decent thing he found in this big, cold city.
He decided that when she did finally consent to marry him he would take her away
from this heartless place. They'd find a safe, secure home somewhere in the
country.
His frown deepened. There, again, parked across the street was that black
limousine. For the past week, it seemed like no matter where he was, it was
always around. It was just like the city; powerful, elegant, sleekly modern, yet
classic. All the while it bore a subtle aura of menace, haunting him like an evil
black ghost.
He didn't like this city, and he didn't like that black car. He was sick and
tired of being surrounded by grey concrete and he was sick and tired of seeing that
black car. Ignoring the honking of horns and shouted curses, he strode purposely
across the street toward the car.
"Come out, you coward!" he screamed as he kicked and banged on the car,
"I've had it with you! Get out of the car!"
The rear door on the opposite side of the car opened and out stepped a tall
man dressed in a dark green topcoat and matching snap-brim fedora. Noticing the
green mask with a green hornet on its brow, he felt the angel of death's cold breath
shiver down his spine. Joe stepped back a few paces only to find himself trapped
in the iron grip of a black-clad, black masked chauffeur. The chauffeur wordlessly
escorted Joe to the sidewalk to face the masked man.
"Do you have any idea who I am?" the masked man asked.
Trying to avoid those chilling green eyes, Joe nodded. "Yes," he croaked,
"You're the Green Hornet."
The Green Hornet gave the chauffeur an almost imperceptible nod and Joe
felt the grip on his arms loosen.
"What is your name?" the Green Hornet asked.
"Uh, Joe Brown."
"What do you want, Joe Brown? I am not accustomed to people assaulting
my car."
Swallowing past the lump in his throat, Joe forced himself to return the
Green Hornet's even gaze. "I was going to ask you the same thing. What do you
want from me?"
"I have no interest in you. Yet," the Green Hornet replied.
Joe shot a quick glance at Lenore's apartment building. He noticed the
Green Hornet following his gaze. "If you mean to harm Miss Case, so help me,
I'll . . . "
"You'll what?" snapped the Green Hornet.
Joe heard the scrape of the chauffeur's shoves on the pavement and the soft
hiss of intaken breath. The Green Hornet shook his head slightly and Joe sensed
the chauffeur relaxing. It didn't make him feel any safer.
"You'll what?" the Green Hornet demanded again.
"I don't know. Exactly," Joe said, "But if you hurt so much as a hair on her
head, I'll hunt you to the ends of the Earth."
"Brave words, my friend," the Green Hornet murmured, "Sounds like you
love her very much."
"I'd do anything for her."
"Then stay away from Wrightman. He's looking for you," the Green Hornet
warned. Without another word he and his man slipped back into the car.
Puzzled by the Green Hornet's words, Joe watched the car pull silently
away, making him wonder if the odd meeting with the master criminal ever
happened.
