LIGHT AND SHADOW
CHAPTER IV. PROWLINGS
(Disclaimer: Disclaimer: Cranston, Lane, Scott, and their respective supporting casts are sadly, not my property. I'm creatively molesting them for my own sinister purposes.)
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NEW YORK CITY, NIGHTFALL
Allan concealed the power battery in wall compartment he'd hollowed out in the hotel room, then willed his uniform to himself.
"Time to see what we can dig up on the illustrious Mr. Cranston."
He opened the window and hurtled away, fast enough that no one would be able to see him leaving. He found himself soaring through the cool air of a Manhattan night. He allowed himself to momentarily revel in the sensation of flying high above the glittering lights of the Big Apple. Gotham had its share of towering skyscrapers, but New York has a vitality that the dark towers of Gotham lacked. He steered away from downtown, toward the areas of the city more populated by the wealthy. In short time, he was over Cranston's mansion. He found an open window on one of the upper stories and let himself in. Breaking and entering might be a crime, but he knew that there was definitely something about Cranston that warranted it.
He kept to the shadows, of which there seemed to be plenty, as he floated through the hallways of the mansion. A great deal of the decoration was oriental, which was a bit surprising for someone of Cranston's class. The wealthy did tend to have a fascination with foreign styles, but to allow one style to so completely dominate a home was unusual at best.
Other than the décor, there was very little at the mansion to suggest that Cranston was any more than he appeared, which was a wealthy playboy with an interest in the arts.
"Damn, and I'd thought I was on to something." He heard a cab pull up outside and saw Cranton's secretary coming toward the house. He made quickly for the window that he'd come in.
"Is everything all right, Ms. Lane?"
Margot stood just a little way off from the house; suddenly wary of the emanations she was receiving.
"I'm not sure, Moe. There's something… powerful here."
"Powerful?"
"Stay here a minute."
She hurried quickly into the mansion and ran up the stairs, sensing that whatever it was, it was coming closer.
"Who's there?"
"What are you hiding, Ms. Lane?"
She whirled around and gasped as she saw the glowing green figure before her. The Green Lantern hovered a foot off the ground at the head of the stairs. In the darkened room, he seemd ominous and terrifying.
"Hiding?"
"Your employer, Cranston, is more than he seems. I will find out what it is."
"Lamont is hiding nothing!"
"Do not lie to me. Ms. Lane. If you don't tell me, I'll find out anyway, and the next time we meet, I will not be as friendly."
They both jolted when the lights of another car were seen through the front windows and, second later, Lamont Cranston burst through the doors.
"Margot!"
When Margot looked back again, the Green Lantern was gone, leaving no trace that he'd ever been there.
"Lamont!" She rushed down the stairs and embraced him tightly, holding on for dear life.
"Lamont, he was here!"
"Who, Margot?"
"The Green Lantern! He said you were hiding something."
"First Scott, now the Green Lantern. There is definitely something going on." He looked down at Margot, who still had him firmly in her grasp. "Margot, listen to me. I need you to find out all you can about anything out of the ordinary that's happened in Gotham in the last few days. Can you do that?"
Pulling herself together, Margot nodded silently and brushed herself off, attempting to retain some dignity.
"Good girl. Now, I think I'd best keep my meeting with Mr. Scott."
Back at his hotel, Allan tugged at the too-comfortable tuxedo that Cranston's secretary had had delivered. There was something about a man who could afford a good enough tailor to make a tux comfortable that just rubbed him the wrong way. He hadn't found anything at Cranston's thanks to the man's remarkably good timing, but he was still convinced that there was something to find.
His phone rang and he snatched up the received, hoping that it was good news.
"Allan Scott. Hello, Steve. What's this? Oh, is that a fact. Right. No, I didn't do anything to make him mad. No. Look, Steve, I'll see what this is about. All right. I should be back in a couple of days. G'night."
Slamming down the receiver, Allan grabbed his coat and stormed out of the room.
"Ah, Mr. Scott, glad you could make it. Please, have a seat."
"Thank you."
The band at the Cobalt Club was playing lively swing as Allan took his place across from Lamont Cranston.
"Nelson, vodka martini for me and… scotch for my guest. On the rocks."
The waited nodded and walked off, leaving the two men to talk.
"Good guess."
"I do my best. So, Allan, may I call you Allan?"
"Of course."
"Thank you. Allan, how have you enjoyed the city?"
"A great deal. New York has plenty of excitement to offer."
"I know it. Ah, the drinks."
The waited placed the drinks in front of each man, then left. Allan sipped the scotch and whistled appreciatively.
"Mm. Good stuff."
"Only the best. Now, why don't we get down to business? We've drinks in front of us and plenty to talk about. What better way to build a bridge between two men?"
At the mention of a bridge, Allan paused in mid-sip. That was obviously a very thinly veiled attempt to let him know that Cranston had done his homework.
"Absolutely. I wouldn't miss this chat for all the tea in China."
Cranston's smile slipped a bit and his knowing eyes became a bit harder, almost angry.
"What exactly is it that you'd like to know, Allan?"
"Well, I thought I'd start with some questions about your future plans. The announcement of your endowment was quite a shocker. Any other bombs you plan to drop on the city?"
"Not at present. The endowment was something that needed done. I try to keep to my own affairs wherever I can. I've heard that a man lives longer that way."
Allan took another sip of the scotch and lowered his voice.
"Lets cut to the chase, shall we?"
"Lets."
"Who are you, Cranston? What's your game?"
"I don't know what you're playing at Scott, but I am not a man to be trifled with."
"I've noticed. It seems that anyone who knows anything about you has an odd tendency to disappear. Why is that, exactly?"
"Unless you'd care to find out, I suggest you enjoy your drink and go back to Gotham."
Cranston's voice was thick with menace as he slammed back the last of the vodka and stood, as if to make for the door. Allan rose with him and held him firmly by the sleeve of his jacket.
"I'm not leaving until I get some answers. And neither are you."
"Get your hands off of me…"
Lamont snatched his sleeve away and strode toward the door, grabbing his coat and hat on the way out and ducking quickly into the Sunshine Cab waiting outside.
"I'm going to be followed, Moe. Get us lost."
"Got it, boss."
The cab squealed away from the curb and left a trail as it raced down the street. Allan bolted out the door just in time to see it speed away.
"Damn it!"
"The Sanctum, Moe. There's an uninvited guest in town, and he's about to learn what it means to cross the