Long Night Till Tomorrow

by Got A Book

A racket boss, on trial for murder, orders the assassination of star witness Britt Reid. Complications threaten Britt's plan to foil the attempt on his life and endanger the lives of several Sentinel employees.

5. Chapter 4

Chapter Four

The pictures beamed to the Black Beauty from the scanner confirmed the Hornet's suspicions. A number of policemen and reporters from the Sentinel and DSTV maintained a vigil in front of Britt's townhouse. The crowd effectively eliminated the possibility of returning home.

"Okay," the Hornet said, the frustration obvious in his voice and posture, "recall the scanner."

Kato pressed a button to emit a radio frequency order to the scanner. The device followed the signal back to the Black Beauty and settled into its storage compartment. "Scanner recalled," Kato announced. "Now what?"

"Let's go to the Sentinel warehouse in Warehouse Center. We can lock Mike away there."

"Right." Kato turned the car toward the section of town predominantly filled with more warehouses. He gave a quick glance at Mike, who slept soundly courtesy of the gas from the Hornet's gun, before taking a look in the rear view mirror. He saw the Hornet turn a small goose neck lamp on then remove the note he had taken from Reeves' house to study it.

The Hornet passed the note to Casey. "What do you think?"

The note Casey had casually spied in the typewriter now lay in her hands. She studied the two lines of typed letters, one a jumbled mess and the other a chilling order for Britt Reid's execution. "It seems," she said after extended examination, "that this line…" She pointed to the line of nonsense. "Is the same as this line," she continued, tapping the clear message with her finger.

"If they're the same," the Hornet chuckled, "then someone can't type."

"No, they can type," Casey said. "If I type the 'kill Britt Reid' line, with my fingers one key off the home keys, it'll come out like this." She again gestured to the first sentence on the paper. "Anyone not familiar with home keys on a typewriter would think it's a kid trying to type."

The warehouse where the Green Hornet found refuge primarily housed spare printing presses and parts for the presses. The old printers were relics, giving the warehouse more of an air of museum than business necessities. The presses were still functional, and in the event of an emergency they could be called into use to make sure the Daily Sentinel met its deadline. The warehouse offered ample space inside for the Black Beauty to park. Additionally, one wall was lined with smaller storage closets, each approximately ten feet square, with padlocked doors. The closets housed smaller supplies as opposed to the rows of large crates on palates on the main floor. Mike Axford's unconscious form was secured inside one of the closets.

From the back seat of the Black Beauty, Casey watched as Britt removed his mask. He then removed the gloves and hat and stored the accessories on the front passenger seat. When he noticed her stare he smiled. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.

"Just cold." Casey gestured at the light white sweater she wore over her dress. "I didn't dress for a kidnapping when I went to work this morning."

Britt removed the topcoat and scarf. He folded the scarf and laid it on top of the other items of Green Hornet clothing. He closed the front door and quickly opened the rear door, sliding into the back seat next to Casey with the green overcoat still in his hand. "How was your dinner?" he said.

"That was the worst steakhouse I've ever been to," Casey joked. "I don't even feel like I've eaten."

"We'll try again tomorrow night." Britt covered Casey with the overcoat. "This hasn't been the best of nights for you."

"No, but my evening improved when you showed up at Reeves' house. They didn't tell us why they kidnapped us, but they did say something about being 'witness to a great event'. Poor Mike. I felt sorry for him." Casey smiled at Britt. "Sometimes it pays to have inside information."

As Britt developed the criminal persona he took into consideration how many people would need to know who was behind the green mask. The initial answer was no one except Kato. After discussion with his partner, Britt realized that he had to have one confidant within the law. The purpose for the Green Hornet's existence in the first place was to infiltrate the criminal underworld in order to turn them over to the judicial system. Since Frank Scanlon was an old friend of Britt's, predating their days as District Attorney and newspaper and TV station owner, respectively, he was the obvious choice. Casey was chosen for that privilege because Britt knew that he would eventually need someone at work to provide an alibi for his absence. Who better, he decided, than his personal secretary. Time proved that Britt's selections were wise ones.

"I'll talk to him when he wakes up," Britt said. "He'll calm down when he sees I'm alive."

"Good luck," Casey snickered. Her smile faded as she stared at Britt for a moment. "May I ask you a question, Mr. Reid?"

"Britt," he corrected playfully, putting his index finger within a millimeter of Casey's nose. "No formalities. We're on a dinner date, remember?"

"If this is your idea of a dinner date, then I know why you're still a bachelor," she teased. Britt laughed and slid his left arm around Casey's shoulder. Casey tried to compose herself. She had a flame for her boss that she kept as secret as his alter ego. "I've wanted to ask you this for a long time," she said, "but I never have because…well, you just don't know who might be listening, and I'd never do anything to compromise you. You know that."

"Absolutely," Britt confirmed.

"The Green Hornet," Casey said, looking directly at Britt's soft blue eyes.

"Personal friend of mine," Britt joked.

Casey smiled before completing her question. "Do you regret his existence?"

"Not at all," Britt answered. His instantaneous reply surprised Casey slightly, almost as if he anticipated the question. He leaned his head against Casey's, momentarily silent. The sudden change in his demeanor was evident in his body language. Casey sensed the difference.

"Casey," Britt said finally in a markedly somber tone, "there aren't words to explain how I felt the day I watched the police put handcuffs on my father and lead him away to prison. I never knew what it was like to hate – literally be consumed with hatred – until that moment. I swore I'd get even with the crooks who framed my father." Britt stared at nothing in particular while his mind visualized the portrait of his father that adorned a wall in his office. "I never thought of revenge in the traditional sense. But I thought, what better way to get even than to ensure they get what they have coming to them, to put them where they belong?" Britt sat up and looked at Casey. "Sorry for the sermon. I don't like to talk about what happened to my father."

"I know," Casey said. "Mike once told me he felt he could talk to you about anything in the world except what happened to your father. He said it made you uncomfortable at best and furious at worst."

"He's right."

"I'm sorry."

Britt smiled and tucked away the pain of his past into the vault of his memories. "It's okay. You didn't know that's the main reason the Green Hornet exists, and that's why I don't regret the Green Hornet. No, this isn't always pleasant. Would I rather have spent this evening at a nice restaurant? Absolutely, but people like Tillman have to be stopped. And, if that means postponing a long-overdue dinner with you, so be it."

"What about Kato? How did you talk him into this?"

"There was no 'talking into' to be done," Britt replied. His eyes met Casey's. "What do you know about Kato?"

Casey pondered the question momentarily. "Well, I know he has an engineering and science degree, and you saved his life somehow."

"I think you'll understand Kato's interest in this after I tell you what happened." His eyes again stared off as his mind replayed an unpleasant scene from his life. "A gang of thugs in Singapore tried to beat him to death. I happened to pass by when they started to attack him and intervened."

"Why was he attacked?"

"Because he was Korean," Britt replied.

Casey sat up and stared at her boss. "That's it?"

"That's it," Britt replied. "Bigotry isn't unique to our country. So you see, Kato has good reason to want to criminals removed from the streets, too."

"The poor man," Casey said softly, the pain she felt for her friend apparent in her voice.

"Do me a favor," Britt said. "Don't tell him I told you that. If you think I'm bad about talking about my father…"

Casey nodded and returned to her reclining position against Britt's arm. "Your secret's safe with me."

"There's a shock," Britt chuckled, easing the awkwardness that discussion of the painful past had brought with it, "you, keeping a secret of mine."

A few moments of silence passed. Casey felt the tension in Britt's body subside as he dimmed the mental movies of the past like a light. He again rested his head against Casey's, literally leaning on her for support. Casey frequently found herself in a mental debate whether she truly loved Britt, was smitten with a crush, or simply had a case of hero worship. At the moment, that argument seemed most trivial. Casey's only concern centered on the pain the revelations of the past inflicted on a friend.

Britt's voice broke the silence. "It's time for me to ask you a question." Britt glanced out the door window at the stacks of supplies stored in the warehouse. "Are you sorry I told you?"

"No," Casey replied with the same quick, emphatic tone that Britt had employed when answering her initial question. "Why should I be?"

Britt chuckled. "Well, if you didn't know, you'd probably be home sleeping now."

"Or dead from shock when those men said the Green Hornet had killed you. No, Mister…" She stopped instantly as Britt's finger jumped into the air as if it had heard the formality. "Britt," she corrected.

"'Mister Britt.' I like that."

"I'm not sorry at all. Actually, I'm very flattered and honored that you chose to tell me. You didn't have to, you know." Casey sighed. "Although," she added, "I will admit that sometimes it's hard to listen to Mike's tirades. I have to bite my tongue. You don't deserve the things he says about you."

"He's not attacking me, Casey. He's attacking someone he perceives as a heinous criminal. And, to tell you the truth, Mike's attitude has helped make the Green Hornet successful. The press is powerful, and the worse he portrays the Green Hornet the less the Green Hornet has to prove."

Casey rested in the warmth of the overcoat, satisfied with the answers though unsettled by the history behind them. She realized how comparatively little she knew about Britt. The dinner date would afford more opportunities for discussion about Britt's life. Casey closed her eyes and instructed herself to savor this moment. The steady, predictable movement of Britt's body as he breathed lulled Casey to sleep within minutes.

---

Kato stood by the Black Beauty's right rear door, gazing at the two sleeping forms with the green overcoat covering their bodies in the back seat. Kato felt elation to see Britt stealing a few winks. The double duty of publisher and crime fighter-perceived-as-criminal forced Britt on numerous occasions to go for days without sufficient sleep, if any. Mike's request to speak to Britt hardly seemed worth disturbing the rest. In addition, waking Britt meant automatically waking Casey, who was using Britt's left shoulder for a pillow.

Britt's head lay against the window of the right rear door. A gentle tap on the window next to his ear woke him from his dreamless sleep. He opened his eyes quickly and saw his masked partner at the window, smiling apologetically. Britt turned his head slightly to see Casey sleeping soundly. He carefully rolled the window down. "Guess what," Kato whispered.

"Mike's awake," Britt surmised, "and he wants to see me." Kato nodded.

Britt sighed, seeing he could not move without waking Casey. He gently squeezed her shoulder with his hand. "Huh?" she said in reaction to the sensation.

"Sorry, Casey," Britt apologized, "but Mr. Pulitzer Prize wants to see me." Britt rolled the window up before he left the car. Casey, more asleep than awake, took Britt's place against the door.

Outside of the storage closet where Mike was held Britt removed the lock from the latch and handed it to Kato. Kato opened the door and gently pushed against Britt's back. In response Britt stumbled into the room as if he had been shoved. "Ten minutes, Reid," Kato said roughly before he slammed the door behind Britt.

Mike's face glowed at the sight of Britt standing in the room. "Boss!" Mike jumped off the crate he had slept and sat on and ran to Britt, embracing him unashamedly. "You really are alive! Thank God!" Mike stepped back from Britt and examined his boss as if inspecting an old friend at a reunion where decades instead of hours had passed since they had seen each other.

"I'm fine, Mike," Britt assured the reporter.

Mike's jubilation was short-lived. "What happened?" he said in a suddenly angry tone. "What did the Green Hornet do to you?"

"What did he do?" Britt repeated incredulously. "He saved me life, Mike, that's what he did."

Mike spun away from Britt in disgust. "I don't believe that."

"I'm alive, aren't I?"

Mike stomped a few paces then turned back. "He was hired to kill you! Why would he save your life?"

Britt shook his head. "You wouldn't give the Green Hornet credit if he cured the common cold, would you?"

"You're darn right I wouldn't!"

"He contacted me and told me what Reeves wanted to do. We arranged to stage a show for Reeves' benefit."

"So why are we here?" Mike looked around. "Where are we?"

"In a Sentinel warehouse," Britt replied, "at my offer. The Green Hornet wants me out of sight until it's time to testify in the morning."

"And why would he want to do that?" Mike said, pronouncing each word with a staccato snarl. "He's suddenly developed a case of good-guy-itis?"

Britt rolled his eyes. "Give me one reason he warned me, Mike. Just one. By all accounts, he should have welcomed the opportunity to kill me – and you – after all the editorials the Sentinel has published about him. But, he didn't. I know this pains you, but you're just going to have to live with the fact that the Green Hornet did something good this time."

Mike put his hands on his hips and stared at Britt. "If your dad knew you were cooperating with someone like the Green Hornet he'd roll over in his grave," he chided.

"I'm not joining forces with the Green Hornet, Mike. We've called a temporary truce. There's an old Arabian proverb, 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend.' We both have a bigger objective, and that's seeing Cornhusker Tillman convicted and put away." Britt stood silently to allow Mike to momentarily fume. "Listen, Mike," he finally said in a softer tone, "I promise you there'll be no editorial in tomorrow's Sentinel praising the Green Hornet for having a big heart."

The words pained Mike. To the veteran reporter, a criminal was a criminal, and no good deed could undo the crimes. His mouth curled into a frown as he nodded in resignation. "Okay," he said.

Britt nodded and smiled. "Good man, Mike. Now, get some rest. We need to be fresh for court tomorrow."

Britt walked toward the door. As he raised his hand to knock to be let out, Mike said, "One thing, Britt. How'd you get here?"

Britt turned to face his employee. "In the trunk of the Green Hornet's car," he replied. "We arrived ahead of Reeves where he had me 'cornered'. I got out of my car and hid in his trunk before Reeves arrived."

"Why did you do that?" Mike protested. "You should've run!"

"How was I supposed to get back into town, Mike? Anyway, I gave my word, and I keep my word." Mike's mouth opened as if to say something. Britt intercepted Mike's thought with a point of his finger in Mike's direction. "Yes, even to the Green Hornet." Britt turned and rapped on the door.

"Let me talk to the Green Hornet," Mike called before the door closed behind Britt.

Just clear of the door, Britt rolled his eyes while Kato chuckled. "Visiting hours are over, Axford," Kato called through the door in a stern tone.

Britt broke into a smile, shaking his head. "Remind me again why I keep him on the payroll," Britt whispered as the two men walked toward the Black Beauty.

"A sense of duty to your father who hired him," Kato offered.

"Not good enough," Britt chuckled. The two men stopped in front of Casey, who had left the Black Beauty's back seat. "Sorry I woke you," Britt said with a smile.

"That's okay," she said. "What time is it?"

"Nearly 2 a.m.," Britt said.

"I guess you'll need the back seat, anyway, to call Mr. Scanlon," Casey yawned. "How's Mike enjoying his evening?"

"He's fine," Britt said. "I'm the one losing sleep. He wants to see the Green Hornet now."

Casey stretched her arms above her head then extended the overcoat in her hand to Britt. "Are you going to go in there armed with the Hornet Sting in case Mike tries to beat you up?" she asked.

Britt laughed as he took the coat from Casey. "I'll take my chances."

"You could just tell him," Casey said with a wink.

Britt laughed. "Can you hear him if he found out? I just heard that lecture." Britt's eyes widened as he impersonated Mike's voice and mannerisms. "Britt Reid," he mocked the reporter, "YOU'RE the Green Hornet? Your daddy is rolling over in his grave!"

Casey emitted a laugh that was followed instantaneously by a groan. She grabbed her right side as pain flooded through her body. Britt and Kato each took a side to prevent her from falling to the concrete floor of the warehouse. "What's wrong, Miss Case?" Kato, to Casey's right, asked.

"I don't know," she groaned. The pain intensified, something Casey considered impossible given the initial wave of pain. She felt her legs losing their ability to support her weight. A moment later Britt swept her into his arms. He left Kato standing by the Black Beauty and carried Casey to the nearest stack of pallets. He laid her on the makeshift bed and quickly covered his secretary with the green overcoat. Casey's eyes were closed and her pretty, smooth face was contorted in involuntary reaction to the sudden, mysterious attack on her senses by her body.

"Where are you hurting?" Britt asked. Casey tossed the coat aside and gestured to her abdomen, just to the right of her navel. "Do you still have your appendix?" Casey nodded. Her chest began moving like an ocean wave. Britt jumped onto the pallet and grabbed Casey. With one arm around her waist and another around her shoulder he rolled her onto her stomach. Britt turned his eyes away to allow Casey relative privacy while regurgitating. His right hand rested between Casey's shoulders. When he felt her body no longer heaving he returned his gaze to her. "Are you still hurting?"

Casey nodded. She managed to turn her head to make eye contact with Britt. "Is now a bad time to ask for a raise?" she joked in a pain-streaked voice.

"We'll talk about it later," Britt replied. "We have to get you to a hospital. Now."

"Who's going to take me?" Casey protested weakly. "Britt Reid's in hiding. I can see the Green Hornet walking me into a hospital. On top of that, who's going to baby sit Mike?"

The mention of the name of the reporter sent an idea charging through Britt's mind. "Mike! That's how we'll do it! We'll have Mike take you in!" Britt jumped off the pallets and ran to the Black Beauty. "We have to get Casey to the hospital," Britt told Kato. "If that's her appendix and it ruptures, she could die. Even if it's not, she can become dehydrated very quickly."

The two men hurriedly walked toward the storage closet that housed Mike. "Isn't that dangerous?" Kato asked. "He wouldn't cooperate with the Green Hornet if his life depended on it."

"But he will if it's Casey's life," Britt said, "and, if I talk to him." Britt pulled the lock out of the catch and handed it to Kato. "We don't have any option," he whispered before he pulled the door open.

Britt peered inside. Mike lay on a crate, just beginning the drift into sleep. He had removed his jacket and laid it lengthwise across his body for a blanket. Britt nodded to Kato and walked inside. "Mike," Britt called, shaking the reporter.

Mike jumped out of his fetal position with a swinging fist. "I'll get you, Green Hornet!" he shouted, more asleep than awake.

Britt easily blocked Mike's semiconscious swing. "Take it easy, Mike!" he said. "Do I look like the Green Hornet to you?"

As his senses gelled Mike looked through the dimly lit room at his employer. "Sorry, Boss," he said. "I didn't know it was you. I promise I'll never insult you that way again!"

"I'll be insulted later," Britt said. "Right now, we have problems. Casey's taken ill."

"What? What did he do to her?"

"She may have appendicitis, Mike. 'He' didn't do anything to her. Now, listen to me. In a couple of minutes the Green Hornet's going to come in here and get you. He's agreed to take Casey to the hospital because she needs immediate medical attention. He wants me to stay out of sight, and he can't take her into the hospital in case the police are there. That leaves you to take her to the emergency room." The crusty reported said nothing but nodded at Britt's instructions. "Mike," Britt continued, "I'm as serious about this as I have ever been about anything. Don't get into any arguments with the Green Hornet. Just get Casey to a doctor's care and come back."

"I promise," Mike said halfheartedly.

"I gave him my word, Mike," Britt cautioned, "and I'll be kept locked up here. You don't have to say, 'Yes, Mr. Hornet' or anything. Just get Casey some help. Alright?"

Mike dragged himself to his feet. "I'll do anything for Casey, Britt. You know that." He pulled his coat off the crate and slid the crumpled jacket on.

Britt smiled and patted Mike's left arm. "I know you won't let her – or me – down." Britt left the reporter and went to the door. He tapped on the door to signal he was finished. Kato opened the door from the other side and let him out.

Once out of the storage closet Britt ran to the stacks of pallets where Casey lay doubled in a fetal position. Kato ran ahead of him to retrieve the clothing Britt needed to become the Green Hornet. Britt stopped near Casey and removed his jacket. He swapped the jacket with Kato for the green fedora, mask, gloves, and scarf. "Casey," Britt said softly as he began the transformation, "are you any worse?"

Casey struggled to sit up. "Can this get worse?" she moaned. She extended the overcoat toward Britt.

"Have you been sick any more?" Casey shook her head while Britt slid his arms into the overcoat. "Good." The transformation complete, he went to Casey and lifted her into his arms. With the contact he could feel the involuntary reactions her body had to the pain pounding her senses. He stopped at the back of the Black Beauty. Kato went ahead of him to open the left rear door. "Listen, Casey," he said softly, "Mike's agreed to take you in the hospital." He kissed her forehead after easing her in to the back seat. "I'll be by to check on you as soon as I can. Don't worry about anything, okay?" Casey released his neck and nodded.

The Hornet gestured toward the storage closets. "Get ready to roll, Kato," he instructed his partner. "I'll take care of Mike." Kato nodded and maintained his position near the open rear door, ready to aid Casey should she require assistance.

Mike momentarily pondered the possibility of overpowering the Hornet by jumping on him from a vantage point on a crate or throwing an object at him. He rejected the notion more out of fear of what Britt would say, especially if Casey died, than concern of what the Hornet might do to him. When the Hornet opened the door Mike stood just inside the storage closet, waiting to cooperate. "Did Reid explain the situation?" the Hornet asked. Mike said nothing, only offering a nod of his head. "Good. Let's go." The Hornet stepped away from the door and allowed Mike to walk outside.

For the first time Mike stepped outside of the storage area that had served as his prison. The reporter looked at the uniformed stacks of supplies with the stenciled name of the newspaper on many of the boxes with a disinterested glance, choosing to eye them rather than the loathsome criminal at his side. The Hornet walked urgently, causing Mike to speed up his pace as well. When the two reached the Black Beauty, the Hornet opened the front passenger door and gestured with a jerk of his head for Mike to get in. As Mike passed he shot a scowl in the Hornet's direction. Kato got behind the wheel when the reporter closed the door.

Once inside the car, Mike turned to look at Casey in the back seat. She was tilted to the right in reaction to her agony. "Are you okay, Casey?" Mike asked.

"Do I look like I'm okay?" Casey snapped.

"I mean, did the Green Hornet hurt you?"

"I don't think he could've given me appendicitis," Casey replied, pausing every other word to catch the breath that the malady knocked out of her.

The Hornet ran to the entrance door to the warehouse after he escorted Mike to the Black Beauty. He slid the cargo entrance door open just wide enough to accommodate his body. He stepped outside into the cool night, his eyes immediately searching for security guards or the flashing lights of a police squad car. He took a quick glance at his wristwatch. The time told him the warehouse complex security would not be on scheduled rounds for nearly another hour. In that amount of time they should make the emergency journey to St. Luke's Hospital and return to hiding.

The Hornet shoved the door open. Kato saw the door open through the rear view mirror and backed the car out. Once the car cleared the warehouse door the Hornet closed and locked the door. He climbed into the back seat quickly. "Drive carefully," he instructed as he slid across the seat to Casey's side. "The lady is sick enough as it is."

The hospital named for the Biblical physician sat a scant six miles from the warehouse. To the three men in the car concerned about Casey's health the journey seemed to drag as if the distance was ten times the mileage. The incessant moaning from Casey and the static from the police scanner were the only sounds in the tension-filled automobile. Finally the curiosity that made Mike a reporter overpowered him. He refused to turn his head, keeping his eyes straight ahead on the road. "I have one question for you," he said with the snarl that accompanied every conversation with or about the Green Hornet.

"What, Axford?" the Hornet said, exhaling heavily on the first word.

"Why?"

"'Why' what? Why did I stage Reid's assassination?" Mike nodded. "I want Tillman off the street and behind bars for the rest of his life, that's why. That won't happen unless Reid testifies."

"Why do you care?"

"Whatever you think about me, Axford, I don't like seeing judges gunned down."

"It's bad for business?" Mike said sarcastically over his shoulder.

"If you wish to put it that way."

As the Black Beauty neared the hospital the Hornet said, "Okay, Axford, here's the plan."

Mike turned around automatically to look at the person addressing him. He burned with rage as he saw the Hornet seated next to Casey, his arm around her shoulder and her head slumped against his chest. In his mind the reporter shouted at the criminal to remove his disgusting arm from Casey's shoulder, lest any of his evil somehow contaminate her already stricken body. The sudden mental picture of his employer's previous warning for Mike to forego hostilities for Casey's sake kept Mike's tirade from being uttered. "I'm listening," Mike mumbled.

"Most hospitals have wheelchairs at the emergency entrance," the Hornet said. "Find one and bring it to the car. We'll put Miss Case in the chair. Take her inside, find the first doctor or nurse you can and turn her over to them, then get back out here. I want you on your way out the door the instant the staff doctor looks at her. Do you understand?"

"In and out," he nodded, turning back to watch the road. The very sight of the man in the back seat caused Mike's temper to rise to near uncontrollable levels. A louder moan from Casey caused Mike's head to jerk around toward the back seat again. The sight of the Hornet comforting Casey should have calmed Mike. Instead, he lost control of his mouth. "Do you know how much I hate you?" he blurted out.

The Hornet nodded with a smile. "I don't miss a single article of yours."

Mike turned his head to look out the door window. His regret was not for what he said, but that the Hornet's lighthearted reply indicated Mike had inflicted no verbal damage. You just wait, the reporter thought to himself. One day you'll be in Cornhusker Tillman's position, and I'll be singing like the church choir about you on that witness stand.

A quick right after turning on to the hospital property put the Black Beauty on the drive to the emergency entrance. The road snaked up an incline for a quarter of a mile before another right turn led to the hospital building. The third turn was a left to a parking area for ambulances, fire trucks, police cars, or family members bringing someone to the emergency room. The hospital's emergency entrance had a protective cover over the drive so patients and ambulance and hospital staff would be sheltered from inclement weather. No trees or walls provided seclusion for the easily recognized automobile.

The parking lot was devoid of any official vehicles when Kato brought the Black Beauty to a stop near the emergency entrance. Three wheelchairs sat outside the doors. "Okay, Axford," the Hornet said, gesturing with his head in the direction of the wheelchairs, "get a wheelchair and bring it here."

Mike hesitated for a moment before he threw open the door. When his body cleared the open space he released his pent-up frustration on the car door. He ran to get a wheelchair and brought it to the door next to where Casey sat. Kato left his position behind the wheel to open the door. Casey managed to maneuver into the chair with minimal assistance from the men around her. The Hornet handed her purse out of the car to her. Casey smiled weakly as the pain continued to pound through her body. Mike saw the Hornet smile at Casey and pulled the chair backward quickly. "C'mon, Casey," he fumed.

"Remember, Axford," the Hornet called, "give her to the first doctor or nurse you see, then come back." Mike had his back turned to his adversary. He waved his hand over his shoulder without bothering to turn back to acknowledge the instruction. Kato got back into the car, ready to take off in an instant should any security or police arrive.

When the front wheels of the chair hit the electronic mat the glass doors, each with the word emergency painted in white, swung inward. Mike patted Casey's shoulder. "Don't worry," he assured his co-worker, "you're safe now. You don't have to worry about the Green Hornet any more."

I never do, Casey thought. For a brief moment the pain gave leave of her senses, allowing her to contemplate the danger Britt faced to bring her to the hospital. If the police showed up Britt might lose his freedom, while Cornhusker might gain his. The pain banged against her side as if chiding her for focusing her attention on something other than her own agony. Casey jerked to the right again. She held her hand up to signal Mike to stop.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I think I'm going to be sick again."

Mike left Casey and traveled the last few yards to the desk where patients checked in for evaluation. Casey saw Mike pointing in her direction. The nurse behind the desk joined Mike as both ran to her side. "What's the problem?" the thin young blonde asked.

"I'm sick," Casey moaned, "and there's pain…" She attempted to sit erect long enough for the nurse to see the portion of her abdomen where her hands clutched, but the pain threw her over again.

The nurse put her hand on Casey's forehead. "Do you have your appendix?" she asked. Casey nodded. The nurse made no attempt to wrest Casey's hand from her abdomen. Instead, she pressed her thumb against Casey's wrist to feel the pulse. "I'll notify a doctor immediately," the nurse told Mike. "Please push her to the desk."

Mike obediently pushed Casey to the desk. The nurse went behind the desk and paged a doctor. Her voice echoed through the corridors. Casey glanced at Mike and mumbled, "Thanks, Mike."

"The pleasure is mine," Mike replied, "and I'm going to increase my pleasure." He turned to the nurse. "May I use your phone?" The nurse picked the phone up and sat it in front of Mike. The reporter picked up the receiver and dialed "0."

Casey knew exactly what Mike planned. Despite the torture gushing through her body Casey's thoughts went immediately to the two men waiting outside of the hospital. She moved her left hand to her purse and reached inside. One of the benefits of knowing the Green Hornet's secret was the ability to contact him in an emergency. Kato created a number of transmitters and disguised them in various ways. One such transmitter was in Casey's purse in the guise of a make-up compact.

"Operator? Get me the police. Hurry! This is an emergency!"

Casey's fingers found the compact. She pushed the top open, which activated the device.

In the Black Beauty, a buzzer sounded on the bank of devices in the back seat. The Hornet looked at the blinking light then at Kato. He turned the switch on to hear the audio broadcast from inside of Casey's purse.

"Mike," the Hornet heard Casey say, "you promised Mr. Reid!"

"Casey," Mike said, the phone mouthpiece over his head and the earpiece against his ear, "Britt may have 'given his word,' but I don't make deals with criminals. Especially not that one!" Hearing a voice on the other end, Mike dropped the phone to his mouth. "Police? Is Sergeant Philips there? This is Mike Axford from the Sentinel. I need to talk to him. It's an emergency."

Casey sighed and made a feeble attempt to grab Mike's hand. "Please, Mike."

"Casey," Mike said, "the pain has you delirious. You sound as if you don't want the Green Hornet captured!" He returned his attention to the policeman on the phone. "Sergeant Philips? Mike Axford. Send some squad cars to St. Luke's Hospital. The Green Hornet is outside!" After a pause, Mike chided the policeman on the phone, "No, I am not drunk!"

A doctor pushed Casey's wheelchair away from the desk. Casey looked over her shoulder at Mike, uncertain whether the pain she experienced from the malady that had possessed her body or Mike's betrayal hurt more.

Before Casey began her trip toward emergency surgery the Black Beauty was off the hospital property. The Hornet turned the receiver off with a deep sigh. "I should've known," he mused.