Table of Contents1
Two professional heroes and a nun walked into an apartment complex. For real, it wasn’t the start of a joke. The security desk was in disarray—it was unclear whether the Amazons or cops had done the damage. There was nobody working the front desk.
Two professional heroes and a nun walked into an apartment complex. For real, it wasn’t the start of a joke. The security desk was in disarray—it was unclear whether the Amazons or cops had done the damage. There was nobody working the front desk.2
“What if the Amazons weren’t looking for our security guard after all?” Medea asked. That would be embarrassing.
“What if the Amazons weren’t looking for our security guard after all?” Medea asked. That would be embarrassing.3
“Only one way to find out,” Jason responded. The information from the twins said that Yu Phemus, the OLI security guard they were looking for, lived on the second floor.
“Only one way to find out,” Jason responded. The information from the twins said that Yu Phemus, the OLI security guard they were looking for, lived on the second floor.4
They climbed a flight of stairs and Jason pressed his ear against the door to the second floor hallway. He didn’t hear the sound of any gunfire, which could be a good thing. Putting his index finger to his lips to motion for silence, Jason cautiously opened the door and peeked into the hallway. The coast was clear, but he could hear shouting from down the hall. One of the voices definitely belonged to Detective Theseus of the NOPD.
They climbed a flight of stairs and Jason pressed his ear against the door to the second floor hallway. He didn’t hear the sound of any gunfire, which could be a good thing. Putting his index finger to his lips to motion for silence, Jason cautiously opened the door and peeked into the hallway. The coast was clear, but he could hear shouting from down the hall. One of the voices definitely belonged to Detective Theseus of the NOPD.7
Flanked by Medea and Herk, the latter still wielding the baseball bat, Jason moved down the hallway to the apartment in question. The door was wide open and the scene inside was a standoff straight out of an old western movie. Theseus and the uniformed officer were standing just inside the doorway with their backs to the heroes, guns trained on the crew of Amazon women. The bikers had their own weapons pointed right back at the cops. In between the two groups and lying face down on the floor with his hands behind his head was a third party. Jason suspected that it was Yu. Jason let out a little sigh of relief. He had seriously considered the possibility that they would find this guard in pieces too.
Flanked by Medea and Herk, the latter still wielding the baseball bat, Jason moved down the hallway to the apartment in question. The door was wide open and the scene inside was a standoff straight out of an old western movie. Theseus and the uniformed officer were standing just inside the doorway with their backs to the heroes, guns trained on the crew of Amazon women. The bikers had their own weapons pointed right back at the cops. In between the two groups and lying face down on the floor with his hands behind his head was a third party. Jason suspected that it was Yu. Jason let out a little sigh of relief. He had seriously considered the possibility that they would find this guard in pieces too.8
“Am I interrupting anything?” he asked in his trademarked impish fashion. He raised his hands over his head to show that he wasn’t carrying any weapons. All those with weapons, however, turned and set their sights on him.
“Am I interrupting anything?” he asked in his trademarked impish fashion. He raised his hands over his head to show that he wasn’t carrying any weapons. All those with weapons, however, turned and set their sights on him.10
“Why don’t we all take a deep breath and you two can go back to pointing your guns at each other. I think we can all agree that you both want to shoot each other more than either of you want to shoot me.”
“Why don’t we all take a deep breath and you two can go back to pointing your guns at each other. I think we can all agree that you both want to shoot each other more than either of you want to shoot me.”11
“Who says I can’t do both?” the Amazon leader replied. She nodded toward Herk. “And maybe I can take that pervert out while I’m at it.”
“Who says I can’t do both?” the Amazon leader replied. She nodded toward Herk. “And maybe I can take that pervert out while I’m at it.”12
“Look!” Theseus shouted. “No one is doing any shooting, unless I’m the one doing the shooting. Now, Jason,” he practically hissed the heroes’ name, “I imagine that we have you to thank for this unpleasant situation? I certainly don’t see any chainsaw wielding psychopaths.”
“Look!” Theseus shouted. “No one is doing any shooting, unless I’m the one doing the shooting. Now, Jason,” he practically hissed the heroes’ name, “I imagine that we have you to thank for this unpleasant situation? I certainly don’t see any chainsaw wielding psychopaths.”13
Smirking, Jason responded, “Actually, the evil lumberjack is still in the lobby. He seemed like a decent enough fella. Really hates trees. I can’t believe you didn’t detect him on your way in, Detective.” He didn’t even get a snide grin at that one, so Jason moved on. “I’m just visiting my old friend Yu, here.” He looked at the quivering mass of man on the floor. “It is Yu, right?” The man nodded, shaking. “I didn’t realize that he was having a party.” The hero tsk, tsked him. “Yu, Yu, Yu, where was my invitation? I would have brought a case of Natural Athenian.” It was the official cheap beer of the New Olympus Heroes Union.
Smirking, Jason responded, “Actually, the evil lumberjack is still in the lobby. He seemed like a decent enough fella. Really hates trees. I can’t believe you didn’t detect him on your way in, Detective.” He didn’t even get a snide grin at that one, so Jason moved on. “I’m just visiting my old friend Yu, here.” He looked at the quivering mass of man on the floor. “It is Yu, right?” The man nodded, shaking. “I didn’t realize that he was having a party.” The hero tsk, tsked him. “Yu, Yu, Yu, where was my invitation? I would have brought a case of Natural Athenian.” It was the official cheap beer of the New Olympus Heroes Union.15
“I was just going to ask you the same thing,” Theseus told Yu. “But I’m guessing Jason is a better person to ask that question. Why am I here?”
“I was just going to ask you the same thing,” Theseus told Yu. “But I’m guessing Jason is a better person to ask that question. Why am I here?”17
Lyta smirked. “That’s funny. And here I thought it was the six of us that had guns pointed at you.”
Lyta smirked. “That’s funny. And here I thought it was the six of us that had guns pointed at you.”18
Behind Jason, Medea leaned forward and whispered in his ear, “Tell me that you have a better master plan than us all getting shot. That would put a real cramp in my style and Mother Superior would not be pleased.”
Behind Jason, Medea leaned forward and whispered in his ear, “Tell me that you have a better master plan than us all getting shot. That would put a real cramp in my style and Mother Superior would not be pleased.”19
As always, Jason had a plan, and as always, it was doing things the hard way. “Theseus, I’m trying to help you solve your murder.”
As always, Jason had a plan, and as always, it was doing things the hard way. “Theseus, I’m trying to help you solve your murder.”21
“Yeah. They did it.” He pointed at the Amazons. “And Mel’s not the only one. They got to Autolycus, too. We found out that they were going after our man Yu next, and we rushed over here as soon as we could. It looks like you got here just in time.”
“Yeah. They did it.” He pointed at the Amazons. “And Mel’s not the only one. They got to Autolycus, too. We found out that they were going after our man Yu next, and we rushed over here as soon as we could. It looks like you got here just in time.”23
Lyta’s face was a crimson mask bright enough to match her hair. “Watch who you’re accusing, Jason. I haven’t murdered any men yet today, but I could always start.”
Lyta’s face was a crimson mask bright enough to match her hair. “Watch who you’re accusing, Jason. I haven’t murdered any men yet today, but I could always start.”24
“She sounds guilty to me,” Jason continued. “Now if you’ll kindly arrest them all, we’ll be going. Come along, Yu.”
“She sounds guilty to me,” Jason continued. “Now if you’ll kindly arrest them all, we’ll be going. Come along, Yu.”25
Aggravated, Theseus barked, “Nobody move!” He very slowly placed his gun on the floor and motioned for the other officer to do the same. “There. I’m no longer armed. Lyta, could you please put your guns away? We can all talk about this like mature adults.”
Aggravated, Theseus barked, “Nobody move!” He very slowly placed his gun on the floor and motioned for the other officer to do the same. “There. I’m no longer armed. Lyta, could you please put your guns away? We can all talk about this like mature adults.”26
The Amazonian paused for a second and considered it. “Nah.” She motioned to two of her girls. “You two, grab their guns and tie the cops up.” To the other three: “You girls subdue our heroes over there.” The first two bikers grabbed the handcuffs from the policemen’s belts and handcuffed their arms behind their back. Theseus knew better than to resist.
The Amazonian paused for a second and considered it. “Nah.” She motioned to two of her girls. “You two, grab their guns and tie the cops up.” To the other three: “You girls subdue our heroes over there.” The first two bikers grabbed the handcuffs from the policemen’s belts and handcuffed their arms behind their back. Theseus knew better than to resist.27
The other Amazons forced the heroes into chairs at the kitchen table and bound them with miscellaneous household supplies: a phone cord for Jason, a necktie for Medea, and a chain link bicycle lock for Herk.
The other Amazons forced the heroes into chairs at the kitchen table and bound them with miscellaneous household supplies: a phone cord for Jason, a necktie for Medea, and a chain link bicycle lock for Herk.28
“Seriously, I think we can work something out,” Jason offered as he politely allowed the biker women to join his wrists to the back of the chair. Lyta scoffed.
“Seriously, I think we can work something out,” Jason offered as he politely allowed the biker women to join his wrists to the back of the chair. Lyta scoffed.29
“You just accused me of a double homicide! Sorry, Jason, but the only thing you’re getting from me is a kiss goodbye.” She gave Theseus a long, knowing look and then planted her lips on Jason in a passionate kiss. “Better luck next time, hero,” she told him breathily as she pulled back. On the other side of the room, Theseus was trying to contain his rage.
“You just accused me of a double homicide! Sorry, Jason, but the only thing you’re getting from me is a kiss goodbye.” She gave Theseus a long, knowing look and then planted her lips on Jason in a passionate kiss. “Better luck next time, hero,” she told him breathily as she pulled back. On the other side of the room, Theseus was trying to contain his rage.30
She snapped her fingers at two the bikers. “You and you, grab Yu.” The two responded by dragging the security guard to his feet and shoving him toward the door.
She snapped her fingers at two the bikers. “You and you, grab Yu.” The two responded by dragging the security guard to his feet and shoving him toward the door.32
“Yu!” Jason called in a last-minute attempt to get any bit of information. “Why weren’t you at work last night?”
“Yu!” Jason called in a last-minute attempt to get any bit of information. “Why weren’t you at work last night?”33
“I sprained my ankle. I can barely walk. Someone pushed me down a flight of stairs last night. Are you auditing my workman’s comp request? You guys are a little intense.”
“I sprained my ankle. I can barely walk. Someone pushed me down a flight of stairs last night. Are you auditing my workman’s comp request? You guys are a little intense.”34
The Amazons continued to push him toward the door. “Less talking, more hobbling,” one of them demanded.
The Amazons continued to push him toward the door. “Less talking, more hobbling,” one of them demanded.36
“I don’t know. I reported it stolen last Tuesday. What is this about? Am I getting fired? I really need this job. I’ve got child support to pay.”
“I don’t know. I reported it stolen last Tuesday. What is this about? Am I getting fired? I really need this job. I’ve got child support to pay.”40
“Oh really?” Medea replied, her voicing dripping with sarcasm. “And how did you plan on that going?”
“Oh really?” Medea replied, her voicing dripping with sarcasm. “And how did you plan on that going?”41
“I was hoping to cause enough of a ruckus that Detective Dick over there would be forced to arrest us all. That way we’d know Yu was safe, and I’d get a chance to talk with him while we were together in a holding cell. Then at the same time, we could prove that Atlanta had nothing to do with Mel’s murder and we’d all be able to go back to our various business.”
“I was hoping to cause enough of a ruckus that Detective Dick over there would be forced to arrest us all. That way we’d know Yu was safe, and I’d get a chance to talk with him while we were together in a holding cell. Then at the same time, we could prove that Atlanta had nothing to do with Mel’s murder and we’d all be able to go back to our various business.”42
“Yeah, that’s not even close to what happened,” Herk responded glumly. He flexed his biceps and shattered the back of the wooden chair, freeing himself as the chains fell to the ground. He got up and freed Jason and Medea.
“Yeah, that’s not even close to what happened,” Herk responded glumly. He flexed his biceps and shattered the back of the wooden chair, freeing himself as the chains fell to the ground. He got up and freed Jason and Medea.43
“I didn’t count on Theseus’ sheer incompetence. That was my mistake. Seriously, man, what were you thinking, dropping your gun? That Lyta was going to forget about all the shit you put her through?” Then, because he could not help himself: “I’ll tell you, pal, she’s still one heck of a kisser.”
“I didn’t count on Theseus’ sheer incompetence. That was my mistake. Seriously, man, what were you thinking, dropping your gun? That Lyta was going to forget about all the shit you put her through?” Then, because he could not help himself: “I’ll tell you, pal, she’s still one heck of a kisser.”45
“Yeah, I don’t think so. I’d hate to get you in trouble for police brutality. One more thing I would have to add to that nasty letter I’m sending with my local taxes this year.”
“Yeah, I don’t think so. I’d hate to get you in trouble for police brutality. One more thing I would have to add to that nasty letter I’m sending with my local taxes this year.”47
Jason shook his head. “I don’t think so, and I don’t think the Amazons are either. It isn’t their style.” Jason had to assume, though, that the Amazons knew about the Fleece and were maybe even hunting it themselves. This was getting to be harder and harder to contain, and they still weren’t any closer to ascertaining its location. Pelias was not going to like their status update in the morning. “It’s all quest related stuff.”
Jason shook his head. “I don’t think so, and I don’t think the Amazons are either. It isn’t their style.” Jason had to assume, though, that the Amazons knew about the Fleece and were maybe even hunting it themselves. This was getting to be harder and harder to contain, and they still weren’t any closer to ascertaining its location. Pelias was not going to like their status update in the morning. “It’s all quest related stuff.”49
Without missing a beat, Jason replied, “We’re investigating some accounting irregularities at OLI. There’s some money missing, Pelias hired us to find it.” That sounded believable, right?
Without missing a beat, Jason replied, “We’re investigating some accounting irregularities at OLI. There’s some money missing, Pelias hired us to find it.” That sounded believable, right?50
The handcuffed detective didn’t think so. “And which of you is the forensic accountant? Herk can’t count past his fingers and toes, and that’s only when he’s not wearing shoes.”
The handcuffed detective didn’t think so. “And which of you is the forensic accountant? Herk can’t count past his fingers and toes, and that’s only when he’s not wearing shoes.”51
“That would be me,” Medea offered. “I’m a specialist they brought in for this. Forensic accountant. That’s me. I looooooove numbers. Adding, subtracting, sometimes even long division. I do it all.”
“That would be me,” Medea offered. “I’m a specialist they brought in for this. Forensic accountant. That’s me. I looooooove numbers. Adding, subtracting, sometimes even long division. I do it all.”52
“Ok, stop while you’re ahead,” Jason advised quietly. He turned back to Theseus. “I was serious about the Autolycus thing though. They found him in pieces, sans head, over at Club Nyx. I think you can safely cross Atlanta off the suspect list and release her. We could really use her back on the quest.”
“Ok, stop while you’re ahead,” Jason advised quietly. He turned back to Theseus. “I was serious about the Autolycus thing though. They found him in pieces, sans head, over at Club Nyx. I think you can safely cross Atlanta off the suspect list and release her. We could really use her back on the quest.”53
“Because once you find this missing money, are you going to need her to shoot or spear it?” the detective asked snidely. “You all are up to something, and I intend to find out what it is.”
“Because once you find this missing money, are you going to need her to shoot or spear it?” the detective asked snidely. “You all are up to something, and I intend to find out what it is.”54
Jason grinned at him. “Perfect. Good luck with that, because I expect to leave you here.” The trio headed to the door.
Jason grinned at him. “Perfect. Good luck with that, because I expect to leave you here.” The trio headed to the door.55
Theseus struggled once again against his bonds. “Jason? Jason! Jason!” But the heroes were already gone.
Theseus struggled once again against his bonds. “Jason? Jason! Jason!” But the heroes were already gone.56
Back outside the brownstone apartment building, the Amazons had taken their leave and were nowhere to be found. They were not the only ones conspicuously absent.
Back outside the brownstone apartment building, the Amazons had taken their leave and were nowhere to be found. They were not the only ones conspicuously absent.59
“Let’s all hope that didn’t happen,” Jason muttered darkly. “You don’t know Ace.” For all they knew, Ace could have gotten bored and gone joy riding. That was better than the alternative: that he’d gone after the Amazons himself, followed them into the Underworld, and been captured or worse. The heroes had already had enough trouble with six of the bikers; they wouldn’t last more than a few seconds against the entire gang. He didn’t have Ace’s phone number either, so the only way to get in touch would be to call Pelias first, and that meant giving a status update.
“Let’s all hope that didn’t happen,” Jason muttered darkly. “You don’t know Ace.” For all they knew, Ace could have gotten bored and gone joy riding. That was better than the alternative: that he’d gone after the Amazons himself, followed them into the Underworld, and been captured or worse. The heroes had already had enough trouble with six of the bikers; they wouldn’t last more than a few seconds against the entire gang. He didn’t have Ace’s phone number either, so the only way to get in touch would be to call Pelias first, and that meant giving a status update.61
Jason didn’t know. So far, their quest had turned up two bodies and no golden sheep. And now they had a missing person piled on top of that. Not a great day’s work.
Jason didn’t know. So far, their quest had turned up two bodies and no golden sheep. And now they had a missing person piled on top of that. Not a great day’s work.64
Jason nodded. “I think we all are. Someone is picking off people related to the Fleece and after his jam session with the Sirens he’ll be too weak to fight back.”
Jason nodded. “I think we all are. Someone is picking off people related to the Fleece and after his jam session with the Sirens he’ll be too weak to fight back.”66
“I’m going to head back to OLI and talk to Pelias and the security staff. See if I can’t confirm any part of Yu’s story, and maybe poke around a little bit.” Herk and Jason fist bumped and then the strongman headed back to Orpheus’ loft.
“I’m going to head back to OLI and talk to Pelias and the security staff. See if I can’t confirm any part of Yu’s story, and maybe poke around a little bit.” Herk and Jason fist bumped and then the strongman headed back to Orpheus’ loft.68
“What about you?” Jason responded. He still couldn’t figure out what the nun was up to. “Why are you even still here?”
“What about you?” Jason responded. He still couldn’t figure out what the nun was up to. “Why are you even still here?”69
“Oh, I don’t know,” she started, sliding her fingers temptingly down Jason’s arm. “Maybe it’s just your animal magnetism. Or maybe it’s all these dangerous situations I keep getting myself into around you. We don’t get many guns pulled on us at the convent. Or maybe I just want to do the right thing.” She intertwined her fingers with his and looked deep into the hero’s eyes. “You take your pick.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she started, sliding her fingers temptingly down Jason’s arm. “Maybe it’s just your animal magnetism. Or maybe it’s all these dangerous situations I keep getting myself into around you. We don’t get many guns pulled on us at the convent. Or maybe I just want to do the right thing.” She intertwined her fingers with his and looked deep into the hero’s eyes. “You take your pick.”70
He was pretty sure it was none of those things, but that didn’t seem to matter at that particular moment. “It’s getting late,” he noted. It was a little past midnight. “Pelias might already have left the office.” That was a lie. On normal nights his uncle was known to sleep at the office, and this wasn’t a normal night. He’d be working around the clock until the Fleece was returned. “We could always wait until the morning.”
He was pretty sure it was none of those things, but that didn’t seem to matter at that particular moment. “It’s getting late,” he noted. It was a little past midnight. “Pelias might already have left the office.” That was a lie. On normal nights his uncle was known to sleep at the office, and this wasn’t a normal night. He’d be working around the clock until the Fleece was returned. “We could always wait until the morning.”71
“You aren’t worried about the trail going cold?” she asked, slipping her other hand into his and pulling even closer.
“You aren’t worried about the trail going cold?” she asked, slipping her other hand into his and pulling even closer.72
“I’m really not worried about there being a lack of heat,” he replied. He closed his eyes and went in for a kiss, but he never reached her lips.
“I’m really not worried about there being a lack of heat,” he replied. He closed his eyes and went in for a kiss, but he never reached her lips.73
“Wrong answer,” she replied coyly, pulling away. “Work first, then play. I’d be a terrible damsel in this story if I didn’t let you do a little bit more heroing before rewarding you.”
“Wrong answer,” she replied coyly, pulling away. “Work first, then play. I’d be a terrible damsel in this story if I didn’t let you do a little bit more heroing before rewarding you.”
