Chapter 4 [That Night]
Overcast blotted out Luna and the stars. A few cars and trucks meandered along Smallville's streets on their way home. Streetlights lit their way. Most store fronts, however, remained dark at that point. Activity wound down before the work week began anew.
For some, Weekend lingered just a bit longer….
[Talon—7:30 PM]
The café's traffic had long since wound down. A smattering of customers savored their mugs' last sips. Bookmarks slipped between pages. Books went into backpacks or satchels. Coats went over arms and onto backs. With a last wave toward the counter, they meandered back out into December's chill anew.
Miranda began her shutdown procedures. The wiped-down counter sparkled in the lamplight. Remaining pastries sat arranged on a plate behind the counter. Coffee perked into the night's last pot. Dishwasher cleaned dishes, mugs, and silverware in the back room. She circulated about the seating area to clean the abandoned tables and seats. "How's everything, Guys?"
Lex set his mug down on the table. He looked up at Miranda. "This is great. I'm good. Everything else okay?"
"Doing great, Mr. Luthor." Miranda turned to Peter and Gwen. Gwen had notes spread out across the table in front of herself. Peter mulled over story ideas. He drank from his mug. "I'm making fresh coffee. I'll be starting my cleaning of the coffee press in about twenty minutes."
Peter checked his watch. "That's about right. I'm good. Gwendy?"
"Doing A-Ok, Ms. Barista Supreme! Sorry. This presentation's going to kill me." Furrowed brow and frown twisted Gwen's face. Another gulp from her drink eased her outlook. "Yikes! I lost track of time."
"It's okay." Miranda motioned toward the rest of the café. "I've wiped down the other tables and chairs. Counter and dishwasher are set. Pastry case is good. I'll vac the floor after the doors are locked. See that award didn't stop your work ethic, Peter. Good for you!"
"No rest for the weary. I'm trying to think of a great article to open the new office with." Peter tapped his pen on the table. "Chloe's doing the Holiday Festival already. Wonder if Clark's got anyone tapped for the Holiday toy drive?"
"You might suggest it to him, Peter. Maybe wait until after school tomorrow." Lex chased that thought with another mouthful. "He needs to get the team together. I heard he has two people already. I suggested he text one of them this afternoon."
"Lana let Nadia call him this afternoon. I overheard some of it. She said he could email back to where she's from. There's another girl who was here earlier with her Mom. She's interested too. The Mom, by the way…." Enthusiasm brightened Miranda's face. "The Mom's an experienced waitress. She's going to apply for our full time spot."
"Now that's good news! Finally!" Lex brightened up. "Lana and you have some help."
Miranda nodded. "Lana and I have to interview her tomorrow afternoon. I definitely could use an experienced person in the middle of the day with me here. We'll have to see." She turned to Peter. "Looking forward to seeing the new office?"
"I'm meeting Ms. Jenkins there tomorrow. I can't wait to see it." Peter saw Sheriff Adams push through the door. "I think you've got a customer."
Miranda waved to Adams. "Be right there, Sheriff!" She turned back to them. "Sorry. She's waiting for her cappuccino. If you need anything else, just let me know." With that, she hustled back toward the counter.
Adams strutted up to the counter. Her eyes squinted around the entire eatery. "Hmm…quieted down? Thought the kids had tests and papers this week?" A snort came through her nose.
"Evening, Sheriff. You should've been here earlier." Miranda's poker face restrained her emotions. "We were slammed between 1 and 5 this afternoon. Our new person, Nadia, did great. From what Lana said, we're interviewing someone tomorrow. Maybe we'll get up to full staffing again?"
Adams raised an eyebrow. "That'd be great not that Miss Lang and you don't do a good job, Ms. Arighatto. You do great! I'd appreciate my cappuccino." She noted Peter, Lex and Gwen in the corner. "Be right back." She patted the counter and set her jaw. "Evenin', Folks! Hear we've got ourselves some congratulatin' to do." Approval sparkled in her eyes. A rare smile cracked her professional face.
"Thanks, Sheriff. How's everything?" Peter regarded Adams.
"Just doing my patrol. Everything's real quiet. Just gettin' my cappuccino from Ms. Arighatto. Anywho…I hear you two are going to be around a whole lot more next year?" Adams raised an eyebrow at them.
A smile spread across Gwen's face as well. She squeezed Peter's hand. "You bet, Sheriff! I'll be student teaching starting in January at the high school! Mr. Peter's working half-time here in Smallville too!"
"The Planet's having a satellite bureau office here in Smallville. I'll see it for myself tomorrow morning. I'll be going back and forth between Metropolis and here." Peter rubbed Gwen's arm. "Mr. Taylor and Ms. Travers offered the opportunity. With Gwen being out here, it's a no-brainer."
"Uh huh. Well, that's sure bondiggity! Maybe you can do some more of them workshops around here too, Mr. Parker. Congrats on that Pulitzer too. You sure don't fool around! You ain't even with those guys for a year and you're already winning awards." Adams turned back toward the counter. She watched Miranda still working on her drink.
"Thanks, Sheriff. I was actually freelance for the Planet last summer. The story literally just erupted all around us at the mansion that night and the next day. Ms. Travers happened to be here. Lex got her and Chloe's attention in here," Peter clarified. "Back to back all nighters but it was worth it."
"And we're going back up to New York. Peter and Chloe won another Pulitzer!" Lex took a gulp from his mug. "The Octavius incident."
Peter ground his teeth. Chill seemed to drop the temperature around them. Smooth move, Lex. Bring that up in front of her. Memoria recalled Adams' anger toward a certain Wall Crawler's intervention against Octavius. "I wasn't going to say anything."
"Smart move, Mr. Parker. Given what almost happened to Mrs. Parker, You know how dangerous that bug vigilante is." Adams' eyes narrowed. "Just wait until I get my hands on him. I'll…."
Her radio squawked at her.
"Just a minute." Adams pressed the button on her radio. "Yeah?"
"Sheriff! Murphy, here! Break in at the Marine Recruiting Office! I'm outgunned!"
Frown contorted Adams' face. "We're gonna have a talk, Deputy! You know better than that! I'm on my way. Keep your head down!"
More shots rang over the radio.
"Sorry, Sheriff! I…." Murphy screamed. Radio crackled. Connection dropped.
"Murphy? MURPHY!" Scowl twisted her mouth further still. "Darn it! Sorry, Folks! Gotta run. You be safe. Mr. Parker, stay put. I don't want you involved in that." She stalked by the counter. "Sorry, Ms. Arighatto. Got an emergency call!" She pushed past the door and out into the night. Seconds later, her car streaked off toward the scene. Red and White Lights rotated through her strobes. Siren blared.
"What's with those lights and sirens? The bad guys'll know!" Gwen stared at the window.
"You saw her here. She loves to charge right in without thinking." Lex rolled his eyes. Frustration pounded at his temples. He raised his phone. "I'm tempted to call Clark and Lana." Indecision froze him for several heartbeats.
Miranda shut off the coffee maker. She waved toward Peter. Her head motioned toward the back room. She grabbed the kitana under the counter. Then, she disappeared through that door. She ducked into the bathroom. She stripped off her blouse and khakis to reveal a dark suit underneath. She stuck several star blades into the sash around her waist.
So much for the element of surprise! Peter finished his mug. His eyes lingered on Gwen's and Lex's backs. He grabbed his camera and slipped past his companions. He hustled in back of the counter and into the back room.
Spider Sense offered none of Danger's tingle….
Should be safe enough! He shut the door behind himself. He saw Miranda wearing dark tights and top. She strapped a leg dagger and sheath around her left thigh. He pulled off his own clothes. "You coming too?"
"I'm a fully trained ninja, Peter. I can deal with a few idiots. Get changed. I wish Jas were here. She could give us a lift. I'll let the Uncle know." She pulled her kitana onto her back. Hood and Mask concealed her face. She watched him pull Web Shooters, Gloves and Mask into place.
"That works." Spider-Man webbed his civies into a web ball. He shoved them behind some boxes. Reluctance held him back from outright agreement. He'd rather she'd stayed back. They had no idea of the goons' numbers or capabilities. Still, 'fully trained ninja' smacked of Shang Chi's, Iron Fist's and the Black Widow's respective capabilities. Still, he could tell she wouldn't hear anything like that. "Back way out?"
"After me." Miranda led him toward the loading dock's door. She pulled that door shut as well. "You know where it is? Three blocks straight east. One building over."
He lifted her up in his left arm. Web line shot toward the next building's wall. With a few running steps, he swung them off into the darkened night.
[Two Minutes Later]
Lex edged the door open. Caution urged him to peek out onto the darkened loading dock. "Where are they? Peter, I know where he went. Why would he take Miranda with him?" Liability forced a frown onto his face. He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I have no clue." Gwen slipped past him and onto the dock. Shots echoed several blocks. Then, Silence weighed down on their ears.
Confrontation, it seemed, had run its course….