The Flight of the Blue Beetle 3
Nothing in his life could stay good for long. He should have known. They had returned to the bleachers sharing small words. He ignored Tye's snickers as he and Asami followed close behind. All he could think was all those memories they shared as children; running home from school, playing in the park, doing nothing but just being kids. Then his communicator went off.
"Blue?" it was Nightwing.
"Ehm, excuse me for a sec" he said before rushing to the back of the bleachers.
"Sorry, I was busy. Did you find something?"
"Yes, plenty" Nightwing said with a tense voice, "this woman is dangerous"
"I imagined,"
"No, you don't Blue. She is very dangerous. She used to be the young mistress to El Don, and when he passed away she was left with everything. Neither the wife nor children were left a penny. When they tried to bring it to court they all just disappeared. Somehow, though it was probably through bribery, she was never suspected of anything and for the past fifteen years has been running a ruthless operation. We had heard rumors of her but there was nothing ever strong enough. She is extremely good at hiding her deeds"
"Could it be magic?"
"Could be," but magic always complicated things because it couldn't really be brought up before a court of law, "you need to be very careful not to step on her toes Jaime. The best thing to do in this type of situations is to gather as much evidence as you can"
"Where should I start?" he asked.
"Well, it seems she has a relative that attends the same school as yours. She is her guardian so if you befriend her you could get close enough to find the information we need"
"I got it, who are they?"
"La Dama's name is Amparo Cardenas and her niece's name is-"
"Brenda Del Vecchio" Jaime had to lean against the bleaches.
"Blood pressure lowering to dangerous levels, rising" Khaji-Da said before he felt a little sick.
"You know her?" Nightwing asked carefully. Jaime imagined he already knew what the problem was.
"She is my friend," the friend that she had always wanted to be more than just a friend.
"You don't think-"
"Of course not!" he realized he was hyperventilating and that Nightwing could probably hear him, "She can't know. She moved away with her dad three years ago and just came back"
"Alfonso Del Vecchio died two weeks ago in a car crash. According to the official records he had been drunk driving, but testimonies of friends inform he had been sober for two years"
She hadn't mentioned that at all.
"Maybe she isn't ready to share it Blue, don't think much of it"
"How can I not?" he asked slipping until he was sitting on the ground, "what if she does know?"
"There is only one way to find out," Nightwing reminded him of the plan.
"I can't, she will see right through me. Brenda knows me and she will know something isn't right"
"Don't decide now Blue, sit on it for a few days" Nightwing said trying to calm the younger hero, "but remember that what we do rarely comes with easy choices"
He took a few minutes after the conversation ended to pull himself together. Brenda's aunt, he tried to remember, loved his niece dearly, like her own child. He remembered when Brenda's mother passed away aunt Amparo looked after Brenda since Brenda's father was too absorbed in his own pain to notice the sadness on his nine year old. He remembered her throwing for Brenda wonderful birthday parties and taking her shopping even Brenda said her clothes were fine.
She was like a godmother to Brenda. Anything she wanted she could have. Yes, she had plenty of money but she didn't flaunt it… but as he thought more about it he realized he didn't know what her business was. His parents taught him those type of questions were rude, but maybe he should have made an exception.
When he felt calm enough he returned to the bleachers. His heart was still stuck in the middle of his throat but he was able to force a smile.
"Is there something wrong?" of course his friend wouldn't be fooled.
"I-" her big eyes stopped him from saying what he had in mind.
"Mr. Reyes was shot a few days ago" Tye said what he believed was the problem.
"Tye!" Asami shouted looking worriedly at Brenda's reaction.
"What? You can't really expect him to just bring it up on his own" Tye crossed his arms. He was actually helping Jaime.
"Jaime, is that true?" he could see her body tense, as if there was something she wanted to tell him.
"Yes, some tug tried to rob the garage"
"And Jaime's dad beat him up before the coward pulled out a gun" Tye chipped in.
Her eyes were wide with worry, "but he is-"
"He is okay, well as okay as he can be after getting shot" Jaime said.
"That's not funny" she said with a scowl.
"I know it isn't, but there is isn't much I can do about what happened" he said with a shrug.
"I guess not," she frowned, "at least tell me they caught the bastard"
"They did, and was sent to county jail last night" he said testing the waters.
"I hope he rots-"
"He is dead," Jaime interrupted, "he killed himself last night"
"He must have been one really messed up dude" Tye said, though his expression was starting to turn suspicious.
He wondered if he was going too far, "I don't believe he killed himself"
"Jaime?" Tye said tensing.
"I think there is more to it" he said finally dropping the bomb.
"Okay, and we are gone" Tye said standing up, he took Asami's hand and they left.
"What's his problem?" Brenda watched as they almost ran away.
"Is a long story" he felt bad for throwing this out in front of them. He knew they had a terrible time when they entered that world where now his life was wrapped in.
The bell rang for the next class. They walked together back to the building not really saying anything. Once they were at the doors they stopped knowing they would part again.
"A lot has changed, hasn't it?" she asked.
"You have no idea" he wished he was able to tell her right then.
"But we are still friends, right?"
"Of course,"
"And you trust me like the old times, right?" she asked.
"Only if you still trust me"
"Always, after all we have gone through how could I not" she said taking his hand and squeezing it a little before letting go, "see you after school"
He waved goodbye at her before hurrying to class.
"You made the right choice Jaime Reyes. All signs confirm she believed you"
"Because I wished it was true"
He went to classes feeling as if he was drifting through a nightmare. He didn't think about it like Nightwing told him to. He knew he had to protect his family. He was sure aunt Amparo would be suspicious he showed up at her door with her niece, but if he played his cards right he was sure he would get all the proof they would need. When school was over he spotted her waiting outside by a black car.
"Sorry, aunt Amparo wants me to go straight home"
"You will be back tomorrow, right?"
"Of course," she said with a smile.
He watched as the black tinted car drove away. Maybe it was for the best if he didn't see her as much. He started his way towards his sister's school.
"We need to talk" Tye said a few steps behind him.
"Not now Tye, I have to pick up Milagro from school" he said continuing to walk.
"Yes, now Jaime," he stepped up until he was walking by his side.
"There is nothing you want to hear" it was pretty clear when he left them the moment he mentioned he suspected something else was going on.
"I guessed as much" Tye said glaring at the asphalt as they walked.
"Then?" his friend said something under his breath, "what?"
"I said you are still my friend, and… and your family is like part of mine. Also, this is not some alien invasion or anything like that. This is something happening in our front yard, isn't?"
"Are you saying you will help if it is?" he stopped and looked at his friend.
"Depends on how bad is it"
"You would have to hear the whole story and decide for yourself, but not here" he said before they continued to walk.
Jaime picked Milagro from school, which was rather happy to see Tye. She chattered all the way back home and Tye seemed to be happy with the normality of it. Soon enough he would be pulled back into that side of his life that he wanted to forget. Jaime knew that he would not be able to say no when he heard what was going on. Just as the Latino community around them was constantly tempted by the gangs, so were the Mescalero Apache and other tribes. Both had friends, and even family members who had fallen to that path.
After getting Milagro to start her homework in her room they talked in the living room.
"This is so messed up" Tye said after he finished explaining.
"Tell me about it" he said running his hand though his hair, "so, you in?"
"Do one legged ducks swim in circles?" he said with a strained smile, "so, where do we start?"
Of course Asami wouldn't stay out of it either. Tye's family had become her family, especially when they took her in with little question. By the time his parents came back home dinner was ready and everything seemed to have returned to normal. However, neither one of them could imagine what was going on through his mind. He decided not to tell them who La Dama was or about Brenda's involvement. The less they knew the less risk they would be in. They already had plenty to deal with on their own.
At night when they all had gone to bed, he asked Khaji-Da to stay tuned for all police frequencies. If there was something odd that might help, he would be there. It was towards midnight that he heard something interesting. Something was going inside a warehouse known for the gathering of smaller gangs; the kinds that were gangs more in name for the sake of fitting in than actual deeds. Something like a beast could be heard along with the terrified screams of the gang members.
As he flew towards the spot he continued to hear the cops reporting in. One of the gang members was able to escape. The man was covered in bleeding claw marks and crying like a little kid. It made him wary of what he would find.
He snuck through one of the top windows of the warehouse and spotted below a bloody carnage. He had been glad it had been some hours since dinner. He had seen bad things before, but nothing like this. Some were shredded to pieces, bits and pieces thrown around. There were others who were pierced with knives and others with limbs broken in multiple places.
"Survivors detected," and Khaji-Da reminded him that there was still something he could do. He highlighted in his vision the ones that were barely conscious and those who hid in fear; then, the ones that had done the deed.
"Coyote, stop chewing on that and let's get going" said a man dressed like a misfit scarecrow with knives hanging from strings around him.
"But I can still smell fresh meat?" he hadn't expected it to be able to speak. It was something like a mix between a man and a coyote.
"Apurale then, we don't want to keep La Dama waiting" said the last of the three. A man dressed like a skeleton.
"Stealth is highly recommended"
Jaime agreed. If he was lucky they might let something spill. He watched from the shadows as Coyote sniffed the air before going towards one of the gang members hiding behind the crates. The beast enjoyed the smell of fear as it crouched before the shivering man ready to pounce on him. He leaped but before he could land he was tackled by something. Coyote was not used to anyone being able to overpower so it took him a moment to make sense of it. He was staring a black face with blue markings and yellow eyes. The first thing he thought was that it was a demon finally coming to get him for his actions.
"What does La Dama want?" but at hearing those words he knew that it was not a demon for not even demons would mess with her.
But instead of answering the beast started to laugh. Jaime stood back when he saw red tears come from his eyes.
"Don't cross me," but the voice was not Coyote's but a woman's voice, "or you will regret it"
And then he heard a sickening sound and realized the beast's neck had snapped and now his head hung loose on his neck.
He turned and went to look for the other two, but they were gone. When he returned he found the body of Coyote gone, as if it had never been there.
"Please don't hurt me," the man he had saved said cowering in a corner.
"I am the good guy if you hadn't noticed," Jaime said as he allowed Khaji-Da to scan for Coyote's body but found nothing but residues of magic.
"A hero?" then the man recognized him, "you are the Blue Beetle" he gasped but Jaime saw he wasn't really sure if he was a good guy.
"I am after them and their boss, did they saw anything before this?" he said motioning to the carnage behind them.
"Will my neck…" he looked terrified, and Jaime couldn't blame him
"I don't detect any magic in you; he had a spell put on him"
"I… I don't know"
"They just slaughtered your friends," he glared at the shaking man, "and will probably do a lot worse if I don't stop them. You can do something to stop that"
The man looked down at his feet trying to decide.
"I will break your neck and no one would know any better" he said making the man look at him with fear. He felt sick but there would be indeed a lot more casualties if he didn't get him to talk.
"They… they wanted us to join La Dama, our bosses laughed at them before they brought in that thing" he said looking for Coyote as if he would come out of the shadows at any moment, "and then they started killing us"
"You mean they did all this because you wouldn't join them?" and the man nodded.
Then they heard the doors burst open and the gasps of the cops at the sight before them.
"Tell them you passed out and can't remember anything"
"Que? But I jus-"
"It wouldn't be fair of me to place your life in danger by telling them what you heard. They might come after you," and the man paled at those words, "but once she is brought in, I am going to ask you to be brave and come forwards, could you do that?"
"I-" the man seemed ready to turn him down
"Por favor hermano, haslo por ellos" he motioned towards those who were not as lucky with a pleading voice. The man's eyes widened. (Please brother, do it for them).
"Lo que tu digas hermano," he nodded with a silly broken smile. (Anything you say brother).
And after that he left the building. He watched from the roof of another building as the survivors were pulled out. Those that were injured were taken to the closest hospital. He wished he could warn his mother of what was coming their way. She worked in the emergency wing of the hospital. Then there were the few who weren't injured. He saw the man he talked to get on a van with the other handful of uninjured survivors. The truck was going towards the police department. He was about to follow them, but then the body bags started to come out. Some were more like sacks without definite shapes. Then there were families who started to arrive with tearful faces. At that moment he felt his heart go cold.
He would not let La Dama get away with this.