The Mysterious World of Eddy Shade

Chapter 1: When Lightning Strikes

     It was a warm summer night as Detective Edward Shade, better known as Eddy, walked along the South Platte River as it made its way through the city of Denver. He was off duty tonight and wanted to get outside and enjoy the nice weather before it turned all to quickly cold in the coming months. He could hear the voices of passing people the twenty feet above him at street level as he made his way along the paved trail that fallowed the river as it wrapped its way through the city and into its suburbs. 

     As he approached one of the overpasses that allowed the traffic to pass above the river he began to hear yelling from up ahead. It sounded to him an awful lot like some people having a bit too much fun. Likely some teenagers who had convinced someone to buy them beer and now thought they would somehow prove themselves to be cool by drinking it until they couldn't stand up straight anymore. Stupid really, but for some reason that is how some people thought it was supposed to work. 

     As he walked he began to hear the unmistakable words of "no" and "don't". He picked up his pace as adrenaline kicked in with the suddenly realized it was something more serious then just some drunk teens. As he came around the bend to face under the overpass he saw a man, the source of the noise, facing the other direction. With his back to him the man had not seen Eddy approach, nor could Eddy see who the man was talking to. Elbows bent, the man stood with his hand at chest level waving his palms back and forth as he talked to the unseen individual. "It's okay. I'll get it all sorted out" the man said in a voice so shaky it was clear that every thing was far from all right. "You don't need to do this! I can fix it, really." 

     This is bad Eddy thought as he reached for his gun, then suddenly remembered he was off duty, and there for had left it at home. He shifted his hand and began to reach for his cell phone instead. The shaky man suddenly became aware that he had extra company and he slowly turned his head in the direction of Eddy. The man seeing him for the first time suddenly pivoted on his heels and started running full speed towered Eddy. 

     "Help me!" the man screamed as he bolted in Eddy's direction. "He is going to kill me!" 

     Suddenly a bright white light lit up the under side of the overpass as a bolt of electricity flew out from someplace under the bridge and struck the man in the back. The man fell to the ground and rolled as his momentum cared him forward even after his body no longer could. Before the man could even stop rolling Eddy was on him. 

     "Are you all right?" Eddy said as he looked around, but could see no sign of who the man had been talking to. He began to hold down the nine on his cell phone in order to tell the quick dial button to dial 911. Meanwhile he placed his finger on the man's neck to see if he still had a pulse. He did, but it was week. "It's going to be okay. I'm calling for help. Stay with me, okay." 

     He looked down at his phone, wondering why it hadn't started ringing yet. No bars. Blasted over pass! He looked back at the man lying on the ground in front of him. "It's okay. I'm not leaving you, alright. I'm just going to step out from under this bridge so I can get you some help. I'll be right back, OK." The man's eyes began to dim as his life began to slip out of him. "NO NO NO! Don't you die on me!" Eddy yelled at the dying man. He quickly put his fingers back on the side of the mans neck. He felt his heart beat one more time, then nothing. 

     Eddy's hand jerked away from the man when a sudden loud ringing sound filled the air. His phone was ringing? He hadn't realized he was still holding the button. He looked down and confusion quickly shot across his face. He had full signal now. How? 

     "Thank you for calling 911, what is the nature of your emergency?" came the well rehearsed voice through his cell phone. "Hello, is any one there?" 

     Eddy quickly shook his head to clear his thoughts then quickly brought the phone to his ear. "Yes. Sorry. This is Detective Shade of the DPD I need an ambulance. I think a man was just struck by lightning."