What would you do if you had superpowers?

Dave Johnson is the world’s biggest superhero fan. His comics allow him to escape the pain of the real world where he’s stuck in a dead end job and his wife and eldest son have lost respect for him.

Then Dave meets Zolgron, a symbiotic alien banished from his home world and forced to give great powers to whoever he attaches to. With Zolgron’s help, Dave becomes Powerhouse, a super strong, superfast crime fighter whose super imagination can mold reality to his vision. Dave sets off to save the day just like a comic book superhero and hilarity ensues.

Evil is scarce in Dave’s small town, so he sets about bringing justice to jay walkers and violators of a smoking ordinance. At the local police’s suggestion, he commutes to Seattle, where he faces down a ring of car thieves and comes face to face with the organized crime syndicate that has bought off Seattle policemen, prosecutors, and newspapermen.

To protect his family, Dave guards his secret identity from everyone, including his wife, Naomi. She begins to suspect Dave’s rapidly improving body and unexplained absences are signs of an affair. With Dave’s head in the clouds, can the Johnson marriage survive?

With all the fun and excitement of your favorite childhood Saturday Morning heroes, Tales of the Dim Knight is an action packed family comedy that will keep you laughing until the very end.

“A truly original premise, Tales of the Dim Knight is a light-hearted escape into the world of superheroes and villains with a thoughtful twist as to what matters most in life.”
–Christy Award Winner Jill Williamson, author of By Darkness Hid
A fun, fun read!
~ Frank Creed, award-winning author of Flashpoint

If you do not have a Kindle, you can still get Tales of the Dim Knight as an ebook at a great price. For all other ebook forms, go to Smashwords and purchase a copy. Use coupon code UN98W to claim a 65% discount, which will give you the book for $1.02.

If you have an extra 99 cents, also check out, “Your Average Ordinary Alien“

Becky at By the Book thought that Tales of the Dim Knight was perfect for the twenty somethings she knew. Amy at 160 Acre Woods calls it “Super Grover” for grown ups.

And with that our blog tour comes to an end. Thank you to everyone who participated. It’s been fun. Below is a final list of the blog who came through and participated:

3/27 David James
4/3 Phyllis Wheeler
4/4 Noah Arsenault
4/4 Sarah Sawyer
4/5 Tammy Shelnut
4/6 Timothy Hicks
4/7 Joan Nienhuis
4/8 Carol E. Keen
4/9 April Erwin
4/11 Morgan L. Busse
4/15 Chawna Schroeder
4/22 Frank Creed
4/28 Beckie Burnham
5/3 Amy Deanne

Christian Fantasy Review 

Noah Arsenault (Review) and (Interview)

Sarah Sawyer (Interview)

Tammy Shelnut (Review)

Timothy Hicks (Review)

Joan Nienhuis (Review)

Carol Keen (Review)

Morgan Busse (Review)

Chawna Schroeder (Review)

Also, I had a very fun interview here. Words are based on a true story sort of.

In honor of April Fools Day, we’re offering a great deal on our book, “Tales of the Dim Knight” that’s no joke. Today, Tomorrow, and Friday, Tales of the Dim Knight is available for only 99 cents for your ebook reader.

Tales of the Dim Knight is the humorous story of Dave Johnson, a superhero fan who gets superpowers and follows his adventures fighting crime and trying to hold his family together.  More information and a free sample chapter is available here.

Purchase your copy today and enjoy some laughs this April Fools today. :

If you have another ebook reader, you can purchase your copy at Smashwords.com, just use coupon code, “XG43J.” And let your fans and social networks know about this great sale.

You can also enter the contest to win an autographed copy at “New Authors Fellowship” which also features an interview with the hero of our book. And I was recently the special guest of B. J. K. Write on his blog.

“Adam, very good book. Thanks for a good read.”-A fan at your workplace.

Later in the day, the writer of the note came to my desk and identified himself. It was someone I’d never met before. He said he’d bought the book off of Amazon and, when he was walking by, saw my name plate and was sure that, of course, it wasn’t the same guy. He told me he’d really enjoyed the book and that it was a very fun read. My boss teased me about becoming famous and forgetting my fellow employees.

Moments like that make me smile as a first time author. I’ve always dreamed of making my fiction writing into my primary source of income and having my book read by tens of thousands. At this point, though, I’m probably approaching hundreds. But there are these little joys along the way, these little  moments that make me smile.

A positive review from someone I respect means a lot.

A positive review from someone I don’t even know shows that the book isn’t merely being read by friends and family.

I love to see that my book has been sold to someone overseas. I know I’ve sold at least six copies in the U.K.  (including Kindle copies.) To think someone is reading my book while sitting in Glasgow or London is a thrill.

Marketing is often a frustrating and uphill journey. It often feels like you’re behind and that your overall sales aren’t where they’re supposed to be and that you need to find that magic key to selling more. But somedays, you get those little moments that make you smile by realizing someone somewhere is enjoying your book, be it in the same building you work or across the world.

Thank God for the moments and for the people who bring them.

The Emerald Avenger treaded lightly, muscles tense. What was going on? Why had Marco lured him to a cave?

 A shot exploded. He hit the ground. Another shot rang out.

He searched for the source. There, behind the stalactite. Marco.

The Emerald Avenger threw a smoke bomb at the stalactite. The chamber filled with smoke. Marco continued to fire off random shots.

Marco gagged, but kept shooting. He had to go the last round. His gun clicked empty. The smoke began to clear. He started to reload.

Someone tapped his shoulder. “Put your hands in the air and turn around.”

Marco cringed and complied. The Emerald Avenger met him with a ferocious right hook. Marco fell. The Emerald Avenger grabbed him and hit him again.

Marco shuddered. “Finish it.”

The Emerald Avenger gave him a quizzical look. “What?”

“You’re terrorizing the organization because of me. Leave the organization alone and take your vengeance on me.”

The Emerald Avenger shook his head. “Huh?”

“Kill me. You know you want to.”

The Emerald Avenger dropped Marco and laughed. He waved a finger. “No way, Markie-boy. Now, I know the perfect vengeance. I’ll take down everyone in your organization and, don’t worry; you’ll be alive to see it all. There is no redemption for you, only the swift justice of the Emerald Avenger.”

“Can’t you just do what I ask?”

“Sorry, I’m the dark figure of justice. I don’t take requests.” The Emerald Avenger ran out.

Marco shook his head. “Is there no penance?” He sighed, he knew full well what would be the necessary penance. He’d have to forfeit the fruits of his sin, which would mean forfeiting the organization, and he couldn’t do that. The organization was everything. He could no more turn himself in and bring about the conviction of Frank Ross than he could turn in his own father.

He’d write another big check to charity for a quarter of a million dollars. Maybe that would assuage his guilt.

—

This concludes our Serialization of Tales of the Dim Knight.  If you’d like to read more, please purchase our book, which is available in both paperback and ebook form.

Tales of the Dim Knight is available in Paperback form, in the Kindle Store as well as on Smashwords in a variety of formats. At both sites, you can get extensive free excerpts on your computer, or sent directly to your Kindle device from the Kindle store.

The Emerald Avenger flew overhead in the Avenging Eagle near Marco’s house, a drab green, old world home with a french window that opened to a balcony over the four-columned porch. He hadn’t decided which corrupted cop to go after next, so he’d terrorize Marco a bit.

Something pinged off the Avenging Eagle’s titanium underbelly, followed by a whole volley of pings. Bullets.

He looked down. Marco stopped shooting, jumped in his midnight Mercedes, and drove away. The Avenging Eagle took up pursuit. He caught up over the highway and scraped the roof of Marco’s car. Marco took a sharp right turn down an old mining road. The Emerald Avenger stayed on his tail.

 ###

Marco stopped his car, jumped out, and ran to a cave entrance about three feet wide and barely six feet high. He ran through the caverns until distant footsteps splashed.

He turned and cocked the rifle he’d hidden in the cave. “Avenger, one way or another, this ends tonight.”

The Emerald Avenger entered his scope. He fired.

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is available in Paperback form, in the Kindle Store as well as on Smashwords in a variety of formats. At both sites, you can get extensive free excerpts on your computer, or sent directly to your Kindle device from the Kindle store.

Downtown, Marco read the headline and cursed. “Welch ain’t that stupid.”

His right hand man, Whitaker, peered at him through grandma glasses that went well with the secretary gray trousers. “Then what happened?”

“The Emerald Avenger. He’s framed him, and I’ll bet you anything he framed those cops that were fingered for arson also.”

“How you gonna prove it?”

“I’m not. I ain’t Dick Tracy. The organization is suffering for my sin. Somehow or another, I have to end this. I’m gonna draw him out and take him down.”

“Boss, I’ll get some of the boys—”

“No, I’m going alone.” Marco got up and grabbed his coat. “Whit, if you don’t see me again, it’s been good knowing you.”

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is available in Paperback form, in the Kindle Store as well as on Smashwords in a variety of formats. At both sites, you can get extensive free excerpts on your computer, or sent directly to your Kindle device from the Kindle store.

Inside Welch’s e-mail one last time, the Emerald Avenger composed a reply to the last Nigerian e-mail, asking, “Did the wire arrive?” Below that, it included copies of all the messages that had been sent back and forth.

Welch sent his weekly report to the chief, but the Emerald Avenger intercepted it. The Emerald Avenger changed the e-mail address on the report to the Nigerian’s e-mail and sent the e-mail about the wire to the chief.

###
Welch checked his junk mail at work for the first time in weeks. “Earn $5,000 while you sleep!’ Morons. I know how to make twice that for doing nothing.”

The screen refreshed. The message had vanished.

“Weird.” Welch deleted the rest of his junk mail.

Chief of police Stone Bachman arrived with a police sergeant. Captain Welch rose from his desk chair. “Hi, Chief. I wasn’t expecting to see you today.”

The chief frowned.

The police sergeant said, “Are you Captain Jake Welch?”

“Yes, Sergeant, you work in my precinct. You should know that.”

“Sergeant, do your duty,” said the chief.

The sergeant dangled his handcuffs. “Captain Welch, you are under arrest for criminal conspiracy and money laundering. You have the right to remain silent. If you give up the right to remain silent . . . . ”

Welch stared. What the heck? That was outrageous! Guess the chief knew it. He had tears in his eyes. The chief walked away.

The sergeant finished reading Welch his rights, handcuffed him, and led him to lockup.

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is available in Paperback form, in the Kindle Store as well as on Smashwords in a variety of formats. At both sites, you can get extensive free excerpts on your computer, or sent directly to your Kindle device from the Kindle store.

Captain Welch finished his meal at Fischer’s Café and took the check up to the front counter. He handed the waiter his credit card. After running it through the machine, the waiter handed it back. “Sir, your card was declined.”

“What?”

“Your credit card company wouldn’t pay.”

What an outrage! “I’ll have to call them.” He paid with his debit card.

At home, he called his bank at the number on his last credit card statement. “What is wrong with you morons? Why didn’t my credit card work?”

“Because you have no money,” the female representative replied in a patronizing tone. “I’m showing you transferred the entire $12,000 limit from your credit card to your checking account at 25% interest.”

“What? Why would I do that?”

“My records indicate you took all your money out of your checking account, your savings accounts, IRAs, CDs, and your home equity line to do a wire transfer and then needed the money from the credit card to reimburse your checking account.”

Dizziness and nausea stole over Welch. “What?”

“Sir, do you require our hearing impaired line?”

“No, I heard you. Do something about this, now!”

“I’ll file a claim, and we’ll look into it.”

“No, I want my money back, now!”

“I understand that, but unfortunately, we’re not in the habit of reversing $345,000 back into your checking account just because you don’t remember doing it.”

“I want a supervisor.”

“Sure, I’ll get one.”

Several unhelpful supervisors later, Welch cursed with what remained of his voice. “Fine, I’ll file you moron’s precious claim.”

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is available in Paperback form, in the Kindle Store as well as on Smashwords in a variety of formats. At both sites, you can get extensive free excerpts on your computer, or sent directly to your Kindle device from the Kindle store.

Mother Ines walked to her office. “Lord God, do Americans no longer read newspapers? Why has no one responded to the story on our work with the orphans of Brazil? Will you not provide for us? Soon, the mission’s coffers will be empty.”

In the doorway, Mother Ines froze. A briefcase sat on her desk. “Sister Agatha!”

Agatha ran into the office. She opened the briefcase and gasped. “It’s money.” She handed a typewritten note to Mother Ines.

 I expect $320,000 American should feed a lot of children for a long time. Also, here’s 167,000 nairas.

Here’s to happier headlines,

Robin Hood

Tears soaked the cheeks of Mother Ines. “This is a miracle.”

“Mother, what shall we do with the nairas?” Sister Agatha asked.

“Save them for when we run out of toilet paper.”

Abena got up and shrieked. What was she doing in her underwear? What happened to her jeans and blouse? Her gaze fell on the men. She gasped—they were nude!

“Where are we?” John asked.

Olumide shivered. “It is so cold. And what’s with all these funny trees?”

As far as the eye could see, trees grew with sharp, dark green needles for leaves.

“Get out of my forest!”

They turned. In the trees stood a white man with a spear. He wore a loincloth cut from the skin of a North American gazelle, if Abena didn’t miss her guess.

The crazy white man waved his spear. “This is my forest. You go back where you came from.” He paused. “Except her.”

Galroni folded his arms. “Show some manners. She is not your property.”

Abena stiffened. The men would gladly sell her to the white man, for the right price.

“Who will defend her after you’re all dead?”

The four Africans fled across the wilderness from the crazy white man.

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is available in Paperback form, in the Kindle Store as well as on Smashwords in a variety of formats. At both sites, you can get extensive free excerpts on your computer, or sent directly to your Kindle device from the Kindle store.

Tales of the Dim Knight is action packed Superhero Comedy that follows one Superhero fanboy as he achieves his ultimate dream-Superpowers. The comedy and the action are fun and entertaining. As Rick Copple wrote in his review, family and relationships play a big part in Tales of the Dim Knight:

Rather, the the real tension of the story evolves from the complications Dave’s secret job has for his wife and children, not to mention his enemies. The heart of the novel revolves around family, right and wrong, the misguided ways we tend to deal with our hurts, and grace, all wrapped in a light-hearted story that will have you chuckling and smiling.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we are slashing the Kindle price to $2.99 through 2/14, that’s nearly 30% off, and the price of all other books to $3.02, or nearly 40% off the usual price. This is a great opportunity to have a good read at a great price.

Links:

To purchase the book for your Kindle, go here.

To purchase the book in another ebook format, purchase it at Smashwords using the coupon code, “WZ28W” to claim your discount.

The book is still available from our publisher in good old fashioned paperback as well as being on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk for the U.K., and Amazon.ca for our Canadian friends.

Welch entered the bank. Another police captain at the teller line sixty feet away turned his back and ran to bathroom. Welch shrugged. When you got to go, you got to go.

Where had he seen this guy before? That fella was so over the hill. Man, he’d started to age, but not as bad as that guy. He walked up to the teller counter.

The redheaded banker smiled. “Was there something else I could do for you, sir?”

Something else? The banker hadn’t done anything yet.

Welch handed over the affidavit. “I need to get this notarized.”

The banker waved across the room to a cubicle. “Sure, take a seat.”

Welch sat across from the desk. The banker took his seat and got out his notary book. “I’ve always wanted to go Africa. Don’t know about Nigeria, but Kenya would be nice.”

Why had they hired blathering idiots to work here?

On Welch’s way out, the banker called, “Hope you enjoy your Nigerian home!”

Welch rolled his eyes. What a moron.

Paul Galroni stood at his banker’s teller window.

The banker tapped his fingers together. “Mr. Galroni, this 46,814,271 nairas is quite a wire transfer.”

“I want 167,000 nairas, and the rest in US dollars.”

“You’re forgetting about your bank fees.”

Uh-oh. Galroni narrowed his eyes. “What fees?”

“Converting this into US currency and receiving the wire for you will be 1000 nairas. In addition, we require 500,000 nairas for covering this up in our ledgers, and 1,000,000 nairas for not reporting you to Interpol.”

“You’re a cheat.”

“So are you.”

Galroni grunted. “Fine.”

He exited the bank, eyes darting around. He clutched the briefcase that held $300,000 in US dollars tight against the pocket with the sack containing the 167,000 nairas.

Back at the apartment, he slid the briefcase under his bed and removed from his pocket the sack with the nairas that his friends expected. He eyed Olumide and John as they played poker. Good. Neither had noticed the briefcase.

Olumide glanced up and said in their native tongue, “Galroni, you rascal.”

He just wanted to know what his take was. Galroni sat at the table. “Olumide, you snake, deal me in. I got 167,000 from an American fishing boat captain.”

Olumide handed over the cards. “Fantastic.”

Abena entered with her head freshly shaven and glanced at Galroni’s bed. “What’s this?”

Stupid nosy female. Galroni jumped up and grabbed the suitcase. “It’s mine!”

She sent him a puzzled look. “I was talking about the blanket. It looks new.”

Galroni’s cheeks grew warm. “Oh. It was sent by my aunt.”

Olumide frowned. “What is in the briefcase?”

“I will not tell.”

Sharp cold steel pressed against the back of Galroni’s neck.

“Open it.” John withdrew the knife and stepped into view.

Trembling, Galroni opened the briefcase.

Abena’s eyes grew round. “How much is in there?”

Galroni gulped. Enough to pay for his funeral. “$300,000 US dollars.”

Three sets of eyes glared at him. Olumide said, “You were holding out on us. You were going to go to America and leave us here to risk our lives alone.”

“He’s greedy.” John flicked the knife blade. “Let’s split the money three ways.”

“Hold it right there!” demanded someone behind them in English.

The four turned. In the door stood a man wearing a black and emerald green suit and a gas mask. Coughing seized them. The world faded away.

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is available in Paperback form, in the Kindle Store as well as on Smashwords in a variety of formats. At both sites, you can get extensive free excerpts on your computer, or sent directly to your Kindle device from the Kindle store.

The Emerald Avenger entered the bank disguised as Welch. Jake Welch normally banked at the branch in Seattle, so the Emerald Avenger went to the Tacoma office. He walked up to a banker, an auburn college age kid with freckles, who stood at the front counter.

The banker said, “How can I help you?”

“I’m Jake Welch,”the Emerald Avenger said. “I need to do a wire transfer.”

“Sure. How much would you like to send?”

“$345,212.53.”

That got him arched eyebrows. “Buying a house?”

What? “Something like that.”

After the banker got Welch’s identification from the Emerald Avenger, the banker looked at Welch’s accounts. “Sir, you only have $8,000 in your checking account.”

Who did this guy think he was? “Like I didn’t know that! Transfer over all the available funds on my home equity credit line, my savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and IRAs.”

After all the fees, that left him with exactly enough money for the transfer, but an empty checking account would get caught sooner than he wanted it to be. He frowned like he was having second thoughts, but was too committed to back out. “You know, I need to eat. Transfer the available credit on my Visa card to my checking account.” At a very high interest rate.

The Emerald Avenger wet his lips each time he signed Welch’s signature on all the forms, which seemed to stack as high as in a cartoon. What if Zolgron was wrong, what if his signature wasn’t an exact forgery of Welch’s? What if it got traced back to Dave Johnson?

 He gave the banker the scammer’s swift code—the number that said where to wire the money, apparently. The banker sent him a curious look. “You’re buying a house in Nigeria?”

Would he please stop asking questions? “Yes.”

The Emerald Avenger signed the last paper and grinned. Yes! Free at last!

The banker headed off to transmit the wire. The Emerald Avenger turned around and gasped at the man walking in—the real Jake Welch.

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is available in Paperback form, in the Kindle Store as well as on Smashwords in a variety of formats. At both sites, you can get extensive free excerpts on your computer, or sent directly to your Kindle device from the Kindle store.

In Nigeria, Paul Galroni checked his e-mail. He sent out a thousand e-mails every day running various scams out of his flat in Abuja, Nigeria. It used to be easy to make money, but now he’d be lucky to get one or two responses a day. This day, he had two.

He opened the first.

Dear Obusi,

   How’s it going? I’d be more than happy to help you smuggle twelve million dollars into the US from stolen oil money. What do I need to do?

–Captain Jake Welch, Seattle PD

Strange, the first email was usually more skeptical. It’d been years since he’d enjoyed such naivety. He wrote back, “I need $1,200 to bribe local officials so I can get the money out of the country.”

 He checked his second message:

Dear Sir,

It’s a shame you’re so greedy you’d destroy people’s lives. I pray God will save your soul and urge you to get right with Him soon, before it’s too late.

–Brother Elijah Collins

“First, I’d have to have a soul.” Galroni deleted the message.

Another message arrived from that Captain Welch:

My pal Obusi,

Hope you’re having a great day, buddy. Did you see the Mariners game? Are they broadcast in Nigeria? The Giants creamed them last night.

Do you really think $1,200 will be enough to hold off local officials? I’ve been taking bribes from crime lords for the past FIVE years, and we demand a lot more than that. You’ll need a lot of money to get out of Nigeria, and I want to help you. Tell you what. I’ll loan you $345,712.53. You go ahead and give me $6,345,712.53 of that $12 million when you get here, and we’ll call it even.

–Captain Jake Welch.

Galroni fell out of his chair. With that money, he could actually go to America.

He looked around the apartment he shared with four partners. Over $350,000, they would kill him. He’d tell them he got the standard $1,200. He replied to the message, “I am not aware of sea monsters battling giants or of the giants making butter out of them.” He glanced quickly over his shoulder and provided his bank account information.

Seconds later, another message arrived in his inbox:

Great! The funds will be sent out today.

–Captain Jake Welch.

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is available in Paperback form, in the Kindle Store as well as on Smashwords in a variety of formats. At both sites, you can get extensive free excerpts on your computer, or sent directly to your Kindle device from the Kindle store.

Zolgron cleared his throat. “Next on the list is Ross’s left arm, Jake Welch. To get him, you’ll need to send him an e-mail.”

Dave arched his eyebrows. “I’m going to terrorize him with threatening e-mails?”

“No, you’ll send him an attachment—us.”

The Emerald Avenger withdrew back to the real world and sat at his computer. He created a new free e-mail account and opened a new message window.

A miniature Zolgron appeared in the upper left corner of his screen. “Make the subject, ‘Earn $5,000 while you sleep!’”

“Huh?”

“We want to get sent to his junk mail folder.”

The Emerald Avenger sighed and typed the subject. He entered the computer and stood on the blue and white background of the free e-mail service. The Avenging Eagle sat at the bottom of the compose mail page. The header loomed as large as the Hollywood sign. He joined Zolgron inside the Avenging Eagle. “Okay, now what?”

“Press the ‘Send’ button.”

“Where’s that?”

Zolgron pointed to the ignition, or rather at the big orange button labeled “SEND” where the ignition should be.

“Oh.” The Emerald Avenger pressed it. A large crane clutched the Eagle. He grabbed the wheel and made a hard left to try and shake free. No good, the crane sent them shooting through a vortex.

Zolgron laughed. “Relax. All will be well.”

At the end of the vortex, another crane grabbed the Avenging Eagle and dropped them into another black hole. They landed with a jolt on top of a pile of a giant’s junk mail.

Zolgron screamed, “Get out!”

“But it’s twenty messages straight down.”

“Another will arrive any second. Our position will be much more precarious.”

The Emerald Avenger jumped from the Avenging Eagle and landed on his feet next to the tall stack. Zolgron followed him down. A message with the header, “Help xrqv” landed on top of their message with an ear-splitting crunch. Metal and glass rained down.

Zolgron studied the headers on the spam list. The Emerald Avenger glanced over the list. Most of them asked if Welch wanted to cheat on his wife or otherwise insulted his manhood.

After a moment, the Emerald Avenger asked, “What are we looking for?”

Zolgron pointed up. “There! It’s in message fifteen.”

The Emerald Avenger and Zolgron climbed up to message fifteen and crawled through the open door inside the first “O” of, “Quick in your response.”

The Emerald Avenger cleared his throat and read the message. “‘My name is Obusi Markfarwi, the son of the late oil Minister of Nigeria.’ Hey! This is the Nigerian scam where the person sending the e-mail pretends to be a relative of a deposed African dignitary offering millions of dollars to whoever can help them come to the US.” The Emerald Avenger glanced at Zolgron. “What are we supposed to do with this?”

“What else? Reply to it.”

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is available in Paperback form, in the Kindle Store�(on sale this week for $2.99), as well as on Smashwords in a variety of formats. At both sites, you can get extensive free excerpts on your computer, or sent directly to your Kindle device from the Kindle store.

The Emerald Avenger stood with Zolgron at Powerhouse�s waterfall. �Wilson and Gordon look sure to be found guilty of arson.�

Zolgron smiled. �Splendid. That should take them out of circulation for about five years and then ruin the rest of their lives.�

The Emerald Avenger sighed.

Zolgron frowned. �You�re not happy. I don�t understand. Everything went as planned.�

�I feel dirty inside, like I need a shower.�

A stream of water burst from the sky, soaking him. Dave glared. �I didn�t mean literally!�

The water stopped.

Dave wrung out his hair. �They�re not guilty of arson. We framed them.�

Zolgron rolled his eyes. �So? They are guilty of something worse�being an accessory to murder and taking a bribe. Do you have any doubt that they�re guilty of that?�

�No.�

�Even if we were to share our information with prosecutors and we happened to get one who wasn�t corrupt, they couldn�t act on what we gave them because we got our information illegally and they have no probable cause to replicate our search legally.�

�The Emerald Avenger blinked. �What�s probable cause?�

�My mistake. You�ve spent your life watching Superman, not Law and Order. Just trust me. There was no way the law would get them for the crimes they committed. Therefore, we just helped justice along.�

�But with anything I do, I need to ask WWSD: What would Superman do? I can�t imagine Superman doing this.�

Zolgron sighed. �Superman is a poor role model with unrealistic high moral standards�or at least the version you�re thinking of did. The best philosophy with heroes is to find one who doesn�t challenge you much, preferably one your actions are better than. Personally, I think you need to ask, �WWPD?��

Huh? �What would the police do?�

�No, what would the Punisher do?�

�But the Punisher would�ve shot them in the face or blown them up with hand grenades.�

�And you were merciful enough to just frame them for a crime they didn�t commit.�

�I�m not sure you�re right.�
����������� Zolgron thumped the Emerald Avenger on the back. �Trust me. You�ll feel better about yourself, and that�s the most important thing. Don�t think, �Spider-man wouldn�t approve of this.� Think, �The Punisher and Darkman would have no problem with this.��

Yeah, but do I really want to be like them? They�re kind of crazy.

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is available in Paperback form, in the Kindle Store�(on sale this week for $2.99), as well as on Smashwords in a variety of formats. At both sites, you can get extensive free excerpts on your computer, or sent directly to your Kindle device from the Kindle store.

Wilson sat in an interrogation room. A large manila envelope lay on the puke green table.

Detective Granger of the State Police extended his hands, all friendly like. �Gentlemen, I would suggest a confession.�

Wilson folded his arms. �This is crazy!�

Granger shook his head. �You were in the vicinity at the time of the fire. We found the crowbar used to break through the door in Officer Gordon�s tool shed with traces of gasoline still on the crowbar. Officer Wilson, you listed an antique chest containing mint condition collectors items on your insurance claim, is that right?�

�Yeah.� What did that have to do with anything?

Granger picked the manila envelope up off the table. With his gloved hand, he withdrew a comic book and waved it at Wilson. �Batman, first issue, a classic. Found all of them in your primary residence�s attic, with traces of gasoline on the chest.�

Lightheadedness swept over Wilson.

Granger held out a pen. �Write a confession, and everything will go much smoother.�

For you. Wilson pushed it aside. �I�m confessing nothing.�

�Come on, it�s plain as day you did it.�

�I want an attorney!�

�If you insist. Back to your cell.�

�

�

Granger gathered his paperwork for the Lincoln County prosecutor. Good thing Lincoln County would handle this. He didn�t know who to trust with the Seattle people.

His short partner entered. �Hey, Granger.�

�Hi, Sturges. You know what was funny about those guys? I almost believe them. Judging their reactions, I�d have sworn they didn�t do it.�

Sturges laughed. �Oh, come on! Are you getting soft?�

Granger smiled. �Not on your life.�

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is available in Paperback form, in the Kindle Store, as well as on Smashwords in a variety of formats. At both sites, you can get extensive free excerpts on your computer, or sent directly to your Kindle device from the Kindle store.

While patrolling a ritzy French poodle sorta neighborhood with Officer Gordon, Officer Wilson gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles. Those detectives tore his place a part. He shot a quick glance at Gordon. �The state police searched your place, too?�

�Yeah. I don�t get it.�

�Come on, you know how detectives think. We�re their prime suspects.�

�We�ve got nothing to worry about. We didn�t do it.�

Flashing blue lights appeared in the rearview mirror. Wilson gritted his teeth and pulled over to the side of road. Two Washington State policemen approached their car.

Wilson rolled down the window. �Is there a problem, officer?�

The shorter of the two leaned in his window. �Are you Officer Track Wilson?�

Wilson nodded. �What can I do for you?�

The tall state policeman waved at Wilson�s partner. �And you are Officer Randy Gordon?�

�Yes,� said Officer Gordon, his eyes darting.

�Please step out of the vehicle.�

Gordon and Wilson got out of their patrol car. The short state policeman said, �Hands behind your back.�

Wilson�s head spun as he and Gordon complied. �What�s going on?�

Metal slapped around his wrists. The tall state policeman pulled a card with the Miranda rights on it from his pocket. �Officer Track Wilson, you are under arrest for arson and insurance fraud. You have the right to remain silent . . . �

An elderly passerby in a leather trench coat stopped the elderly matron on his arm and gaped at the officers. �Honey, I think I�ve seen everything now.�

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is available in Paperback form, in the Kindle Store, as well as on Smashwords in a variety of formats. At both sites, you can get extensive free excerpts on your computer, or sent directly to your Kindle device from the Kindle store.

Wilson caught up to Gordon�s car after the hill up to their driveway. The cabin appeared through the evergreen forest.� Gordon cursed. It�s on fire!

He screeched to a halt two feet behind Gordon�s break lights. Both jumped out and ran towards the water pump. Wilson turned on the faucet. Gordon picked up the attached garden hose and sprayed in vain at the flames. Wilson flipped out his cell phone to call the Fire Department, but fire trucks pulled up. The fire chief jumped off his truck and shoved Gordon away from the garden hose. �Out of the way.�

The firefighters turned their hoses on the cabin, but a spark lit up a pine tree. Within seconds, the flames spread across the dry, overgrown forest.

�Chief!� screamed one of the firefighters.

The chief looked up and whistled. �I�ll be.�

Wilson followed the chief�s gaze. Powerhouse�s ghost flew overhead, carrying a school bus filled with water, which Powerhouse poured onto the fire. Smoke and steam billowed up as the fire sizzled out. Gordon groaned. The water would destroy everything not already ash or tainted with smoke.

The firemen jumped in the air and threw their hats up, cheering. Powerhouse landed on the ground. Wilson glared at him. �I thought you were dead.�

�Not quite. I�m only semi-retired.�

The chief rushed forward and shook Powerjerk�s hand. �Come to the Volunteer Firefighter Barbeque anytime, Powerhouse. You just saved a lot of trees and homes.�

�I would�ve done it sooner, but it�s hard to find an abandoned school bus and even harder to get it full of water. In fact, I ended up cheating. But my work here is done. Powerhouse away!�

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is available in Paperback form, in the Kindle Store, as well as on Smashwords in a variety of formats. At both sites, you can get extensive free excerpts on your computer, or sent directly to your Kindle device from the Kindle store.

Thirty miles outside Boston, Com-mander Jr. stopped his rented Toyota Prius by a gated cottage. A black sedan parked behind him.

Cardin and Jaden of the Supernatural Intelligence Bureau got out of the sedan and came around to Junior�s window.

Junior asked, �What are you doing here?�

�We discovered who the landscaping man was and traced the payment to this address. Got a search warrant.�

�Well, let�s go in.�

Agent Jaden broke the lock on the fence and opened the gate. Junior drove in. The agents soon followed in their car.

Cardin got out of his car, walked to the door, and knocked. �Federal Agents, open up!� He waited a second and kicked open the door.

Pine-sol�s original scent saturated the carpet. Dentations marked where the furni-ture had been.

Jaden entered also and walked into the kitchen. �There�s food in the refrigerator.�

Junior checked out the back through a window. �There�s a garage out back.�

They walked out to the large detached garage. Cardin opened the garage door. Dozens of electrical outlets spotted the walls.

Cardin looked around. �This is about the configuration at Dr. Squall�s place.�

Junior walked to a torn scrap of purple cloth at the edge of the garage. He picked the purple scrap up. �Cardin, I think I found something.�

Cardin took a look. �This is part of Dark Mystic�s cloak. He must have torn it.�

Junior raised an eyebrow. �Dark Mys-tic was here?�

�Yeah, and take a look at the wall, looks like there was a small explosion.�

Jaden said, �That would explain the bloody bandages in the trash. Somebody�s been treated for some pretty bad wounds.�

�We�ll have to call in the FBI. They�ll want to test these, and to issue a warrant for Robert Markum for aiding and abetting.�

Junior smirked. �I�ll rest reassured knowing the bureaucracy�s on the case.�

�Young man, law and order may be a little slow for the McDonald�s generation, but we�re doing the best we can.�

�That may be, but we�re no closer to finding Commander Justice and the others.�

Continued Next Monday.

Be sure to check out Tales of the Dim Knight�now�available from Splashdown books.

Gordon groaned. �I hope this is important.�

�

�

Officer Wilson called his voice mail on his cell phone.

After the usual rigmarole, Gordon said, �Jack, come down to the cabin.�

Wilson got up. �I guess I�ll head out.�

�

�

Hovering over Gordon and Wilson�s cabin in the Avenging Eagle, the Emerald Avenger pressed a button and sprayed gasoline all over the premises. He descended a rope ladder to the ground, pried the door open with a crowbar, and proceeded to pour gas over everything inside.

At a large chest in the second bedroom, he stopped short. Upon opening it, the Emerald Avenger gasped, his eyes widening. �Comic books!�

He shifted through them. Wow, these were worth thousands. They even had a first issue of Spider-man and the first issue of Detective Comics featuring Batman. And since they�d think these were destroyed, he could add�he slapped his left hand. �You�re a superhero, you can�t keep the comic books.� He also couldn�t let them be destroyed.

The Emerald Avenger grabbed the chest, broke the glass in the windows, and jumped out. He climbed into the Avenging Eagle and turned on stealth mode. Though miles from any neighbors, he couldn�t risk being seen by the soon-arriving officers and the fire depart-ment.

He threw a match at the cabin. The match landed several feet away. He threw another and had the same result. Should�ve doused the walkway. Too late now; he�d used all the gas he could spare.

The Avenging Eagle hovered about four feet off the ground. He threw a match while pulling the thrusters back as far as they�d go.

The Eagle shot away like a bullet as the gasoline vapors caught fire. In his rearview mirror, the cabin exploded in the blaze.

Tales of the Dim Knight is available in Paperback form, in the Kindle Store, as well as on Smashwords in a variety of formats. At both sites, you can get extensive free excerpts on your computer, or sent directly to your Kindle device from the Kindle store.

The Emerald Avenger held up the com-plete list of all the corrupt officers. Strange, he thought he�d find more than sixty. Over ninety-five percent of the cops were on the up and up.

Zolgron smiled. �There, now was that so hard? It only took three weeks.�

�Okay, now I know so I can, um . . . . What am I supposed to do with all this?�

�First, delete the non-corrupt profiles; it�ll allow you to think clearer.�

The Emerald Avenger closed his eyes and envisioned tossing the good cops� financial records in a trash can. He struck an imaginary match and lit the fantasy trash can on fire. His headache fled, like he�d taken off a five ton hat. �Oh, what a rush.�

He searched through the sixty remaining profiles. �Let�s start with Gordon and Wilson. They allowed themselves to be knocked out so that Marco could kill the Reverend Jones.�

Zolgron smiled. �They�re splitting be-tween them the mortgage payment on a fish-ing cabin, a couple hours from here. We could use that.�

The Emerald Avenger whistled. �Hey, you�re right. If we can�t get them for the crime they did commit, maybe we can get them for one they didn�t commit.�

Continued Next Tuesday.

Tales of the Dim Knight is set for book Release November 22nd, �a sample e-book including the first four chapters is�available for your reading pleasure. You can follow our hero on Twitter @dimknight

The Emerald Avenger stood in the server room of City Hall, blending perfectly into his surroundings. Slipping past security had been easy, but how would he enter the computer? He couldn�t just sit in a catatonic state for an hour. Maybe he could fly inside. He focused on the computer, imagining himself shrinking and going through the screen.�

He found himself standing outside a toll road with Zolgron by his side. Glistening circuitry surrounded him.

A guard put a hand out. �Stop! You can�t enter without a user name and password.�

Zolgron stared at the guard. �Stand aside.�

The guard stood aside, and they entered. The Emerald Avenger grinned. Wow. So great was Zolgron�s control, no password protec-tion could stand in his way.

The Emerald Avenger gaped as Zolgron navigated the confusing mess of streets inside the city of circuitry. After about ten minutes, Zolgron handed a thick stack of spreadsheets to the Emerald Avenger. �Eat this.�

�What is it?�

�A list of all the police officers, judges, and prosecutors within the city and their bank accounts, divided up by who their direct de-posits went to in nice neat databases. Now eat it.�

�No. That�s gross.�

Zolgron grabbed a fist full of the Emerald Avenger�s hair, and shoved the spreadsheets down his throat. His knees buckled from the pressure of the data stream.

The Emerald Avenger asked, �How did I eat a spreadsheet?�

Zolgron smiled. �All you�re seeing is a physical representation of what�s going right to your brain.�

The Avenging Eagle appeared next to them. Zolgron led them inside and punched an address into the navigator. �This bank has twelve accounts we need to investigate.�

�Investigate how?�

�By digging through their banking his-tories for years back, looking for patterns.�

The Emerald Avenger groaned. Super-heroes on TV had sidekicks or high powered computers to handle stuff this boring.

On the third officer, the Emerald Avenger whistled at a $9,000 check deposited the week before. Pay dirt. He pulled up the electronic copy of the check. His face fell. �Darn, just a cashed in life insurance policy.�

In the Avenging Eagle afterwards, the Emerald Avenger yawned. All this effort, only for all twelve police officers to come out clean. �Now what?�

�Your energy reserves are depleted. Re-charge them.�

Mild mannered janitor Dave Johnson tumbled across his basement floor and col-lided with the washing machine. Rubbing his head, he dragged himself to his feet, and blinked at his computer through the iron cur-tains passing for his eyelids. Strange. He�d not really needed that much sleep since he got his powers.

He stumbled three steps and crashed on-to his duct-tape patched brown leather couch. Naomi would be mad in the morning, but Mount Everest would be an easier climb than the stairs.

Continued Next Tuesday.

Tales of the Dim Knight is set for book Release November 22nd, �a sample e-book including the first four chapters is�available for your reading pleasure. You can follow our hero on Twitter @dimknight

�I absorbed all the information in your database. �

�You took everything off the Internet? But that�d take forever.�

�I skipped most of the video, audio, and the half of the database dedicated to your species� bizarre sexual obsessions. But I know how we can get the corrupt police officers. The City of Seattle offers direct deposit to their employees, which means they have their employees� checking account numbers in a database.�

�Great, but what does that mean?�

�If you obtain the database, you�ll have their checking account numbers, and if you break into their banks� databases, you can find out what�s going into their accounts.�

�Okay, so if we can get into several sen-sitive databases, we�ll learn what?�

Zolgron shook his head. �Which police officers have had unusually high deposits into their accounts.�

�I see, kinda.� Sorta. Not really.

�Just trust me. What other choice do you have?�

Continued Next Tuesday.

Tales of the Dim Knight is set for book Release November 22nd, �a sample e-book including the first four chapters is�available for your reading pleasure. You can follow our hero on Twitter @dimknight

Dave Johnson plopped in his scruffy desert brown easy chair with his morning coffee and breathed a heavy sigh. What good was it to catch a criminal, if they�d just get out?

Zolgron appeared. �Why don�t you do something about the corrupt police officers?�

�Which ones are corrupt?�

�Figure it out.�

�How?�

�I know nothing of your technology, but I can learn if you do as I say.�

Why do I think this is going to hurt a whole lot? �Okay, I�m game.�

�Where is your database?�

What the heck? �Database?�

�Information catalogue?�

Dave frowned. �How long have you been on Earth?�

�Roughly fifty solar years.�

�And you�ve never even heard of the Internet?�

Zolgron shrugged. �The host that got me stuck on this planet crash landed in a remote jungle. I was stuck in third world countries until my last host emigrated here. He unfor-tunately was single-minded about blowing up as much of America as possible.�

�Um, this way.� Dave walked to his computer and sat down.

Zolgron disappeared.

A USB cord extended from Dave�s chest and screams from the depths of his lungs.

Continued Next Tuesday.

Tales of the Dim Knight is set for book Release November 22nd, �a sample e-book including the first four chapters is�available for your reading pleasure. You can follow our hero on Twitter @dimknight

The Invisibility Master yawned and sat up in the middle of a pristine pine forest that stretch as far as he could see with mountains looming like giants in the background. He shivered and stared at his nude body. Just as well that his invisibility belt was gone; it�d been damaged in the blast. But where the blazes were his clothes?

He added a few profanities, grabbed a loaf of bread beside him, and read the note pinned to it with a toothpick.

�Bon app�tit�The Emerald Avenger.�

He stood and cuffed his hands to his mouth. �Hello? Anybody here? Hello?�

Someone stirred in the brush. Oh no. Make that something. �Grizzly!�

The bear charged.

Idiot! Why did he lose his cool? The dumb beast would have ignored him. He dropped to the ground and played dead.�

Continued Next Tuesday.

Tales of the Dim Knight is set for book Release November 22nd, �a sample e-book including the first four chapters is�available for your reading pleasure. You can follow our hero on Twitter @dimknight

The Emerald Avenger spied the rocket launcher in a tree stand. He turned the Avenging Eagle in that direction and dived. At the last second before impact could not be avoided, he thrust up. The missile couldn�t correct in time and hit the launcher. The Avenging Eagle hovered a safe distance above the explosion.

A man running from the flames appeared in the smoke. He pressed a button on his huge utility belt and disappeared only to reappear a few seconds later. The Avenging Eagle flew down and caught the man in its claws. The Emerald Avenger hit a lever to retract the claws and pulled his prey up into the cabin.

He gasped, put the eagle on autopilot, and pointed at his prey. �Hey! I know you. You were the mad bomber who killed all those people downtown.�

The mad bomber smiled. �My reputation precedes me.�

�Didn�t, uh, Powerhouse capture you? Why aren�t you in jail?�

The mad bomber laughed. �So na�ve. The cops are crooked; they let me escape.�

�So who hired you?�

The bomber rolled his eyes. �Why don�t you get a clue?�

Duh, that was obvious�Marco. �But what am I going to do with you?�

�Turn me in.�

�That didn�t work well for Powerhouse. I�ll let nature take its course.� The Emerald Avenger pulled out a syringe and injected the bomber with a sleeping serum.

Continued Next Tuesday.

Tales of the Dim Knight is set for book Release November 22nd, �a sample e-book including the first four chapters is�available for your reading pleasure. You can follow our hero on Twitter @dimknight

The Emerald Avenger pursued close be-hind the Cadillac that sped out of the tunnel. He descended low over the car. A rocket came up from nowhere and sped towards him. He maneuvered the Avenging Eagle to veer right, out of the way.

�The rocket turned with him and kept up pursuit.

�Must be heat seeking.� The Emerald Avenger fired an intercepting flare.

The missile blew up.

Another missile blasted through the sky.

Continued Next Tuesday. Tales of the Dim Knight is set for book Release November 22nd, �a sample e-book including the first four chapters is�available for your reading pleasure. You can follow our hero on Twitter @dimknight

The Emerald Avenger brought the Avenging Eagle down over Marco�s roof and scanned the premises. Marco sat in front of the TV. The Emerald Avenger tsked. �What can we do about that?� He used his powers to turn the power on and off every ten seconds.

Marco left with his bodyguards in tow and climbed in the pink Cadillac parked next to his midnight Mercedes.

The Emerald Avenger took the Eagle up and followed the Cadillac, ready to wreak more mischief. The Cadillac drove in a tunnel. The Emerald Avenger flew over it.

###

Marco�s bodyguard stopped the car in the tunnel behind another Cadillac, which sped out. Late at night, no one else came through the tunnel.

Marco said, �Wait about five minutes and then proceed.�

Continued Next Tuesday. Tales of the Dim Knight is set for book Release November 22nd, �a sample e-book including the first four chapters is�available for your reading pleasure. You can follow our hero on Twitter @dimknight

The Invisibility Master laughed in his ear. �Powerhouse nearly killed me, and you want me to stick my neck out again?�

�Look, the boss is offering $1.7 million, I�ll throw in another half million.�

�Is your life only worth $2.2 million to you?�

�Kill the Emerald Avenger, and I�ll throw in a thousand acre ranch in Mexico as well.�

�I�ll do it.�

Continued Next Tuesday. Tales of the Dim Knight is set for book Release November 22nd, �a sample e-book including the first four chapters is�available for your reading pleasure. You can follow our hero on Twitter @dimknight

Marcos ignored the ringing phone, not wanting to wake up yet. His wife mur-mured sleepily, �Honey, get that.�

Marcos yanked the phone up.

�This is the Refrigerator Co-op. I�m just calling to see if your refrigerator�s running.�

�Yeah, it�s running fine.�

Laughter exploded. �You better go catch it!�

Marcos cursed and hung up.

The phone rang again.

Marcos grimaced and picked up. �What is it?�

�Are you R. M. Pitts?�

�There�s no R. M. Pitts here.�

�Of course there are, you have two.�

�Look, do you know who I am?�

�I know exactly who you are.� The voice grew deeper. �You murdered Rev-erend Jones.�

Marcos stifled a yell and glanced at his wife�s sleeping form. �Who are you?�

A brick shattered the window. His wife bolted up in bed and screamed.

�Sweet dreams,� the voice said. A click followed on the line.

Marcos hung up and ran over to pick up the brick. He trembled at the note.

I�ll destroy you! You are mur-dering scum, the lowest form of life on earth, and I�ll ruin your miserable life. All men will treat you like the dirt bag you are.

Respectfully yours,

The Emerald Avenger.

�What is it?� his wife asked.

�Uh, never mind, honey. Go back to sleep.�

Marcos didn�t get a wink of sleep the rest of the night.

Continued Next Tuesday. Tales of the Dim Knight is set for book Release November 22nd, �a sample e-book including the first four chapters is available for your reading pleasure.

Marcos picked up the phone in his office.

�Captain Welch here. Night Lord turn-ed himself in. He�s singing like a canary.�

Marcos growled. Must he hold Welch�s hand? �Take care of it.”

�Understood.�

�###

�

The Emerald Avenger stood across from Marcos� office. Thank God he hadn�t killed Night Lord. No real hero would stoop to cold-blooded murder. Besides, his ultimate target was Marcos. He had a feeling Marcos would be harder to take.

He�d better call it a day early, for the evening would be long and hard.

�

�

��We know you�re not the top dog,� said the District Attorney.

Night Lord sighed. His hair stood on end, but that was nothing compared to what Marcos would do to him. �I�m not taking you to anybody else.�

�Look, you could get the death pen-alty for killing Jones. Come on, you�re young; it doesn�t have to be this way. Give us Marcos, and you don�t even have to go to prison. You can start a new life with a clean slate.�

�I�ll think about it. May I return to my cell now?�

�Sure.�

All of five minutes back in the slam-mer, the cell door opened. A man with a black hood hiding his face signaled for Night Lord to follow. He led Night Lord through security. Behind them, police offi-cers shouted and their feet thundered with the pursuit.

The hooded man pointed to a rusted tan van and handed him the keys. �There�s a map to Canada inside. Go there and lay low.�

�Thanks,� Night Lord said.

The man ran away. Night Lord leapt into the van. Police emerged from the jail. Night Lord turned the ignition.

The van exploded into flames.

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is coming out as book�November 22nd

The Emerald Avenger�s archnemesis screamed. �You promised!�

He ignored a twinge of guilt. �That�s just a silly moral rule you don�t even believe in. I�m fighting evil and can�t be bound by stupid superhero rules. Say good night.�

He went to press the button to end Night Lord�s life, but stopped at the specter that appeared. �Zolgron?�

�What�s a Zolgron?� Night Lord cried.

Zolgron said, �I just wanted to ask you if you were sure you wanted to kill him.”

�He�s a scumbag.�

�True, but killing a member of your own species destroys something in a human. I�ve had several hosts go insane and become mass murderers. I leave this decision to you.�

The Emerald Avenger watched Night Lord cringe. The Emerald Avenger placed the remote control in his pocket. The collar and chains fell off Night Lord.

�The nearest police station is six blocks away. Take one wrong step and you�re dead.�

Night Lord nodded and fled across the shag carpeting The Emerald Avenger had laid as part of his justice. Night Lord jump-ed and screamed with every step.

The Emerald Avenger followed. Night Lord made it to the police station post haste.

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is coming out as book�November 22nd

Night Lord tugged on the chains that held him fast to the wall of a condemned building. Electricity shot through his neck and down to his feet. He touched his neck and hit a plastic collar.

�It will do you no good.�

The Emerald Avenger emerged from the shadows.

Night Lord gulped. �I�ve heard of you. I thought you were a phantom.�

�No, I�m real, and you�re going to die.�

�What? Aren�t you going to turn me in to the cops?�

�You confuse me with Powerhouse. I am judge, jury, and executioner.�

The Emerald Avenger pressed a but-ton on a remote control. A shock jolted through Night Lord�s body.

�You will die for the murder of Reverend Jones.�

A still stronger shock pulsed agony through Night Lord.

�You will die for the murder of Jimmy Olsen. And you will die for dealing drugs.�

Electricity sizzled through Night Lord. He screamed. �Look, you freak. I didn�t kill any dorky white newsboys or Reverend Jones.�

�Not that Jimmy Olsen. This one�s black and eleven years old and likes to play soccer and basketball.�

�Look, I don�t kill preachers or babies, be they black babies or white ones.� His dealers did on occasion, but that wasn�t his fault.

�Then who did?�

�I can�t tell, I�d be a dead man.�

The Emerald Avenger waved the remote control.

�Okay, okay! I�ll go to the cops, confess everything, and they can lock me up. And I�ll tell you who killed Reverend Jones, if you promise not to kill me.�

�Fair enough.�

�It was Marcos.�

�Ross�s right hand man?�

�Who�s Ross?� He worked for Marcos.

�Why should I believe you? Your dealers told me your headquarters was Safe-co Field.�

�You don�t say anything about Mar-cos, particularly if it ain�t true.�

�I believe you.�

�You do?�

�Unfortunately, you�re still going to fry.� The Emerald Avenger pressed the button.

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is coming out as book�November 22nd

Back on Night Lord�s roof, the Em-erald Avenger scanned inside. Night Lord snored while the guards played Parcheesi. Good.

The Emerald Avenger put on a gas mask, broke a hole in the roof, and threw a container of sleeping gas into the room.

The guards fell on the Parcheesi board, already napping.

The Emerald Avenger broke through the roof of Night Lord�s room in The Aveng-ing Eagle.

Night Lord startled and reached under� his bed for a weapon.

The Emerald Avenger lashed out his bull whip, grabbed Night Lord�s hand, and pulled the screaming man up as The Avenging Eagle ascended.

The Emerald Avenger pressed a but-ton. A needle extended and pierced Night Lord.

The screaming stopped.

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is coming out as book�November 22nd

�Timmy, you�ve got a future in this business.� Night Lord smiled as he counted the cash. He stopped at a check. How many times must he repeat himself? �For the last time, we don�t take checks, particularly one with �For Crack Cocaine� in the memo line.�

�Sorry, I�ll get cash from him.�

�Checks for drugs.� What was the world coming to? Next, his dealers would want him to supply them credit card machines.

He forked over ten Ben Franklins. �This is your cut, Hitchens. Take your stuff and go. And don�t get caught!�

�Wasn�t planning on it.�

###

The Emerald Avenger watched Timmy leave from the roof. He peered through the wall like his favorite comic book hero. Finally, Night Lord had gone to bed. The Emerald Avenger checked his watch. Four thirty a.m.

He eyed the armed guards and the steel door. He had to return to the normal life of Dave Johnson for a few hours, but he would come back with a vengeance.

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is coming out as book�November 1st.

D�j� vu slammed the Emerald Aven-ger as he sat in the pew behind the assas-sins at Reverend Jones� old church.

No more preachers would die, not with the Emerald Avenger on the case.

Finally, the preacher�s lips stopped. The Emerald Avenger watched on the edge of his seat as Hitchens got up and prayed with the preacher. If the kid pulled a gun, he�d quickly dematerialize it with-out anyone seeing him.

Hitchens shook the preacher�s hand and walked out the door. The Emerald Avenger slipped out the back. �I�ll be old man before I get to Night Lord�s lair this way. I have to speed this up.�

�###

�

Around nine in the morning, Dave called Hitchens. �Night Lord speaking. Come to headquarters at once.�

Hitchens yawned. �First, I don�t know where your headquarters are at. Second, you got me confused with my brother, Timmy, again. He�s the dope dealer.�

�Oh, my mistake.�

�Just don�t bother me at this hour.�

�It�s not my fault you were up until two a.m. watching the Marx Brothers.�

�Hey, how did you know that?�

Dave hung up. That was close.

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is coming out as book�November 1st.

D�j� vu slammed the Emerald Aven-ger as he sat in the pew behind the assas-sins at Reverend Jones� old church.

No more preachers would die, not with the Emerald Avenger on the case.

Finally, the preacher�s lips stopped. The Emerald Avenger watched on the edge of his seat as Hitchens got up and prayed with the preacher. If the kid pulled a gun, he�d quickly dematerialize it with-out anyone seeing him.

Hitchens shook the preacher�s hand and walked out the door. The Emerald Avenger slipped out the back. �I�ll be old man before I get to Night Lord�s lair this way. I have to speed this up.�

�###

Around nine in the morning, Dave called Hitchens. �Night Lord speaking. Come to headquarters at once.�

Hitchens yawned. �First, I don�t know where your headquarters are at. Second, you got me confused with my brother, Timmy, again. He�s the dope dealer.�

�Oh, my mistake.�

�Just don�t bother me at this hour.�

�It�s not my fault you were up until two a.m. watching the Marx Brothers.�

�Hey, how did you know that?�

Dave hung up. That was close.

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is coming out as book�November 1st.

Through the Avenging Eagle�s peri-scope, the Emerald Avenger watched a youth with dreadlocks knock on Tommy Hitchens� door. Strange, he�d spent eight hours plus yesterday watching Hitchens march to doors�to deliver pizza. Besides snooze until ten, the only other thing Hitch-ens seemed to know how to do was crash in front of the television.

Hitchens opened the door. �Hey, Ace, what�s up?�

Dreadlocks asked, �You ready for some action, bro?�

�You bet.�

�Then let�s hit the road.�

��Finally!� The Emerald Avenger �followed them in stealth mode and groan-ed when they stopped. �The zoo!�

He stayed close by them in the zoo and listened to them talk, hoping to catch them trying to sell drugs.

Hitchens said, �The elephants are cool.�

�Straight up.�

�###

�

The Emerald Avenger zoomed, his radar scanning for any sign of his drug dealers. He�d fallen asleep at the zoo and lost them.

Ah, the bank, the drug dealers must be robbing it.

The young men came out waving about savings bonds�and receipts.

Hitchens said, �I�m glad we did this. It�s important to save for the future.�

Ace nodded. �Word.�

�Now for some real action, right, man?�

The Emerald Avenger muttered, �About time!�

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is coming out as book�November 1st.

The Emerald Avenger strolled up Main Street, twirling his bull whip. He needed a new info source. But what?

He spotted a bum sitting on the corner, with a newspaper in his lap. Ah, perfect! �Hey, know where Night Lord�s head-quarters is?�

The bum coughed. �No.�

The Emerald Avenger pulled a twenty out. �Do you remember now?�

�Um, no.�

The Emerald Avenger pulled out more where that came from. �How about now?�

�Look, I like the money, but Night Lord ain�t a freak who advertises that. You could try following one of his dealers.�

�Know who one of them might be?�

�Uh …Tommy Hitchens.�

�Thank you, my kind sir.� Bowing, the Emerald Avenger tipped his fedora.

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is coming out as book September 1st.

Up to his waist in sewage, and bent over nearly as low, The Emerald Avenger stopped. He hit his watch�s night light. Terrific. He�d spent over two hours look-ing for Night Lord�s secret sewer lair, but all he�d found was rats and deadly germs.

Okay, so maybe information obtain-ed by duress was not always the most accurate.

He returned to The Avenging Eagle and flew back to work.

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is coming out as book later this Summer

Standing on the sidewalk at 1250 First Avenue South, the Emerald Avenger gasp-ed. �Safeco field!�

Where could a super villain hide his lair in the Seattle Mariners� ballpark? Un-derneath it, maybe? The Emerald Avenger soldiered in through the front gates.

A security guard rushed over. �You can�t go in there!�

�I�m here to banish evil from this place.�

�Look, the ownership will decide when to fire the manager.�

�I�m here to fight a kingpin named Night Lord whose headquarters is under this park.�

�Fella, that�s not possible. The only way anyone could get under this park is to tunnel through from the sewer.�

�The sewer!� The Emerald Avenger ran to a nearby manhole and climbed in.

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is coming out as book later this Summer

That evening, Dave turned about in front of Naomi�s full length mirror. He looked awesome in his new black suit. It looked ordinary, but had a bullet proof lining, a shiny emerald dress shirt, a black fedora with an emerald hat band, two tone emerald dress shoes, and an emerald bull-whip.

He put on a pair of rap-around slim-line night vision goggles that he�d heard about on a forum from some guy named �Josh.� Perfect.

Powerhouse had too much of a rep as a traditional superhero. This required someone darker. The Emerald Avenger.

The Emerald Avenger couldn�t fly. It�d attract suspicion if he had the same powers. No, he had something even better.

He went outside, pulled a tiny model air craft with hover capabilities out of his pocket, and focused on it until it grew to a full size, live ship. The Avenging Eagle.

The Emerald Avenger hopped inside his craft and rose straight up three hundred feet into the air. A press of a button, and the Avenging Eagle became invisible to the naked eye and radar.

The Avenging Eagle descended in an unlit alley behind a drug deal.

The Emerald Avenger lifted a mega-phone. �I�m here to avenge.�

The dealer and the junkie gaped at The Avenging Eagle and it�s large capacity machine guns.

The Emerald Avenger pressed the fire blanks button on his dashboard.

The cowards fled.

From the Avenging Eagle, The Em-erald Avenger lowered a bull whip, grab-bed the seller by the legs, and soared up. He kept a video of the dealer in one corner of his screen and giggled as the poor sap lost his drugs, his wallet, his gun, and his lunch.

The Emerald Avenger stopped at two thousand feet and pulled the screaming deal-er into the cockpit. �Look down.�

The dealer did. The Emerald Avenger kicked him in the rear. The dealer fell out into the night. The Emerald Avenger ex-tended the whip and pulled the dealer back in. �Do you want to live?�

�Yes!�

�Tell me where Night Lord�s lair is.�

�I don�t know.�

�Wrong answer.�

The Emerald Avenger kicked him out of the plane and the whip once again grab-bed him. �Sure you don�t know?�

�Okay, I�ll tell, just don�t kill me.�

The Emerald Avenger brought the dealer back up. �Where is he?�

�At 1250 First Avenue South!�

�Powerhouse would�ve let you go now. Unfortunately for you, I�m not Power-house.�

The Emerald Avenger delivered super blows to the dealer�s torso and kicked out his front teeth. With the whip he slashed a funny looking A in the flesh of the dealer�s back. He�d have to practice that more.

Upon the approach to the hospital, The Emerald Avenger said, �You won�t die, kid, but you�ll need to be in the hospital a long time. Let me ask you a question. Did you finish high school?�

The dealer shook his head.

�I�d reconsider. I�m not going to kill you, but if you keep this up, someone will.�

He dropped the dealer off in front of the hospital. He watched until a nurse came and took the dealer into the emergency room.

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is coming out as book later this Summer

Dave flipped through the paper. In the obituaries, a familiar name punched him. �Oh no�Jimmy!� He buried his face in his hands, and wept.

�See what happens when you run from your destiny?�

Dave glanced behind him.

Zolgron folded his arms, his eyes hard. �Now, what are you going to do about it?�

Dave�s chest heaved. He focused on an action figure Derrick had left lying out. The toy melted into plastic goo. �Something like that to whoever�s responsible.�

Zolgron smirked. �Don�t melt your-self.�

�What?�

�You promised to be there. You weren�t. Now, you must make amends by catching the killers, but you are the one to blame.�

Dave bit his lip�Zolgron was right. He knelt. �I will make amends.�

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is coming out as book later this Summer

Jimmy Olsen lay between two gar-bage cans in the alley. It felt like an elephant on fire was sitting on his chest. Night Lord�s gang scattered. Distant sirens grew ever fainter.

The eleven-year-old choked on his own blood, tears filling his eyes and fear pouring out along with his life.

Powerhouse. Powerhouse, where were you? You promised to protect me. Power-house, help me. I could really use a super-hero right now. I�m going to die. I�m scared. Please, Powerhouse, you could have stop-ped them. Help, somebody save me!

A Middle Eastern man in a shining white robe walked up, his sandals going clipety-clip on the pavement.

Jimmy whimpered, “Powerhouse?”

His hero scooped him up, holding him in his arms like he was still a baby. The pain left like a bad dream.

Jimmy spotted the ugly scar on his hero�s wrist and gasped�he knew this Man!

Tears engulfed his hero�s cheeks. �Let�s go home, son.�

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is coming out as book later this Summer

In the garage at two a.m. Naomi stood waiting for Dave, waving a letter. �You�re not going to believe this. First someone pays off my student loan, and now our credit card has been paid off.�

Dave squirmed. He won every match,� but it�d freak Naomi out that he�d replaced comics with Ultimate Fighting. But that meant keeping his earnings a secret. �That is strange. Who do you think sent the payment?�

Naomi shook her head. �Both com-panies couldn�t say.�

�###

Dave burst in his sons� room. Sat-urdays were now family time, but the boys found this hard to adjust to. �Wakey, wakey!�

Derrick moaned, but at least he got up. James continued to snore.

Adolescents. Dave poked the male sleeping beauty. �Is he in a coma? Might have to use electroshock to awaken him.�

James groaned.

�Come on, we�re going to spend time together as a family.”

�Can�t we go back to being room-mates?�

�Nope. Up and at �em.�

Dave elbowed his eleven-year-old. �Oh, come on, James. Admit it. You loved the horseback riding.�

James grunted and grabbed another tuna fish sandwich from the picnic basket.

With a mouth full of tuna, Derrick said, �I loved it, Dad!�

Naomi mussed his hair. �Don�t talk with your mouth full, mister.�

His sons inhaled two more sand-wiches. Derrick ran to the nearby play-ground. Dave glanced to James. �Go with him, scout.�

James rose and sauntered after his baby brother with the gait of an adolescent too cool to admit he wasn�t yet too old to enjoy a good jungle gym.

Dave held his wife in his arms and fed her grapes one by one. He smiled and stared deep into his wife�s eyes.

Powerhouse and the people he knew in Seattle seemed a million miles away.

Continued Next Tuesday

Tales of the Dim Knight is coming out as book later this Summer