NINE

"Are you sure this is where Timothy said to meet him?" Prue asked as they stood outside a small comic book store on Henderson Avenue. "It doesn't look like much."

"This is the place," said Leo. "He said that was inside talking to the owner about some comic he was looking for. Timothy seemed kind of excited about it."

"Well, let's go in so we can at least find out what this Worthington looks like," said Piper.

"We'll have to wait until he leaves," said Cole. "We can't risk a confrontation with humans around. There's no telling what Worthington will do once we confront him."

They walked into the store. It was lined with row after row of boxes containing a huge assortment of comic books. Timothy was standing near the door thumbing through a comic. He glanced at them as they entered. He looked toward the back of the store and then walked over to them.

"That's him up by the register," said Timothy, indicating an older man talking with another man behind the counter. "They're talking about issue number seventy-nine of The Hero Legion. It's very rare and worth a fortune. I wish I had one of those."

"Focus," said Prue. "We're here to stop the Blue Avenger, remember? Not add to our collection."

"I know," said Timothy. "So, what's the plan?"

"We wait until he leaves before we confront him," said Cole. "We have to find some place secluded so nobody sees us."

"That could be difficult," said Timothy. "I overheard him tell Mac, he's the owner, that he's going down the street to a restaurant for lunch."

"We have to do something," said Leo. "The longer we wait the more chances there will be that he'll come across a crime. If that happens he'll probably go into superhero mode."

"I could freeze the place," said Piper. "Leo, you could orb him to the manor where we could talk to him privately."

"Yeah, and freak him out completely," said Cole. "This guy is a nutcase. There's no telling what he'll do if we start orbing him all over creation."

"I don't think so," said Timothy. "He seems very intelligent. And I haven't seen anything to indicate he's unbalanced or anything."

"Come on," said Piper. "The man collects comic books for crying out loud. That's not exactly normal behavior for a grown adult."

"Actually," said Timothy.

"We can discuss the philosophical aspects of adults reading comic books later," said Prue. "Right now we have to figure out a way to get him alone so we can put an end to the Blue Avenger."

"I have an idea," said Timothy. "I could tell him I have a really rare comic book. Maybe one he's looking for. Then I tell him I live nearby and suggest we go there to get the comic. I'll lead him into an alley as a shortcut and you guys can deal with him there."

"I gotta say," said Phoebe, "it sounds like pretty good plan to me."

"It beats waiting around until we can find an opportunity," said Prue. "You think you can convince him?"

"There's an alley about half a block north of here," said Timothy, smiling. "You guys wait there and we'll be there in a few minutes."

"Phoebe and I will wait in here," said Cole. "In case something goes wrong or Timothy needs help or something. You guys can wait in the alley for them to show up."

"Just be careful," said Leo. "We don't want to spook him."

"He'll never know we're here," said Cole.

Prue, Piper, and Leo left the store as Phoebe and Cole pretended to browse the comics. Timothy casually made his way toward the back of the store until he was standing near the counter.

"I'll keep my eye out for it, Jessup," said the man behind the counter. "But I have to tell you finding a Hero Legion seventy-nine is going to be difficult. It's one of the rarest books out there. I haven't even seen one in several years."

"Thanks, Mac," said Worthington. "I know you'll do your best. I appreciate all the help."

"Excuse me," said Timothy, "I couldn't help but overhear. Did you say you were looking for a Hero Legion seventy-nine?"

"Yes," said Worthington. "You wouldn't know where I could get one, would you?"

"Actually," said Timothy, "I have one. In fact, I have three. Are you a collector?"

"Yes, I am," said Worthington. "I have quite a collection. I have an original Black Mercenary in mint condition. And I also have a first issue Hyperman in mint condition. And it's signed by the author himself."

"Wow," said Timothy. "I have a first edition Hyperman but it's not signed. What about the rest of Hero Legion? You have the rest of them?"

"Most of them," said Worthington. "In fact I have several multiple issues. Some are easier to get than others."

"Don't I know it," said Timothy. "I grew up with Hero Legion. I have almost every issue. My dad used to give them to me for birthdays, Christmas, whenever he gave me presents. That's how I got the extra issues of issue seventy-nine."

"Would you be willing to sell one?" Worthington asked. "I'd be willing to pay fair market value for it."

"Actually," said Timothy, "you wouldn't happen to have issue fourteen of Magnatron? I've been looking everywhere for it."

"As a matter of fact," said Worthington, "I have one in mint condition. You want to trade Magnatron for Hero Legion?"

"Sure," said Timothy. "I have the complete set of Hero Legion. But I'm only missing Magnatron fourteen. If I could get an issue of it I'll have the entire set."

"But Hero Legion is worth at least three times what Magnatron is worth," said Worthington. "I'd feel like I was cheating you."

"But," said Timothy, "with issue fourteen I'll have a complete set. That will make the set more valuable. And I'll still have two issues of Hero Legion."

"Well, Jessup," said the man behind the counter, "sounds like you got a good deal there. Hey kid, would you be interested in selling the other Hero Legion?"

"Maybe," said Timothy. "Or maybe we could work out a trade. There are a number of others I'm always looking for."

"Great," said the man. "Bring the Hero Legion in and after I authenticate it we'll see what we can do."

"Okay," said Timothy. He turned back to Worthington. "You know, I only live a couple of blocks from here. If you have time we could go get it and then go get the Magnatron. Assuming you're willing to trade even up."

'Willing?" Worthington questioned. "I've been looking for that issue for years. And I'm more than willing to part with a Magnatron fourteen for it. I was going to go get some lunch but I suppose I could postpone it for half an hour or so."

"Great," said Timothy. "Come on. I have it tucked neatly away in its wrapper. We should be there in about ten minutes."

"Thanks, Mac," said Worthington. "I'll see you next week."

"Sure thing, Jessup," said Mac.

"So, your parents weren't upset that you obviously spent a great deal of money on comic books?" Worthington asked as they headed for the store exit.

"No," said Timothy. "My dad was an executive at Heroes Limited. That's how I got started collecting in the first place. He'd always pick up a copy of the new issues right after they were printed."

"Lucky you," said Worthington. "What about the individual Hero Legion superheroes? You have any of their collections, too?"

"Actually," said Timothy, "I have a complete set of Firebringer, Earthquake, She Phantasm, Hyperboy, and Manspider. I'm still looking for some issues of the others so if you come across them maybe we can do some more trading in the future."

"The kid's good," said Cole as he and Phoebe followed the two out of the store. "It seems he and Worthington have a great deal in common."

"Lucky for us," said Phoebe. "I had no idea who or what they were talking about. It's been a long time since those Saturday morning cartoons."

"Well," said Cole, looking around the street, "we'd better hurry. They'll be getting to the alley in a couple of minutes. The others might need our help."

Phoebe and Cole followed Timothy and Worthington toward the alley as the others waited for them in the alley.