Paper Heroes by Steven Heumann

Author:Steven Heumann [Heumann, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Superheroes
Published: 2018-11-19T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

12:17 pm, Thursday, April 18th

The protest sign read ‘We want retrbution! Mendelson must step down!’

Gage shook his head. “If you can't spell the mayor's name or the word 'retribution' right, you probably should find something better to do with your Thursday than protest,” he said to no one in particular.

The steps of City Hall teamed with demonstrators holding signs and chanting for the Mayor's resignation. Barricades had been set up along the steps, forcing the activists to spill onto the street and shout at cars as they passed. National Guardsmen ringed the building, fully armed and ready for action. The scene reminded Gage of an embassy siege he saw in a movie once. He rubbed his eyes, hoping when he opened them, it would all disappear like a bad dream.

Fatigue threatened to overcome him as he leaned against the side of his unmarked car across the street, waiting for Barns to return with the coffee he'd promised. The thought of watching protesters for the next four hours made him want to give up and fall asleep in the cruiser’s backseat. Overnight briefings with both the NYPD and the Bureau had taken their toll on his energy level. The chair he'd slept in for an hour that morning had done nothing to perk him up. Maybe the coffee would help.

He watched as a pony-tailed protester spray painted ‘Retribution is Here’ in bright red letters across one of the concrete barricades.

A National Guardsman yelled after her as the woman ran through the crowd before being grabbed by two uniformed officers. They forced her to the ground while other demonstrators circled and screamed at the police for overreacting.

“At least she spelled the words correctly,” Gage mumbled.

Tags like that had been cropping up all over the city in the past week. He wondered how many were random and how many had been planted by whoever orchestrated all this madness.

The world went dark for a moment and Gage realized he had allowed his eyes to blink for a little longer than needed. He rubbed them with his knuckles and slapped his cheek to revive his senses. Out of the corner of his eye, he made out a blurry figure running up to him. He hoped it was Barns because he didn’t think he had the presence of mind to deal with anyone else.

“I just got a call,” Barns said handing Gage his coffee. “The new guys hit a warehouse in Jersey and blew up a bunch of weapons about an hour ago. A couple gang members were arrested too, apparently trying to steal some of the ray-guns.”

Gage recuperated slightly, all thought of sleep receding from his mind. “Let’s go!” he said, moving to open the car door.

“Not this time,” Barns said shaking his head. “Fuller wants us to stay here.”

“Come on,” Gage said, slumping back against the car. Suddenly his desire for sleep became even more appealing. He sipped his coffee and felt the warm rush of liquid relax his tired body.

“They’re sending National Guard guys and NYPD,” Barns said.

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