Trigger: Day 12

Word Count: 72,006

Summary of Events:

Thanks to the clue given to him by the would've-been robber, Spencer started searching the local nightclubs, which was, naturally, best done at night. Thanks to a tip from some people smoking outside one of the clubs he actually succeeded in getting to the same club the Billionaire Queen happened to be at . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

Finding a door on which was an engraved plastic plate that said Manager, and behind which James told him was two people, one of whom shape suggested was female, with a body type consistent with the Billionaire Queen’s, he took hold of the doorknob.

Slowly he turned the knob, adrenaline rushing through his body. He had her.

“Behind you,” James said.

Before he could whip around a hand clamped over his mouth and the other tore his hand off the knob.

Immediately he started scratching with his razor-sharp claws, but the man who was holding him didn’t hardly seem to notice, and even if he did, it was evident that he didn’t care.

He struggled to pry and throw the man off of him, either that, or find a way to get into the room and apprehend the Billionaire Queen even with this man on his back.

Before too long a man emerged from the office and got involved, making it a two-on-one struggle and, considering he had the one man on his back, he was at a sore disadvantage.

In fact, after the second man — presumably the manager — appeared, it wasn’t long before more men appeared and it was pointless for him to resist as they manhandled him out the back door of the building.

He was shoved to the ground and a heel was jammed between his shoulder blades.

“Now you guys are renting suits from the Halloween stores to try and get at us?” a man asked. They’d obviously mistaken him for someone else.

A foot struck his jaw hard. 

“The trick’s on you,” another man said. “You’re not getting any treats.”

He could taste blood in his mouth and rage surged within him.

Before anyone could even think of saying anything more he’d brought out the knife from his right gauntlet and driven it into the foot that’d kicked him. He then threw the man whose foot was between his shoulders off of his back, put away the knife, and used just his claws, fists, and feet to attack everyone who’d gathered around him to punish him until he was able to slip back inside.

Returning to the manager’s office, however, he found only the manager, the man he’d clawed, and wads of hundred-dollar bills.

“I thought we’d gotten rid of you!” the manager exclaimed.

He ducked out of the office and got back to the public area of the club and back out the front door. The street was empty, not even the smokers were still leaning against the building.

Swearing to himself, he quickly hopped up onto a nearby roof, as he was sure the staff of the Lost Penguin were looking for him. He’d been so close to her and he’d missed her. How could he have let himself be so careless and lose her?