Major Daniels began the video, and they could see that there were shadows moving along the sidewalk and parks that someone could walk in and not be seen. This is shocking, said Major Daniels. I had no idea there was this much that we wouldnt see.
Not really, said Sergeant Garcia. Someone would have to be able to see these areas and stay in them. Which begs the question: how could anyone see the areas that arent covered when the cameras arent sending out a beam but just receiving light? These cameras are not like searchlights. They dont emit anything that someone can see.
That may be true, said Colonel Ortiz, but this hypothesis just feels right and explains partially how our Superman avoids detection.
What do you mean partially? John Sinclair asked.
I havent heard anyone explain how our Superman walked with Mr. Graham into his classroom without being seen.
Esa thought for a minute and said, You make a good point, Colonel, but I think that we all agree that what happened at the school and what happened here are probably connected, right? Everyone nodded. Okay, then the logical place to get our answers is at the school, so Ill see all of you at 7 a.m. at Bill Clinton. John, get in touch with Julie and make sure we have enough people and equipment to do interrogations.
Inspector Connor, Colonel Ortiz said, please keep in mind just how dangerous this person is. If you uncover this persons identity and attempt to prevent him from escaping, you just might have what he did to this team of well-trained criminals. I will order a platoon of armed naval marines to surround the school.
Thank you, Colonel. I hope we dont need your help, but I feel better knowing that its available.
John Sinclair looked at Esa and asked, Are you going to notify Director Nicole about what weve discovered?
Esa said, Absolutely, the director should know that we have someone that possibly has a high level of psychic skills. I am also going to notify the Special Forces Team about what weve found.
Colonel Ortiz asked, Do you think they can help us find him?
I dont know, Colonel, but those psychics should know more about finding him than anyone else. I suspect we can use the SFTs help.
They were about to leave when Major Daniels and Esa Connor noticed Miss Ash staring at Major Danielss display screen. She turned and said, Sergeant Garcia, will you come over here for just a moment? All six men stopped, turned, and immediately went back to look at the display screen. Sergeant Garcia, what color is the cover of the test booklet that was taken from the school?
Red, he said.
Major Daniels, will you move the view closer to the crystal glass directly behind the man sitting against the wall? The picture started moving in, and they could see that because he was leaning forward to hide his face it caused his shirt to ride up to the small of his back, which exposed his back pocket in a reflection on the crystal glass of the building. The video continued to move in and then they all saw it in the reflection. A folded booklet was sticking up out of his back pocket with a bright red cover.
Yes, you better be thankful, Esa, Major Daniels said, shaking his head. She would have been mine by morning.
Chapter 10
T he team of investigators split up and went to their floaters. Danielle Ash went to collect her medical materials so that she could turn her floater in to her former agency. Inspector Connor said, Miss Ash, may I speak with you for just a moment?
Danielle stopped what she was doing and stood up. She noticed that several medical teams were picking up the dead bodies for transfer as she walked back over to the inspector.
Miss Ash, I dont want you going with the team in the morning. Esa could see the disappointment in her face. Its not because I dont think you could help us, he said, but I have another assignment for you that I think would be more helpful to the investigation. How old are you, Miss Ash?
I just turned nineteen, Inspector Connor.
I think you could pass for a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old if you dressed the part, dont you?
Danielle knew that the people she worked with thought she was a lot younger than she was. She wore clothes to try and make herself look older but knew they didnt help much. Yes sir, I probably could. What do you have in mind?
Im worried that if this so-called Superman is really good at hiding then we might not find him. I want you to play the part of a transferee to the school. Ill arrange a background for you in which your parents were moved here because of a job change in the commercial banking division. Your first day will be tomorrow and youll go through the same questioning as all the other students. Maybe youll have to endure stronger measures such as multiple interrogations. I want you to tell anyone that will listen just how stupid it is to be interrogated when you just moved here.
After a day or so, if we dont find Superman, then well leave and see if you can turn up anything. I would suggest that you try to develop a relationship with the girl whose test booklet was taken. Theres got to be a reason why Superman went to all that trouble to steal it. Of course, this is a fallback plan providing we dont find him tomorrow, and I want you in place before we leave. If we find him then you leave the school and report to John Sinclair to begin your training as an associate investigator. However, if we dont, then I want you to report each evening to Inspector Sinclair and tell him what youve been able to uncover.
Where will I live while this is going on? asked Danielle.
Inspector Connor raised his communicator and said, Julie, I need you to set up something for me. I want you to find a living space north of where the crime took place tonight for Miss Ash. Im going to place her undercover as a transfer student.
How far north, Inspector? Julie asked.
No more than five miles. I know the person we were looking for was moving north from the school. Any further than that and he couldnt have made it home by daylight. I also want you to take two of our clerical people and have them pose as her parents, and theyll need to be the right age for a seventeen-year-old student. I want them in the apartment tonight, and I want pictures available for Miss Ash in her communicator to support her cover. Also get in touch with Dan Onda in commercial banking to support our cover story. There was a momentary pause, and then they heard, Ive found a living space and Ive ordered furniture to be delivered tonight. If you would have Miss Ash flash me her sizes I will have the appropriate wardrobe waiting for her, Julie said. Do you want her to have her own floater?
Yes, but Ill want her to use whatever transportation the students shes observing use until she develops a relationship.
It will be waiting for her at the living space.
Thank you, Julie.
I dont think Ive ever seen anyone that can make things happen that fast, said Danielle.
I think given time youll be just as efficient at what you do as she is in what she does, Miss Ash. You and she possess a lot of the same traits. I depend on her heavily and she doesnt disappoint me. He pressed a button on his communicator and said to Danielle, Im sending you her direct communicator code. Contact her and shell send you all the information you need to find your new living quarters. Also, just put all your equipment into your floater and Ill have your department come pick it up. You go straight to your new home.
Thank you, Inspector Connor. Im sorry that my good fortune comes as a result of what happened here tonight, but I promise you that Ill not disappoint you, either. Youll inform the rest of the team about my assignment before I arrive in the morning, wont you?
Heres the beautiful part, Miss Ash. I dont have to. Julie has already done it. See you in the morning. His communicator beeped.