The courtroom was deathly quiet. The spectators were silent as they awaited to hear from the jury. These twelve randomly selected people were given the task to decide on the fate of Gregory Masterson, the head of the biggest crime syndicate in Detroit. Masterson had allegedly ordered the murder of a would-be stool pigeon, and would face life in prison if found guilty. However, Masterson had faced many such charges, and had always walked away. Despite the evidence, there was no guarantee that he would receive the justice he so richly deserved.
District Attorney Frank Scanlon was very much aware of this fact as he paced the courtroom back and forth. Since Masterson's arrest three months ago, he had worked non-stop trying to put a case together that would keep him off the streets. He was worried that all of his work had been for nothing. Masterson had ways of dealing with people who didn't do what he wanted them to do, and the jury knew it. They'd probably let him walk if it meant staying alive.
His gaze wandered over to a familiar figure sitting in the front row of the courthouse: Britt Reid, the owner and publisher of Detroit's leading newspaper, The Daily Sentinel. He was a clean-cut, well-dressed man in his early thirties, with dark hair and clear blue eyes - with a look of concern matching Scanlon's own. Scanlon wasn't the least bit surprised to see him here. Not only was Britt Reid a personal friend, but also an ally in his war on racketeering. Since inheriting the Sentinel from his late father, Reid had used the paper, as well as his television news station, to try and expose corruption and white collar crime. Which is understandable, Scanlon thought, considering that his father was framed for embezzlement by another boss, and ended up dying in prison, while real criminals get away with murder.
Kato Jun Fan, a Chinese man in his mid-twenties, sat next to Britt Reid on the bench. Reid never went anywhere without his faithful valet and chauffeur, and the two of them were like friends or family, rather than having a servant/master relationship.
Scanlon approached Reid. "Want to take bets on the outcome, Britt?"
Reid smiled encouragingly. "Take it easy, Frank. You had an air-tight case. Masterson's not getting out of this one."
Scanlon sighed. "We've thought that before, and he's proved us wrong."
"He's gotten away with too much already, and everyone here knows it."
"But they also know why he's gotten away with so much. Because anyone who might mess up his plans ends up dead. Most people aren't into self-sacrifice."
Reid, Kato, and Scanlon looked across the courtroom at Gregory Masterson, the man who had "ruled" this city for the last fifteen years. Tall, dark, and handsome, with gray hair and dark brown eyes, and an imposing build, he was the type who wore power like he wore his Armani suit. Yet for all his smoothness and apparent class, there was no masking what he was: a wolf in wolves' clothing. His expression was a mix of boredom and confidence. And that irritated the three of them to no end.
Their conversation was cut short as the jury entered the courtroom. Reid frowned. The look on the foreman's face told the whole story.
The judge caught it too, and sighed. What was about to happen was mere formality. "Has the jury reached a verdict?"
"We have, your honor," the foreman said sullenly.
"On the sole count of the indictment of murder in the first degree, how do you fund the defendant?"
"On the sole count of murder in the first degree, we find the defendant, Gregory Masterson, not guilty."
A murmur rippled through the courtroom as the judge sighed. "Thank you, Mr. Foreman."
Scanlon all but leaped out of his seat. "Motion to set aside the verdict, your honor."
"Motion denied. The jury is excused. Mr. Masterson, you are free to go."
Masterson barely seemed to hear, as he nonchalantly rose from his seat, smoothed out his suit and winked at his lawyers. He walked over to Scanlon and said with an arrogant smirk, "Better luck next time, Frankie."
The district attorney resisted the urge to cram that smirk down Masterson's throat as he walked out of the courtroom. Instead, he just slumped onto the bench and sighed in resignation.
Reid glared at the crime boss, then turned to Scanlon. "I'm sorry, Frank."
Scanlon nodded gloomily, as if he had been expecting it. "As Masterson said, 'better luck next time.'"
As Reid and Kato exited the courthouse, Reid said coldly under his breath, "And there will be a next time."
***
Britt Reid gloomily looked onto the city skyline from the backseat as Kato drove home. Once again, a major criminal had escaped justice. Like a bully in the schoolyard, Masterson had used intimidation and threats to get himself acquitted. And meanwhile, the innocents, the guys caught in the crossfire, are the ones who pay for it. Just like Kevin O'Rourke, the stool pigeon who wanted to be a hero by turning on Masterson, and became a corpse instead. Just like my father, forced to take another man's punishment while the real criminals remained untouched by the law. It isn't fair.
"It isn't fair," Reid accidentally repeated aloud.
"Excuse me?" Kato asked from the driver's seat.
"Oh, don't mind me, Kato. I'm just thinking out loud"
Kato nodded, understandingly. He felt the same way Reid did about the whole Masterson affair. Reid had done a lot for him over the years, more than his debt of honor could ever repay, and hated to see his efforts on the Masterson trial wasted.
Kato had worked for Reid even since the publisher had saved him from drowning as a child while on a trip to Hong Kong. As part of a family custom, Kato swore to serve Reid for the rest of his life. Reid intensely disliked the idea of having a servant, but Kato insisted. Although he couldn't talk him out of it, he avoided treating Kato like a valet as much as possible. They were close friends, and Reid preferred thinking of Kato as such, rather than a servant. Reid had even paid for Kato's education at City College, where he had recently earned a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering.
"The grin on Masterson's face as he left..." Reid continued, "I just wanted to cave it in with my fist as many times as I could! That arrogant..." He broke off his ramblings as he dejectedly slumped into his seat. "I thought we had him, Kato. I really thought we had him this time."
"You and Scanlon aren't giving up, are you?" Kato asked.
"Of course not. Dad raised me too well to be a quitter. But what we're doing isn't enough. And it's a little tough throwing yourself into the fray and walking away with nothing to show for it."
"At least you gave it a shot. That's more than can be said for other people."
"It's not enough."
"So what are you going to do now?"
"I dunno. But gangland activities are getting worse in this town. And somebody needs to put an end to it. I wish some of the older crowd was still in business, like The Shadow, or The Spider."
Kato nodded. "Where to?"
"The Sentinel. I have to let the public know that Gregory Masterson is still at large."
***
Britt Reid almost couldn't face his employees that day at work. He wasn't in the mood for anyone's sympathy. Everyone at the Sentinel knew how much effort Reid had put into helping Scanlon with his case against Masterson. By now, they also knew the verdict, and he didn't want to get any more "it's not your fault" baloney. Acknowledging his co-workers with a quick nod, he headed straight to his office.
After getting himself settled in, he sighed. He had no right to be acting like this. He couldn't look like he had been beaten in front of his employees, or to take out his frustrations on them. After composing himself, he said into his intercom, "Casey, can you please come to my office?"
The door opened and Lenore Case, an attractive redhead in her late twenties walked in, carrying some papers. There was a mutual attraction between "Casey" and Reid, and pools were going around the Sentinel reporters about how much longer it would be until they officially became an item.
As Reid's personal secretary, one of Casey's most useful talents was her ability to know what was bothering her boss, and she didn't say a word about the Masterson trial. Instead she gave him his list of appointments for the day, took notes for Reid's editorial, and received instructions for the layout of the extra they were about to print.
While Reid was in the middle of dictating his editorial, Mike Axford, the Sentinel's crime reporter, stormed into the office. A burly, red-haired man in his late forties, Axford was never known for subtlety, manners, or keeping a cool head. He had been with the other reporters during the Masterson trial, and he had personally written several articles on Masterson's rackets. "Britt! What in blazes happened in there today?"
Casey frowned at the sudden interruption, but Reid's face remained expressionless. "The same thing that's happened a million times before, Mike," he said.
"I know! Scanlon had an airtight case! We helped uncover big evidence! How can the jury let that no-good louse get away with murder again?"
"Why don't you talk to them and find out?"
Axford scowled. "I already did. The jurors said 'insufficient evidence' and 'reasonable doubt.' It just burns me up to think - "
Reid put his hand up, gesturing for Axford to stop. "Save it for your article, Axford. You're not alone."
Axford cooled down. "Yeah, yeah, I know. It just really gets to me. Someone oughtta teach Masterson a lesson with a right hook to the jaw, or a .45 slug! Man, there's a story I'd just love to write! I'd - "
"I couldn't agree more, Mike. Just get your article written up. I want that extra out as soon as possible."
"Gotcha, boss," Axford said, leaving as abruptly as he had entered.
Reid smiled a bit. "You've gotta admit, at least he likes his work."
Casey nodded. "A little too much, and it's going to get him killed one of these days. Will there be anything else, Mr. Reid?"
"No, I think that's it. Thanks, Casey."
Casey smiled as she left the office. It wasn't often there was a publisher around like Britt Reid. He always chose informing the public over sensationalism, and took his readers seriously. He would have made his father so proud.
***
Several hours later, Reid finally took a taxi and headed home. After a lousy day like today, he really needed to sleep it off.
Kato came out of Reid's study. "Can I get you anything, Mr. Reid?"
"Just a sandwich and some juice, please."
Kato nodded and walked into the kitchen. Reid idly walked into the study and looked at the portrait of his great-grandfather, John Reid. A Texas Ranger in the Old West, he and six of his fellow Rangers were killed in an ambush by outlaws – including his brother Dan. But legend had it that John Reid survived the ambush. After being nursed back to health by a Native named Toro, John Reid vowed to bring down the outlaws on their own terms. Wearing a mask and equipped with silver bullets, Reid apprehended the outlaws and avenged the deaths of his comrades and brother. Despite being considered an outlaw by the authorities, Reid continued his fight for justice as the man legend remembered as The Lone Ranger.
Only the Reid family knew the legend to be true.
He knew what justice meant. His brand of justice was the kind that worked. The innocent were protected and the guilty were punished. More than ever, we need a hero like that today.
Kato came into the room. "Dinner's ready."
Reid barely heard him, lost in thought. Kato frowned and walked over to Reid. "Mr. Reid? Britt? Are you all right?"
Reid nodded absent-mindedly. "I was just thinking."
Kato looked at the portrait and gave Reid a knowing smile. "About becoming a hero like your ancestor?"
Reid had long ago stopped being fazed by Kato being able to tell what he was thinking, a talent Casey also had mastered (or maybe he just had a very expressive face). "Yeah. I'm tired of seeing innocent people suffer and criminals getting away with murder. People deserve justice, and justice should protect the people. And if the courts won't do it, someone else should. As a Reid, that makes it my responsibility. If a hero is what this city needs to protect it, I will be that hero."
Kato smiled. "You mean, we will."
"'We?' What do you mean 'we?'"
"Someone has to watch your back. And I want in on this as much as you do. Besides, I can create weapons for you, or other equipment you may need."
"I appreciate the offer, Kato. But I can't ask you to risk your life for my crusade."
"Mr. Reid, you saved me from drowning when I was a boy. I promised I would serve you in return. When I was studying martial arts, my teachers told me that the martial arts were developed as a way to not only build inner strength, but to protect those who could not help themselves. I would not mind risking my own life to protect others. That is my choice. I would be breaking my promise to you and disgracing my teachers if I didn't help you with this, or if I turned a blind eye to those who needed our help."
Reid knew this was an argument he wasn't going to win, and he smiled.
"C'mon, Kato. Let's continue a family tradition."