Looking Out For Another

By the time the sun rose over New York City the next morning, Marguerite was exhausted. Thanks to three vials of potion and her inner fire, she had lasted all night. But the Shadow knew she was going to have to take it easy for the next couple of days.

He wasn't going to risk her going through another physic attack like the one she had the night before.

While she had survived the last instance, she might not survive the next time.

Besides…he was going to keep working with her until she could last all night without the potion. A few more weeks of this and she would be ready for the next step.

"You've done well, Marguerite Lane." The Shadow said as she drank some water.

"Thank you." She said in a soft voice. He felt her mind beginning to doze off. "I can do another round."

"Get some rest. You've earned it." The Shadow said, feeling his features soften beneath his deep red scarf. She had managed to keep up without complaining, earning his respect in the process.

Don't let your heart soften. He reminded himself, wiping the smile off his face.

While she was relatively grounded, he knew she could start craving power. Doubtful. But he didn't want to take that risk.

Dealing with Conway was bad enough…but fighting two failed students was a nightmare he didn't want to face.

"Thank you." Marguerite said, reaching her fingers beneath her wig. Taking it off, her long brown hair swept down her back. "Do you want me to walk you out?"

"I'll be all right. Make sure you get rest. I don't want you pushing yourself too far today." The Shadow said, sensing Moe pulling up outside the brownstone. Within moments, he left the room.

Turning himself invisible, the Shadow slipped out the house, making sure the door was locked behind him with his copy of the key.

Moe was waiting patiently as the Shadow got into the cab. "Home." He said, taking off his hat and scarf.

"It went well?" Moe asked.

"As expected." Lamont said, rubbing his temples.

Exhausted as he was, he couldn't relax.

Marguerite's oval face framed with long brown hair was haunting him.

Why was he seeing her face?

"You ok, boss?" Moe asked.

Lamont nodded as he looked at his girasol ring. A gift from his friend, Nicholas, the fiery red stone seemed to glow in the dawning sun.

But his thoughts returned to Marguerite Lane's cool blue eyes.

I was rudely awoken by the sound of somebody pressing the doorbell. I felt like I had just fallen asleep. The jarring sound made my already sore head hurt. "I'm coming!" I shouted, getting up.

Ugh…I don't feel so good. I thought as I rubbed my hair. My throat felt sore and red.

I caught my reflection in the mirror. Of my red eyes and long fingers entangled in my long brown hair. Oh no! I don't have time to get my wig on…I looked around for something.

My eyes caught a towel on the rack on the bathroom. Perfect! I thought as I ran over and began wrapping my hair up in the towel. Throwing my robe over my nightgown, I hurried to the door.

On the other side was Alice and Mildred. They were dressed up nicely in flower print dresses with matching straw hats. "Oh, good morning, Alice and Mildred." I said, covering my mouth and yawning.

"It's two in the afternoon, Kitty." Mildred said, looking at me in surprise.

"Oh." I thought as I checked my watch. "Sonofagun so it is."

"Late night with Oscar?" Alice said. "He's been speaking of you nonstop."

"You can say that." I said, fighting back another yawn. "Would you two like to come in and have something to drink?" I asked.

Alice and Mildred looked at each other before nodding. I stood aside and let them in, escorting them to the kitchen. "What would you like to drink?"

"No thank you." Alice said. "Are you ok yourself? You look awful."

"Hmm?" I asked. "Yeah, I'm fine, I just had a long night." I said, rubbing my eyes.

"We were wondering if you wanted to come with us to Loretta Cranston's party…it's going to be so boring." Mildred said. "You've caused quite a stir you know…everyone wants to meet you!"

I wanted to tell them to go away and leave me in peace.

Alice smiled, wrapping a lock of her blonde hair around her skinny finger. "If it helps, Oscar will be there."

Mr. C will be there… I looked up. I could spy on him and learn anything useful that I can for the Shadow. We were going to need every lead we could get.

But I was so exhausted…I thought. I needed to sleep and take care of myself before I get worse.

I needed every lead I could get…forcing a big smile on my face, I leaned forward and said "I'm going to need your help picking out the perfect outfit. That is…if you don't mind."

Mildred smiled and got to her feet. "No time like the present then!"

"You will remember to be on your best behavior, right, Lamont?" Mother asked Lamont from the doorway of his bedroom, dressed in a nice ivory lace dress. Her steely gray hair was pinned up and back out of her face.

Khan, asleep on his favorite pillow in the corner, snored away. Lucky dog. Lamont thought. Get to sleep the day away without a worry or care.

"Don't worry, Mother." Lamont said with a sigh as he struggled with his tie. "I won't forget." He was well into his thirties and she still insisted on treating him like a child.

But he didn't blame her. After all, he had kept up the playboy act with the intention to protect her from those opposed to the Shadow…but it had come with the price of all her respect.

It was for the best. He reminded himself. It would be easier than her living with the fear of somebody discovering the truth about him and taking it out on one of the few people left in his life.

Living in the shadows can be dangerous after all. It was where he belonged. His mother didn't. While she was critical at times…she was still a good woman.

Neither did Marguerite…don't think of her! His alter ego warned. She's just an agent and your successor. Nothing more.

"Remember we have many important people coming today." She said.

"Yes Mother." Lamont said.

"Lamont…" Mother said with a groan as she stepped into his room. With wrinkled hands, she carefully began retying his tie. "I want to understand you. Ever since you went on that world tour after the War…things haven't been the same. It seems like there's a complete stranger in my house now. Please, son…I know I haven't always been supportive but I want to be. Please, Lamont." Mother said, grasping his hands. "Tell me what I can do."

Lamont's heart burned. Of course the pain of being the Shadow had cost him so much. There were so many times where he wanted to tell Mother what he was doing, just so she wouldn't be hurting.

But it had to be done. His alter ego's cold voice reminded him.

"Mother…" Lamont said in a soft voice as she finished fixing his tie and straightening out his coat. "I wish I knew what to say."

Swipe her memories. The Shadow's voice rung in his ears. Get her to never ask again.

That was the line he would never cross.

Clouding men's minds was one thing.

Frightening punks and his agents? Acceptable as he had no ties to them.

Even manipulating and killing? Necessary if it was for the greater good.

But he wasn't going to use or manipulate the few loved ones he had left. The Shadow had taken over pretty much every aspect of Lamont Cranston's life.

But it wasn't going to take the ones Lamont cared about.

Mother sighed, giving in. "If you say so, Lamont." She said. Lamont saw the pain on her face, almost making him regret his decision.

They heard a knock on the door. "Excuse me, Mrs. Cranston." It was Russell the butler. "The guests are waiting for you downstairs."

"Thank you, Russell." Lamont said before turning to his mother. He gave a smile and offered his arm to her. "Shall we greet our guests?"

"Let's." Mother said with a big smile, linking her thin arm around Lamont's

The Cranston's party was going full force. There were tons of people. Some I recognized from the society pages. Others I didn't. The mansion was full of priceless artifacts, lush furniture and wall paneling. Never in my life did I expect to see such wonderful things.

I remember my parents speaking of their old lives…imaginative child I was, it provided a fairyland of sorts for hours of entertainment. What was it like…?

But, like the Cobalt Club, I had to pretend that I was used to this.

God…I feel sicker…my throat was really burning now and my eyes felt raw and red.

Yet it'll make Mr. Conway's downfall that more meaningful. My parents would be proud of what I was doing to bring justice to them.

The memory of the Shadow's words came back to me.

Their last thoughts were of you…of the young woman you were and the great person they knew you'd be.

If making them proud of me meant suffering as this…then so be it.

My head throbbed and burned and I had to force a smile on my face as Mr. C got me a fresh glass of champagne. "You sure your folks won't mind if you stay out late tonight?" He asked, nibbling my ear.

"Oh no, they won't. As long as I have dinner with them tomorrow." I said, hiding my disgust behind a giggling fit. My giggles quickly turned to coughs though.

"You ok, Kitten?" Mr. C asked.

"Yeah. I'm ok. Some champagne went down the wrong pipe." I said. Mr. C. pat my back. "Thanks." I said.

"No problem." Just then, I looked up and saw a familiar looking man chatting with a group of people. A man with dark blonde hair and deep blue eyes.

Lamont Cranston.

Something was off about him. I thought for a moment. He was chatting and speaking as if he was enjoying himself, but there was something deeper to him.

Something like…he wasn't allowing anybody to be near him.

Kind of like what I was.

"Hey Mr. C? Can I ask you about somebody?" I asked.

"Of course you may, my Kitten." Mr. C said.

"What can you tell me about Lamont Cranston?"

Once again, a jealous look went over his face. I wondered if anger was brewing behind those eyes.

"I was just curious. Don't worry, this Kitten is all yours." I said, giving my biggest smile.

A smile appeared on Mr. C's face. But his face wasn't relaxing as it should. "Since you know how to flatter a man…all right. You know the Cranston family is loaded. Lamont over there was supposed to be set for life. But what does he do the moment the Great War broke out over in Europe? Enlisted as a Canadian in the R.F.C. and saw action in Verdun. Even got himself a Military Cross for bravery."

I looked over at the man in surprise. He looked like a distinguished gentleman in every sense of the word. I couldn't imagine him as a pilot flying over war-torn France, going up against the famed Red Baron.

"Then after the Armistice, he just vanished…people worried he was dead. Gone for almost ten years…then he came back as if nothing was wrong. He told everyone that he was touring the world. Spent a great deal of that time in the Far East if I remember correctly." Mr. C said. "But there's something wrong with him."

"Wrong?" I asked, my head feeling fuzzy. "He seems totally normal to me."

"Some say it's guilt over killing men during the war. Others say it's shell shock. But he's been so quiet and withdrawn since then…even though he makes the rounds like the rest of us." Mr. C said before shrugging his shoulders. "Before I forget, don't you dare bring it up around him. He doesn't like talking about it."

"Don't worry about that. My lips are sealed." I said, drawing my finger across my lips and touching them.

"That's my girl." Mr. C said as he leaned in for a kiss.

"Mr. Conway?" An elderly man dressed in a formal suit stepped forward. In his hands was a card. "There's a message for you."

"Great." Mr. C grumbled, taking the message out of his hands. Ripping open the envelope, he read it. A stern look crossed his face.

I tried to get a glance at the message, hoping it could give the Shadow more leads. All I could catch were the words: Warf's Gate. Supplies. "Is something wrong, Mr. C?" I asked.

"No, my pet." Mr. C said before shoving the note in his left coat pocket. "Just something relating to work. If you excuse me…I'm going to use the phone on the corner." He said, leaving me.

I was about to head out and follow him but my legs felt weak. Dizziness was taking over. I sat down on the bottom step, my illness was getting worse.

I needed to get word to the Shadow and quickly. But how? It wasn't like I could just call a messenger and ask them to deliver a note to him.

Lamont fought back a yawn. God…these parties were so boring. Maybe he should scan everyone's minds for information. It would give him something to do.

He opened his mind and began looking at everyone. As expected, he got mindless chatter as he always had.

Catty gossip.

Dull jokes.

Shocking scandals.

Just as expected from this circle.

No wonder he took the role of the Shadow as well as he did. It was more exciting than the trust-fund, polo pony crowd.

But there was a strangely familiar sense coming from the stairwell. Granted, it was faint but there. A soft coughing from the stairs got his attention.

Turning, he looked and saw Kitty Welles sitting on the stairwell. Her eyes were red and her rose pattered white dress made her pale skin almost sickly.

What was she doing here? Curiosity piqued, Lamont walked over to her.

"Kitty?" Lamont asked.

I looked up, forcing a smile on my face. "Oh, hello Lamont!"

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

"Mr. Conway dragged me along." I said, chuckling. I immediately felt uncomfortable and awkward. Maybe I should leave. "Should I go?"

"No, you're fine. The invite said to bring a friend so you're ok." Lamont said with a smile, sitting down next to me. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

"As much as I can." I said. I looked over the man. Something red on his hand caught my attention. A ring set with a fire red girasol.

An agent of the Shadow perhaps? Only one way to be sure.

"Today's a lovely day." I said.

"But it seems I forgot my umbrella." Lamont said in a low voice. That confirmed it. Lamont Cranston was an agent for the Shadow. Relief filled me and I suddenly understood why I found him so different.

Now I had a chance. "What do you need?" He asked, turning professional.

"I need to get a message to him immediately…" I whispered and told him everything I knew. Lamont watched me with a pensive glance. "…do you know how I can contact him?"

"I'll take care of that." Lamont said before studying me. "Kitty, you look terrible."

"Tell me something I don't know." I mumbled, fighting back another coughing fit.

Just then, Lamont reached up and touched my forehead. His hand was cool and soothing. "You're burning up, Kitty." Lamont said in a soft voice. I was enjoying the cool feeling of his hand on my forehead. "Why don't I get you home?" He said, taking his hand off.

"Sounds like a good idea." I said, getting to my feet. My vision began spinning and I almost fell over.

"Easy, Kitty." Lamont said, his hand on my back. "I'll help you."

"I need to tell my hosts." I said.

"I'll handle that. Come on, we need to get you home before you get worse. Your big debut won't go over well if you collapse." Lamont said, escorting me outside. A cab was conveniently waiting right outside. "Get her back to Eight Twenty Five Moorehead Road." He said to the cabbie as I got in, passing him money.

"You got it." Shrevvy said. Within moments, we were heading home.

Lamont Cranston watched as Moe's cab took off on the city streets. She always managing to surprise him…she went out to spy on Conway while she was sick. He had sensed her illness, brought on by exhaustion, taking over. Margo was keeping the mission in mind over personal comfort...

Marguerite. He reminded himself.

He couldn't get close to her.

He would spend too much of his energy on her instead of on the criminals. Where it rightfully belonged.

The Shadow was alone.

Just at that moment, Conway showed up, his hands in his pocket. Based on what Marguerite told him, he knew that the man had a message in his left coat pocket. Time for the old distraction trick. Bending down as if to tie his shoes, he waited until Conway was close. Just then he stood up and pretended to bump into him. "Whoops! Clumsy me!"

"It's ok." Conway said, a little too surprised to notice Lamont's fingers quickly slipping into the pocket and taking out the card Marguerite had mentioned. He hurried back inside.

Just in time. Lamont thought with a relieved sigh and went to read the card.

Sure enough, the message on the card was simple: Supplies arriving at midnight tonight; Warf's Gate.

Perfect. Lamont thought as he tucked the card back into his pocket. Conway had a warehouse at Warf's Gate. Maybe this was a lead. He decided to send Moe a message. Moe, did you drop off Miss Lane?

The cabbie's voice returned. Yes sir. I made sure she got in. Poor kid looked about ready to collapse.

Good. Lamont thought. Can you be at the Sanctum at quarter to midnight tonight?

I had plans with the Missus…but sure, I can be there. Why? Moe's voice returned.

Lamont felt the Shadow inside of him laughing. Conway's going to be getting a little visit from the Shadow tonight.

A/N: Three days in a row! I'm on a roll! Hopefully I can keep this up!