As Britt Reid and Kato returned home and exited the secret passageway that held The Black Beauty, they were still talking about their victory as if they had just seen their favorite baseball team win a big game.
"So what's our next step?" Kato asked.
"First of all, we continue needling Masterson. After tonight, he may be more cooperative."
"He may try for payback against The Hornet."
"True. But now we've made him angry. And angry people make mistakes."
Kato froze suddenly in surprise. "Speaking of angry..."
Lenore Case stood in the middle of the living room. It was fairly obvious that she had overheard the entire conversation and had figured out what they were talking about.
Reid swallowed nervously, trying to find the words. "Miss Case...uh...what are...how did you get in?"
Casey held up a key. "You gave me this spare key six months ago in case of an emergency, remember? And I needed to drop off these important documents for tomorrow morning."
Reid slowly nodded, unsure of what to expect. "So..."
Casey smiled triumphantly. "So I was right after all. You are The Green Hornet."
Reid and Kato looked at each other, then at Casey. "Excuse me?" they both said together.
"I suspected from the start, but I wasn't completely sure. But I guess this proves everything, huh?"
As Reid and Kato continued staring at her, she laughed. "Come on, Britt, give me a little credit for common sense here. You've been after the rackets for years. The article you wrote on The Hornet and the way you called so much attention to him. Your interview with Talbot and the way you pried for information. And I knew The Hornet couldn't be a real criminal, because what kind of crime boss embarking on a gang war leaves the opposition alive?
"Plus, ever since The Hornet began his escapades, I've noticed that you've had this new energy about you. Not to mention a very confident attitude. It wasn't hard to figure out why."
Reid was amazed. Casey always had been full of surprises. "And you're...okay with this? You're not angry or upset?"
Casey sighed and smiled sadly. "No, I'm not angry or upset. And I'm proud of everything you've managed to accomplish, and what you're trying to do. But I'm also worried about you. The police will be after you just as much as the gangsters will. You could get hurt...or killed. And I am very disappointed that you couldn't confide in me about this. I thought we could trust each other. I thought we were friends...or...even more than that..."
Reid stepped up to Casey, gently taking her hand. "We are, Casey. You mean more to me than anything. But this is something I have to do. I started this, and I'm going to finish it. I can't let Masterson and his kind continue to get away with their crimes. I can't let them intimidate honest citizens and make a mockery of justice. These people have played at fear for long enough, and it's time for someone to show them what fear really is!"
Casey nodded, tears starting to form in her eyes. "Just be careful out there, okay?"
Reid smiled. "You have my word."
***
A few minutes later, Reid, Casey, and Kato were seated in the dining room having coffee, discussing their plans.
"I've had enough of playing around with Masterson," Reid said. "It's time to finish him and his racket off for good."
"But how?" Casey asked.
"I've already thought of that. First of all, after tonight, Masterson may finally be willing to throw in his lot with The Green Hornet. Once we link up, I offer him a gift, as a gesture of good faith – which will be the bait to lure Masterson into a trap."
Casey looked surprised. "How will that help to trap Masterson?"
Reid grinned and sipped his coffee. "I've already got it worked out. Listen..."
***
The next morning, Frank Scanlon was at his desk reading The Daily Sentinel, a broad smile on his face for the first time in months. Thanks to The Green Hornet, he now had a definite lead to Gregory Masterson. Masterson's fingerprints were all over the drug smuggling attempt, and many of his underlings in custody were actually willing to testify against him now--even Peter Talbot, Masterson's yes-man. They may have been afraid of Masterson, but they were more afraid of The Green Hornet now.
It was too bad that Reid wanted The Hornet to be portrayed as a crime boss, a hunted outlaw. Scanlon felt The Hornet deserved a medal of honor for last night's work.
The ringing of the phone shook him out of his thoughts as he answered. "District Attorney's office, Frank Scanlon speaking."
"Having a good morning, Frank?" Britt Reid responded on the other end.
Scanlon laughed. "After seeing today's headlines, of course. I can't thank you enough for what you did last night. We're getting closer to Masterson now."
"Closer than you think. I'm all set up to take Masterson down tonight."
"Tonight? So soon?"
"If everything works out. And I need your help."
"Sure. What do you need?"
"Listen carefully..."
***
While everything was going well for Britt Reid, things were not going quite as well for Gregory Masterson. The morning's headlines had publicized the failure of his men, and were staring the crime boss right in the face. Now, framed by two of his bodyguards, he was listening as Cross, who had spent the night in hiding, gave his boss the details of The Green Hornet's daring assault.
"Do you know what amazes, me, Cross?" Masterson said, barely holding back his fury. "You knew the consequences of failure, and yet after this truly abominable performance last night, you actually felt that you had to return here and tell me what I pretty much already knew."
"Boss, I – "
"There were at least thirty of you there, and you let The Hornet slip right through your fingers! He made complete fools out of you, which means that you have made complete fools out of me! This is inexcusable!"
"But – "
Masterson reached into a drawer and withdrew an automatic pistol. "You've failed me for the last time, Cross. Never again."
Before Masterson had a chance to fire, there was a sudden whine, and the door flew open with a crash. Masterson, Cross, and the two bodyguards watched in shock as The Green Hornet entered the room, Kato following silently behind.
The Hornet looked at Masterson and figured out what he had just interrupted. "Tsk tsk, Mr. Masterson. Do you treat all of your employees like this? No wonder your organization is in such bad shape."
Masterson turned his gun on The Hornet, but one of Kato's darts caught him in the wrist, and the gun clattered to the floor. Cross and the other bodyguards charged at The Hornet, but Kato caught Cross in the stomach with a kick, followed by a second. A cyclone kick to the head took Cross out of the fight. The Hornet gassed one of the bodyguards, and a solid blow to the jaw rendered the second unconscious.
Masterson's eyes seethed with rage. "You've got a lot of nerve coming here after what you pulled last night, Hornet."
The Hornet was unimpressed. "Last night is nothing compared to what I can do to you every night. By the time I'm done with you, your boys won't even to rip off an old lady's purse without me coming down on them. Face it, Masterson, your day is over. It's me everyone's afraid of now, not you."
The Hornet settled himself in a chair. "But gang wars are such a waste of time and effort. Especially since this is a big city with plenty for the two of us. We'd be much better off as partners. You know the streets and have all the contacts. I can wipe out all the competition, and I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty."
Masterson cooled down as he considered The Hornet's offer. "And your cut?"
"Same as before – fifty-fifty. If we're equal partners, we get an equal share."
"You're out of your mind."
"Hold on. Think about it. What I've done to you I can do to your competitors just as easily, leaving more for us. I can make us back ten times the amount my activities have cost you. And who would dare try and take on the two of us together? But consider this also – you know I can take you down in time, just as I will do the same to anyone else in my way. You can either join me and share the wealth, or be one more obstacle to be removed.
"This is your last chance. You have ten seconds to decide whether you are with me or against me."
It didn't take Masterson that long to decide. "All right. We have a deal. Fifty-fifty split, right down the middle."
The Hornet smiled triumphantly. "Excellent. And as a gesture of good faith, I'm going to do you a favor, free of charge. I'm going to knock off someone who's been giving you lots of grief these past few months."
"Really? And who might that be?"
The Hornet gave a wolfish smile. "Britt Reid, the publisher of The Daily Sentinel."
Masterson scowled. "Now I know you're crazy! Reid's got high-up connections! You'll never be able to…"
"Oh yes I will, Masterson. And in case you have any doubts, I'll even let you watch as I personally kill Reid, and blow his rag of a newspaper to kingdom come."
Masterson stared incredulously at The Hornet. "And you're going to do this…free of charge?"
"Well, I will need to get my hands on some explosives…which I'll be willing to reimburse you for, of course."
Masterson gave The Green Hornet a disarming smile. "Hey, no problem. It's on me. Anything to get rid of Reid. When's the big show gonna be?"
"Tonight. Meet me outside The Daily Sentinel building at 11:30. Reid usually works late there, and there will be less people around."
"And how do you know this?"
"I've been keeping an eye on Mr. Reid," Kato said. "We would have had to get rid of him sooner or later. He's the type that causes problems."
The Green Hornet held out his hand to Gregory Masterson. "Do we have a deal?"
Masterson hesitated, then smiled and shook The Hornet's hand. "Deal."
"Good. I'll see you tonight. Remember, 11:30, The Daily Sentinel building, and don't forget the explosives."
Masterson watched as The Hornet and Kato silently walked out the door. Cross staggered to his feet. "Boss, are you really gonna go through with this?"
Masterson nodded, his anger at his bodyguard forgotten. "Of course. I want The Green Hornet where I can get my hands on him at any time. Besides, I want to see if he's really going hold up his end of the bargain. Who knows? Maybe working with The Hornet won't be so bad after all."
***
From behind the wheel of The Black Beauty, Kato asked, "Do you really think Masterson's going to go through with this?"
"He desn't think he can afford not to at this point. Besides, he's going to want to see if I'm going to keep up my end."
"You don't think he'll be suspicious about why an up-and-coming crime boss doesn't have access to explosives?"
"No. He has too many other things to worry about. Besides, he'll see it as me putting myself in his debt."
Kato nodded. "So now comes the hardest part…the waiting."