"Okay, let me get this straight, John. You were just talking to the kid and all of a sudden, after you asked a question, he ran out of the office and killed himself. Right?"

            John nodded to his law partner.

            "What'd you ask him, John?"

            He thought fast. The wrong answer would give away a lot more than he was willing to give. "I just asked him if he had any criminal record. All of a sudden, his face gets terrified and he runs into the intersection before I can stop him. It was crazy, Freddy!"

            Freddy nodded his head. "Okay; we've lost ourselves a case. Back to work I guess. The kid was an orphan anyway, so there's no one to sue you. Besides, the police already cleared you of murdering him."
            John agreed, "Guess it is time to get back to work. I'll go get a bite to eat, but I'll be back soon."
            "Okay, get me something too. BLT if they've got it."
            "I was going for pizza."

            "Oh. We'll just share then."

            John grabbed his coat and walked out the door. He had far more to do than get a pizza. Last night, his E-mail had been answered, telling him to meet the dealer at Preston and Main in a small little alley by a dumpster.

            "I've got to hand it to them," he murmured. "I don't many dealers clever- or stupid- enough to give drugs in broad daylight."

            He caught a cab and headed there. He could see the dealer as he got out of the cab, wearing a black leather trench coat and sunglasses.

            "This guy's seen The Matrix one too many times," he thought. Taking a couple of steps forward, he whispered, "Do you have the stuff?"

            "The man said in a low voice, "Of course. Here are the drugs. Now give me the money."     

            Nightmare smiled. "I don't think so." A quick kick to the groin sent the man into unconsciousness. He examined the man's clothing until he found a wallet. He pulled out the driver's license and ID.

            He was really Joe Cradock, a 29-year old Anglo. That was all that he could tell from the two papers. He put the papers in his pocket and took the drugs as well, needing to examine everything.

            He began to walk away when he was hit with a force of a hundred bricks forward. Turning around, he cast off his outer clothing and put on his mask. Cradock had hit him with a surge of water. Nightmare checked to see if any bones were broken, and was lucky in that respect.

            "So, the dealer is a druggie too, huh?" he said.

            "Yep, and I'm pretty high right now, hero!" Cradock said, throwing forth another surge of water. It hit Nightmare hard, flying him across the street and into a brick wall.

            "Ungh," he muttered, and barely rolled to the side in time to avoid a lethal burst of water. "And I thought fire was bad!"

            Cradock forced water out of his hands, toppling the cars in the street between them. The intersection was clear for a fight now.

            Nightmare rushed forward fists flying. He ducked a powerful beam of water and landed a solid blow on Cradock's jaw. He hit him again in the stomach, and then sent his legs flying up.

            Cradock sent a beam of water towards Nightmare, who ducked again and landed a nice kick to the cheek of his foe. Cradock went to the ground, growing weaker now. He had enough energy left for one surge to Nightmare. The black-clad hero was sent flying into an upside-down car, and Cradock was totally drained of energy. He fainted on the spot.

            Nightmare got up, put Cradock in an empty car and locked the doors, leaving him for the police. He walked away dazed, with one thing on his mind.

            "Now about that pizza…"