The Scarlet Derby and Midnight Jay - Volume 1: Gallery of Rogues (7 page)

“I think not.” Calvin growled as he scooped The Derby up by the lapels and marched with him downstairs, taking the precaution of removing his belt of potions and leaving it on the staircase behind them.

The Jay made her way down to the first floor of the museum leaving the unconscious bodies of many of Calvin’s henchmen spread apart in several directions. She was sure she had The Tin Tuna beaten pretty soundly until she heard the call of “Hold!” from the staircase. Calvin walked triumphantly down, still holding The Scarlet Derby by the lapels and one of his katana blades at his neck. “I’m sure that, being a hero and all, you know exactly how this little scenario plays out.”

“Don’t give in, Jay!” The Derby strangled to say “Think of what Master Crane would have done!”

The Jay gave a groan. “I really wish you hadn’t said that, dear.”

“Now be a good little girl and bring me that bust of Cleopatra.” Calvin slyly intoned. The Jay slowly moved backwards towards the case, and smashed the glass with her umbrella. Scooping up Cleopatra by the back of her head, she placed her gem in the statue’s left eye and held it out for Calvin. “Here you are. Now drop The Derby.”

“Gladly…” Calvin dropped The Derby in a heap on the floor and took the bust from The Jay’s hands. He chortled, pulling the other Eye of Cleopatra from a bag dangling from his neck, and placing it in the right eye of the sculpture.

“At last, after years of struggling against the forces of law and fairness, the riches within this ancient sculpture are finally mine!” Calvin excitedly swung open the hinged face of the bust. Suddenly, He was sprayed by a white, powdery smoke. He coughed, and then began to cough harder and harder, doubling forward on all fours. He yanked the metal mask from his face, gasping for air, until he finally doubled over in front of the two heroes.

“What!? What just? How?” The Jay looked stunned and speechless, which made the still fractured Derby chuckle a little.

“That’s one good thing about the ancient Egyptians: they know their way around a booby trap.” The Derby reached over and picked up the head. After examining it for a moment, he took out a folded piece of paper and opened it. Then he handed it over to The Jay. “It’s for you…”

The Jay took the letter, and started to read:

Mary Jane,

If you’re reading this letter I would like to congratulate you on finally solving the case. I had learned that you were sneaking out at night against the wishes of your parents, and I managed to lure Calvin into where I suspected you’d be hiding the night of the heist. I had planted the smoke trap in order to incapacitate him and leave him for capture the day he’d attempt to come back for what was hidden inside Cleopatra’s statue.

I just want to let you know, that I did not decide to leave because I had failed to subdue Calvin the first time. I left because I knew that the little girl of fourteen who was in my care had grown into a fine young woman. You’ve learned all that I’ve been able to teach you, so the time had come for me to move on. I know you have within you all the strength and wisdom to protect your family’s fortune, and perhaps do even more. You will know for now, and into the future, that you are the greatest thing I’ve ever achieved in my long career as a master of martial arts. As long as I live, I will always be proud of you.

With much love,

Master Crane of Te Rah Ning

P.S. The gems are buried under the largest rose bush in the garden.

“So, what did the Master tell you? All good things, I hope.” The Derby said idly as he finally clamored back onto his feet.

“Oh, never mind, dear.” She said as she dabbed the warm, happy, tears forming under her mask.

O O O

The next morning, Chief Constable O’Gratin gave a knock at the front door of the home of Thaddeus Hedwater and his wife Mary Jane. Mary Jane was the one to come to the door, looking a little weary despite being fully dressed and with her hair placed just right. “Oh, good morning Constable.”

“Good morning, Mary Jane.” The Constable cleared his throat, and then continued “I had heard from The Scarlet Derby and Midnight Jay that your home was broken into last night. Is everything okay?”

“Oh, everything is fine.” Mary Jane dismissed. “Nothing was taken except for the gem that I’m sure the heroes have already recovered.”

“Indeed.” The Constable poked his head sideways in the doorway. “You wouldn’t mind if I still had a look around to be sure?”

“I’m afraid I can’t let you do that,” Mary Jane stammered, holding herself between the door and the Constable’s wandering gaze. “Uh, it’s just that, Thaddeus woke up this morning feeling very ill, and I wouldn’t want you to catch it as well.”

“I see, well. I wouldn’t want to impose on Thaddeus if that were the case.” The Constable tipped his hat, and began to move away from the door.

“Wait,” Mary Jane held out her hand, stopping The Constable’s retreat for a moment. “I have something for you: The Scarlet Derby and Midnight Jay left this along with a note, saying that it was a means to clear some old family business.”

She handed the Constable a small burlap pouch. The Constable opened the pouch and gave an audible gasp, shutting it again. “Oh my lands! These are the missing gemstones from Cleopatra’s bust!”

Mary Jane gave an affirming nod. “I’m sure that would be enough to make up for the loss of The Eye of Cleopatra so many years ago.”

“Oh it does, it does! I’d best run this back to the police station. Please tell Thaddeus to get well soon.” And with that, The Constable was on his way to police headquarters holding the resolution to an ancient cold case in his hot little hands.

Mary Jane grinned and ducked back behind the door. She picked up the silver tray she was preparing when The Constable came to the door, and took it the rest of the way up stairs. Thaddeus was lying in bed, his chest and arms covered in bandages from the fall he’d taken in the museum. He grinned as he pushed himself up into a seated position, ready to accept what she had prepared.

“Are you feeling any better?” Mary Jane asked drolly.

“Sure, now I feel only slightly like I’ve been run over by a carriage.” Thaddeus said as he scooped sugar from a spoon into his tea. “There’s something I do need to ask you though.”

“What’s that?” Mary Jane raised an eyebrow.

Thaddeus inhaled, as though bracing himself for another trip down a staircase, and then he breathed “Do you regret our getting married so quickly?”

Mary Jane stood there for a few moments, completely stunned. She gave a weary groan and droned. “You find the most awful time to pick these fights, dear.”

“It’s for logistical purposes. If you ever wanted to walk away, my being unable to move would be an appropriate time.” Thaddeus grinned and played with the crumpet on the tray. “I simply reasoned that since I seem to be unable to memorize one-hundred fencing maneuvers, and I rely too much on my gadgets, and that little stunt with the nitroglycerin bomb could have gotten us both killed…”

Mary Jane gave an exasperated sigh. “Thaddeus, I wasn’t expecting Calvin to show up at our door with a pack of martial artist zealots. If you’d respected my wishes, and left me to fight this alone, I would have been killed myself.”

Thaddeus’ smile morphed from smugness to a sudden look of remorse. He looked down and folded his hands instead of continuing to play with his food. Mary Jane walked to the corner of the bed and sat, wrapping an arm around a long bedpost.

“You’re not the only fool in this relationship.” Mary Jane continued. “In my youth, my parents were always gallivanting off to some important social function. So much that I never even really knew who they were. In their place I had Master Crane, who trained me until I was able to defend against the whole cruel world on my own. Since the very night I chose to become the Midnight Jay, I’ve been alone. The lesson I need to learn most of all is that with you, I’m not alone any longer.”

Thaddeus, his expression unchanged, nodded sagely. “Yes, well, that is exactly what I thought you would say.” He made an oddly smug face and took a dart of a sip from his tea cup.

Mary Jane laughed, and nudged her husband to the left of the bed, sitting beside him. “Make me a bit of room, dear, and do pour me a cup of that tea…”

MAESTRO BELLACO

The mighty Thames River, reaching over two-hundred thirty-six miles long, is the longest river in all of England. It channels across the whole of England crossing many of its cities, including London. It is an essential body of water, supplying a boundary and transport through several cities, as well as a marshland that provides home for most of England’s native flora and fauna. To its citizens, The River Thames is a source for waterside entertainment. It has kindled the country’s love for the sports of rowing, sailing, and kayaking.

It was on one fateful weekend at this famed waterside that we found Thaddeus Hedwater and his wife, Mary Jane, enjoying a relaxing private moment. In their identities as secret defenders of the city, The Scarlet Derby and Midnight Jay, they had experienced many daring trials at the hands of London’s many villains. But with those affairs in order, the duo were happy to take a respite at this most famed of London’s natural wonders.

“Ah, it is an uncharacteristically beautiful afternoon,” Thaddeus sighed as he dipped his fishing rod into the edge of the river, “not a drop of rain to be seen.”

“Certainly dear, and there’s a thousand different water sports you could attempt, though you wish to spend this weekend attempting to fish in the middle of the city.” Mary Jane shook her head. She knelt, opening her picnic basket and setting a pair of plates on a nearby blanket. “You know, we Londoners only just got done using the Thames as an open sewer.”

“You obviously don’t know much about fishing,” Thaddeus said haughtily “I used to do the exact same thing in the East River back in New York. You see, catching a fish where there are lots of fish is child’s play. Catching a fish where there’s just a few fish is a true measure of skill.”

“So, how many fish did you catch in your home, dear?” Mary Jane asked drolly.

“Oh, just about none.” Thaddeus sighed. “Wait a minute, I see something!” Without warning, Thaddeus made a perfect swan dive into the river emerging a minute later and shouted. “I’ve got something, Mary Jane, I’ve got something!”

“You’ve got a lot of trouble if someone finds you swimming in the river!” Mary Jane stood and walked to the river, where she could get a closer look at her husband making a spectacle of himself.

Thaddeus stepped up onto the shore, triumphantly holding a large fish in both his arms. “See! I told you I’d catch a fish!”

“You’re a regular grizzly bear, dear,” Mary Jane said dully as she continued to set out their picnic.

“Looks like some sort of halibut,” Thaddeus peered inside the fish after lowering its lip with his finger. “Suppose you come down here and give me a kiss for the halibut?” He grinned.

“No thanks, dear, I have a haddock,” Mary Jane rolled her eyes, visibly losing patience at all this silliness. “Are you coming up to eat?”

“Wait a second,” Thaddeus looked down at the shore just behind his soaked shoes and socks. On the surface of the water, several fish floated past the water and onto the surface, all of them dead. “This is peculiar. The river must be somehow polluted.”

“I could have told you that,” Mary Jane sighed. “Come along, now. No more of this fish nonsense.”

Thaddeus emerged from the river, holding several of the dead fish in his arms with several more crammed deep into his pockets. “I’m going to need to take these to the lab for testing!”

Mary Jane simply rolled her eyes and began packing up her picnic supplies.

O O O

Back in the lab, Thaddeus busied himself over a dissected fish, trying to discover the cause of its death. Wearing a monocle attached to a lever, attached to the center of a brown leather headband, he placed the fish under a dish-sized magnifying glass, magnifying his subject a thousand times. After an intensive search, Thaddeus extracted a sample of strange fluid from the internal organs of the fish, painting it onto the surface of a rectangular glass. “Fascinating.”

“What did you find?” Mary Jane asked as she leaned against a wall of the lab.

“I’ve never seen a substance like this. It has properties of petroleum and lead. The same as crude oil, only more refined.”

“So, someone is attempting to poison the wildlife by tossing refined oil into the river?”

“No, that doesn’t make sense. A compound like this would be too valuable just to throw away.” Thaddeus suddenly lit a match and tossed it over the rectangular cell. A flame and a puff of smoke rose from the glass. “It’s highly flammable, at least as much as a fragment of coal. Perhaps it’s a type of fuel.”

“A fuel,” Mary Jane blinked, “So then it’s being used to power some machine?”

“Indeed. The question is: what kind of machine?”

It was then that Mary Jane took a sideways glance at the grandfather clock in her husband’s lab. She jumped forward, away from the wall. “Oh gosh, is that the time?”

“Accurate to the very millisecond, dear,” Thaddeus replied, as he still focused on analyzing the substance before him. “Why do you ask?”

“I nearly forgot there is a benefit social in an hour that I absolutely must be at.” Mary Jane spun around, lifting her housedress as she carried herself up the steps to the foyer. Halfway, she stopped and turned back to her husband. “Do you care to join me?”

“So I may stand around your hoity-toity rich friends and be reminded through the night about how I am completely unworthy of you? I think not. I’m going to suit up and start investigating this occurrence. The sooner I can figure out where this substance is coming from, the sooner I can put a stop to this.”

“Suit yourself dear,” Mary Jane ran up to her bedroom to change into a more formal dress. She spent her very dwindling time buttoning the many fasteners across her neck and chest. She thought perhaps it’d be helpful to hire a maid for dressing. She could certainly afford it, but it’d be impossible for her to keep her ‘little secret’ with some hired help snooping about.

Dressed to her satisfaction, she stepped out on the street where she hailed a carriage to take her onto the event.