Beginning, Section II
Jump to new as of June 2, 1999
Chapter 17
The next morning dawned bright and early, hitting Darcy full on the face. Scowling slightly, he pulled the cover over his head until he remembered his morning mission. Rolling out of bed, he padded to the shower, where the refreshing water cleared his brain somewhat.
"Whew, what a late night. But, then again, most definitely worth it!" he smiled at the memory of Elizabeth and the back seat of the Rolls, then turned the cold water on full blast. Within a few short minutes he was completely awake and yelling, a noise not lost on Alfred.
"Oh, you're up, Master Fitzwilliam," he said with some irony in his voice. "Going to make an early day of it, are you?"
"Yes, good morning, Alfred. I'll just take a light breakfast in the lab, please."
"Certainly, sir." He withdrew, smiling to himself. Half an hour later, Alfred carried a small tray into the lab and set it down next to Darcy, who, as Alfred had suspected, was already in front of his computer terminal, reading the Metropolis News online.
"Well, Alfred, it looks like my date wasn't the only activity that Metropolis saw last night. What do you make of this?" He indicated the article that he had been studying.
"Perhaps we should check the Bat-tracker tape and see what it yields, Master Fitzwilliam."
"Excellent suggestion." He switched on another screen and together they watched the device as it showed movement around Metropolis. "Bingo!" he shouted as the tracker timer and the tracker indicated a match for the article. "Now, what do you suppose Detective Sanderson has to do with all this, hmmm? Maybe I should pay him a visit this afternoon..."
"Very good, sir. Will you be wanting the car this morning?"
"No, thank you. I'll run down to the site again. It's good for getting the blood circulating." He drained his glass of juice and stood up. "Oh, another thing. Could you locate Rick for me? I had a feeling that we're going to need to call him in on this and I'm not sure where he is." He shrugged into his backpack and ran down the lab stairs and out the secret exit.
At the crash site, Darcy scoured the area, leaving no suspicious piece of metal unturned.
"Find anything interesting?" a voice came from behind him.
"Must you always sneak up on people?" he said in exasperation, but turned with a grin.
"Probably. At least this time I didn't end up in the dirt." Elizabeth grinned back at him. "So, did you find anything yet?"
"Persistent, aren't you?"
"Yes, very. Just call me Nancy Drew."
"I suppose that next you'll want to call me Fitz Hardy."
"No, William will do, I think. Looks like your backpack is getting heavy."
"Yes, I found a lot of pieces that would indicate that the car didn't blow up on its own."
"A bomb, then."
"Yes, it would appear that way."
"Why don't the authorities investigate this the way that you do?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, this morning I asked Mary about Sanderson and she didn't indicate that they were even remotely interested in this site anymore."
"What all did she say?"
"Just that she and Sanderson have a lunch date to discuss some research that she is helping him with at the library."
"What kind of research?"
"She wouldn't say. Got all defensive on me. She's been so moody lately. You'd think that having a boyfriend would have mellowed her out. She did perk up when I told her about coming here with you."
"She did?"
"Yeah, for all of about two seconds. Then she excused herself to call her boyfriend. Guess that they just can't get enough of each other."
"I know the feeling." He gazed into her eyes and moved toward her, not noticing the sun's glint of a metallic object in the distance.
"Hey, let me get a look!" Mary said petulantly. "Oh, they're just kissing, that's all."
"Look at the backpack, though." John replied. "It looks like it is getting full. Looks like Darcy is going to need some kind of diversion. I think that he needs a vacation from his activities. What do you think, Mary?"
"Do you have a plan?"
"Yes indeed! It is almost time to try out my latest creation." He lowered the field glasses and headed for his car. "Now this is a role that I'm going to really enjoy. Rich and idle. Come Mary, we must get everything in order for the next act." She followed him dutifully to the car and gasped as he opened a bag for her to get a peek.
"It looks just like him. Are you sure that you can do his voice and mannerisms?"
"Do you doubt me?" His expression chilled her.
"Not at all, you're brilliant." Her comment made his smile return.
"I have been studying him for years. I am just about ready to make my debut, dearest Mary. And you will be there for opening night. Vengeance will be mine!" Mary smiled back at him hollowly, wishing for the umpteenth time that she was a better actress.
Chapter 18
Mary turned and waved to John as he dropped her off at her family's home. He nodded briefly and drove off, dirt clouds almost obscuring his exit. She slowly made her way back to the house, pausing to smell some of the hyacinths that had blossomed seemingly overnight. Life used to be so much more simple, she mused sadly to herself. But, then again, she smiled, it is all in how you look at it. Hmmmm. With a step a lot lighter than it had been for many weeks, she entered the house and bounded up the stairs to her room. Yes, she must indeed prepare for her debut. John would be very surprised at her entrance, she was almost positive!
As evening fell and the shadows grew long in Meryton, several people prepared for the evening, all with many levels of anticipation, some mixed with feelings of smug assurance. At the Bennet farm, Elizabeth was startled to hear a knock at her door interrupting her date preparations.
"Come in!" she practically sang, and the door swung open.
"Can I talk to you?"
"Can it wait? I'm trying to get ready for a date here."
"It can't wait." Slowly Elizabeth's eyes left the mirror and turned toward her sister.
"Okay, you have my full attention. What is it that can't wait, Mary?"
Mary plopped down on the bed. "Are you going out with Darcy tonight?"
"Yes, was there something particular you wanted to talk about, Mary? I'm kind of in a hurry."
"Are you guys going to be at his place?"
"Why?"
"Just wondering. What does his place look like inside?"
"It's fantastically huge and decorated like 'Architectural Digest'. You ought to come with me sometime and see it. William would do the 'tour' for you!"
"What about tonight?"
"What has gotten into you, Mar ? I have a date."
"Oh. What's he like to date?"
"He's a real sweetheart, in spite of all his money! And is very smart, too." Elizabeth's voice trailed off as she remembered some of his sweetness that she had tasted.
"Smart, huh?"
"Is this conversation leading to something, Mary? Or are you going to start telling me about your love life, too?"
"Actually," Mary leaned toward her in a conspiratorial whisper and looking around nervously, "it is leading to something."
"Mmhmm," Elizabeth said, nonchalantly picking up a hairbrush and running it absentmindedly through her hair, dislodging a few hair pins.
"Don't be at Darcy's tonight."
"What?!"
"I mean it. Don't go there tonight."
"And why not?" Elizabeth's exasperation was beginning to show in her face.
"I can't tell you why. Just stay home. Call and cancel or something."
"You'd better tell me why or I'll take you over myself and have you explain it all to him."
"Don't, please Lizzy. You're making this harder than it needs to be."
"And you're being ridiculous. I think that you're jealous because you secretly like William."
"You can't really think that!"
"Really?" Elizabeth folded her arms, waiting for Mary's next tactic. She was almost sure that her last comment would do the trick.
"I...I'm really just concerned about your safety, that's all."
"Oh. Well, I assure you. William is a perfect gentleman and I'll completely safe with him." She turned away from Mary and repositioned the hair pins that she had brushed askew. "If that's all you're worried about, then I'll finish getting ready for my date. Thanks for your concern, though. It's nice to know that we sisters can stick together, after all these years." She hid a smile that was threatening to curl up one corner of her mouth and stoically finished her preparations.
"Lizzy...I have to tell you something." Mary said in pleading tone which caused Elizabeth to look at her in surprise. "Something serious."
"Okay, shoot." Elizabeth said and noticed that Mary flinched at the word.
"Darcy is in danger and so will you if you go over to his house tonight. I've been dating Jo..Detective Sanderson and he has informed me of a possible attempt on Darcy's life."
"Is that so? I wonder why he didn't tell me about it. Anyway, I'd rather be with him, to protect him if I can."
"Lizzy, I'm serious. Dead serious. Detective Sanderson isn't who he appears to be. He's really a criminal named False Face. He assumed Sanderson's identity and took Wickham's before that. He is an evil man. Don't go there, Lizzy, please."
"What is your part in all this, Mary?"
"My part? What do you mean?"
"I'm not dumb, Mar. How did you get involved with False Face?"
"I'm the Bookworm."
"Yes, I know that you're a bookworm, but what does that have to do with anything? Did you read about him somewhere?"
"I am THE Bookworm, you know...Meryton Bank..."
"OH! Duh. How did you hook up with FF?"
"Long story and we don't have time for it. I'm kind of on a schedule here and we don't have a lot of time. But here's what you need to do, okay?" She whispered her plan to Elizabeth whose eyes widened then nodded.
"That's perfect. Let's do it!" They walked out of the room together, arms linked for the first time in years.
Chapter 19 ~ A Very Dark Night
Darcy sat in his study, waiting for Elizabeth to come to his house. He had wanted to pick her up, like a proper gentleman, but she laughingly said that she had a surprise for him and would 'come on her own steam'. He wasn't sure exactly what that meant, but, knowing Elizabeth, it was sure to be worth every second of suspense. He heard the phone ring and within a few minutes, Alfred had made his way to Darcy to announce a phone call. He picked up the receiver and his eyes went wide at the voice and what the person had to say. After a hurried conversation, Darcy flung down the receiver and called for Alfred.
"Alfred!"
"Yes, Master Fitzwilliam?"
"Has Richard arrived yet?"
"Yes, Master Fitzwilliam. I believe that he is taking a shower."
"Please tell him to dress for dinner. We will be having some unexpected guests. He is to meet me in the lab, as soon as possible."
"Very good, sir." Alfred turned to walk up to Richard's room and heard Darcy's quick footsteps heading for the lab.
In the car outside the Bennet Farm entrance gate a man waited impatiently. "Why can't she ever be on time?" He muttered, banging violently on the dashboard. He finally made out a figure coming toward him in the failing light of dusk. "About time!" He raged as she opened the door.
"Nice to see you, too!" She smiled at him sweetly, arranging her dress carefully on the car seat around her. Slowly she removed the scarf covering her hair. "Soooooo, what do you think, dearest? Will I do?"
His eyes took in her face, makeup and hair and his jaw fell slack. "I can't believe it! You are the image of her!"
"Well, what did you expect? I did have the mask that you gave me, and you are the best!"
"Do you know how to be her, though?"
She smiled at him with her most winning smile. "I AM her! Don't forget, you taught me every thing that you know about disguise and imitation."
He smiled back, his smile turning serious before it reached his eyes. "Yes, I did. I just never thought in all my wildest dreams that you'd be the perfect pupil...or lover. You make me want to..." He started to reach for her, desire etched into all his features, but ran into her outstretched hand.
"Later, loverboy!" she said with a sarcastic grin. "Do you want to mess up my hard work?" She patted a stray hair in place. "We don't want to make him wait, now, do we?"
He grunted his approval in spite of his frustration and gunned the engine. They took off toward the Darcy mansion with a lurch that threw her back into her seat and she licked her lips nervously. This was going to be one of the most demanding nights of her life, and she had to keep her wits around her. As they approached the imposing iron security gate, she steeled herself for her role, and turned to John.
"Looks like this is where I get out. I'll give the signal when everything is in position." She kissed him on the cheek and got out of the car, smoothing her dress as she came closer to the intercom.
"Yes? May I help you?"
"Alfred? It's me, Elizabeth!"
"Oh, yes, Miss Bennet, the Master is expecting you." The gate swung open and she paused a moment before turning to look at John, then, gathering her dress up slightly, she walked rapidly for the house while John slipped into the grounds before the gate could fully close. He could see her enter the house and he went to his prearranged position to wait for her signal, smiling in wicked triumph. What a genius I am, he thought to himself. Darcy is finally going to get what's coming to him...and what a surprise, to come from his own, dear, "Elizabeth"! His thoughts kept him occupied during the long wait and he entertained himself with his dark thoughts of revenge.
Chapter 20 ~ A Very Dark Night Continued
She sat in the formal living room, waiting for Darcy and looking around at the furnishings. Out of sheer boredom, she picked up a magazine and idly leafed through it.
"Hmph." She thought. "It's just like Darcy to only have business and current event magazines out." She replaced the magazine and walked over to the lit fireplace. She stared into the fire, mesmerized by the colors of the flames and sat down in front of it on the marble flooring surrounding it. Darcy found her still sitting there when he came into the room a few minutes later.
"That's quite a photo op you have going there!" he teased as he took in her outfit and dreamy expression.
"Oh, you think?" she retorted, without looking around.
"Not going to look at me, huh? Is this because I was a little late?"
"That's like saying that the Titanic was a little ship, dearest."
"Okay, so I was a lot late. Will you forgive me?" He knelt down in front of her and took her by the hands.
"Yes, if you can forgive me."
"What do I need to forgive you for, dearest loveliest Elizabeth?"
"What?"
"Oh, sorry, maybe I should have called you dearest, loveliest Mary instead?"
"Elizabeth told you."
"Yes, she did. And she wanted to come over in the worst way but I convinced her that it would be too dangerous."
"That's good. He's on the grounds, even as we speak, probably watching us somehow. He's very ruthless, Darcy."
"Yes, I am well aware of that, Mary. You do look amazingly like Elizabeth, except for the eyes. I would have known that you weren't Lizzy in a second."
"Is that so? Well, just to give you a shocker....I'm really Lizzy, you duffus!"
"What! Lizzy! No, you are Mary. At least you'd better be Mary or else you're in some real trouble, Miss."
"Is that so, William?" she crossed her arms and looked at him defiantly. "And what are you going to do about it if I am?"
"You're in a lot of danger here. I told you on the phone to stay home."
"And leave you to do battle with him alone? Not on your life."
"Kiss me." William demanded.
"Such a romantic type." She sniffed, her arms still tightly folded across her chest.
"Lizzy...kiss me, please." His voice became tender as he gathered her into his arms. Slowly her arms crept around his neck and she lost herself in a passionate kiss. A large noise startled them from the kiss and they looked toward the sound to see John approaching with a menacing look.
"Get away from her, Darcy."
"Why? She's my girlfriend. What's she to you?"
"Actually, she's MY girlfriend Mary, Elizabeth's sister. She is in one of my famous disguises. And, after tonight, I will be YOU. And you, my dear Fitzwilliam Darcy, well, you will still be you, just dead."
"So, you're really Mary. What have you done with Elizabeth?"
"Nothing, really."
"Where's Alfred?"
"Don't worry about him. He's taking a much needed rest. Of course, he may wake up with quite a headache, but then, I'll have him take some much deserved medication. After that, he may never wake up!"
John smirked at William, which caused him to move toward John in anger. John pulled out a revolver and waved it at him.
"No, I wouldn't do that if I were you. Of course, I wouldn't do a lot of things, if I were you, and those are things that I will remedy once I am you."
"How do you intend to do it without causing suspicion?"
"The same way that I have been doing it for years. The same way I became George Wickham and Detective Sanderson and all the others. I am False Face."
"Yes. I thought so. Your shoe size gave you away, John."
"My what?"
"Same size as George, as Sanderson, and, as a matter of fact, as me."
"How long have you known? Not that it is going to matter a whole lot in a few minutes."
"Long enough. Do you think that I'd be so foolish as to just let you waltz right into my home without knowing about it or taking precautions, John? I know you."
"Oh, I've changed a lot in the past decade. Speaking of changes, how's your sister?"
"Leave her out of this."
"Yes, poor naïve Georgianna. She really was a lot of fun. Too bad that she didn't take to the alteration. It was really an improvement on the original model."
"So, Mary. Did he tell you what he did to my sister? He's really capable of anything. How can you trust him?"
"We're cut of the same cloth, Mary and I." John said with satisfaction. "Why else do you think that I trusted her with my secret?"
"Why indeed?" William sneered at the woman who stood watching them both with her hands on her hips.
"Time's up, Darcy. Your questions are just too tedious for me and I don't have all night to become you." He pointed the gun at Darcy and pulled the trigger.
Chapter 21 ~ A Very Dark Night, Continued
The shot rang out and struck. Darcy fell with a thud to the floor and John heard screams coming from in front and behind him. He turned to see Elizabeth standing in the doorway, her face contorted in anguish. He looked back at the woman in front of him and saw that she was also in a similar pose. An annoyed expression crossed his face.
"Okay. Will the real Elizabeth Bennet please raise her hand, or will I have to shoot the both of you? I'm really not in the mood for games."
"Really?" they both said in unison. One of them stepped forward. "I thought that the mask stuff was the ultimate game for you."
"Mary. I would know that cynicism anywhere. How did Elizabeth get involved? No, don't tell me. Let me guess. Blood is thicker than water, right?"
"You should know. You've seen enough of it." Came the voice from the other Elizabeth.
"Oh, yes, the sibling tie. Well, tonight, I guess that you'll get to have your wish. You'll stay together...I'll kill you both."
"And just how are you going to explain our disappearance? The police will wonder how it is that both of us have gone somewhere. And without saying anything to our parents. Our father will know that something is up."
"Not if you send word that you've eloped with 'Darcy', Miss Elizabeth. I can always arrange for some disaster at sea to occur. Or whatever the setting requires."
"And Mary? What is to happen to her?"
"Well, Mary will run off with Detective Sanderson, along with the bank money, I presume. Many foreign countries seem to exist just to harbor fugitives from the law. Mary will be no exception."
"And what if they don't buy your story?"
"I guess that there is a first time for everything. Here, help me carry out your boyfriend so that I can keep my house clean." He bent down to pick up Darcy's feet and fell over with a resounding thunk! The two women looked up to where he had been standing and saw a man dressed in what both of them considered to be a rather sexy, anatomically correct rubber suit.
"Who are you?" one of them asked.
"Just call me Robin." He rolled False Face over and off of Darcy, who winced in pain.
"About time you got here. I was thinking that I was going to have to do this all by myself, Boy Wonder!" The women's eyes widened as Darcy unbuttoned his shirt and took off the metal serving plate that he had put there. The bullet had lodged perfectly into it, leaving only a reddened spot on William's skin where the bullet had come to rest in the plate. He was examining it when he felt a jerk on his leg and down he fell next to False Face, who had come out of his imposed reverie.
"Back off, Boy Blunder!" he snarled. "Well, Darcy, you may have been able to prolong your life with a serving tray this time, but I seriously doubt that you have anything to protect your head." He held his gun to Darcy's head and nodded for the others to back away. "Let's stand up really slow now, Darcy. And don't think that you can try any sudden moves, you others. I'm a crack shot, in case that escaped your attention, and I wouldn't think twice about taking any of you out. Even you, Mary. Dear as you are, or should I say, were to me, I do believe that I would soon be over you."
"Yes, break my heart, John." One of the Elizabeths said sarcastically. "Like that would be a great loss."
"I would think that you'd be spending your last minutes a little better than to bait me. You get the dubious honor of being next, right after Darcy."
"I wouldn't count on it." Darcy grunted as he quickly stabbed John in the leg with a pen that he had managed to extract from a secret pocket. John slumped to the floor, and the gun discharged as it fell from his limp hand, the bullet securing itself harmlessly in a ceiling beam. "He's not the only one familiar with potent drugs!" He added as he saw their questioning looks. Robin, go check on Alfred. He may need some medical attention. Girls, help me tie him up." He pulled some ropes and handcuffs from under a couch and the three proceeded to bind up the unconscious villain.
"Great job you two!" He smiled widely as Mary took off her mask and shook out her hair.
"Whew! That seemed like a close one. I sure am glad to have this hot thing off. I don't know how he did it all those years."
"William!" Elizabeth breathed. "I was so worried about you." She put her arms around his neck and he held her close to him. "Where did you get a pen like that?"
"I get around." He said, smiling secretively at Robin, who had re-entered the room. "How's Alfred?"
"Other than a rather large lump on his head, he's fine."
"Good. Well, I guess that we'd better call to have the doc put in a nice safe place, where the sun won't bother him."*
"What about Mary? What's going to happen to my sister?" Elizabeth asked nervously.
"That's okay, Lizzy. I'll take my just due."
"I'm sure that the court might be able to work something out for you, given that you helped to capture one of the Most Wanted in this country, Mary." Robin replied, looking deep into her eyes. "That is, if you have decided to stay on the right side of the law."
"I'll stay on whatever side you're on!" She answered softly and noticed that he started to turn red, and she held her hand out to shake his, but he didn't release it for the longest time.
William and Elizabeth watched the interplay silently, arms wrapped tightly around each other until they heard the sirens wailing from the approaching police vehicles.
"It's show-time, John!" Mary said as she removed John's mask to reveal his true features and then squared her shoulders as she turned to face the police officers coming toward them.
*from Voltaire's 'Candide'
Chapter 22 ~ Endings and Beginnings
They walked out of the courthouse silently, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Elizabeth was the first break the silence.
"Can you believe that sentence? He didn't even get death row."
"This isn't the state for that, Liz." Darcy answered softly. "I'm most relieved about your sister. How do you think that she is holding up?"
"Well, I'd have to say that she took it pretty well. She did love John, after all."
"No, I mean about her sentence."
"Oh. Well, given that she didn't spend any of the money...for whatever reason and gave it back, I would have to say that her plea bargaining went really well. Community service is a far better thing than to rot in jail, I would say."
"Lucky that she had that lawyer."
"Yeah. Lucky that her sister's boyfriend was able to pay for such an intelligent one. Thank you for putting Jimmy and Rebecca on the case."
"I was glad to do it," he smiled deep into her eyes and she was drawn toward him as he wrapped his arms around her. Whatever she might have said in return was immediately erased from her mind and his lips lowered to hers. Passersby smiled at the oblivious couple as they maneuvered around them. They only parted when Darcy heard his cell phone ring.
"Darcy here," he said thickly, pulling Elizabeth to him as she was about to move away. "What? Slow down, Richard. What is going on? What!! You are not going to marry Anne! Who says so? Aunt Catherine? I'll drive right down!"
Elizabeth looked at his tightened face in concern. "Has something happened?"
"It sounds like my cousin has lost his mind. I'm not sure what has come over him, but I need to go to my Aunt's and talk some sense into him. It's just not like him."
"Did you say that he was getting married?"
"That's what he said. Weird. I thought that I saw a few sparks between he and Mary. Hmmm. How would you like to spend a few days in the country?"
"Your Aunt lives on a farm?" He looked at her quickly, but saw the mirth in her eyes.
"Yeah, sure. Well, she has horses and some livestock, but it's not what most people would call a farm. More like an estate. She has plenty of rooms, so I'm sure that she won't mind."
"I'll need to see if I can get off work."
"If not, I'll have a little talk with your boss."
"You do that!" she snuggled in closer and they resumed their previous activity.
Early that evening, Elizabeth left her parents' farm, suitcase stored securely in Darcy's trunk. Before leaving the driveway, Darcy turned to her with an expression intense with love.
"This may not be the right time or place, but I couldn't wait another minute to do this. Please forgive me."
"You know that I could never hold anything against you..." she took in his mocking look. "Okay, so we got off to a rocky start. But, that's in the past. I don't think that I could love anyone more than I love you."
"Will you marry me, then?" He held out a small, dark velvet box that she slowly took. He watched her open the box, her mouth still half-open with surprise. "I wish that I had some kind of an heirloom to offer you...but when I saw this ring, it was perfect."
Elizabeth swallowed hard. "Yes," she managed, "I don't think that anyone could dispute that." He slipped the ring on her finger and she shifted her fingers around in the pale light of dusk, mesmerized by the sparkles.
"I love you, Elizabeth Bennet. Please marry me and relieve my suffering."
"Do you think that me marrying you will relieve your suffering?" she asked wryly. "I would think that, in that case, your suffering would have just begun..." her voice trailed off as she looked into his questioning eyes. "Yes, William Darcy, I will marry you."
"Oh, Liz, I love you so much," he whispered into her hair many minutes later. "I can't imagine what I would have done if you would have said no."
"I couldn't have said no," she sighed with contentment, then looked startled as the yard security light flooded into the car. "Umm, we'd better go unless you want to draw a crowd. Mom may be getting ready to find out what is keeping us."
She put her hand on his thigh, feeling his muscles flex as he shifted into gear and they headed for Rosings Park, blissfully unaware of what awaited them at Aunt Catherine's estate.
THE END...or is it?
Stay tuned for the second story of the Dark Knight: Outer Darkness...same bat time, same bat channel!