Pacific Station Vigilante (Book 1): The Negative Man (City of Chaos) by Jeremy Croston Page A

haven’t slipped by him.”
    “You know him?”
    “Yeah, I consider him a good friend.”
    I was caught off guard by this.  I was expecting something more sinister that would go along with him being the Ace of Clubs.  No, this meeting was turning out to be borderline corporate espionage.  “If you’re good friends with him, why don’t you work for gl-O-bal?”
    He waved me off.  “I’ve been at Wonder-Tech for years.  I guess you can call me a creature of routine and to leave would throw off my groove, you know?”
    I didn’t buy that explanation, but I didn’t call him out on it either.  I had to keep reminding myself he was a supervillain.  “Not that I’d be opposed to a move for the better, it’s just a bit of a surprise.”
    “Of course it is.  But where are my manners?  We’re here to have a good time, not talk about work bullshit.”  Jenkins got up and walked over to an open table.  I followed over and watched him put a dollar in.  “You up for a game?”
    Pool wasn’t my favorite thing to do, but I was quickly realizing that Jenkins trusted me and would keep talking.  Grabbing a stick from the rack, “I warn you, I’m not very good.”
    Turns out it didn’t matter.  Jenkins was a very skilled player, yet for him, it was more about talking.  We had two more beers while we played, after each, I’d get a few more tidbits of information.  Everything to his real feelings on John Wonderton (“The man is an arrogant prick!”) to things that happened in the past before I arrived (“Jenna from accounting, yeah she banged half the R&D lab and at last count had five abortions.”).  Honestly, by the end of our second game, I should’ve seriously considered talking to Owen Walker.
    However, terrible management skills and office infidelities aside, I was here as DL’s second, not John Wonderton’s assistant.  The problem was Jenkins wasn’t giving up any information on The Aces, just disdain for Wonder-Tech.  None of this information would be useful.
    After my second straight defeat, I felt as if I’d gotten as far as I could with Jenkins.  “I know this is going to come as a surprise, but I’m an old man trapped in a younger guy’s body.  I think I’m going to head on home.”
    Jenkins smiled.  “You’re wasting your youth Jericho, but I also understand.”  His phone buzzed and he pulled it out real quick.  “Looks like I gotta run too.  A friend of mine needs a ride home.”
    I laughed to myself that one drunk would call another for a ride, but that wasn’t my concern.  I settled up at the bar and began walking out of the Pier District.  I was tempted to text DL about this epic failure, but then he’d just want to talk.  No, that could wait until morning.  When I got to my car, I’d text Heather and see what she was up to.
    The parking lot was dark as I entered.  I could’ve swore this place had lights on it when I parked here just a few hours ago.  Anyways, I walked over to my car only to run into an invisible wall.  The impact sent me on to my ass and left my head stunned.
    A figure dressed in all black approached from the dark.  As he closed in, I saw he was wearing a Spades mask.  As he walked, he shimmered, apparently passing through the invisible wall.  He stopped a few feet from me, his dark eyes never leaving mine.
    His voice sounded mechanical.  “Jericho Staley… or should I call you The Dark Lion?”
    What the hell was he talking about?  “I’m sorry man, but you got the wrong guy.”
    An invisible force pushed me back upright.  I wobbled to my feet under the power of whatever this was.  Two more figures stepped out of the shadows; one in a Hearts mask and the other in a Clubs mask.  Hearts had his hand stretched out, as if controlling whatever was pushing me.
    Spades took another step closer to me.  “Do not lie to me!  I already know the identity of Massacre due to his screw up, so just admit you’re The Dark Lion!”
    How did