Captain Maggie Sawyer in Action FanFic #10
Hangman's Coming Down From the Gallows
What's he doing? This man says that he's an alien threat bent on world conquest and he's sitting there in cuffs looking like a whipped puppy. This is a man who I've seen rip 6-inch steel doors off their hinges! The proof is out there that he's guilty. Even faked, the world's going to believe that he is. That means if he's innocent, I need to clear him of these charges now and fast. The problem is that in order to do that, I've got to get past Lex Luthor and his metal morons. And I've got less than 8 hours to do that in. Still, until he's become property of the U.S. Military, I can question him. They didn't tell me not to. They just said that they'd conduct their own interrogation, so our information would be unnecessary. I got the gist of what that meant, but I really don't care right now. This man can't be the guilty party he's being made to be. It's still damning evidence and I can't deny that. What if this is all an act for my benefit? What if he's trying to get me to sympathize with him so I'll help him to escape? With his cover being blown, he'd fly right off into space and bring back this armada that supposedly he's working for. Damn this! I want to trust him, but how can I? Every conversation we've had at this point is suspect. Worse yet, I don't know how to start questioning him. Every way I can think of comes out with me yelling his head off. It's so stupid to be caught on tape saying things that can be used against you!
"Capt. Sawyer, I don't know how to express my sorrow for what's happened. I can't imagine what you think of me right now." Him saying things like that doesn't make this any easier. I'm reading this guy as best as I can and he looks remorseful. A lot of people can play remorseful; it's just to what degree? I've got to establish if this is an act or not.
"What I think right now is we have a situation that needs to be dealt with. My badge has just been put on the line because I've trusted you, if I don't manage to lose my job, then I'm never going to be anything more than a beat cop until they give me my pension or I quit. That means I've got a choice to make here. I can either go with the media and say you're guilty or go with my gut and give you an opportunity to explain yourself."
"It's really simple, captain. This morning there were some guys trying to hurt a woman I stopped them and about that time Lt. Evans came out of nowhere with another cop car in tow. I had already managed to subdue two of the four, they caught the rest. Lt. Evans asserted again that I was unnecessary and that it was best that I should just leave. I explained to him that I was just trying to help and wasn't part of some alien armada. It got back to Luthor though. I didn't even think to check him for some recording device."
"Evans... I should've guessed that little weasel would pull something like this." I'm so mad right now; I could bust the table in front of me. I wanted to. Evans, that bastard! I always knew he was taking graft from Luthor, I figured he was taking graft from everyone. Doesn't he know he's just made himself a pawn to be used in this game? Once the evidence comes out that Luthor was behind this, I might be able to bust him. Making it stick though, that's the real catch. This Team Luthor fiasco, the bribing of cops, the whole thing says I'll be able to put him away for a very long time. However, I've seen bigger and better try things and for not as much. Luthor's claims on TV are enough to make people look at him twice. I'm sure that the military gave him no bones about what they wanted done. If not, then they would have at least implied it. Still it leads me to my next question. "What were you doing flying around after Luthor's speech? He told the public he was on the look out for you."
"I know, and the first thing I thought of was heading to WGBS to try and get an interview to explain my side of things."
"Giving up on newspapers?"
"No, but even if they were going to post a news story about on the internet, it's only going to go up as fast as their typists can go. I needed people to see me and hear what I had to say. In retrospect, it was a horrible idea. I can't believe I fell for the obvious trap! I was drawn out into public, knowing full well I would have to clear my name, and then here comes Team Luthor. It was drawing a moth to flame."
"The problem is that the flame is now a bonfire. What's effectively been done here is that you'd incriminated yourself. If you're going to clear your name, someone's going to have to help you. I'm going to need help, Superman. Not only do I have to trust that you're telling me the God's honest truth, but you've got to trust me."
"I do, Capt. Sawyer. That's why I came here after the attack. It's the only place I felt safe. Obviously if I tried to keep fighting, they would've pressed harder and cost lives. I had to end it as quickly as possible."
"That doesn't sound like a person trying to take over the globe to me." I smile slightly. I'm trying to hide the fact that it could be construed by a paranoid person that the reason he doesn't want to take lives is because that makes more to subjugate. The minute I look into his eyes as he stares into mine, those baby blues give way the nature of who this man is. If he truly wanted to take over the planet, we'd have to start throwing nukes like rice at a wedding. I've got to help him. "Okay, let's start from when you ran into the thugs."
We sit there for 3 hours going over every detail. He tells me the description of the perps to the letter without looking at either the folder or the wall. He stares at this hands most of the way. He goes on about the day and how he was listening in for any sign of trouble when Luthor he heard the transmission for the news conference. He reiterates how he wanted to get to the TV station and tell what happened and how he was going to turn himself in willingly. I tell him that he got two parts wrong. He should have come to us first and we could've held a press conference once everything was figured out. Secondly, if he was going to get the news out, he should've trusted those reporters at the Daily Planet. He nods; again telling me he thought it would be faster. You can feel the almost oppressive anger and sadness as he speaks. He's not frantic, normally the lack of it is indicative of a guilty man who thinks he can slick past the cops. If he was too frantic, it's because we got close and he wants to claw his way out. This is more like a kid in the principal's office. He's more than willing to admit his wrong. If he could read minds then I'd say thank you for making this easy on me. Let's just hope that other people see it that way.
As we go back over the last encounter with Lt. Evans, I ask again about the woman that called. "Where did she go after she ran? Did you pay attention?"
"No. I merely told her to call the police and get out of harm's way."
"So obviously she did it. There's one thing that gets me about this whole thing, you said that Lt. Evans had a police car already there with him at the time?"
"Yes. He pulled up in his unmarked and behind him was one Metropolis P.D. vehicle."
"Who were the other officers involved, did you get a look at their names?"
"Cody and Derrick."
"They shouldn't have even been out there, that's nowhere near where they're supposed to be patrolling."
"Nonetheless, they were there and able to pick up the two that slipped by me."
"Okay, then. If you'll excuse me I'm going down to our call center and find out about the call. See what our victim had to say. There should be a record of the inbound call. I've gotta gut feeling that says something is very wrong about that."
"You think I was being set up the minute I responded to help that woman?"
"I'd almost bet on it. You fell right into their trap by saying things that they could twist. I need to get going, time's of the essence. I'm going to get someone in here to help with a face rendering, maybe we can get a name to go with that face."
"Thank you, Capt. Sawyer. I don't know how I'd do it right now without you."
"Don't thank me yet, we're not out of the woods. Hell, I'd be happy to see the path we're on!" I turn and leave. I need help and Dan's still recovering. I could go to the commissioner, but I don't know how much he's going to listen. I'm going to need another officer to talk to Superman. Get the story that they're going to claim I'm missing. I can't ask Evans as he's tied to this. It's got to be someone that's on the straight and narrow, but also someone that's not known to be friends with me. I've got it!
I walk up to the desk of Inspector Bill Henderson. He's a vet of 10 years experience and one of the most able cops that I've ever met. He's a by the book kind of guy, but I have seen him bend a little when it's been necessary. The problem is his version of necessary and mine aren't always the same. What's going to kill me is when he asks the obvious question, why help a vigilante. Sure, he's willing to work with the cops, but he's not even had Citizen on Patrol training. He's going to ask the hard questions, like what he does when he's not Superman. Where does he go? Why does he disappear for hours at a time? If helping is his true motivation then why didn't he come straight to the Police HQ and make himself available? Then when we found out he was an alien, why didn't he go to the government for proper help. Sure, Superman's answered questions like this before in his interview with Lane. Henderson, however, isn't some doe-eyed reporter looking at a guy that the title Mr. Universe should go to.
He looks up at me over his glasses and turns back to what he's doing. That means he knows I'm there for something and I should state my business or return to what I was doing before disturbing him. "I need your help, Inspector."
"Hmm..."
"Please, Bill. I need you to help with this Superman case."
"Superman case? I thought that was more for the Feds to handle. They are taking their sweet time about it, though."
"Yeah, and don't you find that a bit odd?"
"Yes, I do."
"Then would you help me on this? Someone's setting him up to take a bigger fall. They've got a lot of people involved and those that are supposed to be in charge are responding than FEMA."
"I'll help you, but I want to know why this is so important to you."
"We don't have time for this."
"Correction Margaret, you don't have time for this. I have all the time in the world to devote to the caseload on my desk. Now if you wish to tell me why this is so important to you, then I'll be more than willing to help."
"What's the point in it?"
"Because it's obvious this man has got your attention. There's something about him that's got you so twisted up that you've already entrusted him with power to do things when anyone else would've called the military and had him chained and hauled off to Area 51. My dear Captain Sawyer, I'm trying to ascertain if he's got your mind wrapped up in a shroud or if he's worth the 10-year-old schoolgirl devotion you're showing him. In short, why do you trust him?"
"Step into the room with him and find out. The man has a presence about him that reminds you of some sort of old home values. He's like a big kid that wants to help in one aspect, but this pillar of a moral man in the other. I don't care where he says he from, that man sitting in that room is mom, home and apple pie! When he stands up, if you can't see the flag proudly waving behind him and a bald eagle perched on his arm, then you're blind. The guy's been helpful, upfront with us on his intentions, and before this wanted to go to the Commish to find out what it would take to get himself deputized. Yeah, I thought it might be too good. I thought here's a guy that's got the power in his hands to do whatever he wanted. He could just be gaining our trust so he can crush us like bugs later. Then I thought of something else. The guy's faster and stronger than anything else out there. Sure he's had a couple of run-ins with people that have felled him. But that haven't beaten him yet. He's smart and he knows if he truly wanted to he could hold us over a barrel, instead he hung back to talk with me in Suicide Slum over a Slobberknocker and a Soder. Tell me Bill, does that sound like a man bent on world conquest to you?"
"That's what I wanted to know, Maggie. Thank you. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go talk to this Man of Steel."
"Wait, Bill. I need to get a tech in there to help him find the woman he saved this morning. Give me 5 minutes and I'll be there."
"Go, captain. I'll meet you there. I need some time with the accused if I'm to get an honest read from him."
"Alright then, but I'll be back soon." As he walks towards the interview room I start to twinge a little. Grown men have cowered before Henderson in an interrogation; I just wonder how much steel he can bend.
I run towards the Missing Persons department, I need to get this done with quick. I'm terrified as what's keeping the military at bay. I can only imagine that whatever it is they're doing their best to make sure they can incapacitate Superman before they haul him anywhere. I don't want to think what they'd plan to use for that. Whatever that could be, it must be particularly nasty. There sitting at her desk is Anna Bloomington. She's a whiz with all things technical and she's a good cop when you're looking for the missing. She's been with the force less that a year, but she's proven herself an invaluable asset to the force. That's who I want working on this.
"Maggie! How you doing?" She smiles as she sees me coming towards her.
"I wish I could say that I'm full of sunshine, Anna. Unfortunately I have a case that's gonna take a lot of time to crack and a person who's butt's on the line."
"Whoa, that's a lot to process for a Wednesday afternoon."
"You're not kidding, kid. Look, I need your help with this case. It's vitally important that we get it resolved and I need your help in getting a face. Do you have a laptop that you've got this program linked to?"
"I've got a remote access to my system here, yeah. Who are you trying to help?"
"Superman..."
The look on her face is of surprise and disbelief. "Superman. Yeah, I'm in. I wanna meet this man."
"As a person who also likes to help people or with dollar bills to stuff down his shorts?" I smile.
"Take your pick."
I don't lose a moment grabbing her and the laptop. I need to get back to the interview room before Henderson is done with Superman. I want to see what he's asking him. It's not that I don't trust Bill, I'm just curious as to what he's said that I haven't heard yet. I hate that, it makes it sound like he is hiding something. And if I start to think that, then I'll hinder him from any sort of help he needs. Luckily we're quick to get into the observation room, and there's Bill standing there looking over his next interviewee. I walk up beside him and he doesn't look over. He stands there looking at me with his peripheral vision watching me, but mostly his gaze forward studying the man in the room. He has his finger pressed tightly to his mouth. He's considering how best to approach this. Superman is still looking at the table, he's still looking as frustrated as he is sad. That's what Henderson meant by getting an honest read. If I were there to talk to him about what I saw, he'd have me in his head while he's trying to get his own mental picture of what sort of man this is.
He breaks his gaze from the window and he walks out the door and into the interview room just mere moments later. He gazes firmly into the face of this would-be hero and Superman's eyes turned upward to meet him. "Superman, I'm Inspector Bill Henderson. I hear we have a problem today." The opening salvo, it makes me wonder just what our friend from the stars is in for.
"Yes, Inspector. I have a problem, and I'm not quite sure how I'm going to go about fixing it."
"Let's start with that, what do you think needs to be fixed?"
"First and foremost, proving that tape to be forged."
"Forged? So you didn't say any of those things?"
"I said things to Lt. Evans that I should've thought more carefully on and he stretched it out to be something it's not. Then someone went in and added a few different, yet crucial, words that changed its context."
"You think someone's trying to frame you then?"
"Yes."
"Who would want to do that?"
"Lex Luthor."
Bill gets taken back for a minute and laughs just a little. He sits down in the chair across from Superman, and leans into the single light that hangs over the table. "Alexander Luthor is setting you up? Is that right? Why would he do that? Just yesterday he was trying to hand you a 25,000,000 check. Doesn't sound like a set up to me."
"It was a retainer check, he wanted me to work for him. I told him no because I didn't want to have some sort of corporate sponsorship. I'm not that familiar with Lex's dealings, but if there was anything unscrupulous going on I didn't want to be a part of that."
"So you believe that Lex is an unscrupulous man?"
"At this juncture, I definitely believe that Lex isn't above lapses in moral judgment."
"Do you have any proof of that?"
"None. The conversations we had come with witnesses that will rush to his defense and condemn me to be experimented on."
"So you've had conversations that should damn him if you had the proof to back it up?"
"Yes. The attack outside the LexCorp towers was all him. The attack at S.T.A.R. was his too. I'm not sure about the others, but I'm fairly certain that the hardware the men have carried was supplied by someone in LexCorp."
"That's a heavy accusation. That's the sort of thing that could land you in court if someone snitched on you."
"At this point, I don't know that I have that to worry about, Inspector. Lt. Evans handing over that recording to Luthor has pretty much left people wanting to send me to the gallows for being the lead to some alien threat. Any reputation for being upstanding is out the window because I chose to give my gifts to the world and not to one man. I won't say that this is where I wanted it to come to, but I don't regret making that decision. Lex Luthor is not the upstanding citizen that people make him out to be. I know there are people in this building that support him fiercely. I'm not one of those people. I can't prove a thing right now, but I'm starting a list. Innocent lives could and have been lost thanks to the careless actions. He was after something at S.TA.R., which cost a man his humanity and several people died for. That needs to be looked into. And the action outside his building was simply a test to assess how much of a threat I'd be to him. I can't abide by that, but I can't do anything about it either. I'm no authority. I have no jurisdiction. I just help when those that can't stand up to the punishment I can; those who need it. You are all overworked and can't respond to everything, I figure a helping hand might be welcomed. And just when I try to prove this to you all Lex sweeps in and takes it. He'd gladly deny anything to anyone that gets in his way, because he can't own or control it."
"A self made man doesn't like things that are beyond his control for good reason, it threatens his livelihood. He's been trying to sell us those battle-armors for some time now. Your coming about changes the need for them."
"No, it doesn't. It means that we all can work cooperatively to make a safer city for the citizens. Now because of this, if I step into the streets it's a war zone. I won't be responsible for lives lost because I wanted to help."
"You're truly worried about that aren't you?"
"Shouldn't I be? Life is precious. I lost my family and my entire world! I'm the only survivor of Krypton, as far as I've been lead to believe. Why not believe that? The planet was xenophobic, my father and mother were the only ones that knew if we were to survive it would take outside help. So they sent me here and told me to use my gift wisely. I tried and I ended up here."
"So now you just want to give up, is that right?"
Superman looked at Henderson and his eyes flared like diamonds in the sun. "Never! Just because it's not easy, doesn't mean you give up. If people did that then this planet might still be sitting in caves, but they didn't. With hard work and determination they built great cities and empires, then came those few that were of wealth and power and these magnificent things crumbled because they couldn't have them the way they wanted. When that happens people die and who can save them? I can, if people allow me to. I will, if they'll extend their trust in me. No matter what form it takes I'll help anyone and everyone I can, whether I'm in this uniform or not. That's what I was sent here to do."
"Thank you, Superman. I'm sure Capt. Sawyer will return with you shortly."
"Thank you, Inspector Henderson for letting me tell my side of things."
Henderson stands up from the table and walks out the door. I run from the observation room and catch up with him continuing down the hallway. "Bill, talk to me. What are you thinking?"
"There's an innocent man sitting in that room. Come on Margaret, we have work to do."
"Where are we going?"
"Commissioner Casey's office. We need both him and Mayor Berkowitz to sign off on an injunction to keep the government from taking him in."
"Thank you Bill. I'm glad we're working together on this."
"I'm doing this because I was initially wrong. I thought he was lying; just another person trying to pull a gimmick. Figured down the road we'd find out that he was planning an invasion the whole time.. I'm sure that's the impression a lot of people have of him, but it isn't true. His intent and belief are so pure, that it's like you said. You step in the room and you can see what he's truly about. Now it's just a matter of getting others to see it before he gets hauled off."
Outside the rumble of a truck stopped us both in our tracks. We turned around expecting to see a fully detailed military envoy. Instead we get treated to something we weren't expecting. The Parasite enters the doors wearing an officers hat. He smiles widely and looks around the place as the entire force stands with their guns at the ready. "Come on, are we going to start off like this? I'm here to pick up Superman! Mind you, I'm not going to be taking him where the military guys I killed wanted me to. Still, I'm gonna be happy to take him off your hands."
Three times he's busted out in as many days... This just keeps getting better and better.