Counterstrike
Chapter7 of The Blue S
Rather than cool her jets in Perry's office, Supergirl arrived early to touch base with Clark. Inspector Henderson had thoughtfully provided some portable radios so she wouldn't be chained to the Planet.
At his desk, Clark examined them. "I'll let you know the instant a call comes in. But there's something about this impostor that doesn't feel right."
Kara sat cross-legged on the sofa, looked at him askance. "You're thinking she might not be working for the Chiller." Blue eyes narrowed. "CIA, then. It seems I have a lot of people mad at me."
Clark knew what happened when she was pushed too far. "When she's caught, we'll have to move quickly to get answers. But I know that look, Kara. Don't rush out and pulverize CIA headquarters. This woman is obviously highly trained. Catching her is just the opening gambit; she can do a lot of harm between now and then."
"When I want to," Kara countered, "I can cause accidents too."
"I'm sure you have," Clark said, "in working with these people." As if the Chiller wasn't enough of a problem. Just then, the phone rang. "Kent speaking." Eyes round, he motioned Kara over. "Yes, she's hear. Go ahead, Coombs."
"Some guy called and said Supergirl was gonna hit one of the bosses at three-eleven Ridgeway." Kara quickly paged through a street atlas. "It happens at nine-fifteen. Benny and me can get there in fifteen minutes."
"Supergirl," Clark said, "can do it in fifteen seconds. Thanks for the call, Coombs." He hung up.
"We're on." Kara headed for the storeroom with its open window, which now had two caped figures regularly jumping out. At eight-thirty, the city was well awake, the streets thronged with vehicles. She banked east, high enough to avoid being seen by any watchers in the tallest buildings.
The residence was a duplex at the fringe of the industrial district, looking like a converted warehouse. Construction was going on at a nearby boat yard. A pile driver kept up a noisy ramming—perfect cover for anyone wanting to sneak into the area. Like a certain red-suited minx who settled atop a higher rooftop adjacent to the target. From there, Kara swept the compound with X-rays, revealing a man downstairs. That could complicate things for the impostor; or it could offer a sinister new escalation. For the first time, a death would be pinned on Supergirl.
Her mental chronometer said it was nine o'clock when a city maintenance vehicle approached from a rarely used road down at the railroad tracks. It pulled into the back courtyard and parked close to the back door. A figure in blue coveralls and cap got out, having a decidedly feminine figure. She carried a tool box to the door, then set about defeating the lock. It took only seconds.
Across the front street, a car pulled in containing Jesse and Benny, the Blaze reporters who'd phoned in the tip. It was almost show time. Kara flew down and wrenched off the van's driver-side door. To the open-mouthed driver, she said, "Hello there. I want you to leave. And don't come back." With a vigorous nod, he started up the engine and peeled out.
He was probably a hired stooge who would end up dead, Kara thought as the crept into the house. She had momentarily lost sight of the woman after seeing her deposit the tool box next to a gas water heater, a tactic guaranteed to ensure a fine fire. Kara scanned it for booby traps, then opened it and broke the wires. The timer stopped at fifty-eight seconds.
X-ray vision showed the impostor had quickly doffed the coveralls, now wearing a Supergirl costume. She went out the front. A man sat bound and gagged against his couch. She was good, this one. Fast and efficient.
Lacking time to free the occupant, Kara tugged down his gag.
He stared angrily at her costume. "How many of you nutty dames are there?" Thirty seconds remained before the impostor expected to hear an explosion.
Kara ignored that. "Didn't Romo call and warn you?"
"Oh sure! He said we was all going down one by one, 'til he was the only boss left!"
What was the impostor's surprise to see the real thing walk out the front door. She tried to run, but Kara flew over and grabbed her cape collar, lifting her aloft toward a large dumpster. The girl came up with a greenish stone—kryptonite-was surprised when nothing happened. Kara had wisely kept her immunity secret from her former associates. They had gone to great lengths to assure their agent's ability to escape.
Kara snatched the kryptonite. "Really, CIA? This is too much!" She dropped the phony into the dumpster amid a variety of construction debris, no worse for the wear. A number of workers trotted over to investigate.
Benny was still snapping away, capturing a fine still of Supergirl hovering against overcast in front of a watery sun. He rushed to greet her upon landing. "I got it, I got it! Pulitzer, here we come!"
Kara kept an eye on the dumpster. Inside, the other was dusting herself off.
Now it was Jesse's turn to take a victory lap as sirens became audible. Good old Clark. "Benny, stay here and cover the arrest. Gimme that film pack!"
His partner complied, loading another. "Where are you going?"
The impostor dangled arms over the side, looking quite unwilling to brave the mob of men around the dumpster.
"If Supergirl is okay with it, she can give me a quick lift to the Blaze. This place is about to swarm with cops and reporters." Jesse had to look up slightly at her; she must be about five-eight.
She turned a last glance at the other, satisfied that escape was impossible. "All right, Mr Coombs, you may have your fifteen minutes of fame. Put your arm around me." Kara reached under his right arm and lifted off, keeping to about twice the height of trees as police cars raced in, lights and sirens going.
"Wow!" Aside from that, it took Jesse time to gather his wits in the whuff of onrushing air.
"Wait a minute—are you sure we're headed for the Blaze?"
"I'm allowing for Earth's counterclockwise spin. The building will meet us when we arrive."
"Oh. Well, you're the pilot!"
Shortly, Supergirl set him down on the street outside the Blaze, causing a minor sensation. Jesse gave them all a jaunty wave, dashed inside with his prize.
Later that evening, Perry White gripped the latest from the Blaze, reading the blaring headline. "Supergirl Nails Impostor!" He let it drop onto his desk. "This edition just broke all records for sales in a single day, with a little help. How could you do it, Supergirl?"
"As police will tell you, we can all use some help from the public. They came through."
"Then you aren't jumping ship?"
Lois put a hand on Kara's shoulder. "Oh, Chief, it isn't like she works for the Planet. And she did let Jimmy take a picture for another story." She beckoned the cub reporter, who presented a glossy still. It showed a terrified gangster dangling from Supergirl's grip as she came in to land.
"That's Rocko Romo," Perry said. "I thought you had a deal with him, Supergirl."
"He betrayed me. I asked if he'd ever wondered what it was like to fly."
"And then," Jimmy said with appropriate hand motion, "she gave him a roller coaster ride through the clouds!" Both he and Lois laughed.
Looking at it again, Perry grimaced. "I wonder the guy didn't have a heart attack!"
Clark rose from the sofa by the tall window slats. "As for the body double, Superman got permission to move her to a secure place for questioning. The inspector is trying to get approval to use truth drug. If I may have a word with Kara—"
Lois rolled eyes. "Him and his skulduggery."
At the window, Kara spoke before Clark could. "You think I didn't spot Superman atop one of those buildings?"
"About that." He pushed at his glasses. "I wanted to make sure there wasn't a professional hit on the police convoy, by people who wanted their agent back. Or dead."
Kara made a slight head tilt. "And there's a problem getting the drug."
"Exactly. Henderson thinks it's the same people who are shielding the Chiller from justice."
"What's our plan?"
"Hey, lady, you're the one who's mixed up with the CIA." Clark took a minute to ponder.
"Let's do this, Kara. We'll both go to Henderson in costume and lean on him a little."
With a nod, Kara turned to go, but Lois wasn't done playing. She steered Kara in front of Perry.
"Chief, I'm sure Supergirl wouldn't mind flying you a few laps around the building. She has to be in a good mood after catching that phony."
Kara raised for him an inquisitive brow.
Perry went ashen. "Great Caesar's ghost . . ."
End chapter 7