While Joe the Bad Guy was home in his lair making plans to ruin Fred’s life, Melvin Beederman was getting ready to head off to the library to meet with his partner in uncrime, Candace Brinkwater.
Before he did, he turned on the TV so Hugo the rat could watch The Adventures of Thunderman (and Thunder Thighs) while he was gone.
“Squeak squeakity,” Melvin said. This either meant, “Have a great day, young rodent,” or “Have you ever thought about taking up the trombone in your spare time?” Rat talk was very difficult sometimes.
Melvin threw himself out the window. He knew he’d be able to fly on the first try, one of these days.
This was not one of those days.
Crash!
On the fifth try, he was up and flying. As usual. This is getting old, he said to himself as he zoomed across town. Looking down, he saw the people of Los Angeles in their underwear. That was getting even older.
Melvin Beederman arrived at the library just as his partner in uncrime did. Candace Brinkwater took out her math book, and the two of them got to work.
When they finished her math homework, Candace said, “Now, what’s this about The Grateful Fred?”
“Someone’s out to get them,” Melvin said, quickly looking away as the ancient librarian walked by.
“What’s wrong?” Candace asked. “You look like you’re about to throw up.”
“I am. I just saw the librarian’s underwear.”
Somehow Candace had learned to turn off her x-ray vision. Melvin had not. Candace could also get up in the air on the first try, while Melvin still struggled with it.
“We need to find out who it is before he strikes again,” Melvin said. “Who knows every bad guy in town?”
Candace thought this over. “Big Al?”
“Exactly. He’s been serving Southern California’s bad guys since 1985. If anyone knows something, he does.”
They went outside and Candace launched herself. Melvin joined her. Or tried to.
Crash!
Splat!
Thud!
Kabonk!
On the fifth try he joined her where she had been hovering above the trees. Then they flew off to Big Al’s Rent-a-Lair. Melvin paused only once to flex along the way. When he was on an important mission he kept his flexing to a bare minimum.
Al was out in front of his store when Melvin and Candace touched down. “Can I interest you in a lair?” Al asked, faking a big smile. He crossed his arms over his enormous belly.
“We’re good guys,” Melvin said. “Notice the capes and boots.”
“Call it a hideout then. Every good guy needs a hideout. We even have one with a Jacuzzi.”
“We’re looking for someone who may be a customer of yours,” Melvin said.
Big Al smirked. “You and every other crime fighter in town.”
“Someone is out to get The Grateful Fred. Do you have any ideas who that might be?”
Al began humming “Baby, Yeah, Baby, Baby.” Then he caught himself and said, “The Grateful Fred? I love those guys. Who would want to hurt them?”
“We’d like to ask you that same question,” Candace spoke up. She usually let Melvin do the talking, since he had better noggin power, but that was getting very boring.
“Sorry,” Al said. “No can do. If word got around that I was snitching on my customers I’d be out of business. Bad guys would hate me. You know, I’ve been serving Southern California’s bad guys since 1985.”
Melvin turned to leave. He knew there was no use arguing. Al was not going to let his business go down the tubes, even if it meant saving The Grateful Fred. But Melvin also knew that Al had information that he needed. He wondered what the Superhero’s Code said about breaking and entering.
“What do we do now?” Candace asked.
“I have a plan,” Melvin said. “But it may involve doing some night work. How do you feel about that?”
This was a tough one. Candace was all for saving the world, as long as she was home for dinner. But she also loved The Grateful Fred. Maybe some things were more important than following the rules.
“Anything for The Grateful Fred,” she said finally and launched herself in the air.
“I’ll come and get you at midnight,” Melvin called to her. “Bring a flashlight, Candace.”
He decided to jog home rather than try to launch himself in public.