The Shadow

The vast network of The Shadow is most put to the test when he himself is not there. Crime in New York does not take a break simply because its greatest foe is busy overseas. It is the job of his agents, then, to make sure that trouble on their home turf at least grows no worse. They must keep an eye on the deeper plots of the criminal underworld, collecting information as they stew, for the inevitable game of catch-up when their chief returns to the city. The increasing globalization of the internet, and a widespread agent use of modified PINpoints helps, keeping The Shadow abreast of developments hours after they occur, rather than days or weeks.

For several weeks, beginning before Thanksgiving, The Shadow has left New York in the care of his agents. He's been making a number of shorter trips overseas, and what he goes to do, even his agents do not know. It is the Burbanks alone, perhaps, who have some clue, as their chief absent-mindedly starts to answer a transmission in Russian. The newer techniques of communicating make it difficult for even his own communications experts to tell his exact location. By the time The Shadow returns to New York, there's much of interest on the news, but the crimefighter is already turning his attention to other things, ready to strike out at drug rings and arms dealer, and all the usual suspects. A vigilante's work is never done.

Crimes that exist almost solely on paper and in computer banks is some of the dullest to deal with, but not less important for that.

It is nearly a week after The Shadow's sobering visit to the Nexus before he invites Ichi for a drink.( Read more... )

The Rettigue apartment has sat empty for a few days, as The Shadow worked out of the Sanctum and another apartment across town, closer to the area he's been watching. With another drug ring at least temporarily stifled, he is ready to migrate back to this place that is the closest thing to a home he has.

He is also likely to arrive late to his own arranged meeting, leaving Ichi to jump at the opening of the door. The muted sounds beyond indicate a quiet hall rather than the outdoors, and the rattling cough that accompanies the entrance should reassure him to who is entering there.

The recent hate crime is at last sufficient to break The Shadow's self-imposed physical restrictions. Although he knows the wound in his shoulder is very far from healed, he places the case above his physical well-being, assuming the work will be more tedious than strenuous, in any case. The police have no leads at all, as hate crimes are often committed by otherwise ordinary citizens. The neighbours are somewhat suspect, especially considering how late into the morning they reported it, but they are close-mouthed and fairly law-abiding community.
The Shadow is upon the scene the night after the crime, seeking any incriminating clues. What he finds takes the rest of the day's research to produce anything hopeful, but the next night he seeks out a teenage boy that has fallen under his suspicion. His approach is careful, but the boy reacts with first contempt, then fear at the questions that come from the very darkness around him.

When he runs, The Shadow does not hesitate to follow. The boy has a slight lead, but The Shadow's long strides carry him after easily, around a corner, dodging a dumpster, and vaulting over a low fence. He is nearly upon the boy at that move, but as he clears the fence his very breath seems to go very wrong within his chest. Rather than landing with soundless grace and catching the boy's clothes, he stumbles and fetches against the alley wall, gasping. As the footsteps vanish into the distance, The Shadow struggles for air and finds that breathing in feels like the worst thing he could possibly do. He fumbles for his PINpoint, pulls up the default coordinates for the Nexus Clinics, and pushes the button as he sinks to his knees.