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—
Metropolis
The red, synthetic product Miles had discovered was a new drug meant to activate latent metahuman genes, but it had fatal side effects, and several users had already died.
How did he figure that out, you might ask.
One of the consumers, a man in his thirties, had suddenly gained the ability to grow spikes all over his body before the drug overloaded his system, and the recently acquired meta powers turned him into a pincushion.
That could have been a random event, but another had blown up like a balloon before his insides covered the pavement, and the less said about the woman who gained the pyrokinesis, the better.
Burning the stash found with Cedric Anler had slowed the distribution of the crimson dust, but it was not enough.
Catching Morgan Edge red-handed to stop this drug before it hits the market in full force would not only prune a branch of financial gain that Intergang could have but also put a damper on their metahuman trafficking business.
Additionally, there was a good chance his media empire could be up for grabs.
But that was for later.
Morgan was extremely cautious, which is why he had not been caught yet, and it would not be easy for Miles to catch someone more entrenched in Metropolis than him committing a crime.
Which is why he had called in the cavalry.
"Question, welcome." The detective that he had quite the interesting adventure with had returned after Miles managed to get a message to him, claiming to have information on one of the most dangerous conspiracies in the world.
Stepping inside the warehouse where they had met, Question took the seat. "Miles. I'll admit, I didn't expect you to call me."
"What do you know about Morgan Edge?" The name alone was enough for Question to realize this was big.
"Billionaire, CEO of Galaxy Communications. Possible leader of Intergang," he summarized Morgan's status in the corporate and crime world, "power hungry, no limits, manipulative." And added his own knowledge on the CEO's personality.
"Why?" Was it related to Intergang? They were active in Metropolis and all over the world.
"He is the leader of Intergang. They are selling a new drug on the streets, meant to activate dormant metahuman genes to find targets for trafficking." Either to send the metahumans to Darkseid's minions for experiments or to weaponize them.
A metahuman trafficking operation? Last time the two had stumbled on a human trafficking case, it did not end well. "To where?"
"Apokolips, the world of Darkseid, the God of Tyranny. He is evil personified."
"You are joking, right?" The question dealt with humans, with their schemes, cults, plans, and behind-the-scenes acts.
Not some evil god in a world he had never heard of before.
Miles waved his concerns away. "I called you, not to fight Darkseid, but to catch Morgan Edge in the act and strike a blow to Intergang, one they cannot recover from, before bringing the proverbial boot down on them."
Which was the exact kind of thing Question strived to do. "That, I can do."
"I knew this matter would interest you."
"What is the plan?" This time, Miles had the initiative, but it wasn't aimed at him.
So there's no need to worry about a potential retaliation for Vic's little trick in getting Miles arrested.
For now, anyway.
"Morgan is holding a charity event for his facade. Getting inside his home is a simple matter of money." Invitations to the event could be bought with a phone call.
Considering all he knew of Morgan Edge, Question knew they wouldn't find any evidence linking the media mogul to Intergang. "There is unlikely to be any evidence in his home. Morgan is not that stupid."
"Which is why we are going to kidnap and interrogate him for everything related to Intergang."
—
Question was skeptical, but as the plan was detailed, he did agree to it. They would kidnap Morgan after the event was over, using the opportunity to scout out his defenses. His home's size was proportional to his wealth, which meant they had to be very thorough to avoid detection.
Miles and Claire, after a bit of makeup, would go in as a couple, with Raven as their adopted child, who would open a portal inside the house later.
He was Orlando Larson, a high-level executive in a Hong Kong-based investment firm, and Claire was his yoga instructor wife, Katheryn Larson.
Question would infiltrate the kitchen as part of the catering company hired for the occasion, disguised as a random civilian that landed the job recently.
—
Convincing the manager of the catering to hire Victor a couple days before the great event was child's play. The woman was in a bitter legal battle over the custody of her son with the father, and seeing as her ex-husband only wanted the custody to hurt her, Miles did not feel a shred of regret at releasing those rather explicit photos, ruining a life.
Jean was grateful enough to hire Victor on the spot, knowing it would be in her best interest to not ask why a man with Miles' connections would bother going to these lengths just so she could hire another man.
Question took to his role like a duck to water, and soon enough, it was time for action.
—
Edge Manor
"Invitation letter, please." The concierge at the gates requested it, and Miles handed over the piece of paper he had spent a considerable sum to acquire, which all would be directed to charity.
Sure.
"Welcome, please enjoy yourselves, Mr. Larson, and your wife and daughter too."
"I am sure we will."
After a quick scan for weapons or other banned items, they were allowed in. The party was in full swing, with several notable figures mingling together.
"In position. Cameras at every corner. Motion and heat sensors near the doors, deactivated for the party. Upstairs is a no-go. Armed guards, too much security. The security room is there, at the end of the hallway." Question's voice rang clear through the special comms.
"Noted." Miles whispered to his communicator. Question was putting them to shame, and he needed to up his game.
Morgan Edge, their host, came down the stairs from the second floor. Everything about him screamed perfection, not that he was perfect, but that he was trying so hard to obtain it. His hair, clothes, and even smile were all the result of several hours of work, yet Morgan's very nature as a sleazy scumbag shadowed it all.
If you were observant enough to see it.
"Welcome, distinguished guests, to the Edge family's annual charity function. It is my pleasure to host you once more. We have old faces who have been supporting this charity drive for years and new faces that I hope will be old ones in time. Without taking any more of your time, enjoy yourselves." Morgan greeted the guests before coming down to speak to some fund manager.
There was a light, refined applause, and the banquet continued.
"You know, you look like a drug dealer in that disguise." Claire nudged Miles, mentioning his blonde goatee, meant to cover his clean-shaven face.
"What?"
"Yeah, as if you are about to go to your secret lab to cook drugs." Miles blinked.
Had Claire just made a Breaking Bad reference in a universe where the show didn't exist?
Huh.
"I am more prone to cooking justice."
"Dad, I need to use the bathroom…" Raven spoke, breaking the two out of their banter.
It was her code for being ready to infiltrate the security room, plant the remote access port, and return.
Camera, lights, action.
"Dear, can you take her, please?"
Claire held her adopted daughter's hand, following the signs to the bathroom. "Come on, Rachel, I think it was this way."
"What a bright night. You can see all the stars." Miles muttered to himself, rubbing his chin in appreciation.
For anyone watching him, he was just enjoying the night sky, while in truth, he had discreetly informed Question that Raven was on her way.
A voice, belonging to a man Miles would no doubt meet, called out to him. "Mr. Larson, right? It is rare to see someone from Hong Kong join our little get-together."
Miles took Morgan's hand, playing the perfect guest. "Thank you, Mr. Edge, and please, call me Orlando. My daughter wished to see the city of tomorrow, and I had a business meeting. When I heard the news of your charity banquet, I thought I could do some good for the world before leaving this wonderful city."
His words had Morgan in smiles, but unknown to Darkseid's little minion, Miles knew he was lying.
Morgan, while naturally suspicious of anyone new, did not enjoy the same advantage.
"A man after my heart. Where are your daughter and wife, if I may ask?" Morgan made a show of looking around, but Miles pointed at the hallway to the bathrooms.
"Just went to the bathroom. You know how children are, no impulse control at all."
Handing Miles a drink from the table, Morgan raised his champagne. "It is such a pleasure to meet you, and I hope you will join us next year. And before I forget, please, call me Morgan."
"The pleasure's all mine." Miles touched his glass to Morgan's and sipped half the glass before his target left.
Ugh, he would need to eat something to get this taste out of his mouth.
—
Several minutes later, too long to be a bathroom break unless there was an emergency, Claire and Rave returned. "There you two are. Was there a problem?" He asked, playing the concerned husband and father.
"Nothing, dear, I was just fixing my makeup." Meaning there was trouble.
Miles showed the two the food on his plate. "Come on, I found this delicious poached shrimp."
"What happened?" Miles asked as the three of them filled their plates, backs to the cameras, front and sides blocked by the food.
Raven, still focused ahead, reported. "There was a woman in the security room. Red-haired, glowing eyes, dressed in a cape and one-piece bodysuit. Looked like a vampire, actually."
There was one female in Intergang that fit the description perfectly. "Bloody Mary. Did she detect you?"
"No, but she must have felt something was wrong." The damn woman came eerily close to the shadows Raven was hiding in, sniffing like a bloodhound, but eventually left when called elsewhere.
Taking a napkin, Miles wiped his lips thoroughly. "Morgan has an enforcer. Red-haired femme fatale, be extremely cautious; she is from Apokolips, part of an elite unit." He whispered into the comms.
"I saw her before. I'll be careful."
"The port is in place. What about on your end?" Question's sole job wasn't to just infiltrate the manor after all.
"I left your little surprise in the electric panel and disabled the emergency generator." Detective or not, Question must have had training from ninjas.
"Then let's just play our parts, make a donation, and get the hell out."
Of course, things could never be that simple.
—
Everything was moving according to the plan, and the guests had started making their donations when the Metropolis Police Department paid a visit to the charity event.
With an arrest warrant for one of Morgan's men, on the charges of assault on a police officer. Even with his influence and wealth, the cops were not placated when it was one of their own taken to the ER.
It soured the otherwise excellent party.
Morgan gave a speech, apologizing but not truly, and continued the event by doubling his original donation to give the guests something new to think about.
"There is a problem. That woman is sniffing around the kitchen."
"Get yourself out of there. Act like you are bringing me something."
"One piña colada coming up."
Question did not break his pace, as it would draw too much attention, and brought Miles his drink.
"Here is your drink, sir."
Reaching for the glass without looking, Miles knocked it over, right on the poor server's pristine suit, and shattered the glass.
It wasn't loud enough to draw any attention, but they were watched nonetheless. Apologizing furiously for his clumsiness, Orlando helped the server clean the broken glass pieces before Bennet left for the company vehicles outside to change his suit.
Bloody Mary, having changed her clothes to blend in, seemed to be searching for someone as she entered the main hall.
Good thing Question was already out.
"Orlando, my good man, what will be your donation tonight?"
"There are so many generous people here that I could not help but be moved. Two million dollars."
—
His donation was serious but not extreme. Good enough to blend in, but not enough to draw undue attention.
Orlando Larson was just one more face in the crowd to Morgan now.
The farewell speech was longer than the welcome speech their host had given, but two hours before midnight, the guests began to leave.
The Larson family wasn't the first, but they weren't the last ones to leave either. Their limo was at the ready, with Question at the wheel, and they left the scene without being discovered.
—
"This went better than I expected." Question said. That red-haired woman had an unnatural ability to track them, and he knew any longer inside the mansion, she would have done something.
Miles couldn't agree more. Even with the unexpected visit from the MPD, the plan had gone almost flawlessly. "Yes, now we just need to nab Morgan and learn everything he knows."
"How are you going to make him talk?" If he were such a zealot, Morgan would rather die than talk.
Question wouldn't be sad over it, but Intergang would still exist without him.
"I have a telepath." Victor would deduce it anyway; there's no need to hide Manchester's existence.
"Who?"
The telepath's identity, on the other hand, was not for him to reveal. "Ask him if you want to know."
"A telepath is a good idea, but it won't hold in court. We need tangible evidence." Claire stopped, confused at her words.
Since when did she care about the courts?
"I am sure we can find something inside Morgan's head that would lead us to enough evidence."
—
His next step was to inform the Justice League, specifically Superman, about his plan to reveal Morgan Edge's crimes and the possible retaliation from Intergang.
Last time, he had not informed them until the last second, not believing it was necessary, only for over a thousand people to die.
Miles had learned his lesson.
Superman had decided to increase his patrols while the operation against Intergang continued. Thankfully, with his adopted cousin there to help him, Superman's work had become much easier.
The rest of the League were on standby, with the androids and the Martian Manhunter monitoring the known channels to be ready in case Intergang decided to come out in force.
Regardless of all the possibilities, the plan was moving forward without a hiccup.
—
In the next chapter:
"What the hell are you getting me into?" Reading memories did not evoke any feelings in Manchester, but what he had just seen sent shivers down his spine.
"What happened?"
The telepath took the helmet off, not in the mood for any secrecy, and began to massage his scalp. "Big guy, dark, red eyes, scary as hell. Bollocks, just seeing the memory is bad enough."
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