20
The Press Conference
Mayor Lane holds a press conference. Somebody interrupts it. Dogboy heads off on a new adventure. Cindy surprises Mr. Horum.
A week later Mr. Horum, Cindy, and Bronson stood around the TV at The Old Curiosity Shop watching Mayor Lane’s press conference on WRDB. This was his fifth press conference since the 4th of July incident.
“We honor the passing of the three Colta City residents who lost their lives during the events of the July 4th incident. The city stands by the families of these victims in their time of grief. We have the man responsible in custody. Andrus, as he called himself, is still in critical condition at Colta City General. Rest assured that we are making every effort to discover his true identity. When and if he recovers we will prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law. You will know his name.”
Bronson practiced juggling three crystal balls Mr. Horum had loaned him. “Let him stay in that coma as far as I’m concerned,” he said.
Cindy scrunched up her nose. “What a jerk,” she said.
“My uncle?” Bronson asked. “Yeah.” Bronson dropped one of the crystal balls. It rolled under a shelf. He kneeled down to retrieve it.
“No, the mayor. First off he poisons a bunch of kids, gets off because they don’t have enough ‘evidence,’ he lets a bunch of slime balls who live down in the sewers or something—no offense—take over the park, and he still gets to stand in front of TV camera with a huge smile on his face. It isn’t fair.”
“I’m sure Mayor Lane’s not such a bad guy,” Bronson said.
A small crowd gathered in front of City Hall to watch Mayor Lane give his press conference.
“…while we all appreciate this Dogboy’s help, I must condemn his actions. Vigilanteism isn’t the answer to threats this criminal or his cult. We all owe a debt to the skilled Colta City Police Department. That’s who is really protecting the city. You can trust them. They answer to me.”
The crowd applauded. Mayor Lane waved. A large hovercraft descended from the sky. It came to a stop behind the mayor. The crew, a group of five teenagers in makeshift costumes, steadied themselves as the ship lowered to the stage. A tall boy with a silver streak through his hair walked to the edge of the hovercraft.
“Did you think we’d forget, you?” he said.
“Who are you? What is the meaning of this?” Mayor Lane snapped. Some policemen ran toward the stage. He just had to keep the kid talking for a minute.
“Name’s Coaxle, and we’re here for you, your honor.” The boy motioned to a girl toward the back with short blond hair and a leather jacket. “Material Girl, the mayor here could use a makeover.”
The girl took off her stonewashed jacket. She closed her eyes. The jacket glowed then morphed into a giant fishing net with some weights attached. Material Girl handed the net to Coaxle.
Coaxle swung the net around his head a few time then let it fly. It hit Mayor Lane, who fell back against the podium. The weights tangled themselves around his body.
Coaxle jumped down and tied up the trapped politician. The policemen ran at the stage. Coaxle touched his temples. Electricity, or something like it, arched out from both sides of his head and hit the policemen surrounding him. They cried out then fell to the ground. Coaxle loaded Mayor Lane into the hovercraft. “We’ll take care of this villain, folks. You can thank the—”
The roar of the hovercraft’s engines drowned him out as it soared into the air then disappeared behind the roof of City Hall.
“I know one of them,” Bronson said. “The electric guy. He taught me some stuff. But you can’t just kidnap the mayor.”
Bronson stepped into the back. He tossed Cindy a walkie talkie.
“You sure?” asked Cindy. “Maybe you should just let them go.”
“I’m going to try to help them fix this,” Bronson said. “If Axle isn’t careful he’s going to get all of them caught.”
Mr. Horum took a bag from under the counter and threw it back to Bronson, who took his mask out of it then slid the mask over his head.
Dogboy tied on his cape and checked his pockets. “Fresh box of Glimmers, Mr. Horum.” Mr. Horum pulled a crate off the shelf and tossed Dogboy a couple boxes.
“You no die, ok?” Mr. Horum said.
“You got it, Mr. Horum,” Dogboy said. He walked out the back door. A few seconds later Cindy ran out behind him, turned him around, lifted his mask, and gave him a kiss.
“How do you know these guys will even want your help?” Cindy asked.
“I don’t,” Dogboy said, “but if they don’t I’ll do what I have to.”
Dogboy pulled up a street grate near the back of the shop.
“Wait,” Cindy said.
“What?” Dogboy asked.
She held up her walkie talkie. “Keep it on Channel 3,” she said.
Dogboy waved then jumped down into the darkness. Cindy looked down into the tunnel. Dogboy wasn’t there, but a dull orange glow reflected off the water. Cindy watched it fade away to nothing.
She changed her walkie talkie to Channel 7.
“He’s coming,” Cindy said into the radio, “and you can’t let him know. Whatever happens don’t let Dogboy find out.”
“Done,” a voice responded.
Cindy switched the walkie talkie back to Channel 3.
“What Bronson can’t know?” said Mr. Horum. He stood in the doorway behind her.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Horum. It wasn’t anything to worry about. In his best interest for sure.” She reached out and touched his shoulder. “Did you say something about Bronson?”
“No, no. I ask you to come inside.” Mr. Horum headed back toward the door. “You have hearing problems?”
“Sorry, don’t know what’s going on with me lately. Forget I said anything,” she replied.
THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES IN “DANGER ON LIBERTY PIER” (LINK)
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