บท 73: Another Super Power?
"Is there something you would like to share with me?" she asked in a low controlled voice.
"Are you sure you want to know? This might be one of those times when you would really rather not."
"Oh my God." She leaned on the cabinet for support. "Give me the short version. Then I'll let you know if I want to hear the rest."
"OK. Two bad men forced their way in and I beat the crap out of them."
She laughed. She put her hand over her mouth and she started to have a bad case of the giggles. The rest of the people in the room looked over at the sound. I smiled back like I had just told her a joke to relieve the tension.
When she had control again, she wiped her eyes and said, "The news report said twenty bikers."
"A slight exaggeration. I haven't been on a bike since I was 10. That one had playing cards in the spokes."
"And the murdered girl's blood?"
"Will match my DNA perfectly if they ever get a sample for comparison."
"Oh no! I really didn't want to hear that."
"Told ya."
"This is going to sound dumb, but are you all right?"
"I'm fine. Take me out for a steak dinner tomorrow and I'll be perfect."
"No one was hurt? No one else, I mean."
"Not even bruised. Neeka came the closest, but she thinks of it as a missed opportunity to do something kinky. That girl's character runs very deep. Is her mother the same way?"
"No, I think that's from her father. She gets her looks and her shyness and her thirst for adventure from her mother. He father is the business-oriented realist who can deal with crises with a steady hand." She took a deep breath. She was starting to relax.
"The two men," she said. "One had his ribs crushed and the other sounds like he's not going to be swimming in the gene pool anymore."
"Yes?"
"Why are they still alive?"
I looked dead straight into her eyes and spoke in as low a voice as I could manage, "If they had hurt any of my family or my friends, they would never have walked out the door. You would have had to replace the carpet to get rid of them. As it was, I just wanted them out of here."
"You let them leave?"
"I tossed their sorry asses out the front door and threatened to send Brute after them if they didn't turn themselves in to the law."
"But Brute wouldn't hurt a fly! He's just a big teddy bear."
I raised an eyebrow. "That dog is a slavering demon straight from the fiery pit of Hades if he thinks a member of this household is in danger. You underestimate him. I put them down, he convinced them to leave."
"Hmmm. I'm under no illusions as to which member of the household he thought he was protecting. You have yourself a dog."
"And he has me. We made a pretty good team. Jim showed some grace under fire too. In fact, everybody behaved reasonably well. Except Sara Henderson. But she won't be opening any more doors to strangers anytime soon."
"Ah! I wondered about that. OK, that's all I need to know. We can save the grisly parts for some other time. And I'll buy you that steak dinner. Hell, I'll buy you a steak dinner every day of your life. You saved everyone I love. You..." She stopped short and looked at me with that 'don't know you' look that I was seeing so much of lately. "Do you remember when I said you weren't a superhero, that you were an angel?"
"Uh hunh."
"I was wrong. Angels don't kick butt. You must be a superhero."
"Superheroine, thank you. We've already had that debate."
"Uh oh. Sounds like somebody's secret identity is blown."
"It was unavoidable. Jim tried to explain it away, but the Henderson's saw too much."
"What about Monique?"
"Neeka trusted me with her life after spending two hours in my company. I think my secret is safe with her. Lori and Sara might talk, but I doubt it."
"Well, we were just lucky that you were here, SuperSam."
"All in day's work, ma'am."
She hugged me hard and I felt tears on the back of my neck.
"I may have to quit Cheerleading." I said.
"Whatever for? You love Cheerleading."
"I need to start taking martial arts lessons. Kung Fu or Karate or something. OK?"
Bambi looked like she wanted to tell me not to be silly, that I did not need to know any fighting techniques, but she swallowed whatever comment she was about to make and nodded. Neither of us could say if I would need it in the future, but it was clear to both of us that Cheerleader Fu might come up short in the crunch.
"Do Lori and Sara need a ride home?" She asked, changing the subject.
"Tomorrow. I got Mrs. Henderson to let them stay here tonight. That's OK, isn't it?"
"You got the mother of two girls you barely know to give them to you to play with all night?"
"Well, gee, that's kind of the crass way of putting it; but yes, I suppose that's what I did."
"Where will they sleep?"
"Do you really want to know?"
"Only if I need to get a spare bedroom ready."
"I don't think that will be necessary. Thanks. But I think Jim and Bud have dibs on my new toys for tonight, and Neeka and I have sort of a thing going."
"A thing?"
"It's a very special relationship, OK? She's just wonderful. She can almost read my mind. She... Oh no."
"What's wrong, Sam?"
"Wait. Look over my shoulder. What's Neeka doing?"
"Right now she's standing next to her mother, probably wondering what we're talking about for so long. Why?"
"Watch this."
"Uh oh. I know that sound. It's you trying out another superpower."
I closed my eyes and relaxed. I let my mind clear and thought, "Neeks, please bring me a drink." I opened my eyes.
Bambi said, "Here comes Monique with a glass. Was that what you wanted?"
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