Ch 17 Law and Chaos

  An Unwelcome Visit

  Barry Cartwright sat in his office, finishing up some paperwork when Daphne Langley, his telepathic secretary, poked her head in.

  “You’ve got company,” she said, voice laced with amusement.

  Barry glanced up. “Clients?”

  Daphne smirked. “More like your parole officers.”

  Before Barry could ask what she meant, the door swung open, and Detective Isaac Ford walked in, followed by Lieutenant Rachel Vega of the Superpower Task Force.

  Ford looked his usual gruff self—tall, broad, and perpetually tired. Vega, on the other hand, carried an aura of authority that made even hardened criminals think twice. She had sharp eyes, jet-black hair tied back in a tight ponytail, and a posture that screamed no-nonsense.

  Barry sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Detective Ford, Lieutenant Vega. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

  Vega didn’t waste time. “What the hell were you thinking, Cartwright?”

  Barry blinked. “You’re going to have to be more specific.”

  Ford folded his arms. “You got into a brawl at Guilty Pleasures. With Grudge’s men.”

  Barry shrugged. “One of them shoved a dancer. I stepped in.”

  Vega pinched the bridge of her nose. “We are trying to build a case against Grudge. A legal case. You jumping into street fights is not helping.”

  Barry sat up. “I didn’t start the fight. I ended it before that dancer got seriously hurt.”

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  Ford gave him a hard look. “You think this is a game, Barry? Grudge isn’t just some two-bit thug. He’s got half the city afraid to step out of line.”

  Barry sighed. “Look, I wasn’t looking to throw hands with a gang. I went there to assess how bad things really were. I wanted to see just how much pressure Morelli was under and how violent these anti-super groups had gotten.”

  Vega scoffed. “And? What did you learn, genius?”

  Barry leaned forward. “That things are a lot worse than I thought.”

  The Bigger Picture

  Ford and Vega exchanged a glance.

  Barry continued, “Morelli’s got supers working for him—dancers who just want to make a living. But the anti-super groups? They aren’t just protesting anymore. They’re attacking people. Harassing businesses. And if they’re teaming up with gangsters like Grudge, then the problem is escalating.”

  Vega sat down across from Barry. “And you think throwing punches is going to fix it?”

  Barry shook his head. “No. But it made it very clear that I can’t just sit in my office filing lawsuits while people are getting beat up or worse.”

  Ford sighed, rubbing his temples. “Barry, you’re a lawyer, not a vigilante. You wanna help? Help us legally. Let us build a case, get these guys behind bars.”

  Barry smirked. “So I should just sit back and trust the system? The same system that barely does anything until things explode?”

  Vega’s eyes narrowed. “You’re not above the law, Cartwright.”

  Barry met her gaze. “Neither are they.”

  Vega exhaled sharply. “Look, we get it. You’re not the bad guy here. But Grudge? He’s dangerous. And now, thanks to you, he knows your name.”

  Barry frowned. “He’s got bigger problems than me.”

  Ford shook his head. “That’s where you’re wrong. You embarrassed his men. That means he has to respond, or he looks weak.”

  Barry’s jaw tightened. He hadn’t thought about that.

  Vega leaned forward. “Do not get in the middle of this, Barry. The STF is already stretched thin, but we’re working on a plan. If you start making yourself a target, you’re going to make things worse.”

  Barry exhaled through his nose. “Fine. I won’t go looking for trouble.”

  Ford scoffed. “That’s the closest thing to a promise we’re gonna get, huh?”

  Barry smirked. “Pretty much.”

  Vega stood. “Just be careful. We’ve seen too many supers go from ‘concerned citizen’ to full-blown vigilante.”

  Barry raised a hand. “Scout’s honor.”

  Ford muttered something under his breath as the two officers left.

  A Change of Plans

  As soon as the door closed, Daphne strolled in, arms crossed.

  “Well,” she said, “that was fun.”

  Barry rubbed his temples. “Ford and Vega are right. I should’ve handled it differently.”

  Daphne raised an eyebrow. “Are you actually admitting you made a mistake?”

  Barry gave her a deadpan look. “Don’t get used to it.”

  She smirked. “So, what now?”

  Barry sighed. “I meant what I said—I’m not looking to start a war with a gang. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to ignore what’s happening, either.”

  Daphne nodded. “So, what’s your next move?”

  Barry thought for a moment. Then, a slow smirk formed on his face.

  “I think it’s time we start digging into Grudge’s business.”

  Daphne grinned. “Now that sounds fun.”

  Meanwhile…

  Across the city, in a darkened warehouse, a man sat in a leather chair, sipping whiskey.

  His skin was thick like stone, his eyes like burning embers.

  One of his men stood before him, still bruised from the fight at Guilty Pleasures.

  “So,” the man in the chair said. “This lawyer—Cartwright—stepped in?”

  The thug nodded. “Yeah, boss. He’s tough. And he ain’t scared.”

  The man in the chair chuckled. “Good. That means he’ll be fun to break.”

  Grudge leaned forward, setting his glass down.

  “Find out everything about him.”

  A cruel grin spread across his face.

  “If Cartwright wants to get involved in my business… then it’s time I get involved in his.”