Chapter Three

The assignment was difficult, perhaps the most troubling article Mike ever found himself authoring. He managed to set aside his personal feelings of hatred for the Green Hornet after a number of discarded sheets of paper on which he threw a generous serving of inflammatory adjectives in the Hornet's direction, and produce the lead story for the paper's morning edition. Mike's byline was under the banner headline Green Hornet Denies Responsibility for Crimes on page one.

As with the previous day, Mike was pacing a track into the carpet in Casey's office awaiting Britt's arrival. Casey was still upset over the crime spree, and still concerned over what Mike might spew at Britt. She could tell Mike was upset over the fact that he had to be objective in print on the subject of the Green Hornet and knew he was chomping at the bit to take the frustration he omitted from his article out on someone. Casey was aware of the fact that Britt was behind the story, in more than one way, so Britt would be the target of the tirade Mike was preparing to unleash.

"Mike," Casey said, "if you wear the carpet out in here, I'm telling Mr. Reid and he'll make you replace it out of your salary."

"Can you believe I wrote that?" Mike snarled, pointing to the copy of the Sentinel Casey was reading.

"You did an excellent job, Mike," Casey said with a smile, attempting to soothe the reporter's feelings. "I know this was hard for you to write, but you should be very proud of this article."

"Bah!"

Casey found a paragraph and read aloud. "'The Green Hornet told this reporter in an exclusive interview that he is not the one attacking women. Two women have been attacked in the past two nights, each identifying their assailant as the Green Hornet. But the notorious criminal reiterated that it is an imposter behind the crime spree.' And not once did you call him a 'creep'."

"You don't know how many times I did," Mike replied. "I just didn't type it."

Britt opened the door with his name and title on it. "Good morning," he said, forcing a smile behind the greeting.

"Good morning, Mr. Reid," Casey said, duplicating the pained expression from the day before.

Mike had his mouth open, but Britt stopped him before he could start. "Excellent article, Mike," Britt said with a pat to Mike's back.

Britt went into his office, his red-headed shadow behind him. One of the things Mike Axford loved about the Daily Sentinel was the strong stand the paper took against criminals. Mike could never have imagined in his wildest dreams that Britt, a man Mike had known from birth because of his long connection with the Reid family, was the much-vilified Green Hornet.

"It galls me," Mike said.

"I'm well aware of that, but it doesn't come out in the article."

Mike spun on his heels and walked toward the door, seeing Britt was unreceptive to listening to his outburst. "I just hope the cops will talk to me after this," he mumbled as he left.

After Mike cleared the door that led to the city room Casey picked up the paper and took his place in Britt's office. "I sense a plan," she said as Britt sank into his chair.

"I hope it works," Britt said. "I don't know anything more about what Morrison's up to; plus, I have this to deal with."

"What about Mr. Scanlon's take on these attacks?" Casey asked.

"He hasn't said if he thinks they're random or if there's a pattern," Britt replied. "The only thing he has said is that the person doing the attacks is aiming to injure, not kill."

Casey shuddered. "It's frightening."

"Yes, it is," Britt admitted. "Kato's coming by at lunch to take you to your apartment. He's got some sensors that'll sound an alarm in case anyone tries to break into your place."

Mitchell Blake stood at Mike's side in Casey's office. He was a man slightly taller than Mike, and considerably younger. He had handsome facial features, but his brown eyes revealed an underlying bitterness. He wore a sharp brown suit, looking the opposite of Mike's suit that appeared to have been slept in more than one night.

Mike kept glaring out the window that gave a view of the city room from Casey's office, then turning to Blake and shrugging. After a few moments he grew impatient and rapped on Britt's closed door. "Come in," came the call from the other side of the door.

"Boss," Mike said as he opened the door, "sorry to disturb you. I was waiting for Casey, but…"

"She's at lunch," Britt said. "I do let her eat occasionally." Mike laughed at Britt's joke. "What's up?"

"Councilman Blake wants to see you," Mike replied, gesturing at the man standing at the door.

Britt rose from his desk and walked to the door. "Councilman," he said with his hand extended. "Please, come in." Mike started out after Blake came in. "Thanks, Mike," Britt called. Mike replied with a wave over his shoulder as he left Casey's office.

"Mr. Reid," Blake said coldly, stiffly shaking Britt's hand.

"My secretary's at lunch," Britt said. "I'm sorry if you had to wait. You should've called…"

"Having to wait is the least of my problems," Blake said. "I am appalled at the fact that this newspaper, which I once considered the most respectable paper not only in this city but in this state, would sink so low as to print an interview with the Green Hornet!" His words were uttered in the manner of a fierce attack rather than a comment.

Britt gestured toward a chair in front of his desk. Blake refused to sit, but Britt went behind his desk and sat down. "Councilman Blake," he said calmly, "I appreciate your concern. However, we have a madman on the loose in this city, attacking women. This article is most relevant to that fact."

"What's next?" Blake said, leaning over the desk. "A series of interviews with death row inmates, giving them the front page opportunity to allege that they 'didn't do it,' too? And, you're allowing this lowlife to use your paper to convey threats to people?"

"It would seem to me that the only person who should be concerned over that 'threat' would be the person who's impersonating the Green Hornet."

"You believe that pack of lies he told your reporter?"

"First, Mr. Councilman," Britt replied, "I don't know for a fact that what he said is 'a pack of lies'. Secondly, I don't think anyone as wanted as the Green Hornet would run the risk of getting caught just so he could feed one of our reporters a story if there wasn't some truth to it." He was already tired of the councilman's diatribe. He rose from his seat and moved toward the door. "However, Councilman Blake, we have an editorial policy that welcomes criticism of our news coverage. I would like to invite you to submit an editorial outlining your objections, and we will publish it on page one." Britt opened the door without a word. Blake took the hint and left in a huff, not offering a word of farewell or to shake the publisher's hand.