Read Online Killing Capes by Scott Mathy - Free Book Online

of his seat. “Ian, this is B, my co-worker. B, Ian, my roommate.” This was the second time today Dwight had introduced Ian to someone with no moral qualms about removing his spine. He would have to get Ian an apology pizza later. Nothing says “I’m sorry for bringing dangerous monsters into your life” like crappy cheese and low-grade meat byproducts.
    His partner turned to the crying man beside him. “Oy, what do you do?” Something had piqued B’s interest in Ian.
    Dwight did not have time to interject before Ian replied to the giant’s question, “I’m a software consultant,” he said timidly from his corner of their table. B looked confused. Ian had obviously dealt with the vagueness of his job title before. “I invented the program that ties bio-signatures to magnetic keycards; I get paid every time they print one.”
    To Dwight’s surprise, B seemed to understand Ian’s occupation. “Right bit ‘a genius ya got here, D.” He was genuinely impressed.
    They finished their meal, conversing irregularly about their respective safe topics. Ian mostly tried to press the conversation into the realm of his fanboy obsessions. Each time he brought up some part of the superhuman world, Dwight corrected their course. Something felt wrong with dinner conversation about people he made a career of exterminating. B mostly just laughed at the comically frail man who shared a shitty apartment with his partner.
    When they were finally ready to go, B watched the check fall to the table without any effort to touch the paper. He glared at Dwight, “We still ain’t settled up from last time,” he crossed his arms as he got up, “You’ve got the next three.”
    Dwight didn’t object; he wasn’t necessarily concerned with offending the big guy, but he needed B committed to his safety in the field. He dropped the appropriate amount with a decent tip for adequate service on the table, and followed out of the diner.
    The three stood together on the busy city street. There was an awkward moment of anticipation; they would either collectively part ways or propose some other communal activity. Dwight had no real experience with adult friendship, and wondered how to go about telling B that he wasn’t going to invite him back for coffee.
    To his surprise, Dwight was spared that embarrassing conversation. As he turned to speak, a streak from the sky descended on him. In an instant, he was hooked around the waist and carried away, his two companions left wondering what had just occurred. As his brain caught up to his rapidly rising body, he didn’t have to ponder his predicament for long. The thing he had been dreading for weeks had finally happened: Linda had found him. Her ebony hair fluttered in his face as they sailed over congested, late-day traffic clogging the street below.
    Within a minute, they slowed over an uptown rooftop. Dwight recognized his surroundings. They were a short walk – or even shorter flight – away from the loft they had shared up until the separation. Linda carefully let him go a foot or so from the concrete. She landed a few feet away.
    Her hair settled around her shoulders. She was in her full costume today, even the cape and mask. Dwight guessed those were in case she was recognized during the abduction.
    He didn’t really care about her anonymity at this point. He never really cared for the outfit, either. The exposed thighs and window around her cleavage felt like poor tactical decisions. Even if she didn’t think about practicality, the leer of people like Ian was enough to make him ill. Linda always claimed it was good publicity. She was always more concerned with giving the public a show.
    “You can’t just fucking pick me up whenever you feel like it!” he shouted at his ex-wife.
    She was more than a little smug, just as he would have expected, “Sure I can. I can throw a bus if I want to.”
    He felt himself shaking. He hated her sense of superiority more than anything else. “You