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Post by dave on Aug 22, 2017 0:31:51 GMT
* Note this is a story I did a few years back. I have edited it and submit for your reading enjoyment:
Larry Lance in Memories
Times Past;
Opal City Sunday August 8th 1965
It was a dark room with only one lit bulb hanging over the only furniture in the room. He was sitting in an uncomfortable wooden chair next to a table. On the table were a shot glass and half empty bottle of cheap scotch. Also on the table was the small bundle he had brought in. He was told not to wear what was in the bundle. He didn’t drink any of the cheap whiskey and almost hoped his perspective employer tried to rob him of his precious bundle. A few criminals currently residing in Keystone’s Potter’s Field had made the mistake of thinking he could only use the weapon in the bundle while he was wearing it.
He was a thin balding man with gray hair at the temples. He had a small pencil thin mustache that was years out of fashion, as out of fashion longer than the faded green business suit he was wearing. It was the very same suit he was wearing when he went to prison the last time. He was out on parole before he skipped out of Keystone City the day left prison. Now the authorities were after him. Worse, he heard through the grapevine the Flash was on the lookout for him.
He needed a job, a job he could do on the Q.T. if he didn’t want the Flash or any other damned JSAer after him. If he was able to get some money together he could put together his own criminal enterprises. But he needed cash to get started. That was why he was here in Opal City. An old foe of Starman wanted revenge. The bald man had never even met Starman so he wouldn’t be on the list of suspects if the hero’s old foe had him do what he suspected the villain wanted him to do. It wouldn’t be anything personal – like the mob said: it would be business.
The door he came in from opened and a big burly unkempt man with black hair walked through. He was wearing a brown trench coat with multiple food stains splotched in various places. The stub of a cigar was in his big calloused right hand. The brute looked at the fugitive from Keystone City and sniffed. He went past the man sitting in the room and went over to the wall.
The wall must have had a secret door because the wall where the man was standing suddenly slid over to the left. “Da boss ‘ill see ya now’ the brute said.
The smaller man stood up and grabbed his bundle.
“Leave dat” warned the big tough as reached inside his coat.
The smaller man from Keystone city said “I don’t think so. I have a much better idea. Why don’t you have a seat and drink the rest of the scotch while I go talk to your employer.”
The big man’s eyes glossed over and he took the seat and began to drink while the smaller man opened his bundle and took out a strange metal devise that resembled a colander with wires. The man put it on his head as he walked through opening in the wall.
Memories
Chapter 2
Times Past;
Opal City Sunday August 8th 1965
He wandered down an unlit hall way for a ten paces (He measured it exactly in case he needed a quick getaway). A door on the right opened on its own volition and a thin raspy voice said “Come in Mister DeVoe.”
The Thinker smiled to himself as he entered the room which lit up into an almost unbearable light when he did. He was blinded. Now he was angry, but he knew enough that his anger was masking his fear. He searched out for human minds in the range of his Thinking cap and found only one. He winced at the strength of the intellect behind the mind. It was very seldom that he felt that much power in a human mind. He involuntarily swallowed at the thought that he was dealing with something inhuman.
The mind seemed to comprehend the Thinker’s discomfort because the lights began to dim even as the man who owned the thin raspy voice said “relax Mr. DeVoe I do not wish to cause you any harm. This was only a test. I wanted to see how you handled my man Bullock. I am the Light.”
The Thinker was raised Presbyterian, he smiled as he quipped “You don’t look like Jesus to me.”
The Light returned the Thinker’s smile. “I am not. I am the greatest criminal scientist this world has ever seen.”
“Yes” said the Thinker, “But you disappeared back in the 40’s after a couple of run-ins with Starman.”
“Yes…Star Man” the old scientist spat. “He’s the one man who stopped my plans for world conquest.”
DeVoe didn’t care where the Light had been for all these years. He wanted to do whatever the Light wanted him to do now – for the right price. “I take it you want revenge on Starman” he proffered.
“Very good Mister DeVoe, very good indeed; I do want revenge on Starman. But probably not in the way you are thinking.”
“So you don’t want him dead then.”
“No I want him to suffer.”
“What’s this got to do with me?”
“That depends on the abilities of your Thinking Cap. Have you read the papers?” asked the Light.
“Yes” said an intrigued Thinker.
“Are you aware then the Starman recently teamed up with a fellow member of the Justice Society of America to defeat the Mist?”
The Thinker nodded yes.
“Well I’ve made arrangements so that a couple of old members of the Injustice Society are going to be in Federal City. Once there they will rob a function guarded by the Lance Security firm.”
“So’ said a totally bewildered Clifford Defoe.
“The Lance Security Company is owned and operated by Larry Lance. Back in the 1940’s Larry Lance was a private detective who often was involved in cases with the Black Canary. There is a relationship between the two. I am also making arrangements that Mr. Lance will have remain in Gotham City but I’m certain that his old friend Black Canary will be in Federal City to watch over things.”
“You’re not telling me everything Light”
“No I am not. I am only telling you what you need to know.”
Clifford DeVoe shrugged his shoulders as he said “Okay.”
“I happen to know that Star Man will be in Federal City at the same time.”
“So what do you need me for if you already have two former members of the Injustice Society set up to bump off Star Man and Black Canary?”
Memories
Chapter 3
Times Past;
Opal City Sunday August 8th 1965
The Light laughed at the Thinker’s question. He laughed so hard he began to cough spasmodically. It took a good five minutes before the Light answered the Thinker’s question.
“I don’t believe there is any possibility that the Sportsmaster and Huntress will able to beat Star Man and the Black Canary. My revenge has nothing to do with Star Man’s physical defeat. He is such a moral righteous sod. I want to corrupt him.”
Thinker stared at the Light for a moment. “So what do you want me to do?”
“Use your Thinking Cap to induce Starman and the Black Canary to have an affair. I have reasons to believe that if that smug self-righteous buffoon could be driven to the true depths of despair if committed such committed such a small trivial sin. Trust me on this Mister DeVoe.”
The Thinker remained silent as he highly doubted that the sanity of Starman or any other costumed do-gooder was so precarious; but he did wonder about his perspective employer’s. “There’s a problem with your plan Light. I can’t make Star Man and Black Canary have an affair. I can nudge them along if their predisposed to having one. Like making your man by the door have a drink. He wanted one in the first place. It’s similar to hypnosis. I can’t make a basically honest man rob a bank.” Not yet the Thinker added thought to himself.
The Light frowned at that piece of information. He was quiet for several minutes in contemplation before he asked “Could plant false memories in our stalwart heroes? If they resisted your attempt to nudge them into each other’s arms?”
The Thinker thought it over for “Yes…Yes I might be able do that.”
“Well then let’s discuss the details of the plan then” said the Light with malicious glee.
Defoe said “Let’s discuss payment first. Five gees a piece.”
“Ah Mr. DeVoe you’re not killing them, why such a high price?”
“If this were a contract to kill them my price would be twice as high. As it is I’m already wanted by the Flash and law enforcement. I’m putting myself in harm’s way Light.
“Half now and half later; is that acceptable to you Mr DeVoe?
The Thinker shook his head in agreement and the two villains discussed the details of the plan.
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Post by dave on Aug 22, 2017 0:34:18 GMT
Chapter 4
Times past
Memories
Gotham City Monday September 13th 1965
Larry Lance’s secretary, Stella was holding all her bosses calls. Several of his men wanted to talk to him about upcoming security details or insurance cases they were working on but the Boss was adamant that he would take no calls today. Inside his office Larry Lance was looking over a set of photographs that someone had dropped off at his and his wife’s apartment Saturday morning. When he first saw the pictures he felt like someone had stabbed in this heart.
He’d been private detective long enough and worked enough cases involving cheating couples to know that the spouse was always the last to know. Still he was puzzled. He loved his wife. He had planned an elaborate surprise wedding anniversary celebration for that night before the pictures came. He kept quiet and proceeded with his surprise celebration. During their evening together she confessed to him about an affair with Ted Knight. Dinah swore she would never see Knight again.
Larry lit another cigarette as he drank his coffee. They were his two vices; they were also tools he used to clear his mind. Something was bothering him; something that kept eluding his consciousness. He was emotionally hurt and exhausted. Dinah went back to her flower shop today and he went back to the office. It wasn’t like they were going to ignore what had happened but they weren’t going keep rehashing it to the point where they would end as a couple either. He scolded himself to stop thinking about the past weekend. But he could not.
He went over into his office’s private bathroom and turned on the cold water. He splashed the water on his face. The thing that was bothering him came roaring up into the forefront of his mind. “Lance, you’re getting soft in the head” he said to himself as he sat back down. He buzzed his secretary and said Stella could you please bring me in another cup of coffee.”
“Yes Mister Lance, do you still want me to hold your calls?” asked the Stella
“Yes and cancel all my appointment for the next week. I’ve got a very important case I’m working on. Tell Mike he’s in charge for the next two maybe three weeks.”
He put the photos back in their envelope until Stella had come and gone. He took a sip of his coffee as he took the photos out again. It was an envelope whose contents his wife believed he destroyed. He took out the pictures and looked hard and long at them with the objective eye of a trained detective. He opened up his desk and took out the magnifying glass and pored over the photos even as he lit another cigarette.
Larry smiled very grim but satisfied smile as finished his coffee. Something was wrong with his wife, something very, very wrong. He knew that when she confessed to him. First he chalked it up to guilt and shame. Now he knew it was something else altogether. Dinah lived in a world of super heroes, and super villains - people who could do all sorts of incredible things.
Dinah didn’t have any super powers though, she was a hellcat of a fighter and a better detective than he was; she fought crime as the Black Canary. Larry was a former Gotham City Police Detective and the last partner of Richard Drake, a legendary detective on Gotham’s force and Dinah’s father. Larry quit the force in the late 40’s and became a private detective. He and Dinah married in 1953. In the ten years since then he built his little one man detective agency to something that rivaled the biggest and best large scale private security and private investigation agencies in the nation.
Whoever was behind these photos messed with his wife’s mind also screwed with his. Only difference was they didn’t change his memory. Him they gave a set of photographs and said “here sucker.” Larry Lance was a detective, one of the best in the business. He knew he would have spotted the perpetrators mistake sooner if he hadn’t really felt guilty about neglecting his wife. If he hadn’t deep down had a fear that perhaps one say she would leave him for one of the costumed heroes she palled around with in the JSA. Now he knew that someone somehow had caused his wife to think she had an affair. He kicked himself because he had been all too ready to believe it.
He picked up the offending photos and put them back into the envelope. He stood and stretched before going over to the wall safe. He opened up the safe he put the envelope in the safe and took his .38 police special and holster. He hadn’t worn a gun in a long time. Not since he became an executive. He spent the rest of the morning cleaning his gun. In the afternoon he was going to go see Dom, the Parrot, Parottezzi. A local photographer known to have made dirty pictures with models in the same costumes that the super heroes and villains wore.
Chapter 5
Times past
Memories
Gotham City Monday September 13th 1965
Dominic Parottezzi, AKA Dom the Parrot got his nickname because he was bald and his nose resembled a parrot’s beak. Add Dom’s last name and you have a perfectly apt nickname. Dom, the Parrot, Parottezzi owned a little photographer’s studio over in the east side of Gotham City. He took family portraits and had a contract with the school system to take the pictures of twenty of Gotham City graded schools classes. Today he was a legitimate small business man. Seven years ago he took more unsavory pictures. Dirty pictures some people called them, others said it there were harmless. They weren’t harmless for one of Dom the Parrot’s models back in 1957.
He had made the mistake of having one of his models dress up as the Catwoman in a photo spread with a man he put in white make up and a green wig. Dom’s photos were never sold in a large quantity but somehow the Joker had heard about this photo set The Joker didn’t see the fun in the photos; he wanted to kill all involved. The male model Toby Martin was killed and rumor had it that the Joker did it.
Dom the Parrot was extremely grateful to Robin who captured the Clown Price of Crime that time. But Robin wasn’t happy about the pictures Dom the Parrot was taking on the side. He threatened to let the Joker know who made the photos if Dom didn’t retire from the business. A grateful Dom the Parrot never took another dirty picture.
Larry Lance knew Dom the Parrot from back in 1954 when a former model of Dom’s was being blackmailed. The woman had since become a respectable house wife but someone was using Dom’s old photos of the woman as blackmail. The poor woman was dressed as Wonder Woman in the pictures. Larry investigation eventually led him to Dom the Parrot, who was innocent of any blackmail. Later Dom, the Parrot helped Larry learn about the ins and outs of photography. He also helped Larry on a few cases.
Larry knew that Dom would have to see the photos so he had them in his coat pocket, right next to the .38 in his shoulder holster. Larry took a cab to Dom’s studio. He made sure no one was following him. He guessed that whoever was behind the photos didn’t see him as a threat. Probably didn’t even think Larry would figure out the ruse behind his scheme. Not that Larry knew the motive behind the man’s plan. He just knew it caused heartache for him and his wife. Part of him thought he should tell Dinah what he had found out. But another part, the protective male part, the part that sometimes felt small in the light of all that his wife accomplished as Black Canary wanted to solve this case on his own. Whoever did this underestimates me thought Larry and that gives me an advantage. Besides the dirt bag that did this has made it personnel.
Dom the Parrot’s shop was in a quiet little neighborhood on the East side. His studio was on the fourth floor of an old brownstone. Jeesh I’m outta Shape thought Larry as he climbed the last of the stairs. He went over to Dom’s studio and knocked. A moment later a small bald man opened the door a smile came to his face when he saw his old friend Larry Lance. “Larry! What a surprise. You should a called” he said.
“Why Dom, would you have baked me a cake?” said Larry.
Dom laughed, “So why does a big shot from up town want with me. Need to discuss some new fancy security cameras?”
“Ah no, were still using the last ones you recommended Dom.”
“Good, ‘cause I don’t of know any better.”
“Actually” Larry coughed self-consciously “Dom I’m here because of another matter. You know I keep you on retainer for your knowledge in photography…well um…I”
“What is it Larry?”
Larry swallowed and said “Dom I can’t pay you anything for this information.”
Dom shrugged “That’s all right Larry I still haven’t spent the finder’s fee you paid me the advice on the security cameras.”
“Dom I’m working a case that involves masks.”
“Not…not the Jo…Joker” stammered Dom who lived in terror whenever the Clown Price of Crime escaped the asylum.
“No, not him, but I don’t know who yet and it might be dangerous for you. But I need confirmation that a set of photographs I have here are fakes.
Dom the Parrot turned from his friend. Dom was not a brave man. He wasn’t a craven coward either but one did not go into the cross-hairs of a mask; especially the villainous ones. “Larry what have you got yourself involved with.”
“Don’t know yet Dom” Larry said as he took out the envelope with the photographs.
Half an hour Larry left Dom the Parrot’s studio a lot happier than when he went in. He now realized that a part of him doubted the mistake he had seen in the photographs, but Dom independently found the exact same mistake that Larry did. The photos were definitely forged -f akes through and through. Yet for some reason Dinah believed they were true.
He was going to have to tread very carefully with Dinah. Someone was playing with her mind and he didn’t think he could or should confide in her. But he knew he had to speak to someone about this. Somebody in the JSA, somebody who could keep a confidence, someone who if approached the right way would have no choice.
Larry walked while he pondered his dilemma still making certain that he wasn’t followed. He then hailed a cab as the answer came to him. First though he’d make good on his promise to pay more attention to his wife. He had the cab go to his wife’s flower shop.
Chapter 6
Times past
Memories
Gotham City Tuesday September 14th 1965
Larry Lance was now even more concerned about his wife than he was before. He had stopped in Dinah’s flower shop yesterday afternoon with a couple of cannoli from the local Italian bakery and Dinah didn’t notice he was wearing his gun. She had been so happy when his company had gotten so large that he didn’t need to carry it. Larry had made up a good excuse for having on but it never came up in their conversation.
He knew she didn’t notice it was there. That scared him. As Black Canary she had to know who was carrying concealed weapon. Dinah major concern was that he was at the shop checking up on her. He was but not because he was jealous. He told her he was there because he had just had lunch with a perspective new client and was in the neighborhood “besides” he added “I promised I’d spend more time with you. They hugged and even then Dinah did not notice the gun. She should have, anyone should have. Now he knew her mind was more messed up than he first thought.
He left for work after Dinah did and checked their apartment for bugs –hidden microphones- on a hunch. He found one on their phone and several others placed in every room. He did not disable them. His knowing they were there gave him an edge.
He took the subway into work but exited it three stops before he normally did. He still made sure he wasn’t followed. He went over to a local bank and got a roll of quarters. From there he went to a telephone booth and called a Doctor in New York City.
A deep resonant voice that seemed to calm anyone who ever heard it answered “Hello.”
“Charles, this is Larry, Larry Lance”
“Larry good to hear from you. What’s up, planning a surprise anniversary surprise party on Dinah?
Larry smiled at how Charles always had the important dates in his friends lives memorized. He was such a kind and considerate man. “No Charles, this is business, is there any chance you could come to Gotham this week. I’ve just got done with a case that could be an interesting plot for your next mystery novel. It involves a murder committed with pesticide.” Larry hope to hell that Charles caught his hint and didn’t asked too many questions because there was now a possibility that all the JSA members homes were bugged.
Charles McNider was perplexed; he knew Larry wouldn’t be beating around the bush in this way. He started to say something and hesitated a moment. Larry asked him if he was still there. “Yes Larry I’m still here. Just checking my schedule… had to get out the calendar out. It’s in braille and a little clunky.”
Larry was relieved. Charles had caught his hints. “ so can you make the run to Gotham this week. The Yankees are playing the Knight Thursday”
Charles said “Yes I believe can be there Thursday. “
“Good I’ll meet you at the station”
“No need Larry. Your offices are near the stadium. I’ll meet you there.”
Larry went into his office and checked it for bugs. It was clear though he’d be willing to bet Dinah’s flower shop was infested with the electronic devices. He called Dinah to say he was afraid he was going to be late. “I have a fellow from Hong Kong calling tonight.
“Why don’t you just have call him you at home Larry” Dinah asked.
“I know how you hate when I do. I promise it won’t be long Dinah.” He hung up and Larry hoped Charles would show up early.
He was. To the world Charles McNider was a former medical doctor turn writer of mystery novels when he was blinded by a bomb in 1941. In actuality Charles McNider could see perfectly fine in total darkness or with the aid of special lenses he wore. Most of the time he wore the darkened glasses that were easily mistaken for a blind man’s sun glasses, but he also had a special pair of goggles he wore when he trod the world as Dr. Mid-Nite.
Why was Larry worried about bugs Charles mused as he hung up the phone. Then he checked his office phone and was shocked to find a bug. Charles swallowed hard. He quietly left his apartment and made his way to Gotham City, knowing he would have to be back in his apartment the next morning. He made certain he wasn’t being watched or followed.
Chapter 7
Times Past
Memories
Gotham City Tuesday September 14th 1965
It was six o’clock when Charles arrived at offices of Lance’s Security and Investigations. No one was there except for Larry who was waiting for Charles at the door. The entrance faced the west and the shades were often pulled down to avoid the evening sun. Today was no different.
Larry had the lights of his office on. His office chair had a high back which was facing the window. He had taken the phone off the hook and placed on the desk before he crawled on all fours out an already opened door. He would back track after meeting with after Charles.
Larry let Charles in as he approached the door. “Were you followed? Larry asked.
“No what’s this all about? Where’s Dinah?”
“Dinah’s home Charles; and before you ask no – she’s not okay. Someone’s messed with her mind. I also suspect the SOB’s messed with Ted Knight’s as well.
“What? Why” asked Charles.
Larry then explained about the pictures of his wife and Ted Knight, how his wife with missed the fact that he was wearing his gun yesterday, and how his apartment was bugged.
“Are you certain Dinah just didn’t want to say anything to you about the gun?”
“Absolutely, Dinah and I had some serious issues about me wearing it.”
“Okay, that is troubling. So is the fact that your apartment is bugged. So is my phone” said Charles.
“I think every member of the JSA may be bugged Charles. But I’m also worried about Dinah’s health. That’s why I called you.”
“Why not call Kent; he’s a medical doctor too.”
“Because Dinah says he gives her the willies when he’s got that helmet of his on. She says he not even human. I don’t want someone like that messing with my wife’s mind.”
Charles was silent for a moment and nodded “If Dinah has the willies around Doctor Fate, she hides it well.”
“She hides a lot of thing Charles, except from me. It’s one of the reasons why we work.”
“You’re an exceptional man Larry. What about the photographs tipped you off that they were fake?”
Larry took the envelope that contained the photos out. “Excuse me for asking Charles, but would see better in total darkness or are you fine with your glasses on?”
“Total darkness.”
“Then let’s go into our dark room. We sometimes have to print photos here; your black out bombs leave a slight residue. “
Charles followed Larry and examined the photos in the dark. “Oh God Larry I’m so sorry” he said as he viewed them. “You said they’re fake, but I don’t see how.”
“Ignore the shock Charles. Look at the light around their bodies and then compare it to the background. It is coming from two different sources on a rooftop. The sun is both to the back of them and according to the shading on their bodies also in front of them. That was the tip off. Then look closely at them Charles. There’ no passion there. They’re posed and as stiff as a couple of dead fish. “
Charles let out a long slow whistle. “Your right; whoever took these damn things figured you wouldn’t see anything. He figured you wouldn’t get past the shock.”
“I almost didn’t. I’m certain Doris Knight didn’t.”
“You mean she was given a set of these?”
“I think so. If she did you’re going to have to tell her the truth Charles.”
What about the bugs?”
“Let the rest of the JSA know about them and that you’re working on whoever is behind it. But please don’t tell them about the photos. We need to keep that between you, me, and Doris for now.”
Why?”
“Because it is our family and you are our doctor. My wife is ill and so is Ted. We need to keep this between us for now.”
Chapter 8
Times Past
Memories
Gotham City Thursday September 16th 1965
Charles McNider was tired; he had been traveling back and forth from New York City to Gotham City twice since Tuesday by rail. He was in Gotham tonight ostensibly to go to a New York Yankees/ Gotham Knights baseball game with Larry Lance. Actually he was there to see Dinah Lance; Larry was concerned about his wife’s mental health. Charles was a medical doctor, not a psychiatrist but he was a keen observer of human behavior and had known Dinah for close to twenty years. His other reason was to give Larry the cover he needed to break into the office of a recently deceased private investigator named Stanley Bowes.
On the surface Dinah seemed like the same woman he had always known. But he was keen observer with his training as a doctor and in his avocation as the detective super-hero known as Dr. Mid-Nite. Dinah was a little jittery. This behavior became exacerbated when Charles told that Hawkman had called him over the weekend to say Wildcat would be rejoining the team. She almost dropped the wine glass she was holding. That was the other odd thing. Charles had never known Dinah to have more than a single drink of alcohol at any one sitting. She had three while he had diner in the Lance’s apartment. Something definitely was wrong.
Later Charles and Larry left to go to the ballgame while Dinah stayed home. They took Larry’s car so they could talk. “What do you think Charles?” he asked even as they drove out of the parking garage.
Charles exhaled audibly and replied “There’s nothing I can point to definitively Larry, but yes I agree Dinah’s not acting like her normal self. “Your still not being followed are you? I know I’m not.”
“No I haven’t got a tail, but I want to keep on acting like I do.”
Charles nodded and said “tell me about Stanley Bowes.”
“Stanley was one of the best sound men in the business. That’s detective slang for someone who puts listening devices on phones and places.” Don’t give men that look, I know it’s illegal but the police do it and just about every private detective I know has done it at least once. And yes I have a small department of sound men at my agency.”
“What else can you tell me about Mr. Bowes.?”
“He was married with three kids; he was on the up and up – a real straight shooter. I tried to hire him a number of times over the years but Stanley like to be his own boss. Anyway he was found hanging in his office a week ago Monday. The police ruled it a suicide. But under the recent circumstances, I’m not so sure.”
Larry paid the ten dollars for parking and the two went into the stadium. Larry left in the middle of the second inning. He walked a few blocks away from the stadium and went to where the late Stanley Bowes offices were. He wasn’t wearing his gun but he did have his collection of skeleton keys and a small flashlight and camera.
Larry was sweating. He hadn’t done anything like this in over seven years. Still it was part of detective work. He knew whatever he found would never be admissible in any court but it might help him get a lead on the creep responsible with messing with his wife’s mind.
Charles had mentioned an old enemy of the Flash named the Thinker. Clifford DeVoe had once been the Keystone City District Attorney. He became disillusioned with the law and became a criminal mastermind. He created a device called the thinking cap which also gave him mental powers, only the Thinker never fought either Starman or Black Canary and they couldn’t come up with a motive. The Thinker had been a member of the Injustice Society that clashed with the Justice Society; but again, never when never when Ted or Dinah were active members of the JSA. He had recently been paroled and then disappeared. He was their chief suspect.
Now though he had to try and find something to tie the bugs in his and Charles’ apartments to Stanley Bowes. He found nothing in the client’s records. He was ready to say he had hit a dead end until he checked receipts Bowes was saving for his quarterly tax returns. Bowes had to pay his income tax quarterly because he was a private business owner. Larry found travel receipts for Bowes for a couple a trips to Opal City, two to New York City and one for Georgetown. It could be a coincidence that each place had a resident JSAer living there, Larry didn’t believe in coincidences. The thing about the receipts that bother Larry was that they were in a folder title charity work.
Chapter 9
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Sunday September 26th 1965
Charles McNider debarked from the airplane in Opal City. It was a bright sunny day. He had quickly arranged to come to Opal City for a book signing. He was a famed writer of mystery novels. He was really there to see Ted and Doris Knight. He would have come to Opal City sooner but he needed to avoid suspicion. He didn’t want whoever bugged his apartment to know he was wise to him.
The last ten days had been very difficult; especially the last regular JSA meeting last Monday night. Hawkman was there as chairman along with their long standing secretary Wonder Woman. In attendance was himself, Doctor Fate, Johnny Thunder, Mister Terrific, the Flash and Wildcat, who was warmly welcomed by the rest of the members and formally put on active duty while Hawkman announced that both Starman and Black Canary had notified him that they were taking leaves of absence. Other than that it was a quiet meeting. Or at least it was until Dr, Mid-Nite drop the bomb about how his and the Lance’s apartments and phones were bugged.
Then Wonder Woman said that her home too had been bugged. “You know my husband Steve works for military intelligence. Therefore our house is randomly swept twice a month by counter-intelligence. Our whole house was infested with those listening devices. We found them two weeks ago today. We thought the Russians put in a new advanced model because we never saw anything like them before.”
Dr. Mid-Nite asked her to draw the device and it was a match to the ones in his home.
“Holy….that means someone knows who we are under our masks” said the Atom as he angrily pounded his left fist into his right palm.
“So,” said Johnny Thunder. “Everyone knows who I am.”
“Johnny most of us like our privacy” said Mr. Terrific. “There’s also the matter of protecting our families.”
Oh” said Johnny.
Wonder Woman handed Doctor Mid-Nite a drawing of the listening device as she said “This is what they looked like.”
“That’s what is in our apartments” confirmed Doctor Mid-Nite.
Doctor Fate stood up and declared “We must find people responsible for this and erase the knowledge of our true identities from their minds.”
“Good idea Fate” echoed Wildcat.
“Any idea how we do that Doctor Fate?” asked the Flash.
“Yes, just give me one of these devices and I shall use a spell of affinity. That will take me to them” declared Dr. Fate.
“Two problems with that idea Doctor Fate: one the devices may have a tamper alarm and our taking one of the ones in use might alert or spy and two…two is there are a couple of our members whose health I’m afraid has been affected by these spies. I’m not at liberty to say who they are but I need to ask you to please let me handle the investigation” said Doctor Mid-Nite.
“No I will do the spell of affinity” declared Doctor Fate.
Hawkman then slammed down his gavel. “Hold on Doctor Fate. Let’s hear Doctor Mid-Nite out.”
“ I can’t say much more Hawkman. Other than I am taking care of one member who has somehow been affected and am going to see another. We need to this quietly. As to why I believe the bugs have an alarm. I believe I discovered the man who planted them” explained Doctor Mid-Nite.
“Where is he; wait til I get my hands on him” said the Atom.
“He’s dead Atom. From the coroners’ report he hung himself the very same day the bugs were found in Wonder Woman’s house” said Doctor Mid-Nite.
It was quiet for a moment before Johnny Thunder said “Say you know if this guy’s dead then he might not have planted these bugs in all our homes. I wonder if any of us are deloused.”
Johnny Thunder’s pink Thunderbolt suddenly appeared with a flourish he bowed to the assembled members of the Justice Society and said “Only Star Man, Black Canary, Doctor Mid-Nite, Hawkman, Doctor Fate, and you are bugged boss. He then produced a can and asked Johnny if he wanted some itching powder.
“Impossible! Unacceptable” cried Doctor Fate. “No one can enter my tower without my permission.”
Thunderbolts turned to the Lord of Order and said “I didn’t go in your precious tower Nabu; Kent Nelson’s doctor’s office is bugged. Dr. Fate sat down. Everyone could see his eyes were wide in surprise. He was clearly flummoxed.
“What do you want us to do Doc?” asked Wildcat.
Dr. Mid-Nite explained how he was making sure he wasn’t followed and was being extremely careful what he said on the phone. He encouraged the others to do the same. “We should notify the rest of our members about the situation. I’ll keep you all updated on what’s going on. And one last thing: please contact me if any of you have any run-ins with the Thinker because I have reasons to believe knows something about this.”
“This isn’t DeVoe’s style” Doctor Mid-Nite” said the Flash.
“No, but nevertheless I think he’s involved.”
“There are things you are not telling us Doctor Mid-Nite” accused Doctor Fate.
“True, but that’s because of doctor - patient privilege. I only became aware of this because someone came to me as a doctor” confessed Doctor Mid-Nite
Doctor Fate nodded before saying “Kent Nelson also holds the doctor - patient privilege sacrosanct. I therefore motion that we let Doctor Mid-Nite handle the investigation and give us update at each meeting.” The motion was carried unanimously.
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Post by dave on Aug 22, 2017 0:40:31 GMT
Chapter 10
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Sunday September 26th 1965
After Charles McNider was unpacked and settled into his hotel room he called the Knight’s. Doris answered the phone and asked him to come over right away when she heard his voice. She sounded distraught. Charles said he would be right over. First though he wrote several notes which he would give to Doris because Johnny Thunder’s Thunderbolt already told him the Knight household was bugged.
The cab pulled into the long driveway that led to the Knight Mansion. Charles McNider exited the car, pretending to be blind. It was a pose he had mastered after many years. If he took off his glasses it wouldn’t be a pose here in broad daylight. Doris came out before he even reached the stairs.
“Charles” she cried “I am so glad to see you” she said as she hugged him.
“What’s wrong Doris” said Charles in his most calming and reassuring voice.
“Ted, Ted’s sick…I think he’s having another nervous breakdown.”
Charles continued to stand at the bottom of the stairs. He wanted to hear what was wrong and not be heard by the listening devices. He silently said a prayer of thanks that in was a warm and sunny day instead of raining. “When did this start?” he asked.
“About two weeks ago. He came home. We had a…disagreement and then he slowly started to become obsessed with work in his lab he isn’t sleeping. His speech is pressured. He switches topics in the middle of sentences. He flinches at the slightest thing. I’ve asked him to see a doctor but he refuses. He says I don’t trust him; that I need to trust him.”
Charles nodded “let’s walk over to the patio Doris.” Doris gave Charles a puzzled look but agreed.
“I don’t know how to put this gently Doris” he said when they reached the patio. “But you and Ted both believe that Ted has given you a very good reason not to trust him. Some horrible pictures were given to you on the Saturday September eleventh.”
“How did you know that?” said an aghast Doris.
“Because Larry Lance received copies of the same photos, Dinah confessed to him about an affair with Ted, and is now deteriorating mentally – not as quickly as you’ve described Ted’s condition but she is decompensating. “
Doris turned from Charles and folded her arms before saying “Good.”
Charles said “No, not good Doris, Larry discovered the photos were fakes. That and someone has given both Ted and Dinah false memories of an affair that never happened.”
Doris turned – her face’s expression changing from anger to shock. “Charles there’s no way those photos could have been fabricated. That was Ted. Ted…and…and...Dinah. You haven’t seen those things.”
Charles voice remained at its most reassuring and calm tone. “Actually I have seen them. I didn’t see the fabrication when I looked at them until Larry pointed them out to me.”
“How could he even stomach to look at them long enough to see they were fake?” she asked.
“Larry’s been a detective for over twenty five years. He also spent over ten as a private eye. He won’t say, but I imagine in the lean years he saw all sorts of sordid photography. He had to learn about photography in his business. The lighting and shading in the photos is all wrong. He saw the photos and was in shock, but something about them bothered him. So he didn’t destroy them as he was first inclined to do. Eventually he examined them closely and spotted the problem with the lighting.”
“They were still in each other’s embrace – kissing” Doris cried softly.
“I know. But Larry pointed out how tense their muscles were. They were posed. There was no passion in the pictures. I didn’t see it either until he pointed it out.”
“Why isn’t he wearing a costume if he’s such a damned good detective?”
“It’s not his style. But there is something else you need to know something important.
Doris wiped away the tears on her face and said “What could be more important than finding out Ted didn’t cheat on me?”
“Your house is bugged. Most likely by whoever framed Ted and Dinah.”
Now Doris’ eyes grew wide as she took in what Charles said. “The Lance’s apartment and phone are bugged too. So is mine, Johnny Thunder’s place, the Hall’s and Kent Nelson’s medical offices. Diana’s was too, but because Steve’s in military intelligence the government periodically does a sweep of his house and office. They found the Trevor home infested with listening devices.
“Do you know who did this? She asked.
“I know who who planted the bugs. He was killed the same day Diana’s were discovered. And that’s the reason you have to behave as if you don’t know they are there.”
Doris swallowed hard as she said “I don’t know if I can do this. Ted’s promised me he wouldn’t dress up as Starman again. We’re supposed to start over with a normal life.”
“From what you’ve told me Ted is far from normal right now. I don’t think he can get well again until we know what’s wrong with him and how he was hurt in the first place.”
“Well, have the Spectre wave his hand or something,” she said.
“We can’t. That could cause irreparable harm to both Ted and Dinah. We have to solve this case the old fashioned way.”
Chapter 11
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Sunday September 26th 1965
Charles and Doris talked for only a little bit longer, with Charles reassuring Doris that everything he had told her was true. They then went inside the house; once inside Charles found and showed Doris where one of the listening devices was placed. He then asked where Ted was.
Ted Knight was in his lab. He was there almost all the time. He couldn’t sleep and he couldn’t stop working on whatever project he was working on. Doris was at first able to get him to leave the lab since the arrival of the photographs. But she would find him there in the middle of the night. He wasn’t bathing or eating regularly. She was afraid she was going to have to have Ted committed.
“Let me see him first Doris” said Charles.
Charles knocked on the door and said “Hello Ted, its Charles McNider.” He opened the door as he added “I happened to be in town and thought I’d drop by.” Charles was shocked to see Ted’s normally pristine lab a total mess with papers strewn all over. Various gadgets and equipment set hither and thither. Then he saw Ted, he was a mess. He obviously hadn’t shaved in days. His eyes were dark from lack of sleep and his hair and clothes were completely unkempt.
Ted looked up from his workbench and swallowed hard. He looked around nervously. “Why are you here? I quit the JSA. I quit being Starman” he said. He had a fearful look in his eyes, one of paranoia.
“I didn’t come to see Starman, I came to see you Ted” reassured Charles.
“Good, good…I promised Doris that I wouldn’t put the costume back on. I promised her that I wouldn’t see the Black Canary.”
“Why” asked Charles.
“You know Charles, you warned me when I first met her. You told me she was a married woman. Told me I was married too.”
“When was this?”
“Right after my first case back, when we fought the Crime Syndicate from that other earth; you warned me then after you saw me staring at her.”
Charles merely nodded. He knew no such conversation had ever taken place. These planted memories go deeper that I thought. “Does anyone else know of your indiscretion?”
“Yes” Ted Knight said in a sobbing voice. “Wildcat knows…he said as much. Oh I can still hear the disdain in his voice. And Doris…I see the hurt in her face every time I look at her. I can’t bear it. “
“Is that why you’re down all day and night? Working on things to take your mind off this overwhelming guilt your feeling? “
Ted just look down and began to cry. Charles took Ted in his arms and held him as he said “Ted I want to give you some medication.”
“Please don’t put me to sleep Charles. Every time I dream I’m back at the prison in Gotham City with the Mist telling me about the blackmail pictures he has. “
“The Mist took these photos? “Asked Charles
“Yes his man Bullock took them. He tried to blackmail us into freeing him. Charles he knows who I am. You have to go he might find out who you are.”
“That’s all right Ted. Who’s going to believe a blind man is a member of the JSA. “
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you Charles.”
“I won’t Ted. Did you go to the jail in costume?”
“No…no I, we went in in our normal identities. Bullock came up to us and said we were to go there as Ted Knight and Dinah Lance.” Ted broke down into near hysterical sobbing at this point; just saying “I’m sorry” over and over again.
Charles gave him a heavy duty sedative. The strongest he carried in his black bag. After he got Ted to bed he told Doris he thought it was best to keep Ted sedated outside by the pool.
“I will not commit my husband to an asylum Charles” said Doris.
“I didn’t say anything about committing him Doris. But he needs to be kept sedated. Someone has planted totally false memories in your husband. That same vile bast...vile person has given an unreasonable guilt complex as well as a recurring nightmare of another event. Hire some nurses; male nurses would probably be best. Tell them your husband had a psychotic break. That way they’ll discount anything he says about being Starman. I’ll consult with Kent Nelson and we’ll try and come up with a better plan.”
“Will he be this way permanently?”
“Not if I can help it Doris. I am going to reverse this if at all possible.”
Chapter 12
Times Past
Memories
Gotham City Tuesday July 5th 1966
Yesterday had been the Fourth of July but there was no celebrating at the Lance household. While Dinah Lance wasn’t as bad as Ted Knight was, she deteriorating mentally. She had closed the Flower shop in Mid–October because she was having panic attacks. Dinah didn’t leave the apartment anymore. She was getting afraid more often. Charles prescribed her some medications, but it was Larry he doled them out. Larry knew that Dinah was still slowly getting worse. He had to hire a nurse to be with his wife during the day while he was at work. What’s worse the case had grown cold.
He had gone to the prison when Charles had told him that according to Ted; he and Dinah visited the Mist in prison because he was the one blackmailing them. Trouble was the prison records showed the only visitor the Mist received was his lawyer.
He had promising lead in the private eye named Bullock. There was a private eye in Gotham City named Harvey Bullock. He was a former detective who was thrown off the police force because of multiple complaints of police brutality as well as unsubstantiated claims of corruption. Larry went looking for Harvey Bullock the day Charles McNider gave him the name only to discover that the man died of a brain hemorrhage on September 11th, the same day the photos arrived at his house. It would be a strange coincidence, if Larry believed in coincidences. He searched Bullock’s office and home and found out nothing except the man was a complete slob.
He had gone to see the widow of Stanley Bowes. She was a small mousey looking woman with short brown hair and wore thick horned rimmed glasses. He went on the pretense of offering his condolences and offering to buy Stan’s equipment. Jessica Bowes thank him for his offer but she said she didn’t need his help financially. Evidently she was the daughter of a shipping magnate from Opal City, where she was planning on returning to at the end of the month. She said her father had always wanted her poor Stanley to join his company but Stanley always said no because he like to work for himself. Larry shook his head and said he hadn’t seen any notice for a wake or funeral for Stanley. She said that was because she was going to have them done in Opal City at her father’s new church – Saint Aloysius.
He was sitting at his desk going through paperwork – case files his agency was working on. He was, only he couldn’t concentrate on them as he kept his brain being drawn back to his wife’s case. He was staring at the same sheet of paper for ten minute when his secretary said he had a call from one of the firm’s primary investors.
Lance Investigations and Security was a private company but he had financial backing as he grew. There were two principal investors; both men were friends of his wife and him and both Carter Hall and Alan Scott were members of the JSA.
“Carter, what can I do for you?” he asked.
“Larry I’m calling from a payphone” said Carter as Larry suddenly sat up at rapt attention. “Charles asked me to call you.” Larry wished Carter would tell him what he wanted. “Clifford DeVoe is in custody in Calvin City Connecticut. He would like to meet you there tomorrow.”
Larry quickly made arrangement for the home nursing service to stay with his wife overnight and then made arrangements for a flight to Hartford Connecticut, the nearest airport that accepted commercial flights. He also ordered a rental car.
He then went home and told his wife that he had to go out of state on business because of an emergency. Dinah cried hysterically at the news and had to be given a double dose a sedative. She said that Larry was putting himself in danger by flying. She was terrified she was going to lose him. Larry was very frightened that he was losing Dinah, but in a totally different way.
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Post by dave on Aug 22, 2017 0:43:05 GMT
Chapter 13
Times Past
Memories
Calvin City Tuesday July 6th 1966
Clifford DeVoe was sitting in a hard wooden chair in a Connecticut prison. He was charged with grand theft. He figured he could beat the rap. After all it was all based on the fact that some nobody came under the influence of his new and improved Thinking Cap when he used it on Earth 1. Multiple Earths he mused what a wonderful concept. He had found out about Earth 1 when a young hero named the Flash rescue his Earth 2 namesake from him and his two partners at the time, the Shade and Fiddler. The Fiddler had discovered all you need was to move at a different vibrational frequency to travel across universes. Strange concept but one he added to his Thinking Cap. All along his had been his plan commit crimes on Earth 1 and live with the profits on his home earth-Earth 2. He couldn’t for the life of him fathom why his earth came in second to the one he had recently been plundering as he thought it was definitely second rate compared to his home.
Unfortunately for him a former small time hood trying to go straight named Artie Perkins was committing the very same crimes he was on Earth 1. The Atom on Earth 2 got involved because he was instrumental in helping Perkins reform while the Atom of Earth 1 had stumbled upon the Thinker committing crimes on his earth. The Thinker wound up fighting both Atoms. He lost and was now in prison awaiting trial (See Atom Volume 1 # 29 February-March 1967)
He was sitting in a walled off visitor section of the prison. His lawyer wasn’t due to see him until tomorrow and the police couldn’t question him without her presence so he wondered why he was there. Then a tall wiry man with black curly hair came in. He was dressed in a brown suit with matching hat and shoes with a white shirt and thin red tie. He reeked of the smell of a cop.
“What is this, you cops can’t talk to me without my lawyer. Even the Atom can’t talk to me without her present” said DeVoe.
“That’s right. But I’m not a cop. I’m a private eye. The names Larry Lance” Larry said with a smile. He then reached into his pocket and took out a pack of cigarettes. “Smoke?” he asked as he offered a one to DeVoe.
DeVoe took it and waited for Larry to light it. “I heard of you Lance. The JSA is not going to violate my rights by using a proxy to talk to me without my lawyer. I know all about how you used to work with the Black canary back in the 40’s.”
Larry took a seat at the other side of the table and said “That’s true Defoe but I’m not interested in why you’re here. See there’s this private eye in Gotham City named Bullock who died of a brain hemorrhage last year. But I don’t think he died of natural causes. I think the hemorrhage had help.”
“If you think I killed him; you’re mistaken.”
Larry took a drag off his cigarette; DeVoe didn’t deny he knew Bullock, which was good because up until this moment he didn’t know if the two had ever met. Larry exhaled “No I think whoever killed poor old Harvey wants to kill you too. Probably the only reason he hasn’t is because you’ve been spending so much time on that other earth.”
DeVoe was genially curious when he asked “Why do you think that Lance?
“Everybody who works for him is dead” in a matter of fact tone. He inhaled another drag on his cigarette and said after he exhaled “You don’t have t tell me the name of the man who hooked you up with Mr. Bullock’s employer, but has he recently had an unfortunate fatal accident?”
DeVoe rubbed his bald head as he took a deep drag of his own cigarette. “Yes” he said “He had a massive coronary last October.”
“I thought so” said Larry. You know some folks in the JSA say that you’re behind the crimes this guy has committed. Me, I figure you did some work for somebody. You used the dough he paid you to improve your Thinking Cap had a costume made. I’m no fashion plate DeVoe, but I have to tell you –purple is not your color. Unless they have some really weird fashions on that other earth.”
“What do you want Lance?”
“I want the name of the man who hired you.”
“Why should I tell you? It’s not like I can’t protect myself.”
“That’s true; you’re an extremely dangerous man - when you have your Thinking Cap. Without it you’re just another middle-aged felon in prison. You won’t last long DeVoe if someone puts a hit on you. This guy will. I know that anyone who worked for him in one capacity or another is dead.”
“If I tell you I’ll be known as a snitch Lance. I’m a former DA, it’s only because I’ve gone against the likes of the Flash and once joined the Wizard’s Injustice Society that I survived prison intact. Ratting out somebody will insure my death warrant.”
“No it won’t because anything you tell me won’t go to court. To the world I will have solved this case by my investigative prowess. Think of this as when a defense attorney offers the prosecution a proffer. They tell their client’s story and find out how much it’s worth in a plea deal.”
“I want to know up front what it’s worth.”
“Fair enough, all the charges you’re facing now are dropped and you’re held in solitary back in Keystone until I catch the bum who hired you.” The Thinker started to object but Larry cut him off.
“Listen DeVoe, nobody is going to think you snitched if you’re in solitary. You’ll look innocent.” Larry handed the man another cigarette.
Chapter 14
Times Past
Memories
Calvin City Tuesday July 6th 1966
Al Pratt was finishing barbecuing chicken on his small grill in the backyard of his small ranch house. The Calvin College physics professor had two very hungry guests sitting at a small picnic table. Charles was saying to Larry “that was an amazing interview with the Thinker Larry. How did you ever guess that he was working for someone else?’
“I knew it the minute Al showed men the Thinker’s new Thinking Cap” said Larry.
“I still don’t understand.”
“The entire outside is made of platinum” said Al as he brought the chicken to the table, “Cost DeVoe a lot of money to make that helmet - more money that he had when he skipped parole.”
“That’s right; He had to have worked for somebody to get the money he needed to make the new Thinking Cap. Actually I wasn’t certain he was our man until I saw his reaction when I mentioned Bullock” said Larry.
“How’d you know the go between the Thinker and the Light was dead? “Asked Al.
“I didn’t,” said “Larry. “It was a calculated gamble. The Light has offed anyone who can tie him to this mess so it stood to reason the guy who arranged their meeting was dead too.”
There was a sudden rush of wind before a man dressed in a red shirt and boots with blue pants and a silver helmet suddenly appeared in the Pratt backyard. He saw the three men dressed in civilian attire and disappeared in a second rush of wind that didn’t end until the man reappeared dressed in casual clothes.” Sorry Al, I didn’t mean know you folks were out of costume “he said.
“It’s all right Jay, my neighbors have fences” said Al. “What did you find out at the address I gave you?”
“Nothing, 673 Hibbard Avenue is an abandoned building that hasn’t had anyone in there in months. There was no power hooked up either there.”
“Another dead-end” said Charles.
“No it’s not Charles. I expected to be abandoned. All it means is that I have to go through tedious process of finding who owns the building. It might take me a week or so. I assume the Light will have a bunch of dummy corporations set up but eventually I’ll find out who pays the taxes and who paid for the power when it was on.”
Everyone nodded and Al said to Jay “There’s beer in the fridge, or lemonade if you prefer .”
“Thanks” said Jay “can I get anyone else one?”
“I’m all set “said Charles, though both Larry and Al wanted another.
“So what did my old foe the Thinker have to tell you guys?” asked Jay as he sat down.
Larry said “It was a very interesting conversation. DeVoe left Keystone City with his old Thinking Cap and plans for his new model. But he needed a lot of cash to build it. He wanted earn some quick money but he didn’t want to fight you again Jay. He talked to man he knew when he needed henchmen and was told that someone was looking to hire him. So he left Keystone and went to Opal.”
Larry paused to take a sip of his beer. ”He met Bullock at the bus depot and Bullock took him to 673 Hibbard Avenue. The Light wanted DeVoe to cause my Dinah and Ted to have an affair. But DeVoe’s Thinking Cap could not do that unless some part of them wanted to.”
“Like a hypnotist can’t make someone do something totally out of the person’s moral makeup” said Charles.
“Right” said Larry “That’s exactly what DeVoe said. So the Light asked him if he can create false memories. To which the Thinker says yes. Unfortunately DeVoe said he can’t go into as much detail as the Light wanted him to go with the false memories. This pissed the Light off. But he asks DeVoe if he could at least put the two of them into a deep, deep trance. That Defoe says he can do if he catches them off guard.”
“I don’t understand Larry,” said Charles, “Why do Ted and Dinah have those false memories if DeVoe didn’t cause them?”
“That was true was the true revelation about my interview with DeVoe. After the Light and he haggled over the price for ambushing our friends. The Light asked DeVoe to look at a set of blue prints and asks him if there was anything he would do to improve them. DeVoe made a few suggestions even while he memorized the specifications of what the Light showed him. The scary part is the plans had the date June 26th 1949 on them. “
“What were the blueprints for Larry” asked Jay.
“Oh sorry; they were for a mind control device - device as bigger than the basement of a church or hall. It would draw a lot of juice too. The Light was interested in buying the plans of DeVoe’s Thinking Cap. DeVoe obliged him for a price. He now also has the schematics of the Thinkers original Thinking Cap” said Larry.
“You can be sure he’s improved it too. It might even be better that the Thinker’s new model” said Al.
“Probably is, the Light’s a whole lot smarter than DeVoe. DeVoe said he never encountered a mind as powerful as his” said Larry. “Anyway the Thinker ambushed Dinah and Ted right after Ted Grant left them. He and Bullock put them in the back of a VW van. Bullock handed an envelope of cash to DeVoe and drove off leaving DeVoe in Federal City. “
“You believe him?” asked Jay.
“Yeah, he no doubt left some parts of the story out. Parts that made him look bad, but I think he essentially told me the truth. He knows the Light wants him dead and needs your protection.”
“Well then I’ll keep him safe until the Light’s brought to justice” said Jay.
Chapter 15
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Thursday July 22nd 1966
Larry Lance had a headache. He had spent the last two and a half weeks going through tax records and tracking down who was paying for the power at the building a year ago. It was the kind of thing he did when he was working for a wife divorcing a rich husband with hidden assets. He also did this sort of thing when he was a cop trying to catch money launderers. It was hard work. He took another drag off his cigarette when there was a knock on his hotel door.
He put out his cigarette, stood and pulled out his pistol from his shoulder holster in one fluid motion. Going over to the door and standing just to the right lest he get a shotgun blast in the chest he asked “Who is it?
“Larry it’s me Doris Knight.”
“Just a minute said Larry as he shouldered his pistol. He opened the door and Doris came in.
“You shouldn’t be here Doris” said Larry.
“I had to see you Larry. I had to know if you’re making progress. Our phones are bugged. I only get smidgens of information when Charles or Kent comes to check on Ted. “
Larry nodded and offered Doris a seat. “Would you like some coffee?”
“No thank you Larry. How’s Dinah?”
Larry took out another cigarette and lit before saying “She’s as bad as Ted. It took her longer to get there buts she’s there now.” Larry broke down and cried. The emotional defenses he put up fell in the presence of this woman who was going through exactly what he was. He knew it was worse for her, not only could she do anything to catch the bastard who did this thing to their spouses, but she had a young son as well. Doris took Larry’s hand as he cried the tears that had been welled up inside him. Tears trickled down her face as well. A half hour later Larry pulled himself back together; no one would ever know how he broke down night. Neither he nor Doris ever said a word to anyone, not even each other.
Larry stood up and grabbed a bottle of whiskey he had in the bottom bureau draw. He inhaled and exhaled audibly, the bottle was unopened. He explained that he didn’t drink alone and asked her to have one with him. “I'll get some ice.”
“No Larry I’m good.”
He opened the bottle and poured them both a half filled glass before going to the bathroom sink and pouring the rest out. He was emotionally raw and figured Doris was too. “We don’t want to get carried away” he said with a sad smile that Doris returned.
“As for the case – the answer is in this stack of papers. “I’m almost there. I can sense it. The answer is in these papers. There are all sorts of companies. Phony, bogus companies fronting each other but one of them is the real one underneath them all. There’s even a church in these, Saint Aloysius. “
Doris’s eyes widened “Larry you found it! Saint Aloysius is better known as the Church of the Light.”
Larry’s jaw dropped for half a second before saying “I’ll be a son of a bi...er, gun.”
Chapter 16
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Friday July 23rd 1966
Larry was in the Opal City’s main public library reading all that articles he could find about the Church of the Light. Saint Aloysius was built in 1953. It was originally a part of the Episcopalian Church but broke away in 1956 to become an independent church under its new priest. A man named Timothy Lightle. Under Lightle’s guidance the Church of the Light grew very prosperous in Opal City, but had yet to branch out into any other city. The Church of the Light had a large amount of Opal City’s wealthiest and most of its leading citizens as parishioners.
Father Timothy Lightle was a charismatic and yet enigmatic man. According to his official church biography he was born in 1895. Served in World War I and became a Man of the Clothe in 1922 after seeing the horrors of war. However there was a nasty court fight when Saint Aloysius broke away from the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church said Saint Aloysius and its assets belong to them and not the parish. It was alleged at the time that Father Lightle had never been ordained. Strangely the suit was dropped after a meeting was held at Saint Aloysius in late December of 1956. Supposedly it was done in the Spirit of Christmas. It was a coincidence, but Larry didn’t believe in coincidences.
Ted Knight was an avowed atheist. There’s no way he would have fallen under any snare the Light had set at the Church of the Light. But Ted was also a philanthropist. Larry started to look for any charitable event sponsored by the Church of the Light that Ted Knight had gone to. He found one in a paper dated June last year. Larry figured the Light spotted Ted and recognized that he was Starman He also spotted an article about Father Lightle almost dying from pneumonia in July of last year. DeVoe did mention that the Light had a bad coughing spasm when they met in August. Larry had his man.
Larry had made a good contact in the local electric company when he was trying to find out who owned the building at 673 Hibbard Avenue. From him he learned that the Church of the Light drew an exorbitant amount of power on Sunday mornings. Larry had now found the machine. Now he had to call the one man whom everyone agreed could figure out how it worked.
Larry left the library and headed back to his hotel. He started to whistle the moment he exited Opal City’s largest book repository. His step had an easy gait. He felt like a million bucks. He’d soon hand this case off the Justice Society they would cure Dinah. He decided to walk to his hotel rather than catch a cab.
Halfway to the hotel he happened to spot Doris Knight, who was eating lunch at an outdoor café with Charles McNider. Larry smiled as he thought Lady Luck was smiling on him today. He jauntily walk over to their table and asked them if he could join them.
Of course,” said Charles
“Certainly” agreed Doris.
Larry sat down. He could barely contain himself as he wanted to tell them the good news but Charles wanted to relay something to Larry that Diana Trevor had found out about the Light. Diana had her husband General Steve Trevor of US Army Intelligence look for any information about the Light since he hadn’t been heard from since the last time he fought Starman back in 1942.
“Evidently the army offered the Light and several other “evil” scientist types that had cropped up in the days preceding and during the war a pardon if they worked for the government. The Light accepted their proposal. He worked to develop both better submarines and artillery for the United States. He continued to work for the government until 1953 when he mysteriously disappeared. According to Diana he had been listed as a defector since then because there was some evidence that he went to work for the Russians” explained Charles.
Larry shook his head “No he was right here in America establishing his new identity of Father Timothy Lightle” said Larry.
“Who did you say the Light was Larry? Asked Doris
“Father Timothy Lightle” repeated Larry.
Doris shook her head no and looked down at the table.
“What’s wrong?” Doris asked Charles.
“Timothy Lightle isn’t the Light Larry. I’ve met both of them.”
“Are you sure Doris”. Asked Larry.
“Yes I met the Light the very first time Ted fought him. He shrunk me down to the size of a doll. The Light is a bald man with a goatee and a square head who stands over six feet tall. He has a thin raspy voice…”explained Doris.
“He could have used plastic surgery, shaved of his goatee, and wear a wig to change his appearance Doris,” said Charles.
“No Charles Timothy Lightle stands just over five feet tall; he has long straight shoulder length white hair, with a long oval face and a rich booming voice. They are not the same man.”
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Post by dave on Aug 22, 2017 0:48:53 GMT
Chapter 17
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Saturday July 24th 1966
Larry had spent the day buying all sorts of photographic equipment. He bought an infrared light as he was using the hotel room’s bathroom as a makeshift dark room. At least that’s what he wanted people to believe. He just finished setting up his mock darkroom. He stepped through the door way and was suddenly transported to the meeting room of the Justice Society of America in Civic City.
He was standing across from the meeting table. Sitting there was Hawkman, Wonder Woman, Johnny Thunder, the Flash, and Mister Terrific. “Whoa!” he exclaimed as he realized what had happened. His knees almost buckled at the shock of the experience. The members of the JSA were his friends, but he knew them socially and in their civilian attire. It was different experience to see them in their costumes; especially the experience the magic of Johnny Thunder’s Thunderbolt. He quickly regained his composure and thanked the members for meeting him.
Hawkman stood as the others remained sitting and said “have a seat Larry.”
Johnny Thunder added “Black Canary usually sits in the chair next to Wonder Woman; I think she’d like it if you sat there.” The rest of the JSA smiled at Johnny’s kind remark as they gave Larry encouraging smiles of agreement. Larry returned there smiles and walked over to his wife’s chair. He put his hands on the back of her chair and stood in sad reflection for a moment. The JSA respected the Larry’s quiet contemplation. Larry wiped away a tear that started to roll down his cheek as he sat down.
Hawkman then called the meeting to order and sat down. “Doctor Mid-Nite said you wanted to talk to us Larry. He also said that Starman and Black Canary’s mental health are continuing to deteriorate. Both he and Doctor Fate aren’t here because they both want to be with our sick members. Doctor Fate is in Gotham City and has suspended his medical practice until we get Black Canary healthy again.”
“I know,” said Larry. “I also know they’re going to die if we don’t succeed in reversing what the Light did to them because now their physical as well as mental health is starting to fail.”
“That’s true” said Mister Terrific. “The mind and body are inseparably connected. I don’t practice medicine or psychiatry but both are hobbies of mine” he added.
“But you are a licensed for both” said Wonder Woman.
“Well...yes” said Mister Terrific modestly.
“I believe you also have a license to practice law and one for private investigation as well” said the Flash.
Mister Terrific nodded in agreement saying “Yes I always found that when dabbling in one of my hobbies it is best to follow them to their fullest. I’m also a licensed veterinarian , stock broker as well over a half a dozen other things”
“Wow!” said Johnny Thunder.
“Right” said Hawkman as he proceeded to get the meeting back on track. “Your expertise in so many fields is the reason Doctor Mid-Nite specifically requested your presence Mister Terrific. As I understand it Larry believes he has found where the machine that caused Black Canary and Starman’s illness is located.”
“Correct, I think it’s in the Church of the Light. I’ve come up with a plan to locate the Light as well. I thought he was the pastor but Doris Knight assures me that I’m mistaken. She’s met both men and I believe her” said Larry.
The Flash then said “I had the Thinker draw up what he said he remembered about plans the Light showed him. I’m a research scientist and I understand some, but not all of these schematics. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if DeVoe didn’t show me everything he saw.”
The Flash laid the plans out. Larry couldn’t make heads or tails out of the schematics. He gathered that neither Hawkman nor Johnny Thunder could either from the expressions on their faces. But Mister Terrific took it all in and no doubt understood the plans even better than the Flash.
“I understand the plans Flash and you’re right there are some pretty significant pieces missing if this does what you folks say it is supposed to do. I’d have to see the actual machine to see how to operate it and help our friends. But it wouldn’t be right to break in anywhere unless we knew a crime was being or had been committed, especially into a church” said Mister Terrific.
Wonder Woman smiled as she said “We all agree Mister Terrific, but we have a way to peer into the building and check the veracity of Larry’s conjecture with my Magic Sphere. It will allow us to see inside the Church of the Light without physically going inside.” She then turned on the magical machine from Paradise Isle.
The Magic Sphere showed the outside of the Church of the Light. It was a magnificent structure that resembled the old cathedrals of England. One of the most striking features on the church’s grounds would not be at any English cathedral was the twenty obelisks that surrounded the cathedral, each standing fifty feet tall. Larry’s research showed that the first one was built after 1958 and that the final one was completed only last week.
The image in the Magic Sphere continued to approach the Church of the Light. The scene then abruptly changed to the main floor and the church. “Take us down to the basement Wonder Woman” instructed Hawkman.
Wonder Woman nodded and the image descended down a flight of stairs. There was nothing out of the ordinary as it looked like the normal church basement complete with hall and kitchen. “Can your Magic Sphere move the image through any secret or hidden doors on entrance ways?” asked Larry, who was beginning to lose all hope.
“Of course” said Wonder Woman in a tone that said Larry had stated the obvious answer as to why they hadn’t found the machine. The image went through the hall and to the kitchen’s pantry. Then the view shifted and there was another set of stairs. “A sub-basement’ said Wonder Woman.
The image descended these stairs and came to a large open chamber with a huge machine dominating it. Off to one side was another smaller machine and console. There were twenty exiting tunnels besides the stairs they had come through. “That’s the mind control machine all right” said Mister Terrific. “I’ll need to study for a while and look at it first hand before I can safely operate it. But I want to look at that other machine and take a look down those tunnels first.”
“Why” exclaimed Larry as he stood in anguished anger, “We have what we need for you to cure Dinah?”
“Because I think we’ve discovered the Light’s true plan Larry. Mind control of the prominent citizens of Opal City is only the beginning of this madman’s plans “explained Mister Terrific. “I think that console is for controlling the flight paths of satellites.”
The other JSA member looked at one another with concerned faces. Wonder Woman then had the Magic Sphere show the console up close. Mister Terrific nodded his head and said yes his suspicions were correct. When the Magic Sphere went down one of the exits they found a rocket.
“The obelisks are disguised rockets” said the Flash.
“What are they carrying?” asked Johnny Thunder.
“My guess is they contain smaller versions of his mind control device. Larry, you said earlier that the Light asked for the schematics of DeVoe’s Thinking Cap” opined the Flash. “You also said the Thinker believed he’d make significant improvement to his original model.”
“Starman said the Light always wanted to conquer the world” said Hawkman.
Larry said in a quiet voice “The last obelisk was completed only last week. He probably hasn’t finish construction of the last device.
“I want this place guarded by one of us twenty-four hours a day starting now’ declared Hawkman.
“We still have to find the Light Hawkman” said the Flash.
“I have a plan on how to do that Flash’ said Larry. “But I need your help.”
After Larry explained his plan Hawkman said it was too dangerous for him to proceed but Flash called Larry’s plan for a vote. It passed three to two with Johnny Thunder, the Flash and Wonder Woman agreeing with it and Hawkman and Mister Terrific voting no. Larry’s plan would begin tomorrow morning during the Church of the Lights’ Sunday service.
Chapter 18
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Sunday July 26th 1966
There was a wooded ridge line across from the Church of the Light, whose Sunday morning service just concluded and the congregation was exiting the doors. Larry Lance was there taking pictures of the people exiting with a special camera equipped with a magical telescopic lens courtesy of Johnny Thunder’s Thunderbolt.
Every picture that Larry took of the parishioners was a perfect mug shot. Each one was immediately duplicated and shown to Clifford DeVoe, who was sitting alone in one of the Keystone prison visiting rooms with the Flash. It was Devoe’s first respite from solitary confinement. He was amazed at how the single picture the Flash gave him kept changing into a new person every few seconds. The Flash told DeVoe to tell him when he spotted the Light.
Larry was getting anxious. Most of the crowd had dissipated. Father Lightle was still standing in the doorway of the Church of the Light when a bald headed square jawed man came up from behind the Reverend. Larry smiled as he remembered Doris Knight’s description of the Light. He snapped the man’s photo. A few seconds later he heard a rush of wind behind him. Flash didn’t go to the ridge line; he stayed out of sight but said quietly to Larry “Got him.”
Larry smiled at the news. He then purposefully exposed his position. The remnants of the congregation, Father Lightle and the Light all could see him. He stayed in plain view until he saw that they had seen him taking their photographs. He then returned to his hotel room and waited for Johnny Thunder and his Thunderbolt.
Johnny and T-Bolt had come and gone. Larry thought highly of Johnny, who was Dinah’s first friend among the super-hero community. People thought Johnny was a slow and would not, could not be a hero without his faithful Thunderbolt. Dinah never thought so; she said “Johnny just thinks differently than other people.”
Larry agreed, they both also knew the man and Thunderbolt both had hearts of gold. Johnny was calling Larry daily to check up on Dinah. They were both very apologetic when they told Larry that T-Bolt was afraid that he would hurt Dinah more if he tried to magically correct what was wrong with her because it was in her mind. The body T-Bolt could fix but not the mind. T-bolt said jokingly that if he could have done that he “would have fixed Master John a long time ago.”
Larry was sitting in the chair in his hotel room waiting for the Light’s response. If he had taken the amount of photos he took this morning with a normal camera a he would still be developing the rolls of film in the makeshift darkroom he created in the bathroom. He wanted to pace, but forced himself to sit. He wanted to smoke another cigarette, but he only had half a pack left on him and he wanted to be here. He decided to have another one in a half an hour. He turned on the TV and started to watch a baseball game. Two innings later there was a knock on his door accompanied with the familiar cry of “Police, open up.”
Larry had his holster and gun on, he quickly removed them and his jacket, hanging them over the chair as he yelled “just a minute, I’m in the bathroom.” He then raced over to the bathroom and dipped his hands in the developer fluid before rinsing them off. The police knocked again, louder this time saying “Open this damn door or we’ll bust it down!”
Larry grabbed a towel and went to the door. He looked through door’s spy hole and said “Let me see your badges.” The two plain clothes officers did as he asked and Larry opened the door. The one on the left punched him in the nose the second he did.
Larry dropped the towel as he staggered back and the big man hit him again, this time in the stomach. Larry was doubled over but he could see two uniformed officers rush in behind the detectives. They shoved Larry over to the wall and searched him. The detective that hit him went over to the chair where Larry’s jacket and gun were while the other one went into the bathroom.
The detective quickly found the gun. Larry said “I have a permit for that.” He was punched in the kidney as soon as he finished his sentence. “Don’t talk unless we ask you something punk” said one of the uniforms. “Larry started to drop to his knees from the blow but the other cop held him up.
The detective combed through Larry’s wallet and said “What do you know boys, we got us a genuine private eye.” Then to Larry he said “Who you working for?”
“Cant’ tell you, the clients confidentiality is legally protected” said Larry.
“Yeah, you got all sorts of rights usually. But not now. Who you working for?” said the detective.
“Sorry, can’t tell you” said Larry. The detective kicked Larry squarely in the groin while the two uniforms held him. He would have continued but the other detective said “Hold it Sal. Come in here and take a look at this.”
The two detectives were talking. Larry couldn’t make out what they were saying. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Johnny Thunder in the crowd of the baseball game on the TV silently asking Larry “Now?” Larry gave him a brief shake of the head. The two detectives came out and the one named Sal said “Cuff him and take him down to our car O’Malley.”
Chapter 19
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Sunday July 26th 1966
Larry Lance was in handcuffs as sat in the back of the detective’s car. He closed his eyes and waited for the two bulls to come down. Larry smiled when he thought of the detectives as bulls. You’re dating yourself Larry; people today are calling cops pigs. Bulls are what we called detectives back in the 40’s and 50’s. Twenty minutes later the detectives came down. One talked to the two uniforms, but Larry couldn’t hear what they were saying while the other one put a large box in the trunk of their car. My photographic evidence Larry thought.
The detectives got in the car, both men sat in front. Larry raised an eyebrow at that for they were in an unmarked police sedan; there was no metal cage separating the rear seats from the front seats. He then felt around for the special pocket he had sewn into the back of his pants. A small pocket that was now hidden under his belt. They missed that too he thought, When Dinah missed the fact that I was wearing a gun again I figured the Light brainwashing is makes it so people miss the obvious or do stupid things.
The detectives didn’t surprise Larry when they drove away from downtown and police headquarters. Instead they headed towards the more opulent section of Opal City. Larry was concerned that they were going to the Church of the Light. He wasn’t ready to go there yet. It would ruin his plan if they did. He relaxed when he saw them turn right on the road to the church. They were headed toward Father Timothy Lightle’s mansion which was hidden away in a forest grove. Larry gambled that is interview with the Light would be there because it was in secluded area with little traffic and no neighbors as opposed to the Church of the Light which was nestled in the middle of an upper class city neighborhood; even if there was a wooded ridge line nearby.
The car drove up to the locked gate. A security guard came out of a small building on the side and said “You’re expected” as he opened the gate. They drove for another half mile before they reached the mansion. It was built just five years ago and was the most ostentatious building Larry ever saw. It very gauche. It was certainly smaller Palace of Versailles but that was the building that came to mind. He believed the Light was about to have a fall from grace similar to King Louis XVI of France and his wife Marie Antoinette.
The car drove around to the back of mansion. Larry was taken out and hurriedly brought to a large room walled with books. On the far wall was large desk with its back to a huge window that looked out on to Opal City. The chair behind the desk was a big backed thing that would envelop most people. He expected whoever was sitting in to turn the chair around, but it continued to be turned away from him.
Soon a short man with long white hair came in the room. He was dressed in a tailor made suit made of silk. “So this is the private detective who was photographing the members of my flock?”
“Yes Father Tim” said one of the detectives in a reverent tone as he handed the smaller man Larry’s private investigator’s license.
Larry smiled and shook his head.
“What is so funny Mr ah … Lance?” asked the Lightle.
Larry looked to the high backed chair and saw a slight movement; his smile grew as he answered the question. “Well Father Timothy Lightle I’d much rather talk to your boss.”
I have no boss” said Father Lightle disdainfully.
“Answer is eminence” said the detective who had earlier hit him in his hotel room menacingly.
Larry looked at the detective and then turned to the head of the Church of the Light. “Did you know that your father Timothy Lightle’s real name is Antonio Martelli, alias Anthony Martin; born in 1903, not 1895, in Cliffland Ohio? Did you know he was arrested for fraud in 1922, 29 and 35 but never convicted until 1941 and spent eight years in stir; including six months as a cellmate to one Arturo Lampara, AKA Arthur Light, or simply the Light?” he then turned back to the exposed Antonio Martelli and added “I’d much rather talk to your boss behind the chair.” The same cop who hit him at the hotel now punched him square in the back of the head at Larry’s response.
“No need for violence gentlemen “said thin raspy voice from behind the desk chair. The chair swiveled as Larry Lance came face to face with the Light.
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Post by dave on Aug 22, 2017 0:50:55 GMT
Chapter 18
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Sunday July 26th 1966
There was a wooded ridge line across from the Church of the Light, whose Sunday morning service just concluded and the congregation was exiting the doors. Larry Lance was there taking pictures of the people exiting with a special camera equipped with a magical telescopic lens courtesy of Johnny Thunder’s Thunderbolt.
Every picture that Larry took of the parishioners was a perfect mug shot. Each one was immediately duplicated and shown to Clifford DeVoe, who was sitting alone in one of the Keystone prison visiting rooms with the Flash. It was Devoe’s first respite from solitary confinement. He was amazed at how the single picture the Flash gave him kept changing into a new person every few seconds. The Flash told DeVoe to tell him when he spotted the Light.
Larry was getting anxious. Most of the crowd had dissipated. Father Lightle was still standing in the doorway of the Church of the Light when a bald headed square jawed man came up from behind the Reverend. Larry smiled as he remembered Doris Knight’s description of the Light. He snapped the man’s photo. A few seconds later he heard a rush of wind behind him. Flash didn’t go to the ridge line; he stayed out of sight but said quietly to Larry “Got him.”
Larry smiled at the news. He then purposefully exposed his position. The remnants of the congregation, Father Lightle and the Light all could see him. He stayed in plain view until he saw that they had seen him taking their photographs. He then returned to his hotel room and waited for Johnny Thunder and his Thunderbolt.
Johnny and T-Bolt had come and gone. Larry thought highly of Johnny, who was Dinah’s first friend among the super-hero community. People thought Johnny was a slow and would not, could not be a hero without his faithful Thunderbolt. Dinah never thought so; she said “Johnny just thinks differently than other people.”
Larry agreed, they both also knew the man and Thunderbolt both had hearts of gold. Johnny was calling Larry daily to check up on Dinah. They were both very apologetic when they told Larry that T-Bolt was afraid that he would hurt Dinah more if he tried to magically correct what was wrong with her because it was in her mind. The body T-Bolt could fix but not the mind. T-bolt said jokingly that if he could have done that he “would have fixed Master John a long time ago.”
Larry was sitting in the chair in his hotel room waiting for the Light’s response. If he had taken the amount of photos he took this morning with a normal camera a he would still be developing the rolls of film in the makeshift darkroom he created in the bathroom. He wanted to pace, but forced himself to sit. He wanted to smoke another cigarette, but he only had half a pack left on him and he wanted to be here. He decided to have another one in a half an hour. He turned on the TV and started to watch a baseball game. Two innings later there was a knock on his door accompanied with the familiar cry of “Police, open up.”
Larry had his holster and gun on, he quickly removed them and his jacket, hanging them over the chair as he yelled “just a minute, I’m in the bathroom.” He then raced over to the bathroom and dipped his hands in the developer fluid before rinsing them off. The police knocked again, louder this time saying “Open this damn door or we’ll bust it down!”
Larry grabbed a towel and went to the door. He looked through door’s spy hole and said “Let me see your badges.” The two plain clothes officers did as he asked and Larry opened the door. The one on the left punched him in the nose the second he did.
Larry dropped the towel as he staggered back and the big man hit him again, this time in the stomach. Larry was doubled over but he could see two uniformed officers rush in behind the detectives. They shoved Larry over to the wall and searched him. The detective that hit him went over to the chair where Larry’s jacket and gun were while the other one went into the bathroom.
The detective quickly found the gun. Larry said “I have a permit for that.” He was punched in the kidney as soon as he finished his sentence. “Don’t talk unless we ask you something punk” said one of the uniforms. “Larry started to drop to his knees from the blow but the other cop held him up.
The detective combed through Larry’s wallet and said “What do you know boys, we got us a genuine private eye.” Then to Larry he said “Who you working for?”
“Cant’ tell you, the clients confidentiality is legally protected” said Larry.
“Yeah, you got all sorts of rights usually. But not now. Who you working for?” said the detective.
“Sorry, can’t tell you” said Larry. The detective kicked Larry squarely in the groin while the two uniforms held him. He would have continued but the other detective said “Hold it Sal. Come in here and take a look at this.”
The two detectives were talking. Larry couldn’t make out what they were saying. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Johnny Thunder in the crowd of the baseball game on the TV silently asking Larry “Now?” Larry gave him a brief shake of the head. The two detectives came out and the one named Sal said “Cuff him and take him down to our car O’Malley.”
Chapter 19
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Sunday July 26th 1966
Larry Lance was in handcuffs as sat in the back of the detective’s car. He closed his eyes and waited for the two bulls to come down. Larry smiled when he thought of the detectives as bulls. You’re dating yourself Larry; people today are calling cops pigs. Bulls are what we called detectives back in the 40’s and 50’s. Twenty minutes later the detectives came down. One talked to the two uniforms, but Larry couldn’t hear what they were saying while the other one put a large box in the trunk of their car. My photographic evidence Larry thought.
The detectives got in the car, both men sat in front. Larry raised an eyebrow at that for they were in an unmarked police sedan; there was no metal cage separating the rear seats from the front seats. He then felt around for the special pocket he had sewn into the back of his pants. A small pocket that was now hidden under his belt. They missed that too he thought, When Dinah missed the fact that I was wearing a gun again I figured the Light brainwashing is makes it so people miss the obvious or do stupid things.
The detectives didn’t surprise Larry when they drove away from downtown and police headquarters. Instead they headed towards the more opulent section of Opal City. Larry was concerned that they were going to the Church of the Light. He wasn’t ready to go there yet. It would ruin his plan if they did. He relaxed when he saw them turn right on the road to the church. They were headed toward Father Timothy Lightle’s mansion which was hidden away in a forest grove. Larry gambled that is interview with the Light would be there because it was in secluded area with little traffic and no neighbors as opposed to the Church of the Light which was nestled in the middle of an upper class city neighborhood; even if there was a wooded ridge line nearby.
The car drove up to the locked gate. A security guard came out of a small building on the side and said “You’re expected” as he opened the gate. They drove for another half mile before they reached the mansion. It was built just five years ago and was the most ostentatious building Larry ever saw. It very gauche. It was certainly smaller Palace of Versailles but that was the building that came to mind. He believed the Light was about to have a fall from grace similar to King Louis XVI of France and his wife Marie Antoinette.
The car drove around to the back of mansion. Larry was taken out and hurriedly brought to a large room walled with books. On the far wall was large desk with its back to a huge window that looked out on to Opal City. The chair behind the desk was a big backed thing that would envelop most people. He expected whoever was sitting in to turn the chair around, but it continued to be turned away from him.
Soon a short man with long white hair came in the room. He was dressed in a tailor made suit made of silk. “So this is the private detective who was photographing the members of my flock?”
“Yes Father Tim” said one of the detectives in a reverent tone as he handed the smaller man Larry’s private investigator’s license.
Larry smiled and shook his head.
“What is so funny Mr ah … Lance?” asked the Lightle.
Larry looked to the high backed chair and saw a slight movement; his smile grew as he answered the question. “Well Father Timothy Lightle I’d much rather talk to your boss.”
I have no boss” said Father Lightle disdainfully.
“Answer is eminence” said the detective who had earlier hit him in his hotel room menacingly.
Larry looked at the detective and then turned to the head of the Church of the Light. “Did you know that your father Timothy Lightle’s real name is Antonio Martelli, alias Anthony Martin; born in 1903, not 1895, in Cliffland Ohio? Did you know he was arrested for fraud in 1922, 29 and 35 but never convicted until 1941 and spent eight years in stir; including six months as a cellmate to one Arturo Lampara, AKA Arthur Light, or simply the Light?” he then turned back to the exposed Antonio Martelli and added “I’d much rather talk to your boss behind the chair.” The same cop who hit him at the hotel now punched him square in the back of the head at Larry’s response.
“No need for violence gentlemen “said thin raspy voice from behind the desk chair. The chair swiveled as Larry Lance came face to face with the Light.
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Post by dave on Aug 22, 2017 0:52:25 GMT
Chapter 20
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Sunday July 26th 1966
“It appears I underestimated you Mister Lance; however did you find me?” questioned the Light.
Answer his Holiness” said the detective who had just hit Larry.
“His Holiness? Said Larry. He shook his head before saying “I suppose you let the Opal City Police Athletic League use the Church of the Light along with allowing the union to meet there as well” he said to the Light.
The Light nodded with a smirk and said “Oh I did underestimate you Mr. Lance.
“Yes you did” said Larry as he eyed a small bar along the far wall. “Do you mind if I have a drink while I tell you how I found you? It’s a long story and my mouth’s kind of dry.”
The Light pointed at the detective and said “Take those cuffs off. He’s of no threat to me.”
“No need Larry said to the detective as he lob tossed them at the startled detective. The surprised man went to catch them instinctively. Larry then viciously kicked the man in the right knee and gave him a karate chop when he was hunched over. The detective was unconscious. Larry then put his hands up and motioned to the bar. “I’d still like that drink. I know this guy’s enthralled., but he liked hitting me too much. I think you’d rather have a civilized conversation.”
“Stop right there” said the faux priest Martelli, who had drawn a small .22 caliber pistol.
Larry turned to the Light and said “I promise not to start anymore violence. I’ll tell you all about how I found you. Just let me have my drink. I’m sure you have an awesome array of weapons behind your big desk Light. I won’t start anything.”
The Light smiled at Larry like a cat would if he could when playing with a mouse. “Let him have his Drink Antonio.”
Larry went over to the bar. He could see clearly see the grandfather clock on the wall now. From here he could keep an eye on the time and not be obvious. “I don’t like to drink alone. Would wither of you gentlemen like a drink?”
Martelli looked at the Light who shook his head no. “Oh well’ said Larry and he looked at the array of bottles. He grabbed a bottle of scotch and poured himself half a glass. “You know I think this cost fifty bucks a bottle. Always wanted to try it.” Larry took a sip.
“You still haven’t answered my question Mr Lance” said the Light impatiently.
“You’re right” said Larry. “The first reason was the same one as to how I was able to take off my cuffs. I had key hidden on me and the police didn’t find it when they frisked me. People under your mind control miss simple things like that. Your photographer made a couple of very small mistakes that he shouldn’t have. Especially if he was a professional photographer and judging from the photos you had taken of my wife and Ted Knight he was.
The Light leaned forward and said “What do you mean? Those photos should have disgusted you. You should have burned them soon after you saw them.”
“Yeah I know. They did disgust me and I almost did burn them; but something about them wasn’t right. See that’s where you made your first fundamental mistake. Using photos like that” Larry took a deep breath. “I’m may be big executive now, but basically I’m a private eye. And as such I’ve taken all sorts of pictures like those back in the lean years. I’ve had to deal with all sorts of sordid stuff where you feel dirty no matter how many years pass. So I knew something wasn’t right about them.”
“What was that” said the Light.”
“The lighting; pretty ironic huh?”
“What do you mean? I saw those photos myself. There was nothing wrong with them. They were perfect. You and the Knights should have been divorced months ago” said the Light.
Larry took another sip before saying “And my wife and Ted Knight should have been placed in an insane asylum by now too. But they’re not because you goofed. The photos use a setting sun in the background. They’re outdoors on a rooftop and the shading from light (Larry emphasized light) on their bodies” “had to come from in front of them. The photos were staged. Once I knew that I was able to examine the figures in the pictures closely. They were as stiff as boards. There was no passion, no ardor, they were posed. Besides that the pictures had to have been done by a professional, not a two bit private eye.” Larry said with anger.
“Amazing” I didn’t see it said the Light as he sat back in his chair he was obvious ready to react if Larry moved away from the bar.
“Then when my Dinah didn’t notice certain obvious things. On a hunch I checked our apartment for bugs. Later I found that a friend of mine, General Steve Trevor of army intelligence had recently discovered that his house was infested as well. The by happenstance I found out that another friend of mine, Stanley Bowes, a private detective who specialized in installing and maintain listening devices died on the very same day that Steve found the bugs.
“It was an interesting coincidence. But I don’t believe in coincidences. So I broke into Bowes office. I didn’t find anything to connect Stanley until I look at quarterly income taxed taxes he was preparing. He had several travel expenses he was listing as charity work. The cities listed corresponded to the addresses of friends of mine who had the very same listening devices in their homes. Then Stanley widow mentioned how she was from Opal City and Stan’s services were going to be done at Saint Aloysius AKA the Church of the Light.”
The Light clapped his hands “Very good Mister Lance, very good.”
Chapter 21
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Sunday July 26th 1966
“Oh there’s more, said Larry. During the course of my investigation I ran across the name of a P.I. named Harvey Bullock. He died of a brain hemorrhage just after he brought Doris Knight and me those pictures. Doris he spoke to, as for me, he or somebody else just dropped off my copies. This brought my investigation to a standstill. You see my first suspect was Clifford DeVoe, alias the Thinker.”
“Ah yes” said the Light. “But he’s disappeared.”
“No, he went to a different earth.’ Countered Larry “One almost exactly like this one. He designed a new and improved Thinking Cap. Confidentially he used the schematics of the device you showed him as a basis of some of his improvements. Just like I’m sure you used the plans he showed you of his old Thinking Cap, for the design of the devices you’re putting in the rockets surrounding your church.”
The Light’s face grew grim when Larry explained that he knew about the Rockets. Just then the other detective came in. he drew his gun when he saw his partner unconscious on the floor. “It’s all right Herbert: said Martelli. “Mr. Lance is explaining how he arrived here in Opal City.”
“Yes” said a scowling Light, “Continue Mr. Lance” he commanded.
Larry nonchalantly glanced at the grandfather clock before saying “As I said the Thinker was on a different earth. Almost an exact replica of here. Who ever heard of such a thing?”
“It’s an old theory” said the Light dismissively.
“Well anyway” said Larry “That’s where he was until he ran across one of the super-heroes of that world; he’s back on our earth now. Do you mind if I smoke?” asked Larry as he pulled out a cigarette. He took his metal lighter out and saw Johnny Thunder reflection in the metal asking silently “now?’ Larry covered his mouth so only Johnny could see him before silently mouth the words “no, not yet.”
“That’s why you couldn’t find and kill him. That was the plan wasn’t it?’ The Light made no response. “I mean you did kill the man who got DeVoe in contact with you as well as Bullock, who brought to DeVoe to 673 Hibbard Avenue. DeVoe told me about your meeting, he became quite cooperative when I told him about all the murders you committed to cover your tracks. And the Hibbard Street property was what led me to the Church of the Light. I got your finger prints in the church and discovered yours and Father Lightle’s real names. ”
The Light stood at that point. “So you came here to confront me all alone?” he laughed. “You must be truly emasculated Mr. Lance. What were you planning on doing coming to Opal City all alone? Finally going to come out from your wife’s skirts and be the big hero all by yourself. You’re a dead man Mr. Lance. Herbert and his partner are going to kill you when you tried to escape once you leave here.”
Larry smiled back at the Light. “I suppose you’ll have one of them use my gun to kill the other and then have him commit suicide over the grief of his dead partner so your track will be clean in case any of the JSA come snooping.”
“Bravo Mister Lance, I certainly did under estimate you” said the Light.
“Yes you did. You still are. What makes you think I’d be foolish enough to go up against a super-villain like you alone?” asked Larry. Now the Light’s face changed from contempt to concern. “Now Johnny” said Larry. The Light’s eyes grew wide as Johnny Thunder and his Thunderbolt appeared just to his right.
“Say you know I think the men with the guns ought to go to bed T-Bolt” said Johnny Thunder. Antonio Martelli and the two detectives suddenly sound asleep in a king sized bed that appeared out of nowhere.
The Light smiled as he went to point a button on his desk. “Really Mister Lance, the nincompoop is your backup”
“He don’t need that desk either T-Bolt” said Johnny. The desk disappeared before the Light could press his button.
The Light was older than Johnny, but he was a good foot taller and outweighed the hero by a good hundred pounds. The Light started to raise his fist. But Johnny was quicker. “Black Canary is a good friend of mine” Johnny said as smashed the Light with a vicious upper cut just the way the Wildcat had taught him. The Light was staggered by the blow. The bigger man was reeling back when Johnny followed up his first blow with a solid punch right in the Light’s breadbasket saying “So is Starman.”
The Light was hunched over, holding stomach when T-Bolt said “Master John may I?’”
“Go ahead T-Bolt, they’re your friends too” said Johnny
The Light suddenly felt a painful electric shock in his buttocks that caused him to jump forward towards Larry Lance who was fast approaching the Light. The Light was still hunched over when Larry was standing in front of him.
“You know Lampara, I promised not to start any more violence tonight but I didn’t say anything finishing it.” The Light saw Larry double up his hand and raise them over his head. He could do nothing as they came crashing down on his head. While Larry’s unseen knee came up towards the Light’s head at the same time. Arturo Lampara went out like a light.
Chapter 22
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Monday July 27th 1966
Larry was smoking a cigarette as he paced around the swimming pool at the Knight Mansion. Johnny Thunder’s Thunderbolt had transported him there immediately after they had taken down the Light. This was now a JSA affair. They had to figure out how to heal the people of Opal City whose minds the Light had tampered with. Larry wanted to see Dinah but Doris Knight told him that both she and her husband were in with Dr. McNider. Doris was sitting by the pool pretending to read. Larry smiled as he looked at her. He took deep drag off his cigarette and said “Doris, you don’t have to pretend you’re reading a magazine. I know you’re just as nervous as me.”
Doris looked up and Larry before saying “I’m not worried Larry. This is really an interesting article.”
“Must be” replied Larry, “Because you haven’t turned the page in the last five minutes.”
Doris shook her head as put the magazine down. “I didn’t know you were paying attention.”
“I wasn’t really” said Larry, “until I saw that you were holding it upside-down.”
Doris smiled and laughed, a real genuine laugh, something she had been unable to do much of for the past year. “Thank you Larry” she said graciously.
“You’re welcome” he said.
The two stood there nervously in dark by the pool waiting for their friend, Doctor McNider’s prognosis. Larry reached into his shirt pocket and took out another cigarette. He was about to light it when Charles came out. Larry felt an immediate immense relief when he saw the smile on his old friend’s face.
Ten minutes later he was in a guest bedroom. Dinah was there; she had clear eyes and was her old self again. The hugged and cried together for a long, long time. Eventually Dinah and Larry regained their composure. Dinah said “Larry I know the affair between Ted and I was just a false memory the Light planted in my head but it seems so real.”
“Yeah, I know Doll. But it’s not real or even complete. I mean, as I understand it the Light set it up so you would have a horrible growing self-revulsion, shame and guilt every time you thought about it coupled with and overwhelming compulsion to dwell on it. Therefore the dream didn’t have to be complete. So you really have no idea what Ted looks like naked” explained Larry. “I mean is Ted’s bellybutton an innie or an outie?”
Dinah looked at her husband and tried to say with certainty what type of navel Ted Knight had but she could not. She smiled at her husband before saying “Charles told me it was you who uncovered this horrible thing Larry, but he didn’t say how.”
Larry then proceeded to tell her how he had tracked down the Light. Dinah insisted that she wouldn’t have been able to do what Larry had done.
“Nonsense Doll, you’re Richard Drake’s daughter. He was Gotham City’s best detective. He taught you everything he knew. Besides that you are the Black Canary. You are a better detective than me. Do what I did” he said as he took out a manila envelope from his coat pocket. “These pictures were all the evidence I needed to start my investigation because they told me you weren’t in your right mind when you told me you had an affair with Ted.”
Dinah looked at the envelope and then at her husband. “Larry I can’t.”
“Doll you know that those memories were planted in your head. These photos aren’t real. Go beyond the disgust they’ll bring. Look at them without emotion and you’ll see them for what they are – fakes.” Larry held his wife’s hand and lovingly said “Dinah it’s the only way you’ll ever go back to being the Black Canary. It’s also the only way you can confirm for yourself that someone planted memories in your head.”
Dinah looked down at the envelope for several minutes. Larry watched as her as her old determination came to the fore. Crisply she ripped open the envelope and looked at the photos. She was repulsed by them at first. Then she forced herself to look at the entire photograph. “The lighting, Larry, the lighting-these things are fake as hell. Those memories of me and Ted are phony.”
“Yep” said Larry with a smile. They hugged, kissed and cried for a long time before Dinah said “Larry we have to show these to Ted. He has to see this for himself.”
“I know” said Larry. “But Dinah Ted was in worse shape than you were for a long time. You only caught up to him recently. And he’s not a detective...”
“You’re not giving Ted enough credit Larry” replied Dinah. “He’s a scientist and has a highly analytical mind. That’s how we’ll approach him when we show him these. He’ll see it once he gets over the shock value of these things. Then we’ll burn them.”
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Post by dave on Aug 22, 2017 0:55:22 GMT
Epilogue 1
Times Past
Memories
Civic City Monday August 15th 1966
Larry had been very nervous as he stood outside the JSA meeting room. Dinah said that Carter wanted him at the meeting. It was Dinah’s first meeting since the Light had been captured. The JSA had been very busy cleaning up the mess the mad scientist left behind.
Dinah was going to need help as she resumed her life. For her it meant a return to crime fighting as Black Canary. He had made arrangements to sell his company to Wesley Dodds so he could be more involved in his wife’s career. He was happy with his decision as it meant they would have more time together as well as having no financial worries.
The Door opened and Larry saw that the entire team had assembled together. It was a sight seldom seen. The JSA stood as one and gave Larry a standing ovation. He stood there and felt very warm as his cheeks turned red.
Hawkman then gaveled the meeting quiet and said. “Larry we can never go public with what you have done for us and the world. But we want you to know how much we appreciate you and your abilities.”
Flash stood up then and said “Years ago during our first case we made J. Edgar Hoover an associate member. In all the years since we’ve not passed that honor on to anyone else. “
“Until now” said a rising Black Canary. She walked over to her husband a put her arms around him before kissing him. “Congratulations Larry, you’re now officially an Associate Member of the Justice Society of America.
Epilogue 2
Times Past
Memories
Civic City Monday August 15th 1966
Later, after Larry Lance had left the meeting room The Light woke in a start. He was standing in front large circular table with the emblem of the Justice Society of America engraved in the center. The entire JSA was sitting in chair around the table except for Hawkman. The Light looked down at his green handcuffs dismissively “I suppose this is meant to impress me Mister Hall.”
“No” said Hawkman.
“Well then I suggest you have Mr. Scott take these off. You see I know all your identities. I just didn’t finish placing listening devices in all of your homes. I have that information written down and if I’m not heard from every three days they will become public knowledge” declared the Light.
“You’re a lyin’ rat” snarled Wildcat.
“Indeed Mister Grant. Whatever makes you say that” inquired the Light.
“Because today is date is August 15th Light” said Starman with a voice that had a dangerous edge.
The Light briefly blanched before saying “Ah Mister Knight I see you regain your sanity. You’re heroes and therefore pathetic. You won’t kill me and I’ll tell the world your real identifies if you have me incarcerated. You have no choice but to let me go.”
“Actually we did discuss executing you Light. Doctor Fate made several interesting suggestions as to the proper way of disposing of you” said Black Canary.
“As did I” said a chilling voice that came from a pale green costumed character.
The Light wet his lips. He was not as sure of himself as he was when he first awoke. “Well I’m sure the government will want my invention.”
“They would if they knew about it” said Wonder Woman. “As you know I worked for military intelligence and we deemed your horrid machine to be much too dangerous for the government to ever get its hands on.”
“And since your rocket are exact copies of Russian models that US Military Intelligence already have the schematic of; they don’t need them either ” added Sandman.
“Then what did you do with my machine” asked the Light.
“Nothing yet” said the Flash.
“You left very complete and detailed record of everyone who’s mind you tampered with” said Green Lantern.
“We’re finally finished healing the last of them” said Doctor Mid-Nite.
“I see “said the Light. “May I inquire about my partner in crime, Mister Martelli.”
“He’s in jail on charges of fraud” said the Atom. He doesn’t know all the ins and outs of your machine.”
“Yeah he believes he the world’s greatest con man and his skill got all those people to blindly follow him” said Johnny Thunder.
“Actually Johnny that’s what the Light’s machine has him believing” said Superman.
“We’re just not going to correct that belief” add Batman.
“And what is my fate to be then” said the Light.
He heard the cold metallic voice of Doctor Fate respond. “I would prefer your death or at least abandonment in a lonely dimension but the others have come up with a fairer fate.”
“Are you ready Mister Terrific” asked Hawkman.
The Master of Many Talents looked at the Light and then at Hawkman before nodding.
The Light suddenly found himself in the Church of the Light. Mister Terrific was sitting at the organ which doubled as the control panel for his mind control machine. He stood and said with a devious smile: “That machine won’t work on me. My intellect is too great. I can withstand it.”
Mister Terrific looked back at the Light before saying as he started to play “That’s no doubt true. That’s why I improved it.”
The Light was stunned by Mister Terrific’s simple statement because he believed he had created the perfect the machine. Mister Terrific broke through the Lights mental defenses like scissors through paper.
Epilogue 3
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Friday February 29th 1980
He awoke from his cell and rose from his small cot. He donned his sandals and simple brown hooded woolen cassock before kneeling and praying in silence. He had taken a vow of silence in the winter of 1967. He had not spoken once since, not even when he broke his leg when he accidentally fell down the stair fifteen years later.
He had escaped from the Justice Society of America with ease. The Master of Fair Play had given him an out and he exploited it. He remembered how he fled from the Church of the Light when Mister Terrific turned his back on him. He ran and ran until he was exhausted. He was in a rural area of the city to begin with; but he desperately dashed off into some of the city’s remaining wilderness.
It was then he came across the Monastery of Saint Joseph’s. He asked for and was given sanctuary. At first Saint Joseph’s was going to be a temporary hiding place but he came to find peace in its quiet. Slowly but surely he came to see the emptiness of his life as the Light. In January of 1968 he asked to become a member of the order and took the vow of silence he had been faithful to ever since.
After morning prayers in which he again asked for forgiveness for his past criminal life he went down to breakfast. As he sat he felt a sharp pain in his chest. This was something he had experienced several times in the recent months but he had not communicated anything about it with anyone. He grimaced under his cowl as he remembered what truly happened with Mister Terrific all those years ago.
Mr. Terrific had modified his machine. He had fled when the Man of a Thousand Talents had turn his back on him; only it was after Mr Terrific had planted a suggestion in Arturo Lampara's mind. It was a simple suggestion. Go hide at St Joseph's and give the idea spiritual life of silent contemplation consideration. Arturo Lampara was not compelled to spend the rest of his days in St Joseph's, he was merely told to look at the way of life without contempt. He looked around at his brothers and smiled; silently mouthed the words thank you to Mister Terrific. who suddenly appeared before him.
“It’s time Arturo” said the spirit Larry Lance who was now standing next to Doris Knight and Mister Terrific. Arturo Lampara blinked before looked down at his body with his brother monks as they tried to revive his dead body.
“Thank you, Mister Sloane for giving me a life worth living.” He gulped before asking the other three spirit for their forgiveness.
The Spirit of Doris Knight said “We are here Brother Arturo because we already have.”
Together the four spirits walked out of the Saint Joseph’s dining room towards a blinding white light.
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Post by dave on Aug 22, 2017 1:06:40 GMT
Hi all, this is really the first time I was able to figure out how to post here. SO my numbering of Memories is a bit off. I don't know how to correct it. "Memories" is one of my stories that aren't on the Five Earth's Project that I'm trying to edit and post here. There are others that I edit and will post as health permits. Though I am having difficulty downloading the earth 1 Blackhawks Origin tale in editable form
Please not that I tweaked the last epilogue because of some of the comments about the original. Evidently it did not come across as I intended. I hope the new one does Dave
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Post by dave on Aug 22, 2017 1:17:04 GMT
Larry Lance in Memories
Times Past;
Opal City Sunday August 8th 1965
It was a dark room with only one lit bulb hanging over the only furniture in the room. He was sitting in an uncomfortable wooden chair next to a table. On the table were a shot glass and half empty bottle of cheap scotch. Also on the table was the small bundle he had brought in. He was told not to wear what was in the bundle. He didn’t drink any of the cheap whiskey and almost hoped his perspective employer tried to rob him of his precious bundle. A few criminals currently residing in Keystone’s Potter’s Field had made the mistake of thinking he could only use the weapon in the bundle while he was wearing it.
He was a thin balding man with gray hair at the temples. He had a small pencil thin mustache that was years out of fashion, as out of fashion longer than the faded green business suit he was wearing. It was the very same suit he was wearing when he went to prison the last time. He was out on parole before he skipped out of Keystone City the day left prison. Now the authorities were after him. Worse, he heard through the grapevine the Flash was on the lookout for him.
He needed a job, a job he could do on the Q.T. if he didn’t want the Flash or any other damned JSAer after him. If he was able to get some money together he could put together his own criminal enterprises. But he needed cash to get started. That was why he was here in Opal City. An old foe of Starman wanted revenge. The bald man had never even met Starman so he wouldn’t be on the list of suspects if the hero’s old foe had him do what he suspected the villain wanted him to do. It wouldn’t be anything personal – like the mob said: it would be business.
The door he came in from opened and a big burly unkempt man with black hair walked through. He was wearing a brown trench coat with multiple food stains splotched in various places. The stub of a cigar was in his big calloused right hand. The brute looked at the fugitive from Keystone City and sniffed. He went past the man sitting in the room and went over to the wall.
The wall must have had a secret door because the wall where the man was standing suddenly slid over to the left. “Da boss ‘ill see ya now’ the brute said.
The smaller man stood up and grabbed his bundle.
“Leave dat” warned the big tough as reached inside his coat.
The smaller man from Keystone city said “I don’t think so. I have a much better idea. Why don’t you have a seat and drink the rest of the scotch while I go talk to your employer.”
The big man’s eyes glossed over and he took the seat and began to drink while the smaller man opened his bundle and took out a strange metal devise that resembled a colander with wires. The man put it on his head as he walked through opening in the wall.
Memories
Chapter 2
Times Past;
Opal City Sunday August 8th 1965
He wandered down an unlit hall way for a ten paces (He measured it exactly in case he needed a quick getaway). A door on the right opened on its own volition and a thin raspy voice said “Come in Mister DeVoe.”
The Thinker smiled to himself as he entered the room which lit up into an almost unbearable light when he did. He was blinded. Now he was angry, but he knew enough that his anger was masking his fear. He searched out for human minds in the range of his Thinking cap and found only one. He winced at the strength of the intellect behind the mind. It was very seldom that he felt that much power in a human mind. He involuntarily swallowed at the thought that he was dealing with something inhuman.
The mind seemed to comprehend the Thinker’s discomfort because the lights began to dim even as the man who owned the thin raspy voice said “relax Mr. DeVoe I do not wish to cause you any harm. This was only a test. I wanted to see how you handled my man Bullock. I am the Light.”
The Thinker was raised Presbyterian, he smiled as he quipped “You don’t look like Jesus to me.”
The Light returned the Thinker’s smile. “I am not. I am the greatest criminal scientist this world has ever seen.”
“Yes” said the Thinker, “But you disappeared back in the 40’s after a couple of run-ins with Starman.”
“Yes…Star Man” the old scientist spat. “He’s the one man who stopped my plans for world conquest.”
DeVoe didn’t care where the Light had been for all these years. He wanted to do whatever the Light wanted him to do now – for the right price. “I take it you want revenge on Starman” he proffered.
“Very good Mister DeVoe, very good indeed; I do want revenge on Starman. But probably not in the way you are thinking.”
“So you don’t want him dead then.”
“No I want him to suffer.”
“What’s this got to do with me?”
“That depends on the abilities of your Thinking Cap. Have you read the papers?” asked the Light.
“Yes” said an intrigued Thinker.
“Are you aware then the Starman recently teamed up with a fellow member of the Justice Society of America to defeat the Mist?”
The Thinker nodded yes.
“Well I’ve made arrangements so that a couple of old members of the Injustice Society are going to be in Federal City. Once there they will rob a function guarded by the Lance Security firm.”
“So’ said a totally bewildered Clifford Defoe.
“The Lance Security Company is owned and operated by Larry Lance. Back in the 1940’s Larry Lance was a private detective who often was involved in cases with the Black Canary. There is a relationship between the two. I am also making arrangements that Mr. Lance will have remain in Gotham City but I’m certain that his old friend Black Canary will be in Federal City to watch over things.”
“You’re not telling me everything Light”
“No I am not. I am only telling you what you need to know.”
Clifford DeVoe shrugged his shoulders as he said “Okay.”
“I happen to know that Star Man will be in Federal City at the same time.”
“So what do you need me for if you already have two former members of the Injustice Society set up to bump off Star Man and Black Canary?”
Memories
Chapter 3
Times Past;
Opal City Sunday August 8th 1965
The Light laughed at the Thinker’s question. He laughed so hard he began to cough spasmodically. It took a good five minutes before the Light answered the Thinker’s question.
“I don’t believe there is any possibility that the Sportsmaster and Huntress will able to beat Star Man and the Black Canary. My revenge has nothing to do with Star Man’s physical defeat. He is such a moral righteous sod. I want to corrupt him.”
Thinker stared at the Light for a moment. “So what do you want me to do?”
“Use your Thinking Cap to induce Starman and the Black Canary to have an affair. I have reasons to believe that if that smug self-righteous buffoon could be driven to the true depths of despair if committed such committed such a small trivial sin. Trust me on this Mister DeVoe.”
The Thinker remained silent as he highly doubted that the sanity of Starman or any other costumed do-gooder was so precarious; but he did wonder about his perspective employer’s. “There’s a problem with your plan Light. I can’t make Star Man and Black Canary have an affair. I can nudge them along if their predisposed to having one. Like making your man by the door have a drink. He wanted one in the first place. It’s similar to hypnosis. I can’t make a basically honest man rob a bank.” Not yet the Thinker added thought to himself.
The Light frowned at that piece of information. He was quiet for several minutes in contemplation before he asked “Could plant false memories in our stalwart heroes? If they resisted your attempt to nudge them into each other’s arms?”
The Thinker thought it over for “Yes…Yes I might be able do that.”
“Well then let’s discuss the details of the plan then” said the Light with malicious glee.
Defoe said “Let’s discuss payment first. Five gees a piece.”
“Ah Mr. DeVoe you’re not killing them, why such a high price?”
“If this were a contract to kill them my price would be twice as high. As it is I’m already wanted by the Flash and law enforcement. I’m putting myself in harm’s way Light.
“Half now and half later; is that acceptable to you Mr DeVoe?
The Thinker shook his head in agreement and the two villains discussed the details of the plan.
Chapter 4
Times past
Memories
Gotham City Monday September 13th 1965
Larry Lance’s secretary, Stella was holding all her bosses calls. Several of his men wanted to talk to him about upcoming security details or insurance cases they were working on but the Boss was adamant that he would take no calls today. Inside his office Larry Lance was looking over a set of photographs that someone had dropped off at his and his wife’s apartment Saturday morning. When he first saw the pictures he felt like someone had stabbed in this heart.
He’d been private detective long enough and worked enough cases involving cheating couples to know that the spouse was always the last to know. Still he was puzzled. He loved his wife. He had planned an elaborate surprise wedding anniversary celebration for that night before the pictures came. He kept quiet and proceeded with his surprise celebration. During their evening together she confessed to him about an affair with Ted Knight. Dinah swore she would never see Knight again.
Larry lit another cigarette as he drank his coffee. They were his two vices; they were also tools he used to clear his mind. Something was bothering him; something that kept eluding his consciousness. He was emotionally hurt and exhausted. Dinah went back to her flower shop today and he went back to the office. It wasn’t like they were going to ignore what had happened but they weren’t going keep rehashing it to the point where they would end as a couple either. He scolded himself to stop thinking about the past weekend. But he could not.
He went over into his office’s private bathroom and turned on the cold water. He splashed the water on his face. The thing that was bothering him came roaring up into the forefront of his mind. “Lance, you’re getting soft in the head” he said to himself as he sat back down. He buzzed his secretary and said Stella could you please bring me in another cup of coffee.”
“Yes Mister Lance, do you still want me to hold your calls?” asked the Stella
“Yes and cancel all my appointment for the next week. I’ve got a very important case I’m working on. Tell Mike he’s in charge for the next two maybe three weeks.”
He put the photos back in their envelope until Stella had come and gone. He took a sip of his coffee as he took the photos out again. It was an envelope whose contents his wife believed he destroyed. He took out the pictures and looked hard and long at them with the objective eye of a trained detective. He opened up his desk and took out the magnifying glass and pored over the photos even as he lit another cigarette.
Larry smiled very grim but satisfied smile as finished his coffee. Something was wrong with his wife, something very, very wrong. He knew that when she confessed to him. First he chalked it up to guilt and shame. Now he knew it was something else altogether. Dinah lived in a world of super heroes, and super villains - people who could do all sorts of incredible things.
Dinah didn’t have any super powers though, she was a hellcat of a fighter and a better detective than he was; she fought crime as the Black Canary. Larry was a former Gotham City Police Detective and the last partner of Richard Drake, a legendary detective on Gotham’s force and Dinah’s father. Larry quit the force in the late 40’s and became a private detective. He and Dinah married in 1953. In the ten years since then he built his little one man detective agency to something that rivaled the biggest and best large scale private security and private investigation agencies in the nation.
Whoever was behind these photos messed with his wife’s mind also screwed with his. Only difference was they didn’t change his memory. Him they gave a set of photographs and said “here sucker.” Larry Lance was a detective, one of the best in the business. He knew he would have spotted the perpetrators mistake sooner if he hadn’t really felt guilty about neglecting his wife. If he hadn’t deep down had a fear that perhaps one say she would leave him for one of the costumed heroes she palled around with in the JSA. Now he knew that someone somehow had caused his wife to think she had an affair. He kicked himself because he had been all too ready to believe it.
He picked up the offending photos and put them back into the envelope. He stood and stretched before going over to the wall safe. He opened up the safe he put the envelope in the safe and took his .38 police special and holster. He hadn’t worn a gun in a long time. Not since he became an executive. He spent the rest of the morning cleaning his gun. In the afternoon he was going to go see Dom, the Parrot, Parottezzi. A local photographer known to have made dirty pictures with models in the same costumes that the super heroes and villains wore.
Chapter 5
Times past
Memories
Gotham City Monday September 13th 1965
Dominic Parottezzi, AKA Dom the Parrot got his nickname because he was bald and his nose resembled a parrot’s beak. Add Dom’s last name and you have a perfectly apt nickname. Dom, the Parrot, Parottezzi owned a little photographer’s studio over in the east side of Gotham City. He took family portraits and had a contract with the school system to take the pictures of twenty of Gotham City graded schools classes. Today he was a legitimate small business man. Seven years ago he took more unsavory pictures. Dirty pictures some people called them, others said it there were harmless. They weren’t harmless for one of Dom the Parrot’s models back in 1957.
He had made the mistake of having one of his models dress up as the Catwoman in a photo spread with a man he put in white make up and a green wig. Dom’s photos were never sold in a large quantity but somehow the Joker had heard about this photo set The Joker didn’t see the fun in the photos; he wanted to kill all involved. The male model Toby Martin was killed and rumor had it that the Joker did it.
Dom the Parrot was extremely grateful to Robin who captured the Clown Price of Crime that time. But Robin wasn’t happy about the pictures Dom the Parrot was taking on the side. He threatened to let the Joker know who made the photos if Dom didn’t retire from the business. A grateful Dom the Parrot never took another dirty picture.
Larry Lance knew Dom the Parrot from back in 1954 when a former model of Dom’s was being blackmailed. The woman had since become a respectable house wife but someone was using Dom’s old photos of the woman as blackmail. The poor woman was dressed as Wonder Woman in the pictures. Larry investigation eventually led him to Dom the Parrot, who was innocent of any blackmail. Later Dom, the Parrot helped Larry learn about the ins and outs of photography. He also helped Larry on a few cases.
Larry knew that Dom would have to see the photos so he had them in his coat pocket, right next to the .38 in his shoulder holster. Larry took a cab to Dom’s studio. He made sure no one was following him. He guessed that whoever was behind the photos didn’t see him as a threat. Probably didn’t even think Larry would figure out the ruse behind his scheme. Not that Larry knew the motive behind the man’s plan. He just knew it caused heartache for him and his wife. Part of him thought he should tell Dinah what he had found out. But another part, the protective male part, the part that sometimes felt small in the light of all that his wife accomplished as Black Canary wanted to solve this case on his own. Whoever did this underestimates me thought Larry and that gives me an advantage. Besides the dirt bag that did this has made it personnel.
Dom the Parrot’s shop was in a quiet little neighborhood on the East side. His studio was on the fourth floor of an old brownstone. Jeesh I’m outta Shape thought Larry as he climbed the last of the stairs. He went over to Dom’s studio and knocked. A moment later a small bald man opened the door a smile came to his face when he saw his old friend Larry Lance. “Larry! What a surprise. You should a called” he said.
“Why Dom, would you have baked me a cake?” said Larry.
Dom laughed, “So why does a big shot from up town want with me. Need to discuss some new fancy security cameras?”
“Ah no, were still using the last ones you recommended Dom.”
“Good, ‘cause I don’t of know any better.”
“Actually” Larry coughed self-consciously “Dom I’m here because of another matter. You know I keep you on retainer for your knowledge in photography…well um…I”
“What is it Larry?”
Larry swallowed and said “Dom I can’t pay you anything for this information.”
Dom shrugged “That’s all right Larry I still haven’t spent the finder’s fee you paid me the advice on the security cameras.”
“Dom I’m working a case that involves masks.”
“Not…not the Jo…Joker” stammered Dom who lived in terror whenever the Clown Price of Crime escaped the asylum.
“No, not him, but I don’t know who yet and it might be dangerous for you. But I need confirmation that a set of photographs I have here are fakes.
Dom the Parrot turned from his friend. Dom was not a brave man. He wasn’t a craven coward either but one did not go into the cross-hairs of a mask; especially the villainous ones. “Larry what have you got yourself involved with.”
“Don’t know yet Dom” Larry said as he took out the envelope with the photographs.
Half an hour Larry left Dom the Parrot’s studio a lot happier than when he went in. He now realized that a part of him doubted the mistake he had seen in the photographs, but Dom independently found the exact same mistake that Larry did. The photos were definitely forged -f akes through and through. Yet for some reason Dinah believed they were true.
He was going to have to tread very carefully with Dinah. Someone was playing with her mind and he didn’t think he could or should confide in her. But he knew he had to speak to someone about this. Somebody in the JSA, somebody who could keep a confidence, someone who if approached the right way would have no choice.
Larry walked while he pondered his dilemma still making certain that he wasn’t followed. He then hailed a cab as the answer came to him. First though he’d make good on his promise to pay more attention to his wife. He had the cab go to his wife’s flower shop.
Chapter 6
Times past
Memories
Gotham City Tuesday September 14th 1965
Larry Lance was now even more concerned about his wife than he was before. He had stopped in Dinah’s flower shop yesterday afternoon with a couple of cannoli from the local Italian bakery and Dinah didn’t notice he was wearing his gun. She had been so happy when his company had gotten so large that he didn’t need to carry it. Larry had made up a good excuse for having on but it never came up in their conversation.
He knew she didn’t notice it was there. That scared him. As Black Canary she had to know who was carrying concealed weapon. Dinah major concern was that he was at the shop checking up on her. He was but not because he was jealous. He told her he was there because he had just had lunch with a perspective new client and was in the neighborhood “besides” he added “I promised I’d spend more time with you. They hugged and even then Dinah did not notice the gun. She should have, anyone should have. Now he knew her mind was more messed up than he first thought.
He left for work after Dinah did and checked their apartment for bugs –hidden microphones- on a hunch. He found one on their phone and several others placed in every room. He did not disable them. His knowing they were there gave him an edge.
He took the subway into work but exited it three stops before he normally did. He still made sure he wasn’t followed. He went over to a local bank and got a roll of quarters. From there he went to a telephone booth and called a Doctor in New York City.
A deep resonant voice that seemed to calm anyone who ever heard it answered “Hello.”
“Charles, this is Larry, Larry Lance”
“Larry good to hear from you. What’s up, planning a surprise anniversary surprise party on Dinah?
Larry smiled at how Charles always had the important dates in his friends lives memorized. He was such a kind and considerate man. “No Charles, this is business, is there any chance you could come to Gotham this week. I’ve just got done with a case that could be an interesting plot for your next mystery novel. It involves a murder committed with pesticide.” Larry hope to hell that Charles caught his hint and didn’t asked too many questions because there was now a possibility that all the JSA members homes were bugged.
Charles McNider was perplexed; he knew Larry wouldn’t be beating around the bush in this way. He started to say something and hesitated a moment. Larry asked him if he was still there. “Yes Larry I’m still here. Just checking my schedule… had to get out the calendar out. It’s in braille and a little clunky.”
Larry was relieved. Charles had caught his hints. “ so can you make the run to Gotham this week. The Yankees are playing the Knight Thursday”
Charles said “Yes I believe can be there Thursday. “
“Good I’ll meet you at the station”
“No need Larry. Your offices are near the stadium. I’ll meet you there.”
Larry went into his office and checked it for bugs. It was clear though he’d be willing to bet Dinah’s flower shop was infested with the electronic devices. He called Dinah to say he was afraid he was going to be late. “I have a fellow from Hong Kong calling tonight.
“Why don’t you just have call him you at home Larry” Dinah asked.
“I know how you hate when I do. I promise it won’t be long Dinah.” He hung up and Larry hoped Charles would show up early.
He was. To the world Charles McNider was a former medical doctor turn writer of mystery novels when he was blinded by a bomb in 1941. In actuality Charles McNider could see perfectly fine in total darkness or with the aid of special lenses he wore. Most of the time he wore the darkened glasses that were easily mistaken for a blind man’s sun glasses, but he also had a special pair of goggles he wore when he trod the world as Dr. Mid-Nite.
Why was Larry worried about bugs Charles mused as he hung up the phone. Then he checked his office phone and was shocked to find a bug. Charles swallowed hard. He quietly left his apartment and made his way to Gotham City, knowing he would have to be back in his apartment the next morning. He made certain he wasn’t being watched or followed.
Chapter 7
Times Past
Memories
Gotham City Tuesday September 14th 1965
It was six o’clock when Charles arrived at offices of Lance’s Security and Investigations. No one was there except for Larry who was waiting for Charles at the door. The entrance faced the west and the shades were often pulled down to avoid the evening sun. Today was no different.
Larry had the lights of his office on. His office chair had a high back which was facing the window. He had taken the phone off the hook and placed on the desk before he crawled on all fours out an already opened door. He would back track after meeting with after Charles.
Larry let Charles in as he approached the door. “Were you followed? Larry asked.
“No what’s this all about? Where’s Dinah?”
“Dinah’s home Charles; and before you ask no – she’s not okay. Someone’s messed with her mind. I also suspect the SOB’s messed with Ted Knight’s as well.
“What? Why” asked Charles.
Larry then explained about the pictures of his wife and Ted Knight, how his wife with missed the fact that he was wearing his gun yesterday, and how his apartment was bugged.
“Are you certain Dinah just didn’t want to say anything to you about the gun?”
“Absolutely, Dinah and I had some serious issues about me wearing it.”
“Okay, that is troubling. So is the fact that your apartment is bugged. So is my phone” said Charles.
“I think every member of the JSA may be bugged Charles. But I’m also worried about Dinah’s health. That’s why I called you.”
“Why not call Kent; he’s a medical doctor too.”
“Because Dinah says he gives her the willies when he’s got that helmet of his on. She says he not even human. I don’t want someone like that messing with my wife’s mind.”
Charles was silent for a moment and nodded “If Dinah has the willies around Doctor Fate, she hides it well.”
“She hides a lot of thing Charles, except from me. It’s one of the reasons why we work.”
“You’re an exceptional man Larry. What about the photographs tipped you off that they were fake?”
Larry took the envelope that contained the photos out. “Excuse me for asking Charles, but would see better in total darkness or are you fine with your glasses on?”
“Total darkness.”
“Then let’s go into our dark room. We sometimes have to print photos here; your black out bombs leave a slight residue. “
Charles followed Larry and examined the photos in the dark. “Oh God Larry I’m so sorry” he said as he viewed them. “You said they’re fake, but I don’t see how.”
“Ignore the shock Charles. Look at the light around their bodies and then compare it to the background. It is coming from two different sources on a rooftop. The sun is both to the back of them and according to the shading on their bodies also in front of them. That was the tip off. Then look closely at them Charles. There’ no passion there. They’re posed and as stiff as a couple of dead fish. “
Charles let out a long slow whistle. “Your right; whoever took these damn things figured you wouldn’t see anything. He figured you wouldn’t get past the shock.”
“I almost didn’t. I’m certain Doris Knight didn’t.”
“You mean she was given a set of these?”
“I think so. If she did you’re going to have to tell her the truth Charles.”
What about the bugs?”
“Let the rest of the JSA know about them and that you’re working on whoever is behind it. But please don’t tell them about the photos. We need to keep that between you, me, and Doris for now.”
Why?”
“Because it is our family and you are our doctor. My wife is ill and so is Ted. We need to keep this between us for now.”
Chapter 8
Times Past
Memories
Gotham City Thursday September 16th 1965
Charles McNider was tired; he had been traveling back and forth from New York City to Gotham City twice since Tuesday by rail. He was in Gotham tonight ostensibly to go to a New York Yankees/ Gotham Knights baseball game with Larry Lance. Actually he was there to see Dinah Lance; Larry was concerned about his wife’s mental health. Charles was a medical doctor, not a psychiatrist but he was a keen observer of human behavior and had known Dinah for close to twenty years. His other reason was to give Larry the cover he needed to break into the office of a recently deceased private investigator named Stanley Bowes.
On the surface Dinah seemed like the same woman he had always known. But he was keen observer with his training as a doctor and in his avocation as the detective super-hero known as Dr. Mid-Nite. Dinah was a little jittery. This behavior became exacerbated when Charles told that Hawkman had called him over the weekend to say Wildcat would be rejoining the team. She almost dropped the wine glass she was holding. That was the other odd thing. Charles had never known Dinah to have more than a single drink of alcohol at any one sitting. She had three while he had diner in the Lance’s apartment. Something definitely was wrong.
Later Charles and Larry left to go to the ballgame while Dinah stayed home. They took Larry’s car so they could talk. “What do you think Charles?” he asked even as they drove out of the parking garage.
Charles exhaled audibly and replied “There’s nothing I can point to definitively Larry, but yes I agree Dinah’s not acting like her normal self. “Your still not being followed are you? I know I’m not.”
“No I haven’t got a tail, but I want to keep on acting like I do.”
Charles nodded and said “tell me about Stanley Bowes.”
“Stanley was one of the best sound men in the business. That’s detective slang for someone who puts listening devices on phones and places.” Don’t give men that look, I know it’s illegal but the police do it and just about every private detective I know has done it at least once. And yes I have a small department of sound men at my agency.”
“What else can you tell me about Mr. Bowes.?”
“He was married with three kids; he was on the up and up – a real straight shooter. I tried to hire him a number of times over the years but Stanley like to be his own boss. Anyway he was found hanging in his office a week ago Monday. The police ruled it a suicide. But under the recent circumstances, I’m not so sure.”
Larry paid the ten dollars for parking and the two went into the stadium. Larry left in the middle of the second inning. He walked a few blocks away from the stadium and went to where the late Stanley Bowes offices were. He wasn’t wearing his gun but he did have his collection of skeleton keys and a small flashlight and camera.
Larry was sweating. He hadn’t done anything like this in over seven years. Still it was part of detective work. He knew whatever he found would never be admissible in any court but it might help him get a lead on the creep responsible with messing with his wife’s mind.
Charles had mentioned an old enemy of the Flash named the Thinker. Clifford DeVoe had once been the Keystone City District Attorney. He became disillusioned with the law and became a criminal mastermind. He created a device called the thinking cap which also gave him mental powers, only the Thinker never fought either Starman or Black Canary and they couldn’t come up with a motive. The Thinker had been a member of the Injustice Society that clashed with the Justice Society; but again, never when never when Ted or Dinah were active members of the JSA. He had recently been paroled and then disappeared. He was their chief suspect.
Now though he had to try and find something to tie the bugs in his and Charles’ apartments to Stanley Bowes. He found nothing in the client’s records. He was ready to say he had hit a dead end until he checked receipts Bowes was saving for his quarterly tax returns. Bowes had to pay his income tax quarterly because he was a private business owner. Larry found travel receipts for Bowes for a couple a trips to Opal City, two to New York City and one for Georgetown. It could be a coincidence that each place had a resident JSAer living there, Larry didn’t believe in coincidences. The thing about the receipts that bother Larry was that they were in a folder title charity work.
Chapter 9
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Sunday September 26th 1965
Charles McNider debarked from the airplane in Opal City. It was a bright sunny day. He had quickly arranged to come to Opal City for a book signing. He was a famed writer of mystery novels. He was really there to see Ted and Doris Knight. He would have come to Opal City sooner but he needed to avoid suspicion. He didn’t want whoever bugged his apartment to know he was wise to him.
The last ten days had been very difficult; especially the last regular JSA meeting last Monday night. Hawkman was there as chairman along with their long standing secretary Wonder Woman. In attendance was himself, Doctor Fate, Johnny Thunder, Mister Terrific, the Flash and Wildcat, who was warmly welcomed by the rest of the members and formally put on active duty while Hawkman announced that both Starman and Black Canary had notified him that they were taking leaves of absence. Other than that it was a quiet meeting. Or at least it was until Dr, Mid-Nite drop the bomb about how his and the Lance’s apartments and phones were bugged.
Then Wonder Woman said that her home too had been bugged. “You know my husband Steve works for military intelligence. Therefore our house is randomly swept twice a month by counter-intelligence. Our whole house was infested with those listening devices. We found them two weeks ago today. We thought the Russians put in a new advanced model because we never saw anything like them before.”
Dr. Mid-Nite asked her to draw the device and it was a match to the ones in his home.
“Holy….that means someone knows who we are under our masks” said the Atom as he angrily pounded his left fist into his right palm.
“So,” said Johnny Thunder. “Everyone knows who I am.”
“Johnny most of us like our privacy” said Mr. Terrific. “There’s also the matter of protecting our families.”
Oh” said Johnny.
Wonder Woman handed Doctor Mid-Nite a drawing of the listening device as she said “This is what they looked like.”
“That’s what is in our apartments” confirmed Doctor Mid-Nite.
Doctor Fate stood up and declared “We must find people responsible for this and erase the knowledge of our true identities from their minds.”
“Good idea Fate” echoed Wildcat.
“Any idea how we do that Doctor Fate?” asked the Flash.
“Yes, just give me one of these devices and I shall use a spell of affinity. That will take me to them” declared Dr. Fate.
“Two problems with that idea Doctor Fate: one the devices may have a tamper alarm and our taking one of the ones in use might alert or spy and two…two is there are a couple of our members whose health I’m afraid has been affected by these spies. I’m not at liberty to say who they are but I need to ask you to please let me handle the investigation” said Doctor Mid-Nite.
“No I will do the spell of affinity” declared Doctor Fate.
Hawkman then slammed down his gavel. “Hold on Doctor Fate. Let’s hear Doctor Mid-Nite out.”
“ I can’t say much more Hawkman. Other than I am taking care of one member who has somehow been affected and am going to see another. We need to this quietly. As to why I believe the bugs have an alarm. I believe I discovered the man who planted them” explained Doctor Mid-Nite.
“Where is he; wait til I get my hands on him” said the Atom.
“He’s dead Atom. From the coroners’ report he hung himself the very same day the bugs were found in Wonder Woman’s house” said Doctor Mid-Nite.
It was quiet for a moment before Johnny Thunder said “Say you know if this guy’s dead then he might not have planted these bugs in all our homes. I wonder if any of us are deloused.”
Johnny Thunder’s pink Thunderbolt suddenly appeared with a flourish he bowed to the assembled members of the Justice Society and said “Only Star Man, Black Canary, Doctor Mid-Nite, Hawkman, Doctor Fate, and you are bugged boss. He then produced a can and asked Johnny if he wanted some itching powder.
“Impossible! Unacceptable” cried Doctor Fate. “No one can enter my tower without my permission.”
Thunderbolts turned to the Lord of Order and said “I didn’t go in your precious tower Nabu; Kent Nelson’s doctor’s office is bugged. Dr. Fate sat down. Everyone could see his eyes were wide in surprise. He was clearly flummoxed.
“What do you want us to do Doc?” asked Wildcat.
Dr. Mid-Nite explained how he was making sure he wasn’t followed and was being extremely careful what he said on the phone. He encouraged the others to do the same. “We should notify the rest of our members about the situation. I’ll keep you all updated on what’s going on. And one last thing: please contact me if any of you have any run-ins with the Thinker because I have reasons to believe knows something about this.”
“This isn’t DeVoe’s style” Doctor Mid-Nite” said the Flash.
“No, but nevertheless I think he’s involved.”
“There are things you are not telling us Doctor Mid-Nite” accused Doctor Fate.
“True, but that’s because of doctor - patient privilege. I only became aware of this because someone came to me as a doctor” confessed Doctor Mid-Nite
Doctor Fate nodded before saying “Kent Nelson also holds the doctor - patient privilege sacrosanct. I therefore motion that we let Doctor Mid-Nite handle the investigation and give us update at each meeting.” The motion was carried unanimously.
Chapter 10
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Sunday September 26th 1965
After Charles McNider was unpacked and settled into his hotel room he called the Knight’s. Doris answered the phone and asked him to come over right away when she heard his voice. She sounded distraught. Charles said he would be right over. First though he wrote several notes which he would give to Doris because Johnny Thunder’s Thunderbolt already told him the Knight household was bugged.
The cab pulled into the long driveway that led to the Knight Mansion. Charles McNider exited the car, pretending to be blind. It was a pose he had mastered after many years. If he took off his glasses it wouldn’t be a pose here in broad daylight. Doris came out before he even reached the stairs.
“Charles” she cried “I am so glad to see you” she said as she hugged him.
“What’s wrong Doris” said Charles in his most calming and reassuring voice.
“Ted, Ted’s sick…I think he’s having another nervous breakdown.”
Charles continued to stand at the bottom of the stairs. He wanted to hear what was wrong and not be heard by the listening devices. He silently said a prayer of thanks that in was a warm and sunny day instead of raining. “When did this start?” he asked.
“About two weeks ago. He came home. We had a…disagreement and then he slowly started to become obsessed with work in his lab he isn’t sleeping. His speech is pressured. He switches topics in the middle of sentences. He flinches at the slightest thing. I’ve asked him to see a doctor but he refuses. He says I don’t trust him; that I need to trust him.”
Charles nodded “let’s walk over to the patio Doris.” Doris gave Charles a puzzled look but agreed.
“I don’t know how to put this gently Doris” he said when they reached the patio. “But you and Ted both believe that Ted has given you a very good reason not to trust him. Some horrible pictures were given to you on the Saturday September eleventh.”
“How did you know that?” said an aghast Doris.
“Because Larry Lance received copies of the same photos, Dinah confessed to him about an affair with Ted, and is now deteriorating mentally – not as quickly as you’ve described Ted’s condition but she is decompensating. “
Doris turned from Charles and folded her arms before saying “Good.”
Charles said “No, not good Doris, Larry discovered the photos were fakes. That and someone has given both Ted and Dinah false memories of an affair that never happened.”
Doris turned – her face’s expression changing from anger to shock. “Charles there’s no way those photos could have been fabricated. That was Ted. Ted…and…and...Dinah. You haven’t seen those things.”
Charles voice remained at its most reassuring and calm tone. “Actually I have seen them. I didn’t see the fabrication when I looked at them until Larry pointed them out to me.”
“How could he even stomach to look at them long enough to see they were fake?” she asked.
“Larry’s been a detective for over twenty five years. He also spent over ten as a private eye. He won’t say, but I imagine in the lean years he saw all sorts of sordid photography. He had to learn about photography in his business. The lighting and shading in the photos is all wrong. He saw the photos and was in shock, but something about them bothered him. So he didn’t destroy them as he was first inclined to do. Eventually he examined them closely and spotted the problem with the lighting.”
“They were still in each other’s embrace – kissing” Doris cried softly.
“I know. But Larry pointed out how tense their muscles were. They were posed. There was no passion in the pictures. I didn’t see it either until he pointed it out.”
“Why isn’t he wearing a costume if he’s such a damned good detective?”
“It’s not his style. But there is something else you need to know something important.
Doris wiped away the tears on her face and said “What could be more important than finding out Ted didn’t cheat on me?”
“Your house is bugged. Most likely by whoever framed Ted and Dinah.”
Now Doris’ eyes grew wide as she took in what Charles said. “The Lance’s apartment and phone are bugged too. So is mine, Johnny Thunder’s place, the Hall’s and Kent Nelson’s medical offices. Diana’s was too, but because Steve’s in military intelligence the government periodically does a sweep of his house and office. They found the Trevor home infested with listening devices.
“Do you know who did this? She asked.
“I know who who planted the bugs. He was killed the same day Diana’s were discovered. And that’s the reason you have to behave as if you don’t know they are there.”
Doris swallowed hard as she said “I don’t know if I can do this. Ted’s promised me he wouldn’t dress up as Starman again. We’re supposed to start over with a normal life.”
“From what you’ve told me Ted is far from normal right now. I don’t think he can get well again until we know what’s wrong with him and how he was hurt in the first place.”
“Well, have the Spectre wave his hand or something,” she said.
“We can’t. That could cause irreparable harm to both Ted and Dinah. We have to solve this case the old fashioned way.”
Chapter 11
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Sunday September 26th 1965
Charles and Doris talked for only a little bit longer, with Charles reassuring Doris that everything he had told her was true. They then went inside the house; once inside Charles found and showed Doris where one of the listening devices was placed. He then asked where Ted was.
Ted Knight was in his lab. He was there almost all the time. He couldn’t sleep and he couldn’t stop working on whatever project he was working on. Doris was at first able to get him to leave the lab since the arrival of the photographs. But she would find him there in the middle of the night. He wasn’t bathing or eating regularly. She was afraid she was going to have to have Ted committed.
“Let me see him first Doris” said Charles.
Charles knocked on the door and said “Hello Ted, its Charles McNider.” He opened the door as he added “I happened to be in town and thought I’d drop by.” Charles was shocked to see Ted’s normally pristine lab a total mess with papers strewn all over. Various gadgets and equipment set hither and thither. Then he saw Ted, he was a mess. He obviously hadn’t shaved in days. His eyes were dark from lack of sleep and his hair and clothes were completely unkempt.
Ted looked up from his workbench and swallowed hard. He looked around nervously. “Why are you here? I quit the JSA. I quit being Starman” he said. He had a fearful look in his eyes, one of paranoia.
“I didn’t come to see Starman, I came to see you Ted” reassured Charles.
“Good, good…I promised Doris that I wouldn’t put the costume back on. I promised her that I wouldn’t see the Black Canary.”
“Why” asked Charles.
“You know Charles, you warned me when I first met her. You told me she was a married woman. Told me I was married too.”
“When was this?”
“Right after my first case back, when we fought the Crime Syndicate from that other earth; you warned me then after you saw me staring at her.”
Charles merely nodded. He knew no such conversation had ever taken place. These planted memories go deeper that I thought. “Does anyone else know of your indiscretion?”
“Yes” Ted Knight said in a sobbing voice. “Wildcat knows…he said as much. Oh I can still hear the disdain in his voice. And Doris…I see the hurt in her face every time I look at her. I can’t bear it. “
“Is that why you’re down all day and night? Working on things to take your mind off this overwhelming guilt your feeling? “
Ted just look down and began to cry. Charles took Ted in his arms and held him as he said “Ted I want to give you some medication.”
“Please don’t put me to sleep Charles. Every time I dream I’m back at the prison in Gotham City with the Mist telling me about the blackmail pictures he has. “
“The Mist took these photos? “Asked Charles
“Yes his man Bullock took them. He tried to blackmail us into freeing him. Charles he knows who I am. You have to go he might find out who you are.”
“That’s all right Ted. Who’s going to believe a blind man is a member of the JSA. “
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you Charles.”
“I won’t Ted. Did you go to the jail in costume?”
“No…no I, we went in in our normal identities. Bullock came up to us and said we were to go there as Ted Knight and Dinah Lance.” Ted broke down into near hysterical sobbing at this point; just saying “I’m sorry” over and over again.
Charles gave him a heavy duty sedative. The strongest he carried in his black bag. After he got Ted to bed he told Doris he thought it was best to keep Ted sedated outside by the pool.
“I will not commit my husband to an asylum Charles” said Doris.
“I didn’t say anything about committing him Doris. But he needs to be kept sedated. Someone has planted totally false memories in your husband. That same vile bast...vile person has given an unreasonable guilt complex as well as a recurring nightmare of another event. Hire some nurses; male nurses would probably be best. Tell them your husband had a psychotic break. That way they’ll discount anything he says about being Starman. I’ll consult with Kent Nelson and we’ll try and come up with a better plan.”
“Will he be this way permanently?”
“Not if I can help it Doris. I am going to reverse this if at all possible.”
Chapter 12
Times Past
Memories
Gotham City Tuesday July 5th 1966
Yesterday had been the Fourth of July but there was no celebrating at the Lance household. While Dinah Lance wasn’t as bad as Ted Knight was, she deteriorating mentally. She had closed the Flower shop in Mid–October because she was having panic attacks. Dinah didn’t leave the apartment anymore. She was getting afraid more often. Charles prescribed her some medications, but it was Larry he doled them out. Larry knew that Dinah was still slowly getting worse. He had to hire a nurse to be with his wife during the day while he was at work. What’s worse the case had grown cold.
He had gone to the prison when Charles had told him that according to Ted; he and Dinah visited the Mist in prison because he was the one blackmailing them. Trouble was the prison records showed the only visitor the Mist received was his lawyer.
He had promising lead in the private eye named Bullock. There was a private eye in Gotham City named Harvey Bullock. He was a former detective who was thrown off the police force because of multiple complaints of police brutality as well as unsubstantiated claims of corruption. Larry went looking for Harvey Bullock the day Charles McNider gave him the name only to discover that the man died of a brain hemorrhage on September 11th, the same day the photos arrived at his house. It would be a strange coincidence, if Larry believed in coincidences. He searched Bullock’s office and home and found out nothing except the man was a complete slob.
He had gone to see the widow of Stanley Bowes. She was a small mousey looking woman with short brown hair and wore thick horned rimmed glasses. He went on the pretense of offering his condolences and offering to buy Stan’s equipment. Jessica Bowes thank him for his offer but she said she didn’t need his help financially. Evidently she was the daughter of a shipping magnate from Opal City, where she was planning on returning to at the end of the month. She said her father had always wanted her poor Stanley to join his company but Stanley always said no because he like to work for himself. Larry shook his head and said he hadn’t seen any notice for a wake or funeral for Stanley. She said that was because she was going to have them done in Opal City at her father’s new church – Saint Aloysius.
He was sitting at his desk going through paperwork – case files his agency was working on. He was, only he couldn’t concentrate on them as he kept his brain being drawn back to his wife’s case. He was staring at the same sheet of paper for ten minute when his secretary said he had a call from one of the firm’s primary investors.
Lance Investigations and Security was a private company but he had financial backing as he grew. There were two principal investors; both men were friends of his wife and him and both Carter Hall and Alan Scott were members of the JSA.
“Carter, what can I do for you?” he asked.
“Larry I’m calling from a payphone” said Carter as Larry suddenly sat up at rapt attention. “Charles asked me to call you.” Larry wished Carter would tell him what he wanted. “Clifford DeVoe is in custody in Calvin City Connecticut. He would like to meet you there tomorrow.”
Larry quickly made arrangement for the home nursing service to stay with his wife overnight and then made arrangements for a flight to Hartford Connecticut, the nearest airport that accepted commercial flights. He also ordered a rental car.
He then went home and told his wife that he had to go out of state on business because of an emergency. Dinah cried hysterically at the news and had to be given a double dose a sedative. She said that Larry was putting himself in danger by flying. She was terrified she was going to lose him. Larry was very frightened that he was losing Dinah, but in a totally different way.
Chapter 13
Times Past
Memories
Calvin City Tuesday July 6th 1966
Clifford DeVoe was sitting in a hard wooden chair in a Connecticut prison. He was charged with grand theft. He figured he could beat the rap. After all it was all based on the fact that some nobody came under the influence of his new and improved Thinking Cap when he used it on Earth 1. Multiple Earths he mused what a wonderful concept. He had found out about Earth 1 when a young hero named the Flash rescue his Earth 2 namesake from him and his two partners at the time, the Shade and Fiddler. The Fiddler had discovered all you need was to move at a different vibrational frequency to travel across universes. Strange concept but one he added to his Thinking Cap. All along his had been his plan commit crimes on Earth 1 and live with the profits on his home earth-Earth 2. He couldn’t for the life of him fathom why his earth came in second to the one he had recently been plundering as he thought it was definitely second rate compared to his home.
Unfortunately for him a former small time hood trying to go straight named Artie Perkins was committing the very same crimes he was on Earth 1. The Atom on Earth 2 got involved because he was instrumental in helping Perkins reform while the Atom of Earth 1 had stumbled upon the Thinker committing crimes on his earth. The Thinker wound up fighting both Atoms. He lost and was now in prison awaiting trial (See Atom Volume 1 # 29 February-March 1967)
He was sitting in a walled off visitor section of the prison. His lawyer wasn’t due to see him until tomorrow and the police couldn’t question him without her presence so he wondered why he was there. Then a tall wiry man with black curly hair came in. He was dressed in a brown suit with matching hat and shoes with a white shirt and thin red tie. He reeked of the smell of a cop.
“What is this, you cops can’t talk to me without my lawyer. Even the Atom can’t talk to me without her present” said DeVoe.
“That’s right. But I’m not a cop. I’m a private eye. The names Larry Lance” Larry said with a smile. He then reached into his pocket and took out a pack of cigarettes. “Smoke?” he asked as he offered a one to DeVoe.
DeVoe took it and waited for Larry to light it. “I heard of you Lance. The JSA is not going to violate my rights by using a proxy to talk to me without my lawyer. I know all about how you used to work with the Black canary back in the 40’s.”
Larry took a seat at the other side of the table and said “That’s true Defoe but I’m not interested in why you’re here. See there’s this private eye in Gotham City named Bullock who died of a brain hemorrhage last year. But I don’t think he died of natural causes. I think the hemorrhage had help.”
“If you think I killed him; you’re mistaken.”
Larry took a drag off his cigarette; DeVoe didn’t deny he knew Bullock, which was good because up until this moment he didn’t know if the two had ever met. Larry exhaled “No I think whoever killed poor old Harvey wants to kill you too. Probably the only reason he hasn’t is because you’ve been spending so much time on that other earth.”
DeVoe was genially curious when he asked “Why do you think that Lance?
“Everybody who works for him is dead” in a matter of fact tone. He inhaled another drag on his cigarette and said after he exhaled “You don’t have t tell me the name of the man who hooked you up with Mr. Bullock’s employer, but has he recently had an unfortunate fatal accident?”
DeVoe rubbed his bald head as he took a deep drag of his own cigarette. “Yes” he said “He had a massive coronary last October.”
“I thought so” said Larry. You know some folks in the JSA say that you’re behind the crimes this guy has committed. Me, I figure you did some work for somebody. You used the dough he paid you to improve your Thinking Cap had a costume made. I’m no fashion plate DeVoe, but I have to tell you –purple is not your color. Unless they have some really weird fashions on that other earth.”
“What do you want Lance?”
“I want the name of the man who hired you.”
“Why should I tell you? It’s not like I can’t protect myself.”
“That’s true; you’re an extremely dangerous man - when you have your Thinking Cap. Without it you’re just another middle-aged felon in prison. You won’t last long DeVoe if someone puts a hit on you. This guy will. I know that anyone who worked for him in one capacity or another is dead.”
“If I tell you I’ll be known as a snitch Lance. I’m a former DA, it’s only because I’ve gone against the likes of the Flash and once joined the Wizard’s Injustice Society that I survived prison intact. Ratting out somebody will insure my death warrant.”
“No it won’t because anything you tell me won’t go to court. To the world I will have solved this case by my investigative prowess. Think of this as when a defense attorney offers the prosecution a proffer. They tell their client’s story and find out how much it’s worth in a plea deal.”
“I want to know up front what it’s worth.”
“Fair enough, all the charges you’re facing now are dropped and you’re held in solitary back in Keystone until I catch the bum who hired you.” The Thinker started to object but Larry cut him off.
“Listen DeVoe, nobody is going to think you snitched if you’re in solitary. You’ll look innocent.” Larry handed the man another cigarette.
Chapter 14
Times Past
Memories
Calvin City Tuesday July 6th 1966
Al Pratt was finishing barbecuing chicken on his small grill in the backyard of his small ranch house. The Calvin College physics professor had two very hungry guests sitting at a small picnic table. Charles was saying to Larry “that was an amazing interview with the Thinker Larry. How did you ever guess that he was working for someone else?’
“I knew it the minute Al showed men the Thinker’s new Thinking Cap” said Larry.
“I still don’t understand.”
“The entire outside is made of platinum” said Al as he brought the chicken to the table, “Cost DeVoe a lot of money to make that helmet - more money that he had when he skipped parole.”
“That’s right; He had to have worked for somebody to get the money he needed to make the new Thinking Cap. Actually I wasn’t certain he was our man until I saw his reaction when I mentioned Bullock” said Larry.
“How’d you know the go between the Thinker and the Light was dead? “Asked Al.
“I didn’t,” said “Larry. “It was a calculated gamble. The Light has offed anyone who can tie him to this mess so it stood to reason the guy who arranged their meeting was dead too.”
There was a sudden rush of wind before a man dressed in a red shirt and boots with blue pants and a silver helmet suddenly appeared in the Pratt backyard. He saw the three men dressed in civilian attire and disappeared in a second rush of wind that didn’t end until the man reappeared dressed in casual clothes.” Sorry Al, I didn’t mean know you folks were out of costume “he said.
“It’s all right Jay, my neighbors have fences” said Al. “What did you find out at the address I gave you?”
“Nothing, 673 Hibbard Avenue is an abandoned building that hasn’t had anyone in there in months. There was no power hooked up either there.”
“Another dead-end” said Charles.
“No it’s not Charles. I expected to be abandoned. All it means is that I have to go through tedious process of finding who owns the building. It might take me a week or so. I assume the Light will have a bunch of dummy corporations set up but eventually I’ll find out who pays the taxes and who paid for the power when it was on.”
Everyone nodded and Al said to Jay “There’s beer in the fridge, or lemonade if you prefer .”
“Thanks” said Jay “can I get anyone else one?”
“I’m all set “said Charles, though both Larry and Al wanted another.
“So what did my old foe the Thinker have to tell you guys?” asked Jay as he sat down.
Larry said “It was a very interesting conversation. DeVoe left Keystone City with his old Thinking Cap and plans for his new model. But he needed a lot of cash to build it. He wanted earn some quick money but he didn’t want to fight you again Jay. He talked to man he knew when he needed henchmen and was told that someone was looking to hire him. So he left Keystone and went to Opal.”
Larry paused to take a sip of his beer. ”He met Bullock at the bus depot and Bullock took him to 673 Hibbard Avenue. The Light wanted DeVoe to cause my Dinah and Ted to have an affair. But DeVoe’s Thinking Cap could not do that unless some part of them wanted to.”
“Like a hypnotist can’t make someone do something totally out of the person’s moral makeup” said Charles.
“Right” said Larry “That’s exactly what DeVoe said. So the Light asked him if he can create false memories. To which the Thinker says yes. Unfortunately DeVoe said he can’t go into as much detail as the Light wanted him to go with the false memories. This pissed the Light off. But he asks DeVoe if he could at least put the two of them into a deep, deep trance. That Defoe says he can do if he catches them off guard.”
“I don’t understand Larry,” said Charles, “Why do Ted and Dinah have those false memories if DeVoe didn’t cause them?”
“That was true was the true revelation about my interview with DeVoe. After the Light and he haggled over the price for ambushing our friends. The Light asked DeVoe to look at a set of blue prints and asks him if there was anything he would do to improve them. DeVoe made a few suggestions even while he memorized the specifications of what the Light showed him. The scary part is the plans had the date June 26th 1949 on them. “
“What were the blueprints for Larry” asked Jay.
“Oh sorry; they were for a mind control device - device as bigger than the basement of a church or hall. It would draw a lot of juice too. The Light was interested in buying the plans of DeVoe’s Thinking Cap. DeVoe obliged him for a price. He now also has the schematics of the Thinkers original Thinking Cap” said Larry.
“You can be sure he’s improved it too. It might even be better that the Thinker’s new model” said Al.
“Probably is, the Light’s a whole lot smarter than DeVoe. DeVoe said he never encountered a mind as powerful as his” said Larry. “Anyway the Thinker ambushed Dinah and Ted right after Ted Grant left them. He and Bullock put them in the back of a VW van. Bullock handed an envelope of cash to DeVoe and drove off leaving DeVoe in Federal City. “
“You believe him?” asked Jay.
“Yeah, he no doubt left some parts of the story out. Parts that made him look bad, but I think he essentially told me the truth. He knows the Light wants him dead and needs your protection.”
“Well then I’ll keep him safe until the Light’s brought to justice” said Jay.
Chapter 15
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Thursday July 22nd 1966
Larry Lance had a headache. He had spent the last two and a half weeks going through tax records and tracking down who was paying for the power at the building a year ago. It was the kind of thing he did when he was working for a wife divorcing a rich husband with hidden assets. He also did this sort of thing when he was a cop trying to catch money launderers. It was hard work. He took another drag off his cigarette when there was a knock on his hotel door.
He put out his cigarette, stood and pulled out his pistol from his shoulder holster in one fluid motion. Going over to the door and standing just to the right lest he get a shotgun blast in the chest he asked “Who is it?
“Larry it’s me Doris Knight.”
“Just a minute said Larry as he shouldered his pistol. He opened the door and Doris came in.
“You shouldn’t be here Doris” said Larry.
“I had to see you Larry. I had to know if you’re making progress. Our phones are bugged. I only get smidgens of information when Charles or Kent comes to check on Ted. “
Larry nodded and offered Doris a seat. “Would you like some coffee?”
“No thank you Larry. How’s Dinah?”
Larry took out another cigarette and lit before saying “She’s as bad as Ted. It took her longer to get there buts she’s there now.” Larry broke down and cried. The emotional defenses he put up fell in the presence of this woman who was going through exactly what he was. He knew it was worse for her, not only could she do anything to catch the bastard who did this thing to their spouses, but she had a young son as well. Doris took Larry’s hand as he cried the tears that had been welled up inside him. Tears trickled down her face as well. A half hour later Larry pulled himself back together; no one would ever know how he broke down night. Neither he nor Doris ever said a word to anyone, not even each other.
Larry stood up and grabbed a bottle of whiskey he had in the bottom bureau draw. He inhaled and exhaled audibly, the bottle was unopened. He explained that he didn’t drink alone and asked her to have one with him. “I'll get some ice.”
“No Larry I’m good.”
He opened the bottle and poured them both a half filled glass before going to the bathroom sink and pouring the rest out. He was emotionally raw and figured Doris was too. “We don’t want to get carried away” he said with a sad smile that Doris returned.
“As for the case – the answer is in this stack of papers. “I’m almost there. I can sense it. The answer is in these papers. There are all sorts of companies. Phony, bogus companies fronting each other but one of them is the real one underneath them all. There’s even a church in these, Saint Aloysius. “
Doris’s eyes widened “Larry you found it! Saint Aloysius is better known as the Church of the Light.”
Larry’s jaw dropped for half a second before saying “I’ll be a son of a bi...er, gun.”
Chapter 16
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Friday July 23rd 1966
Larry was in the Opal City’s main public library reading all that articles he could find about the Church of the Light. Saint Aloysius was built in 1953. It was originally a part of the Episcopalian Church but broke away in 1956 to become an independent church under its new priest. A man named Timothy Lightle. Under Lightle’s guidance the Church of the Light grew very prosperous in Opal City, but had yet to branch out into any other city. The Church of the Light had a large amount of Opal City’s wealthiest and most of its leading citizens as parishioners.
Father Timothy Lightle was a charismatic and yet enigmatic man. According to his official church biography he was born in 1895. Served in World War I and became a Man of the Clothe in 1922 after seeing the horrors of war. However there was a nasty court fight when Saint Aloysius broke away from the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church said Saint Aloysius and its assets belong to them and not the parish. It was alleged at the time that Father Lightle had never been ordained. Strangely the suit was dropped after a meeting was held at Saint Aloysius in late December of 1956. Supposedly it was done in the Spirit of Christmas. It was a coincidence, but Larry didn’t believe in coincidences.
Ted Knight was an avowed atheist. There’s no way he would have fallen under any snare the Light had set at the Church of the Light. But Ted was also a philanthropist. Larry started to look for any charitable event sponsored by the Church of the Light that Ted Knight had gone to. He found one in a paper dated June last year. Larry figured the Light spotted Ted and recognized that he was Starman He also spotted an article about Father Lightle almost dying from pneumonia in July of last year. DeVoe did mention that the Light had a bad coughing spasm when they met in August. Larry had his man.
Larry had made a good contact in the local electric company when he was trying to find out who owned the building at 673 Hibbard Avenue. From him he learned that the Church of the Light drew an exorbitant amount of power on Sunday mornings. Larry had now found the machine. Now he had to call the one man whom everyone agreed could figure out how it worked.
Larry left the library and headed back to his hotel. He started to whistle the moment he exited Opal City’s largest book repository. His step had an easy gait. He felt like a million bucks. He’d soon hand this case off the Justice Society they would cure Dinah. He decided to walk to his hotel rather than catch a cab.
Halfway to the hotel he happened to spot Doris Knight, who was eating lunch at an outdoor café with Charles McNider. Larry smiled as he thought Lady Luck was smiling on him today. He jauntily walk over to their table and asked them if he could join them.
Of course,” said Charles
“Certainly” agreed Doris.
Larry sat down. He could barely contain himself as he wanted to tell them the good news but Charles wanted to relay something to Larry that Diana Trevor had found out about the Light. Diana had her husband General Steve Trevor of US Army Intelligence look for any information about the Light since he hadn’t been heard from since the last time he fought Starman back in 1942.
“Evidently the army offered the Light and several other “evil” scientist types that had cropped up in the days preceding and during the war a pardon if they worked for the government. The Light accepted their proposal. He worked to develop both better submarines and artillery for the United States. He continued to work for the government until 1953 when he mysteriously disappeared. According to Diana he had been listed as a defector since then because there was some evidence that he went to work for the Russians” explained Charles.
Larry shook his head “No he was right here in America establishing his new identity of Father Timothy Lightle” said Larry.
“Who did you say the Light was Larry? Asked Doris
“Father Timothy Lightle” repeated Larry.
Doris shook her head no and looked down at the table.
“What’s wrong?” Doris asked Charles.
“Timothy Lightle isn’t the Light Larry. I’ve met both of them.”
“Are you sure Doris”. Asked Larry.
“Yes I met the Light the very first time Ted fought him. He shrunk me down to the size of a doll. The Light is a bald man with a goatee and a square head who stands over six feet tall. He has a thin raspy voice…”explained Doris.
“He could have used plastic surgery, shaved of his goatee, and wear a wig to change his appearance Doris,” said Charles.
“No Charles Timothy Lightle stands just over five feet tall; he has long straight shoulder length white hair, with a long oval face and a rich booming voice. They are not the same man.”
Chapter 17
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Saturday July 24th 1966
Larry had spent the day buying all sorts of photographic equipment. He bought an infrared light as he was using the hotel room’s bathroom as a makeshift dark room. At least that’s what he wanted people to believe. He just finished setting up his mock darkroom. He stepped through the door way and was suddenly transported to the meeting room of the Justice Society of America in Civic City.
He was standing across from the meeting table. Sitting there was Hawkman, Wonder Woman, Johnny Thunder, the Flash, and Mister Terrific. “Whoa!” he exclaimed as he realized what had happened. His knees almost buckled at the shock of the experience. The members of the JSA were his friends, but he knew them socially and in their civilian attire. It was different experience to see them in their costumes; especially the experience the magic of Johnny Thunder’s Thunderbolt. He quickly regained his composure and thanked the members for meeting him.
Hawkman stood as the others remained sitting and said “have a seat Larry.”
Johnny Thunder added “Black Canary usually sits in the chair next to Wonder Woman; I think she’d like it if you sat there.” The rest of the JSA smiled at Johnny’s kind remark as they gave Larry encouraging smiles of agreement. Larry returned there smiles and walked over to his wife’s chair. He put his hands on the back of her chair and stood in sad reflection for a moment. The JSA respected the Larry’s quiet contemplation. Larry wiped away a tear that started to roll down his cheek as he sat down.
Hawkman then called the meeting to order and sat down. “Doctor Mid-Nite said you wanted to talk to us Larry. He also said that Starman and Black Canary’s mental health are continuing to deteriorate. Both he and Doctor Fate aren’t here because they both want to be with our sick members. Doctor Fate is in Gotham City and has suspended his medical practice until we get Black Canary healthy again.”
“I know,” said Larry. “I also know they’re going to die if we don’t succeed in reversing what the Light did to them because now their physical as well as mental health is starting to fail.”
“That’s true” said Mister Terrific. “The mind and body are inseparably connected. I don’t practice medicine or psychiatry but both are hobbies of mine” he added.
“But you are a licensed for both” said Wonder Woman.
“Well...yes” said Mister Terrific modestly.
“I believe you also have a license to practice law and one for private investigation as well” said the Flash.
Mister Terrific nodded in agreement saying “Yes I always found that when dabbling in one of my hobbies it is best to follow them to their fullest. I’m also a licensed veterinarian , stock broker as well over a half a dozen other things”
“Wow!” said Johnny Thunder.
“Right” said Hawkman as he proceeded to get the meeting back on track. “Your expertise in so many fields is the reason Doctor Mid-Nite specifically requested your presence Mister Terrific. As I understand it Larry believes he has found where the machine that caused Black Canary and Starman’s illness is located.”
“Correct, I think it’s in the Church of the Light. I’ve come up with a plan to locate the Light as well. I thought he was the pastor but Doris Knight assures me that I’m mistaken. She’s met both men and I believe her” said Larry.
The Flash then said “I had the Thinker draw up what he said he remembered about plans the Light showed him. I’m a research scientist and I understand some, but not all of these schematics. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if DeVoe didn’t show me everything he saw.”
The Flash laid the plans out. Larry couldn’t make heads or tails out of the schematics. He gathered that neither Hawkman nor Johnny Thunder could either from the expressions on their faces. But Mister Terrific took it all in and no doubt understood the plans even better than the Flash.
“I understand the plans Flash and you’re right there are some pretty significant pieces missing if this does what you folks say it is supposed to do. I’d have to see the actual machine to see how to operate it and help our friends. But it wouldn’t be right to break in anywhere unless we knew a crime was being or had been committed, especially into a church” said Mister Terrific.
Wonder Woman smiled as she said “We all agree Mister Terrific, but we have a way to peer into the building and check the veracity of Larry’s conjecture with my Magic Sphere. It will allow us to see inside the Church of the Light without physically going inside.” She then turned on the magical machine from Paradise Isle.
The Magic Sphere showed the outside of the Church of the Light. It was a magnificent structure that resembled the old cathedrals of England. One of the most striking features on the church’s grounds would not be at any English cathedral was the twenty obelisks that surrounded the cathedral, each standing fifty feet tall. Larry’s research showed that the first one was built after 1958 and that the final one was completed only last week.
The image in the Magic Sphere continued to approach the Church of the Light. The scene then abruptly changed to the main floor and the church. “Take us down to the basement Wonder Woman” instructed Hawkman.
Wonder Woman nodded and the image descended down a flight of stairs. There was nothing out of the ordinary as it looked like the normal church basement complete with hall and kitchen. “Can your Magic Sphere move the image through any secret or hidden doors on entrance ways?” asked Larry, who was beginning to lose all hope.
“Of course” said Wonder Woman in a tone that said Larry had stated the obvious answer as to why they hadn’t found the machine. The image went through the hall and to the kitchen’s pantry. Then the view shifted and there was another set of stairs. “A sub-basement’ said Wonder Woman.
The image descended these stairs and came to a large open chamber with a huge machine dominating it. Off to one side was another smaller machine and console. There were twenty exiting tunnels besides the stairs they had come through. “That’s the mind control machine all right” said Mister Terrific. “I’ll need to study for a while and look at it first hand before I can safely operate it. But I want to look at that other machine and take a look down those tunnels first.”
“Why” exclaimed Larry as he stood in anguished anger, “We have what we need for you to cure Dinah?”
“Because I think we’ve discovered the Light’s true plan Larry. Mind control of the prominent citizens of Opal City is only the beginning of this madman’s plans “explained Mister Terrific. “I think that console is for controlling the flight paths of satellites.”
The other JSA member looked at one another with concerned faces. Wonder Woman then had the Magic Sphere show the console up close. Mister Terrific nodded his head and said yes his suspicions were correct. When the Magic Sphere went down one of the exits they found a rocket.
“The obelisks are disguised rockets” said the Flash.
“What are they carrying?” asked Johnny Thunder.
“My guess is they contain smaller versions of his mind control device. Larry, you said earlier that the Light asked for the schematics of DeVoe’s Thinking Cap” opined the Flash. “You also said the Thinker believed he’d make significant improvement to his original model.”
“Starman said the Light always wanted to conquer the world” said Hawkman.
Larry said in a quiet voice “The last obelisk was completed only last week. He probably hasn’t finish construction of the last device.
“I want this place guarded by one of us twenty-four hours a day starting now’ declared Hawkman.
“We still have to find the Light Hawkman” said the Flash.
“I have a plan on how to do that Flash’ said Larry. “But I need your help.”
After Larry explained his plan Hawkman said it was too dangerous for him to proceed but Flash called Larry’s plan for a vote. It passed three to two with Johnny Thunder, the Flash and Wonder Woman agreeing with it and Hawkman and Mister Terrific voting no. Larry’s plan would begin tomorrow morning during the Church of the Lights’ Sunday service.
Chapter 18
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Sunday July 26th 1966
There was a wooded ridge line across from the Church of the Light, whose Sunday morning service just concluded and the congregation was exiting the doors. Larry Lance was there taking pictures of the people exiting with a special camera equipped with a magical telescopic lens courtesy of Johnny Thunder’s Thunderbolt.
Every picture that Larry took of the parishioners was a perfect mug shot. Each one was immediately duplicated and shown to Clifford DeVoe, who was sitting alone in one of the Keystone prison visiting rooms with the Flash. It was Devoe’s first respite from solitary confinement. He was amazed at how the single picture the Flash gave him kept changing into a new person every few seconds. The Flash told DeVoe to tell him when he spotted the Light.
Larry was getting anxious. Most of the crowd had dissipated. Father Lightle was still standing in the doorway of the Church of the Light when a bald headed square jawed man came up from behind the Reverend. Larry smiled as he remembered Doris Knight’s description of the Light. He snapped the man’s photo. A few seconds later he heard a rush of wind behind him. Flash didn’t go to the ridge line; he stayed out of sight but said quietly to Larry “Got him.”
Larry smiled at the news. He then purposefully exposed his position. The remnants of the congregation, Father Lightle and the Light all could see him. He stayed in plain view until he saw that they had seen him taking their photographs. He then returned to his hotel room and waited for Johnny Thunder and his Thunderbolt.
Johnny and T-Bolt had come and gone. Larry thought highly of Johnny, who was Dinah’s first friend among the super-hero community. People thought Johnny was a slow and would not, could not be a hero without his faithful Thunderbolt. Dinah never thought so; she said “Johnny just thinks differently than other people.”
Larry agreed, they both also knew the man and Thunderbolt both had hearts of gold. Johnny was calling Larry daily to check up on Dinah. They were both very apologetic when they told Larry that T-Bolt was afraid that he would hurt Dinah more if he tried to magically correct what was wrong with her because it was in her mind. The body T-Bolt could fix but not the mind. T-bolt said jokingly that if he could have done that he “would have fixed Master John a long time ago.”
Larry was sitting in the chair in his hotel room waiting for the Light’s response. If he had taken the amount of photos he took this morning with a normal camera a he would still be developing the rolls of film in the makeshift darkroom he created in the bathroom. He wanted to pace, but forced himself to sit. He wanted to smoke another cigarette, but he only had half a pack left on him and he wanted to be here. He decided to have another one in a half an hour. He turned on the TV and started to watch a baseball game. Two innings later there was a knock on his door accompanied with the familiar cry of “Police, open up.”
Larry had his holster and gun on, he quickly removed them and his jacket, hanging them over the chair as he yelled “just a minute, I’m in the bathroom.” He then raced over to the bathroom and dipped his hands in the developer fluid before rinsing them off. The police knocked again, louder this time saying “Open this damn door or we’ll bust it down!”
Larry grabbed a towel and went to the door. He looked through door’s spy hole and said “Let me see your badges.” The two plain clothes officers did as he asked and Larry opened the door. The one on the left punched him in the nose the second he did.
Larry dropped the towel as he staggered back and the big man hit him again, this time in the stomach. Larry was doubled over but he could see two uniformed officers rush in behind the detectives. They shoved Larry over to the wall and searched him. The detective that hit him went over to the chair where Larry’s jacket and gun were while the other one went into the bathroom.
The detective quickly found the gun. Larry said “I have a permit for that.” He was punched in the kidney as soon as he finished his sentence. “Don’t talk unless we ask you something punk” said one of the uniforms. “Larry started to drop to his knees from the blow but the other cop held him up.
The detective combed through Larry’s wallet and said “What do you know boys, we got us a genuine private eye.” Then to Larry he said “Who you working for?”
“Cant’ tell you, the clients confidentiality is legally protected” said Larry.
“Yeah, you got all sorts of rights usually. But not now. Who you working for?” said the detective.
“Sorry, can’t tell you” said Larry. The detective kicked Larry squarely in the groin while the two uniforms held him. He would have continued but the other detective said “Hold it Sal. Come in here and take a look at this.”
The two detectives were talking. Larry couldn’t make out what they were saying. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Johnny Thunder in the crowd of the baseball game on the TV silently asking Larry “Now?” Larry gave him a brief shake of the head. The two detectives came out and the one named Sal said “Cuff him and take him down to our car O’Malley.”
Chapter 19
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Sunday July 26th 1966
Larry Lance was in handcuffs as sat in the back of the detective’s car. He closed his eyes and waited for the two bulls to come down. Larry smiled when he thought of the detectives as bulls. You’re dating yourself Larry; people today are calling cops pigs. Bulls are what we called detectives back in the 40’s and 50’s. Twenty minutes later the detectives came down. One talked to the two uniforms, but Larry couldn’t hear what they were saying while the other one put a large box in the trunk of their car. My photographic evidence Larry thought.
The detectives got in the car, both men sat in front. Larry raised an eyebrow at that for they were in an unmarked police sedan; there was no metal cage separating the rear seats from the front seats. He then felt around for the special pocket he had sewn into the back of his pants. A small pocket that was now hidden under his belt. They missed that too he thought, When Dinah missed the fact that I was wearing a gun again I figured the Light brainwashing is makes it so people miss the obvious or do stupid things.
The detectives didn’t surprise Larry when they drove away from downtown and police headquarters. Instead they headed towards the more opulent section of Opal City. Larry was concerned that they were going to the Church of the Light. He wasn’t ready to go there yet. It would ruin his plan if they did. He relaxed when he saw them turn right on the road to the church. They were headed toward Father Timothy Lightle’s mansion which was hidden away in a forest grove. Larry gambled that is interview with the Light would be there because it was in secluded area with little traffic and no neighbors as opposed to the Church of the Light which was nestled in the middle of an upper class city neighborhood; even if there was a wooded ridge line nearby.
The car drove up to the locked gate. A security guard came out of a small building on the side and said “You’re expected” as he opened the gate. They drove for another half mile before they reached the mansion. It was built just five years ago and was the most ostentatious building Larry ever saw. It very gauche. It was certainly smaller Palace of Versailles but that was the building that came to mind. He believed the Light was about to have a fall from grace similar to King Louis XVI of France and his wife Marie Antoinette.
The car drove around to the back of mansion. Larry was taken out and hurriedly brought to a large room walled with books. On the far wall was large desk with its back to a huge window that looked out on to Opal City. The chair behind the desk was a big backed thing that would envelop most people. He expected whoever was sitting in to turn the chair around, but it continued to be turned away from him.
Soon a short man with long white hair came in the room. He was dressed in a tailor made suit made of silk. “So this is the private detective who was photographing the members of my flock?”
“Yes Father Tim” said one of the detectives in a reverent tone as he handed the smaller man Larry’s private investigator’s license.
Larry smiled and shook his head.
“What is so funny Mr ah … Lance?” asked the Lightle.
Larry looked to the high backed chair and saw a slight movement; his smile grew as he answered the question. “Well Father Timothy Lightle I’d much rather talk to your boss.”
I have no boss” said Father Lightle disdainfully.
“Answer is eminence” said the detective who had earlier hit him in his hotel room menacingly.
Larry looked at the detective and then turned to the head of the Church of the Light. “Did you know that your father Timothy Lightle’s real name is Antonio Martelli, alias Anthony Martin; born in 1903, not 1895, in Cliffland Ohio? Did you know he was arrested for fraud in 1922, 29 and 35 but never convicted until 1941 and spent eight years in stir; including six months as a cellmate to one Arturo Lampara, AKA Arthur Light, or simply the Light?” he then turned back to the exposed Antonio Martelli and added “I’d much rather talk to your boss behind the chair.” The same cop who hit him at the hotel now punched him square in the back of the head at Larry’s response.
“No need for violence gentlemen “said thin raspy voice from behind the desk chair. The chair swiveled as Larry Lance came face to face with the Light.
Chapter 20
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Sunday July 26th 1966
“It appears I underestimated you Mister Lance; however did you find me?” questioned the Light.
Answer his Holiness” said the detective who had just hit Larry.
“His Holiness? Said Larry. He shook his head before saying “I suppose you let the Opal City Police Athletic League use the Church of the Light along with allowing the union to meet there as well” he said to the Light.
The Light nodded with a smirk and said “Oh I did underestimate you Mr. Lance.
“Yes you did” said Larry as he eyed a small bar along the far wall. “Do you mind if I have a drink while I tell you how I found you? It’s a long story and my mouth’s kind of dry.”
The Light pointed at the detective and said “Take those cuffs off. He’s of no threat to me.”
“No need Larry said to the detective as he lob tossed them at the startled detective. The surprised man went to catch them instinctively. Larry then viciously kicked the man in the right knee and gave him a karate chop when he was hunched over. The detective was unconscious. Larry then put his hands up and motioned to the bar. “I’d still like that drink. I know this guy’s enthralled., but he liked hitting me too much. I think you’d rather have a civilized conversation.”
“Stop right there” said the faux priest Martelli, who had drawn a small .22 caliber pistol.
Larry turned to the Light and said “I promise not to start anymore violence. I’ll tell you all about how I found you. Just let me have my drink. I’m sure you have an awesome array of weapons behind your big desk Light. I won’t start anything.”
The Light smiled at Larry like a cat would if he could when playing with a mouse. “Let him have his Drink Antonio.”
Larry went over to the bar. He could see clearly see the grandfather clock on the wall now. From here he could keep an eye on the time and not be obvious. “I don’t like to drink alone. Would wither of you gentlemen like a drink?”
Martelli looked at the Light who shook his head no. “Oh well’ said Larry and he looked at the array of bottles. He grabbed a bottle of scotch and poured himself half a glass. “You know I think this cost fifty bucks a bottle. Always wanted to try it.” Larry took a sip.
“You still haven’t answered my question Mr Lance” said the Light impatiently.
“You’re right” said Larry. “The first reason was the same one as to how I was able to take off my cuffs. I had key hidden on me and the police didn’t find it when they frisked me. People under your mind control miss simple things like that. Your photographer made a couple of very small mistakes that he shouldn’t have. Especially if he was a professional photographer and judging from the photos you had taken of my wife and Ted Knight he was.
The Light leaned forward and said “What do you mean? Those photos should have disgusted you. You should have burned them soon after you saw them.”
“Yeah I know. They did disgust me and I almost did burn them; but something about them wasn’t right. See that’s where you made your first fundamental mistake. Using photos like that” Larry took a deep breath. “I’m may be big executive now, but basically I’m a private eye. And as such I’ve taken all sorts of pictures like those back in the lean years. I’ve had to deal with all sorts of sordid stuff where you feel dirty no matter how many years pass. So I knew something wasn’t right about them.”
“What was that” said the Light.”
“The lighting; pretty ironic huh?”
“What do you mean? I saw those photos myself. There was nothing wrong with them. They were perfect. You and the Knights should have been divorced months ago” said the Light.
Larry took another sip before saying “And my wife and Ted Knight should have been placed in an insane asylum by now too. But they’re not because you goofed. The photos use a setting sun in the background. They’re outdoors on a rooftop and the shading from light (Larry emphasized light) on their bodies” “had to come from in front of them. The photos were staged. Once I knew that I was able to examine the figures in the pictures closely. They were as stiff as boards. There was no passion, no ardor, they were posed. Besides that the pictures had to have been done by a professional, not a two bit private eye.” Larry said with anger.
“Amazing” I didn’t see it said the Light as he sat back in his chair he was obvious ready to react if Larry moved away from the bar.
“Then when my Dinah didn’t notice certain obvious things. On a hunch I checked our apartment for bugs. Later I found that a friend of mine, General Steve Trevor of army intelligence had recently discovered that his house was infested as well. The by happenstance I found out that another friend of mine, Stanley Bowes, a private detective who specialized in installing and maintain listening devices died on the very same day that Steve found the bugs.
“It was an interesting coincidence. But I don’t believe in coincidences. So I broke into Bowes office. I didn’t find anything to connect Stanley until I look at quarterly income taxed taxes he was preparing. He had several travel expenses he was listing as charity work. The cities listed corresponded to the addresses of friends of mine who had the very same listening devices in their homes. Then Stanley widow mentioned how she was from Opal City and Stan’s services were going to be done at Saint Aloysius AKA the Church of the Light.”
The Light clapped his hands “Very good Mister Lance, very good.”
Chapter 21
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Sunday July 26th 1966
“Oh there’s more, said Larry. During the course of my investigation I ran across the name of a P.I. named Harvey Bullock. He died of a brain hemorrhage just after he brought Doris Knight and me those pictures. Doris he spoke to, as for me, he or somebody else just dropped off my copies. This brought my investigation to a standstill. You see my first suspect was Clifford DeVoe, alias the Thinker.”
“Ah yes” said the Light. “But he’s disappeared.”
“No, he went to a different earth.’ Countered Larry “One almost exactly like this one. He designed a new and improved Thinking Cap. Confidentially he used the schematics of the device you showed him as a basis of some of his improvements. Just like I’m sure you used the plans he showed you of his old Thinking Cap, for the design of the devices you’re putting in the rockets surrounding your church.”
The Light’s face grew grim when Larry explained that he knew about the Rockets. Just then the other detective came in. he drew his gun when he saw his partner unconscious on the floor. “It’s all right Herbert: said Martelli. “Mr. Lance is explaining how he arrived here in Opal City.”
“Yes” said a scowling Light, “Continue Mr. Lance” he commanded.
Larry nonchalantly glanced at the grandfather clock before saying “As I said the Thinker was on a different earth. Almost an exact replica of here. Who ever heard of such a thing?”
“It’s an old theory” said the Light dismissively.
“Well anyway” said Larry “That’s where he was until he ran across one of the super-heroes of that world; he’s back on our earth now. Do you mind if I smoke?” asked Larry as he pulled out a cigarette. He took his metal lighter out and saw Johnny Thunder reflection in the metal asking silently “now?’ Larry covered his mouth so only Johnny could see him before silently mouth the words “no, not yet.”
“That’s why you couldn’t find and kill him. That was the plan wasn’t it?’ The Light made no response. “I mean you did kill the man who got DeVoe in contact with you as well as Bullock, who brought to DeVoe to 673 Hibbard Avenue. DeVoe told me about your meeting, he became quite cooperative when I told him about all the murders you committed to cover your tracks. And the Hibbard Street property was what led me to the Church of the Light. I got your finger prints in the church and discovered yours and Father Lightle’s real names. ”
The Light stood at that point. “So you came here to confront me all alone?” he laughed. “You must be truly emasculated Mr. Lance. What were you planning on doing coming to Opal City all alone? Finally going to come out from your wife’s skirts and be the big hero all by yourself. You’re a dead man Mr. Lance. Herbert and his partner are going to kill you when you tried to escape once you leave here.”
Larry smiled back at the Light. “I suppose you’ll have one of them use my gun to kill the other and then have him commit suicide over the grief of his dead partner so your track will be clean in case any of the JSA come snooping.”
“Bravo Mister Lance, I certainly did under estimate you” said the Light.
“Yes you did. You still are. What makes you think I’d be foolish enough to go up against a super-villain like you alone?” asked Larry. Now the Light’s face changed from contempt to concern. “Now Johnny” said Larry. The Light’s eyes grew wide as Johnny Thunder and his Thunderbolt appeared just to his right.
“Say you know I think the men with the guns ought to go to bed T-Bolt” said Johnny Thunder. Antonio Martelli and the two detectives suddenly sound asleep in a king sized bed that appeared out of nowhere.
The Light smiled as he went to point a button on his desk. “Really Mister Lance, the nincompoop is your backup”
“He don’t need that desk either T-Bolt” said Johnny. The desk disappeared before the Light could press his button.
The Light was older than Johnny, but he was a good foot taller and outweighed the hero by a good hundred pounds. The Light started to raise his fist. But Johnny was quicker. “Black Canary is a good friend of mine” Johnny said as smashed the Light with a vicious upper cut just the way the Wildcat had taught him. The Light was staggered by the blow. The bigger man was reeling back when Johnny followed up his first blow with a solid punch right in the Light’s breadbasket saying “So is Starman.”
The Light was hunched over, holding stomach when T-Bolt said “Master John may I?’”
“Go ahead T-Bolt, they’re your friends too” said Johnny
The Light suddenly felt a painful electric shock in his buttocks that caused him to jump forward towards Larry Lance who was fast approaching the Light. The Light was still hunched over when Larry was standing in front of him.
“You know Lampara, I promised not to start any more violence tonight but I didn’t say anything finishing it.” The Light saw Larry double up his hand and raise them over his head. He could do nothing as they came crashing down on his head. While Larry’s unseen knee came up towards the Light’s head at the same time. Arturo Lampara went out like a light.
Chapter 22
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Monday July 27th 1966
Larry was smoking a cigarette as he paced around the swimming pool at the Knight Mansion. Johnny Thunder’s Thunderbolt had transported him there immediately after they had taken down the Light. This was now a JSA affair. They had to figure out how to heal the people of Opal City whose minds the Light had tampered with. Larry wanted to see Dinah but Doris Knight told him that both she and her husband were in with Dr. McNider. Doris was sitting by the pool pretending to read. Larry smiled as he looked at her. He took deep drag off his cigarette and said “Doris, you don’t have to pretend you’re reading a magazine. I know you’re just as nervous as me.”
Doris looked up and Larry before saying “I’m not worried Larry. This is really an interesting article.”
“Must be” replied Larry, “Because you haven’t turned the page in the last five minutes.”
Doris shook her head as put the magazine down. “I didn’t know you were paying attention.”
“I wasn’t really” said Larry, “until I saw that you were holding it upside-down.”
Doris smiled and laughed, a real genuine laugh, something she had been unable to do much of for the past year. “Thank you Larry” she said graciously.
“You’re welcome” he said.
The two stood there nervously in dark by the pool waiting for their friend, Doctor McNider’s prognosis. Larry reached into his shirt pocket and took out another cigarette. He was about to light it when Charles came out. Larry felt an immediate immense relief when he saw the smile on his old friend’s face.
Ten minutes later he was in a guest bedroom. Dinah was there; she had clear eyes and was her old self again. The hugged and cried together for a long, long time. Eventually Dinah and Larry regained their composure. Dinah said “Larry I know the affair between Ted and I was just a false memory the Light planted in my head but it seems so real.”
“Yeah, I know Doll. But it’s not real or even complete. I mean, as I understand it the Light set it up so you would have a horrible growing self-revulsion, shame and guilt every time you thought about it coupled with and overwhelming compulsion to dwell on it. Therefore the dream didn’t have to be complete. So you really have no idea what Ted looks like naked” explained Larry. “I mean is Ted’s bellybutton an innie or an outie?”
Dinah looked at her husband and tried to say with certainty what type of navel Ted Knight had but she could not. She smiled at her husband before saying “Charles told me it was you who uncovered this horrible thing Larry, but he didn’t say how.”
Larry then proceeded to tell her how he had tracked down the Light. Dinah insisted that she wouldn’t have been able to do what Larry had done.
“Nonsense Doll, you’re Richard Drake’s daughter. He was Gotham City’s best detective. He taught you everything he knew. Besides that you are the Black Canary. You are a better detective than me. Do what I did” he said as he took out a manila envelope from his coat pocket. “These pictures were all the evidence I needed to start my investigation because they told me you weren’t in your right mind when you told me you had an affair with Ted.”
Dinah looked at the envelope and then at her husband. “Larry I can’t.”
“Doll you know that those memories were planted in your head. These photos aren’t real. Go beyond the disgust they’ll bring. Look at them without emotion and you’ll see them for what they are – fakes.” Larry held his wife’s hand and lovingly said “Dinah it’s the only way you’ll ever go back to being the Black Canary. It’s also the only way you can confirm for yourself that someone planted memories in your head.”
Dinah looked down at the envelope for several minutes. Larry watched as her as her old determination came to the fore. Crisply she ripped open the envelope and looked at the photos. She was repulsed by them at first. Then she forced herself to look at the entire photograph. “The lighting, Larry, the lighting-these things are fake as hell. Those memories of me and Ted are phony.”
“Yep” said Larry with a smile. They hugged, kissed and cried for a long time before Dinah said “Larry we have to show these to Ted. He has to see this for himself.”
“I know” said Larry. “But Dinah Ted was in worse shape than you were for a long time. You only caught up to him recently. And he’s not a detective...”
“You’re not giving Ted enough credit Larry” replied Dinah. “He’s a scientist and has a highly analytical mind. That’s how we’ll approach him when we show him these. He’ll see it once he gets over the shock value of these things. Then we’ll burn them.”
Epilogue 1
Times Past
Memories
Civic City Monday August 15th 1966
Larry had been very nervous as he stood outside the JSA meeting room. Dinah said that Carter wanted him at the meeting. It was Dinah’s first meeting since the Light had been captured. The JSA had been very busy cleaning up the mess the mad scientist left behind.
Dinah was going to need help as she resumed her life. For her it meant a return to crime fighting as Black Canary. He had made arrangements to sell his company to Wesley Dodds so he could be more involved in his wife’s career. He was happy with his decision as it meant they would have more time together as well as having no financial worries.
The Door opened and Larry saw that the entire team had assembled together. It was a sight seldom seen. The JSA stood as one and gave Larry a standing ovation. He stood there and felt very warm as his cheeks turned red.
Hawkman then gaveled the meeting quiet and said. “Larry we can never go public with what you have done for us and the world. But we want you to know how much we appreciate you and your abilities.”
Flash stood up then and said “Years ago during our first case we made J. Edgar Hoover an associate member. In all the years since we’ve not passed that honor on to anyone else. “
“Until now” said a rising Black Canary. She walked over to her husband a put her arms around him before kissing him. “Congratulations Larry, you’re now officially an Associate Member of the Justice Society of America.
Epilogue 2
Times Past
Memories
Civic City Monday August 15th 1966
Later, after Larry Lance had left the meeting room The Light woke in a start. He was standing in front large circular table with the emblem of the Justice Society of America engraved in the center. The entire JSA was sitting in chair around the table except for Hawkman. The Light looked down at his green handcuffs dismissively “I suppose this is meant to impress me Mister Hall.”
“No” said Hawkman.
“Well then I suggest you have Mr. Scott take these off. You see I know all your identities. I just didn’t finish placing listening devices in all of your homes. I have that information written down and if I’m not heard from every three days they will become public knowledge” declared the Light.
“You’re a lyin’ rat” snarled Wildcat.
“Indeed Mister Grant. Whatever makes you say that” inquired the Light.
“Because today is date is August 15th Light” said Starman with a voice that had a dangerous edge.
The Light briefly blanched before saying “Ah Mister Knight I see you regain your sanity. You’re heroes and therefore pathetic. You won’t kill me and I’ll tell the world your real identifies if you have me incarcerated. You have no choice but to let me go.”
“Actually we did discuss executing you Light. Doctor Fate made several interesting suggestions as to the proper way of disposing of you” said Black Canary.
“As did I” said a chilling voice that came from a pale green costumed character.
The Light wet his lips. He was not as sure of himself as he was when he first awoke. “Well I’m sure the government will want my invention.”
“They would if they knew about it” said Wonder Woman. “As you know I worked for military intelligence and we deemed your horrid machine to be much too dangerous for the government to ever get its hands on.”
“And since your rocket are exact copies of Russian models that US Military Intelligence already have the schematic of; they don’t need them either ” added Sandman.
“Then what did you do with my machine” asked the Light.
“Nothing yet” said the Flash.
“You left very complete and detailed record of everyone who’s mind you tampered with” said Green Lantern.
“We’re finally finished healing the last of them” said Doctor Mid-Nite.
“I see “said the Light. “May I inquire about my partner in crime, Mister Martelli.”
“He’s in jail on charges of fraud” said the Atom. He doesn’t know all the ins and outs of your machine.”
“Yeah he believes he the world’s greatest con man and his skill got all those people to blindly follow him” said Johnny Thunder.
“Actually Johnny that’s what the Light’s machine has him believing” said Superman.
“We’re just not going to correct that belief” add Batman.
“And what is my fate to be then” said the Light.
He heard the cold metallic voice of Doctor Fate respond. “I would prefer your death or at least abandonment in a lonely dimension but the others have come up with a fairer fate.”
“Are you ready Mister Terrific” asked Hawkman.
The Master of Many Talents looked at the Light and then at Hawkman before nodding.
The Light suddenly found himself in the Church of the Light. Mister Terrific was sitting at the organ which doubled as the control panel for his mind control machine. He stood and said with a devious smile: “That machine won’t work on me. My intellect is too great. I can withstand it.”
Mister Terrific looked back at the Light before saying as he started to play “That’s no doubt true. That’s why I improved it.”
The Light was stunned by Mister Terrific’s simple statement because he believed he had created the perfect the machine. Mister Terrific broke through the Lights mental defenses like scissors through paper.
Epilogue 3
Times Past
Memories
Opal City Friday February 29th 1980
He awoke from his cell and rose from his small cot. He donned his sandals and simple brown hooded woolen cassock before kneeling and praying in silence. He had taken a vow of silence in the winter of 1967. He had not spoken once since, not even when he broke his leg when he accidentally fell down the stair fifteen years later.
He had escaped from the Justice Society of America with ease. The Master of Fair Play had given him an out and he exploited it. He remembered how he fled from the Church of the Light when Mister Terrific turned his back on him. He ran and ran until he was exhausted. He was in a rural area of the city to begin with; but he desperately dashed off into some of the city’s remaining wilderness.
It was then he came across the Monastery of Saint Joseph’s. He asked for and was given sanctuary. At first Saint Joseph’s was going to be a temporary hiding place but he came to find peace in its quiet. Slowly but surely he came to see the emptiness of his life as the Light. In January of 1968 he asked to become a member of the order and took the vow of silence he had been faithful to ever since.
After morning prayers in which he again asked for forgiveness for his past criminal life he went down to breakfast. As he sat he felt a sharp pain in his chest. This was something he had experienced several times in the recent months but he had not communicated anything about it with anyone. He grimaced under his cowl as he remembered what truly happened with Mister Terrific all those years ago.
Mr. Terrific had modified his machine. He had fled when the Man of a Thousand Talents had turn his back on him; only it was after Mr Terrific had planted a suggestion in Arturo Lampara's mind. It was a simple suggestion. Go hide at St Joseph's and give the idea spiritual life of silent contemplation consideration. Arturo Lampara was not compelled to spend the rest of his days in St Joseph's, he was merely told to look at the way of life without contempt. He looked around at his brothers and smiled; silently mouthed the words thank you to Mister Terrific. who suddenly appeared before him.
“It’s time Arturo” said the spirit Larry Lance who was now standing next Doris Knight and Mister Terrific. Arturo Lampara blinked before looked down at his body with his brother monks as they tried to revive his dead body.
“Thank you, Mister Sloane for giving me a life worth living.” He gulped before asking the other three spirit for their forgiveness.
The Spirit of Doris Knight said “We are here Brother Arturo because we already have.”
Together the four spirits walked out of the Saint Joseph’s dining room towards a blinding white light.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2017 5:56:47 GMT
Hi Dave! Glad you're here and was able to figure out how to post.
The next thing you'll want to do is make sure that you post all chapters in a story in the same thread. So, instead of creating a new post for every chapter, just hit the Reply button at the bottom right of the post. As moderator here I have the ability to merge individual posts together, but I'd rather not have to every time.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 28, 2021 22:37:18 GMT
Original teaser: "Larry Lance uncovers the truth about the affair between Black Canary and Starman."
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