Phantom Kid in the World of American Comics

Chapter 39: Have We Met Before?

”We are secretly dispatched by Commissioner Gordon. He asked us to hide among the guests to find out who Phantom Kid might be disguised as.”

”In order to avoid Phantom Kid’s attention, please keep this a secret.”

Not waiting for Barbara to speak any further, Mathison pulled her away and whispered to the doorman with a serious tone. His expression immediately subdued the doorman to his will.

On such occasions, the doorman won’t allow any trespassing, even if he knew that Barbara is Commissioner Gordon’s daughter.

And, in the end, the doorman couldn’t grant them entry, he was still suspicious of Mathison’s words.

”It’s okay, I know what you’re thinking about. You can call Commissioner Gordon over to verify, but do not draw the attention of other guests.”

Mathison said fervently, expecting the man to believe him, but, eventually, this latter has sent someone to call Gordon over, and instructed them not to draw the attention of the other guests.

If these two really cause trouble, then it would be just as well for Gordon to take them into custody.

”Hey, they really went to call my dad, but we’re not even cops, we’re definitely getting kicked out.”

In the midst of waiting, Barbara pulled Mathison aside and whispered in his ear anxiously.

Mathison could not help but lose his smile.

”At the beginning, you said so aggressively that you’ll attend the party. So, why are you scared now? Plus, you said you already thought of a way to convince Mr Gordon, right?”

”I… I wanted to convince him after we meet him inside, but you lied to the man now; you told him that we are special police officers. This situation is of a different nature!”

”Aha… now, let me disappoint you, your plan wasn’t going to work. Even if you told him that you’re Gordon’s daughter, he’s not going to let you in, and I’m even guessing that he might not even bother to call your father.”

”How do you know that?”

Barbara muttered discontentedly, «how did he know without even trying…»

”It doesn’t matter how I knew. Once your father comes later, you’ll know if I’m telling the truth.”

Mathison said with a mysterious look.

”How come I didn’t find out before, you actually have the habit of hanging people’s appetite.”

Barbara curled her lips.

”You tell me.”

”It’s actually very simple, the first thing that the receptionist said when he stopped us was to ask if we had an invitation, do you remember?”

Mathison had to satisfy Barbara’s curiosity.

”Isn’t it normal to ask that?”

”Of course it’s normal for a normal hotel to ask that, but this is a State Guest House, they must have taken note of every guest, so everyone who came before us walked right in and none of them was stopped.”

”And we were obviously not likely to be on the guest list, yet they didn’t kick us out in the first place and even asked if we had an invitation, don’t you think that’s strange?”

”At the time he asked, his gaze was shed mainly on you, which means he knew you were not invited yet didn’t want to be too tough on you. So, he said that so that you can retreat.”

Hearing this, Barbara also felt that something was indeed not quite right.

”Then, the rest is obvious. Director Gordon must have guessed that you would come over and then notified the receptionist. Hence, the latter guessed after seeing you that you were Gordon’s daughter, but because there was also the presence of an extra person, me, he was not sure of your identity. That’s why he did not try to kick you out, following Gordon’s orders.”

”In other words, if I had just revealed my identity, he would have blocked us out of the door.”, Barbara said in a daze.

”Right, pretty sound reasoning, but I didn’t think, Barbara, that you would bring along Fang.”

No one noticed Gordon’s presence until his words emerged. He was looking at Barbara with a dark look, but it soon softened when he looked at Mathison.

«This poor child grew up to be a fast learner, he now seems to have developed an extraordinary mind.»

«Unlike our own two children; the eldest daughter is severely biased, not to mention her social problems; the youngest son is naughty, mischievous, and never listens once talked to.»

”I haven’t seen you in a while, Jim, and I heard from Barbara that you’ve been busy lately.”

Mathison scratched his head, embarrassed, knowing well that he was the real culprit in keeping Gordon so busy.

”This is not the place for you to be, go back home!”, Gordon scolded Barbara.

”Jim, actually… I thought we would be able to help.”

Mathison said stiffly, after this long journey to make it here, he wants to go in no matter what.

”I know, you don’t have to back her up with excuses. I’ve heard all about it, you were only dragged here by Barbara.”

Mathison looked at Barbara, signalling that it was now her turn to convince her father.

Then, Barbara ran over to Gordon and pulled him away. Mathison only saw her whisper something in Gordon’s ear, only for this latter’s eyes to widen in surprise and his lips to remain sealed…

Even Mathison didn’t hear exactly what Barbara said, but that didn’t matter.

”Come in with me, you guys.”

Mathison and Barbara followed Gordon into the State Guest House.

”What exactly did you say to your father?”, Mathison asked Barbara surreptitiously.

”Stop questioning me.” Barbara blushed and shook her head.

”I just told you everything, and you have to satisfy my curiosity.”

”It’s not the same thing!”

Regardless of what Mathison said, Barbara just wouldn’t tell him how she convinced Gordon.

”Fang, you are gifted with an immaculate reasoning ability, have you ever considered joining the GCPD in the future?”, Gordon suddenly asked, and Mathison sniffed.

”Well… uh… I haven’t thought about it yet, after all, it will take me two more years to graduate.”, Mathison laughed dryly.

”Commissioner Gordon, these two are…”

Bob and others gathered in the corner, they do not like to mingle with those politicians and businessmen. They prefer to discuss the teaser letter’s whereabouts.

Gordon couldn’t allow the two young fellows to go in with the big shots, so he brought them here.

Starling’s sharp eyes noticed at a glance that the two youngsters following Gordon aren’t GCPD officers. Consequently, she had to ask.

Only then, Gordon began to introduce both sides to each other.

Mathison felt heavily anxious right after Gordon finished introducing him.

«The Silence of the Lambs, The Spy Next Door, Agent Bean … none of them can be easily dealt with.» (TL: These are the movies the above characters are from.)

Although he had already met with these people when he was disguised as an airplane cleaner before, it was only now that he could look at them and analyse them openly.

It was also impossible to recognize them at once by name alone.

”You are an Oriental?”

At this point, English, or Agent Bean, walked up to Mathison and asked in an affirmative tone.

”I am of Chinese descent.”, Mathison nodded, it was nothing to hide.

”Have we… met somewhere before?”, Agent Johnny asked, while rubbing his chin.

Mathison’s eyelids twitched, it’s hard to believe that his disguise was discovered? Impossible!

He pretended to remember that he saw him somewhere as well before, then apologised saying he had never seen Johny before.

”Sorry, it was my misrepresentation.”

”I once practised martial arts in Tibet in the East for a while. In the words I learnt, there is a mysterious power in you that makes me feel familiar to you.”

Johny slowly spoke four words in Chinese.

Mathison’s pupils shrank slightly; he was horrified inside!

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