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A House Divided

  Quintin Fortune

  Copyright 2016 Quintin Fortune

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  Deadguy zipped around the corner, a purse tucked under his arm. He paused to look back, then ducked down as another shot was fired. He ran as fast as he could down the alley. The phone in his long coat pocket began to ring. He pulled it out to see Jill's name on the screen. “This can't be good,” he grumbled. “Hey Boss. What's up?”

  “You're late,” Jill's voice announced.

  “Sorry, it's All You Can Eat Pancakes Day,” he said. More shots were fired. One grazed his shoulder. He almost dropped the device.

  “What was that?” Jill started pelting him with questions. “What's going on? Was that gunfire? Where are you?”

  “Big Bob's House of Bullets and Breakfast,” Our Hero replied. He clenched his fist. “God bless America.”

  There was a sigh at the other end. “I'm docking your pay for this. Just get here.”

  “Just as soon as they bring me the Mauser filled with maple syrup.”

  The line went dead.

  Deadguy skidded to a stop. “That's just great.” Bullets zipped past his head. “Hey, do you mind,” he called out. More bullets shot past. He ran off again, darting out of the alley in time to find a young brunette fearfully waiting. “Here's your purse. Now get the hell outta here.” He turned and ran off in the opposite direction, looking back just in time to see the woman run off into the crowd and the men chasing him rushing out of the alley.

  Our Hero strolled into the Office of the Professional Heroes almost two hours late for work. Kiri was preoccupied with something on her computer while Valkadaidan was meditating. “Always meditating,” he remarked.

  “At least he's on time to meditate,” Jill replied. He looked at her, noting she had the look that someone gives when they are fed up with someone.

  “Are we sure he doesn't sleep here at night?”

  “I have a home,” Valk answered. “You went there once. Remember?”

  DG thought for a moment. “Oh yeah. Did you ever get those burn marks off the walls?”

  Jill's phone rang. “Professional Heroes. Jill Nemo speaking.”

  “Wait, burn marks,” Kiri questioned. “Did I miss something?”

  “It was a few years ago,” Valk answered.

  Jill hung up. “Alright, Heroes, we have a case. Let's go!” The Heroes grabbed their weapons. “Not you Deadguy,” she added.

  Deadguy stopped, concerned confusion on his face. “Um...what?”

  “You're on probation for the rest of the week,” she answered curtly. “You will be on desk duty for the time.”

  “For being late,” he argued. “When did this start?”

  “Today.” She grabbed her gun and ushered Valk and Kiri out of the office. Deadguy watched them leave, suspicion creeping into his mind.

  Deadguy stood in the empty Office of the Professional Heroes using Masamune for batting practice. The wall opposite him was splattered with crumpled up paper. He tossed another balled-up paper in the air, then swung and connected. The paper shot across the room and slammed into the wall.

  He looked at the mess and sighed. Something was wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Jill had been acting strange since the battle against Venatores Mali. Of course, the revelations that arose from that battle would be enough to upset anyone.

  He had been part of that group. Those 'Hunters'. All he remembers from it was the handful of memories that Genia's kiss had unlocked. None of them explained why her kiss unlocked them, but he wasn't going to complain about the kiss.

  The phone rang, pulling Our Hero from his thoughts. “Pro Heroes, whatta ya want,” he shouted into the receiver.

  “Hello. Is Jill Nemo available,” a smooth, unnerving voice on the other end asked.

  “Not really sure I can comment on her relationship status,” he replied.

  “That...is not what I meant,” the voice said, confused.

  “Are you one of her stalkers?”

  “I wish to speak to the woman in charge of you,” the voice snipped.

  “Oh, I'm single,” Deadguy stated. “And I loves to mingle.” His brow furrowed. “Wait. No, it's pizza. I love pizza.”

  “Let me speak with Jill Nemo,” the voice growled.

  “I don't like the tone of your voice, Mister,” Our Hero proclaimed. “I'm hanging up now. Good day, sir.” He slammed the phone back on the cradle, then nodded once. He balled up another sheet of paper, something with 'Urgent' written in red ink that Jill had stuck on his desk, and batted it into the wall with the rest of the pieces of paper.

  “I should order some pizza,” he muttered, thinking back to the conversation. Something clicked in his head. The voice sounded familiar, but he couldn't quiet put his finger on it. 'He didn't do as much heavy breathing as Jill's normal stalkers,' he thought.

  Our Hero plopped down in his chair, feet propped up on his desk. The man's voice was smooth, almost hypnotic. It was controlled, as if he was trying to get...something...

  “Deadguy,” Jill screamed as she stormed into the Office.

  Our Hero nearly fell on the floor as he fell out of his chair. “Valk did it,” he instinctively said.

  “Did someone call for me earlier,” she demanded.

  “I think one of your stalker's did...”

  “That was the mayor's aide, asshole!” She massaged the bridge of her nose. “I have been in talks with them about expanding our business for a month now. I swear, if you did anything to screw this up...”

  “Everyone in this city knows I'm a crazy person,” DG defended. “I'm sure it won't hurt anything.”

  “Go home,” she huffed.

  The two stared each other down for a moment. “Fine, he said finally. “But something's up, and I'm going to get to the bottom of it.” He left as Valk and Kiri exchanged looks.