CHAPTER FIVE: MIND MASTER

Matt had liked Coney Island a lot better when he was a kid. Also, in the daylight.

Not at night, when the entire place was closed, and definitely not as a blind adult on the trail of a man who could shoot psychic blasts from his eyes.

Especially since the only hint that one was coming was that Mind Master stopped talking, and the subtle shift in the air.

But this was where the ransom exchange was supposed to go down. This was where Keith Mallory, son of multibillionaire Robert Mallory, was being held in exchange for an insane amount of money. Matt and Brett Mahoney had done their best to try to advise Mallory out of doing the exchange himself, but the distraught father had gone behind their back and done it anyway. Matt had followed him to Coney Island as Daredevil, and now, perched atop the Cyclone, he tracked Mallory through the dark and deserted amusement park.

"Don't come any closer, Mr. Mallory," a voice ordered him. Matt zeroed in, climbing down the roller coaster's frame and landing lightly on the ground. He kept low, and out of sight behind the concessions stands. Day old popcorn and soda syrup assaulted his senses, but he ignored it for the most part and made his way over to where Mallory was standing. Out in the middle of the fairway, if Matt had to guess, his voice didn't echo off the wood and plastic like it would have if he was closer to any of the buildings.

Save for one. The power was on in one of the rides. Matt frowned.

"I-I want to see my son!" Mallory stammered, trying to sound like he was in control of a situation that Matt knew he was really out of his league in.

Matt could relate, though. How many times had he done something stupid for Karen, for Foggy? For Danny Rand? Really not one to judge, Matt, he reminded himself wryly.

"He's fine," Mind Master's footfalls creaked on old wooden steps. Matt could smell dirt and dust mixed in with the wood. He was almost directly across from wherever Mind Master was standing, with Mallory in the middle of them. "Where is my money?"

Matt heard the rustle of canvas. "Here. It's all here," Mallory said. "Please. My son."

"Leave the bag there and go," Mind Master instructed. "Start walking away. I'll send Keith after you when you're far enough away."

Bullshit, Matt thought. He had no intention of letting Robert Mallory walk away. And, Matt was now picking up a second heartbeat, this one faster, as he ducked behind a carnival game stand. He could hear the breeze off the ocean blowing across bottle tops. Some kind of ring toss? The second heartbeat he was picking up was definitely Keith's. Every now and then, it mixed in with Mind Master's, so they had to be close. But it wasn't clear, so he must be inside the building.

"Start walking," Mind Master commanded.

The elder Mallory hesitated, but then, he turned his back on Mind Master and started walking away.

Matt acted quickly, feeling the shift in the air. He exploded from his place, knocking Mallory to the ground as a psychic wave burst over the top of them. "Go," Matt growled. "Get the hell out of here."

"But my son-"

"I've got him. Go!" Matt shoved the millionaire and the other man took off at a run. Matt rolled out of the way of a second blast and whipped one of the ring toss bottles in the general direction of Mind Master.

Breaking glass told him he'd missed, but the footfalls retreating into the building told him he'd been damn close. Matt got to his feet and ran toward Mind Master's hiding place. He skidded to a stop inside, putting a hand out in front of him.

Smooth. Glass. Hall of mirrors. This was going to play havoc with his hearing. Shit. Matt listened. Couldn't get out of the way fast enough as a mirror in front of him exploded. Matt dove sideways but a few shards of glass cut him just under the cowl on his cheeks. He hissed in pain.

The second heartbeat was closer now, faster. Hang on kiddo. A second mirror shattered and Matt threw his arms over his head. Glass rained off his armor. Son of a bitch! Matt tried desperately to pinpoint just where in the hell Mind Master was. He picked up his heartbeat and moved forward, only to be greeted with another damn dead end.

He yanked his billy club from the holster and broke the mirror, stepping through the frame.

This time, he heard the psychic blast coming, and slipped sideways. The blast rattled the mirrors but didn't break any this time. He was farther away. Good. I could use the distance.

The smaller heartbeat was off to his right. The deeper, slower, adult one was on his left. Matt moved right through a corridor, and his hand felt the fabric of a pair of blue jeans. "Keith?" Matt whispered.

He was met with a muffled response. Matt shifted so he was in front of the boy, and hopefully between him and Mind Master. "Hey Keith, I'm here to help you. Just keep quiet," Matt murmured. He untied the nylon around the boy's wrists and ankles, then reached behind his head and untied the handkerchief.

Keith threw himself into Matt's arms, unable to stay quiet any longer, and Matt couldn't blame him. "You're safe, I've got you. Let's get out of here, huh?" Matt felt the shift in the air, and threw himself on top of Keith as another wave echoed over the top of them, shattering glass around them.

There's gotta be a way to deal with this guy, Matt thought. The blast had come from his left, like Matt had thought, and Mind Master, though not talking, might as well have been advertising his position with a glowing neon sign (not that Matt could've seen it).

"Stay here," Matt whispered, feeling the boy nod under his glove. Matt stood, grasping each side of a still-intact mirror on either side of him. This one felt different. It's acrylic, Matt realized. Perfect.

He felt the shift in the air, and swung the mirror in front of him. The psychic blast connected with it, and Matt felt it hit and radiate back as it knocked him off his feet and onto his back. He heard a scream of pain from across the room. Gotcha. Matt got to his feet, gently setting the mirror aside. He made his way in the direction of Mind Master.

Slow breathing. Slow heartbeat. Out cold, Matt realized with satisfaction. He grinned. Then, he went back over to Keith and gently picked up the eight-year-old off the floor, setting him on his feet. "Hey buddy. We're good. It's all over." Keith slipped his hand in Matt's.

"M-Mr. Daredevil?" the boy ventured as they walked toward the entrance.

Matt stifled a laugh. "Yeah?"

The boy stopped. "We look really silly right now."

Matt paused, realizing they must be in front of one of the mirrors. "I bet we do, buddy. Let's go see your dad, huh?"