"I don't want to pass those guys. Do you?"
Shelton didn't bother to reply.
They continued east past the market's older portion, now dark and abandoned for the night. At the next cross street, they stopped to look over their shoulders.
And nearly wet their shorts.
The men were in the alley skirting the market's south side. Watching like predators tracking a meal.
"Move," Shelton whispered. "Keep going."
"Bay Street," Hi said. "We'll go all the way around."
Footsteps bounced off the cobblestones. Both boys turned.
The men had crossed to the north alley and were moving toward them. The distance was closing fast.
Hi and Shelton looked at each other. Fight or flight? No contest. They tensed, ready to bolt.
The world receded.
Darkness.
Falling.
SNAP.
Voltage slammed through Shelton and Hi. Their surroundings sharpened into crystal clarity.
The footfalls quickened to a trot. Their pursuers were closing in for the kill.
"Run!" Shelton screamed.
The boys streaked like greyhounds. Feet hammered behind them. The chase was on.
Hi's eyes now pierced the darkness like night vision goggles. Inside the market, he noticed a darker patch among the shadows.
Grabbing Shelton, he veered right. Shelton changed course with ease. As one, they slipped into the pitch-black structure. Crouched behind an overturned table. Held their breath.
Their pursuers paused just outside the opening. Their panting sounded to the boys like roaring wind. They could smell sweat, sense agitation.
"Where the hell are they?"
"Damn! I'll cover the street; you check in there. Don't let them get away!"
The footfalls divided. One pair pounded east. Receded.
The other pair crept toward them, gravel cracking beneath leather soles like exploding popcorn.
Then silence.
Hunkered down, Hi and Shelton saw their pursuer stop. To allow his eyes to adjust to the dark?
"Come on out." The voice was high and whiney. "We just want to talk."
The man moved one foot forward.
A soft click cut the stillness.
The boys' hyper-human ears registered the noise.
Their eyes met. Gold haloed their pupils.
They knew.
A gun had been cocked.
"I'm not going to hurt you." The voice now came from the darkness to the right. They could see its owner clearly. Tall, arms and legs sinewy inside the tight black fabric.
The man inched forward, unsure of the footing. One hand was outstretched, feeling its way. The other clutched a gun.
Shelton and Hi shared the same understanding. Our enemy can't see. We can. They scanned their surroundings, eyes shining. Looking for weapons.
There.
Two brooms stood angled against the wall behind them. Each had a stout wooden handle.
Moving silently, the boys armed themselves.
Wait.
Wait.
Finally, the thug drew level with their hiding place. His gun swept back and forth in front of his body. Amateur. Foolish.
Shelton edged closer, not needing to be told. His broom handle arrowed between the man's legs. The man stumbled, but somehow kept his balance.
Fast as lightning, Hi smashed down on the man's outstretched hand. The gun hit the cobblestones and ricocheted into the shadows.
Shelton didn't hesitate. Slipping forward, he jabbed his broom into the man's rib cage.
"Hmmmph!" The thug doubled over.
Hi reversed his grip, whipping his broom handle 360 degrees and slamming it across the back of their assailant's head.
Wood cracked on bone.
The man dropped. Lay still.
No time for celebration.
The warriors bolted from their hiding place.
Raced the darkened streets.
Didn't slow until they hit the water.
CHAPTER 50
"Where have you been? We've been waiting for hours!"
Venting felt good. I still had adrenaline up the wazoo.
"Sorry," Hi said. "The research took longer than we expected. And the hit men slowed us down."
"Right." I rolled my eyes.
"Two dudes tried to cap us!" Shelton was wired higher than I was. "We took one out, gave the other the slip."
Hi and Shelton bumped fists.
Ben held up a hand. "Stop. Explain."
They stepped all over each other telling the story.
"Who'd be after you?" Ben asked.
"The same fools from Loggerhead," Shelton said.
"Why?"
"We know about Heaton's murder, so now they want us dead. Right?"
"Maybe." I wasn't so sure. "Seems like a lot of trouble over a forty-year-old crime."
"Tory, we used our flare this time," Hi said. "The change gave us powers. Super senses and super strength."
Shelton concurred. "It was amazing."
"You're not the only ones." Ben shared our adventure at LIRI.
"So Karsten is banking cash to run secret experiments?" Shelton whistled. "And we walked right into it."
"Whatever he's doing, records of the project aren't in his office," I said. "Must be in the lab. Did you guys learn anything useful?"
"Could be."
Shelton and Hi took turns explaining the findings.