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